Supporting Tables Research Articles

Maternal breastfeeding and labor inclusión

Introduction: Breast milk is the natural and optimal food for the newborn in the first 6 months. Returning to work is one of the periods with the highest risk of discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding, leading mothers to adopt supplementation with milk formulas or even interrupt breastfeeding. Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the facilitators and barriers of mothers in returning to work. Material and methods: It is a qualitativequantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. A survey was carried out using a form, made up of 15 closed and open questions. Results: Of the 86 interviewed, 98% continued breastfeeding, at the time of the interview 27% were receiving breastfeeding, among those who finished, 53.4% sustained breastfeeding for more than 6 months. The length of leave was mostly between 21 and 45 days, presence of a lactation room (28.5%), refrigerator for milk storage (57.1%), breast pump (17.8%). %), chairs and support tables (46.5%). Work spaces do not consider the needs to support breastfeeding (68%). Conclusion: Strategies aimed at improving public policies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for working women, taking into account the numerous benefits it entails for the infant, the mother, and society as a whole.

Efficacy of imetelstat on red blood cell (RBC)-transfusion independence (TI) in the absence of platelet transfusions or myeloid growth factors in IMerge.

6566 Background: In the IMerge trial (NCT02598661) of RBC transfusion-dependent (TD) patients (pts) with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) relapsed/refractory to or ineligible for erythropoiesis stimulating agents, imetelstat showed significant efficacy vs placebo (PBO) for 8-wk, 24-wk, and 1-y TI endpoints, with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia as the most common adverse events (Platzbecker. Lancet 2024). Supportive care was given to all pts as needed, per investigator discretion. Here we report RBC-TI rates in the absence of platelet transfusions or myeloid growth factor use. Separately, RBC-TI with mean central hemoglobin (Hb) rise of ≥1.5 g/d was assessed in all pts. Methods: Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive imetelstat (n=118) 7.5 mg/kg or PBO (n=60) Q4W IV until disease progression. Primary endpoint was 8-wk RBC-TI; 24-wk RBC-TI was a key secondary endpoint. Primary analysis cutoff was Oct 2022, with Oct 2023 cutoff for 1-y RBC-TI analyses. Results: Overall, 21/118 (18%) pts in the imetelstat group and 1/60 (2%) pts in the PBO group needed platelet transfusions; 41/118 (35%) and 2/60 (3%) pts received myeloid growth factors, respectively. Significantly higher percentages of pts achieved 8-wk, 24-wk, and 1-y RBC-TI with imetelstat vs PBO in the absence of either platelet transfusions or growth factor support (Table). In a separate analysis, 8-wk, 24-wk, and 1-y RBC-TI and concurrent Hb rise of ≥1.5 g/dL with imetelstat vs PBO occurred in 28% vs 2%, 23% vs 0%, and 17% vs 0% of pts, respectively (Table). Among responders, imetelstat increased median central Hb levels compared with PBO: 3.6 g/dL vs 0.8 g/dL for 8-wk, 4.2 g/dL vs 1.1 g/dL for 24-wk, and 5.2 g/dL vs 1.7 g/dL for 1-y RBC-TI. Conclusions: Results from this subanalysis confirm that pts who achieve RBC-TI with imetelstat do so without developing severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (functionally defined as needing myeloid growth factors or platelet transfusions, respectively), therefore not negating the clinical benefit of the drug. Imetelstat also led to significant rise in Hb levels in RBC-TI responders, particularly long-term responders. These data further support the efficacy of imetelstat in TD pts with LR-MDS. Clinical trial information: NCT02598661 . [Table: see text]

Predicting fitness for chemotherapy in older adults with metastatic bladder cancer.

e13761 Background: Guidelines advocate using comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGA) in older and frailer adults to optimize treatment recommendations, but it is unclear if genitourinary (GU) oncologists employ them. Through a national survey, this study aimed to evaluate techniques that providers use to predict fitness for chemotherapy in older adults with metastatic bladder cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed US-based GU medical oncologists. Providers were included if they were identified as specializing in bladder cancer, had an accessible email address and worked at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center or an institution with an ACGME accredited hematology-oncology fellowship. Surveys were sent via email and collected in REDCap. The eleven-item survey consisted of multiple-choice questions and Likert scales evaluating use of geriatric assessments and other tools to predict chemotherapy tolerance. Results: There were 300 GU oncologists contacted, and 37.3% (n=112) completed the survey. Of respondents, 41 (36.6%) practiced in the Northeast with the remainder spread throughout the country. 51.8% (n=58) had practiced for ≥ 10 years, and 81.3% (n=91) had a panel composed primarily of patients ≥ 65-years-old. When making specific chemotherapeutic treatment recommendations, all providers consider a patients’ frailty. The majority (77.7%, n=87) do not use a specific age cut off, but rather, evaluate frailty on a case-by-case basis. Still, in predicting fitness for chemotherapy, 90.2% (n=101) almost never or never utilize a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Primary barriers centered on logistics including time constraints (71.4%, n=80), inadequate staffing (65.2%, n=73) and insufficient resources (33.9%, n=38). Beyond medical comorbidities, factors within a CGA that at least 50% of respondents consider important in predicting treatment tolerance include mobility (87.5%, n=98), social support (81.3%, n=91), cognitive function (73.2%, n=82) and nutritional status (71.4%, n=80) (Table). Conclusions: All surveyed providers believe frailty is important in predicting chemotherapy fitness, but the majority infrequently utilize CGAs in their evaluations. Highlighted barriers include time and resource constraints. While the CGA remains part of the standard of care in evaluating older adults for treatment, if a CGA cannot be performed, GU oncologists could consider focusing pre-treatment evaluation on the most important domains identified in this study: mobility, social support, cognitive function and nutritional status. [Table: see text]

ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ ОПОРНИХ ЧАСТИН ЗОВНІШНІХ СТІНОВИХ ПАНЕЛЕЙ СЕРІЇ ІІС-04-2 З ВРАХУВАННЯМ СЕЙСМІЧНИХ НАВАНТАЖЕНЬ РАЙОНУ 7 БАЛІВ

This paper presents the results of the study of the strength of the junctions of external wall panels and columns and crossbars and columns of the IIS-03-02 series, which was used in the construction of the building of the Faculty of Biology of the Uzhgorod State University in the city of Uzhhorod. The survey and research data, as well as the development of recommendations, which were carried out by the employees of the Physico-Mechanical Institute named after G.V. Karpenka of the National Academy of Sciences on the order of «Zakarpatzalizoboton» VO from July 19, 1991. The work describes basic information about the building, its design and construction. The main reasons that led to the need for research and development of recommendations for strengthening the junctions of panels and columns and crossbars and columns and strengthening their short consoles and support niches of panels are established. Also, the data on identified design errors, shortcomings and defects in the construction and manufacture and transportation of reinforced concrete structures are given. In particular, the own weight of panels and walls is significantly overestimated by up to 25%; in some panels, embedded parts are embedded in concrete and have deviations from the design position; also in some panels there is a deviation of up to 20-30 mm from flatness; sockets for supporting panels on the console of the columns are installed at different angles to the plane of the panel; size fluctuations between the axes of the columns in some places are higher than the norm up to 50-70 mm; poor-quality reinforcement of the panels in the places where the supporting parts of the panels rest on the short console of the column, etc. The verification calculation of the support table of the reinforcement of the column consoles and the supporting parts of the panels was performed. On the basis of field survey and relevant calculations, appropriate recommendations were developed for strengthening the joints of external wall panels and columns and crossbars and columns. In particular, the elimination of identified shortcomings and defects, ensuring the bearing capacity of short cantilevers of the IIS-04-02 series for seismic loads for the construction area of 7 points.

Supporting table grape berry thinning with deep neural network and augmented reality technologies

Berry thinning is a crucial process in table grape cultivation. Such visual features as bunch compactness, bunch form, and berry size are important factors affecting market value. Moreover, sufficient space for each berry to grow also largely influences the final product’s quality, such as the sugar concentration. Berry thinning requires professional skills, and it is usually accomplished only by experienced farmers. Furthermore, the appropriate period for berry thinning is limited to two weeks; hence, berry-thinning tasks have led to a bottleneck in terms of increasing the yield of table grape products. This paper addresses the aforementioned issue by proposing a system for empowering unskilled farmers to begin berry thinning without in-person coaching from expert farmers. The proposed system employs a deep neural network model to learn the knowledge required for identifying berries to be removed, and it uses augmented reality technology to display instructions based on this knowledge to naïve farmers through smart glasses. The proposed system was validated throughout the entire growing season in a real table grape field in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It was confirmed that unskilled farmers can execute berry-thinning tasks immediately without training. Furthermore, they can become familiar with the proposed system quickly. The grape products from unskilled farmers who used the proposed system also had an 8.18 % higher average quality score than those from the skilled farmers.

Development of the Historical Analysis of the Seismic Parameters for Retroffiting Measures in Chilean Bridges

Chile is exposed to the occurrence of medium- and large-magnitude earthquakes. As a result, national and international design codes have been developed, whose objectives are to grant an ideal behavior to the structures. However, in Chile, many of these structures do not comply with the design and construction standards of current regulations. Therefore, we propose to carry out a historical compilation that allows establishing the components that present the seismic vulnerability in bridges built from 1920 to 2010. We explored information gathered from the Government of Chile. We analyzed 553 bridges out of a total of 6835, considering superstructure and infrastructure components and seismic design evolution. The analysis emphasizes the elements that help improve the seismic performance of a bridge when natural or induced dynamic forces act on it, such as the length support, elastomeric bearing, seismic hold-down bars, transverse girders, seismic stoppers, bracing, and expansion joints. We identified that the most significant problems in bridges are the lack of seismic stoppers, both interior and exterior; lack of development length in the support tables; use of deficient expansion joints; and the inefficient construction of cross girders and baring support; in addition to the presence of differential settlements in elements of the infrastructure.

Distal 1/3 humerus shaft fracture - a lateral paratricipital approach with proximal split window

Patient is a 25yo F following a fall from a height. Closed distal 1/3 diaphyseal fracture with no neurological symptoms. Patient sought a rapid recovery without use of an orthosis so consented and proceeded with open reduction and locking plate fixation. Operation was performed prone with the arm resting on a small side support table, the forearm flexed 90deg towards the floor. Midline posterior approach to the humerus, elevation of a lateral paratricipital window from the lateral intermuscular septum - utilising the ascending course of the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve as a guide to find the perforation of the radial nerve through the septum. The fracture was reducible entirely through the lateral window distal to the radial nerve. A small medial paratricipital window anterior to the ulnar nerve was opened for lag screwing before positioning the plate. To facilitate proximal plate fixation without having to mobilise the lateral belly of triceps (and with it the radial nerve) we opened an additional proximal working window between long and lateral heads of triceps. Proximal to the aponeurosis it is a simple matter to identify and mobilise the descending course of the radial nerve bundle, protect it, and proceed with proximal instrumentation and plate fixation.

Design and Prototyping of Biaxial Flexible Support Table for Fine Positioning Through Controlled Magnetic Attraction Forces

High-precision positioning can be obtained by reducing sliding friction and securing support rigidity. A prototype of a biaxial positioning table with non-contact drive by magnetic force and flexible mechanism support was developed to meet these requirements. The magnetic poles of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet were placed opposite to each other with an appropriate gap between them, and the attraction force between the two poles was used as the actuator for fine feed. The table was supported with a flexible mechanism composed of metal (A2017) beams with notches and elastic hinges assembled into a square frame shape. The permanent magnets were commercial neodymium magnets, and the electromagnets were self-made of S45C core bars. Two types of attraction force, maximum and minimum, were set depending on the number of neodymium magnets and the magnetic pole gap. The relationship between the applied current and attraction force for each type was calibrated using an electronic balance. Upon increasing and decreasing the applied current to the electromagnets, a linear relationship was shown between them. The relationship between the attraction force and the X- and Y-axes displacements was simulated by finite element analysis. Based on both results, the relationship between the applied current and displacement was estimated. The fine-feed experiment was conducted in both directions of the X- and Y-axes by applying current to electromagnets in a stepwise sequence. The displacements of total strokes in the long-stroke feed on applying the maximum attraction force were 340 μm and 315 μm for the X-axis and 160 μm and 133 μm for the Y-axis. These values are 2.0–2.8 times larger than the estimated displacement. Additionally, 3%–12% of the other axes interference occurred between the X- and Y-axes. In the high resolution feed applying the minimum attraction force, the displacement per step was 75 nm and 78 nm for the X-axis and 35 nm and 39 nm for the Y-axis. Cooperative feed with a combination of long stroke and high resolution was verified to be feasible.

1622P A comparative study of the impact of countries’ health expenditure on the support experiences of patients with lymphoma and CLL in Europe

Support for patients at any point in their patient experience is a crucial aspect of cancer care. Patients may require support from their families and healthcare providers, and they may also require referral to other relevant sources of support. Using data from the Lymphoma Coalition (LC) 2020 Global Patient Survey (GPS) on Lymphomas and CLL, this study examines the impact of countries’ health expenditure (as a percentage of the GDP) on the support experiences of patients with lymphoma in Europe. The 2020 GPS had 4,346 respondents from 36 European countries. Using the 2019 WHO Global Health Expenditure Database, LC calculated the average percentage of health spending by these European countries’ governments - 8.2%. A comparison was then done between respondents from countries with below-average health expenditure (BA-HE patients) (n=452) and countries with above-average health expenditure (AA-HE patients) (n=3894). Demographics of the two groups were examined, and statistical analyses of questions relating to patients’ support experiences were performed in IBM SPSS v27. Both groups were similar in their experience of receiving support from their doctors (Table). BA-HE patients were more likely than AA-HE patients to have needed and received financial, emotional, and practical support (Table). They were also twice as likely as AA-HE patients to have needed and not received financial support, and 1.5 times more likely to need and not receive practical support for help with their daily tasks.Table: 1622PSupport experiences of patients with lymphoma or CLL in EuropeSupport experiencesBA-HE (%)AA-HE (%)OR (95% CI) (p-value) *, **Support from doctors Yes No Did not need support78% 21% 4%82% 16% 2%1.84 (0.66-5.11) p=0.24 2.32 (0.81-6.58) p=0.11 refEmotional support Yes No Did not need support67% 23% 10%52% 31% 17%1.44 (0.99-2.07) p=0.05 0.84 (0.56-1.26) p=0.40 refFinancial support Yes No Did not need support35% 45% 20%19% 36% 45%2.67 (1.97-3.61) p<0.001 2.14 (1.62-2.84) p<0.001 refPractical support Yes No Did not need support52% 27% 21%36% 26% 39%2.07 (1.58-2.71) p<0.001 1.49 (1.10-2.00) p=0.009 ref*Adjusted for age, sex and area lived in **Reference category-AA-HE. Open table in a new tab *Adjusted for age, sex and area lived in **Reference category-AA-HE. Differences exist in how patients with lymphoma and CLL in Europe experience support. Healthcare providers need to continue to work with patients to develop individualised care plans to help them cope effectively throughout their patient experience. Community-based support programs can supplement resources available through the cancer clinic.

Two new species of sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the seagrass meadow of Penang, Malaysia.

Two new species of sea cucumber, Euthyonidiella zulfigaris sp. nov. and Acaudina spinifera sp. nov. were described. The specimens were collected from the seagrass meadow of Pulau Gazumbo and Middle Bank, located east of Penang Island, Malaysia. E. zulfigaris sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners based on the presence of table ossicles with round disc, spires formed with four pillars, and absence of modified support tables in tube feet. A. spinifera sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners based on the presence of spinose doughnut-shaped ossicles in the body wall.

Supporting Table Grape Berry Thinning with Deep Neural Network and Augmented Reality Technologies

Supporting Table Grape Berry Thinning with Deep Neural Network and Augmented Reality Technologies

Rotational Vibration Test Apparatus for Laser Vibrometer Verification

&lt;div class="section abstract"&gt;&lt;div class="htmlview paragraph"&gt;Prior to making rotational vibration measurements with a laser vibrometer, it is good practice to establish that the instrument is operating properly. This can be accomplished by comparative measurement of a rotational vibration source with known amplitude and frequency. This paper describes the design and development of a rotational vibration apparatus with known amplitude and frequency to be used as a reference for comparison to concurrent and co-located measurements made by a rotational laser vibrometer (RLV). The comparative measurements acquired with the apparatus are helpful to verify proper laser vibrometer operation in between regular calibration intervals, and/or whenever the functionality of the vibrometer is suspect. In the subject apparatus, a Cardan shaft with variable input speed and angle is used to provide output torsional vibration with variable frequency and amplitude. Previously derived equations of motion for Cardan joints are used to estimate operating amplitude versus speed relationship for the apparatus. To provide an independent rotational vibration measurement for comparison to the laser, a ferromagnetic toothed wheel and magnetic pickup are used. The design of the Cardan shaft and adjustable support table are described, followed by the design of the variable speed electric drive system and controller. For the finished apparatus, example operating data from the reference sensor are compared to laser vibrometer data, and to the theoretical prediction of output torsional velocity from the Cardan joint equations of motion. Finally, suggestions for future work are provided. The development and verification of rotational tuned vibration absorbers is provided as a potential additional application of the apparatus.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Textbook Outcome: A Novel Metric for Heart Transplantation

<h3>Purpose</h3> Transplant program assessment by short term survival is inherently limited. We defined a "textbook outcome" (TO) for heart transplant recipients without complication and examined association with survival. <h3>Methods</h3> We identified all primary, isolated adult heart transplants in the SRTR database from 6/06-12/19. TO was defined as: No mortality/retransplant/fxaft failure/dialysis/treated rejection in 1^st year, length of stay <31 days, no post-transplant stroke and ejection fraction > 50% at 1 year. Recipient and transplant characteristics were analyzed. Bivariate analysis identified factors associated with TO. Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test examined survival for patients living at least 1 year (conditional survival). <h3>Results</h3> 26580 patients were identified and 13587 (50.6%) had a TO. Patients with TO were significantly less likely to be hospitalized pretransplant or have preoperative mechanical support (Table). Factors associated with TO on bivariate analysis were: male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.23), white race (OR 1.08 CI 1.03-1.14), no pre-transplant hospitalization (OR 1.33 CI 1.27-1.39) or mechanical support (OR 1.37 CI 1.31-1.44). For patients with at least 1-year survival, patients with TO had significantly improved long term survival as compared to patients without TO (p<0.01; Figure). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Textbook outcome is a novel means of examining patient outcomes. The use of textbook outcome rather than short term survival alone positions centers to better appreciate a holistic analysis of their program while promoting long term survival. Further examination and validation of this metric is warranted.

Consideration of Biaxial Flexible Support Table for Fine Positioning Through Controlled Magnetic Attraction Forces

Consideration of Biaxial Flexible Support Table for Fine Positioning Through Controlled Magnetic Attraction Forces

Método para el diseño arquitectónico de casas de madera en Portugal

Se presenta un método para el diseño arquitectónico de casas de madera. Se entrevistó a empresas de construcción y fabricación y se desarrolló un caso de estudio simulando cuatro variaciones de un proyecto, incluidos diferentes sistemas de madera (entramados ligeros, poste y viga, troncos, y madera contralaminada encolada). Sobre la base de los problemas identificados, se definió un método de diseño utilizando tablas de apoyo a las decisiones, listas de procedimientos y estrategias de optimización. Un proceso de apoyo a la decisión de criterios múltiples fue propuesto como una ayuda en la evaluación y selección de la mejor solución. Durante la fase del programa, el uso de un catálogo de tipologías con sistemas de construcción y sistemas formales promueve la optimización del proceso. En la fase de anteproyecto, la adopción de un proceso de evaluación, procedimientos de diseño específicos y estrategias preestablecidas (durabilidad, integridad de la construcción, economía) tienen como objetivo garantizar la calidad de la construcción.

Pentamera fonsecae n. sp. a new species of sea cucumber from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida: Thyonidae).

Pentamera fonsecae n. sp. is described from seven specimens as a new species of Thyonidae from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is distinguished from its congeners by having tables with ladder-shaped spires in the body wall, and tube feet with curved support tables of variable height and tables as those found in the body wall slightly smaller than those from the body wall. This species is distributed in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, from 28.5 to 40 m on muddy bottoms.

Effect of the presence or absence of upper limb support on posture when a smartphone user is in a seated position under ambient light conditions

BackgroundHome, public transport, work, the number of environmental positions constraining the use of smartphones is significant. Research questionHow can the presence of an upper limb support influence the sitting posture of smartphone users under fixed illumination and brightness? MethodsTwelve subjects (21,6 ± 5,5 years old) performed web browsing under two environmental positions (POSITION): sitting with and without support (table). The users' postures were evaluated through relative kinematics joint angles analysis. A repeated measure analysis of variance and Tukey post-hoc tests were performed to test the effect of POSITION on posture. ResultsIn sitting position in front of a table, neck is less stressed (flexion < 10°) and trunk and shoulder are supported which suggests less constrains for the joints. Relevance to industryTo prevent injury or pain, the use of an upper limb support (to lean on) should be considered for people/workers who use the smartphone frequently.

Low-cost MEMS accelerometer network for rotating machine vibration diagnostics

In this paper a wireless sensor network (WSN) with low-cost nodes (less than $US 30.00) is presented. The nodes are based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers and a highly-integrated microcontroller with built-in antenna for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE). The system was specially designed to analyze unbalance, load, and rotor obstructions in a rotating machine. Two sensor nodes were installed on an apparatus: one in the shaft and the other on the support table. The acceleration signals were used to analyze the machine vibration in the frequency domain by its Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). This spectrum was pre-analyzed on the sensor node, and the most significant features were sent to a cloud platform. These nodes were mounted to acquire vibration from an electric bicycle motor. Three situations were simulated: unbalance, using weights at the endings of rim spokes; mechanical load, using neodymium magnets, through the principle of eddy currents; and rotor obstruction, using an object made with a nylon cable. The solution presented was used to measure vibration and calculate its spectrum and send it to the cloud. The signals were analyzed using three strategies: an FFT amplitude level comparison, logistic regression, and neural network (NN). The analyses were carried out using the signals of each sensor independently and as a sensor network, this last showing better results. It was possible to diagnose each type of fault inserted in the tests, proving that the device developed can be used in industries as a low-cost alternative to monitor the health of rotating machines.

Primary Caregiver Relationships for Advanced Heart Failure Therapy Differ Based on Sex and Race and Predict Eligibility

Introduction Use of heart transplant (HT) and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are considered standard of care for eligible patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). In assessing eligibility, caregiver assistance is an important consideration in a patient's candidacy. While studies have shown that individuals without caregivers have worse survival outcomes, few studies have demonstrated how caregiver relationships differ based on sex and race, and whether that impacts eligibility for HT/LVAD. Hypothesis Women and Black patients are less likely than men and non-Black patients, respectively, to have a spouse listed as primary support, which may adversely affect eligibility for HT/LVAD. Methods We identified all patients (N=534) evaluated at Emory University for HT/LVAD from 2011 to 2016. Stanford Integrated Psychological Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT) scores were compared by sex and race using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. The outcome of HT/LVAD evaluation according to primary caregiver relationship was compared by sex and race using X2 analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between primary caregiver and HT/LVAD eligibility according to sex and race, adjusted for age, HF etiology, insurance, inotrope dependence, bilirubin, albumin, allosensitization, CKD stage, and SIPAT score. Results The mean age of the cohort was 52 ± 13 years; 171 (32%) were women and 294 (55%) were black. Total SIPAT scores did not vary significantly between men and women or blacks and non-blacks, regardless of primary support person. Women were less likely to have a spouse as primary support, and were more likely to have a parent or child as primary support (Table). Black patients were less likely to have a spouse as primary support, and were more likely to have a parent as primary support. In sex-stratified multivariable models, the choice of primary caregiver did not affect eligibility for HT/LVAD for women (P=0.8) or men (P=0.4). In race-stratified multivariable models, blacks with a parent as primary caregiver were less likely to be eligible for HT/LVAD (OR=0.17, 95% CI 0.03 - 0.97, P=0.04), however the primary caregiver was not associated with eligibility for HT/LVAD in non-black patients (P=0.9). Conclusion The choice of primary support person has a modest effect on decreasing eligibility for black patients being evaluated for advanced HF therapies, but not for women. More research is needed to determine unique barriers to advanced HF therapies for female and black patients.

A Modular Setup to Run a Large Line of Behavioral Testing in Mice in a Single Space

Elucidating the complex neural mechanisms that underlie cognition is contingent upon our ability to measure behavioral outputs reliably in animal models. While the development of open-source software has made behavioral science more accessible, behavioral research remains underappreciated and underutilized. One reason is the large real estate necessitated by traditional behavioral setups. Space must be specifically allocated for a controlled testing environment, accommodate the large footprint of mazes used in behavioral research, and allow a contiguous computerized area for data acquisition. Additionally, to achieve the distinct and sometimes incompatible environmental conditions required by different tasks, a suite of testing rooms may be necessary. Because space is a limited resource, this makes behavioral testing impractical for some labs or leads to implementation of suboptimal solutions that compromise the ergonomics of the working space, prevent the adequate control of environmental parameters around the testing setup, and jeopardize experimental reproducibility. Here, we describe a modular, space-saving, self-sufficient, functional, customizable, and cost-efficient setup to allow a large line of behavioral tests in mice within a single, compact room (<8 m2 ). Because it is modular by design, this setup requires no compromises on ergonomics, environmental control, or complexity of the visual landscape. It is inherently effective at streamlining behavioral experiments by eliminating the need to redefine tracking parameters, and makes swapping between configurations fast (∼1 min) and effortless. Presently, this design allows one to run eight major behavioral tasks, permitting a detailed and comprehensive analysis of mouse behavior within the footprint of a small office. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Constructing the support table Support Protocol 1: Constructing the open-field maze Support Protocol 2: Constructing IR-permissive inserts for light-dark assays Support Protocol 3: Constructing the three-chamber maze Support Protocol 4: Constructing the Y maze Support Protocol 5: Constructing the elevated plus maze Support Protocol 6: Constructing the Barnes maze Basic Protocol 2: Setting up the behavior room: flange and pulley systems Basic Protocol 3: Setting up the behavior room: environmental and storage systems Basic Protocol 4: Assembling and switching between configurations.