Spacecraft reaction wheel maneuvers are limited by the maximum torque and/or angular momentum which the wheels can provide. For an n-wheel configuration, the torque or momentum envelope can be obtained by projecting the ndimensional hypercube, representing the domain boundary of individual wheel torques or momenta, into three dimensional space via the 3xn matrix of wheel axes. In this paper, the properties of the projected hypercube are discussed, and algorithms are proposed for determining this maximal torque or momentum envelope for general wheel configurations. Practical implementation strategies for specific wheel configurations are also considered.

We aimed to assess the diagnostic and economic value of next-generation sequencing (NGS) versus single-gene testing, and of liquid biopsy (LBx) versus tissue biopsy (TBx) in non-small-cell lung cancer biomarker testing through literature review. Embase and MEDLINE were searched to identify relevant studies (n = 43) from 2015 to 2020 in adults with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. For NGS versus single-gene testing, concordance was 70–99% and sensitivity was 86–100%. For LBx versus TBx, specificity was 43–100% and sensitivity was ≥60%. Turnaround times were longer for NGS versus single-gene testing (but not vs sequential testing) and faster for LBx versus TBx. NGS was cost-effective, and LBx reduced US per-patient costs. NGS versus single-gene testing and LBx versus TBx were concordant. NGS and LBx may be cost-effective for initial screening.

To share our experience of establishing an acute outreach service to nursing homes and to evaluate the impact of such service on emergency department presentations, data were drawn from a pre‐existing database from 2013 to 2017. Of the 986 acute patients treated in 12 nursing homes over a 23‐month period, the acute geriatric outreach service was shown to be safe, with few adverse events (one allergic reaction) and 5.3% of patients required transfer to hospital. The acute service decreased emergency department presentation of nursing home patients by 10% compared to the subacute service (incidence rate ratio = 0.90; 95% confidence interval: 0.84–0.96; P = 0.001). Cost–benefit analysis showed for every $1 spent, a saving of $5 was realised.

Aim: To assess clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced (la) or metastatic (m) Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) initiating first-line (1L) avelumab in a USA community oncology setting. Materials & methods: Adults with laMCC or mMCC initiating 1L avelumab were identified from The US Oncology Network electronic health record database and chart review. Results: Median overall survival and progression-free survival were not reached in laMCC (n = 9) vs 20.2 and 10.0 months in mMCC (n = 19); response rates were similar (66.7% vs 63.2%). Conclusion: This is the first study to show clinical benefit in patients with laMCC receiving 1L avelumab in a US real-world setting. Response rates in patients with mMCC were consistent with pivotal trials.

Background. Immunotherapies (IO) have been associated with improved outcomes in patients with locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma (laMCC) and metastatic MCC (mMCC). The primary objective of SPEAR-Merkel was to explore treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with laMCC or mMCC initiating first-line (1L) treatment with avelumab, non-avelumab IO, or chemotherapy in a US community oncology setting. Methods. Adult patients with laMCC or mMCC initiating 1L avelumab, non-avelumab IO, or chemotherapy during 1/1/15-3/31/19 were identified from the US Oncology Network electronic healthcare record database and followed through 9/30/19. Baseline characteristics and HCRU were analyzed descriptively, including physician-stated overall response rate (ORR) in the real-world clinical setting. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to measure duration of response, real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS), and overall survival (OS). Results. Among the overall population (N=94), 28 received 1L avelumab (9 laMCC, 19 mMCC), 26 received 1L nonavelumab IO (8 laMCC, 18 mMCC), and 40 received 1L chemotherapy (10 laMCC, 30 mMCC). The rwORR was 64.3%, 61.5%, and 42.5%, respectively. From 1L treatment initiation, median rwPFS was 11.4, 8.1, and 6.1 months, and median OS was 20.2 months, not reached, and 14.7 months for the respective cohorts. Conclusion. SPEAR-Merkel showed that patients with laMCC or mMCC treated with IO therapies had improved outcomes compared with chemotherapy in clinical practice. The study provides insight on utilization and clinical outcomes associated with newer, more innovative therapies in clinical practice, which may help clinicians understand the variety of newer treatment options for both laMCC and mMCC.Implications for Practice, a brief statement: To our knowledge, SPEAR-Merkel is the first study to evaluate real-world clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced (laMCC) and metastatic MCC (mMCC) receiving first-line (1L) avelumab, nonavelumab immuno-oncology therapies, or chemotherapy in a real-world setting. SPEAR-Merkel showed clinical benefit for immuno-oncology therapies compared with chemotherapy. The study provides insight on uses and clinical outcomes associated with innovative therapies in clinical practice, which may help clinicians understand the variety of newer treatment options for both laMCC and mMCC. The study is of particular importance as it shows that chemotherapy is still being used as 1L treatment despite its inferior clinical and safety profile. The Oncologist ;9999:• •