Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Human papillomavirus vaccination in girls and women living with HIV

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causal agent of virtually all cervical cancer and genital warts. Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience higher rates of HPV-associated infection and disease than women without HIV. HPV vaccination has proven safe and efficacious in young women without HIV, however, little was known about the vaccine in WLWH. The work represented in this thesis was designed to answer key questions around HPV infection and the impact of HPV vaccination in WLWH. Methods: WLWH across Canada were invited to participate in a CIHR-funded, multi-centre study of quadrivalent HPV vaccination starting in 2009. Participants were administered three doses of vaccine at 0/2/6 months. Demographic and clinical data, serology (cLIA), liquid-based cervical cytology, and HPV DNA genotyping (Linear array assay) were collected at baseline and post-vaccine series every 6-12 months up to 8 years. Participants were referred for clinical colposcopies as per the standard at their institutions. Results: Pre-vaccination rates of prevalent and persistent oncogenic HPV infection among participants were high. Extending the spacing of the three vaccine doses out to two years did not significantly impact the peak anti-HPV antibody titer achieved in this cohort. Two years post-vaccination, efficacy of the vaccine was good, demonstrating lower rates of clinical endpoints than in unvaccinated Canadian WLWH, but higher rates than those seen in vaccinated women without HIV. Post-vaccination rates of persistent non-vaccine oncogenic HPV types were relatively high with a higher proportion of non-vaccine HPV types than of HPV types contained in the nonavalent vaccine. Conclusions: These findings support the value of HPV vaccination and the need for ongoing cervical cancer screening post-vaccination in WLWH. They also do not indicate concern with extending the spacing interval between the first and third doses up to two years. Collectively, these findings have provided great value to the clinical care of WLWH by informing best vaccination and screening practices for this particularly vulnerable population.Medicine, Faculty ofObstetrics and Gynaecology, Department ofGraduat

Cervical Cancer Screening in Immunocompromised Women

In the context of changing recommendations for cervical cancer screening, differing recommendations in each province, and a lack of guidance for cervical screening of immunocompromised women, this article provides specific recommendations for cervical cancer screening of immunocompromised women in Canada.Medicine, Faculty ofObstetrics and Gynaecology, Department ofPopulation and Public Health (SPPH), School ofNon UBCReviewedFacult