Dense Volume Research Articles

Autonomous scanning probe microscopy investigations over WS2 and Au{111}

Individual atomic defects in 2D materials impact their macroscopic functionality. Correlating the interplay is challenging, however, intelligent hyperspectral scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) mapping provides a feasible solution to this technically difficult and time consuming problem. Here, dense spectroscopic volume is collected autonomously via Gaussian process regression, where convolutional neural networks are used in tandem for spectral identification. Acquired data enable defect segmentation, and a workflow is provided for machine-driven decision making during experimentation with capability for user customization. We provide a means towards autonomous experimentation for the benefit of both enhanced reproducibility and user-accessibility. Hyperspectral investigations on WS2 sulfur vacancy sites are explored, which is combined with local density of states confirmation on the Au{111} herringbone reconstruction. Chalcogen vacancies, pristine WS2, Au face-centered cubic, and Au hexagonal close-packed regions are examined and detected by machine learning methods to demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence for hyperspectral STS mapping.

MVSGAN: Spatial-Aware Multi-View CMR Fusion for Accurate 3D Left Ventricular Myocardium Segmentation.

The accurate 3D left ventricular (LV) myocardium segmentation in short-axis (SAX) view of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is challenged by the sparse spatial structure of CMR. The strategy of multi-view CMR fusion can provide fine-grained spatial structure for accurate segmentation. However, the large information misalignment and lack of dense 3D CMR as fusion target in multi-view CMR fusion, and the different spatial resolution between the fusion result and the ground truth in segmentation limit the strategy. In this study, we propose a multi-view spatial-aware adversarial network (MVSGAN). It studies the perception of fine-grained cardiac structure for accurate segmentation by the spatialaware multi-view CMR fusion. It consists of three modules: (1) A residual adversarial fusion (RAF) module takes inter-slices deep correlation and anatomical prior to refine the spatial structures by residual supplement and adversarial optimization. (2) A structural perception-aggregation (SPA) module establishes the spatial correlation between the dense cardiac model and sparse label for accurate CMR LV myocardium segmentation. (3) A joint training strategy utilizes the dense SAX volume as explicit and implicit goals to jointly optimize the framework. The experiments are applied on a public dataset and a clinical dataset to evaluate the performance of MVSGAN. The average Dice and Jaccard score of LV myocardium segmentation obtained by MVSGAN are highest among seven existing state-of-the-art methods, which are up to 0.92 and 0.75. It is concluded that the spatial-aware multi-view CMR fusion can provide meaningful spatial correlation for accurate LV myocardium segmentation.

Hormone and receptor activator of NF-\u03baB (RANK) pathway gene expression in plasma and mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women

BackgroundHormones impact breast tissue proliferation. Studies investigating the associations of circulating hormone levels with mammographic breast density have reported conflicting results. Due to the limited number of studies, we investigated the associations of hormone gene expression as well as their downstream mediators within the plasma with mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women.MethodsWe recruited postmenopausal women at their annual screening mammogram at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. We used the NanoString nCounter platform to quantify gene expression of hormones (prolactin, progesterone receptor (PGR), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1 and STAT5), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK) pathway markers (RANK, RANKL, osteoprotegerin, TNFRSF18, and TNFRSF13B) in plasma. We used Volpara to measure volumetric percent density, dense volume, and non-dense volume. Linear regression models, adjusted for confounders, were used to evaluate associations between gene expression (linear fold change) and mammographic breast density.ResultsOne unit increase in ESR1, RANK, and TNFRSF18 gene expression was associated with 8% (95% CI 0–15%, p value = 0.05), 10% (95% CI 0–20%, p value = 0.04) and % (95% CI 0–9%, p value = 0.04) higher volumetric percent density, respectively. There were no associations between gene expression of other markers and volumetric percent density. One unit increase in osteoprotegerin and PGR gene expression was associated with 12% (95% CI 4–19%, p value = 0.003) and 7% (95% CI 0–13%, p value = 0.04) lower non-dense volume, respectively.ConclusionThese findings provide new insight on the associations of plasma hormonal and RANK pathway gene expression with mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women and require confirmation in other studies.

Correlation between Fundus Autofluorescence and En Face OCT Measurements of Geographic Atrophy

To evaluate the correlation between fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and en face spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) measurements of geographic atrophy (GA) area associated with age-related macular degeneration. Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Two hundred seventy eyes from 172 subjects with GA associated with age-related macular degeneration. Subjects with atrophic age-related macular degeneration who underwent both FAF (Heidelberg HRA+ Spectralis) and dense volume (128 B-scans over 6× 6 mm2) SD-OCT (Cirrus OCT) imaging were included in this retrospective analysis. The borders of all areas of definite decreased autofluorescence (DDAF) corresponding to GA were manually outlined on FAF images by certified graders at Doheny Image Reading Center using validated planimetric grading tools. Geographic atrophy was also automatically delineated using en face OCT (at the level of the choroid) using an instrument software (Cirrus v.6.2), and segmentation errors were manually corrected before the computation of the GA area. The fundus autofluorescence and SD-OCT-derived measurements were correlated. Correlation between the SD-OCT and FAF measurements of the GA area. The mean GA area measured from the FAF images was 8.1 ± 5.04 mm2, compared with an automated, uncorrected GA area of 6.82 ± 3.84 mm2 measured using SD-OCT. Despite the presence of apparent OCT segmentation errors, there was a significant correlation between the FAF and uncorrected SD-OCT measurements (r= 0.80; P < 0.001). After the manual correction of the SD-OCT GA segmentation errors, the measured GA area increased to 7.29 ± 4.18 mm2, and the correlation with the FAF-determined GA area significantly improved (r= 0.98; P < 0.001). Spectral-domain OCT-derived measurements of GA correlate well with areas of DDAFobtained from FAF images. The manual correction of SD-OCT segmentation errors can further improve this correlation. These observations may support the use of SD-OCT-based measurements of the GA area in clinical research and clinical trials.

An Improvement of Yield Production Rate for Crops by Predicting Disease Rate Using Intelligent Decision Systems

Agriculture is the country's mainstay. Plant diseases reduce production and thus product prices. Clearly, prices of edible and non-edible goods rose dramatically after the outbreak. We can save plants and correct pricing inconsistencies using automated disease detection. Using light detection and range (LIDAR) to identify plant diseases lets farmers handle dense volumes with minimal human intervention. To address the limitations of passive systems like climate, light variations, viewing angle, and canopy architecture, LIDAR sensors are used. The DSRC was used to receive an alert signal from the cloud server and convey it to farmers in real-time via cluster heads. For each concept, we evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the potential for future research. This research work aims to improve the way deep neural networks identify plant diseases. Google Net, Inceptionv3, Res Net 50, and Improved Vgg19 are evaluated before Biased CNN. Finally, our proposed Biased CNN (B-CNN) methodology boosted farmers' production by 93% per area.

Comparison of breast density assessments between synthesized C-View™ & intelligent 2D™ mammography.

To compare breast density assessments between C-View™ and Intelligent 2D™, different generations of synthesized mammography (SM) from Hologic. In this retrospective study, we identified a subset of females between March 2017 and December 2019 who underwent screening digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with C-View followed by DBT with Intelligent 2D. Clinical Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System breast density was obtained along with volumetric breast density measures (including density grade, breast volume, percentage volumetric density, dense volume) using VolparaTM. Differences in density measures by type of synthesized image were calculated using the pairwise t-test or McNemar's test, as appropriate. 67 patients (avg age 62.7; range 40-84) were included with an average of 13.3 months between the two exams. No difference was found in Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System density between the SM reconstructions (p = 0.74). Similarly, there was no difference in VolparaTM mean density grade (p = 0.71), mean breast volume (p = 0.48), mean dense volume (p = 0.43) or mean percent volumetric density (p = 0.12) between the exams. We found no significant differences in clinical and automated breast density assessments between these two versions of SM. Lack of differences in density estimates between the two SM reconstructions is important as density assignment impacts risk stratification and adjunct screening recommendations.

Mira Ceti, Atypical Archetype

Abstract With the aim of unraveling the complexity of the morphokinematics of the circumstellar envelope (CSE) of Mira Ceti, we review, extend, and in some cases revisit Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of the emission of the SiO(5–4) and CO(3–2) molecular lines. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of the optically thin 13CO(3–2) emission, which provides several important new results. In agreement with observations at infrared and visible wavelengths, we give evidence for the confinement and probably rotation of a dense gas volume within ∼50 au from the star and for a large SiO line width within ∼15 au. We show that the mass-loss process is episodic and takes the form of clumps having a very low SiO/CO abundance ratio compared with similar oxygen-rich long-period variables, probably a result of depletion on dust grains and photodissociation. We evaluate the mass-loss rate associated with the main clumps and compare it with values obtained from single-dish observations. We argue that the SiO emission observed in the southwestern quadrant is not related to the mechanism of generation of the nascent wind but to a mass ejection that occurred 11 years before the observations. We remark that Mira Ceti is not a good archetype in terms of its wind: models aiming at describing the very complex gas-dust chemistry in action in the CSE of oxygen-rich AGB stars may find it difficult to account for its peculiar features and small variations in the parameters deciding when and where mass loss can proceed significantly.

Abstract P3-01-26: Mammographic density in relation to breast cancer risk factors among Chinese women

Abstract Higher mammographic density (MD) is a known risk factor for breast cancer (BC), however, studies examining determinants of density in Chinese populations are limited. Asian women tend to have higher MD compared to European women, and yet they have a lower overall BC incidence rate. The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of established BC risk factors on quantitatively measured MD among Chinese women. The study population included 7,351 Chinese women, who had mammograms at the National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, between 2016 and 2017 for different indications, including but not limited to screening exam, breast pain, and suspected breast tumors. Only subjects with BI-RADS (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System) diagnostic classification of 1 (negative, n= 2,293), 2 (benign, n= 3,519), and 3 (probably benign, n= 1,539) were included in this analysis. VolparaDensity software was used to obtain quantitative MD measures including absolute dense breast volume and percent breast density. We conducted multivariable linear regression modeling on each density measurement to test for its associations with well-established breast cancer risk factors. The mean age of this study population was 50.1 years old (range= (25, 82)), the average body mass index (BMI) was 24.0 kg/m2 (range= (14.2, 48.9)), and about 46% of women were postmenopausal. The mean absolute dense and percent dense volumes were 58.4 (SD= 32.1) and 14.8 (SD= 7.1, equivalent to Volpara Density Grade= 3), respectively. Associations between quantitative MD measures and BC risk factors did not vary significantly across the three BI-RADS diagnostic classes and we therefore combined these patients in subsequent analyses. Most risk factors we examined showed similar associations with dense volume and percent density. For example, both dense volume and percent density were inversely associated with age, parity, longer duration (&amp;gt; 1 year) of breastfeeding, and postmenopausal status, while they were positively associated with age at menopause. In contrast, the associations with age at menarche and BMI showed opposite directions for dense volume and percent density. While increasing BMI was positively associated with dense volume, it was inversely associated with percent density. Age at menarche, however, was inversely correlated with dense volume, but positively associated with percent density. When stratifying by menopausal status, the associations for age, BMI, and parity were similar among pre- and post-menopausal women, while the associations for age at first birth and breastfeeding were stronger among postmenopausal women. In general, observed breast cancer risk factor associations with quantitative breast density metrics in this Chinese population are similar to those previously reported in Western women. We did not observe striking differences in associations of breast density with reproductive factors and BMI among Asian women in this large analysis based on quantitative density measurements. Other risk factors such as genetic susceptibility loci associated with MD should be examined in large Asian studies to further our understanding on how MD influences breast cancer risk in Asian populations. Citation Format: Hela Koka, Yuan Tian, Deng Lu, Kai Yu, Er-Ni Li, Changyuan Guo, Bin Zhu, Jennifer L Guida, Ariane Chan, Nan Hu, Ning Lu, Gretchen Gierach, Jing Li, Xiaohong R Yang. Mammographic density in relation to breast cancer risk factors among Chinese women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-26.

Coronary risk factors and plaque morphology; semi-automated quantative coronary CTA analysis

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction With advances in coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) technology dedicated semi-automated coronary plaque analysis software become researches field of interest. With detailed plaque analysis we can improve CTA diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value, this way improving chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) outcomes. Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate well known modifiable coronary risk factors (arterial hypertension (AH), smoking, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity, obesity) and statin use in relation to more detailed plaque features. Methods 100 patients with stable angina and no previous history of CCS underwent CTA and were diagnosed with one or more intermediate stenosis (correspond to 50-69% stenosis). A total of 112 stenosis were analysed with post-processing semi-automated CTA dedicated software. This is a sub-study from a bigger trial, where intermediate lesions were analysed. Results Overall all lesions were analyzed as whole and at the vessel cross-section of maximum obstruction site. 45 different parameters were obtained. Analysis made at the level of whole lesion showed that smokers had lower plaque and dense calcium volumes (Table 1), statin users lower fibrous fatty and necrotic core volumes (Table 2). Obstruction area analysis showed significant larger vessel wall area and diameter in non-smokers group (Table 1), whereas statin users had smaller lumen area and diameter stenosis (Table 2). Patients with DM had bigger necrotic core volume with significant bigger fibrous fatty and necrotic core percentages (Table 3). AH, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity or obesity did not show any significant relation with plaque features (p≥0.05). Renal insufficiency was excluded as a risk factor as all patients referred to CTA had normal or slightly decreased renal function (GFR &amp;gt;60 ml/min.). Conclusion Our study shows that modifiable risk factors (smoking and DM) alongside with statin use are related to quantitative atherosclerotic plaque parameters. For risk factors modification impact on plaque characteristics studies should be done. Abstract Table 1; 2; 3.

Физика, химия и механика формирования биоактивных поверхностей на имплантатах. Обзор

The analysis of literature on bioactive surfaces of volume implants and plasma coatings on their surface is made. Influence of the porous sizes on process of growing new bone in an implant surface it is described. The traditional porous structure of a plasma titanic coating is formed due to decrease in extent of deformation of spraying particles on a substrate and it not optimum for growing of a new bone tissue. Modern dense coatings a hydroxyapatite (HA) - the titan have no necessary porous structure, and transfer of cyclic loading through an external layer is not reliable. In too time comparative researches of 17 surfaces of implants at implantation indicate obvious advantages of plasma HA of coatings is not dependent on degree of their crystallinity. Three-dimensional capillary-porous (TCP) titanium coatings in the form of ridges and cavities with additional HA plasma and microplasma coatings are perspective for medical application due to division of dense and porous volumes of a coating, increase in the area of border with a new bone tissue, higher shear and a possibility of spraying of the HA coating with equilibrium structure at a temperature of a surface of titanium at 550 °C. The analysis of HA coating content phase is made depending on the modes of plasma spraying.

To Raise Up the Man Farthest Down: Tuskegee University's Advancements in Human Health, 1881–1987

The authors of this slender but factually dense volume painstakingly chronicle virtually every example of the Tuskegee Institute's work in medical affairs. They focus on its commendable initiatives in education, medical research, and health care on campus, plus its many outreach programs that provided health care through mobile clinics. The Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) is synonymous with Booker T. Washington's efforts to raise African Americans up by their bootstraps in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Less known is his emphasis on improving the health of Black Americans. To meet the needs of the rural areas of Macon County, Alabama, Washington built the Jesup agricultural wagon, a horse-drawn vehicle filled with instructional materials and farm implements; the wagon also doubled as a mobile medical clinic. Nationally, he launched National Negro Health Week to educate African Americans about the importance of public health and provide practical instruction in healthy...

Ground-penetrating radar signature of Quaternary faulting: a study from the Mt. Pollino region, southern Apennines, Italy

Abstract. With the aim of unveiling evidence of Late Quaternary faulting, a series of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles were acquired across the southern portion of the Fosso della Valle–Campotenese normal fault (VCT), located at the Campotenese continental basin (Mt. Pollino region) in the southern Apennines active extensional belt (Italy). A set of 49 GPR profiles, traced nearly perpendicular to this normal fault, was acquired using 300 and 500 MHz antennas and carefully processed through a customized workflow. The data interpretation allowed us to reconstruct a pseudo-3D model depicting the boundary between the Mesozoic bedrock and the sedimentary fill of the basin, which were in close proximity to the fault. Once the GPR signature of faulting was reviewed and defined, we interpret near-surface alluvial and colluvial sediments dislocated by a set of conjugate (W- and E-dipping) discontinuities that penetrate inside the underlying Triassic dolostones. Close to the contact between the continental deposits and the bedrock, some buried scarps which offset wedge-shaped deposits are interpreted as coseismic ruptures, subsequently sealed by later deposits. Our pseudo-3D GPR dataset represented a good trade-off between a dense 3D-GPR volume and conventional 2D data, which normally requires a higher degree of subjectivity during the interpretation. We have thus reconstructed a reliable subsurface fault pattern, discriminating master faults and a series of secondary splays. This contribution better characterizes active Quaternary faults in an area which falls within the Pollino seismic gap and is considered prone to severe surface faulting. Our results encourage further research at the study site, whilst we also recommend our workflow for similar regions characterized by high seismic hazard and scarcity of near-surface geophysical data.

Healthy pediatric platelets are moderately hyporeactive in comparison with adults’ platelets

Studies on platelet function in children older than neonatal period are few and their results are controversial. The pediatric platelets were alternatively reported to be more active or less active than adults’ ones. We compared platelet function in the several age groups of children to adults and evaluated the age when platelet function reaches the adults’ status. The study included 76 healthy children and 49 healthy adult volunteers. Types of platelet activation used included: collagen-related peptide (CRP) and PAR-1 activating peptide SFLLRN; SFLLRN, PAR-4 activating peptide AYPGKF and adenosine diphosphate (ADP); ADP. The parameters determined included forward (FSC) and side scatter (SSC), CD42b, CD61, CD62P, PAC-1, annexin V binding and mepacrine release levels. Resting pediatric platelets were similar to adults’ platelets except for 1.2-fold decreased FSC and dense granules volume in youngest children, and 2.5-fold increased annexin V level in children aged 1–10 years. After CRP+SFLLRN stimulation, pediatric platelets had a 1.2-fold lower alpha- and 1.1-fold lower dense granule release than adults. For SFLLRN+AYPGKF+ADP stimulation, this was observed only for youngest children. The response to ADP stimulation was identical for pediatric platelets and adults. Pediatric platelets have lower granular release than adults’ platelets, which persists until the age of 18.

Coffee, Tea, and Mammographic Breast Density in Premenopausal Women.

Studies have investigated the associations of coffee and tea with mammographic breast density (MBD) in premenopausal women with inconsistent results. We analyzed data from 375 premenopausal women who attended a screening mammogram at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO in 2016, and stratified the analyses by race (non-Hispanic White (NHW) vs. Black/African American). Participants self-reported the number of servings of coffee, caffeinated tea, and decaffeinated tea they consumed. Volpara software was used to determine volumetric percent density (VPD), dense volume (DV), and non-dense volume (NDV). We used generalized linear regression models to quantify the associations of coffee and tea intake with MBD measures. Coffee: ≥1 time/day (β = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.93–1.21; p-trend = 0.61) and caffeinated tea: ≥1 time/day (β = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.88–1.17; p-trend = 0.61) were not associated with VPD. Decaffeinated tea (≥1 time/week) was positively associated with VPD in NHW women (β = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.06–1.39) but not in African American women (β = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.73–1.17; p-interaction = 0.02). Coffee (≥1 time/day) was positively associated with DV in African American women (β = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.11–2.07) but not in NHW women (β = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.95–1.29; p-interaction = 0.02). Our findings do not support associations of coffee and caffeinated tea intake with VPD in premenopausal women. Positive associations of decaffeinated tea with VPD, with suggestions of effect modification by race, require confirmation in larger studies with diverse study populations.

Implementation of the Character Building Training (CBT) Program in Character Development of Students of the State Islamic University of Alauddin Makassar

The purpose of this study is to describe the model for planning, implementing, and evaluating training, as well as the character to be formed through these activities. This study uses a qualitative method. Methods of data collection in the form of interviews and documentation. The approach used is a pedagogic, psychological, and managerial approach. Purposive sampling is the starting point for researchers to determine informants. There are two sources of data used, namely primary data, obtained from data sources or informants involved in the implementation of the Character Building Training (CBT) UIN Alauddin Makassar. Secondary data, the researchers quoted from books, especially books and modules of Character Building Training (CBT) UIN Alauddin Makassar, theses, scientific journals and online, scientific magazines, and various relevant references with the title of the thesis. The results of this study indicate that character education is the development of moral education. Morality comes from the Supreme Absolute while character education is based on religious values, culture, and state ideology. The implementation of character education activities at the Character Building Training (CBT) UIN Alauddin Makassar requires support in the form of policies, a conducive academic atmosphere, and a thorough evaluation of student character building. The implication of the research shows that character education at CBT UIN Alauddin Makassar with a dense volume of activities will give birth to enlightened generations with an increasing number of alumni.

USE OF HIGH FREQUENCY PERCUSSIVE VENTILATION FOR ARDS

TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: High frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) is a method of ventilation that delivers biphasic percussive microvolumes in a time-cycled, pressure limited fashion. The goal is to increase recruitment of alveoli burdened by secretions or atelectasis to improve gas exchange for those failing conventional ventilation. HFPV has been utilized in the acute inhalation injury population; however, its use has spread to the medical community as a rescue method in acute respiratory distress (ARDS) patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old male with a past medial history of type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity presented to the Emergency Department for worsening epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. He was ill appearing with diffuse abdominal pain, guarding, and rebound. Pertinent labs included a lipase of 3,600 U/L and triglycerides of 1,700 mg/dL. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis revealed severe pancreatic edema with a non-enhancing pancreatic tail concerning for necrosis. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and started on crystalloid infusion and continuous insulin. He developed progressive tachypnea and ultimately required intubation for severe hypoxemia. He further decompensated with worsening fevers and hypotension, requiring initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics and vasopressors. Despite the insulin infusion, the patient's triglycerides increased to 9,500 mg/dL and he was started on therapeutic plasma exchange. Echocardiogram did not reveal evidence of left ventricular dysfunction. Chest x-ray showed worsening bilateral pulmonary infiltrates suggestive of ARDS. Despite a lung-protective, volume-controlled method of ventilation, the patient continued to exhibit high plateau and driving pressures. Given his significantly distended abdomen and high bladder pressures, he was unable to tolerate prone positioning. PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F ratio) was as low as 91. Subsequently he underwent cannulation for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). His secretion burden remained high and CT chest revealed dense atelectasis. He was then switched to HFPV for better secretion management and improvement in oxygenation. After 48 hours of HFPV, he had significant improvement in his atelectasis on CT chest and P/F ratio. After eight days, he was decannulated from VV-ECMO and later extubated. DISCUSSION: Our patient experienced known severe complications from hypertriglyceride-induced pancreatitis. His ARDS improved robustly with HFPV with VV-ECMO support. In centers with experience with this type of ventilation, it can be a powerful tool for patients suffering from inhalation injury, high-secretion pneumonias, and ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: Though HFPV does not have a dense volume of data supporting its use in ARDS, in the appropriately selected patient it can provide a safe and efficient way of improving lung recruitment, gas exchange, and potentially outcomes. REFERENCE #1: Godet T, Jabaudon M, Blondonnet R, Tremblay A, Audard J, Rieu B, Pereira B, Garcier JM, Futier E, Constantin JM. High frequency percussive ventilation increases alveolar recruitment in early acute respiratory distress syndrome: an experimental, physiological and CT scan study. Crit Care. 2018 Jan 11;22(1):3. REFERENCE #2: Spapen H, Borremans M, Diltoer M. Van Gorp V, Nguyen D, Honore P. (2014). High-frequency percussive ventilation in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: A single center experience. Journal of Anesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology. 30(1):65-70. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Alaynna Kears, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Christopher Lenivy, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Kaitlyn Musco, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Roshun Sangani, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Daniel Schwed Lustgarten, source=Web Response

Role of ammonia in secondary inorganic aerosols formation at an ammonia-rich city in winter in north China: A comparative study among industry, urban, and rural sites

Ammonia is essential for the generation of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA) in particulate matter, which affects severely the air quality in north China. In this study, PM2.5 sampling was conducted as well as gaseous pollutant concentration and meteorological parameters were measured from November 2017 to January 2018. PM2.5 concentration was highest in the industrial site (94.8 ± 41.7 μg m−3), followed by urban (40.9 ± 24.1 μg m−3) and rural (35.6 ± 20.3 μg m−3) sites. The mass ratio of NO3−/SO42− exhibited clear site variations, with the highest average value of 1.2 was found at the urban site, likely due to the dense traffic volume resulting in higher emissions of NO2, and the lowest value of 0.9 at the industry site. The presence of Excess-NHx (E-NHx), raising the pH 24 by 1.4, 1.3, and 1.4 units in industry, urban, and rural sites, respectively, might be vital for raising the aerosol pH. Correlation coefficients of Nitrogen oxidation rate (NOR, NOR = [NO3−]/[NO3−] + [NO2]) vs. Photochemical oxidants (Ox, NO2 +O3 in our study) and NOR vs. aerosol water content (AWC) at three sites were implied that both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions occurred for nitrate formation in industry site, while heterogeneous reactions were dominant in urban and rural sites. Oxidation rates were most sensitive to the variation of E-NHx concentration at rural site, followed by the urban and industry sites, which was shown by the fact that the increase in E-NHx concentration by 1.0 μg m−3 increased the SIA concentration by 1.21, 1.02, and 0.37 μg m−3 at rural, urban, and industry sites, respectively. With the increase in NHx emissions at present, the role of NHx in SIA formation at ammonia-rich atmosphere requires more attention, especially in the less-noticed rural areas.

Christianity in East and Southeast Asia

Throughout past decades, there has been much discourse on how the axis of Christianity has moved from the global North to the global South with the demographic shift in Christianity worldwide. Befittingly, this shift has also increased attention on Christianity’s local manifestations, especially in the global South. Christianity in East and Southeast Asia, the fourth volume of the “Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity” collection and part 2 of its series on Asia, answers this call for attention by analyzing the fastest-growing religion of the past several decades and its multiplicities in “two of the most religiously diverse regions in the world” (3).Replete with impressive charts and detailed maps, the companion aims to edify its readers with a better understanding of transnational Christianity and its encounters with other religions, communities, and governments in the context of East and Southeast Asia. This book centrally provides “an account of how we are continuing to make Christianity Asian” (19) through its comprehensive demographic and statistical analysis and by shedding light on the lesser-known areas of East and Southeast Asia. The book is also noteworthy for its attempt to break free from the confinement of being purely encyclopedic or simply an eclectic collection of essays by addressing Christianity’s past and the continuously looming issues through uniformity in its three subsections: “Countries,” “Major Christian Traditions,” and “Key Themes.”The first section begins by zooming in on the history of Christianity in the nineteen nations covered in this volume. Each contribution takes a historical approach by retracing Christianity’s growth, which is often entangled with the complexities of social and political challenges, colonialism, and interfaith relations. The in-depth examination of each nation provides a platform for countries like Timor Leste, often overlooked due to its brief history, to be brought into the limelight and to excite readers for further research. The real gem in this collection is in the fact that “critical insiders” (xi) in their respective fields have contributed to entries for their own countries or from their own disciplines and perspectives, thereby providing a more critical and incisive insight.While observing the various Christianities in the countries of East and Southeast Asia, the second set of essays takes a closer look at six major Christian traditions, which excludes an essay on independent churches due to the political sensitivities of church-state relations in the region. Following the worldwide trend, Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity has also been growing rapidly, with its emphasis on a “practical gospel for daily survival and witnessing” (347). Independent churches have also increased significantly, largely due to the increasing number of house churches in China, as covered in David Ro’s essay.The final ten essays share a common thread with the collection’s other volumes, which address important themes such as gender and theology. Two special essays focus on issues of migration and the colonial and postcolonial context, which are highly relevant in the context of East and Southeast Asia. Just as migration has served as a significant analytical lens in understanding African Christianity, Maruja M. B. Asis argues that migration can also serve as a critical tool in scrutinizing the spread of Christianity in this region. Wai Ching Angela Wong draws out the complexities of colonialism and imperialism in East and Southeast Asia, challenging readers to also question “what is meant by the postcolonial context of East Asia” (474) in the contemporary.With such a dense volume, it is impossible to cover every angle or topic, and it is easy for one to become overwhelmed by the vast area that the volume aims to cover. It is also easy to fall into the trap of becoming an essentialist overly dependent on statistical data. Nevertheless, what this exhaustive coverage does accomplish well is that it conveniently provides accessible snapshots of the individual nations and the region as a whole, provoking the readers to further fill in the gaps. Readers should also utilize Gina Zurlo’s informative profile on the demographic analysis of Christianity in East and Southeast Asia and the rich statistical data found in the appendix.From the perspective of my own scholarly interests, books such as this heterogenous volume provide opportunities for students and scholars of World Christianity to stay informed and explore the Christianities in the periphery and the indigenous agency that merits much attention. This volume, along with the rest of the volume series, greatly contributes to readers’ ability to see the bigger picture of the history and expansion of Christianity.

Medication use and mammographic breast density.

A dense breast on mammogram is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Identifying factors that reduce mammographic breast density could thus provide insight into breast cancer prevention. Due to the limited number of studies and conflicting findings, we investigated the associations of medication use (specifically statins, aspirin, and ibuprofen) with mammographic breast density. We evaluated these associations in 775 women who were recruited during an annual screening mammogram at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. We measured mammographic breast density using Volpara. We used multivariable-adjusted linear regressions to determine the associations of medication use (statins, aspirin, and ibuprofen) with mammographic breast density. Least squared means were generated and back-transformed for easier interpretation. The mean age of study participants was 52.9years. Statin use in the prior 12months was not associated with volumetric percent density or dense volume, but was positively associated with non-dense volume. The mean volumetric percent density was 8.6% among statin non-users, 7.2% among women who used statins 1-3days/week, and 7.3% among women who used statins ≥ 4days/week (p trend = 0.07). The non-dense volume was 1297.1cm3 among statin non-users, 1368.7cm3 among women who used statins 1-3days/week, and 1408.4cm3 among those who used statins ≥ 4days/week (p trend = 0.02). We did not observe statistically significant differences in mammographic breast density by aspirin or ibuprofen use. Statin, aspirin, and ibuprofen use was not associated with volumetric percent density and dense volume, but statin use was positively associated with non-dense volume. Any potential associations of these medications with breast cancer risk are unlikely to be mediated through an effect on volumetric percent density.

The Relationship between Body Mass Index and Mammographic Density during a Premenopausal Weight Loss Intervention Study.

Simple SummaryThis study assessed the association between short-term weight change and mammographic density in premenopausal women losing weight through diet and exercise to reduce their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. We aimed to understand whether a reduction in body mass index affects various components of the breast, which could indicate a potential pathway for the reduction in postmenopausal breast cancer risk seen with premenopausal weight loss. Understanding this pathway is useful for monitoring the effectiveness of prevention strategies based on lifestyle advice. We found that a short-term reduction in premenopausal body mass index through diet and exercise is associated with a reduction in breast fat, but it is unlikely to have a significant effect on the quantity of breast glandular tissue. Breast cancer risk determined by changes in breast density might not capture potential weight loss-induced breast cancer risk reduction, instead falsely ascribing an increased risk due to increased percent density.We evaluated the association between short-term change in body mass index (BMI) and breast density during a 1 year weight-loss intervention (Manchester, UK). We included 65 premenopausal women (35–45 years, ≥7 kg adult weight gain, family history of breast cancer). BMI and breast density (semi-automated area-based, automated volume-based) were measured at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years after study entry (1 year post intervention). Cross-sectional (between-women) and short-term change (within-women) associations between BMI and breast density were measured using repeated-measures correlation coefficients and multivariable linear mixed models. BMI was positively correlated with dense volume between-women (r = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.61), but less so within-women (r = 0.08, 95%CI: −0.16, 0.28). There was little association with dense area (between-women r = −0.12, 95%CI: −0.38, 0.16; within-women r = 0.01, 95%CI: −0.24, 0.25). BMI and breast fat were positively correlated (volume: between r = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.69, 0.84, within r = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.75; area: between r = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.63, 0.82, within r = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.63). Multivariable models reported similar associations. Exploratory analysis suggested associations between BMI gain from 20 years and density measures (standard deviation change per +5 kg/m2 BMI: dense area: +0.61 (95%CI: 0.12, 1.09); fat volume: −0.31 (95%CI: −0.62, 0.00)). Short-term BMI change is likely to be positively associated with breast fat, but we found little association with dense tissue, although power was limited by small sample size.