A Review of the State of Art in Applying Biot Theory to Acoustic Propagation through the Bone

Understanding the propagation of acoustic waves through a liquid-perfused porous solid framework such as cancellous bone is an important pre-requisite to improve the diagnosis of osteoporosis by ultrasound. In order to elucidate the propagation dependence upon the material and structural properties of cancellous bone, several theoretical models have been considered to date, with Biot-based models demonstrating the greatest potential. This paper describes the fundamental basis of these models and reviews their performance

Construction and Performance of Large-Area Triple-GEM Prototypes for Future Upgrades of the CMS Forward Muon System

At present, part of the forward RPC muon system of the CMS detector at the CERN LHC remains uninstrumented in the high-\eta region. An international collaboration is investigating the possibility of covering the 1.6 < |\eta| < 2.4 region of the muon endcaps with large-area triple-GEM detectors. Given their good spatial resolution, high rate capability, and radiation hardness, these micro-pattern gas detectors are an appealing option for simultaneously enhancing muon tracking and triggering capabilities in a future upgrade of the CMS detector. A general overview of this feasibility study will be presented. The design and construction of small (10\times10 cm2) and full-size trapezoidal (1\times0.5 m2) triple-GEM prototypes will be described. During detector assembly, different techniques for stretching the GEM foils were tested. Results from measurements with x-rays and from test beam campaigns at the CERN SPS will be shown for the small and large prototypes. Preliminary simulation studies on the expected muon reconstruction and trigger performances of this proposed upgraded muon system will be reported.Comment: 7 pages, 25 figures, submitted for publication in conference record of the 2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Valencia, Spai

Small Nuclear RNAs Encoded by Herpesvirus saimiri Upregulate the Expression of Genes Linked to T Cell Activation in Virally Transformed T Cells

SummarySeven small nuclear RNAs of the Sm class are encoded by Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), a γ Herpesvirus that causes aggressive T cell leukemias and lymphomas in New World primates and efficiently transforms T cells in vitro [1–4]. The Herpesvirus saimiri U RNAs (HSURs) are the most abundant viral transcripts in HVS-transformed, latently infected T cells but are not required for viral replication or transformation in vitro [5]. We have compared marmoset T cells transformed with wild-type or a mutant HVS lacking the most highly conserved HSURs, HSURs 1 and 2. Microarray and Northern analyses reveal that HSUR 1 and 2 expression correlates with significant increases in a small number of host mRNAs, including the T cell-receptor β and γ chains, the T cell and natural killer (NK) cell-surface receptors CD52 and DAP10, and intracellular proteins—SKAP55, granulysin, and NKG7—linked to T cell and NK cell activation. Upregulation of three of these transcripts was rescued after transduction of deletion-mutant-HVS-transformed cells with a lentiviral vector carrying HSURs 1 and 2. These changes indicate an unexpected role for the HSURs in regulating a remarkably defined and physiologically relevant set of host targets involved in the activation of virally transformed T cells during latency

Age-related differences in women's foot shape

Purpose: Describe age-related differences in women's foot shape using a wide range of measurements and ages. Study design: Cross-sectional, observational study. Main outcome measurements: Six foot-shape measurements of each foot: foot lengths, ball widths, ball circumferences, low instep circumferences, high instep circumferences, and heel instep circumference. Results: 168 women from 20 to over 80 years of age, divided into seven age categories, were included. Older women had significantly greater foot-shape measurements, even after adjusting for Body Mass Index. Ball widths increased 3.1-4.0mm per decade, ball circumferences 5.6-7.4 mm per decade, high instep circumferences 0.4-4.8 mm per decade, and heel instep circumferences 1.8-1.9 mm per decade. Ball widths, ball circumferences, and left high instep circumference plateaued in the 70-75 years-of-age category, and decreased in the oldest age category. For low instep circumference, age did not prevail significantly over Body Mass Index. Foot length was not associated with age. Conclusion: This study described women's progressive foot-shape changes with age. The findings provide a better understanding of foot-shape changes, mainly found in the forefoot. It demonstrates that for a good fit, shoe design for older adults and for younger adults should differ. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

An overview of the design, construction and performance of large area triple-GEM prototypes for future upgrades of the CMS forward muon system

GEM detectors are used in high energy physics experiments given their good spatial resolution, high rate capability and radiation hardness. An international collaboration is investigating the possibility of covering the 1.6 < vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.4 region of the CMS muon endcaps with large-area triple-GEM detectors. The CMS high-eta area is actually not fully instrumented, only Cathode Strip Chamber (CSC) are installed. The vacant area presents an opportunity for a detector technology able to to cope with the harsh radiation environment; these micropattern gas detectors are an appealing option to simultaneously enhance muon tracking and triggering capabilities in a future upgrade of the CMS detector. A general overview of this feasibility study is presented. Design and construction of small (10cm x 10cm) and full-size trapezoidal (1m x 0.5m) triple-GEM prototypes is described. Results from measurements with x-rays and from test beam campaigns at the CERN SPS is shown for the small and large prototypes. Preliminary simulation studies on the expected muon reconstruction and trigger performances of this proposed upgraded muon system are reported

Outcomes in Dutch DPP6 risk haplotype for familial idiopathic ventricular fibrillation:a focused update

Background: The genetic risk haplotype DPP6 has been linked to familial idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF), but the associated long-term outcomes are unknown. Methods: DPP6 risk haplotype-positive family members (DPP6 cases) and their risk haplotype-negative relatives (DPP6 controls) were included. Clinical follow-up data were collected through March 2023. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indication was divided in primary or secondary prevention. Cumulative survival and event rates were calculated. Results: We included 327 DPP6 cases and 315 DPP6 controls. Median follow-up time was 9 years (interquartile range: 4–12). Of the DPP6 cases, 129 (39%) reached the composite endpoint of appropriate ICD shock, sudden cardiac arrest or death, at a median age of 45 years (range: 15–97). Median overall survival was 83 years and 87 years for DPP6 cases and DPP6 controls, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). In DPP6 cases, median overall survival was shorter for males (74 years) than females (85 years) (p &lt; 0.001). Of the DPP6 cases, 97 (30%) died, at a median age of 50 years. With a prophylactic ICD implantation advise based on risk haplotype, sex and age, 137 (42%) of DPP6 cases received an ICD, for primary prevention (n = 109) or secondary prevention (n = 28). In the primary prevention subgroup, 10 patients experienced a total of 34 appropriate ICD shocks, and there were no deaths during follow-up. DPP6 cases with a secondary prevention ICD experienced a total of 231 appropriate ICD shocks.Conclusion: Patients with the DPP6 risk haplotype, particularly males, are at an increased risk of IVF and sudden cardiac death. Using a risk stratification approach based on risk haplotype, sex and age, a substantial proportion of patients with a primary prevention ICD experienced appropriate ICD shocks, showing the benefit of prophylactic ICD implantation with this strategy.</p

A Randomised Controlled Trial Assessing the Effect of Oral Diazepam on F-18-FDG Uptake in the Neck and Upper Chest Region

A distinctive pattern of physiological symmetrical uptake of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) in the neck and upper chest region is a phenomenon that is sometimes observed on positron emission tomography (PET) scans of some oncologic patients. Initially, it was assumed to be muscle uptake secondary to patient anxiety or tension, which could be prevented by diazepam treatment. However, PET-computed tomography data have shown that F-18-FDG uptake is not restricted to the musculature but is also localised within the non-muscular soft tissue, such as brown adipose tissue. The efficacy of benzodiazepine treatment to reduce this uptake has not been well established. Therefore, a randomised controlled trial was conducted to decide whether diazepam would decrease physiological F-18-FDG uptake in the neck and upper chest region (FDG-NUC). A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect on FDG-NUC of 5 mg diazepam, given orally 1 h before F-18-FDG injection. Patients younger than 40 years, having or suspected to have a malignancy, were eligible for inclusion. The primary endpoint was FDG-NUC, as assessed by visual analysis of whole-body PET scans by two independent observers. The secondary endpoint was clinical relevance of FDG-NUC. Fifty-two patients were included between September 2003 and January 2005. Twenty-eight patients (54%) received placebo; 24 (46%) received diazepam. FDG-NUC was seen in 25% of the patients in the diazepam group versus 29% in the placebo group. This difference was not statistically significant. No beneficial effect of administration of diazepam could be established. Pre-medication with benzodiazepines to diminish physiological uptake of F-18-FDG in the neck and upper chest region is not indicate

LBA18_PRDurable clinical benefit with nivolumab (NIVO) plus low-dose ipilimumab (IPI) as first-line therapy in microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

n/

Upper limb activity in myoelectric prosthesis users is biased towards the intact limb and appears unrelated to goal-directed task performance

Studies of the effectiveness of prosthetic hands involve assessing user performance on functional tasks in the lab/clinic, sometimes combined with self-report of real-world use. In this paper we compare real-world upper limb activity between a group of 20 myoelectric prosthesis users and 20 anatomically intact adults. Activity was measured from wrist-worn accelerometers over a 7-day period. The temporal patterns in upper limb activity are presented and the balance of activity between the two limbs quantified. We also evaluated the prosthesis users’ performance on a goal-directed task, characterised using measures including task success rate, completion time, gaze behaviour patterns, and kinematics (e.g. variability and patterns in hand aperture). Prosthesis users were heavily reliant on their intact limb during everyday life, in contrast to anatomically intact adults who demonstrated similar reliance on both upper limbs. There was no significant correlation between the amount of time a prosthesis was worn and reliance on the intact limb, and there was no significant correlation between either of these measures and any of the assessed kinematic and gaze-related measures of performance. We found participants who had been prescribed a prosthesis for longer to demonstrate more symmetry in their overall upper limb activity, although this was not reflected in the symmetry of unilateral limb use. With the exception of previously published case studies, this is the first report of real world upper limb activity in myoelectric prosthesis users and confirms the widely held belief that users are heavily reliant on their intact limb