The Effect of uranium-236 and neptunium-237 on the value of uranium used as feed for thermal power reactors

Statement of responsibility on title page reads: Manson Benedict, David J. Bauhs, Terence C. Golden and Edward A. Mason"June 30, 1968.""MIT-2073-7."Includes bibliographical references (pages 183-184)United States Atomic Energy Commission contract AT(30-1)-207

Vitamin D with Calcium reduces mortality: patient level pooled analysis of 70,528 patients from eight major vitamin D trials

Introduction: Vitamin D may affect multiple health outcomes. If so, an effect on mortality is to be expected. Using pooled data from randomized controlled trials, we performed individual patient data (IPD) and trial level meta-analyses to assess mortality among participants randomized to either vitamin D alone or vitamin D with calcium. Subjects and Methods: Through a systematic literature search, we identified 24 randomized controlled trials reporting data on mortality in which vitamin D was given either alone or with calcium. From a total of 13 trials with more than 1000 participants each, eight trials were included in our IPD analysis. Using a stratified Cox regression model, we calculated risk of death during 3 yr of treatment in an intention-to-treat analysis. Also, we performed a trial level meta-analysis including data from all studies. Results: The IPD analysis yielded data on 70,528 randomized participants (86.8% females) with a median age of 70 (interquartile range, 62–77) yr. Vitamin D with or without calcium reduced mortality by 7% [hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.88–0.99]. However, vitamin D alone did not affect mortality, but risk of death was reduced if vitamin D was given with calcium (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84–0.98). The number needed to treat with vitamin D plus calcium for 3 yr to prevent one death was 151. Trial level meta-analysis (24 trials with 88,097 participants) showed similar results, i.e. mortality was reduced with vitamin D plus calcium (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88–0.99), but not with vitamin D alone (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91–1.06). Conclusion: Vitamin D with calcium reduces mortality in the elderly, whereas available data do not support an effect of vitamin D alone

Automated Self-Optimisation of Multi-Step Reaction and Separation Processes Using Machine Learning

There has been an increasing interest in the use of automated self-optimising continuous flow platforms for the development and manufacture in synthesis in recent years. Such processes include multiple reactive and work-up steps, which need to be efficiently optimised. Here, we report the combination of multi-objective optimisation based on machine learning methods (TSEMO algorithm) with self-optimising platforms for the optimisation of multi-step continuous reaction processes. This is demonstrated for a pharmaceutically relevant Sonogashira reaction. We demonstrate how optimum reaction conditions are re-evaluated with the changing downstream work-up specifications in the active learning process. Furthermore, a Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction with subsequent liquid-liquid separation was optimised with respect to three-objectives. This approach provides the ability to simultaneously optimise multi-step processes with respect to multiple objectives, and thus has the potential to make substantial savings in time and resources

Enhancing easy-plane anisotropy in bespoke Ni(II) quantum magnets

We examine the crystal structures and magnetic properties of several S = 1 Ni(II) coordination compounds, molecules and polymers, that include the bridging ligands HF2-, AF62- (A = Ti, Zr) and pyrazine or non-bridging ligands F-, SiF62-, glycine, H2O, 1-vinylimidazole, 4-methylpyrazole and 3-hydroxypyridine. Pseudo-octahedral NiN4F2, NiN4O2 or NiN4OF cores consist of equatorial Ni-N bonds that are equal to or slightly longer than the axial Ni-Lax bonds. By design, the zero-field splitting (D) is large in these systems and, in the presence of substantial exchange interactions (J), can be difficult to discriminate from magnetometry measurements on powder samples. Thus, we relied on pulsed-field magnetization in those cases and employed electron-spin resonance (ESR) to confirm D when J 0) and range from ≈ 8-25 K. This work reveals a linear correlation between the ratio d(Ni-Lax)/d(Ni-Neq) and D although the ligand spectrochemical properties may also be important. We assert that this relationship allows us to predict the type of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in tailored Ni(II) quantum magnets

Effects of vitamin D, omega-3 and a simple strength exercise programme in cardiovascular disease prevention: The DO-HEALTH randomized controlled trial

Background: The effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in older adults remains unclear. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the effect of 2000 IU/day of vitamin D$_3$, omega-3 fatty acids (1 g/day), and a simple home strength exercise program (SHEP) (3×/week) on lipid and CVD biomarkers plasma changes over 3 years, incident hypertension and major cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods: The risk of MACE (coronary heart event or intervention, heart failure, stroke) was an exploratory endpoint of DO-HEALTH, incident hypertension and change in biomarkers were secondary endpoints. DO-HEALTH is a completed multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design trial enrolling 2157 Europeans aged ≥70 years. Results: Participants' median age was 74 [72, 77] years, 61.7% were women, 82.5% were at least moderately physically active, and 40.7% had 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL at baseline. Compared to their controls, omega-3 increased HDL-cholesterol (difference in change over 3 years: 0.08 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.05-0.10), decreased triglycerides (-0.08 mmol/L, (95%CI -0.12 to -0.03), but increased total- (0.15 mmol/L, 95%CI 0.09; 0.2), LDL- (0.11 mmol/L, 0.06; 0.16), and non-HDL-cholesterol (0.07 mmol/L, 95%CI 0.02; 0.12). However, neither omega-3 (adjustedHR 1.00, 95%CI 0.64-1.56), nor vitamin D$_3$ (aHR 1.37, 95%CI 0.88-2.14), nor SHEP (aHR 1.18, 95%CI 0.76-1.84) reduced risk of MACE or incident hypertension compared to control. Conclusion: Among generally healthy, active, and largely vitamin D replete, older adults, treatment with omega-3, vitamin D$_3$, and/or SHEP had no benefit on MACE prevention. Only omega-3 supplementation changed lipid biomarkers, but with mixed effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION CLINICALTRIALS

Bimetallic MOFs (H3O)x[Cu(MF6)(pyrazine)2]·(4 − x)H2O (M = V4+, x = 0; M = Ga3+, x = 1): co-existence of ordered and disordered quantum spins in the V4+ system

The title compounds are bimetallic MOFs containing [Cu(pyz)2]2+ square lattices linked by MF6n− octahedra. In each, only the Cu2+ spins exhibit long-range magnetic order below 3.5 K (M = V4+) and 2.6 K (M = Ga3+). The V4+ spins remain disordered down to 0.5 K

MAP kinase phosphatase 1 controls innate immune responses and suppresses endotoxic shock

Septic shock is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. However, genetic factors predisposing to septic shock are not fully understood. Excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and the resultant severe hypotension play a central role in the pathophysiological process. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades are crucial in the biosynthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP)-1 is an archetypal member of the dual specificity protein phosphatase family that dephosphorylates MAP kinase. Thus, we hypothesize that knockout of the Mkp-1 gene results in prolonged MAP kinase activation, augmented cytokine production, and increased susceptibility to endotoxic shock. Here, we show that knockout of Mkp-1 substantially sensitizes mice to endotoxic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. We demonstrate that upon LPS challenge, Mkp-1−/− cells exhibit prolonged p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation as well as enhanced TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-6 production compared with wild-type cells. After LPS challenge, Mkp-1 knockout mice produce dramatically more TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 than do wild-type mice. Consequently, Mkp-1 knockout mice develop severe hypotension and multiple organ failure, and exhibit a remarkable increase in mortality. Our studies demonstrate that MKP-1 is a pivotal feedback control regulator of the innate immune responses and plays a critical role in suppressing endotoxin shock

Brokered Graph State Quantum Computing

We describe a procedure for graph state quantum computing that is tailored to fully exploit the physics of optically active multi-level systems. Leveraging ideas from the literature on distributed computation together with the recent work on probabilistic cluster state synthesis, our model assigns to each physical system two logical qubits: the broker and the client. Groups of brokers negotiate new graph state fragments via a probabilistic optical protocol. Completed fragments are mapped from broker to clients via a simple state transition and measurement. The clients, whose role is to store the nascent graph state long term, remain entirely insulated from failures during the brokerage. We describe an implementation in terms of NV-centres in diamond, where brokers and clients are very naturally embodied as electron and nuclear spins.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure