Erratum: High-Precision Mass Measurement of

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.032701.

High-Precision Mass Measurement of

We report the mass measurement of ^{56}Cu, using the LEBIT 9.4 T Penning trap mass spectrometer at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. The mass of ^{56}Cu is critical for constraining the reaction rates of the ^{55}Ni(p,γ) ^{56}Cu(p,γ) ^{57}Zn(ß^{+}) ^{57}Cu bypass around the ^{56}Ni waiting point. Previous recommended mass excess values have disagreed by several hundred keV. Our new value, ME=-38626.7(7.1) keV, is a factor of 30 more precise than the extrapolated value suggested in the 2012 atomic mass evaluation [Chin. Phys. C 36, 1603 (2012)CPCHCQ1674-113710.1088/1674-1137/36/12/003], and more than a factor of 12 more precise than values calculated using local mass extrapolations, while agreeing with the newest 2016 atomic mass evaluation value [Chin. Phys. C 41, 030003 (2017)CPCHCQ1674-113710.1088/1674-1137/41/3/030003]. The new experimental average, using our new mass and the value from AME2016, is used to calculate the astrophysical ^{55}Ni(p,γ) and ^{56}Cu(p,γ) forward and reverse rates and perform reaction network calculations of the rp process. These show that the rp-process flow redirects around the ^{56}Ni waiting point through the ^{55}Ni(p,γ) route, allowing it to proceed to higher masses more quickly and resulting in a reduction in ashes around this waiting point and an enhancement to higher-mass ashes.

Elements and elasmobranchs: hypotheses, assumptions and limitations of elemental analysis.

Quantifying the elemental composition of elasmobranch calcified cartilage (hard parts) has the potential to answer a range of ecological and biological questions, at both the individual and population level. Few studies, however, have employed elemental analyses of elasmobranch hard parts. This paper provides an overview of the range of applications of elemental analysis in elasmobranchs, discussing the assumptions and potential limitations in cartilaginous fishes. It also reviews the available information on biotic and abiotic factors influencing patterns of elemental incorporation into hard parts of elasmobranchs and provides some comparative elemental assays and mapping in an attempt to fill knowledge gaps. Directions for future experimental research are highlighted to better understand fundamental elemental dynamics in elasmobranch hard parts.

High Precision Determination of the ß Decay Q(EC) Value of (11)C and Implications on the Tests of the Standard Model.

We report the determination of the Q(EC) value of the mirror transition of (11)C by measuring the atomic masses of (11)C and (11)B using Penning trap mass spectrometry. More than an order of magnitude improvement in precision is achieved as compared to the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluation (Ame2012) [Chin. Phys. C 36, 1603 (2012)]. This leads to a factor of 3 improvement in the calculated Ft value. Using the new value, Q(EC)=1981.690(61) keV, the uncertainty on Ft is no longer dominated by the uncertainty on the Q(EC) value. Based on this measurement, we provide an updated estimate of the Gamow-Teller to Fermi mixing ratio and standard model values of the correlation coefficients.

First Direct Determination of the Superallowed ß-Decay QEC Value for (14)O.

We report the first direct measurement of the (14)O superallowed Fermi ß-decay QEC value, the last of the so-called "traditional nine" superallowed Fermi ß decays to be measured with Penning trap mass spectrometry. (14)O, along with the other low-Z superallowed ß emitter, (10)C, is crucial for setting limits on the existence of possible scalar currents. The new ground state QEC value, 5144.364(25) keV, when combined with the energy of the 0(+) daughter state, Ex(0(+))=2312.798(11) keV [F. Ajzenberg-Selove, Nucl. Phys. A523, 1 (1991)], provides a new determination of the superallowed ß-decay QEC value, QEC(sa)=2831.566(28) keV, with an order of magnitude improvement in precision, and a similar improvement to the calculated statistical rate function f. This is used to calculate an improved Ft value of 3073.8(2.8) s.

Contribution of water chemistry and fish condition to otolith chemistry: comparisons across salinity environments.

This study quantified the per cent contribution of water chemistry to otolith chemistry using enriched stable isotopes of strontium ((86) Sr) and barium ((137) Ba). Euryhaline barramundi Lates calcarifer, were reared in marine (salinity 40), estuarine (salinity 20) and freshwater (salinity 0) under different temperature treatments. To calculate the contribution of water to Sr and Ba in otoliths, enriched isotopes in the tank water and otoliths were quantified and fitted to isotope mixing models. Fulton's K and RNA:DNA were also measured to explore the influence of fish condition on sources of element uptake. Water was the predominant source of otolith Sr (between 65 and 99%) and Ba (between 64 and 89%) in all treatments, but contributions varied with temperature (for Ba), or interactively with temperature and salinity (for Sr). Fish condition indices were affected independently by the experimental rearing conditions, as RNA:DNA differed significantly among salinity treatments and Fulton's K was significantly different between temperature treatments. Regression analyses did not detect relations between fish condition and per cent contribution values. General linear models indicated that contributions from water chemistry to otolith chemistry were primarily influenced by temperature and secondly by fish condition, with a relatively minor influence of salinity. These results further the understanding of factors that affect otolith element uptake, highlighting the necessity to consider the influence of environment and fish condition when interpreting otolith element data to reconstruct the environmental histories of fish.

Analysis of body shape for differentiating among species of rajids.

This study sought to differentiate the species of skates encountered in Gulf St Vincent (GSV), South Australia using normalized elliptical Fourier analysis of body shape. Significant intraspecific variation was observed among whole body shapes. This was overcome by limiting subsequent analyses to the anterior snout region, where significant differences in shape were detected among the species examined and provided a high degree of classification success for the skates of GSV. More generally, this approach has the potential to provide a cost- and time-efficient means of discrimination among species of skates. Further research is required to investigate the potentially confounding effects of sexual dimorphism and ontogenetic variation in growth to improve the efficacy of the body shape analysis of the skates and batoids species in general. In addition, this approach requires considerable development to facilitate implementation in a fishery setting.

Studies of the photooxidant properties of antibacterial fluoroquinolones and their naphthalene derivatives.

We synthesized and determined the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as 1O2, *-O2, *OH, H2O2 during the photolysis with UV-A light of three antibacterial quinolones and their naphthyl ester derivatives. Singlet oxygen and ROS dose-dependant generation from norfloxacin (1), enoxacin (2), ciprofloxacin (3) and their respective naphthyl ester derivatives 4-6 were detecting in cell-free systems by the histidine assay and by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL). Both the electronic absorption and emission spectra were quantified and their photostability determined. The antibacterial activity in darkness and under irradiation of compounds 4, 5 and 6 was tested on E. coli and compared with their parent drugs.

Photodegradation and in vitro phototoxicity of aceclofenac.

Aceclofenac (Airtal) (1) is a photoallergic and phototoxic anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. This drug is photolabile under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Irradiation of an ethanol-solution of aceclofenac under oxygen or argon at 290-320 nm affords via decarboxlation compound 2 as the main isolated and spectroscopically identified photoproduct, besides hydroxylamine derivates 3 and 4. A radical intermediate was evidenced spectrophotometrically with GSH and DTNB, as well as by the dimerization of cysteine. Red blood cell lysis photosensitized by 1-4 was investigated. Furthermore, in a lipid-photoperoxidation test with linoleic acid the in vitro phototoxicity of aceclofenac was also verified. The photoinduced generation of peroxide by compound 1 was determined during the irradiation in presence of NADPH by chemiluminescence. In relation to the photoallergic activity of this drug, the interaction of aceclofenac with human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied through fluorescence spectroscopy. No photoinduced binding was observed after irradiation of compounds 1 in the presence of human serum albumin.

[Effect of anti-retroviral therapy on body composition changes: a literature review]. / Variazioni della composizione corporea associate alla terapia antiretrovirale: una rassegna della letteratura.

Protein-energetic malnutrition, characterized by both lean mass and fat depletion, was common in the pre-HAART era, and was associated with shortened survival and diminished quality of life. The pathogenesis of protein-energy malnutrition was multifactorial, and nutritional treatments were largely ineffective in the absence of disease stabilization. The introduction of HAART brought markedly improved outcomes, including a decrease in the incidence of malnutrition. However, other nutritional and metabolic alterations were noticed, and included changes in body shape, both lipoatrophy and lipohypertrophy, as well as changes in metabolism, notably hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. These conditions, though sometimes occurring together, may occur independently, suggesting a complex, multifactorial cause. Several mechanisms have been hypothesized, including impairment to adipocyte differentiation and adipokine regulation, production of proinflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial toxicity. The role of the single drug class is still unclear, because both PI and NRTI have been associated with the syndrome, and the therapeutic protocols include both groups. Most of the medical therapies proposed for lipodystrophy are ineffective, and even if surgery remains an alternative, it is not associated with long lasting outcomes.

Seroprevalence of chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients affected by chronic stable asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and age, gender and smoking habits in stable asthmatic patients. METHODS: Over a period of 3 months, 197 adult patients affected by intermittent-to-severe chronic asthma were enrolled from 16 respiratory disease units in the south of Italy. As a control group, we tested 185 healthy, non-asthmatic subjects matched for age and gender, recruited among hospital staff. All patients were submitted to clinical examination, spirometry and blood collection for C. pneumoniae serology. The presence of infection was investigated by microimmunofluorescence (Micro-IF Test) for C. pneumoniae-specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies. RESULTS: C. pneumoniae IgG titers > or =1 : 64 were detected in 30.4% of asthmatics and in 30.8% of controls. Correlation of age, gender and smoking habit with C. pneumoniae seropositivity was evaluated by linear regression analysis. Age was significantly associated with C. pneumoniae IgG titer > or =1 : 64 when seropositive asthmatics were tested. Moreover, C. pneumoniae seroprevalence was higher among smokers with a diagnosis of chronic asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of C. pneumoniae in stable asthmatics was comparable with the controls; therefore, the study does not support the association between C. pneumoniae antibody titers and stable asthma. However, the analysis for likely confounders such as age, gender and smoking status suggests a possible association of enhanced susceptibility to C. pneumoniae infection with age and smoking habitus.

Metabolic impairment and membrane abnormality in red cells from Huntington's disease.

The following aspects have been investigated in 10 patients affected by Huntington's disease )HD): --extensive haematological investigations; --red cell enzyme activities and level of the most important glycolytic intermediate compounds; --protein, lipid and carbohydrate composition of the erythrocyte membrane and membrane polarity; --effects of in vitro aging on red cell membranes. Lack of 4.5 protein band in SDS-PAGE and 14-fold decrease in membrane-bound catalase were found in the in vitro aged red cells from the 10 HD patients examined. Na+ + K+ATPase was slightly higher than normal in all the patients. Red cells from 5 out of 8 patients showed a decrease in reduced glutathione and phosphoenolpyruvate levels and/or an increase in hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase and glutathione reductase activities. The haematological investigations, the protein lipid and carbohydrate composition of the fresh red cells, the membrane polypeptide aggregates and the membrane polarity evaluated by microspectrofluorometric analysis were normal.

Drinking restraint and alcohol-related outcomes: exploring the contributions of beverage instructions, beverage content and self-monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the role of drinking restraint (temptation and restriction), beverage instructions and content and self- monitoring in alcohol-related outcomes (consumption, subjective intoxication and blood alcohol concentration [BAC]) in a sample of moderate-to heavy-drinking young men. METHOD: Male social drinkers (N = 132) participated in an individualized taste-rating task (TRT), an unobtrusive method for determining ad libitum alcohol consumption. Beverages were presented using the format of the balanced placebo design (BPD), in which subjects' expectation of an alcoholic versus a non- alcoholic beer was crossed with their receipt of an alcoholic versus a nonalcoholic beer. During a single 30-minute drinking occasion, each subject sampled two beers and rated their taste characteristics on a computer. RESULTS: Consumption during the TRT, ratings of subjective intoxication and postdrinking BAC, served as criterion variables in regressions in which BPD beverage condition, the two aspects of drinking restraint, self-monitoring, and their interactions, served as the predictors. The results indicated that TRT consumption was mainly a function of the temptation to drink (an aspect of restraint). As expected, assignment to the conditions of the BPD predicted subjective intoxication and BAC. Self-monitoring did not have an impact on any of the alcohol- related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The results for TRT consumption suggest that drinking restraint, particularly the temptation to drink (i.e., view the regulation of intake as difficult and/or drink to repair negative affective states), enhances the consumption of social drinkers during a single drinking occasion. Consistent with previous research, the conditions of the BPD predicted some alcohol-related outcomes.

Temptation, restriction, and the regulation of alcohol intake: validity and utility of the temptation and restraint inventory.

OBJECTIVE: The Temptation and Restraint Inventory (TRI) is a measure of drinking restraint, the preoccupation with controlling alcohol intake. It contains two higher order factors pertaining to the temptation to drink and the restriction of alcohol intake. We tested the convergent and discriminant validity of the TRI in comparison to the Preoccupation with Alcohol Scale (PAS), the Reasons for Limiting Drinking Scale (RLD) and the Drinking-Related Locus of Control Scale (DRIE), each of which measures constructs analogous to the components of the TRI. We also tested the utility of the TRI, as compared to these related measures, for predicting typical drinking and alcohol problems. METHOD: A sample of 296 (50% male) moderate to heavy drinking adults completed the TRI, the PAS, the RLD, the DRIE and measures of typical (weekly) drinking and alcohol problems (SMAST). RESULTS: Correlations indicated that the TRI had excellent convergent and discriminant validity. The TRI's temptation factor (Cognitive and Emotional Preoccupation) was strongly and positively correlated with the PAS and the DRIE, and was weakly and positively correlated with the RLD. The TRI's restriction factor (Cognitive and Behavioral Control) was positively and moderately correlated with the DRIE and moderately to weakly correlated with the PAS and the RLD. In regressions predicting weekly drinking and SMAST scores, the TRI was particularly effective in accounting for the variance in SMAST scores. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to measures of conceptually related constructs, the components of the TRI showed excellent convergent and discriminant validity. The TRI accounted for large portions of the variance in alcohol-related outcomes, using fewer items than measures of similar constructs.

Affective and behavioral reactions to the violation of limits on alcohol consumption.

The limit violation effect (LVE) was studied by inducing male social drinkers to consume either more or less beer than their prestated limit on alcohol intake. Affective and behavioral reactions to the violation of drinking limits were mediated by attributional style and aspects of drinking restraint. Subjects who reported greater than average levels of self-blaming attributions, restrictions on alcohol intake and cognitive preoccupation with alcohol became depressed and angry after the violation of drinking limits. In contrast to the hypothesized excessive-drinking component of the LVE, subjects who experienced negative affective reactions to the violation ordered fewer shots in a subsequent whiskey-tasting task. Possible conceptual and methodological reasons for observing only the affective component of the LVE are discussed.

Psychopharmacological effects of alcohol on time perception: the extended balanced placebo design.

Time perception is affected by the pharmacological action of many drugs, but the contribution of expected effects of drugs has not been considered. A new design, the extended balanced placebo design (EBPD), is presented to study both the pharmacological and expected effects of alcohol on time perception. The EBPD makes it possible to examine the effects of alcohol across a broad range of expected and pharmacological doses. By contrast, the domain of inquiry was limited to low doses of alcohol in the original balanced placebo design. The design was later modified to study higher doses, but the control and the pure drug and expectancy conditions were sacrificed in the transformation. In the EBPD, however, any realistic combination of the expected and actual dose of alcohol can be studied, while retaining pure drug and expectancy conditions. The EBPD was tested in the present study with respect to its psychopharmacological effectiveness and the effects of alcohol on time perception. The design was effective in terms of three manipulation checks: blood alcohol concentration, subjective intoxication and postexperimental beliefs about the alcohol content of the beverage consumed. In addition, the expected and actual doses of alcohol interacted over time to evidence active compensation for the pharmacological effects of alcohol on time perception. Finally, a covariance structure model was confirmed in which the expected and actual doses of alcohol increased the perceived rate of time passage, which in turn lengthened objective estimation of a one-second interval.

Laparoscopic tubal anastomosis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic tubal anastomosis. METHODS: From December 1998 to December 2001, 26 patients with bilateral tubal ligation who underwent laparoscopic tubal anastomosis were prospectively evaluated. Patients' age varied from 28 to 37 years. RESULTS: Laparoscopic tubal reversal was performed in 23 patients. Bilateral reversal was possible in all but two patients. The operation time ranged from 95 to 155 min and all patients were discharged in the following morning after surgery. After 3 months, tubal patency was confirmed in 15 patients (15/23). Pregnancy rate was 56.5% (13/23), without ectopic pregnancies. The average time from tubal reversal and pregnancy was 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In selected cases, laparoscopic tubal reversal can be offered to patients who had been submitted to tubal sterilization and desire new pregnancies. Patient selection as well as meticulous surgical technique are key factors in achieving satisfactory pregnancy rates.

[Anti-hepatitis B vaccination in Campania. Final observations of a 3-year vaccination campaign, with special reference to infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers]. / La vaccinazione anti-epatite B in Campania. Osservazioni consuntive di 3 anni di campagna vaccinale, con particolare riguardo ai nati da madre HBsAg positiva.

The results obtained at the end of the first three years of a hepatitis B vaccination campaign in Campania, are reported. HEVAC-B and H-B-VAX proved innocuous and efficacious in producing anti-HBs. Newborn babies and children produced anti-HBs more often and with higher titres than adults. Titre 10 mUI/ml of anti-HBs persisted, in the responders for at least 36 months on average. AVH by HBV was observed in two adult non responders. Transplacental or delivery infection was observed in 9.3% of the babies born of HBsAg positive mothers and more often among babies born of HBeAg positive mothers. Infection by HBV was observed in 6.0% of the babies, in 4.0% of the children and in 12.0% of the adults, in spite of the production of anti-HBs. HB-antigenemia, was as a rule transitory, but sometimes fluctuating or persistent. Careful observation during a prolonged follow up is necessary for these subjects.

[Maternal-fetal transmission of hepatitis B virus. Follow-up study of 21 infants born to HBSAG-positive mothers, and 6 born to HBSAG-negative mothers with anti-HBV antibodies]. / La trasmissione materno-fetale del virus della epatite B (HBV). Osservazione nel tempo di 21 nati da madri HBsAg positive e di 6 nati da madri HBsAg negative con anticorpi anti-HBV.

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was studied in 21 mother-infant pairs. A transient HBs-antigenemia was observed in 60% of the 10 children born to HBsAg healthy carrier mothers and 91% of the 11 babies born to mothers with HBsAg-positive CAH. Among the 16 children showing HBs-antigenemia, 3 developed acute viral hepatitis two of whom showed progression to chronicity.

Role of delta infection in the progression to chronicity of acute HBsAg positive hepatitis.

A previous study of 159 consecutive cases of HBsAg+ acute viral hepatitis, observed from the onset of disease and seen between May 1977 and May 1980, revealed a higher frequency of evolution to chronicity in the region of Naples than that reported for other areas. This suggested that environmental factors might influence the chronically rate. We investigated 125 HBsAg+ acute hepatitis cases for whom sera were available: 35 patients who remained HBsAg+ at the two-year control (28 chronic hepatitis and 7 healthy carriers) and 90 who recovered and seroconverted HBsAg---- anti-HBs during follow-up. At the onset of disease, all patients who cleared HBsAg showed IgM anti-HBc positivity and 48 were also HBeAg positive; no patient was anti-delta positive. On the contrary of the 28 chronic cases only 7 were IgM anti-HBc+ (6 under 13 years old), while 21 were IgM anti-HBc- but anti-delta+. This study demonstrates that not all HBsAg+ acute hepatitis cases are due to HBV and that in our area, superinfection by the delta agent is responsible for most cases of chronic HBsAg positive hepatitis.