New rectum dose surface mapping methodology to identify rectal subregions associated with toxicities following prostate cancer radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Growing evidence suggests that spatial dose variations across the rectal surface influence toxicity risk after radiotherapy. Existing methodologies employ a fixed, arbitrary physical extent for rectal dose mapping, limiting their analysis. We developed a method to standardise rectum contours, unfold them into 2D cylindrical surface maps, and identify subregions where higher doses increase rectal toxicities.

Genome Sequence of Phage NathanVaag.

We report the genome sequence of bacteriophage NathanVaag, an actinobacteriophage isolated from soil in El Paso, Texas, that infects sp. strain ATCC 21022. The 49,645-bp genome contains 73 predicted protein-coding genes.

The risks and benefits of providing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions including to health services. In the early response to the pandemic many countries restricted population movements and some health services were suspended or limited. In late 2020 and early 2021 some countries re-imposed restrictions.

Sparsity-Based Recovery of Three-Dimensional Photoacoustic Images from Compressed Single-Shot Optical Detection.

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging combines optical excitation with ultrasonic detection to achieve high-resolution imaging of biological samples. A high-energy pulsed laser is often used for imaging at multi-centimeter depths in tissue. These lasers typically have a low pulse repetition rate, so to acquire images in real-time, only one pulse of the laser can be used per image.

Evidence of sociodemographic heterogeneity across the HIV treatment cascade and progress towards 90-90-90 in sub-Saharan Africa - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Heterogeneity of sociodemographics and risk behaviours across the HIV treatment cascade could influence the public health impact of universal ART in sub-Saharan Africa if those not virologically suppressed are more likely to be part of a risk group contributing to onward infections. Sociodemographic and risk heterogeneity across the treatment cascade has not yet been comprehensively described or quantified and we seek to systematically review and synthesize research on this topic among adults in Africa.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature in Embase and MEDLINE databases as well as grey literature sources published in English between 2014 and 2018.

A novel, wearable, electronic visual aid to assist those with reduced peripheral vision.

Purpose: To determine whether visual-tactile sensory substitution utilizing the Low-vision Enhancement Optoelectronic (LEO) Belt prototype is suitable as a new visual aid for those with reduced peripheral vision by assessing mobility performance and user opinions.

Methods: Sighted subjects (n = 20) and subjects with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (n = 6) were recruited. The LEO Belt was evaluated on two cohorts: normally sighted subjects wearing goggles to artificially reduce peripheral vision to simulate stages of RP progression, and subjects with advanced visual field limitation from RP.

Demographic and risk group heterogeneity across the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Background: Despite policies for universal HIV testing and treatment (UTT) regardless of CD4 count, there are still 1.8 million new HIV infections and 1 million AIDS-related deaths annually. The UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals target suppression of HIV viral load in 73% of all HIV-infected people worldwide by 2030.

Use of the Fogg Behavior Model to Assess the Impact of a Social Marketing Campaign on Condom Use in Pakistan.

The Fogg Behavior Model (FBM) is a new framework which posits that behavior happens when three factors - motivation, ability, and a prompt - occur in the same moment. The FBM categorizes people into four groups based on motivation and ability and posits that those with high motivation and high ability will adopt a behavior when prompted. Two rounds of panel survey data from 617 married men in urban Pakistan were used to test this hypothesis.

Cost and cost-effectiveness analysis of pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in two hospitals in Thailand.

Introduction: In 2014, the Government of Thailand recommended pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an additional HIV prevention programme within Thailand's National Guidelines on HIV/AIDS Treatment Prevention. However, to date implementation and uptake of PrEP programmes have been limited, and evidence on the costs and the epidemiological and economic impact is not available.

Methods: We estimated the costs associated with PrEP provision among men having sex with men (MSM) participating in a facility-based, prospective observational cohort study: the Test, Treat and Prevent HIV Programme in Thailand.

Early survival and delayed death of developmentally-born dentate gyrus neurons.

The storage and persistence of memories depends on plasticity in the hippocampus. Adult neurogenesis produces new neurons that mature through critical periods for plasticity and cellular survival, which determine their contributions to learning and memory. However, most granule neurons are generated prior to adulthood; the maturational timecourse of these neurons is poorly understood compared to adult-born neurons but is essential to identify how the dentate gyrus (DG), as a whole, contributes to behavior.