Impact of Kidney Function on Cardiovascular Risk and Mortality: A Comparison of South Asian and European Cohorts

BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited on ethnic differences in associations between kidney function markers and mortality or cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Baseline cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal follow-up study of a UK population-based cohort of 1,116 Europeans and 1,104 South Asians of predominantly Indian descent, age 52 ± 7 years at baseline (1988-1991). Kidney function was estimated using Cystatin C and creatinine-based chronic kidney disease (CKD) Epidemiology Collaboration estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). Mortality was captured at 27 years, and incident CVD at 22 years, from death certification, medical records and participant report. Longitudinal associations between eGFR/ACR and mortality/incident CVD were examined using Cox models. RESULTS: eGFRcys was lower and ACR higher in South Asians than Europeans. eGFRcys and -eGFRcreat were more strongly associated with outcomes in Europeans than South Asians. Conversely, associations between ACR and outcomes were greater in South Asians than Europeans, for example, for CVD mortality: HRs (95% CI) adjusted for CVD risk factors and ACR/eGFRcys as appropriate, p for ethnicity interaction: eGFRcys: Europeans: 0.76 (0.62-0.92), South Asians: 0.92 (0.78-1.07), p = 0.05, eGFRcreat: Europeans 0.81 (0.67-0.99), South Asians 1.18 (0.97-1.41), p = 0.002, ACR: -Europeans: 1.24 (1.08-1.42), South Asians: 1.39 (1.25-1.57), p= 0.23. Addition of all CKD measures to a standard CVD risk factor model modestly improved prediction capability in -Europeans; in South Asians only ACR contributed to improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Strong associations between ACR and outcomes in South Asians of predominantly Indian origin, and null associations for eGFRcys and eGFRcreat, suggest that ACR may have greater utility in CVD risk prediction in South Asians. Further work is needed to validate these findings

Some Exact Results on the Potts Model Partition Function in a Magnetic Field

We consider the Potts model in a magnetic field on an arbitrary graph $G$. Using a formula of F. Y. Wu for the partition function $Z$ of this model as a sum over spanning subgraphs of $G$, we prove some properties of $Z$ concerning factorization, monotonicity, and zeros. A generalization of the Tutte polynomial is presented that corresponds to this partition function. In this context we formulate and discuss two weighted graph-coloring problems. We also give a general structural result for $Z$ for cyclic strip graphs.Comment: 5 pages, late

Relations between M\"obius and coboundary polynomial

It is known that, in general, the coboundary polynomial and the M\"obius polynomial of a matroid do not determine each other. Less is known about more specific cases. In this paper, we will try to answer if it is possible that the M\"obius polynomial of a matroid, together with the M\"obius polynomial of the dual matroid, define the coboundary polynomial of the matroid. In some cases, the answer is affirmative, and we will give two constructions to determine the coboundary polynomial in these cases.Comment: 12 page

The Prograde Orbit of Exoplanet TrES-2b

We monitored the Doppler shift of the G0V star TrES-2 throughout a transit of its giant planet. The anomalous Doppler shift due to stellar rotation (the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect) is discernible in the data, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 2.9, even though the star is a slow rotator. By modeling this effect we find that the planet's trajectory across the face of the star is tilted by -9 +/- 12 degrees relative to the projected stellar equator. With 98% confidence, the orbit is prograde.Comment: ApJ, in press [15 pages

Higher spin vertex models with domain wall boundary conditions

We derive determinant expressions for the partition functions of spin-k/2 vertex models on a finite square lattice with domain wall boundary conditions.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures. Minor corrections. Version to appear in JSTA

Love, rights and solidarity: studying children's participation using Honneth's theory of recognition

Recent attempts to theorize children’s participation have drawn on a wide range of ideas, concepts and models from political and social theory. The aim of this article is to explore the specific usefulness of Honneth’s theory of a ‘struggle for recognition’ in thinking about this area of practice. The article identifies what is distinctive about Honneth’s theory of recognition, and how it differs from other theories of recognition. It then considers the relevance of Honneth’s conceptual framework to the social position of children, including those who may be involved in a variety of ‘participatory’ activities. It looks at how useful Honneth’s ideas are in direct engagement with young people’s praxis, drawing on ethnographic research with members of a children and young people’s forum. The article concludes by reflecting on the implications of this theoretical approach and the further questions which it opens up for theories of participation and of adult–child relations more generally

Liposome Sterile Filtration Characterization via X-ray Computed Tomography and Confocal Microscopy

Two high resolution, 3D imaging techniques were applied to visualize and characterize sterilizing grade dual-layer filtration of liposomes, enabling membrane structure to be related with function and performance. Two polyethersulfone membranes with nominal retention ratings of 650 nm and 200 nm were used to filter liposomes of an average diameter of 143 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.1. Operating conditions including differential pressure were evaluated. X-ray computed tomography at a pixel size of 63 nm was capable of resolving the internal geometry of each membrane. The respective asymmetry and symmetry of the upstream and downstream membranes could be measured, with pore network modeling used to identify pore sizes as a function of distance through the imaged volume. Reconstructed 3D digital datasets were the basis of tortuous flow simulation through each porous structure. Confocal microscopy visualized liposome retention within each membrane using fluorescent dyes, with bacterial challenges also performed. It was found that increasing pressure drop from 0.07 MPa to 0.21 MPa resulted in differing fluorescent retention profiles in the upstream membrane. These results highlighted the capability for complementary imaging approaches to deepen understanding of liposome sterilizing grade filtration

Multi-phase High-Velocity Clouds toward HE 0226-4110 and PG 0953+414

We study the physical conditions, elemental abundances, and kinematics of the high-velocity clouds (HVCs) along the sight lines toward active galaxies HE0226-4110 and PG0953+414 using Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer data. Our observations reveal multiple components of HVC absorption in lines of HI, CII, CIII, CIV, OVI, SiII, SiIII, and SiIV in both directions. We investigate whether photoionization by the extragalactic background radiation or by escaping Milky Way radiation can explain the observed ionization pattern. We find that photoionization is a good explanation for the CII, CIII, SiII, and SiIII features, but not for the OVI or CIV associated with the HVCs, suggesting that two principal phases exist: a warm (T~10^4K), photoionized phase and a hotter (T=1-3x10^5K), collisionally-ionized phase. The warm HVCs toward HE0226-4110 have high levels of ionization (97-99%), and metallicities ([Z/H] between -0.9 and -0.4) close to those in the Magellanic Stream, which lies eleven degrees away on the sky at similar velocities. These HVCs have thermal pressures that would place them close to equilibrium in a fully ionized 10^6 K Galactic corona with n_H=4-9x10^{-5}cm^{-3} at 50 kpc. A mini-survey of the hot, collisionally ionized HVC components seen here and in five other sight lines finds that in 11/12 cases, the high ions have kinematics and ionic ratios that are consistent with an origin in conductive interfaces. However, the broad absorption wing on the OVI profile toward PG0953+414 is not completely explained by the interface scenario, and may be tracing the outflow of hot gas into the Milky Way halo as part of a Galactic fountain or wind.Comment: 27 pages, 12 figures (9 in color), accepted for publication in Ap