HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Condoms, or Both? Insights on Risk Compensation Through a Discrete Choice Experiment and Latent Class Analysis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

OBJECTIVES: We considered how decision making around human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) is made in the context of one's perceived risk of HIV acquisition and the availability of condoms. METHODS: We recruited 648 GBMSM aged 18 years old and residing in Singapore through Grindr. Participants were given information on PrEP and participated in a discrete choice experiment requiring them to choose between 2 baskets of PrEP attributes and compare the chosen "PrEP only" option to default options of "condoms only" or "PrEP with condoms." Generalized multinomial logit model was used to examine the scaling effect and preference heterogeneity. Latent class analysis was conducted to examine preference heterogeneity in the sample. RESULTS: Latent class analysis revealed 3 classes of GBMSM: PrEP conservatives (53.9%), moderates (31.1%), and liberals (14.9%). PrEP conservatives were more likely to report greater utility when using condoms only compared with PrEP only, as well as PrEP with condoms, compared with PrEP only, and more likely to report the lowest utility for PrEP as perceived HIV risk increased. PrEP liberals were more likely to report greatest utilities for PrEP only compared with condoms only, as well as PrEP only compared with PrEP with condoms. The utility for PrEP was not affected by perceived risk of HIV or sexually transmitted infections when risks were low. CONCLUSION: This study provides some evidence for risk compensation among a class of GBMSM who already perceived themselves to be good candidates for PrEP before the discrete choice experiment

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Extent and selectivity of sexual orientation disclosure and its association with HIV and other STI testing patterns among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

10.1136/sextrans-2018-053866SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS954273-27

Retrotransposons Are the Major Contributors to the Expansion of the Drosophila ananassae Muller F Element

The discordance between genome size and the complexity of eukaryotes can partly be attributed to differences in repeat density. The Muller F element (∼5.2 Mb) is the smallest chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster, but it is substantially larger (>18.7 Mb) in D. ananassae. To identify the major contributors to the expansion of the F element and to assess their impact, we improved the genome sequence and annotated the genes in a 1.4-Mb region of the D. ananassae F element, and a 1.7-Mb region from the D element for comparison. We find that transposons (particularly LTR and LINE retrotransposons) are major contributors to this expansion (78.6%), while Wolbachia sequences integrated into the D. ananassae genome are minor contributors (0.02%). Both D. melanogaster and D. ananassae F-element genes exhibit distinct characteristics compared to D-element genes (e.g., larger coding spans, larger introns, more coding exons, and lower codon bias), but these differences are exaggerated in D. ananassae. Compared to D. melanogaster, the codon bias observed in D. ananassae F-element genes can primarily be attributed to mutational biases instead of selection. The 5′ ends of F-element genes in both species are enriched in dimethylation of lysine 4 on histone 3 (H3K4me2), while the coding spans are enriched in H3K9me2. Despite differences in repeat density and gene characteristics, D. ananassae F-element genes show a similar range of expression levels compared to genes in euchromatic domains. This study improves our understanding of how transposons can affect genome size and how genes can function within highly repetitive domains

Measurement of the ratio of the B0→D∗−τ+ντB^0 \to D^{*-} \tau^+ \nu_{\tau} and B0→D∗−μ+νμB^0 \to D^{*-} \mu^+ \nu_{\mu} branching fractions using three-prong τ\tau-lepton decays

International audienceThe ratio of branching fractions R(D*-)≡B(B0→D*-τ+ντ)/B(B0→D*-μ+νμ) is measured using a data sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb-1. For the first time, R(D*-) is determined using the τ-lepton decays with three charged pions in the final state. The B0→D*-τ+ντ yield is normalized to that of the B0→D*-π+π-π+ mode, providing a measurement of B(B0→D*-τ+ντ)/B(B0→D*-π+π-π+)=1.97±0.13±0.18, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The value of B(B0→D*-τ+ντ)=(1.42±0.094±0.129±0.054)% is obtained, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fraction of the normalization mode. Using the well-measured branching fraction of the B0→D*-μ+νμ decay, a value of R(D*-)=0.291±0.019±0.026±0.013 is established, where the third uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the branching fractions of the normalization and B0→D*-μ+νμ modes. This measurement is in agreement with the standard model prediction and with previous results

Study of prompt D0^{0} meson production in ppPb collisions at sNN=5 \sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5 TeV

International audienceProduction of prompt D$^{0}$ mesons is studied in proton-lead and lead-proton collisions recorded at the LHCb detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.58±0.02 nb$^{−1}$ recorded at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5$ TeV. Measurements of the differential cross-section, the forward-backward production ratio and the nuclear modification factor are reported using D$^{0}$ candidates with transverse momenta less than 10 GeV/c and rapidities in the ranges 1.5 < y$^{∗}$ < 4.0 and −5.0 < y$^{∗}$ < −2.5 in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system

Geomechanical substantiation of reuse feasibility of development workings for coal mines

Дисертація на здобуття наукового ступеня кандидата технічних наук за спеціальністю 05.15.09 – «Геотехнічна і гірнича механіка». Державний вищий навчальний заклад «Національний гірничий університет», Дніпропетровськ, 2016.В дисертації обґрунтувані такі параметри комбінованої системи кріплення і охоронної конструкції на сполученні «штрек–лава», при яких можлива економічно доцільна повторна експлуатація підготовчих виробок в гірничо–геологічних умовах шахт ДП «Селідіввугілля». В результаті натурних вимірювань встановлено, що величина залишкового перерізу може виступати критерієм, що характеризує доцільність для повторного використання конвеєрного штреку на суміжній лаві. Такою величиною є залишкова площа в світлі, що дорівнює 8,5 м2. На основі обґрунтованого критерію вирішена чисельна задача про вплив різних систем охорони на НДС геомеханічної системи «кріплення – охоронна конструкція – масив». Встановлено, що при використанні охоронної конструкції у вигляді накатного костра зі шпального бруса в сукупності з дворівневою системою рамно–анкерного кріплення за лавою забезпечується збереження перерізу підготовчої виробки, що призначена для повторного використання. Досліджено вплив куту нахилу пласта на параметри прийнятої геомеханічної системи. Розробки були успішно реалізовані в промисловості з економічним ефектом 2 422 грн./м виробки.Цель работы состоит в геомеханическом обосновании таких параметров комбинированной системы крепи и охранной конструкции на сопряжении «штрек – лава», при которых возможна экономически целесообразная повторная эксплуатация подготовительных выработок в горно - геологических условиях шахт ГП «Селидовуголь». В качестве основного объекта исследований выбрана шахта «1/3 Новогродовская» ГП «Селидовуголь», где были выполнены комплексные исследования, заключавшиеся в визуальном обследовании ряда горных выработок, организации инструментальных наблюдений на замерных станциях, решении аналитических задач, а также проведении экспертной оценки состояния выемочных штреков и анализе архивных данных. В результате выполнения комплекса натурных измерений определены основные виды проявлений горного давления и ремонтных работ в подготовительных выработках, построены зависимости развития геомеханических процессов в их окрестности во времени и установлено, что величина остаточного сечения может выступать тем критерием, который характеризует целесообразность для повторного использования конвейерного штрека на смежной лаве. Критериальной величиной экономической рациональности повторного использования штрека является остаточная площадь в свету, равная 8,5 м2. На основе обоснованного критерия решена численная задача о влияние различных систем охраны на НДС геомеханической системы «крепь – охранная конструкция – массив». Установлено, что при использовании охранных конструкции в виде накатного костра из шпального бруса, выбраной по комплексу критериев «геомеханическая эффективность», «стоимость», «технологичность», в совокупности с двухуровневой системой рамно - анкерной крепи на основе сталеполимерных и канатных анкеров, за лавой обеспечивается сохранение сечения подготовительной выработки, применяемой для повторного использования. Такая система «крепь – охранная конструкция» принята как базовая. В горно–геологических условиях шахт Красноармейского промышленного района величина остаточного сечения конвейерного штрека, принятая в качестве критерия повторного использования подготовительных выработок, уменьшается при увеличении угла падения угольных пластов по линейному закону, что позволяет на этой основе корректировать базовый вариант системы крепи и охранной конструкции. Результаты внедрены в виде Рекомендации по геомеханическому обоснованию параметров рамно - анкерной крепи подготовительных выработок угольных шахт при отработке выемочного участка 18 южной лавы пл. l1 шахты «1/3 Новогродовская» и «Методики численного моделирования рамно –анкерной крепи подготовительных и капитальных выработок угольных шахт ГП «Селидовуголь», а также использованы в учебном процессе ГВУЗ «НГУ» при подготовке студентов ступеней «бакалавр» и «магистр» и образовательно–квалификационного уровня «специалист». Выполненная оценка экономической эффективности предложенных тех-нических решений, обеспечивающих повторное использование штрека показала, что ожидаемый экономический эффект, составляет 2422 грн./м выработки.The research purpose is geomechanical substantiation of such parameters of combined system of lining and support on the roadhead of roadway and longwall through which is possible and economically feasible to ensure the reuse of development workings under the mining and geological conditions of "Selidovugol" mines. As a result of the in–situ measurements revealed that the value of the remaining area can be a criteria that characterizes the feasibility for belt road reusing to adjacent longwall. Such value is the remaining area in the light that equal to 8.5 m2. On the basis of justified criteria the influence of various support systems on stress–deformed state of the geomechanical system "lining – support – array" was solved. It is established that a residual inside half–timbers of roadway can act the criteria that characterize suitable for reuse in development workings adjacent to the longwall. Economic rationality criteria for reuse roadway is a residual inside half–timbers, equal to 8.5 m2. It was found that by using a support system in the form of sawed stick crib, with the two – tier system of frame – bolt lining the criteria for development workings reuse was performed over the longwall. The influence of the angle of the bed at the geomechanical system parameters was adopted. The developments were successfully implemented and approbated. Economic effect is 2422 UAH on 1m