Wigner Crystal in One Dimension

A one--dimensional gas of electrons interacting with long--range Coulomb forces ($V(r) \approx 1/r$) is investigated. The excitation spectrum consists of separate collective charge and spin modes, with the charge excitation energies in agreement with RPA calculations. For arbitrarily weak Coulomb repulsion density correlations at wavevector $4k_F$ decay extremely slowly and are best described as those of a one--dimensional Wigner crystal. Pinning of the Wigner crystal then leads to the nonlinear transport properties characteristic of CDW. The results allow a consistent interpretation of the plasmon and spin excitations observed in one--dimensional semiconductor structures, and suggest an interpretation of some of the observed features in terms of ``spinons''. A possible explanation for nonlinear transport phenomena is given.Comment: 10 pages, RevTe

Estimates of unresolved point sources contribution to WMAP 5

We present an alternative estimate of the unresolved point source contribution to the WMAP temperature power spectrum based on current knowledge of sources from radio surveys in the 1.4-90 GHz range. We implement a stochastic extrapolation of radio point sources in the NRAO-VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) catalog, from the original 1.4 GHz to the ~ 100 GHz frequency range relevant for CMB experiments. With a bootstrap approach, we generate an ensemble of realizations that provides the probability distribution for the flux of each NVSS source at the final frequency. The predicted source counts agree with WMAP results for S > 1 Jy and the corresponding sky maps correlate with WMAP observed maps in Q-, V- and W- bands, for sources with flux S > 0.2 Jy. The low-frequency radio surveys found a steeper frequency dependence for sources just below the WMAP nominal threshold than the one estimated by the WMAP team. This feature is present in our simulations and translates into a shift of 0.3-0.4 \sigma in the estimated value of the tilt of the power spectrum of scalar perturbation, n_s, as well as \omega_c. This approach demonstrates the use of external point sources datasets for CMB data analysis.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, to be published on MNRA

The ADVANCE network: accelerating data value across a national community health center network

The ADVANCE (Accelerating Data Value Across a National Community Health Center Network) clinical data research network (CDRN) is led by the OCHIN Community Health Information Network in partnership with Health Choice Network and Fenway Health. The ADVANCE CDRN will ‘horizontally’ integrate outpatient electronic health record data for over one million federally qualified health center patients, and ‘vertically’ integrate hospital, health plan, and community data for these patients, often under-represented in research studies. Patient investigators, community investigators, and academic investigators with diverse expertise will work together to meet project goals related to data integration, patient engagement and recruitment, and the development of streamlined regulatory policies. By enhancing the data and research infrastructure of participating organizations, the ADVANCE CDRN will serve as a ‘community laboratory’ for including disadvantaged and vulnerable patients in patient-centered outcomes research that is aligned with the priorities of patients, clinics, and communities in our network

Association of the infant gut microbiome with early childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes: An ancillary study to the VDAART randomized clinical trial

Importance: In animal models, the early life gut microbiome influences later neurodevelopment. Corresponding data in human populations are lacking. Objective: To study associations between the gut microbiome in infants and development at preschool age measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3). Design, Setting, and Participants: This ancillary cohort study of the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART) used data from 715 participants who had development assessed at 3 years of age by the ASQ-3, which included scores in 5 domains (gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem solving, communication, and personal and social skills). A total of 309 stool samples were collected from infants aged 3 to 6 months for microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Exposures: Infant gut microbiome. Main Outcomes and Measures: Continuous ASQ-3 scores and typical vs potential delay in the 5 developmental domains. Factor scores for bacterial coabundance groups were used as predictors in regression models of continuous ASQ-3 scores. Logistic regression was used to examine bacterial coabundance scores and odds of scoring below the threshold for typical development. Multivariate analysis examined the abundance of individual taxa and ASQ-3 scores. Results: The 309 participants (170 [55.0%] male) with ASQ-3 scores and stool samples were ethnically diverse (136 [44.0%] black, 41 [13.3%] Hispanic, 86 [27.8%] white, and 46 [14.9%] other race/ethnicity); the mean (SD) age at ASQ-3 assessment was 3.0 (0.07) years. Coabundance scores dominated by Clostridiales (Lachnospiraceae genera and other, unclassified Clostridiales taxa) were associated with poorer ASQ-3 communication (β, -1.12; 95% CI, -2.23 to -0.01; P = .05) and personal and social (β, -1.44; 95% CI, -2.47 to -0.40; P = .01) scores and with increased odds of potential delay for communication (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.68) and personal and social skills (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.22 to 3.15) per unit increase in coabundance score. The Bacteroides-dominated coabundance grouping was associated with poorer fine motor scores (β, -2.42; 95% CI, -4.29 to -0.55; P = .01) and with increased odds of potential delay for fine motor skills (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.16) per unit increase in coabundance score. Multivariate analysis detected similar family-level and order-level associations. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest an association between infant gut microbiome composition and communication, personal and social, and fine motor skills at age 3 years. The majority of associations were driven by taxa within the order Clostridiales

Transcriptomic Response of Fusarium verticillioides to Variably Inhibitory Environmental Isolates of Streptomyces

Fusarium verticillioides is a mycotoxigenic fungus that is a threat to food and feed safety due to its common infection of maize, a global staple crop. A proposed strategy to combat this threat is the use of biological control bacteria that can inhibit the fungus and reduce mycotoxin contamination. In this study, the effect of multiple environmental isolates of Streptomyces on F. verticillioides was examined via transcriptome analysis. The Streptomyces strains ranged from inducing no visible response to dramatic growth inhibition. Transcriptionally, F. verticillioides responded proportionally to strain inhibition with either little to no transcript changes to thousands of genes being differentially expressed. Expression changes in multiple F. verticillioides putative secondary metabolite gene clusters was observed. Interestingly, genes involved in the fusaric acid gene cluster were suppressed by inhibitory strains of Streptomyces. A F. verticillioides beta-lactamase encoding gene (FVEG_13172) was found to be highly induced by specific inhibitory Streptomyces strains and its deletion increased visible response to those strains. This study demonstrates that F. verticillioides does not have an all or nothing response to bacteria it encounters but rather a measured response that is strain specific and proportional to the strength of inhibition

A systematic, intensive statistical investigation of data from the Comprehensive Analysis of Reported Drugs (CARD) for compliance and illicit opioid abstinence in substance addiction treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone

BACKGROUND: Buprenorphine and naloxone (bup/nal), a combination partial mu receptor agonist and low-dose delta mu antagonist, is presently recommended and used to treat opioid-use disorder. However, a literature review revealed a paucity of research involving data from urine drug tests that looked at compliance and abstinence in one sample. METHOD: Statistical analysis of data from the Comprehensive Analysis of Reported Drugs (CARD) was used to assess compliance and abstinence during treatment in a large cohort of bup/nal patients attending chemical-dependency programs from eastern USA in 2010 and 2011. RESULTS: Part 1: Bup/nal was present in 93.4% of first (n = 1,282; p \u3c.0001) and 92.4% of last (n = 1,268; p \u3c.0001) urine samples. Concomitantly, unreported illicit drugs were present in 47.7% (n = 655, p =.0261) of samples. Patients who were compliant to the bup/nal prescription were more likely than noncompliant patients to be abstinent during treatment (p =.0012; odds ratio = 1.69 with 95% confidence interval (1.210, 2.354). Part 2: An analysis of all samples collected in 2011 revealed a significant improvement in both compliance (p \u3c 2.2 × 1

Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and cortisol in both menstrual phases of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and effect of depressive mood on these hormones

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease which defined as medically unexplained, disabling fatigue of 6 months or more duration and often accompanied by several of a long list of physical complaints. We aimed to investigate abnormalities of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis hormones and cortisol concentrations in premenopausal women with CFS and find out effects of depression rate on these hormones. METHODS: We examined follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, progesterone and cortisol concentrations in 43 premenopausal women (mean age: 32.86 ± 7.11) with CFS and compared matched 35 healthy controls (mean age: 31.14 ± 6.19). Patients were divided according to menstrual cycle phases (follicular and luteal) and compared with matched phase controls. Depression rate was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and patients with high BDI scores were compared to patients with low BDI scores. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone levels in both of menstrual phases of patients versus controls. Cortisol levels were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. There were no significant differences in all hormone levels in patients with high depression scores versus patients with low depression scores. CONCLUSION: In spite of high depression rate, low cortisol concentration and normal HPG axis hormones of both menstrual phases are detected in premenopausal women with CFS. There is no differentiation between patients with high and low depression rate in all hormone levels. Depression condition of CFS may be different from classical depression and evaluation of HPG and HPA axis should be performed for understanding of pathophysiology of CFS and planning of treatment

MESSENGER observations of Mercury's magnetosphere during northward IMF

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95214/1/grl25367.pd

A randomized phase 2 study of trastuzumab and pertuzumab (TP) compared to cetuximab and irinotecan (CETIRI) in advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with HER2 amplification: SWOG S1613

Background: HER2 (ERBB2) over-expression and amplification (HER2+) is seen in a small but distinct subset (2-3%) of mCRC and is enriched in RAS/BRAF wild type (WT) tumors. This subset is characterized by a limited response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodybased (anti-EGFR) therapy and a promising response to dual-HER2 inhibition. Methods: In this multicenter, open label, randomized, phase 2 trial, we enrolled 54 patients with RAS/BRAF WT HER2+ mCRC who had had disease progression after 1 or 2 previous therapies. HER2 status was confirmed centrally with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in-situ hybridization (ISH). HER2+ was defined as IHC 3+ or 2+ and ISH amplified (dual-probe HER2/CEP17 ratio \u3e 2.0). Patients were then randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either TP (trastuzumab [loading 8 mg/kg then 6 mg/kg] + pertuzumab [loading 840 mg then 420 mg] every 3 weeks) or CETIRI (cetuximab 500 mg/m2 + irinotecan 180 mg/m2 every 2 weeks). Crossover was allowed for patients on CETIRI arm to TP (cTP) after progression. Restaging (per RECIST v1.1) was performed at 6 and 12 weeks and then every 8 weeks until progression. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Key secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and safety. Results: A total of 54 (out of planned 62 due to low accrual) patients were randomized to TP (26) and CETIRI (28) between 10/2017 and 12/2021. By 8/18/2022, 20 patients had crossed over to cTP arm. One CETIRI patient was not analyzable. The results for key endpoints by protocol defined stratification factors, prior irinotecan (Piri) (yes or no) and HER2/CEP17 ratio (HCR) (\u3e5 or ≤5), are summarized as of data cut-off of 9/6/2022. PFS did not vary significantly by treatment: medians 4.4 (95%CI: 1.9 - 7.6) months in TP group and 3.7 (95%CI: 1.6 - 6.7) months in CETIRI group (p = 0.35). Grade≥3 adverse events occurred in 23%, 46% and 40% of patients in TP, CETIRI and cTP groups. Conclusions: Dual-HER2 inhibition with TP appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with RAS/BRAF WT HER2+ mCRC with a promising response rate of31%.Higher level of HER2 amplification may provide a greater degree of clinical benefit from TP compared to CETIRI. Future correlative efforts will explore biomarkers of response/resistance with this strategy

MESSENGER at Mercury: Early Orbital Operations

The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft, launched in August 2004 under NASA's Discovery Program, was inserted into orbit about the planet Mercury in March 2011. MESSENGER's three flybys of Mercury in 2008-2009 marked the first spacecraft visits to the innermost planet since the Mariner 10 flybys in 1974-1975. The unprecedented orbital operations are yielding new insights into the nature and evolution of Mercury. The scientific questions that frame the MESSENGER mission led to the mission measurement objectives to be achieved by the seven payload instruments and the radio science experiment. Interweaving the full set of required orbital observations in a manner that maximizes the opportunity to satisfy all mission objectives and yet meet stringent spacecraft pointing and thermal constraints was a complex optimization problem that was solved with a software tool that simulates science observations and tracks progress toward meeting each objective. The final orbital observation plan, the outcome of that optimization process, meets all mission objectives. MESSENGER's Mercury Dual Imaging System is acquiring a global monochromatic image mosaic at better than 90% coverage and at least 250 m average resolution, a global color image mosaic at better than 90% coverage and at least 1 km average resolution, and global stereo imaging at better than 80% coverage and at least 250 m average resolution. Higher-resolution images are also being acquired of targeted areas. The elemental remote sensing instruments, including the Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer and the X-Ray Spectrometer, are being operated nearly continuously and will establish the average surface abundances of most major elements. The Visible and Infrared Spectrograph channel of MESSENGER's Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer is acquiring a global map of spectral reflectance from 300 to 1450 nm wavelength at a range of incidence and emission angles. Targeted areas have been selected for spectral coverage into the ultraviolet with the Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrometer (UVVS). MESSENGER's Mercury Laser Altimeter is acquiring topographic profiles when the slant range to Mercury's surface is less than 1800 km, encompassing latitudes from 20 deg. S to the north pole. Topography over the remainder of the southern hemisphere will be derived from stereo imaging, radio occultations, and limb profiles. MESSENGER's radio science experiment is determining Mercury's gravity field from Doppler signals acquired during frequent downlinks. MESSENGER's Magnetometer is measuring the vector magnetic field both within Mercury's magnetosphere and in Mercury's solar wind environment at an instrument sampling rate of up to 20 samples/s. The UVVS is determining the three-dimensional, time-dependent distribution of Mercury's exospheric neutral and ionic species via their emission lines. During each spacecraft orbit, the Energetic Particle Spectrometer measures energetic electrons and ions, and the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer measures the energies and mass per charge of thermal plasma components, both within Mercury's magnetosphere and in Mercury's solar-wind environment. The primary mission observation sequence will continue for one Earth year, until March 2012. An extended mission, currently under discussion with NASA, would add a second year of orbital observations targeting a set of focused follow-on questions that build on observations to date and take advantage of the more active Sun expected during 2012-2013. MESSENGER's total primary mission cost, projected at $446 M in real-year dollars, is comparable to that of Mariner 10 after adjustment for inflation