19 research outputs found
Evaluating Student Perceptions of Course Delivery Platforms
In this paper we evaluate effectiveness of course delivery mode on three dimensions: values, networking opportunities and learning. While students and their future employers are two important customers for the business program, we focus on the perception of students regarding the effectiveness of course delivery mode on program performance. The three dimensions are evaluated based on a questionnaire survey administered to business program students at several universities. We present the results of statistical analysis and draw conclusions based on the results.
Breeding chickpea for water limited environments: selection indices and strategies
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the one of the most important
pulse crops in the world and its production is limited by terminal
drought. Unlike conventional breeding for yield, it is more
challenging and requires to be measured in terms of its manifestation
towards changing performance of a genotype under
stress. An evaluation of a panel developed for drought and
breeding studies has clearly identified the presence of large
variability for drought tolerance. A large number of traits have
been screened and it has been inferred that drought susceptibility
index is the best way to identify genotypes that have
resilience to terminal drought. However, different genotypes
possessed various physiological mechanisms to cope with the
effects of drought and, hence, provide ample opportunities to
breeders to combine them to develop drought-tolerant genotypes.
The chickpea genotypes L550, PG112 and ICC92944
have shown higher mean values for yield traits under stress
and have desirable terminal drought-tolerant mechanisms for
yield and other associated characters such as lower DSI, higher
HI, higher BY and higher grain yield. They have, thus, emerged
as stable genotypes for yield under stress situations. Though
MABC for root traits has been identified, rapid screening techniques
using CTD and identification of markers for MSI and
RWC to be used for screening segregating generations appears
to be promising in north Indian conditions. This is because unlike
in south India, drought in the north India develops abruptly
after a cold period, giving little time for the root system to
respond. Thus, breeding for terminal drought tolerance would
require concentrating on these traits too
Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study
Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research
Role of Collectins and Complement Protein C1q in pregnancy and parturition
Collectins such as surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-D, and mannan-binding lectin (MBL), as well as complement protein C1q are evolutionarily conserved innate immune molecules. They are known to opsonize a range of microbial pathogens (bacteria, fungi, virus, and parasites) and trigger effector clearance mechanisms involving phagocytosis and/or complement activation. Collectins and C1q have also attracted attention in studies involving pregnancy as they are expressed in the female reproductive tissues during pregnancy; a unique state of immune suppression with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Recent studies are beginning to unravel their functional significance in implantation, placentation, pregnancy maintenance and parturition in normal and adverse pregnancies. Collectins and C1q, expressed in gestational tissues during pregnancy, might alter the status of mother’s immune response to the allogenic fetus and the microenvironment, thereby serving as important regulators of fetus-mother interaction. Here, we discuss the functional roles that have been assigned to SPA,
SP-D, MBL and C1q in pregnancy and parturition
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Phase II evaluation of the triple combination of PDS0101, M9241, and bintrafusp alfa in patients with HPV 16 positive malignancies
Abstract only
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Background: There are more than 630,000 cases of HPV associated malignancies including cervical, oropharyngeal and anal cancer worldwide annually. HPV 16 is responsible for the majority of these cases. About 15-20% of HPV associated malignancies respond to PD-(L)1 inhibitors, but for the overwhelming majority of patients who progress on these immunotherapies there is no effective standard of care therapy. Preclinical studies have shown that the triple combination of PDS0101 (Versamune-HPV), a liposomal multipeptide therapeutic vaccine targeting HPV 16 E6/E7, M9241, a tumor-targeting immunocytokine composed of IL-12 heterodimers fused to a monoclonal antibody targeting free DNA in necrotic tumor regions, and bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF-β and PD-L1, resulted in maximum HPV-specific T cell responses, T cell tumor infiltration and tumor reduction as compared to any one or two of these agents alone. Methods: Fourteen pts with HPV 16+ relapsed or refractory advanced cancer were enrolled to the triple combination of PDS0101, M9241 and bintrafusp alfa (NCT04287868). Pts received bintrafusp alfa at 1200 mg flat dose i.v. every 2 weeks, M9241 at 16.8 mcg/kg s.c. every 4 weeks and PDS0101 given as two separate 0.5 ml s.c. injections every 4 weeks. Dose reductions of M9241 to 8 mcg/kg were allowed as well as skipped doses of any agent for ongoing toxicities. Results: Fourteen pts with advanced HPV 16+ cancers (5 cervical, 2 vaginal/vulvar, 4 anal, 3 oropharyngeal) were treated. 4/14 (28.6%) pts had a grade 3 treatment related toxicity including grade 3 hematuria in 2 pts with cervical ca and prior pelvic radiation and grade 3 AST/ALT elevation in 2 pts, one with anal ca and one with vaginal ca. For one patient with grade 3 AST/ALT elevation dose reduction of M9241 from 16.8 to 8 mcg/kg allowed for continued treatment with AST/ALT remaining at grade 1 or less. One additional patient had transient asymptomatic grade 4 neutropenia. No other treatment related grade 3 or greater toxicities were noted. 10/14 (71%) pts have had objective responses: 1 CR (anal ca) and 9 PRs (3 cervical, 2 vulvar/vaginal, 2 anal, 2 oropharyngeal) with 9/10 of these responses ongoing after a median 5 month of follow up. Of the 14 pts, 6 pts have checkpoint naïve disease and 8 pts have checkpoint refractory disease. 5/6 (83%) pts with checkpoint naïve disease and 5/8 (63%) pts with checkpoint refractory disease have had objective responses. Analyses of immune responses and other immune correlates are ongoing. Conclusions: Triple combination of PDS0101, M9241 and bintrafusp alfa appears to have a manageable safety profile along with early evidence of notable clinical activity for pts with both checkpoint naïve as well as checkpoint refractory HPV 16+ advanced malignancies. Clinical trial information: NCT04287868