Ultralight (Lμ−Lτ)(L_\mu-L_\tau) vector dark matter interpretation of NANOGrav observations

The angular correlation of pulsar residuals observed by NANOGrav and other pulsar timing array (PTA) collaborations show evidence in support of the Hellings-Downs correlation expected from stochastic gravitational waves (SGW). In this paper, we offer a non-gravitational wave explanation of the observed pulsar timing correlations as caused by an ultra-light $L_{\mu} - L_{\tau}$ gauge boson dark matter (ULDM). ULDM can affect the pulsar correlations in two ways. The gravitational potential of vector ULDM gives rise to a Shapiro time-delay of the pulsar signals and a non-trivial angular correlation (as compared to the scalar ULDM case). In addition, if the pulsars have a non-zero charge of the dark matter gauge group then the electric field of the local dark matter causes an oscillation of the pulsar and a corresponding Doppler shift of the pulsar signal. We point out that pulsars carry a significant charge of muons and thus the $L_{\mu} - L_{\tau}$ vector dark matter contributes to both the Doppler oscillations and the time-delay of the pulsar signals. Our analysis shows that the NANOGrav data has a better fit to the $L_{\mu} - L_{\tau}$ ULDM scenario compared to the SGW or the SGW with Shapiro time-delay hypotheses.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Comments are welcom

Aortic Dissection and Renal Failure in a Patient with Severe Hypothyroidism

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. The most important recognized acquired cause that leads to dissection is chronic arterial hypertension. With respect to the anuria and renal failure, aortic dissection is not something that is always considered and is still not a very common presentation unless both renal arteries come off the false lumen of the dissection. However, when present, preoperative renal failure in patients with acute type B dissection has been noted to be an independent predictor of mortality. Early recognition and diagnosis is the key and as noted by previous studies as well, almost a third of these patients are initially worked up for other causes until later when they are diagnosed with aortic dissection. Here we present a case of a patient presenting with severe hypothyroidism, long-standing hypertension, and anuria. Through the case, we highlight the importance of having aortic dissection as an important differential in patients presenting with anuria who have a long standing history of uncontrolled hypertension. Pathophysiology relating to severe hypothyroidism-induced renal dysfunction is also discussed

Effect of non-genetic factors on voluntary and involuntary culling in Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle

The present study focused on analysis of annual disposal pattern and identification of non-genetic factors affecting the incidence of culling in Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle. Data on disposal pattern of 1988 Karan Fries (Holstein Friesian crossbred) cows, spread over a period of 34 years (1978 to 2012), were utilized for the study. Culling was classified into 2 groups viz. voluntary (low milk production) and involuntary culling. Reasons of involuntary culling were categorized into locomotory problem (LP), poor health and weakness (PHW), teat and udder problem (TUP) and reproductive problem (RP). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the effect of various non-genetic factors viz. number of normal lactations completed (NLC), calving type (CT), season of calving (SC) and period of calving (PC) on incidence of culling in various parities. The analysis of annual disposal pattern of the Karan Fries cows, revealed that the average annual replacement index, annual culling rate and annual disposal rate in the herd was 1.46, 24.40 and 29.80% per annum, respectively. Odd ratio estimates indicated that young calvers which did not complete atleast one normal lactation were 1.83 times more prone to culling because of PHW and were 0.95 and 0.33 times lesser prone to culling due to RP and LMP, respectively. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the role of non-genetic factors in prediction of culling increased with parities and the logistic regression was efficient in predicting the incidence of parity wise culling, due to different involuntary causes, in Karan Fries cattle

Use of albumin infusion for cirrhosis-related complications: An international position statement

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Numerous studies have evaluated the role of human albumin (HA) in managing various liver cirrhosis-related complications. However, their conclusions remain partially controversial, probably because HA was evaluated in different settings, including indications, patient characteristics, and dosage and duration of therapy. METHODS: Thirty-three investigators from 19 countries with expertise in the management of liver cirrhosis-related complications were invited to organise an International Special Interest Group. A three-round Delphi consensus process was conducted to complete the international position statement on the use of HA for treatment of liver cirrhosis-related complications. RESULTS: Twelve clinically significant position statements were proposed. Short-term infusion of HA should be recommended for the management of hepatorenal syndrome, large volume paracentesis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis. Its effects on the prevention or treatment of other liver cirrhosis-related complications should be further elucidated. Long-term HA administration can be considered in specific settings. Pulmonary oedema should be closely monitored as a potential adverse effect in cirrhotic patients receiving HA infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the currently available evidence, the international position statement suggests the potential benefits of HA for the management of multiple liver cirrhosis-related complications and summarises its safety profile. However, its optimal timing and infusion strategy remain to be further elucidated. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Thirty-three investigators from 19 countries proposed 12 position statements on the use of human albumin (HA) infusion in liver cirrhosis-related complications. Based on current evidence, short-term HA infusion should be recommended for the management of HRS, LVP, and SBP; whereas, long-term HA administration can be considered in the setting where budget and logistical issues can be resolved. However, pulmonary oedema should be closely monitored in cirrhotic patients who receive HA infusion

Nitrogen-Enriched Nanoporous Polytriazine for High-Performance Supercapacitor Application

Polytriazine with high nitrogen content (c.a. 50.5 wt %) has been synthesized by an ultrafast microwave-assisted method using melamine and cyanuric chloride. The nitrogen-enriched nanoporous polytriazine (NENP-1) has exhibited high specific surface area (maximum SA_BET of 838 m² g^–1) and narrow pore size distribution. The NENP-1 has been employed as electrode material for supercapacitor application. A maximum specific capacitance (C_sp) of 1256 F g^–1 @1 mV s^–1 and 656 F g^–1 @1 A g^–1 are estimated from the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) measurements, respectively, in a three-electrodes configuration. This C_sp value is considered as very high for a nonmetallic system (organic polymer). Superior capacitance retention of 87.4% of its initial C_sp was observed after 5000 cycles at a current density of 5 A g^–1 and demonstrates its potential as an efficient electrode material for practical applications. To test this claim, an asymmetric supercapacitor device (ASCD) was fabricated. The C_sp values of the device in the two-electrode configuration are 567 F g^–1 @5 mV s^–1 and 287 F g^–1 @4 A g^–1 in the CV and GCD measurements, respectively. The ASCD has shown superior energy density and power density of 102 Wh kg⁻¹ and 1.6 kW kg^–1, respectively, at the current density of 4 A g^–1. The energy density is much higher than the best reported supercapacitors and also close to the commercial batteries. This indicates the material could bridge the gap between the commercial batteries and supercapacitors

Correction: Biophotonic detection of high order chromatin alterations in field carcinogenesis predicts risk of future hepatocellular carcinoma: A pilot study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197427.]

Biophotonic detection of high order chromatin alterations in field carcinogenesis predicts risk of future hepatocellular carcinoma: A pilot study.

PURPOSE:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results from chronic inflammation/cirrhosis. Unfortunately, despite use of radiological/serological screening techniques, HCC ranks as a leading cause of cancer deaths. Our group has used alterations in high order chromatin as a marker for field carcinogenesis and hence risk for a variety of cancers (including colon, lung, prostate, ovarian, esophageal). In this study we wanted to address whether these chromatin alterations occur in HCC and if it could be used for risk stratification. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:A case control study was performed in patients with cirrhosis who went on to develop HCC and patients with cirrhosis who did not develop cancer. We performed partial wave spectroscopic microscopy (PWS) which measures nanoscale alterations on formalin fixed deparaffinized liver biopsy specimens, 17 progressors and 26 non-progressors. Follow up was 2089 and 2892 days, respectively. RESULTS:PWS parameter disorder strength Ld were notably higher for the progressors (Ld = 1.47 ± 0.76) than the non-progressors (Ld = 1.00 ± 0.27) (p = 0.024). Overall, the Cohen's d effect size was 0.907 (90.7%). AUROC analysis yielded an area of 0.70. There was no evidence of confounding by gender, age, BMI, smoking status and race. CONCLUSIONS:High order chromatin alterations, as detected by PWS, is altered in pre-malignant hepatocytes with cirrhosis and may predict future risk of HCC