Introduction to Fifth Special Issue on Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments

This special issue of the Journal of Membrane Biology contains reports on recent developments in the field of electroporation by participants in the International Workshop and Postgraduate Course on Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments held in November 2014 in Ljubljana. This was the eighth session of what is now an annual event, first organized in 2003

Introduction to Fourth Special Issue on Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments

This fourth special electroporation-based technologies and treatments issue of the Journal of Membrane Biology contains reports on recent developments in the field of electroporation by participants in the 7th International Workshop and Postgraduate Course on electroporation based technologies and treatments (EBTT 2013) held in Ljubljana, November 17–23, 2013. The 65 participants included faculty members, invited lecturers, special guests, and young scientists, and students from 16 countries. In addition to lectures on the fundamentals, this year’s sessions included talks on microbial inactivation by pulsed electric fields, modeling of intracellular electroporation, electroporation in food processing, and electrotransfer-facilitated DNA vaccination

2x2 MIMO Prototype for BER and EVM Measurements in Metal Enclosure

In this work, we present a 2x2 near-field multi-input multiple-output (MIMO) prototype for bit-error-rate (BER) and error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements in a metal enclosure. The near-field MIMO prototype is developed using software-defined-radios (SDRs) for over-the-air transmission of QPSK modulated baseband waveforms. We check the near-field MIMO BER and EVM measurements in three different scenarios in a highly reflecting metal enclosure environment. In the first scenario, the line-of-sight (LOS) communication link is investigated when the mode-stirrer is stationary. In stationary channel conditions near-field MIMO BER and EVM measurements are performed. In the second scenario, BER and EVM measurements are performed in dynamic channel conditions when the mode-stirrer is set to move continuously. In the third scenario, LOS communication near-field MIMO BER and EVM measurements are performed in stationary channel conditions but now in the presence of MIMO interference. In three different scenarios, near-field MIMO BER and EVM measurements are investigated at different Tx USRP gain values and in the presence of varying levels of MIMO interference.Comment: 10 page

Generalized Schwarzschild's method

We describe a new finite element method (FEM) to construct continuous equilibrium distribution functions of stellar systems. The method is a generalization of Schwarzschild's orbit superposition method from the space of discrete functions to continuous ones. In contrast to Schwarzschild's method, FEM produces a continuous distribution function (DF) and satisfies the intra element continuity and Jeans equations. The method employs two finite-element meshes, one in configuration space and one in action space. The DF is represented by its values at the nodes of the action-space mesh and by interpolating functions inside the elements. The Galerkin projection of all equations that involve the DF leads to a linear system of equations, which can be solved for the nodal values of the DF using linear or quadratic programming, or other optimization methods. We illustrate the superior performance of FEM by constructing ergodic and anisotropic equilibrium DFs for spherical stellar systems (Hernquist models). We also show that explicitly constraining the DF by the Jeans equations leads to smoother and/or more accurate solutions with both Schwarzschild's method and FEM.Comment: 14 pages, 7 Figures, Submitted to MNRA

CRT-700.66 Principal Diagnosis and Independent Predictors for 30-Day Readmissions in Primary Cardiac Tumor Patients

Background: Primary cardiac tumors (PCT) are rare with an incidence of 0.3-0.7%. We aimed to study the rate, causes and independent predictors for 30-day readmissions in patients diagnosed with PCT using a national level database. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using the National Readmissions Database between 2016-2018. ICD-10 codes were used to identify patients with benign and malignant PCT. Patients \u3c18 years and December admissions were excluded. Primary outcomes were the readmission rate and principal diagnosis for 30-day readmissions in patients hospitalized with primary diagnosis of PCT. Multivariate logistic regression was used for analysis. Results: 4451 patients were admitted with the primary diagnosis of PCT, out of which 4348 patients were discharged alive. Among those discharged alive, 13.8% (599 patients) were readmitted within 30 days. The most common principal diagnosis for 30-day readmissions were subsequent admission for benign PCT (17.12%), atrial fibrillation (8.1%), sepsis (5.3%), pneumonia (4.04%), hypertensive heart disease with heart failure (2.6%), supraventricular tachycardia (2.54%), non-inflammatory pericardial effusion (2.31%), and pleural effusion (2.22). For the index admissions, 65.7% were females, and mean age was 60.8 years. The in-hospital mortality rate for index admissions was 2.28% while it was 2.36% for the readmission. For the index admission, mean length of stay was 8 days while mean total charges were $163,636. For all the readmissions combined, the total length of stay was 3598 days and combined total charges were$54.7 million. The independent predictors for readmission were atrial fibrillation (OR 0.71, p=0.02), myocardial infarction (OR 2.89, p=0.006), acute liver failure/hepatic cirrhosis (OR 2.34, p=0.02), and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.75, p=0.002). Conclusion: In patients with a principal diagnosis of PCT, the 30-day readmission rate is 13.8% and the most common principal diagnosis for readmissions are PCT complications, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, pneumonia, sepsis, hypertensive heart disease with heart failure, pericardial effusion, and pleural effusion

Bactericidal effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus

In order to study the effects of iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus, IO nanoparticles were synthesized via a novel matrix-mediated method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The IO nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Further, S. aureus were grown in the presence of three different IO nanoparticle concentrations for four, 12, and 24 hours. Live/dead assays were performed and the results provide evidence that IO/PVA nanoparticles inhibited S. aureus growth at the highest concentration (3 mg/mL) at all time points

Identification of Novel Fibrosis Modifiers by In Vivo siRNA Silencing.

Fibrotic diseases contribute to 45% of deaths in the industrialized world, and therefore a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying tissue fibrosis is sorely needed. We aimed to identify novel modifiers of tissue fibrosis expressed by myofibroblasts and their progenitors in their disease microenvironment through RNA silencing in vivo. We leveraged novel biology, targeting genes upregulated during liver and kidney fibrosis in this cell lineage, and employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-formulated lipid nanoparticles technology to silence these genes in carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice. We identified five genes, Egr2, Atp1a2, Fkbp10, Fstl1, and Has2, which modified fibrogenesis based on their silencing, resulting in reduced Col1a1 mRNA levels and collagen accumulation in the liver. These genes fell into different groups based on the effects of their silencing on a transcriptional mini-array and histological outcomes. Silencing of Egr2 had the broadest effects in vivo and also reduced fibrogenic gene expression in a human fibroblast cell line. Prior to our study, Egr2, Atp1a2, and Fkbp10 had not been functionally validated in fibrosis in vivo. Thus, our results provide a major advance over the existing knowledge of fibrogenic pathways. Our study is the first example of a targeted siRNA assay to identify novel fibrosis modifiers in vivo

076— Geneseo COVID 19 Study Group Report II: Infection Mechanism and Methods of Prevention

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is spread by infected individuals exhaling aerosols that contain active virus cells that are inhaled by another person or land on high-contact surfaces. Once the virus is inhaled, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein on the lung cells functions as a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. ACE2 normally converts angiotensin II (ANG II), a protein that is harmful to the lungs, into another molecule that counteracts the effects of ACE2. When ACE2 is occupied with SARS-CoV-2, ANG II will not be converted, resulting in damage to the lungs. Distancing six feet apart has become a standard guideline in preventing transmission of infectious diseases, SARS-CoV-2 virus droplets can reach up to six feet or more from their source. Masks are used to further control the spread of infection and protect the wearer. Additionally, disinfectants, or biocides, have shown to be the most effective at destroying the virus on high-contact surfaces. Biocides come in a variety of forms ranging from alcohols to aldehydes and function differently, but all achieve the same task of inactivating cells either by disruption of the virus-cell membrane or infiltration into the cell which causes protein degradation, resulting in cell death

Mapping and Analyzing Stakeholders in China’s Essential Drug System by Using a Circular Model: Who We Should Deal with Next?

AbstractObjectivesTo predict the prospects of the essential drug system by using the Stakeholder Impact Index (SII) and evaluate the current performance of each main stakeholder and suggested dangerous stakeholders and dormant stakeholders.MethodsA Delphi method was used, involving 36 experts with experience in implementation and evaluation of the essential drug policy, to construct the circular model as well as evaluate the performance of each stakeholder.ResultsThe central government was a dominant stakeholder of the whole essential drug system. The provincial governments were definitive stakeholders, whereas local governments and medical institutions were dependent stakeholders. Furthermore, media and drug stores were dormant stakeholders and pharmaceutical manufacturers and delivery enterprises were dangerous stakeholders. Patients, community residents, and medical insurance programs were discretionary stakeholders. The SII for the essential drug system was positive (SIIproj⁎ = 2.72).ConclusionsThe overall anticipation of the essential drug policy is optimistic. Letting definitive stakeholders (provincial governments) having more autonomy can efficiently accelerate the pace of implementation of the essential drug policy in the current situation. Central government, however, also needs to construct an experience exchange platform with the aim of building versatile methods for running the essential drug system in all provinces. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and delivery enterprises were dangerous stakeholders for the essential drug policy. Because of their potential threat to the implementation of the policy, the central government should motivate them to support the construction of the essential drug system spontaneously. In that case, provincial governments need to construct a fair, balanced, and self-stabilized bidding platform

Mediterranean sea-level reconstruction spanning 1960-2018

We have used spatiotemporal Bayesian methods to produce statistically rigorous estimates of sea-level trends in the Mediterranean Sea since 1960 by combining tide gauge and satellite altimetry data. Furthermore, we have also quantified the contributions from sterodynamic sea-level change, land-mass changes and glacial isostatic adjustment to the trends