Toronto Research Research Articles

Blood far forward: A cross-sectional analysis of prehospital transfusion practices in the Canadian Armed Forces

BackgroundCanadian Armed Forces (CAF) operate in environments that challenge patient care, especially trauma. Military personnel often find themselves in remote settings without conventional healthcare facilities. Treating traumatic injuries, particularly hemorrhagic shock, often necessitates prehospital blood transfusion. This study aims to present an overview of the current CAF prehospital transfusion practices. Furthermore, the study compared current and developing protocols against expert-recommended guidelines. MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was employed to describe and compare CAF prehospital blood transfusion practices and protocols against expert recommendations. Topics included protocols, equipment, and procedures. An online survey targeted medical leadership and providers within CAF, with data collected from August 15 to December 15, 2023. Results were summarized descriptively. This study received approval from the Unity Health Toronto Research Ethics Board (REB 23–087). ResultsUnits and teams with prehospital blood transfusion capabilities were contacted, achieving a 100 % response rate. Within CAF, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM), Mobile Surgical Resuscitation Team (MSRT), and Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team (CMERT) possess these capabilities, established between 2013 and 2018. These programs are crucial for military operations. CAF has access to standard blood components, cold Leuko-Reduced Whole Blood (LrWB), and factor concentrates from Canadian Blood Services (CBS), available for both domestic and international missions given adequate planning and favorable conditions. Key findings indicate high adherence to recommended practices, some variability in the transfusion process, and potential benefits of standardizing prehospital transfusion practices. ConclusionsThis study provided insights into CAF's implementation of prehospital transfusion practices, highlighting high adherence to national expert recommendations and the importance of structured protocols in military prehospital trauma management. Implications of key findingsCAF's approach and adoption of prehospital transfusion protocols lay a strong foundation for managing trauma patients in remote settings and for expanding prehospital transfusion capabilities across CFHS deployed assets. Further research is needed to advance military trauma care by adapting prehospital blood transfusion to dynamic tactical landscapes and evolving technologies.

A study protocol for a predictive model to assess population-based avoidable hospitalization risk: Avoidable Hospitalization Population Risk Prediction Tool (AvHPoRT)

IntroductionAvoidable hospitalizations are considered preventable given effective and timely primary care management and are an important indicator of health system performance. The ability to predict avoidable hospitalizations at the population level represents a significant advantage for health system decision-makers that could facilitate proactive intervention for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs). The aim of this study is to develop and validate the Avoidable Hospitalization Population Risk Tool (AvHPoRT) that will predict the 5-year risk of first avoidable hospitalization for seven ACSCs using self-reported, routinely collected population health survey data.Methods and analysisThe derivation cohort will consist of respondents to the first 3 cycles (2000/01, 2003/04, 2005/06) of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) who are 18–74 years of age at survey administration and a hold-out data set will be used for external validation. Outcome information on avoidable hospitalizations for 5 years following the CCHS interview will be assessed through data linkage to the Discharge Database (1999/2000–2017/2018) for an estimated sample size of 394,600. Candidate predictor variables will include demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, self-perceived health measures, health behaviors, chronic conditions, and area-based measures. Sex-specific algorithms will be developed using Weibull accelerated failure time survival models. The model will be validated both using split set cross-validation and external temporal validation split using cycles 2000–2006 compared to 2007–2012. We will assess measures of overall predictive performance (Nagelkerke R2), calibration (calibration plots), and discrimination (Harrell’s concordance statistic). Development of the model will be informed by the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) statement.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board. The predictive algorithm and findings from this work will be disseminated at scientific meetings and in peer-reviewed publications.

The new mentee: Exploring Gen Z women medical students' mentorship needs and experiences.

The incoming Canadian cohort of medical students is comprised mainly of individuals from Generation Z (Gen Z; born between 1997 and 2012), with greater than 50% of applicants identifying as female. A gap remains in our understanding of Gen Z women learners in their challenges in navigating medical education, their expectations for their medical careers and the influences that have impacted their worldview. This study explored the needs, values, and experiences of Gen Z women medical students and the impact of these factors on mentorship expectations among this population that will soon be entering the workforce. Upon receiving ethics approval from the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board, semi-structured interviews were conducted (February-May 2021) with 15 Gen Z women students from 14 English-speaking Canadian medical schools who had given written consent to participate. An iterative constant comparative team approach was utilised in which the interview guide and sampling were adjusted as the data evolved. Transcripts were line by line coded into categories, then grouped into themes using descriptive analysis. These socially aware learners described how society had afforded them greater opportunities for expression, which gave them a sense of feeling advantaged over older generations. However, participants paradoxically expressed feelings of powerlessness and commented on tensions they experienced when interacting with older generation physician mentors, especially during conversations on social justice issues. They also highlighted instances of biased mentorship specific to their gender. Participants emphasised a desire for inclusive mentorship that considered the mentee's identity and intersectionality. The growing number of women learners in Canadian medical schools necessitates a re-evaluation of mentorship delivery. Mentors must adapt by integrating Gen Z ideals to overcome mentorship challenges.

Assessment of Gaps in Hematology Education in Canadian Internal Medicine Residency Programs

Background Across Canadian Internal Medicine residency programs, a resident's clinical exposure to hematologic disorders is highly heterogeneous depending on the residency program's curriculum, ethnic diversity of the local patient population, and access to resources. Despite this variability in clinical exposure to hematology, there is a paucity of data assessing Internal Medicine residents' competence in the various subspecialties of hematology and whether they are fulfilling the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons' expected competencies by the end of residency 1. Through this study, our primary aim was to assess Canadian Internal Medicine residents' perceptions of their hematology training to identify gaps in hematology education in residency curricula. Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey using REDCap to all Internal Medicine residents (PGY1 to PGY5) from participating sites across Canada. The survey was distributed to residents electronically by email. To increase response rates, the survey was distributed three times (every 2 weeks) over a 6-week period. An incentive ($10 Starbucks gift card) was provided to improve response rates. The survey questions were designed based on the Royal College objectives which outline expected competencies by the end of Internal Medicine residency (Table 1). It consisted of 16 questions assessing 4 domains: respondent demographics, competence in diagnosis and management of specific hematologic disorders, competence in management of hematologic emergencies, and resident perceptions on hematology education in their program. Survey responses were anonymous and consisted of a combination of dichotomous (yes/no) and ordinal variables (Likert scale). The study was approved by the University of Toronto Research and Ethics Board (REB). Generalized linear regression analysis was used to compare survey questions between residents in different subgroups. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Least square mean (LSM) difference (with standard error SE) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, with positive LSM indicating a higher Likert score. Results Of the 17 Internal Medicine programs that were invited to participate, 13 programs participated in the survey. 208 residents responded, with 92.31% (192/208) complete responses and 7.69% (16/208) incomplete responses. The overall response rate was 15.02% (208/1,385), with breakdown as follows: 31.5% (436/1,385) PGY1s, 30.5% (423/1,385) PGY2s, 30.9% (428/1,385) PGY3s, 4.5% (62/1,385) PGY4s, and 1.6% (22/1,385) PGY5s. 84.46% (163/208) of residents felt that there was a need for more hematology education in their residency program (Table 2). Specifically, residents felt that there was a need for more education in thrombosis (62.5%, 120/208), hemostasis (75.5%, 145/208), apheresis (75.0%, 144/208), sickle cell disease (79.2%, 152/208), transfusion medicine (84.4%, 162/208), and malignant hematology (78.7%, 151/208). A simulation/workshop was rated to be the most beneficial intervention (mean score of 4.25 +/- 0.80 on Likert scale) for learning. Conclusion Based on a cross-national survey of Internal Medicine residents in Canada, there are significant gaps in hematology education in Canadian Internal Medicine residency programs, most pronounced in transfusion medicine, sickle cell disease, and hemostasis. Interventions targeting these gaps should be designed to improve competence in the diagnosis and management of hematologic disorders and emergencies.

The State of Uberisation: Neoliberalism, Smart Urbanism, and the Regulated Deregulation of Toronto's Taxi‐cum‐Ridehail Market

AbstractIn 2016, the City of Toronto legalised the ridehail giant Uber under a particularly Uber‐friendly regulatory regime. Rather than understanding this interim outcome along the lines of now widespread narratives of corporate “disruption”, in this article I take up Manuel B. Aalbers’ notion of “regulated deregulation” in order to foreground the state's role as a manically prolific facilitator of early Uberisation. Based on ethnographic research in Toronto, I argue that the three longer‐standing state spatial strategies of (1) the common‐sense neoliberal state, (2) the labour‐averse competition state, and (3) the tech‐infatuated smart state were paramount in creating those “on‐the‐ground” conditions—social, legal, spatial, and other—on which Uber has been able to thrive in many cities across the North American continent.

ACS honors insulin development

Diabetes used to be a death sentence, killing people by disrupting sugar metabolism. But in 1922, University of Toronto researchers and physicians successfully treated a boy with diabetes by injecting him with insulin extracted from animal pancreases. Physicians clamored for the new drug, so the university began collaborating with Eli Lilly and Company to satisfy the demand. The company refined and scaled up production techniques and delivered the world’s first commercial doses in 1923. The American Chemical Society honored Lilly’s role in these achievements with a National Historic Chemical Landmark designation ceremony in Indianapolis on March 27. Speakers at the event included ACS president-elect Mary Carroll and Leonard Glass, senior vice president of Lilly diabetes global medical affairs. “The global pandemic has demonstrated unambiguously that science matters,” Carroll said. “It has shown the critical importance of performing and publishing rigorous scientific work, educating students, and communicating science to elected officials

The Varieties of Psychedelic Expertise in 1960s Canada: The Psychiatrists behind the Addiction Research Foundation's Study of LSD Therapy.

In 1962, Ontario's Addiction Research Foundation launched the first double-blind randomized controlled trial of LSD therapy as a treatment for alcoholism. The study, which found that LSD was not effective, was heavily criticized by other therapists working with the drug. These critics argued that the Toronto researchers who carried out the study were biased against LSD and used an anti-therapeutic method that was destined to produce negative results. Instead of creating a comfortable and supportive environment, they stressed, the Toronto group restrained patients to a bed in a hospital ward, used an unusually large dose of LSD, and hardly provided any careful therapeutic support. Some even compared this method to a "form of torture." Historians have paid little attention to the study, mentioning it only as an example of flawed or naïve LSD therapy that contrasted with the more advanced "psychedelic" approach developed in Saskatchewan. In this paper, I take a closer look at the Toronto psychiatrists who carried out the study and created the unique method that was employed. I show that they were actually quite excited about LSD and were more sophisticated in their approach to its use than has been appreciated by historians and critics. In many ways, they had their own brand of LSD expertise that differed from that of the Saskatchewan group. Some of the problems with the ARF study, then, did not stem from negative bias or a lack of competency, but instead resulted from the awkward relationship between LSD therapy and controlled trials.

A Short History of the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre on the Fortieth Anniversary of Its Founding

This essay examines the history of the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre (UCRDC) in Toronto, looking at how the tragedy of the Holodomor led Ukrainian-Canadians to come together in speaking out against the Soviet regime and equally, reaffirming Ukrainian nationality on the world stage. It also examines how the UCRDC evolved from mainly studying the Holodomor to exploring other topics of interest to Ukrainians worldwide. Through filmmaking, archival development, and publications, the UCRDC has worked in ensuring that the voices of Ukraine and Ukrainians be heard.

Piloting an online telecoaching community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: protocol for a mixed-methods implementation science study

IntroductionOur aim is to evaluate the implementation of an online telecoaching community-based exercise (CBE) intervention with the goal of reducing disability and enhancing physical activity and health among adults living...

Linkage of administrative and compensation databases for work-related asthma surveillance in Ontario: A proof of concept study

RATIONALE: Approximately 15% of all asthma cases are work-related and eligible for workers’ compensation in Ontario. However, compensation rates of work-related asthma (WRA) are far less than predicted, making it difficult to estimate the prevalence of the disease. OBJECTIVES We aimed to estimate prevalence of compensated WRA in Ontario; profile the pattern of compensated WRA by demographic, temporal and geographic factors; and demonstrate the potential for database linkage to monitor rates of compensated WRA cases. METHODS Compensated WRA claims data were linked to asthma cases in the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) asthma database via encrypted health card numbers. WRA claims between April 1998 and March 2002 were accessed from: i) the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Occupational Disease Information Surveillance System (ODISS); and ii) a University of Toronto research database (RD) created by abstracting the same WSIB ODISS claim files. MAIN RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of WRA among individuals with asthma in the asthma database was less than 1% compared to an expected prevalence of 15-20%. Sensitivity of the Asthma database for including individuals with asthma with WRA was very good but differed significantly based on claims category (p < 0.001) compared to the RD as the gold standard. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest WRA is severely under-reported. Approximately 11-15% of compensated WRA claims are not captured by the asthma database. Factors accounting for discordance between databases should be explored in order for administrative data linkage to be used to monitor the rates of compensated WRA cases in Ontario.

Steve McCaffery Remixed: “great poems are read from the bottom up”

The following essay is a work of Recombinant Theory. To write this essay, I have performed an elaborate cut-up and montage of Steve McCaffery’s poetic and critical writing, producing over 4,000 recombinant aphorisms that extend from McCaffery’s own poetics, while also refracting his theoretical concepts. Of these 4,000+ aphorisms, I have compiled several in the linear sequence that follows. This essay is an original work of narrative and theory, and it is also fully indebted to McCaffery’s own work. Recombinant Theory is constraint theory, producing critical writing by means of poetic technique. This strategy resonates with the first mandate of the Toronto Research Group Manifesto (written by McCaffery and bpNichol), which states that “all theory is transient &amp; after the fact of writing.” In Recombinant Theory, the essay’s ideas minimally precede the writing process; the cut-up and montage techniques are predetermined, but the process itself determines what recombinant aphorisms will emerge, and what theoretical arc will be produced through the sequencing of these aphorisms. Recombinant Theory chooses not to assess a text at arm’s length, not to summarize any part of a text, not to paraphrase, not to speak on a text’s behalf. Instead, Recombinant Theory speaks with the text, geomantically realigning its energy patterns, infecting the text’s energy while also being infected by it, foregrounding the direct physical impact of material language, waging an attack on the categories of author and reader.

Navigator programme for hospitalised adults experiencing homelessness: protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

IntroductionPeople experiencing homelessness suffer from poor outcomes after hospitalisation due to systemic barriers to care, suboptimal transitions of care, and intersecting health and social burdens. Case management programmes have been...

Todurujo na Kadurok (empowering youth): study protocol of an HIV self-testing and edutainment comic cluster randomised trial among refugee youth in a humanitarian setting in Uganda

IntroductionRefugees experience HIV vulnerabilities due to the confluence of displacement, violence and poverty. HIV self-testing, understudied with refugees, is a promising method to increase testing uptake, yet challenges remain with...

Exploring COVID-19 vaccine uptake, confidence and hesitancy among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada: protocol for the Ku-gaa-gii pimitizi-win qualitative study

IntroductionPeople experiencing homelessness are at high risk for COVID-19 and poor outcomes if infected. Vaccination offers protection against serious illness, and people experiencing homelessness have been prioritised in the vaccine...

Long COVID and episodic disability: advancing the conceptualisation, measurement and knowledge of episodic disability among people living with Long COVID – protocol for a mixed-methods study

IntroductionAs the prevalence of Long COVID increases, there is a critical need for a comprehensive assessment of disability. Our aims are to: (1) characterise disability experiences among people living with...

Remembering Insulin, et al.

In 2022, historians of endocrinology continue to mark the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of insulin (1921–1923).[1][1] They remember the triumphant isolation of the pancreas-secreting hormone by University of Toronto researchers, their historic collaboration with Indiana-based

Heterocyclic amines detected in cooked meats and fishes from street markets and restaurants in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam: A Pilot local field investigation findings in 2020

BackgroundStreet food has been a typical culinary feature of many countries. These foods, mainly, meats and fish, were often fried, and grilled with varied marinade and preparation. However, foods that contain a lot of protein after processing at high temperatures always have many risks, including cancer risks of which heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) have been one of the typical compounds. However, there is a lack of data on HAAs in low- and medium-income countries to date. ObjectiveThe aim was to examine the concentration of HAAs including 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP); 2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx); and 2-Amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC) in cooked meat and fish samples. MethodsThree standards including PhIP, MeIQx, AαC, and three isotopically labeled internal standards PhIP-d3, MeIQx-d3, and AαC-15N3 were purchased from Toronto Research Chemicals, Inc. (Toronto, Canada). Formic acid, HPLC-grade methanol, acetonitrile, water, sodium chloride, and magnesium sulfate were supplied by Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). We collected cooked meat and fish samples from street markets and restaurants in the area of Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam in 2020. The collected samples were prepared for LC-MS/MS analysis. ResultsAmong 23 selected samples of cooked beef, fish, chicken, and pork, we have detected PhIP(ng/g) in 9 samples (the mean 2.68, standard deviation 2.41, median 2.40, minimum 0.33, and maximum 7.19); and AαC(ng/g) in 6 samples (the mean 0.74, standard deviation 0.75, median 0.45, minimum 0.12, and maximum 1.90); and MeIQx(ng/g) was not detected in all samples. Three grilled pork samples were positive with AαC at a concentration of 0.75–1.95 ng/g. Five fish samples have been detected to contain PhIP at the concentration of mean of 3.17; the standard deviation of 1.47, and the median of 3.90 ng/g. Two fried chickens have been detected to contain PhIP at the concentration of 0.41 and 7.19 ng/g. ConclusionsWe detected a considerable amount of PhIP concentration in the collected fried fish and other fried meat samples and AαC in grilled and fried pork, beef, and chicken samples. The findings warrant further measuring more compounds of the HAA group and extending the number of real samples, as well as types of samples for example cooked meats, fish, fried eggs, tofu, and other cooked food receipts by regions in Vietnam.

FP16.01 Development and Characterization of Two Novel Squamous Cell Lung Cancer Mouse Cell Lines

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The incidence and mortality associated with lung cancer is a major Public Health challenge in advanced societies. About 20-30% of all lung cancers are classified as lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), also known as squamous cell carcinoma (SSC or SqCC) or epidermoid carcinoma. The absence of preclinical models makes LUSC disease analysis and research more challenging. The development of well-characterized cellular and molecular tools is essential for the advance in lung cancer research. In the present work, we have performed an exhaustive molecular and functional characterization of a new LUSC research model, recently developed in our laboratory. This model consists of two novel A/J mouse-derived syngeneic cell lines from NTCU-induced LUSC.In our opinion, these cell lines may become a robust tool for the study of squamous cell lung cancer in a reliable and reproducible manner. Carcinogenesis and cell line generation: LUSC tumors were induced by N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU) (Toronto Research Chemicals) treatment applying 0.04 M NTCU by skin painting twice a week for 20 weeks to 8-week-old A/J mice. Immunohistochemical staining: Dissected tumors were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Three-micrometer-thick sections were used for tumors immunohistochemical phenotypic characterization. Exome sequencing: Whole exome sequencing was performed on extracted DNA from the tumor-derived cell lines. RNA sequencing analysis: Samples were prepared with the Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA kit and sequenced as reverse paired-end (50 bp) runs on the Nextseq sequencer. Tumor immunotherapy experiments: 2x106 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in one flank of 8-week-old female A/J mice. When the tumors reached a volume of 75 mm3, mice were randomized and treated intraperitoneally with 3 doses of 100 μg of anti-PD1 or anti-CTLA4. Tumor immune landscape analysis: 2x106 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in one flank of 6 8-week-old female A/J mice . Thirteen days after cell inoculation, tumors were collected and processed for flow cytometry analysis. Metastasis in vivo model: Cells were transduced with a triple modality construct containing a triple fusion protein GFP, luciferase and thymidine kinase. Eight-week old female mice were inoculated in the left cardiac ventricle with 1 × 105 cells. Cells were followed by bioluminescence. We have generated two transplantable LUSC cell lines (UN-SCC679 and UN-SCC680) derived from an N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU) chemically-induced mouse model in A/J mice. Both cells lines expressed cytokeratins and p40, and lacked thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1) expression. Furthermore, we genetically characterized the LUSC cell lines by performing whole exome and RNA sequencing. In addition, we characterized the immune landscape of both tumors in vivo and assessed their response to immunotherapy studies combining the gold-standard checkpoint inhibitors in clinic. Finally, we studied the metastatic potential of each of these two models and confirmed that they reflect the human LUSC organotropism to the brain, bones, liver and adrenal glands. We have generated a very valuable tool for LUSC research that recapitulates the complexity of the human disease.

Zhijun Ning

Angewandte ChemieVolume 133, Issue 31 p. 16887-16887 Introducing …Free Access Zhijun Ning First published: 01 July 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202107321AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionAdd to favorites ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract “My favorite thing about my lab group is interdisciplinary research atmosphere. … My biggest inspiration is walking along the grand gallery in ShanghaiTech campus …” Find out more about Zhijun Ning in his Introducing … Profile. Zhijun Ning The author presented on this page has published his first article as a submitting corresponding author in Angewandte Chemie: “Low-Dimensional Inorganic Tin Perovskite Solar Cells Prepared by Templated Growth”: H. Li, X. Jiang, Q. Wei, Z. Zang, M. Ma, F. Wang, W. Zhou, Z. Ning, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, doi.org/10.1002/anie.202104958; Angew. Chem. 2021, 133, doi.org/10.1002/ange.202104958. Position: Associate Professor (Tenured), School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University Homepage: https://spst.shanghaitech.edu.cn/2018/0301/c2349a52605/page.htm ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9130-3490 Education: 2000–2004 Undergraduate studies, Liaoning Shihua University (China) 2009 PhD with He Tian, East China University of Science and Technology 2009–2011 Postdoc with Hans Ågren and Ying Fu, Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) 2011–2014 Postdoc with Edward H. Sargent, University of Toronto (Canada) Research: Solution-processed optoelectronic materials and devices, especially tin perovskite solar cells and quantum dot infrared photodetectors Hobbies: Basketball, music The greatest scientific advance of the next decade will be a performance leap of clean energy materials and system. Science is fun because there are lots of surprise. The most exciting thing about my research is the development of low-dimensional tin perovskite solar cells. I chose my current career path because of strong curiosity for an unknown world. I advise my students to stay curious and be persistent. A turning point in my career was joining ShanghaiTech University. My long-term goal is real applications of solution-processed optoelectronic materials and devices. My group has fun by having parties. My not-so-secret passion is to develop new materials and devices. I lose track of time when traveling. A good day at work starts with a cup of tea. My biggest inspiration is walking along the grand gallery in the campus. If I had one year of paid leave I would read and travel. The most important quality of a mentor is self-discipline. My favorite thing about my lab group is interdisciplinary research atmosphere. My favorite structure type is the cubic. My favorite place on earth is my hometown, a village at Hunan, central part of China. My favorite food is a home-made dried bean curd in my hometown. My favorite drink is green tea. My favorite music is rock. Behind the Science References 1The tin perovskite solar cell is emerging as an important thin-film photovoltaic technology. The improvement of its stability is an urgent task nowadays for which the combination of low-dimensional and inorganic scaffold structures is a promising approach. However, films based on low-dimensional inorganic tin perovskite structure usually show high defect density and inhomogeneous orientation. We spent a lot of time to address this problem without success. Accidentally, my student Hansheng discovered that a special reagent can help to grow a high-quality film. We then revealed the intermediate structure and clarified the kinetics of crystal growth. Google Scholar Volume133, Issue31July 26, 2021Pages 16887-16887 This is the German version of Angewandte Chemie. Note for articles published since 1962: Do not cite this version alone. Take me to the International Edition version with citable page numbers, DOI, and citation export. We apologize for the inconvenience. ReferencesRelatedInformation

Planned Oocyte Cryopreservation: Outcomes, Motivations, and Involvement of Primary Health Care Providers.

Background: With improvements in oocyte cryopreservation and widespread delays in childbearing, planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) has become an increasingly attractive option. This study aimed to (1) review POC cycle outcomes at an academic in vitro fertilization (IVF) center and (2) examine POC users' motivations for pursuing POC, fertility knowledge, and the involvement of their primary health care providers (PHP). Materials and Methods: POC cycle outcomes were collected from IVF records of the 224 women who underwent ≥1 cycle from 2012 to 2018. The 198 who were reachable by e-mail were invited to complete an online survey. The study was approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (No. 32951). Results: Mean age of the 224 women at first cycle was 36.4 (range: 25-42), with a significant decrease in anti-Müllerian hormone level (p = 0.001) and mean number of oocytes retrieved (p = 0.006) and cryopreserved per cycle (p = 0.042) with increasing age. From those invited for survey participation, 98 (49.5%) questionnaires were returned, with 86 evaluable. Majority of respondents were Caucasian (66%), single (93%), and earned a gross annual income of >$70,000 (74%). Strongest motivation for pursuing POC was concern about age-related fertility decline in the absence of a partner. Respondents' annual income was positively correlated with the number of completed cycles (p = 0.032). Half the respondents correctly identified age of onset of marked fertility decline as ≥35 years. In only 19% of cases was the conversation PHP initiated, and 29% never discussed POC with their PHP. Conclusions: More than 50% of women underwent POC at an age when fertility has begun to markedly decline. It is important for PHPs to identify and discuss POC with appropriate patients and offer accurate preliminary information and timely referrals for those interested in exploring this option.