N,N-Diethylamino-oxy Derivatives of Dialkyltin(IV)

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Bronchoalveolar lavage study in victims of toxic gas leak at Bhopal

Bronchoalveolar lavage using flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope was carried out in 50 patients 1-2½ yr after exposure to the ‘toxic gas’ at Bhopal. Thirty six patients in the analysis were categorised into 3 groups (viz., mild, moderate and severe), depending upon the severity of exposure. There was an increase in cellularity in the lower respiratory tract (alveolitis) of the severely exposed patients (in both smokers and non-smokers), compared to normals (P< 0.05). The increase in cellularity in severely exposed non-smokers was due to abnormal accumulation of macrophages (P<0.01), and in severely exposed smokers, to macrophages (P<0.01) and neutrophils (P<0.05). Mild and moderately exposed patients did not show significant change in cellularity in lower respiratory tract, compared to normal individuals (P>0.2). There was a trend towards increasing cellularity, as the severity increased (P < 0.0001) and higher numbers of total cells were seen in severely exposed smokers, suggesting that smoking is a risk factor. It appears, therefore, that subjects severely exposed to the toxic gas at Bhopal may have a subclinical alveolitis characterised by accumulation and possibly activation of macrophages in the lower respiratory tract. Smokers, who were exposed to the gas had in addition, accumulation of neutrophils

Fast Algorithms For Josephson Junction Arrays : Bus--bars and Defects

We critically review the fast algorithms for the numerical study of two--dimensional Josephson junction arrays and develop the analogy of such systems with electrostatics. We extend these procedures to arrays with bus--bars and defects in the form of missing bonds. The role of boundaries and of the guage choice in determing the Green's function of the system is clarified. The extension of the Green's function approach to other situations is also discussed.Comment: Uuencoded 1 Revtex file (11 Pages), 3 Figures : Postscript Uuencode

Creating a Soluble Binder to Endothelin-1 Based on the Natural Ligand Binding Domains of the Endothelin-1 (G-Protein-Coupled) Receptor

Since its discovery in 1989, there has been extensive research on endothelin (ET)-1 physiology, as well as pathology. Accordingly, there is considerable research on the discovery of therapeutics based around ET-1, amongst which current treatment options include endothelin receptor antagonists. These target the ET-1 receptors, which are G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). We have effectively developed a soluble form of a GPCR that binds to ligands, by constructing a fusion polypeptide of different endothelin receptor ligand binding domains. Phage experiments identified strong binders to ET-1. We then constructed Fc-fusions of the top binders and further binding assays revealed a KD of 21.2 nM for the Fc-ETtr1 construct and KD of 77.3 nM for the Fc-ETtr2 construct. These constructs are soluble and have the ability to bind and potentially sequester elevated ET-1 levels that are prevalent in different diseases. These results provide a novel approach to targeting GPCR–binding ligands, and thereby to contribute to a very important class of therapeutics

Low-Temperature Mobility of Surface Electrons and Ripplon-Phonon Interaction in Liquid Helium

The low-temperature dc mobility of the two-dimensional electron system localized above the surface of superfluid helium is determined by the slowest stage of the longitudinal momentum transfer to the bulk liquid, namely, by the interaction of surface and volume excitations of liquid helium, which rapidly decreases with temperature. Thus, the temperature dependence of the low-frequency mobility is \mu_{dc} = 8.4x10^{-11}n_e T^{-20/3} cm^4 K^{20/3}/(V s), where n_e is the surface electron density. The relation T^{20/3}E_\perp^{-3} << 2x10^{-7} between the pressing electric field (in kV/cm) and temperature (in K) and the value \omega < 10^8 T^5 K^{-5}s^{-1} of the driving-field frequency have been obtained, at which the above effect can be observed. In particular, E_\perp = 1 kV/cm corresponds to T < 70 mK and \omega/2\pi < 30 Hz.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Psycho-Social Behavioural Problems In Urban Primary School Children

Research Problem: What is the magnitude and correlates of psychosocial behavioural problems in primary school children of an urban area. Objectives:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To&nbsp; know&nbsp; the&nbsp; prevalence of psychosocial behavioural problems in primary school children of Agra Corporation.&nbsp; ii) To see the impact of various biosocial factors on the prevalence of above problems. Design: Cross sectional study by questionnaire method and observation. Setting: Primary schools run by Agra Corporation. Participants: All the children studying in 7 primary schools selected from 108 schools run by Agra Corporation. Sample Size: 520 primary school children. Study Variables: Age, sex, socio-economic class and family size. Statistical Analysis: By percentage, Z - test and Chi-square test. Result: A majority of the study children (63.7%) were having some psychosocial behavioural problem or the other, the most common problem being educational difficulties (59.8%), The average number of problems per child was 2.9. The prevalence was highest in children from middle-sized families of low socio­economic class and in age group above 13 years

Depression and Oral FTC/TDF Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Men and Transgender Women Who Have Sex With Men (MSM/TGW).

We conducted a longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of depressive symptomology in iPrEx, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of daily, oral FTC/TDF HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in men and transgender women who have sex with men. Depression-related adverse events (AEs) were the most frequently reported severe or life-threatening AEs and were not associated with being randomized to the FTC/TDF arm (152 vs. 144 respectively OR 0.66 95&nbsp;% CI 0.35-1.25). Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) and a four questions suicidal ideation scale scores did not differ by arm. Participants reporting forced sex at anal sexual debut had higher CES-D scores (coeff: 3.23; 95&nbsp;% CI 1.24-5.23) and were more likely to have suicidal ideation (OR 2.2; 95&nbsp;% CI 1.09-4.26). CES-D scores were higher among people reporting non-condom receptive anal intercourse (ncRAI) (OR 1.46; 95&nbsp;% CI 1.09-1.94). We recommend continuing PrEP during periods of depression in conjunction with provision of mental health services

Skating on thin ice: stimulant use and sub‐optimal adherence to HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis

IntroductionStimulant and heavy alcohol use are prevalent and associated with elevated risk for HIV seroconversion among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women. In addition, each can pose difficulties for antiretroviral adherence among people living with HIV. Scant research has examined the associations of stimulant and heavy alcohol use with adherence to daily oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among MSM and transgender women. To address this gap in the literature, we evaluated the hypothesis that stimulant use and binge drinking are prospectively associated with sub‐optimal PrEP adherence.MethodsWe analysed data from participants in a nested case‐cohort in the iPrEx open label extension. Stimulant use (i.e. powder cocaine, crack‐cocaine, cocaine paste, methamphetamine, cathinone) and binge drinking (i.e. ≥5 drinks in a single day) in the last 30 days were assessed. Baseline urine was tested for stimulants using immunoassays to reduce misclassification. Sub‐optimal adherence was defined as tenofovir drug concentrations in dried blood spots less than 700 fmol per punch, indicative of less than four doses per week. We tested the prospective association of stimulant use and binge drinking with sub‐optimal adherence at the 4‐week follow‐up visit.Results and DiscussionData from 330 participants were analysed. The majority of the participants were MSM (89%) with a median age at baseline of 29 years (interquartile range 24 to 39). Approximately 16% (52/330) used stimulants and 22% (72/330) reported binge drinking in the last 30 days. Stimulant users had fivefold greater odds of sub‐optimal PrEP adherence compared to non‐users in adjusted analysis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.04; [95% CI 1.35 to 18.78]). Self‐reported binge drinking was not significantly associated with sub‐optimal adherence after adjusting for stimulant use and baseline confounders (aOR 1.16 [0.49 to 2.73]). Depressive symptoms, being transgender, and number of sex partners were also not significantly associated with sub‐optimal PrEP adherence (p > 0.05).ConclusionsStimulant use is a risk factor for sub‐optimal PrEP adherence in the month following PrEP initiation. Comprehensive prevention approaches that reduce stimulant use may optimize PrEP adherence. Creating adherence plans that specifically address PrEP dosing in the context of ongoing stimulant use should also be considered.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142946/1/jia225103.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142946/2/jia225103_am.pd

A Neural Network Simulator for the Connnection Machine

In this paper we describe the design, development, and performance of a neural network simulator for the Connection Machine (CM)3. The design of the simulator is based on the Rochester Connectionist Simulator(RCS). RCS is a simulator for connectionist networks developed at the University of Rochester. The CM simulator can be used as a stand-alone system or as a high-performance parallel back-end to RCS. In the latter case, once the network has been built by RCS, the high-performance parallel back-end system constructs an equivalent network on the CM processor array and executes it. The CM simulator facilitates the exploitation of the massive parallelism inherent in connectionist networks. It can also enable substantial reduction in the training times of connectionist networks