Microscopic description of light unstable nuclei with the stochastic variational method

The structure of the light proton and neutron rich nuclei is studied in a microscopic multicluster model using the stochastic variational method. This approach enables us to describe the weakly bound nature of these nuclei in a consistent way. Applications for various nuclei $^{6-9}$Li, $^7$Be, $^8$B, $^9$C, $^{9-10}$Be, $^{9-10}$B presented. The paper discusses the relation of this model to other models as well as the possible extension for p and sd shell nuclei.Comment: 11 pages, latex, no figures

Low Prevalence of Antiretroviral Resistance Among HIV Type 1-Positive Prisoners in the Southeast United States

Drug-resistant HIV complicates management of HIV infection. Although an estimated 14% of all HIV-positive persons pass through a prison or jail in the United States each year, little is known about the overall prevalence of antiretroviral (ARV) resistance in incarcerated persons. All genotypic sequence data on HIV-positive prisoners in the North Carolina (NC) Department of Corrections (DOC) were obtained from LabCorp. Screening for major resistance mutations in protease (PI) and reverse transcriptase (NRTI and NNRTI) was done using Genosure and the Stanford HIV Database. For subjects with multiple genotype reports, each mutation was counted only once and considered present on all subsequent genotypes. Between October 2006 and February 2010, the NC DOC incarcerated 1,911 HIV+ individuals of whom 19.2% (n=367) had at least one genotype performed. The overall prevalence of a major resistance mutation was 28.3% (95% CI 23.7, 33.0). Among prisoners ever exposed to an ARV during incarceration (n=329) prevalence of a major resistance mutation was 29.8% (95% CI 24.9, 34.7); resistance by class was 20.4% (95% CI 16.0, 24.7) for NRTIs, 19.8% (95% CI 15.5, 24.1) for NNRTIs, and 8.8% (95% CI 5.8,11.9) for PIs. Single class drug resistance was most prevalent at 14.2% (10.2,17.7) followed by dual 12.5% (I8.9,16.0) and triple class 3.3% (1.4,5.3) resistance. The three most prevalent mutations were K103N 15.8% (12.0, 20.2), M184V 14.3% (10.7,18.5), and M41L 4.9% (2.8,7.8). In the NC DOC ARV resistance prevalence, dual and triple class drug resistance was moderate over the study period. Resistance to PIs was lower than NNRTIs and NRTIs, likely reflecting higher usage of these two classes or a lower barrier to resistance

Effect of Directly Observed Antiretroviral Therapy Compared to Self-Administered Antiretroviral Therapy on Adherence and Virological Outcomes among HIV-Infected Prisoners: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

The effect of directly observed therapy (DOT) versus self-administered therapy (SAT) on antiretroviral (ART) adherence and virological outcomes in prison has never been assessed in a randomized, controlled trial. Prisoners were randomized to receive ART by DOT or SAT. The primary outcome was medication adherence [percent of ART doses measured by the medication event monitoring system (MEMS) and pill counts] at the end of 24 weeks. The changes in the plasma viral loads from baseline and proportion of participants virological suppressed (<400 copies/mL) at the end of 24 weeks were assessed. Sixty-six percent (90/136) of eligible prisoners declined participation. Participants in the DOT arm (n = 20) had higher viral loads than participants in the SAT (n = 23) arm (p = 0.23). Participants, with complete data at 24 weeks, were analyzed as randomized. There were no significant differences in median ART adherence between the DOT (n = 16, 99% MEMS [IQR 93.9, 100], 97.1 % pill count [IQR 95.1, 99.3]) and SAT (n = 21, 98.3 % MEMS [IQR 96.0, 100], 98.5 % pill count [95.8, 100]) arms (p = 0.82 MEMS, p = 0.40 Pill Count) at 24 weeks. Participants in the DOT arm had a greater reduction in viral load of approximately −1 log 10 copies/mL [IQR −1.75, −0.05] compared to −0.05 [IQR −0.45, 0.51] in the SAT arm (p value = 0.02) at 24 weeks. The proportion of participants achieving virological suppression in the DOT vs SAT arms was not statistically different at 24 weeks (53 % vs 32 %, p = 0.21). These findings suggest that DOT ART programs in prison settings may not offer any additional benefit on adherence than SAT programs

The Federal Tax Treatment of Disclaimers of Future Interests: A Call for Reform

Federal tax laws essentially preclude individuals with a future interest from disclaiming because the time in which a qualified disclaimer can be executed may pass before the person becomes aware of the interest and long before the interest becomes possessory and fixed as to quality and quantity. This article examines the state of the law prior to enactment of these limiting tax provisions, examines the call for reform by commentators, and examines the legislative history resulting in the current law. The author asserts Congress made an informed decision albeit a poor one. The author recommends Congress revisit the issue and enact legislation to permit an individual to disclaim within a reasonable period of time after the later of occur of (1) becoming aware of the future interest or (2) the future interest becoming indefeasibly fixed

The Persistent Preference for Inception Assets

Often trusts contain assets which were formerly owned by the grantor. This article addresses whether trustees should give any preference to these assets in managing the trust portfolio. Particular attention is given to how the law has treated these assets over time and the current state of the law. For those trustees who wish to retain inception assets, the article contains practical guidelines to assist trustees

Floating-wire measurements of the magnet used for large-angle pion-nucleus scattering at EPICS

Floating-wire measurements carried out on the circular magnet used for a modification of the EPICS system for large-angle pion-nucleus scattering are described. The region of the incoming pion beam and that of the scattered pion were both covered. The effective radius of the magnet was determined to an uncertainty estimated to be +-1.5 mm. The resulting uncertainty in the scattering angle of the pion in experiments using this system is estimated to be +-0.22/sup 0/, with an upper limit of +-0.50/sup 0/

Low Prevalence of Antiretroviral Resistance Among HIV Type 1-Positive Prisoners in the Southeast United States

Drug-resistant HIV complicates management of HIV infection. Although an estimated 14% of all HIV-positive persons pass through a prison or jail in the United States each year, little is known about the overall prevalence of antiretroviral (ARV) resistance in incarcerated persons. All genotypic sequence data on HIV-positive prisoners in the North Carolina (NC) Department of Corrections (DOC) were obtained from LabCorp. Screening for major resistance mutations in protease (PI) and reverse transcriptase (NRTI and NNRTI) was done using Genosure and the Stanford HIV Database. For subjects with multiple genotype reports, each mutation was counted only once and considered present on all subsequent genotypes. Between October 2006 and February 2010, the NC DOC incarcerated 1,911 HIV(+) individuals of whom 19.2% (n=367) had at least one genotype performed. The overall prevalence of a major resistance mutation was 28.3% (95% CI 23.7, 33.0). Among prisoners ever exposed to an ARV during incarceration (n=329) prevalence of a major resistance mutation was 29.8% (95% CI 24.9, 34.7); resistance by class was 20.4% (95% CI 16.0, 24.7) for NRTIs, 19.8% (95% CI 15.5, 24.1) for NNRTIs, and 8.8% (95% CI 5.8,11.9) for PIs. Single class drug resistance was most prevalent at 14.2% (10.2,17.7) followed by dual 12.5% (I8.9,16.0) and triple class 3.3% (1.4,5.3) resistance. The three most prevalent mutations were K103N 15.8% (12.0, 20.2), M184V 14.3% (10.7,18.5), and M41L 4.9% (2.8,7.8). In the NC DOC ARV resistance prevalence, dual and triple class drug resistance was moderate over the study period. Resistance to PIs was lower than NNRTIs and NRTIs, likely reflecting higher usage of these two classes or a lower barrier to resistance