Endogenous Health Care, Life Expectancy, and Economic Development

We study the endogenous relationship between health care, life expectancy and output in a modified neoclassical growth model. While health care competes resources away from goods production, it prolongs life expectancy which in turn leads to higher capital accumulation. We show that savings and health care are complements in equilibrium, with both rising with economic development. Our model is therefore consistent with several stylized facts, namely, (i) countries spend more on health care as they prosper, (ii) individuals in rich countries tend to live longer, and (iii) population aging is more pronounced in rich countries. Moreover, through simulation, health care and health production technology are found to be growth and welfare enhancing.life expectancy, health care, economic growth, population aging

Corticospinal excitability following short-term motor imagery training of a strength task

Motor imagery and actual movement engage similar neural structures, however, whether they produce similar training-related corticospinal adaptations has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to compare changes in strength and corticospinal excitability following short-term motor imagery strength training and short-term strength training. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the contralateral motor cortex (M1) to elicit motor-evoked potentials in the dominant biceps brachii muscle prior to and following 3-week strength training using actual bicep curls or motor imagery of bicep curls. The strength training (n = 6) and motor imagery (n = 6) groups underwent three supervised training sessions per week for 3 weeks. Participants completed four sets of six to eight repetitions (actual or imagined) at a training load of 80% of their one-repetition maximum. The control group (n = 6) were required to maintain their current level of physical activity. Both training groups exhibited large performance gains in strength (p < 0.001; strength training 39% improvement, imagery 16% improvement), which were significantly different between groups (p = 0.027). TMS revealed that the performance improvements observed in both imagery and strength training were accompanied by increases in corticospinal excitability (p < 0.001), however, these differences were not significantly different between groups (p = 0.920). Our findings suggest that both strength training and motor imagery training utilised similar neural substrates within the primary M1, however, strength training resulted in greater gains in strength than motor imagery strength training. This difference in strength increases may be attributed to adaptations during strength training that are not confined to the primary M1. These findings have theoretical implications for functional equivalent views of motor imagery as well as important therapeutic implications

Cholangiographic Features in the Diagnosis and Management of Obstructive Icteric Type Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In 11 years and 3 months, 2037 patients with HCC were seen and 48 patients (2.4%) were diagnosed to have obstructive icteric type HCC. Five patients were terminally ill and were not investigated further. Forty three patients were initially investigated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) and classified as having obstructive icteric type 1, 2, or 3 HCC based on the cholangiographic findings. The obstruction in type 1 HCC was due to intraluminal tumour casts and/or tumour fragments obstructing the hepatic ductal confluence or common bile duct, while intraluminal blood clots, from haemobilia, filling the biliary tree was the cause in type 2 HCC. The pathology in type 3 HCC was extraluminal obstruction by extensive tumour encasement of the intra–hepatic biliary ductal system and/or extrinsic compression of the hepatic and common bile ducts by tumour(s) and/or malignant lymph nodes. At the initial ERC/PTC, 10 patients (5 resected, 50%) had obstructive icteric type 1 and 23 patients (0 resected) had obstructive icteric type 3 HCC. Of the 10 patients initially classified according to cholangiography to have obstructive icteric type 2 HCC, subsequent investigations revealed that 6 patients had type 1 HCC (4 resectable, 67%) and 4 patients had type 3 HCC (0 resectable). The classification of the obstructive icteric type HCC into types 1, 2, and 3, based on the initial cholangiographic appearances has simplified and rationalized our management strategy for this condition

Implications Of The Caacb Virus Contamination In Biomanufacturing Project For Cell Therapy Manufacturers

Adventitious agent contamination of cell culture-based biomanufacturing operations for the production of protein and monoclonal antibody biotherapeutics are infrequent, but when they do occur, they are very costly, impact manufacturing operations, and can potentially impact patient safety and product supply. In response to this need, the MIT Consortium on Adventitious Agent Contamination in Biomanufacturing (CAACB) began the confidential collection and analysis of industry-wide viral contamination data with an emphasis on “lessons learned”. This presentation will cover the learnings from this study, including identified industry risks and best practices to mitigate those risks. Some of the key findings which have significant implications to the emerging cell therapy industry are: 1) Raw materials, including non-animal-based raw materials, may be a potential source of viral contamination and stringent raw material testing and vendor selection and auditing programs are critical. 2) Traditional viral tests, including in vitro testing and PCR, have contributed to false-positive events, which may take extended times to resolve prior to release of raw materials, process intermediates, or final product. 3) The time frames needed for viral testing in general, and for investigation of positive viral tests, can range from weeks to months, and are not compatible with the requirements for near real-time release testing for some cell therapy products. 4) Viral testing programs, and potential investigations of positive results, are quite expensive, and application to the autologous cell therapy space will be challenging

Public Awareness of Medical Imaging as a Source of Ionizing Radiation Exposure

Background. Biological effects of exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) are well known. Literature suggests most patients and physicians lack proficient understanding of risks associated with ionizing radiation. Our study goals were to: assess the extent to which productive, informed conversations regarding ionizing radiation are occurring between patients and providers; characterize public awareness of medical imaging procedures as sources of IR exposure; and investigate best practices in patientprovider communications. Methods. We developed and administered a 17-question survey to 303 adults at five locations across Chittenden County, Vermont, over a 6-week period in fall 2016. Descriptive and statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. Results. The three age groups of respondents had different knowledge levels about ionizing radiation (p Conclusions/Recommendations. 1. A standard oral presentation for pre-imaging patient-provider communication, along with a written handout, be developed; 2. A section of the electronic medical record (also accessible through the patient portal) containing IR exposure be created for patients and physicians to track individuals\u27 information.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1249/thumbnail.jp

Isotopic fractionation of carbonyl sulfide in the atmosphere: Implications for the source of background stratospheric sulfate aerosol

In order to assess the contribution of carbonyl sulfide to stratospheric sulfate aerosol (SSA), we examined the stratospheric OC^(34)S and OC^(32)S concentration profiles in the infrared limb-transmittance spectra acquired by the JPL MkIV instrument. We found that OC^(34)S is preferentially depleted by solar photolysis. The derived ^(34)S enrichment factor: ε = +73.8 ± 8.6‰, in conjunction with literature values of δ^(34)S ∼ +11‰ for tropospheric OCS, and a ∼ 10% net processing of the OCS transported upwardly into the stratosphere, suggests that aerosol sulfate proceeding from OCS should be highly enriched in δ^(34)S ∼ 80‰, comparing our prediction with previous reports of δ^(34)S ∼ +2.6‰ for background SSA, we infer either that OCS is a minor contributor to SSA or that current views about its ^(34)S-abundance and atmospheric circulation are seriously flawed

Overcoming myelosuppression due to synthetic lethal toxicity for FLT3-targeted acute myeloid leukemia therapy.

Activating mutations in FLT3 confer poor prognosis for individuals with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Clinically active investigational FLT3 inhibitors can achieve complete remissions but their utility has been hampered by acquired resistance and myelosuppression attributed to a 'synthetic lethal toxicity' arising from simultaneous inhibition of FLT3 and KIT. We report a novel chemical strategy for selective FLT3 inhibition while avoiding KIT inhibition with the staurosporine analog, Star 27. Star 27 maintains potency against FLT3 in proliferation assays of FLT3-transformed cells compared with KIT-transformed cells, shows no toxicity towards normal human hematopoiesis at concentrations that inhibit primary FLT3-mutant AML blast growth, and is active against mutations that confer resistance to clinical inhibitors. As a more complete understanding of kinase networks emerges, it may be possible to define anti-targets such as KIT in the case of AML to allow improved kinase inhibitor design of clinical agents with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity

UC-426 Cybersecurity Park

We are presenting two additional modules to the Cyber Security Park, a long-running game project that is part of the realities lab. Whack-a-Malware is an arcade game where the player has to whack various malware, each with unique effects that mimic real-world malware. This includes Adware, Spyware, Ransomware, Computer Worms, and Trojan Horses. The player is equipped with two hammers that instantly destroy malware. But it goes on a three-second cooldown every time they destroy something. The player can reduce the cooldown by destroying adware as they are the main cause of slowing down the computer. Digital Footprints Private Investigator is a complete rework of an existing module. The player will be tasked by their client to find the perpetrator who has been anonymously intimidating them online and in person. The Player will have to explore the city to find digital footprint clues that will provide alibis and evidence against the suspects in the case

Long-term evaluation of cantilevered versus fixed–fixed resin-bonded fixed partial dentures for missing maxillary incisors

© 2016 Elsevier LtdObjectives To evaluate the long-term longevity and patient-reported outcomes of two-unit cantilevered (CL2) and three-unit fixed–fixed (FF3) resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs) for the replacement of a maxillary permanent incisor. Materials and methods Twenty-eight subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a CL2 or FF3 RBFPD placed by one operator. Prosthesis longevity was determined by clinical examination and history. Success was defined as absence of complications requiring intervention and survival as retention of the original prosthesis in mouth. Subjects’ satisfaction was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) using Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49). Outcomes were analysed with t-test/Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square and log-rank test at significance level α = 0.05. Results Twenty-two subjects were reviewed. Thirteen of fifteen CL2 and ten of fourteen FF3 RBFPDs were examined (79.3 percent response rate) with a mean service life of 216.5 ± 20.8 months. All CL2 RBFPDs survived with no complications while only 10 percent of FF3 experienced no complications and only 50 percent of them survived (both P = 0.000). CL2 had a significantly better success and survival rate than FF3 (P = 0.000 and P = 0.009, respectively). There was no significant difference in subjects’ satisfaction and OHRQoL apart from CL2 group subjects had a higher satisfaction in cleaning of the prosthesis (84.1 ± 13.6) than FF3 group (72.6 ± 11.7) (P = 0.05). Conclusions Two-unit cantilevered RBFPDs were observed to have a significantly better success and survival than the FF3 design for the replacement of a maxillary incisor. Good patient-reported outcomes have been found for RBFPDs in single-tooth replacement in aesthetic zone.postprin

Excitation of electronic states in tetrahydrofuran by electron impact

We report on differential and integral cross section measurements for the electron impact excitation of the three lowest lying Rydberg bands of electronic states in tetrahydrofuran. The energy range of the present experiments was 15–50 eV with the angular range of the differential cross section measurements being 15°–90°. The important effects of the long-range target dipole moment and the target dipole polarizability, on the scattering dynamics of this system, are evident from the present results. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other theoretical or experimental data against which we can compare the cross section results from this study