Tracer Dispersion in Stirred Tank Reactors: Asymptotic Properties and Mixing Characterization

This article addresses the characterization of dispersion and homogenization phenomena in stirred vessels through the analysis of dispersion curves that can be obtained experimentally by means of conductivity measurements. New insights on mixing conditions can be achieved from the analysis of the qualitative and asymptotic properties of tracer dispersion curves. The results obtained are interpreted in the context of the spectral approach to the advection‐diffusion equation. It is shown that any flow model aimed at reproducing the experimentally determined dispersion curves must be at least two‐dimensional. Convection‐enhanced dispersion associated with the spectral structure of the advection‐diffusion equation is addressed.     

Trajectories of resilience, resistance, and distress during ongoing terrorism: The case of Jews and Arabs in Israel.

This is the 1st longitudinal examination of trajectories of resilience and resistance (rather than ill-being) among a national sample under ongoing threat of mass casualty. The authors interviewed a nationally representative sample of Jews and Arabs in Israel (N = 709) at 2 times during a period of terrorist and rocket attacks (2004?2005). The resistance trajectory, exhibiting few or no symptoms of traumatic stress and depression at both time points, was substantially less common (22.1%) than has previously been documented in studies following single mass casualty events. The resilience trajectory, exhibiting initial symptoms and becoming relatively nonsymptomatic, was evidenced by 13.5% of interviewees. The chronic distress trajectory was documented among a majority of participants (54.0%), and a small proportion of persons were initially relatively symptom-free but became distressed (termed delayed distress trajectory; 10.3%). Less psychosocial resource loss and majority status (Jewish) were the most consistent predictors of resistance and resilience trajectories, followed by greater socioeconomic status, greater support from friends, and less report of posttraumatic growth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structure and morphology of solution blended poly(vinylidene fluoride)/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Nanocomposites based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) were prepared with montmorillonite by solution blending. The samples were characterized by small angle X‐ray scattering, wide angle X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Different crystallization conditions, that is, evaporation of the solvent and coprecipitation with two different antisolvents, H₂O or supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂), were tested and their influence on the resulting structure and morphology of the samples were studied. Coprecipitation with scCO₂ induced an ordinate crystalline framework and an intercalated morphology of clay, with a consequent large improvement in modulus. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Microsatellite Instability: From the Implementation of the Detection to a Prognostic and Predictive Role in Cancers

Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been identified in several tumors arising from either germline or somatic aberration. The presence of MSI in cancer predicts the sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors. To date, the predictive role of MSI is currently used in the selection of colorectal cancer patients for immunotherapy; moreover, the expansion of clinical trials into other cancer types may elucidate the predictive value of MSI for non-colorectal tumors. In clinical practice, several assays are used for MSI testing, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). In this review, we provide an overview of MSI in various cancer types, highlighting its potential predictive/prognostic role and the clinical trials performed. Finally, we focus on the comparison data between the different assays used to detect MSI in clinical practice.     

What Are the Biomarkers for Immunotherapy in SCLC?

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy that exhibits a rapid doubling time, a high growth fraction, and the early development of widespread metastases. The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to first-line chemotherapy represents the first significant improvement of systemic therapy in several decades. However, in contrast to its effects on non-SCLC, the advantageous effects of immunotherapy addition are modest in SCLC. In particular, only a small number of SCLC patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors. Additionally, biomarkers selection is lacking for SCLC, with clinical trials largely focusing on unselected populations. Here, we review the data concerning the major biomarkers for immunotherapy, namely, programmed death ligand 1 expression and tumour mutational burden. Furthermore, we explore other potential biomarkers, including the role of the immune microenvironment in SCLC, the role of genetic alterations, and the potential links between neurological paraneoplastic syndromes, serum anti-neuronal nuclear antibodies, and outcomes in SCLC patients treated with immunotherapy.     

Consecutive steps of PET recycling by injection: evaluation of the procedure and of the mechanical properties

The procedure of five consecutive recycling steps by injection moulding of postconsumer PET was evaluated on the basis of processing and drying parameters. The equations that govern the increase in sample mass of the polymer while in contact with the atmosphere were obtained on the basis of weight variation measurements before and after drying. Two series of consecutive recycling steps were also carried out, starting from virgin material (with and without sieving), which showed that, for the sieved material, the decrease in productivity was always in the same order of magnitude as the decrease in viscosity. Thus, the remaining differences, which exceeded 400%, can be attributed to the presence of powder. The crystallinity, transition temperatures, concentration of carboxyl end‐groups, tensile properties, and impact resistance of the samples obtained in each step were determined. The number of carboxyl end groups increased by about three times after the five recycling steps and the crystallinity was enhanced, going from 23% to 37%, which explains the alterations in the modulus of elasticity, elongation at break, and impact resistance. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 266–275, 2000     

The Climate-G Portal: The context, key features and a multi-dimensional analysis

Grid portals are web gateways aiming at concealing the underlying infrastructure through a pervasive, transparent, user-friendly, ubiquitous and seamless access to heterogeneous and geographically spread resources (i.e. storage, computational facilities, services, sensors, network and databases). The Climate-G Portal is the web gateway of the Climate-G testbed (an interdisciplinary research effort involving scientists both in Europe and US) and it is devoted to climate change research studies. The main goal of this paper is to present the Climate-G Portal providing a complete understanding of the international context, discussing its main requirements, challenges, architecture and key functionalities, and finally carrying out and presenting a multi-dimensional analysis of the Climate-G Portal, starting from a general schema proposed and discussed in this work.     

Hybridization effect on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of curaua composites

This study aims to evaluate the performance of curaua/glass hybrid composites focusing on mechanical and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Composites with distinct glass/curaua fiber loading ratios were studied. Flexural strength and modulus, impact strength and Barcol hardness increased for higher glass fiber content. The same was found for storage and loss modulus. The activation energy of the relaxation process in the glass transition region showed a maximum for the all-glass composite, corroborating with the results of concentration of elastic chains (υ_e). Cole-Cole plots were obtained and found to follow the same trend regardless of the glass content, whereas peak height and peak width at half-height were maximum for the all-glass composite.     

Genetic Variation among Pharmacogenes in the Sardinian Population

Pharmacogenetics (PGx) aims to identify the genetic factors that determine inter-individual differences in response to drug treatment maximizing efficacy while decreasing the risk of adverse events. Estimating the prevalence of PGx variants involved in drug response, is a critical preparatory step for large-scale implementation of a personalized medicine program in a target population. Here, we profiled pharmacogenetic variation in fourteen clinically relevant genes in a representative sample set of 1577 unrelated sequenced Sardinians, an ancient island population that accounts for genetic variation in Europe as a whole, and, at the same time is enriched in genetic variants that are very rare elsewhere. To this end, we used PGxPOP, a PGx allele caller based on the guidelines created by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC), to identify the main phenotypes associated with the PGx alleles most represented in Sardinians. We estimated that 99.43% of Sardinian individuals might potentially respond atypically to at least one drug, that on average each individual is expected to have an abnormal response to about 17 drugs, and that for 27 drugs the fraction of the population at risk of atypical responses to therapy is more than 40%. Finally, we identified 174 pharmacogenetic variants for which the minor allele frequency was at least 10% higher among Sardinians as compared to other European populations, a fact that may contribute to substantial interpopulation variability in drug response phenotypes. This study provides baseline information for further large-scale pharmacogenomic investigations in the Sardinian population and underlines the importance of PGx characterization of diverse European populations, such as Sardinians.     

Effects of war exposure on air force personnel's mental health, job burnout and other organizational related outcomes.

Longitudinal data from a stratified representative sample of U.S. Air Force personnel (N = 1009) deployed to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations were analyzed in this study. Using structural equation models, we examined the effects of war exposure on traumatic experiences, Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) symptoms, resource loss, and on subsequent functioning, perceived health, and on job and organizationally relevant outcomes. The job and organizational outcomes included job burnout, job involvement, job strain, job satisfaction, work-family conflict, organizational commitment, deployment readiness, and intention to reenlist. We found that deployment to the theater of the war increased risk of exposure to trauma, which in turn, predicted elevated PTS symptoms and resource loss. PTS symptoms predicted later loss of resources and deterioration in perceived health and functioning. In turn, resource loss predicted negative job and organizational outcomes. Exposure to trauma fully mediated the effects of deployment to the theater of war on PTS symptoms and resource loss and had additional significant indirect effects on several job and organizational relevant outcomes. For returning veterans, deployment to the theater of war, exposure to trauma, PTS symptoms, and resource loss represents a “cascading” chain of events that over time results in a decline of health and functioning as well as in adverse job and organizationally relevant outcomes that may affect organizational effectiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)