Background. Persons with HIV (PWH) smoke cigarettes at much higher rates than the general population in the US, and smoking is now the leading cause of death in US PWH. Efforts to control the tobacco use epidemic in PWH have met with limited success, and the factors associated with successful cessation are not well delineated. There is a particular dearth of knowledge regarding PWH ex-smokers who have successfully quit smoking cigarettes for the long term. Methods. We pooled data from three separate sources of PWH smokers and ex-smokers (reporting complete abstinence for ≥ one year with biochemical verification at the time of data collection) from New York City, collected sociodemographic and behavioral information from them in structured interviews, and obtained their DNA samples. Univariate and rigorous multivariate analytic strategies were employed to determine the sociobehavioral and genetic factors that distinguished PWH smokers from ex-smokers. Results. We compared 142 current/recent smokers to 52 biochemically confirmed ex-smokers. The mean age of the participants was 53.3 ± 9.9 years, 49.5% were female, and 76.3% were Black/African American. Successful quitters had significantly lower anxiety scores and were less likely to report hazardous alcohol use or to use marijuana or cocaine. On multivariate analysis utilizing a conservative analytic approach, of 156 single nucleotide variants (SNV) within 12 a priori candidate genes, only the 37148248 T->C variant of gene SLC25A21 on chromosome 14 was associated with long-term cessation. Conclusions. In this study, we report behavioral variables associated with long-term abstinence in PWH ex-smokers, and we also report the first genetic correlation of successful cessation in a PWH population yet described.

Upgraded heating and current drive (H/CD) systems have been equipped on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). With the upgraded H/CD systems, the operation space of EAST is extended, and the ability to achieve higher performance is improved. In this paper, a 0.5 dimension transport code named Minute Embedded Tokamak Integrated Simulator (METIS) is applied to predict the EAST operation space and to assess the current drive capability of the 4.6 GHz lower hybrid current drive system. Predictive simulation of several EAST scenarios, including steady-state high confinement mode (H-mode), advanced regime, high normalized beta and high electron temperature, are also performed with the available H/CD systems. The simulation results provide a guidance for forthcoming advanced EAST experiments.

Reliable distances to Galactic Supernova remnants (SNRs) are essential to constrain parameters that reveal the evolutional process of SNRs. We carry out a project to measure SNRs’ distances in the first quadrant of the Galaxy. In this project, red clump stars (RCS) are used as standard candle to build the optical extinction (AV)-(D) distance relation in each direction of extinction-known SNRs. Here, G5.7-0.01, G54.1+0.3 and G78.2+2.1 are taken as typical examples. We obtain the distance of 3−0.3+0.4 kpc for G5.7-0.01, the lower limit of 5.8 kpc for G54.1+0.3, the upper limit of 2 kpc for G5.7-0.01. The results are consistent with distances from kinematic measurements. Hence, we highlight the RCS method can independently trace the distance to the SNRs.

Aiming at a fusion reactor, two issues must be solved for the lower hybrid current drive (LHCD), namely good lower hybrid wave (LHW)–plasma coupling and effective current drive at high density. For this goal, efforts have been made to improve LHW–plasma coupling and current drive capability at high density in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). LHW–plasma coupling is improved by means of local gas puffing and gas puffing from the electron side is taken as a routine way for EAST to operate with LHCD. Studies of high density experiments suggest that low recycling and high lower hybrid (LH) frequency are preferred for LHCD experiments at high density, consistent with previous results in other machines. With the combination of 2.45 GHz and 4.6 GHz LH waves, a repeatable high confinement mode plasma with maximum density up to $4.5\times 10^{19}~\text{m}^{-3}$ was obtained by LHCD in EAST. In addition, in the first stage of LHCD cyclic operation, an alternative candidate for more economical fusion reactors has been demonstrated in EAST and further work will be continued.

This study characterized Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains in China in order to establish their genetic relatedness and describe the use of multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) to provide useful epidemiological information. A total of 215 N. meningitidis serogroup C strains, obtained from 2003 to 2012 in China, were characterized by MLVA with different published schemes as well as multilocus sequence typing. (i) Based on the MLVA scheme with a combination of five highly variable loci, 203 genotypes were identified; this level of discrimination supports its use for resolving closely related isolates. (ii) Based on a combination of ten low variable loci, clear phylogenetic relationships were established within sequence type complexes. In addition, there was evidence of microevolution of VNTR loci over the decade as strain lineages spread from Anhui to other provinces, the more distant the provinces from Anhui, the higher the genetic variation.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or betaine on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition in backfat and belly fat of pigs fed distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Thirty-two (60±2 kg) crossbred barrows (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine) were assigned to one of four diets randomly: (1) the control diet containing no corn DDGS (control group); (2) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS (DDGS-fed group); (3) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 10 g/kg CLA (CLA-fed group); (4) the diet containing 30% corn DDGS and 1 g/kg BET (BET-fed group). The pigs fed DDGS showed that the percentages of C18:2, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and iodine value (IV) increased, while C18:1, saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) decreased. Pigs fed the DDGS+CLA or DDGS+betaine diets showed the increased percentage of SFA, and the decreased percentage of C18:2, PUFA and IV. In conclusion, results confirmed that the diets containing 30% DDGS had no detrimental effects on growth performance, but increased the percentage of PUFA and IV and decreased the percentage of SFA and MUFA in the backfat and belly fat. However, supplementation with CLA or BET can part reverse these effects on carcass fat in finishing pigs.

Recent Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified four low-penetrance ovarian cancer susceptibility loci. We hypothesized that further moderate- or low-penetrance variants exist among the subset of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) not well tagged by the genotyping arrays used in the previous studies, which would account for some of the remaining risk. We therefore conducted a time- and cost-effective stage 1 GWAS on 342 invasive serous cases and 643 controls genotyped on pooled DNA using the high-density Illumina 1M-Duo array. We followed up 20 of the most significantly associated SNPs, which are not well tagged by the lower density arrays used by the published GWAS, and genotyping them on individual DNA. Most of the top 20 SNPs were clearly validated by individually genotyping the samples used in the pools. However, none of the 20 SNPs replicated when tested for association in a much larger stage 2 set of 4,651 cases and 6,966 controls from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium. Given that most of the top 20 SNPs from pooling were validated in the same samples by individual genotyping, the lack of replication is likely to be due to the relatively small sample size in our stage 1 GWAS rather than due to problems with the pooling approach. We conclude that there are unlikely to be any moderate or large effects on ovarian cancer risk untagged by less dense arrays. However, our study lacked power to make clear statements on the existence of hitherto untagged small-effect variants.

Lattice kinetic equations incorporating the effects of external/internal force fields via a shift of the local fields in the local equilibria are placed within the framework of continuum kinetic theory. The mathematical treatment reveals that in order to be consistent with the correct thermo-hydrodynamical description, temperature must also be shifted, besides momentum. New perspectives for the formulation of thermo-hydrodynamic lattice kinetic models of non-ideal fluids are then envisaged. It is also shown that on the lattice, the definition of the macroscopic temperature requires the inclusion of new terms directly related to discrete effects. The theoretical treatment is tested against a controlled case with a non-ideal equation of state.

Variability among samples analysed using the same ELISA protocol generates ambiguity in deciding which assay best quantifies the protein concentration. In this study, we propose a standardization method, called I-STOD (Improved STandardization method for Optical Density), for the transformation of OD values on different plates into relative concentrations of the antibody levels being assessed. We derived an equation relating OD values of different test samples to antibody levels according to the multi-stage reaction dynamics of the indirect-ELISA. Using serum samples from a Schistosomiasis japonica endemic area, we evaluated the fitness of the I-STOD model to experimental data of a standard reference serum in comparison with 5 other models. Calibration curves fitted by the I-STOD method judged to be superior, based on adjusted R2 (adjusted R2>0·99 on 22 out of 26 plates) values. The CV (coefficient of variation) value of the results between multi-well plates and the number of plates with OD values beyond the control range in Shewhart charts also demonstrate that the I-STOD method is a powerful tool which can greatly improve the comparability of results on different multi-well ELISA plates. We conclude that a standardization method is certainly necessary for antibody levels detected in order to properly illustrate clinical differences.

Most steel grades undergo a ductility trough in the temperaturerange 700 to 1100 °C that may bring about surface cracks in the CCstrands.
Micro-mechanical modelling of the as solidified austenite-ferritemicrostructure, supported by experimental evaluations of the fracturesurfaces, affords a comprehensive description of the crack formationmechanism. This opens the way for a quantitative evaluationof the sensitivity of CC strands to transverse cracks.

The continuum energy distributions of R127 and R110 in the outburst phase are fitted by use of a optically envelope model. Both stars show two peaks in the continuum energy distributions in which one lies in the short-wavelength range (near 1250Å) and the other in the optical band. We suggest that the fluxes in the UV and optical bands may have different origins: the UV flux comes from the central star and the optical flux comes from the expanded optically envelope. We construct such a model for LBVs with the use of two LTE atmosphere models with different temperatures, and find it to be in satisfactory agreement with the observed spectral energy distributions of R127 and R110.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html

A direct numerical simulation of transitional pipe flow is carried out with the help of a spectral element method and used to investigate the localized regions of ‘turbulent’ flow that are observed in experiments. Two types of such regions can be distinguished: the puff and the slug. The puff, which is generally found at low values of the Reynolds numbers, is simulated for Re = 2200 where the Reynolds number Re is based on the mean velocity UB and pipe diameter D. The slug occurs at a higher Reynolds number and it is simulated for Re = 5000. The computations start with a laminar pipe flow to which is added a prescribed velocity disturbance at a given axial position and for a finite time. The disturbance then evolves further into a puff or slug structure.

The simulations confirm the experimentally observed fact that for a puff the velocity near the leading edge changes more gradually than for a slug where an almost discontinuous change is observed. The positions of the leading and trailing edges of the puff and slug are computed from the simulations as a function of time. The propagation velocity of the leading edge is found to be constant and equal to 1.56UB and 1.69UB for the puff and slug, respectively. For the trailing edge the velocity is found to be 0.73UB and 0.52UB, respectively. By rescaling the simulation results obtained at various times to a fixed length, we define an ensemble average. This method is used to compute the average characteristics of the puff and slug such as the spatial distribution of the mean velocity, the turbulent velocity fluctuations and also the wall shear stress. By computing particle trajectories we have investigated the entrainment and detrainment of fluid by a puff and slug. We find that the puff detrains through its trailing edge and entrains through its leading edge. The slug entrains fluid through its leading and through most of its trailing edge. As a consequence the fluid inside the puff is constantly exchanged with fluid outside whereas the fluid inside a slug remains there. These entrainment/detrainment properties which are in agreement with the measurements of Wygnanski & Champagne (1973) imply that the puff has the characteristics of a wave phenomenon while the slug can be characterized more as a material property which travels with the flow.

Finally, we have investigated in more detail the velocity field within the puff. In a coordinate system that travels with the mean velocity we find recirculation regions both near the trailing and leading edges which agrees at least qualitatively with experimental data. We also find streamwise vortices, predominantly in the trailing-edge region which have been also observed in experiments and which are believed to play an important role in the dynamics of the transition process.

We report the results of a photoluminescence excitation (PLE) study on excitonic transitions in GaN. PLE measurements were carried out as a function of temperature to investigate exciton formation, thermalization, and annihilation processes in GaN. The PLE spectra detected at free-exciton resonance were found to exhibit a large number of oscillatory emission structures with an energy spacing of LO-phonon (92 meV), and such emission persisted up to 400K. The observation suggests that a phonon-assisted indirect exciton formation process, which simultaneously generates a free-exciton and an LO-phonon, is very significant and efficient in GaN, and the lifetime of the free-exciton is longer than the relaxation time of LO-phonon emission but much shorter than that of acoustic-phonon emission. The appearance of the broad spectral features at the PLE spectrum detected at free-exciton resonance, similar to those measured at the boundexciton resonance, is attributed to the higher order transition processes which involve acousticphonon scattering and thermal repopulation of free-excitons. In addition, we observed up to the 12th LO-phonon emission in PLE spectrum around 120 K, indicating the existence of the excitons with a large kinetic energy in GaN.

Aluminum oxide powders doped with MgO (300 to 500 nm) were sintered to almost theoretical density within just 10–15 min at 1150 °C using a plasma-activated sintering process based on charging the loosely filled powders with an electric discharge prior to densification by resistance heating. The microstructure of the consolidated disks was examined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and revealed excellent grain to grain contact with virtually no grain growth and structurally clean grain boundaries.