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We investigate the performance of Opticks, a NVIDIA OptiX API 7.5 GPU-accelerated photon propagation tool compared with a single-threaded Geant4 simulation. We compare the simulations using an improved model of the NEXT-CRAB-0 gaseous time projection chamber. Performance results suggest that Opticks improves simulation speeds by between 58.47 ± 0.02 and 181.39 ± 0.28 times relative to a CPU-only Geant4 simulation and these results vary between different types of GPU and CPU. A detailed comparison shows that the number of detected photons, along with their times and wavelengths, are in good agreement between Opticks and Geant4.

We investigate the performance of Opticks , a NVIDIA OptiX API 7.5 GPU-accelerated photon propagation tool compared with a single-threaded Geant4 simulation. We compare the simulations using an improved model of the NEXT-CRAB-0 gaseous time projection chamber. Performance results suggest that Opticks improves simulation speeds by between 58.47 ± 0.02 and 181.39 ± 0.28 times relative to a CPU-only Geant4 simulation and these results vary between different types of GPU and CPU. A detailed comparison shows that the number of detected photons, along with their times and wavelengths, are in good agreement between Opticks and Geant4 .

We investigate the performance of Opticks, a NVIDIA OptiX API 7.5 GPU-accelerated photon propagation tool compared with a single-threaded Geant4 simulation. We compare the simulations using an improved model of the NEXT-CRAB-0 gaseous time projection chamber. Performance results suggest that Opticks improves simulation speeds by between 58.47+/-0.02 and 181.39+/-0.28 times relative to a CPU-only Geant4 simulation and these results vary between different types of GPU and CPU. A detailed comparison shows that the number of detected photons, along with their times and wavelengths, are in good agreement between Opticks and Geant4.

The search for neutrinoless double beta decay (\\(0\\nu\\beta\\beta\\)) remains one of the most compelling experimental avenues for the discovery in the neutrino sector. Electroluminescent gas-phase time projection chambers are well suited to \\(0\\nu\\beta\\beta\\) searches due to their intrinsically precise energy resolution and topological event identification capabilities. Scalability to ton- and multi-ton masses requires readout of large-area electroluminescent regions with fine spatial resolution, low radiogenic backgrounds, and a scalable data acquisition system. This paper presents a detector prototype that records event topology in an electroluminescent xenon gas TPC via VUV image-intensified cameras. This enables an extendable readout of large tracking planes with commercial devices that reside almost entirely outside of the active medium.Following further development in intermediate scale demonstrators, this technique may represent a novel and enlargeable method for topological event imaging in \\(0\\nu\\beta\\beta\\).

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in over 32,000 participants from the United States, Chile, and Peru, the incidence of serious adverse effects was low (including no cases of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia) and the vaccine efficacy was 74%. Efficacy was documented in a range of demographic subgroups.

Mpox epidemics continue to spread to African borders following the outbreak that has affected over 120 countries and thus posed a threat to global health security. Dynamics of Mpox spread over time, fatality, and country-level risk were investigated intra- and post-COVID-19 pandemic to inform optimal surveillance, response, and prevention strategy. An epidemiological (retrospective cohort) analysis of complete weekly Mpox situation report across 20 African countries was conducted intra (January 2022-May 2023) and post (June 2023-September 2024) pandemic. Mpox epidemics and mortality were assessed against endemic-related exposures, and Mpox fatality rate, distribution, and patterns were assessed via summary analysis, spatial spread, and epi-curve respectively. Mantel Haenszel statistics assessed the confounding effects of COVID-19 and seasonality, while zero-inflated negative binomial model was fitted to evaluate the epidemic and mortality risk. Analysis was performed in Excel, QGIS, and Stata at 5% level of significance. About 9446 confirmed Mpox cases occurred in Africa between January 2022 and September 2024, with DR-Congo accounting for over 75%. Mpox case fatality rate is 0.58% and significantly different intra (1.16%) and post (0.46%) pandemic (p < 0.001). Though fatality is more prevalent in clade Ia and Ib (58.1%), with a higher risk than clade Ia only (IRR = 4.46, 95% = 1.12-17.69), the Mpox outbreak spread more rapidly through clade Ia and II to 20 countries post pandemic. Risk of Mpox incidence is about four times higher post-COVID-19 than intra-pandemic (IRR = 3.77, 95% CI = 2.83-5.00). The epi curve reveals a mixed epidemic, with common-source and propagated patterns intra- and post -pandemic. While COVID-19 does not confound the association between Mpox mortality and endemicity (M-H = 6.821, p = 0.009), the association was confounded by seasonal variation and thus, 35% of Mpox mortality could be prevented by eliminating high-endemic spread. Weak surveillance capacity was evident as African countries appeared to have relaxed health security and outbreaks response strategies post-COVID-19 pandemic. Scale-up of vaccination uptake against the Mpox virus is required, particularly for clades Ia, Ib, and II, to prevent Mpox spread and mortality. A consistent multi-country surveillance will be critical to contain Mpox epidemics.

Young sexual minority men (YSMM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States. HIV or sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing rates and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake are low in this priority population. Novel strategies are needed to increase access to HIV and STI prevention services among YSMM. This study aims to describe the development and assess the feasibility and acceptability of LYNX, a mobile app to increase HIV testing and PrEP uptake among YSMM. Informed by the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model, the LYNX app was refined through 4 iterative focus groups in 2 US cities among YSMM aged 15 to 24 years. The LYNX app includes SexPro, an innovative tool that provides a personalized sexual health protection score, a sex diary to track sexual partners, HIV and STI testing information and reminders, access to home HIV and STI test kits, and geospatial-based testing and PrEP clinic site information. The refined app was then tested for feasibility and acceptability in a 2-month technical pilot. Baseline and 2-month follow-up assessments and exit interviews were completed. Self-reported app acceptability and use based on paradata were reported. In iterative focus groups among 30 participants (age: mean 20, SD 3 years; Black: 12/30, 40%; Hispanic or Latinx: 13/30, 43%), the app's design was well-received. Participants recommended providing information on how the SexPro score was calculated and how they could improve their score, changes to the language in the sex diary tailored for YSMM, providing a chat feature to facilitate communication between staff and app users, and gamification features to increase overall youth engagement with the app. These recommendations were incorporated into the app. In the technical pilot among 17 participants (age: mean 22.4, SD 1.6 years; Black: 4/17, 24%; Hispanic or Latinx: 8/17, 47%), the mean system usability score was 70 out of 100, falling in the \"good\" range. Use of the app was high over the 2-month pilot (app opened an average of 8.5, SD 8.0 times with an average duration of 3.8, SD 3.2 min/session), indicating good feasibility. The most commonly used features included the testing feature (n=15, 100%), activity calendar (n=14, 93%), and diary (n=13, 86%). Overall, 11 (79%) participants were likely to continue using LYNX, and 10 (71%) participants were likely to recommend it to a friend. In exit interviews, there was a high level of acceptability of the content, interface, and features of the LYNX app. Following a user-centered design approach, we tailored the LYNX app to increase HIV and STI testing and PrEP uptake among YSMM in the United States. Our positive findings support further testing of this mobile health tool in an upcoming effectiveness trial in broader youth populations. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03177512; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03177512. RR2-10.2196/10659.

The design and fabrication of a wet mechanical brushing unit for lye pre-treated cassava root was described in this paper. The objective of this work was to determine the time of reaction, the temperature and the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution that will effectively digest the peel and also the speed of the machine, output size, efficiency of peeling and tuber loss. It was determined that using lye solution to digest cassava root peel depends on the severity of the concentration of the solution and the time of root immersion. From the preliminary labouratory tests carried out, the optimal combination of process parameters in terms of concentration, temperature and time of root immersion for UMUCASS44 in lye are 20%, 60°C and 15 minutes, respectively. These values are sufficient to digest the peels of the root for enhanced brushing.

In the framework of the first multi-centre Sub-Saharan Africa Total Diet Study (SSA-TDS), 2328 commonly consumed foods were purchased, prepared as consumed and pooled into 194 composite samples of cereals, tubers, legumes, vegetables, nuts and seeds, dairy, oils, beverages and miscellaneous. Those core foods were tested for mycotoxins and other fungal, bacterial and plant secondary metabolites by liquid chromatography, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The highest aflatoxin concentrations were quantified in peanuts, peanut oil and maize. The mean concentration of the sum of aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 (AF(tot)) in peanut samples (56.4 mu g/kg) exceeded EU (4 mu g/kg) and Codex (15 mu g/kg) standards. The AF(tot) concentration (max: 246.0 mu g/kg) was associated with seasonal and geographic patterns and comprised, on average, 80% AFB1, the most potent aflatoxin. Although ochratoxin A concentrations rarely exceeded existing Codex standards, it was detected in unregulated foods. One palm oil composite sample contained 98 different metabolites, including 35.4 mu g/kg of ochratoxin A. In total, 164 different metabolites were detected, with unspecific metabolites like asperglaucide, cyclo(L-pro-L-val), cyclo (L-pro-L-tyr), flavoglaucin, emodin and tryptophol occurring in more than 50% of composite samples. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), fumonisin B1 (FB1), sterigmatocystin (STC), ochratoxin A (OTA), citrinin (CIT) and many other secondary fungal metabolites are frequent co-contaminants in staple foods, such as maize and sorghum. Populations from North Cameroon and from Benin may, therefore, suffer chronic and simultaneous exposure to AFB1, FB1, STC, OTA and CIT, which are prevalent in their diet.

A joint collaboration between the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, Finland and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria was organised as a hybrid conference on several topics that are related to climate, food, health and entrepreneurship. The utilisation of natural resources in both regions is an important theme in meeting the sustainable development goals agenda. The topics discussed were multidisciplinary, they include Nigerian indigenous foods, bioeconomy, circular economy, nutrition, health, innovation and entrepreneurship under four themes (Climate, Food, Health and Entrepreneurship). There were dignitaries from Finland and Nigeria. The presenters are researchers from Nigerian universities (University of Ibadan, University of Abuja and Eko university, Lagos), Nigerian Federal Institute of Industrial research centre and from the Finnish side we have the university of Lapland, Rovaniemi, University of Oulu, Oulu and the Centria University of Applied Sciences, Kokkola. The topics discussed will serve as training materials for students and learners, the discussion focussed on research opportunities for institutions in both countries. The experts from both countries will continue to dialogue on the possibility of promoting common topics as research agenda in these important areas with the possibilities of creating more jobs.