1,076 research outputs found
A study of the use of leading-edge notches as a means for improving the low-speed pitching-moment characteristics of a thin 45-degree swept wing of aspect ratio 4
Polarity and ferromagnetism in two-dimensional hybrid copper perovskites with chlorinated aromatic spacers
We would like to thank the China Scholarships Council for a studentship to CH. PSH and WZ thank the Welch Foundation (Grant E-1457) and the National Science Foundation (DMR-2002319) for support.Two-dimensional (2D) organic−inorganichybrid copper perovskites have drawn tremendous attention as promisingmultifunctional materials. Herein, by incorporating ortho, metaand para-chlorine substitution in the benzylamine structure, we firstlyreport theinfluence of positional isomerism on the crystal structures of chlorobenzylammonium copper (II) chloride perovskites A2CuCl4. 2Dpolar ferromagnets (3-ClbaH)2CuCl4 and (4-ClbaH)2CuCl4(ClbaH+ = chlorobenzylammonium) are successfully obtained. They bothadopt a polar monoclinic space group Cc at room temperature, displayingsignificant differences in crystal structures. In contrast, (2-ClbaH)2CuCl4adopts a centrosymmetric space group P21/c at roomtemperature. This associated structural evolution successfullyenhances the physical properties of the two polar compounds with high thermalstability, discernible second harmonic generation (SHG) signals, ferromagnetism,and narrowoptical band gaps.These findings demonstrate that theintroduction of chlorine atoms into the inter-layer organicspecies is a powerful tool to tune crystalsymmetries and physical properties, and this inspires further exploration of designinghigh-performance multifunctional copper-based materials.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Evaluating use cases for human challenge trials in accelerating SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development
Human challenge trials (HCTs) have been proposed as a means to accelerate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development. We identify and discuss three potential use cases of HCTs in the current pandemic: evaluating efficacy, converging on correlates of protection, and improving understanding of pathogenesis and the human immune response. We outline the limitations of HCTs and find that HCTs are likely to be most useful for vaccine candidates currently in preclinical stages of development. We conclude that, while currently limited in their application, there are scenarios in which HCTs would be extremely beneficial. Therefore, the option of conducting HCTs to accelerate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development should be preserved. As HCTs require many months of preparation, we recommend an immediate effort to (1) establish guidelines for HCTs for COVID-19; (2) take the first steps toward HCTs, including preparing challenge virus and making preliminary logistical arrangements; and (3) commit to periodically re-evaluating the utility of HCTs
Does doxorubicin survive thermal ablation? Results of an ex vivo bench top study
PURPOSE:We aimed to test the hypothesis that doxorubicin (DOX) survives thermal ablative heating in an ex vivo model of combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and thermal ablation.METHODS:Fresh porcine psoas major muscle (3 samples, 15×10×3 cm) was submerged in aqueous DOX solution (60 µg/mL, 0.1 M) for 24 hours to passively saturate tissue. DOX-infused tissue was then dried and treated with microwave ablation (MWA) using a 2.45 GHz antenna at 65 W for 2, 5, and 10 minutes. Ablations were repeated in triplicate (9 total). Tissue was then sampled at both ablated and unablated control sites, and DOX concentration was quantified via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), with samples analyzed in triplicate. Tissue DOX levels in ablation and control groups were compared using one-way ANOVA.RESULTS:Homogeneous DOX uptake into porcine tissue was evident in all three samples. Mean DOX concentration in unablated tissue was 8.0±2.2 µg/mL. MWA was technically successful in all 9 procedures (100%), with tissue heating to 95–100°C. Mean tissue DOX concentration showed progressive reduction with increasing ablation time, measuring 6.7±1.3, 4.9±0.9, and 4.8±1.3 µg/mL in MWA-treated tissue after 2, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. Differences in tissue DOX levels between unablated tissue and MWA groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:Contrary to the initial hypothesis, tissue DOX concentration progressively decreased after MWA of longer ablation times. These results suggest that TACE followed by ablation may result in lower intratumoral DOX than would otherwise be anticipated for TACE alone
Ring-Like Structure in the Radio Lobe of MG0248+0641
We present radio and optical observations of MG0248+0641, which contains a
kiloparsec-scale ring-like structure in one of its radio lobes. The radio
observations show a typical core-double morphology: a central core between two
lobes, each of which has a hotspot. The western radio lobe appears as a nearly
continuous ring, with linear polarization electric field vectors which are
oriented in a radial direction from the ring center. We consider several
different interpretations for the nature of this ring, including gravitational
lensing of a normal jet by a foreground galaxy. Even though simple lensing
models can describe the ring morphology reasonably well, the high linear
polarization seen around the ring cannot be easily explained. The chance
interposition of a galactic supernova remnant, nova, planetary nebula, or H II
region, has been ruled out. The highly polarized ring of MG0248+0641 is much
like the prominent ring seen in 3C219, and the multiple ones in 3C310 and
Hercules A, suggesting that similar physical processes are producing shell
structures in these radio galaxies. The ring in MG0248+0641 may be caused by
the formation of ``bubbles'', as a result of instabilities in the energy flow
down the western radio jet. It may also be possible that the required
instabilities are triggered by the infall of gas, via tidal interaction of the
central source with a nearby galaxy. This scenario may be indicated by our
marginal detection of an optical source close to the western hotspot.Comment: 21 pages. Submitted to AJ Aug 15, 1997; Accepted Sep 30, 1997. Minor
changes in conten
Supersymmetric Three-Form Flux Perturbations on
We consider warped type IIB supergravity solutions with three-form flux and
supersymmetry, which arise as the supergravity duals of confining
gauge theories. We first work in a perturbation expansion around , as in the work of Polchinski and Strassler, and from the
conditions and the Bianchi identities recover their first-order solution
generalized to an arbitrary superpotential. We find the second
order dilaton and axion by the same means. We also find a simple family of
exact solutions, which can be obtained from solutions found by Becker and
Becker, and which includes the recent Klebanov--Strassler solution.Comment: 19 pages. reference added, minor clarifications. v3: reference to
non-Abelian BPS monopole solution corrected (Chamseddine-Volkov
Hierarchies from Fluxes in String Compactifications
Warped compactifications with significant warping provide one of the few
known mechanisms for naturally generating large hierarchies of physical scales.
We demonstrate that this mechanism is realizable in string theory, and give
examples involving orientifold compactifications of IIB string theory and
F-theory compactifications on Calabi-Yau four-folds. In each case, the
hierarchy of scales is fixed by a choice of RR and NS fluxes in the compact
manifold. Our solutions involve compactifications of the Klebanov-Strassler
gravity dual to a confining N=1 supersymmetric gauge theory,and the hierarchy
reflects the small scale of chiral symmetry breaking in the dual gauge theory.Comment: 35 pages. v2: minor eqn. and reference change
Community-based antiretroviral therapy versus standard clinic-based services for HIV in South Africa and Uganda (DO ART): a randomised trial
Background: Community-based delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV, including ART initiation, clinical and laboratory monitoring, and refills, could reduce barriers to treatment and improve viral suppression, reducing the gap in access to care for individuals who have detectable HIV viral load, including men who are less likely than women to be virally suppressed. We aimed to test the effect of community-based ART delivery on viral suppression among people living with HIV not on ART. / Methods: We did a household-randomised, unblinded trial (DO ART) of delivery of ART in the community compared with the clinic in rural and peri-urban settings in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and the Sheema District, Uganda. After community-based HIV testing, people living with HIV were randomly assigned (1:1:1) with mobile phone software to community-based ART initiation with quarterly monitoring and ART refills through mobile vans; ART initiation at the clinic followed by mobile van monitoring and refills (hybrid approach); or standard clinic ART initiation and refills. The primary outcome was HIV viral suppression at 12 months. If the difference in viral suppression was not superior between study groups, an a-priori test for non-inferiority was done to test for a relative risk (RR) of more than 0·95. The cost per person virally suppressed was a co-primary outcome of the study. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02929992. / Findings: Between May 26, 2016, and March 28, 2019, of 2479 assessed for eligibility, 1315 people living with HIV and not on ART with detectable viral load at baseline were randomly assigned; 666 (51%) were men. Retention at the month 12 visit was 95% (n=1253). At 12 months, community-based ART increased viral suppression compared with the clinic group (306 [74%] vs 269 [63%], RR 1·18, 95% CI 1·07–1·29; psuperiority=0·0005) and the hybrid approach was non-inferior (282 [68%] vs 269 [63%], RR 1·08, 0·98–1·19; pnon-inferiority=0·0049). Community-based ART increased viral suppression among men (73%, RR 1·34, 95% CI 1·16–1·55; psuperiority<0·0001) as did the hybrid approach (66%, RR 1·19, 1·02–1·40; psuperiority=0·026), compared with clinic-based ART (54%). Viral suppression was similar for men (n=156 [73%]) and women (n=150 [75%]) in the community-based ART group. With efficient scale-up, community-based ART could cost US$275–452 per person reaching viral suppression. Community-based ART was considered safe, with few adverse events. / Interpretation: In high and medium HIV prevalence settings in South Africa and Uganda, community-based delivery of ART significantly increased viral suppression compared with clinic-based ART, particularly among men, eliminating disparities in viral suppression by gender. Community-based ART should be implemented and evaluated in different contexts for people with detectable viral load. / Funding: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the University of Washington and Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research; the Wellcome Trust; the University of Washington Royalty Research Fund; and the University of Washington King K Holmes Endowed Professorship in STDs and AIDS
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