Hydrodynamic limit of gradient exclusion processes with conductances

Fix a strictly increasing right continuous with left limits function W: \bb R \to \bb R and a smooth function \Phi : [l,r] \to \bb R, defined on some interval $[l,r]$ of \bb R, such that $0<b \le \Phi'\le b^{-1}$. We prove that the evolution, on the diffusive scale, of the empirical density of exclusion processes, with conductances given by $W$, is described by the weak solutions of the non-linear differential equation $\partial_t \rho = (d/dx)(d/dW) \Phi(\rho)$. We derive some properties of the operator $(d/dx)(d/dW)$ and prove uniqueness of weak solutions of the previous non-linear differential equation

Are rates of school suspension higher in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods? An Australian study

Issue addressed: Health promotion with adolescents spans many contexts including schools. Income and its distribution, education and social exclusion are key social determinants of health. Exclusionary school policies such as school suspension contribute to exclusion, increase the likelihood of school dropout (reducing educational and subsequent employment opportunities), and negatively impact on student wellbeing. Often excluded students are from socio-economically disadvantaged areas. This paper examines associations between area level socio-economic status (SES) and school suspension in Australian students. Methods: Students (8,028) in years 6 (n = 4393) and 8 (n = 3635) completed a comprehensive social development survey administered in schools in 30 socio-economically stratified communities in 2006.Results: Associations between area level SES and school suspension were found. Relative to students in the lowest SES quartile communities, students in mid level and high SES had lower suspension rates. These effects remained after controlling for antisocial behaviour, gender, age and the established risk factors of poor family management, interaction with antisocial peers and academic failure. Conclusions: Students living in low SES areas are exposed to higher rates of school suspension, at similar levels of adjustment problems. Assisting schools, particularly those with disadvantaged students, to foster school engagement is essential for schools committed to health promotion

Insomnia as an Independent Predictor of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in HIV: Data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study

Background: Insomnia is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in the general population and is highly prevalent in people with HIV. The CVD risk conferred by insomnia in the HIV population is unknown. Methods: Using the Veterans Aging Cohort Study-Survey Cohort, insomnia symptoms were measured and dummy coded with the item, “Difficulty falling or staying asleep?” (5-point scale from no difficulty to bothers a lot). Incident CVD event ICD-9 codes (acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary artery revascularization) were identified with VA and Medicare administrative data and VA fee-for-service data. Those with baseline CVD were excluded. Results: HIV-infected (N=3,108) veterans had a median follow-up time of 10.8 years, during which 267 CVD events occurred. Compared to HIV-infected veterans with no difficulty falling or staying asleep, HIV-infected veterans bothered a lot by insomnia symptoms had an increased risk of incident CVD after adjusting for demographics (HR=1.64, 95%CI=1.16-2.31, p=.005), CVD risk factors (HR=1.62, 95%CI=1.14-2.30, p=.007), additional potential confounders (hepatitis C infection, renal disease, anemia, alcohol use, cocaine use; HR=1.70, 95%CI=1.19-2.43, p=.003), and HIV-specific factors (HIV-1 RNA, CD4+ T-cell count, ART; HR=1.66, 95%CI=1.16-2.37, p=.005). Additional adjustment for non-benzodiazepine sleep medication (HR=1.62, 95%CI=1.13-2.32, p=.009) did not attenuate the association; however, it fell short of significance at p < .01 after adjustment for depressive symptoms (HR=1.51, 95%CI=0.98-2.32, p=.060) or antidepressant medication (HR=1.51, 95%CI=1.04-2.19, p=.031). Conclusion: Highly bothersome insomnia symptoms were significantly associated with incident CVD in HIV-infected veterans, suggesting that insomnia may be a novel, modifiable risk factor for CVD in HIV

Inclusive School Community: Why is it so Complex?

This paper addresses the question: why is it so hard for school communities to respond to diversity in learners, staff and parents in inclusive ways? The authors draw on theory and recent professional experience in Queensland, Australia, to offer four guiding principles that address traditional assumptions about learning that result in inequality of opportunity and outcomes for students. The authors suggest these principles to support the development of a more inclusive school community: (1) develop a learning community incorporating a critical friend; (2) value and collaborate with parents and the broader community; (3) engage students as citizens in school review and develop¬ment; and (4) support teachers’ critical engagement with inclusive ideals and practices. The authors describe how the principles can work in concert in a school community

Zinc deficiency and advanced liver fibrosis among HIV and hepatitis C co-infected anti-retroviral naïve persons with alcohol use in Russia

Background and aims Liver disease in people living with HIV co-infected with hepatitis C virus is a source of morbidity and mortality in Russia. HIV accelerates liver fibrosis in the setting of HCV co-infection and alcohol use. Zinc deficiency is common among people living with HIV and may be a factor that facilitates the underlying mechanisms of liver fibrosis. We investigated the association between zinc deficiency and advanced liver fibrosis in a cohort of HIV/HCV co-infected persons reporting heavy drinking in Russia. Methods This is a secondary data analysis of baseline data from 204 anti-retroviral treatment naïve HIV/HCV co-infected Russians with heavy drinking that were recruited into a clinical trial of zinc supplementation. The primary outcome of interest in this cross-sectional study was advanced liver fibrosis. Zinc deficiency, the main independent variable, was defined as plasma zinc \u3c0.75 mg/L. Exploratory analyses were performed examining continuous zinc levels and fibrosis scores. Analyses were conducted using multivariable regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results The prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis was similar for those with zinc deficiency compared to those with normal zinc levels, (27.7% vs. 23.0%, respectively). We did not detect an association between zinc deficiency and advanced liver fibrosis in the adjusted regression model (aOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.62–2.61, p = 0.51) nor in exploratory analyses. Conclusions In this cohort of Russians with HIV/HCV co-infection, who are anti-retroviral treatment naïve and have heavy alcohol use, we did not detect an association between zinc deficiency or zinc levels and advanced liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis and accelerated immune dysfunction (immunosenescence) among HIV-infected Russians with heavy alcohol consumption - an observational cross-sectional study

The multifactorial mechanisms driving negative health outcomes among risky drinkers with HIV may include immunosenescence. Immunosenescence, aging of the immune system, may be accentuated in HIV and leads to poor outcomes. The liver regulates innate immunity and adaptive immune tolerance. HIV-infected people have high prevalence of liver-related comorbidities. We hypothesize that advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis is associated with alterations in T-cell subsets consistent with immunosenescence. ART-naïve people with HIV with a recent history of heavy drinking were recruited into a clinical trial of zinc supplementation. Flow cytometry was used to characterize T-cell subsets. The two primary dependent variables were CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells expressing CD28-CD57+ (senescent cell phenotype). Secondary dependent variables were CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells expressing CD45RO + CD45RA- (memory phenotype), CD45RO-CD45RA+ (naïve phenotype), and the naïve phenotype to memory phenotype T-cell ratio (lower ratios associated with immunosenescence). Advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was defined as FIB-4 > 3.25, APRI≥1.5, or Fibroscan measurement ≥10.5 kPa. Analyses were conducted using multiple linear regression adjusted for potential confounders. Mean age was 34 years; 25% female; 88% hepatitis C. Those with advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis (N = 25) had higher HIV-1 RNA and more hepatitis C. Advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was not significantly associated with primary or secondary outcomes in adjusted analyses. Advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was not significantly associated with these senescent T-cell phenotypes in this exploratory study of recent drinkers with HIV. Future studies should assess whether liver fibrosis among those with HIV viral suppression and more advanced, longstanding liver disease is associated with changes in these and other potentially senescent T-cell subsets

Don't Stop Thinking About Leptoquarks: Constructing New Models

We discuss the general framework for the construction of new models containing a single, fermion number zero scalar leptoquark of mass $\simeq 200-220$ GeV which can both satisfy the D0/CDF search constraints as well as low energy data, and can lead to both neutral and charged current-like final states at HERA. The class of models of this kind necessarily contain new vector-like fermions with masses at the TeV scale which mix with those of the Standard Model after symmetry breaking. In this paper we classify all models of this type and examine their phenomenological implications as well as their potential embedding into SUSY and non-SUSY GUT scenarios. The general coupling parameter space allowed by low energy as well as collider data for these models is described and requires no fine-tuning of the parameters.Comment: Modified text, added table, and updated reference

HIV Infection and the Risk of World Health Organization-Defined Sudden Cardiac Death

Background People living with HIV have higher sudden cardiac death (SCD) rates compared with the general population. Whether HIV infection is an independent SCD risk factor is unclear. Methods and Results This study evaluated participants from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, an observational, longitudinal cohort of veterans with and without HIV infection matched 1:2 on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and clinical site. Baseline for this study was a participant\u27s first clinical visit on or after April 1, 2003. Participants were followed through December 31, 2014. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we assessed whether HIV infection, CD4 cell counts, and/or HIV viral load were associated with World Health Organization (WHO)–defined SCD risk. Among 144 336 participants (30% people living with HIV), the mean (SD) baseline age was 50.0 years (10.6 years), 97% were men, and 47% were of Black race. During follow‐up (median, 9.0 years), 3035 SCDs occurred. HIV infection was associated with increased SCD risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04–1.25), adjusting for possible confounders. In analyses with time‐varying CD4 and HIV viral load, people living with HIV with CD4 counts \u3c 200 cells/mm3 (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.28–1.92) or viral load \u3e 500 copies/mL (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.46–1.98) had increased SCD risk versus veterans without HIV. In contrast, people living with HIV who had CD4 cell counts \u3e 500 cells/mm3 (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90–1.18) or HIV viral load \u3c 500 copies/mL (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.87–1.09) were not at increased SCD risk. Conclusions HIV infection is associated with increased risk of WHO‐defined SCD among those with elevated HIV viral load or low CD4 cell counts