Patient Autonomy in Talmudic Context: The Patient’s ‘‘I Must Eat’’ on Yom Kippur in the Light of Contemporary Bioethics

In contemporary bioethics, the autonomy of the patient has assumed considerable importance. Progressing from a more limited notion of informed consent, shared decision making calls upon patients to voice the desires and preferences of their authentic self, engaging in choice among alternatives as a way to exercise deeply held values. One influential opinion in Jewish bioethics holds that Jewish law, in contradistinction to secular bioethics, limits the patient's exercise of autonomy only in those instances in which treatment choices are sensitive to preferences. Here, we analyze a discussion in the Mishna, a foundational text of rabbinic Judaism, regarding patient autonomy in the setting of religiously mandated fasting, and commentaries in the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds, finding both a more expansive notion of such autonomy and a potential metaphysical grounding for it in the importance of patient self-knowledge

Cognitive functioning in patients with neuro-PASC: the role of fatigue, mood, and hospitalization status

This study sought to characterize cognitive functioning in patients with neurological post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Neuro-PASC) and investigate the association of subjective and objective functioning along with other relevant factors with prior hospitalization for COVID-19. Participants were 106 adult outpatients with Neuro-PASC referred for abbreviated neuropsychological assessment after scoring worse than one standard deviation below the mean on cognitive screening. Of these patients, 23 had been hospitalized and 83 had not been hospitalized for COVID-19. Subjective cognitive impairment was evaluated with the self-report cognition subscale from the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System. Objective cognitive performance was assessed using a composite score derived from multiple standardized cognitive measures. Other relevant factors, including fatigue and depression/mood symptoms, were assessed via the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System. Subjective cognitive impairment measures exceeded the minimal difficulties noted on objective tests and were associated with depression/mood symptoms as well as fatigue. However, fatigue independently explained the most variance (17.51%) in patients’ subjective cognitive ratings. When adjusting for fatigue and time since onset of COVID-19 symptoms, neither objective nor subjective impairment were associated with prior hospitalization for COVID-19. Findings suggest that abbreviated neuropsychological assessment may not reveal objective difficulties beyond initial cognitive screening in patients with Neuro-PASC. However, subjective cognitive concerns may persist irrespective of hospitalization status, and are likely influenced by fatigue and depression/mood symptoms. The impact of concomitant management of fatigue and mood in patients with Neuro-PASC who report cognitive concerns deserve further study

Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life in Recipients of Livers Donated after Cardiac Death

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) has expanded in the last decade in the US; however, DCD liver utilization has flattened in recent years due to poor outcomes. We examined clinical and quality of life (QOL) outcomes of DCD recipients by conducting a retrospective and cross-sectional review of patients from 2003 to 2010. We compared clinical outcomes of DCD recipients (n=60) to those of donation after brain death (DBD) liver recipients (n=669) during the same time period. DCD recipients had significantly lower rates of 5-year graft survival (P<0.001) and a trend toward lower rates of 5-year patient survival (P=0.064) when compared to the DBD cohort. In order to examine QOL outcomes in our cohorts, we administered the Short Form Liver Disease Quality of Life questionnaire to 30 DCD and 60 DBD recipients. The DCD recipients reported lower generic and liver-specific QOL. We further stratified the DCD cohort by the presence of ischemic cholangiopathy (IC). Patients with IC reported lower QOL when compared to DBD recipients and those DCD recipients without IC (P<0.05). While the results are consistent with clinical experience, this is the first report of QOL in DCD recipients using standardized measures. These data can be used to guide future comparative effectiveness studies

Delta Shelter (sequence unknown), IPRO 311 - Deliverables: IPRO 311 Brochure F09

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. The team will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During the term, the team will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends.Deliverables for IPRO 311: Delta Shelter for the fall 200

Energy and Facility Planning for Delta Tau Delta (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Energy and Facility Planning For Delta Tau Delta IPRO311 Poster3 F09

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. We will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During this IPRO we will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends. In general, we will collect information regarding the existing conditions and itemize all improvements that could be made to create a more energy efficient fraternity. In addition, we will look for grant assistance to help pay for future energy efficiency upgrades. This will allow us to address what is possible through comparison of funding and needs.Deliverable

Energy and Facility Planning for Delta Tau Delta (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Energy and Facility Planning For Delta Tau Delta IPRO311 Poster1 F09

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. We will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During this IPRO we will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends. In general, we will collect information regarding the existing conditions and itemize all improvements that could be made to create a more energy efficient fraternity. In addition, we will look for grant assistance to help pay for future energy efficiency upgrades. This will allow us to address what is possible through comparison of funding and needs.Deliverable

Delta Shelter (sequence unknown), IPRO 311 - Deliverables

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. The team will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During the term, the team will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends.Deliverables for IPRO 311: Delta Shelter for the fall 200

Delta Shelter (sequence unknown), IPRO 311 - Deliverables: IPRO 311 Midterm Presentation F09

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. The team will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During the term, the team will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends.Deliverables for IPRO 311: Delta Shelter for the fall 200

Energy and Facility Planning for Delta Tau Delta (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Energy and Facility Planning For Delta Tau Delta IPRO311 Final Report F09

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. We will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During this IPRO we will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends. In general, we will collect information regarding the existing conditions and itemize all improvements that could be made to create a more energy efficient fraternity. In addition, we will look for grant assistance to help pay for future energy efficiency upgrades. This will allow us to address what is possible through comparison of funding and needs.Deliverable

Energy and Facility Planning for Delta Tau Delta (Semester Unknown) IPRO 311: Energy and Facility Planning For Delta Tau Delta IPRO311 Brochures F09

The Delta Tau Delta fraternity wants to make their current house as energy efficient and green as possible. We will look at all aspects of the DTD house and their operations to create a more energy efficient fraternity. During this IPRO we will consider possible alternatives to many issues including but not limited to: mechanical heating system, building envelope, thermal properties of buildings perimeter, roofing materials, air infiltration, ventilation, and occupancy trends. In general, we will collect information regarding the existing conditions and itemize all improvements that could be made to create a more energy efficient fraternity. In addition, we will look for grant assistance to help pay for future energy efficiency upgrades. This will allow us to address what is possible through comparison of funding and needs.Deliverable