Controlled study of ground-based interferometric radar for rockfall hazard monitoring

The ability to detect small and localized movements of geotechnical facilities is important monitoring and early-warning hazard detection. Current deformation monitoring technology is limited in its ability to both scan massive structures and detect small and localized movements. Ground-based interferometric radar (GBIR) is an emerging remote sensing technology that has the potential to fill this gap in surface deformation monitoring technology. Much of the focus of previous research and application of GBIR has been on monitoring large spatial scale movements, such as mine walls, dams, and earth slopes experiencing deformational movements occurring over hundreds or thousands of square meters. In this study the focus is on evaluating the capabilities of GBIR for detecting and monitoring small movements (mm-scale) occurring over very localized regions (a few m2). Specifically, this study focused on the application of GBIR for detecting and monitoring movements of individual boulders in a massive landscape. The potential long-term application is to use GBIR to detect and monitor precursor movements to rockfall events. Boulders, ranging from 0.5 to 5 meters in approximate facial dimensions, were moved using pry bars and airbag jacks in increments of a few to several mm. Two identical GBIR devices positioned at separate locations scanned a region covering approximately 20,000 m2 after each boulder movement. Ground truth measurements were also performed after each boulder movement. The detectability of the boulder movements was assessed by comparing the distribution of measured phase values from the boulder to (1) phase values measured on the surrounding non-moving portion of the image and (2) phase values measured from the same boulder when it was not moving. The results from the study showed that movements of boulders with dimensions larger than about 2 m were detectable for range offset distances from about 75 to 150 m. Movements as small of 1.7 mm were detected on these larger boulders. Phase values associated with movements of the smaller boulders, with dimensions less than about 2 m, were more difficult to differentiate from the non-moving portions of the image. This study successfully demonstrated the potential of GBIR to fill existing gaps in current displacement and deformation monitoring technology for geotechnical applications

Progastrin Represses the Alternative Activation of Human Macrophages and Modulates Their Influence on Colon Cancer Epithelial Cells

Macrophage infiltration is a negative prognostic factor for most cancers but gastrointestinal tumors seem to be an exception. The effect of macrophages on cancer progression depends on their phenotype, which may vary between M1 (pro-inflammatory, defensive) to M2 (tolerogenic, pro-tumoral). Gastrointestinal cancers often become an ectopic source of gastrins and macrophages present receptors for these peptides. The aim of the present study is to analyze whether gastrins can affect the pattern of macrophage infiltration in colorectal tumors. We have evaluated the relationship between gastrin expression and the pattern of macrophage infiltration in samples from colorectal cancer and the influence of these peptides on the phenotype of macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in vitro. The total number of macrophages (CD68+ cells) was similar in tumoral and normal surrounding tissue, but the number of M2 macrophages (CD206+ cells) was significantly higher in the tumor. However, the number of these tumor-associated M2 macrophages correlated negatively with the immunoreactivity for gastrin peptides in tumor epithelial cells. Macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in the presence of progastrin showed lower levels of M2-markers (CD206, IL10) with normal amounts of M1-markers (CD86, IL12). Progastrin induced similar effects in mature macrophages treated with IL4 to obtain a M2-phenotype or with LPS plus IFNγ to generate M1-macrophages. Macrophages differentiated in the presence of progastrin presented a reduced expression of Wnt ligands and decreased the number and increased cell death of co-cultured colorectal cancer epithelial cells. Our results suggest that progastrin inhibits the acquisition of a M2-phenotype in human macrophages. This effect exerted on tumor associated macrophages may modulate cancer progression and should be taken into account when analyzing the therapeutic value of gastrin immunoneutralization

The Ontario Mother and Infant Study (TOMIS) III: A multi-site cohort study of the impact of delivery method on health, service use, and costs of care in the first postpartum year

Abstract Background The caesarean section rate continues to rise globally. A caesarean section is inarguably the preferred method of delivery when there is good evidence that a vaginal delivery may unduly risk the health of a woman or her infant. Any decisions about delivery method in the absence of clear medical indication should be based on knowledge of outcomes associated with different childbirth methods. However, there is lack of sold evidence of the short-term and long-term risks and benefits of a planned caesarean delivery compared to a planned vaginal delivery. It also is important to consider the economic aspects of caesarean sections, but very little attention has been given to health care system costs that take into account services used by women for themselves and their infants following hospital discharge. Methods and design The Ontario Mother and Infant Study III is a prospective cohort study to examine relationships between method of delivery and maternal and infant health, service utilization, and cost of care at three time points during the year following postpartum hospital discharge. Over 2500 women were recruited from 11 hospitals across the province of Ontario, Canada, with data collection occurring between April 2006 and October 2008. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire in hospital and structured telephone interviews at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after discharge. Data will be analyzed using generalized estimating equation, a special generalized linear models technique. A qualitative descriptive component supplements the survey approach, with the goal of assisting in interpretation of data and providing explanations for trends in the findings. Discussion The findings can be incorporated into patient counselling and discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of different delivery methods, potentially leading to changes in preferences and practices. In addition, the findings will be useful to hospital- and community-based postpartum care providers, managers, and administrators in guiding risk assessment and early intervention strategies. Finally, the research findings can provide the basis for policy modification and implementation strategies to improve outcomes and reduce costs of care

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Black American Artists / 71

Catalog of the exhibition Black American Artists / 71 by the Illinois Bell Telephone and circulated by the Illinois Arts Council from January 1971 to January 1972 with the goal of giving hope to young Black artists by exhibiting and give exposure to Black artists' art

Genomewide Linkage Analysis of Celiac Disease in Finnish Families

Celiac disease (CD), or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a common multifactorial disorder resulting from intolerance to cereal prolamins. The only established genetic susceptibility factor is HLA-DQ, which appears to explain only part of the overall genetic risk. We performed a genomewide scan of CD in 60 Finnish families. In addition to strong evidence for linkage to the HLA region at 6p21.3 (Z(max)>5), suggestive evidence for linkage was found for six other chromosomal regions—1p36, 4p15, 5q31, 7q21, 9p21-23, and 16q12. We further analyzed the three most convincing regions—4p15, 5q31, and 7q21—by evaluation of dense marker arrays across each region and by analysis of an additional 38 families. Although multipoint analysis with dense markers provided supportive evidence (multipoint LOD scores 3.25 at 4p15, 1.49 at 5q31, and 1.04 at 7q21) for the initial findings, the additional 38 families did not strengthen evidence for linkage. The role that HLA-DQ plays was studied in more detail by analysis of DQB1 alleles in all 98 families. All but one patient carried one or two HLA-DQ risk alleles, and 65% of HLA-DQ2 carriers were affected. Our study indicates that the HLA region harbors a predominant CD-susceptibility locus in these Finnish families

Keep Moving, Your Health Depends On It: Impact of Improved Physical Activity and Weight Loss In a Wellness Program

Negative impact of CVD as the leading cause of death in the US is worsened by the significant burden of obesity and associated morbidity and concerns about the growing population inactivity. The American Heart Association has emphasized worksite-based interventions to improve CV health. We evaluated the benefits of improved physical activity(PA) and weight loss(WL) among employees of the Baptist Health South Florida enrolled in a wellness intervention program. Methods: Employees with two or more Cardio-metabolic risk factors , such as total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dl, systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, hemoglobin A1C ≥ 6.5%, and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 were enrolled in an intervention program themed “My unlimited potential”. Interventions were focused on diet and PA modifications. We defined improved physical activity as the difference in the metabolic equivalents (METs) at 12 weeks follow-up and at baseline. WL (lbs) was the difference in weight at follow-up. The relationship between WL and changes in METs was explored in an ordered logistic regression. Results: Overall 203 (48±10 years, 78% females) employees were enrolled with a retention rate of 89% (n=181) at 12 weeks follow-up. At baseline the median weights was 211 lbs., and mean METs- 8.6, while at follow-up the median weight was 200 lbs, and the mean METs 11. At 12 weeks follow up 38% had significant WL (lost >5% of baseline weight). The median WL was 8.4 (IQR 4.8-13.0) lbs and the mean change in METs was 2.4±1.8. Median WL increased with increasing tertiles of METs change; tertile1- 6.5(4-11) lbs., tertile2- 9(6-13)lbs. tertile3- 11(7-15)lbs. Increased PA was related to increased WL across BMI categories adjusting for age, gender and baseline weight. Conclusion: This study points strongly toward the benefit of increasing PA among other lifestyle modification interventions in controlling weight. Although further follow-up of this population to evaluate sustainability of change is needed, our results clearly relate improved PA and health. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gi