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We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals in adolescents with hepatitis C (HCV)/HIV coinfection using pooled individual patient-level data from 5 European cohorts. Of 122 participants in follow-up from November 2013 to August 2021, 19 were treated <18 years of age; of 15 with HCV RNA available at/after 12 weeks post-treatment, all had sustained virologic response with acceptable safety. This evidence addresses an important gap in knowledge of treatment outcomes in adolescents with HCV/HIV coinfection in real-life settings.

This paper examines discrimination in the NFL draft. The NFL is a favorable empirical setting to examine the role of skin color because franchise selectors are required to make rank-order judgements of players based on noisy signals of future productivity. Since wages are tightly related to the rank-order of the draft for the first four years of a player’s career, even if discrimination plays only a marginal role in selection, there could be a large discriminatory impact. We observe racial differences in drafting. However, much of the variation is explained by Black and White players selecting into different playing positions. Conditional upon a large set of control variables, including athletic performance at a marque selection event (the NFL combine), we do not find robust evidence of racial discrimination in NFL drafting between 2000 and 2018. However, we do find some evidence that Black players are disadvantaged relative to White players in later rounds of the draft.

The authors examine the association between unionization and non-standard work in terms of coverage and wages. They use data from the master files of Canada’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) between 1997–98 and 2013–14 to define and measure non-standard work and to provide a continuum of vulnerability across work arrangements. The estimated probability of being employed in some form of non-permanent job increased 2.9 percentage points from 1997 to 2014. During that same period, the estimated probability of being in a non-full-time, non-permanent job—another way of capturing non-standard work—increased 2.5 percentage points. Although estimated union wage premiums declined rather precipitously for all groups, the union wage advantage remained highest among non-standard workers. Further, the authors find the union wage premium is largest for the most vulnerable of non-standard workers. In terms of estimates that look across the earnings distribution, the union wage premium among non-standard workers is larger for workers higher up the earnings profile.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have different options to replace the function of their failing kidneys. The “integrated care” model considers treatment pathways rather than individual renal replacement therapy (RRT) techniques. In such a paradigm, the optimal strategy to plan and enact transitions between the different modalities is very relevant, but so far, only limited data on transitions have been published. Perspectives of patients, care-givers, and health professionals on the process of transitioning are even less well documented. Available literature suggests that poor coordination causes significant morbidity and mortality.This review briefly provides the background, development, and scope of the INTErnational Group Research Assessing Transition Effects in Dialysis (INTEGRATED) initiative. We summarize the literature on the transition between different RRT modalities.Further, we present an international research plan to quantify the epidemiology and to assess the qualitative aspects of transition between different modalities.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to take a serious look at the relationship between joint consultation systems at the workplace and employee satisfaction, while at the same time accounting for the (possible) interactions with similar union and management-led high commitment strategies. Design/methodology/approach: Using new, rich data on a representative sample of British workers, the authors identify workplace institutions that are positively associated with employee perceptions of work and relations with management, what in combination the authors call a measure of the “good workplace.” In particular, the authors focus on non-union employee representation at the workplace, in the form of joint consultative committees (JCCs), and the potential moderating effects of union representation and high-involvement human resource (HIHR) practices. Findings: The authors’ findings suggest a re-evaluation of the role that JCCs play in the subjective well-being of workers even after controlling for unions and progressive HR policies. There is no evidence in the authors’ estimates of negative interaction effects (i.e. that unions or HIHR negatively influence the functioning of JCCs with respect to employee satisfaction) or substitution (i.e. that unions or HIHR are substitutes for JCCs when it comes to improving self-reported worker well-being). If anything, there is a significant and positive three-way moderating effect when JCCs are interacted with union representation and high-involvement management. Originality/value: This is the first time – to the authors’ knowledge – that comprehensive measures of subjective employee well-being are being estimated with respect to the presence of a JCC at the workplace, while controlling for workplace institutions (e.g. union representation and human resource policies) that are themselves designed to involve and communicate with workers.

Background Criteria for how to assess removal rate of inorganic phosphorous (iP) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and whether iP removal differs between different PD modalities are debated.Methods In a cross-sectional study, 73 prevalent patients on continuous ambulatory PD (n = 16), continuous cyclic PD (n = 8) or automated PD (n = 49) with mean age 54 (range, 18–87) years, 46 males, underwent standard peritoneal equilibration test (PET) and 24-hour collection of dialysate with measurements of iP, urea and creatinine in all samples and bags. There were 11 slow, 53 average, and 9 fast transporters.Results D/P ratios for iP and creatinine at 4 h of PET were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.86, p<0.0001). Allocation of patients into slow, average and fast transporters according to D/P ratios for iP and creatinine was essentially similar. Whereas the weekly peritoneal clearance of iP (30.8 ± 16.6 L/wk) was lower than that of creatinine (38.4 ± 14.9 L/wk), clearances were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.89, p<0.0001). The correlation between peritoneal weekly clearance of iP and urea KT/V was however weak (ρ = 0.56, p<0.0001. CAPD patients had higher iP clearance than APD patients, 43.2 ± 14.9 versus 24.7 ± 13.4 L/wk (p<0.05); however, serum iP concentrations did not differ.Conclusions Creatinine is a good surrogate marker for phosphate removal, both as assessed by PET and by 24 hours' clearance, in different PD modalities. Therefore, a separate PET scale for phosphate may not be needed. iP removal was greater with CAPD than APD but serum phosphate levels did not differ.

El virus respiratorio sincitial (VRS) produce una enfermedad respiratoria aguda parecida a la gripe, aunque en adultos existen pocos datos que las comparen. La existencia de diferencias clínicas entre ambas infecciones podría conllevar implicaciones en su manejo.

In 2008, 563,294,000 people were living in Latin America (LA), of which 6.6% were older than 65. The region is going through a fast demographic and epidemiologic transition process, in the context of an improvement in socio-economic indices. The Latin American Dialysis and Renal Transplant Registry has collected data since 1991, through an annual survey completed by 20 affiliated National Societies. Renal replacement treatment (RRT) prevalence and incidence showed an increase year by year. The prevalence rate (in all modalities) correlated with the World Bank country classification by income and the epidemiologic transition stage the countries were experiencing. RRT prevalence and kidney transplantation rates correlated significantly with gross national income (GNI), health expenditure in constant dollars (HeExp), % older than 65, life expectancy at birth, and % of the population living in urban settings. Kidney transplantation increased also, year by year, with more than 50% of transplants performed using kidneys from deceased donors. Double transplants were performed in six countries. RRT prevalence and incidence increased in LA, and are associated with indexes reflecting higher and more evenly distributed national wealth (GNI and HeExp), and the stage of demographic and epidemiological transition.

Novel amine‐ or ammonium‐terminated carbosilane dendrimers of type nG‐[Si{OCH2(C6H3)‐3,5‐(OCH2CH2NMe2)2}]x, nG‐[Si{O(CH2)2N(Me)(CH2)2NMe2}]xand nG‐[Si{(CH2)3NH2}]xor nG‐[Si{OCH2(C6H3)‐3,5‐(OCH2CH2NMe3+I−)2}]x, nG‐[Si{O(CH2)2N(Me)(CH2)2NMe3+I−}]x, and nG‐[Si{(CH2)3NH3+Cl−}]xhave been synthesized and characterized up to the third generation by two strategies: 1) alcoholysis of SiCl bonds with amino alcohols and subsequent quaternization with MeI, and 2) hydrosilylation of allylamine with SiH bonds of the dendritic systems and subsequent quaternization with HCl. Quaternized carbosilane dendrimers are soluble in water, although degradation is apparent due to hydrolysis of SiO bonds. However, dendrimers containing SiC bonds are water‐stable. The biocompatibility of the second‐generation dendrimers in primary cell cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and erythrocytes have been analyzed, and they show good toxicity profiles over extended periods. In addition, we describe a study on the interactions between the different carbosilane dendrimers and DNA oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) and plasmids along with a comparative analysis of their toxicity. They can form complexes with DNA ODNs and plasmids at biocompatible doses via electrostatic interaction. Also a preliminary transfection assay has been accomplished. These results demonstrate that the new ammonium‐terminated carbosilane dendrimers are good base molecules to be considered for biomedical applications.

We report experimental measurement of radiation characteristics of fused quartz containing bubbles over the spectral region from 1.67 to 3.5 µm. The radiation characteristics were retrieved by an inverse method that minimizes the quadratic difference between the measured and the calculated spectral bidirectional transmittance and reflectance for different sample thicknesses. The theoretical spectral transmittances and reflectances were computed by solving the one-dimensional radiative transfer equation by the discrete-ordinates method for a nonemitting, homogeneous, and scattering medium. The results of the inversion were shown to be independent of the sample thickness for samples thicker than 3 mm and clearly demonstrate that bubbles have an effect on the radiation characteristics of fused quartz.

No Abstract.

The design and fabrication of protein biochips requires characterization of blocking agents that minimize nonspecific binding of proteins or organisms. Nonspecific adsorption of Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, and Listeria monocytogenes is prevented by bovine serum albumin (BSA) or biotinylated BSA adsorbed on SiO2 surfaces of a biochip that had been modified with a C18 coating. Biotinylated BSA forms a protein-based surface that in turn binds streptavidin. Because streptavidin has multiple binding sites for biotin, it in turn anchors other biotinylated proteins, including antibodies. Hence, biotinylated BSA simultaneously serves as a blocking agent and a foundation for binding an interfacing protein, avidin or streptavidin, which in turns anchors biotinylated antibody. In our case, the antibody is C11E9, an IgG-type antibody that binds Listeria spp. Nonspecific adsorption of another bacterium, Escherichia coli, is also minimized due to the blocking action of the BSA. The blocking characteristics of BSA adsorbed on C18-derivatized SiO2 surfaces for construction of a protein biochip for electronic detection of pathogenic organisms is investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 618–624, 2003.

Review: 113 refs.

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ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Twenty‐one representative vocalizations of two species of rain forest monkeys [blue monkeys (Cercopithecusmitis) and grey‐cheeked mangabeys (Cercocebusalbigena)], and two species of savanna monkeys [vervet monkeys (C. aethiops) and yellow baboons (Papiocynocephalus)] were broadcast and re‐recorded in both the ‘‘appropriate’’ and ‘‘inappropriate’’ habitat in Kenya. The re‐recorded signals were digitized and distortion analyses were conducted with signal processing routines on a Cray XMP‐24 supercomputer. Rain forest monkey calls were distorted less in the ‘‘appropriate’’ rain forest habitat than in the ‘‘inappropriate’’ savanna habitat, but the converse did not hold for savanna monkey calls. Savanna monkey calls were distorted the same amount in both habitats (time domain analysis), or were distorted slightly less by the rain forest habitat (frequency domain analysis). The results suggest that the rain forest is more favorable than the savanna for high‐fidelity sound propagation, and, in addition, rain forest monkey calls appear better ‘‘designed’’ than savanna monkey calls to reduce the probability of distortion by the acoustics of the local habitat. [Work supported by NIDCD.]