Statistical mechanics of soft-boson phase transitions

The existence of structure on large (100 Mpc) scales, and limits to anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR), have imperiled models of structure formation based solely upon the standard cold dark matter scenario. Novel scenarios, which may be compatible with large scale structure and small CMBR anisotropies, invoke nonlinear fluctuations in the density appearing after recombination, accomplished via the use of late time phase transitions involving ultralow mass scalar bosons. Herein, the statistical mechanics are studied of such phase transitions in several models involving naturally ultralow mass pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons (pNGB's). These models can exhibit several interesting effects at high temperature, which is believed to be the most general possibilities for pNGB's

Predictors of Missed Hepatitis C Intake Appointments and Failure to Establish Hepatitis C Care Among Patients Living With HIV.

BackgroundWe estimated and characterized the proportion of patients living with HIV (PLWH) who missed hepatitis C (HCV) intake appointments and subsequently failed to establish HCV care.MethodsLogistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with missed HCV intake appointments and failure to establish HCV care among PLWH referred for HCV treatment between January 2014 and December 2017. In addition to demographics, variables included HIV treatment characteristics, type of insurance, liver health status, active alcohol or illicit drug use, unstable housing, and history of a mental health disorder (MHD).ResultsDuring the study period, 349 new HCV clinic appointments were scheduled for 202 unduplicated patients. Approximately half were nonwhite, and 80% had an undetectable HIV viral load. Drug use (31.7%), heavy alcohol use (32.8%), and MHD (37.8%) were prevalent. Over the 4-year period, 21.9% of PLWH referred for HCV treatment missed their HCV intake appointment. The proportion increased each year, from 17.2% in 2014 to 25.4% in 2017 (P = .021). Sixty-six of the 202 newly referred HCV patients (32.7%) missed their first HCV appointment, and 28 of these (42.4%) failed to establish HCV care. Having a history of MHD, CD4 <200, ongoing drug use, and being nonwhite were independent predictors of missing an intake HCV appointment. The strongest predictor of failure to establish HCV care was having a detectable HIV viral load.ConclusionsThe proportion of PLWH with missed HCV appointments increased over time. HCV elimination among PLWH may require integrated treatment of MHD and substance use

The Likely Impact of Mandated Paid Sick and Family-Care Leave on the Economy and Economic Development Prospects of the State of Ohio

This report analyzes the potential impact of a proposed paid sick and family care leave legislation on the economy of the state of Ohio, the economic development prospects of the state and on the management of production processes that depend on highly integrate teams. The report also reviews the literature on the effect of mandated paid sick and family care leave on the industrial relations system—workplace performance and worker retention. Our analysis concludes that there would have been a net cost associated with the paid sick leave and family-care initiative proposed in Ohio with a lower bound estimate of $63.84 annual net cost per newly covered worker and an upper bound estimate of$260.48 annual net cost per newly covered worker. We estimate that 1.6 million workers would have gained paid sick and family care leave if the proposed initiative were enacted in Ohio; therefore, our lower bound estimate is that the total net cost in Ohio would be $102.9 million dollars per year and our upper bound estimate is$420.0 million dollars per year. This estimated range is the minimum impact on the state. It does not include the dynamic, economic development impacts. Our cost benefit analysis looks at the short run impacts and does not include longer term negative effects that result from Ohio losing investment to border states as companies seek to avoid the mandates

Assessing agonistic potential of a candidate therapeutic anti-IL21R antibody

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Selective neutralization of the IL21/IL21R signaling pathway is a promising approach for the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases. Ab-01 is a human neutralizing anti-IL21R antibody. In order to ensure that the activities of Ab-01 are restricted to neutralization even under <it>in vitro </it>cross-linking and <it>in vivo </it>conditions, a comprehensive assessment of agonistic potential of Ab-01 was undertaken.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>In vitro </it>antibody cross-linking and cell culture protocols reported for studies with a human agonistic antibody, TGN1412, were followed for Ab-01. rhIL21, the agonist ligand of the targeted receptor, and cross-linked anti-CD28 were used as positive controls for signal transduction. <it>In vivo </it>agonistic potential of Ab-01 was assessed by measuring expression levels of cytokine storm-associated and IL21 pathway genes in blood of cynomolgus monkeys before and after IV administration of Ab-01.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a comprehensive set of assays that detected multiple activation signals in the presence of the positive control agonists, <it>in vitro </it>Ab-01-dependent activation was not detected in either PBMCs or the rhIL21-responsive cell line Daudi. Furthermore, no difference in gene expression levels was detected in blood before and after <it>in vivo </it>Ab-01 dosing of cynomolgus monkeys.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite efforts to intentionally force an agonistic signal from Ab-01, none could be detected.</p

Higher Doses of Subcutaneous IgG Reduce Resource Utilization in Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency

The recommended dose of IgG in primary immunodeficiency (PID) has been increasing since its first use. This study aimed to determine if higher subcutaneous IgG doses resulted in improved patient outcomes by comparing results from two parallel clinical studies with similar design. One patient cohort received subcutaneous IgG doses that were 1.5 times higher than their previous intravenous doses (mean 213 mg/kg/week), whereas the other cohort received doses identical to previous subcutaneous or intravenous doses (mean 120 mg/kg/week). While neither cohort had any serious infections, the cohort maintained on higher mean IgG dose had significantly lower rates of non-serious infections (2.76 vs. 5.18 episodes/year, P < 0.0001), hospitalization (0.20 vs. 3.48 days/year, P < 0.0001), antibiotic use (48.50 vs. 72.75 days/year, P < 0.001), and missed work/school activity (2.10 vs. 8.00 days/year, P < 0.001). The higher-dose cohort had lower health care utilization and improved indices of well being compared to the cohort treated with traditional IgG doses