bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RICK Promotes Inflammation and Lethality after Gram-Negative Bacterial Infection in Mice Stimulated with Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Park Jong-Hwan , Kim Yun-Gi , Núñez Gabriel
Published: February 2009

RICK (receptor-interacting protein-like interacting caspase-like apoptosis regulatory protein kinase), a serine-threonine kinase, functions downstream of the pattern recognition receptors Nod1 and Nod2 to mediate NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in response to specific microbial stimuli. However, the function of RICK in the recognition and host defense of gram-negative bacteria remains poorly understood. We report here that infection of wild-type and RICK-deficient macrophages with
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Escherichia coli
elicited comparable activation of NF-κB and MAPKs as well as secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. However, production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β induced by these gram-negative bacteria was impaired in RICK-deficient macrophages when the cells had previously been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or
E. coli
. The diminished proinflammatory response of RICK-deficient macrophages to bacteria was associated with reduced activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Importantly, mutant mice deficient in RICK were less susceptible than wild-type mice to
P. aeruginosa
infection when the animals had previously been stimulated with LPS. The reduced lethality of RICK-deficient mice infected with
P. aeruginosa
was independent of pathogen clearance but was associated with diminished production of proinflammatory molecules in vivo. These results demonstrate that RICK contributes to the induction of proinflammatory responses and susceptibility to gram-negative bacteria after exposure to LPS, a condition that is associated with reduced Toll-like receptor signaling.
Impact of helmets on injuries to riders of all-terrain vehicles
Authors: Bowman S M , Aitken M E , Helmkamp J C , Maham S A , Graham C J
Published: February 2009

Background:

Although helmet use has been shown to be effective in reducing traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to motorcycle and bicycle crashes, it is unknown whether helmet use is associated with different injury patterns and severity for users of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Objectives:

To compare likelihood of injury and death between helmeted and unhelmeted riders of ATVs.

Methods:

The National Trauma Data Bank for years 2002–2006 was used to examine the records of 11 589 patients hospitalized for injuries resulting from ATV use. The likelihood of receiving a TBI diagnosis or a significant injury to other body regions and differences in injury severity and in-hospital mortality between helmeted and unhelmeted ATV riders were compared.

Results:

After multivariable adjustment, compared with helmeted riders, unhelmeted riders were significantly more likely to sustain any TBI (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.76, p<0.001) and major/severe TBI (OR 3.19, 95% CI 2.39 to 4.25, p<0.001). Unhelmeted riders were significantly more likely to die while in hospital than were helmeted riders (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.79 to 3.71, p<0.001). Significant injuries to the neck and face regions were also significantly more likely in unhelmeted riders (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.28 to 9.71, p = 0.015, and OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.84, p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions:

ATV riders who do not wear helmets are more likely to receive significant injuries to the head, face, and neck. Prevention strategies and enforceable policy interventions to increase helmet use among ATV riders appear warranted.
Descriptive epidemiological study of sites of suicide jumps in Taipei, Taiwan
Authors: Chen Y-Y , Gunnell D , Lu T-H
Published: February 2009

Objective:

To identify locations to target for suicide preventive measures to reduce suicide by jumping in Taipei city, Taiwan.

Method:

A descriptive study of suicide by jumping from a height was conducted in Taipei, 2002–2005. Information on sites from which suicide jumps occurred was obtained from death certificates as well as ambulance, medical and newspaper records.

Results:

Of the 210 jumping suicide deaths with sufficient information on the site of the jump, private residential buildings comprised the highest proportion (67%) of all jumping sites, followed by business office buildings (13%), hospitals (8%) and shopping malls (5%). However, the number of jumping suicides per 1000 sites was highest for hospitals (307 per 1000 hospitals) and shopping malls (275 per 1000 shopping malls) compared with 2 per 1000 for residential buildings. Women and older people who died by jumping were more likely to have jumped from buildings where they lived, compared with men and other age groups.

Conclusion:

Although two-thirds of suicides occurred from residential buildings, the sites with the greatest number of jumps per location were hospitals and shopping malls, making them the most cost-effective focus for preventive efforts.
Accuracy of external cause-of-injury coding in hospital records: Table 1
Authors: McKenzie K , Enraght-Moony E L , Walker S M , McClure R J , Harrison J E
Published: February 2009

Objective:

To appraise the published evidence regarding the accuracy of external cause-of-injury codes in hospital records.

Design:

Systematic review.

Data sources:

Electronic databases searched included PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, CINAHL, Academic Search Elite, Proquest Health and Medical Complete, and Google Scholar. Snowballing strategies were used by searching the bibliographies of retrieved references to identify relevant associated articles.

Selection criteria:

Studies were included in the review if they assessed the accuracy of external cause-of-injury coding in hospital records via a recoding methodology.

Methods:

The papers identified through the search were independently screened by two authors for inclusion. Because of heterogeneity between studies, meta-analysis was not performed.

Results:

Very limited research on the accuracy of external cause coding for injury-related hospitalisation using medical record review and recoding methodologies has been conducted, with only five studies matching the selection criteria. The accuracy of external cause coding using ICD-9-CM ranged from ∼ 64% when exact code agreement was examined to ∼85% when agreement for broader groups of codes was examined.

Conclusions:

Although broad external cause groupings coded in ICD-9-CM can be used with some confidence, researchers should exercise caution for very specific codes until further research is conducted to validate these data. As all previous studies have been conducted using ICD-9-CM, research is needed to quantify the accuracy of coding using ICD-10-AM, and validate the use of these data for injury surveillance purposes.
Workplace social capital and co-occurrence of lifestyle risk factors: the Finnish Public Sector Study
Authors: Väänänen A , Kouvonen A , Kivimäki M , Oksanen T , Elovainio M , Virtanen M , Pentti J , Vahtera J
Published: February 2009

Objective:

The aim of this prospective study was to examine the link between individual and ecological workplace social capital and the co-occurrence of adverse lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, heavy drinking, physical inactivity and overweight.

Methods:

Data on 25 897 female and 5476 male public sector employees were analysed. Questionnaire surveys conducted in 2000–2002 (baseline) and 2004–2005 (follow-up) were used to assess workplace social capital, lifestyle risk factors and other characteristics. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between individual and ecological social capital and the co-occurrence of lifestyle risk factors.

Results:

In the cross-sectional analysis adjusted for age, sex, marital status and employer, low social capital at work at both the individual and ecological level was associated with at least a 1.3 times higher odds of having more than two lifestyle risk factors versus having no risk factors. Similar associations were found in the prospective setting. However, additional adjustment for the co-occurrence of risk factors and socioeconomic status at baseline attenuated the result to non-significant.

Conclusion:

Social capital at work seems to be associated with a lowered risk of co-occurrence of multiple lifestyle risk factors but does not clearly predict the future risk of this co-occurrence.
Risk of hypertension from exposure to road traffic noise in a population-based sample
Authors: Barregard L , Bonde E , Öhrström E
Published: February 2009

Objectives:

To assess the association between hypertension and traffic noise.

Methods:

The prevalence and incidence of hypertension were examined in a Swedish municipality partly affected by noise from a highway (20 000 vehicles/24 h) and a railway (200 trains/24 h). A-weighed 24 h average sound levels (LAeq,24h) from road and railway traffic were calculated at each residential building using a geographical information system and a validated model. Physician-diagnosed hypertension, antihypertensive medication and background factors were evaluated in 1953 individuals using postal questionnaires (71% response rate). Prevalence ratios and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for different noise categories. Based on year of moving into the residence and year of diagnosis, person-years and incidence rates of hypertension were estimated, as well as relative risks including covariates, using Poisson and Cox regression.

Results:

When road traffic noise, age, sex, heredity and body mass index were included in logistic regression models, and allowing for >10 years of latency, the OR for hypertension was 1.9 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.5) in the highest noise category (56−70 dBA) and 3.8 (95% CI 1.6 to 9.0) in men. The incidence rate ratio was increased in this group of men, and the relative risk of hypertension in a Poisson regression model was 2.9 (95% CI 1.4 to 6.2). There were no clear associations in women or for railway noise.

Conclusions:

The study shows a positive association between residential road traffic noise and hypertension among men, and an exposure–response relationship. While prevalence ratios were increased, findings were more pronounced when incidence was assessed.
Antibiotic resistance among bacteria isolated from seawater and penguin fecal samples collected near Palmer Station, AntarcticaThis article is one of a selection of papers in the Special Issue on Polar and Alpine Microbiology.
Authors: Miller Robert V. , Gammon Katharine , Day Martin J.
Published: February 2009

Antibiotic resistance in aquatic bacteria has increased steadily as a consequence of the widespread use of antibiotics, but practice and international treaty should have limited antibiotic contamination in Antarctica. We estimated antibiotic resistance in microorganisms isolated from the Antarctic marine waters and a penguin rookery, for 2 reasons: (i) as a measure of human impact and (ii) as a potential “snapshot” of the preantibiotic world. Samples were taken at 4 established sampling sites near Palmer Station, which is situated at the southern end of the Palmer Archipelago (64°10′S, 61°50′W). Sites were chosen to provide different potentials for human contamination. Forty 50 mL samples of seawater were collected and colony-forming units (CFU)/mL were determined at 6 and 20 °C. For this study, presumed psychrophiles (growth at 6 °C) were assumed to be native to Antarctic waters, whereas presumed mesophiles (growth at 20 °C but not at 6 °C) were taken to represent introduced organisms. The 20–6 °C CFU/mL ratio was used as a measure of the relative impact to the ecosystem of presumably introduced organisms. This ratio was highest at the site nearest to Palmer Station and decreased with distance from it, suggesting that human presence has impacted the natural microbial flora of the site. The frequency of resistance to 5 common antibiotics was determined in each group of isolates. Overall drug resistance was higher among the presumed mesophiles than the presumed psychrophiles and increased with proximity to Palmer Station, with the presumed mesophiles showing higher frequencies of single and multiple drug resistance than the psychrophile population. The frequency of multidrug resistance followed the same pattern. It appears that multidrug resistance is low among native Antarctic bacteria but is increased by human habitation.
Investigations of fungal diversity in wooden structures and soils at historic sites on the Antarctic PeninsulaThis article is one of a selection of papers in the Special Issue on Polar and Alpine Microbiology.
Authors: Arenz Brett E. , Blanchette Robert A.
Published: February 2009

Investigations of microbial diversity in Antarctic are important to begin to understand ecosystem functioning and decomposition processes. This study documents fungi at 9 historic sites on the Antarctic Peninsula collected from wooden structures, other organic materials, and soils during a joint National Science Foundation and British Antarctic Survey expedition in 2007. Many of these sites had wooden structures built by the British during the World War II Operation Tabarin, but others visited included the American “East Base” on Stonington Island and the Swedish hut on Snow Hill Island. Fungi were cultured on several different media and pure cultures were obtained and identified by DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. Cadophora species previously found to attack historic wooden structures on Ross Island, Antarctica, were found at all but 1 location sampled in the Peninsula region. Fungi causing decay in the historic wooden structures and artifacts and those causing mold problems inside the structures are of great concern, and conservation efforts are urgently needed to help preserve these important polar heritage structures. The results presented also expand our knowledge on the identity of fungi present throughout the Antarctic Peninsula region and provide insights into the organisms responsible for decomposition and nutrient recycling.
The water-borne protein signals (pheromones) of the Antarctic ciliated protozoan Euplotes nobilii: structure of the gene coding for the En-6 pheromoneThis article is one of a selection of papers in the Special Issue on Polar and Alpine Microbiology.
Authors: La Terza Antonietta , Dobri Nicoleta , Alimenti Claudio , Vallesi Adriana , Luporini Pierangelo
Published: February 2009

The marine Antarctic ciliate, Euplotes nobilii , secretes a family of water-borne signal proteins, denoted as pheromones, which control vegetative proliferation and mating in the cell. Based on the knowledge of the amino acid sequences of a set of these pheromones isolated from the culture supernatant of wild-type strains, we designed probes to identify their encoding genes in the cell somatic nucleus (macronucleus). The full-length gene of the pheromone En-6 was determined and found to contain an open-reading frame specific for the synthesis of the En-6 cytoplasmic precursor (pre-pro-En-6), which requires 2 proteolytic cleavages to remove the signal peptide (pre) and the prosegment before secretion of the mature protein. In contrast to the sequence variability that distinguishes the secreted pheromones, the pre- and pro-sequences appear to be tightly conserved and useful for the construction of probes to clone every other E. nobilii pheromone gene. Potential intron sequences in the coding region of the En-6 gene imply the synthesis of more En-6 isoforms.
OPEN-CLOSED TQFTS EXTEND KHOVANOV HOMOLOGY FROM LINKS TO TANGLES
Authors: LAUDA AARON D. , PFEIFFER HENDRYK
Published: February 2009

We use a special kind of 2-dimensional extended Topological Quantum Field Theories (TQFTs), so-called open-closed TQFTs, in order to represent a refinement of Bar-Natan's universal geometric complex algebraically, and thereby extend Khovanov homology from links to arbitrary tangles. For every plane diagram of an oriented tangle, we construct a chain complex whose terms are modules of a suitable algebra A such that there is one action of A or A op for every boundary point of the tangle. We give examples of such algebras A for which our tangle homology theory reduces to the link homology theories of Khovanov, Lee and Bar-Natan if it is evaluated for links. As a consequence of the Cardy condition, Khovanov's graded theory can only be extended to tangles if the underlying field has finite characteristic. Whenever the open-closed TQFT arises from a state-sum construction, we obtain honest planar algebra morphisms, and all composition properties of the universal geometric complex carry over to the algebraic complex. We give examples of state-sum open-closed TQFTs for which one can still determine both characteristic p Khovanov homology of links and Rasmussen's s-invariant.
FINITE COVERS OF THE INFINITE CYCLIC COVER OF A KNOT
Authors: BUTTON J. O.
Published: February 2009

We show that the commutator subgroup G′ of a classical knot group G need not have subgroups of every finite index, but it will if G′ has a surjective homomorphism to the integers and we give an exact criterion for that to happen. We also give an example of a knotted Sn in Sn+2 for all n ≥ 2 whose infinite cyclic cover is not simply connected but has no proper finite covers.
ALTERNATING AUGMENTATIONS OF LINKS
Authors: BLAIR RYAN C.
Published: February 2009

We show that one can interweave an unknot into any non-alternating connected projection of a link so that the resulting augmented projection is alternating. As a corollary, we strengthen a result of Myers in the case of link complements in S3.
THE EFFECT OF JUMPS AND DISCRETE SAMPLING ON VOLATILITY AND VARIANCE SWAPS
Authors: BROADIE MARK , JAIN ASHISH
Published: February 2009

We investigate the effect of discrete sampling and asset price jumps on fair variance and volatility swap strikes. Fair discrete volatility strikes and fair discrete variance strikes are derived in different models of the underlying evolution of the asset price: the Black-Scholes model, the Heston stochastic volatility model, the Merton jump-diffusion model and the Bates and Scott stochastic volatility and jump model. We determine fair discrete and continuous variance strikes analytically and fair discrete and continuous volatility strikes using simulation and variance reduction techniques and numerical integration techniques in all models. Numerical results show that the well-known convexity correction formula may not provide a good approximation of fair volatility strikes in models with jumps in the underlying asset. For realistic contract specifications and model parameters, we find that the effect of discrete sampling is typically small while the effect of jumps can be significant.
FINANCIAL HEDGING OF OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY
Authors: LUDKOVSKI MICHAEL
Published: February 2009

We extend the framework of real options to value the compound timing option owned by a manager of an industrial asset. The operator has control over the production modes, but faces operational constraints which introduce path-dependency. Moreover, the operator is only able to imperfectly hedge her income on the futures market. Using an exponential indifference valuation approach we construct a combined stochastic control formulation that merges the problems of optimal switching and indifference pricing in incomplete markets. We then present an iterative scheme for valuing operational flexibility which in particular shows additivity of indifference value over time. After discussing details of numerical implementation, we illustrate our results with several computational examples and comparative statics.
RATE OF CONVERGENCE OF MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS FOR THE HOBSON–ROGERS MODEL
Authors: ANTONELLI FABIO , PREZIOSO VALENTINA
Published: February 2009

The Hobson–Rogers model is used to price derivative securities under the no-arbitrage condition in a stochastic volatility setting, preserving the completeness of the market. Here we are studying the rate of convergence of the Euler/Monte Carlo approximations, when pricing European, Asian and digital type options. The aim of the present work is to express the approximation error in terms of the time step size, denoted by h, used for the Euler scheme. We recover an already known result, obtained by other authors using PDE approximations, for European options. Namely we show that for a Lipschitz coefficient of the driving equations for the asset price and Lipschitz payoffs, we obtain an error of the order of [Formula: see text]. Moreover, using Malliavin Calculus techniques, we show that with a regular coefficient we may attain an error of the order of h for regular payoffs and of the order of [Formula: see text] for non Lipschitz payoffs. Finally we show some numerical simulations supporting our theoretical results.
ON THE LOGARITHMIC DERIVATIVE OF NICHOLSON'S INTEGRAL
Authors: DUNSTER T. M.
Published: February 2009

The function [Formula: see text] is studied. By employing uniform asymptotic approximations for Bessel functions, as well as Nicholson's integral for [Formula: see text] and a related integral, uniform asymptotic approximations for Mν(x) are obtained for x → ∞, which taken together are uniformly valid for -∞ < ν < ∞. From these approximations, it follows that Mν(x) is a slowly varying function of ν for large x, a result which has ramifications in a certain quasi non-uniqueness in the scattered field of a dielectric circular cylinder.
Benthic macrofauna variations and community structure in Cenomanian cyclic chalk–marl from Southerham Grey Pit, SE England
Authors: Lauridsen B.W. , Gale A.S. , Surlyk F.
Published: February 2009

Cenomanian chalk–marl couplets from England represent the 20 ka Milankovitch precession cycle. Fossil communities from both chalk and marl are identified to test if the orbital fluctuations and the associated changes in substrate lithology and climate exerted any control on the benthic macrofauna. The material comprises washing residues of 24 bulk samples collected from chalk and marl half-cycles. A total of 5055 invertebrate specimens were retrieved and referred to 68 species, forming the basis for the recognition of six guilds. In general, the fauna is more diverse in marl than in chalk, but it is remarkable and somewhat surprising that the guild assemblages of marl and chalk show no difference. Thus the substrate character of the two lithologies did not exert any influence on the modes of life of the benthic fauna in spite of a difference in clay content of about 20%. The fauna was clearly well adapted to both facies and thus to the fine grain size of the substrate rather than to lithology. The systematic difference in diversity between chalk and marl samples was possibly caused by long-term climatic and oceanographic changes and thus could represent a biological response to Milankovitch cyclicity.
Post-collisional tectonomagmatic evolution in the northern Arabian–Nubian Shield: time constraints from ion-probe U–Pb dating of zircon
Authors: Be'eri-Shlevin Yaron , Katzir Yaron , Whitehouse Martin
Published: February 2009

Ion-probe U–Pb dating of plutonic rocks from the northern Arabian–Nubian Shield in Sinai and southern Israel constrains the timing of late East African batholithic post-collisional calc-alkaline (CA2) magmatism and within-plate alkaline to peralkaline (AL) magmatism to
c
. 635–590 Ma and
c
. 608–580 Ma, respectively. The earliest dated CA2 rocks are slightly deformed to undeformed, indicating that penetrative deformation ceased by
c
. 630 Ma. Within the CA2 suite a change from mafic to felsic magmatism is manifested in most of the region, peaking in a voluminous pulse of granodiorite to granite intrusion at 610–600 Ma. The AL magmatism started contemporaneously with the peak in CA2 felsic activity at
c
. 608 Ma and lasted until 580 Ma. It includes mostly alkaline and peralkaline granites, probably representing variable degrees of differentiation of similar parental magmas. Thus CA2 and AL granites do not represent different tectonic settings, but coeval derivation from variable sources during crustal extension. The majority of rocks dated in this study show minor to non-existent zircon inheritance and thus indicate very minor interaction with previously formed felsic crust. The rare zircon xenocrysts span a typical East African age range (900–607 Ma) and confirm the absence of older crustal components in the juvenile Arabian–Nubian Shield.

Supplementary material:

Geochemical and geochronological methods, sample descriptions and data are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18327
.
The Eocene bimodal Piranshahr massif of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone, NW Iran: a marker of the end of the collision in the Zagros orogen
Authors: Mazhari S.A. , Bea F. , Amini S. , Ghalamghash J. , Molina J.F. , Montero P. , Scarrow J.H. , Williams I.S.
Published: February 2009

The bimodal Piranshahr massif is composed of coeval but geochemically unrelated mafic (40.7 ± 0.2 Ma zircon U–Pb sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) age) and A-type felsic rocks (41 ± 0.5 Ma Rb–Sr and 41.3 ± 0.8 Ma zircon U–Pb SHRIMP age). The mafic rocks consist of two geochemical types of gabbros that derived from different magmas. The more abundant gabbros are moderately alkaline, have ratios of large ion lithophile elements to REE and high field strength elements to REE similar to those of intraplate mantle magmas,
87
Sr/
86
Sr
41 Ma
≈ 0.7036 and ε(Nd)
41 Ma
≈ +7.2. The less abundant gabbros have calc-alkaline affinities,
87
Sr/
86
Sr
41 Ma
≈ 0.7043 and ε(Nd)
41 Ma
≈ +4.78. Felsic rocks are metaluminous A2-type annite–fayalite–hedenbergite, hypersolvus, leucocratic, coarse-grained agpaitic syenites, pulaskites and granites, with
87
Sr/
86
Sr
41 Ma
≈ 0.7048 and ε(Nd)
41 Ma
≈ +3.6–4.5. Syenites, pulaskites and granites are genetically related. Pulaskites probably represent alkali-enriched water-rich residual melts from which an F-rich vapour phase was later separated. Granites were probably generated during open-system processes, in which F-rich hydrous alkaline fluids released from the syenites acted upon pre-existing felsic rocks. The
c
. 41 Ma age of the post-collisional Piranshahr massif indicates that the related collision probably occurred at 50–60 Ma (i.e. Late Palaeocene or Early Eocene), thus resolving a much debated question.
Timing of migmatization and granite genesis in the Northwestern Terrane of Svalbard, Norway: implications for regional correlations in the Arctic Caledonides
Authors: Pettersson C.H. , Tebenkov A.M. , Larionov A.N. , Andresen A. , Pease V.
Published: February 2009

U–Pb ion microprobe investigations of zircons from gneisses, granites and migmatites of the pre-Devonian Smerenburgfjorden and Richarddalen Complexes constrain the tectonic evolution and origin of Svalbard's Northwestern Terrane. Field relationships combined with U–Pb age data indicate that a late Meso- to Neoproterozoic metapelitic protolith was intruded by Tonian (
c
. 960 Ma) granitoids and suggest that the entire Northwestern Terrane is underlain by early Neoproterozoic granitoids intruding older metasediments. Both rock types were later involved in Caledonian deformation, with subsequent migmatization and granite genesis at
c
. 435–420 Ma. Ages of inherited zircons in granites and migmatites reflect anatexis of this late Meso- to Neoproterozoic protolith, with zircon xenocrysts ranging in age from
c
. 1030 to 1820 Ma. Pronounced lithological, geochronological and tectonothermal similarities to NE Svalbard (Nordaustlandet) and the Krummedal supracrustal sequence of East Greenland suggest a strong correlation between Svalbard and East Greenland prior to Caledonian orogenesis.

Supplementary material:

Ion microprobe analytical methods, data table and zircon descriptions are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18326
.
U–Pb zircon ages for post-Variscan volcanism in the Ligurian Alps(Northern Italy)
Authors: Dallagiovanna Giorgio , Gaggero Laura , Maino Matteo , Seno Silvio , Tiepolo Massimo
Published: February 2009

Ages of Permian volcanic rocks from the Ligurian Briançonnais domain (Western Italian Alps) have been determined by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb dating of zircon. Three major volcanic units yielded zircons that were dated: calc-alkaline rhyolites (285.6 ± 2.6 Ma), andesites (with inherited cores yielded ages
c
. 476 Ma and older) and voluminous rhyodacites–rhyolites (272.7 ± 2.2 Ma). Following an amagmatic, sediment-starved time gap of
c
. 14 Ma, alkaline volcanic activity is recorded, at the top of the sequence, by K-alkaline rhyolites dated at 258.5 ± 2.8 Ma. The Ligurian segment of the Southern Variscan belt records transtensional and then extensional tectonics associated with the volcanic activity. The switch from calc-alkaline to alkaline activity corresponds to the transition from a post-orogenic to an anorogenic setting in the Southern Variscides; it may represent progressive and increasing delamination of the continental lithosphere, accompanied by partial melting of the lithospheric mantle.

Supplementary material:

Technical and data acquisition parameters, U–Th–Pb isotope analyses and calculated ages of zircons from samples and standard, and trace element compositions of selected zircons are available at:
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18322
.
Submarine deposition of volcaniclastic material from the 1995–2005 eruptions of Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat
Authors: Le Friant A. , Deplus C. , Boudon G. , Sparks R.S.J. , Trofimovs J. , Talling P.
Published: February 2009

Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, has been erupting since 1995. During the current eruption, a large part of the material produced by the volcano has been transported into the sea, modifying the morphology of the submarine flanks of the volcano. We present a unique set of swath bathymetric data collected offshore from Montserrat in 1999, 2002 and 2005. From 1999 to 2002, pyroclastic flows associated with numerous dome collapses entered the sea to produce 100 Mm
3
deposit. From 2002 to 2005, the 290 Mm
3
submarine deposit is mainly from the 12–13 July 2003 collapse. These data allow us to estimate that, by May 2005, at least 482 Mm
3
of material had been deposited on the sea floor since 1995. We compare on-land characteristics and volumes of dome collapse events with the submarine deposits and propose a new analysis of their emplacement on the submarine flanks of the volcano. The deposition mechanism shows a slope dependence, with the maximum thickness of deposit before the break in the slope, probably because of the type of the dense granular flow involved. We conclude that from 1995 to 2005 more than 75% of the erupted volume entered the sea.
Degree of magnetic anisotropy as a strain-intensity gauge in a saturated finite-strain zone
Authors: Tripathy Nihar R.
Published: February 2009

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) analyses were carried out on mylonitic quartzites from the footwall of the Main Central Thrust Zone, Garhwal Higher Himalaya, India. A systematic increase in degree of magnetic anisotropy (
P
′) with distance from the Main Central Thrust is documented, even in a saturated finite-strain zone. On the basis of correlation between orientation of principal AMS axes and multidomain magnetite and the mylonitic foliation and lineation direction, strain-related recrystallization was inferred to be the cause of development of the magnetic fabric. Based on these results, it is concluded that if
P
′ is not controlled by
K
m
, then the former can be used as a strain-intensity gauge.

Supplementary material:

Three-dimensional finite-strain parameters and rock-magnetic and AMS datasets are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18328
.
A solution to Darwin's dilemma of 1859: exceptional preservation in Salter's material from the late Ediacaran Longmyndian Supergroup, England
Authors: Callow Richard H.T. , Brasier Martin D.
Published: February 2009

Study of historical and fresh collections from the Longmyndian Supergroup sheds new light on Ediacaran microbial communities and taphonomy. First reported by Salter in 1856, and noted by Darwin in the
Origin of Species
in 1859, a range of macroscopic bedding plane markings are already well known from the Longmyndian supergroup. Here we report filamentous and sphaeromorph microfossils, variously preserved as carbonaceous films, by aluminosilicate permineralization and as bedding plane impressions. This supports a long-suspected link between wrinkle markings and microbes, and draws further attention to our hypothesis for a taphonomic bias towards high-quality soft tissue preservation in the Ediacaran Period.
A Reconstruction Approach for Imaging in 3D Cone Beam Vector Field Tomography
Authors: Schuster T. , Theis D. , Louis A. K.
Published: February 2009

3D cone beam vector field tomography (VFT) aims for reconstructing and visualizing the velocity field of a moving fluid by measuring line integrals of projections of the vector field. The data are obtained by ultrasound measurements along a scanning curve which surrounds the object. From a mathematical point of view, we have to deal with the inversion of the vectorial cone beam transform. Since the vectorial cone beam transform of any gradient vector field with compact support is identically equal to zero, we can only hope to reconstruct the solenoidal part of an arbitrary vector field. In this paper we will at first summarize important properties of the cone beam transform for three‐dimensional solenoidal vector fields and then propose a solution approach based on the method of approximate inverse. In this context, we intensively make use of results from scalar 3D computerized tomography. The findings presented in the paper will continuously be illustrated by pictures from first numerical experiments done with exact, simulated data.
Design and Characterization of the Next Generation Nanowire Amplifiers
Authors: Hamedi-Hagh Sotoudeh , Bindal Ahmet
Published: February 2009

Vertical nanowire surrounding gate field effect transistors (SGFETs) provide full gate control over the channel to eliminate short‐channel effects. This paper presents design and characterization of a differential pair amplifier using NMOS and PMOS SGFETs with a 10 nm channel length and a 2 nm channel radius. The amplifier dissipates 5 μW power and provides 5 THz bandwidth with a voltage gain of 16, a linear output voltage swing of 0.5 V, and a distortion better than 3% from a 1.8 V power supply and a 20 aF capacitive load. The 2nd‐ and 3rd‐order harmonic distortions of the amplifier are −40 dBm and −52 dBm, respectively, and the 3rd‐order intermodulation is −24 dBm for a two‐tone input signal with 10 mV amplitude and 10 GHz frequency spacing. All these parameters indicate that vertical nanowire surrounding gate transistors are promising candidates for the next generation high‐speed analog and VLSI technologies.
Closed‐Form Solutions for a Mode‐III Moving Interface Crack at theInterface of Two Bonded Dissimilar Orthotropic Elastic Layers
Authors: Singh B. M. , Rokne J. , Dhaliwal R. S.
Published: February 2009

An integral transform technique is used to solve the elastodynamic problem of a crack of fixed length propagating at a constant speed at the interface of two bonded dissimilar orthotropic layers of equal thickness. Two cases of practical importance are investigated. Firstly, the lateral boundaries of the layers are clamped and displaced in
equal and opposite directions to produce antiplane shear resulting in a tearing motion along the leading edge of
the crack, and secondly, the lateral boundaries of the layers are subjected to shear stresses. The analytic solution
for a semi‐infinite crack at the interface of two bonded dissimilar orthotropic layers has been derived. Closed‐form
expressions are obtained for stressing the intensity factor and other physical quantities in all cases.
Hybrid Charmonium and the ρ − π Puzzle
Authors: Kisslinger Leonard S. , Parno Diana , Riordan Seamus
Published: February 2009

Using the method of QCD sum rules, we estimate the energy of the lowest hybrid charmonium
state, and find it to be at the energy of the Ψ′(2S) state, about 600 MeV above the J/Ψ(1S) state. Since our solution is not consistent with a pure hybrid at this energy, we conclude that the Ψ′(2S) state is probably an admixed and hybrid state. From this conjecture, we find a possible
explanation of the famous ρ − π puzzle.
Zerumbone Abolishes RANKL-Induced NF-κB Activation, Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis, and Suppresses Human Breast Cancer–Induced Bone Loss in Athymic Nude Mice
Authors: Sung Bokyung , Murakami Akira , Oyajobi Babatunde O. , Aggarwal Bharat B.
Published: February 2009

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) has emerged as a major mediator of bone resorption, commonly associated with cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases. Inhibitors of RANKL signaling thus have potential in preventing bone loss. In the present report, the potential of zerumbone, a sesquiterpene derived from subtropical ginger, to modulate osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL and breast cancer was examined. We found that zerumbone inhibited RANKL-induced NF-κB activation in mouse monocyte, an osteoclast precursor cell, through inhibition of activation of IκBα kinase, IκBα phosphorylation, and IκBα degradation. Zerumbone also suppressed RANKL-induced differentiation of these cells to osteoclasts. This sesquiterpene also inhibited the osteoclast formation induced by human breast tumor cells and by multiple myeloma cells. Finally, we examined whether zerumbone could prevent human breast cancer–induced bone loss in animals. We found that zerumbone decreased osteolysis in a dose-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer tumor-bearing athymic nude mice. These results indicate that zerumbone is an effective blocker of RANKL-induced NF-κB activation and of osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL and tumor cells, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis and cancer-associated bone loss. [Cancer Res 2009;69(4):1477–84]
Fasting Blood Glucose and the Risk of Stroke and Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Sung Joohon , Song Yun-Mi , Ebrahim Shah , Lawlor Debbie A.
Published: February 2009

Background—

Although diabetes is a well-known risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, the cardiovascular disease risk of glycemia below the current diabetic threshold remains uncertain.

Methods and Results—

A total of 652 901 Korean men aged 30 to 64 years from the Korean National Health Insurance System were categorized into 8 groups by fasting blood glucose (FBG) level at baseline and were followed up for cardiovascular diseases occurrence during 1992–2001. Over the follow-up period of 8.8 years, 10 954 stroke and 3766 myocardial infarction events occurred. In age-adjusted analyses, there was evidence of linear associations between FBG and myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke. However, with additional adjustment for socioeconomic position, behaviors, and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, the associations with myocardial infarction and intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke were markedly attenuated with increased risk only at the highest FBG levels (≥7.5 mmol/L). With full adjustment, the association with ischemic stroke persisted; a linear increase in the risk of ischemic stroke was observed from FBG level of 5.6 mmol/L. When the analyses were repeated with those persons who had been diagnosed with diabetes removed, there was no evidence of associations of FBG with intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, but the association with ischemic stroke persisted.

Conclusions—

In this Korean male population, the association with high FBG differed between ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, and myocardial infarction. The linear increase in the risk of ischemic stroke, independently of other cardiovascular risk factors, was observed at a level below the current FBG criteria for impaired fasting glucose (≥5.6 mmol/L). However, for other cardiovascular diseases, the current cutoff for diagnosing diabetes appropriately identified Korean men at risk.
Long-Term Clinical Outcome After a First Angiographically Confirmed Coronary Stent Thrombosis
Authors: van Werkum Jochem W. , Heestermans Antonius A.C.M. , de Korte Fleur I. , Kelder Johannes C. , Suttorp Maarten-Jan , Rensing Benno J.W.M. , Zwart Bastiaan , Brueren B. R. Guus , Koolen Jacques J. , Dambrink Jan-Henk E. , van't Hof Arnoud W.J. , Verheugt Freek W.A. , ten Berg Jurriën M.
Published: February 2009

Background—

There are limited data on the long-term clinical outcome after an angiographically confirmed (definite) stent thrombosis (ST).

Methods and Results—

Four hundred thirty-one consecutive patients with a definite ST were enrolled in this multicenter registry. The primary end point was the composite of cardiac death and definite recurrent ST. Secondary end points were all-cause death, cardiac death, definite recurrent ST, definite and probable recurrent ST, any myocardial infarction, and any target-vessel revascularization. The primary end point occurred in 111 patients after a median follow-up of 27.1 months. The estimated cumulative event rates at 30 days and 1, 2, and 3 years were 18.0%, 23.6%, 25.2%, and 27.9%, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of definite recurrent ST, definite or probable recurrent ST, any myocardial infarction, and any target-vessel revascularization were 18.8%, 20.1%, 21.3%, and 32.0%, respectively, at the longest available follow-up. Independent predictors for the primary end point were diabetes mellitus, total stent length, severe calcification, American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association B2-C lesions, TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow grade <3 after percutaneous coronary intervention, and left ventricular ejection fraction <45%. The implantation of an additional coronary stent during the first ST was also associated with unfavorable outcome. Clinical outcome was not affected by the type of previously implanted stent (drug-eluting or bare-metal stent) or the category of ST (early versus late).

Conclusions—

The long-term clinical outcome after a first definite ST is unfavorable, with a high mortality and recurrence rate. Diabetes mellitus, left ventricular ejection fraction <45%, long total stent length, complex coronary lesions, TIMI flow grade <3 after percutaneous coronary intervention, and implantation of an additional coronary stent during the emergent percutaneous coronary intervention for the ST were associated with this unfavorable outcome.
Electrophysiological Effects of Late Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Infarct-Related Coronary Artery Occlusion
Authors: Rashba Eric J. , Lamas Gervasio A. , Couderc Jean-Philippe , Hollist Sharri M. , Dzavik Vladimir , Ruzyllo Witold , Fridrich Viliam , Buller Christopher E. , Forman Sandra A. , Kufera Joseph A. , Carvalho Antonio C. , Hochman Judith S.
Published: February 2009

Background—

The Occluded Artery Trial-Electrophysiological Mechanisms (OAT-EP) tested the hypothesis that opening a persistently occluded infarct-related artery by percutaneous coronary intervention and stenting (PCI) after the acute phase of myocardial infarction compared with optimal medical therapy alone reduces markers of vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods and Results—

Between April 2003 and December 2005, 300 patients with an occluded native infarct-related artery 3 to 28 days (median, 12 days) after myocardial infarction were randomized to PCI or optimal medical therapy. Ten-minute digital Holter recordings were obtained before randomization, at 30 days, and at 1 year. The primary end point was the change in α1, a nonlinear heart rate variability parameter, between baseline and 1 year. Major secondary end points were the changes in the filtered QRS duration on the signal-averaged ECG and variability in T-wave morphology (T-wave variability) between baseline and 1 year. There were no significant differences in the changes in α1 (−0.04; 95% CI, −0.12 to 0.04), filtered QRS (2.2 ms; 95% CI, −1.4 to 5.9 ms), or T-wave variability (3.0 μV; 95% CI, −4.8 to 10.7 μV) between the PCI and medical therapy groups (medical therapy change minus PCI change). Multivariable analysis revealed that the results were unchanged after adjustment for baseline clinical variables and medication treatments during the Holter recordings.

Conclusions—

PCI with stenting of a persistently occluded infarct-related artery during the subacute phase after myocardial infarction compared with medical therapy alone had no significant effect on changes in heart rate variability, the time-domain signal-averaged ECG, or T-wave variability during the first year after myocardial infarction. These findings are consistent with the lack of clinical benefit, including no reduction in sudden death, with PCI for stable patients with persistently occluded infarct-related arteries after myocardial infarction in the main OAT.
Intracellular Calcium Dynamics and Acceleration of Sinus Rhythm by β-Adrenergic Stimulation
Authors: Joung Boyoung , Tang Liang , Maruyama Mitsunori , Han Seongwook , Chen Zhenhui , Stucky Marcelle , Jones Larry R. , Fishbein Michael C. , Weiss James N. , Chen Peng-Sheng , Lin Shien-Fong
Published: February 2009

Background—

Recent evidence indicates that membrane voltage and Ca
2+
clocks jointly regulate sinoatrial node (SAN) automaticity. Here we test the hypothesis that sinus rate acceleration by β-adrenergic stimulation involves synergistic interactions between these clock mechanisms.

Methods and Results—

We simultaneously mapped intracellular calcium (Ca
i
) and membrane potential in 25 isolated canine right atrium, using previously described criteria of the timing of late diastolic Ca
i
elevation (LDCAE) relative to the action potential upstroke to detect the Ca
2+
clock. Before isoproterenol, the earliest pacemaking site occurred in the inferior SAN, and LDCAE was observed in only 4 of 25 preparations. Isoproterenol infusion (1 μmol/L) increased sinus rate and shifted pacemaking site to superior SAN, concomitant with the appearance of LDCAE preceding the action potential upstroke by 98±31 ms. Caffeine had similar effects, whereas sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
depletion with ryanodine and thapsigargin prevented isoproterenol-induced LDCAE and blunted sinus rate acceleration. Ca
i
transient relaxation time during isoproterenol was shorter in superior SAN (124±34 ms) than inferior SAN (138±24 ms;
P
=0.01) or right atrium (164±33 ms;
P
=0.001) and was associated with a lower sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
ATPase pump to phospholamban protein ratio in SAN than in right atrium. Hyperpolarization-activated pacemaker current (
I
f
) blockade with ZD 7288 modestly blunted but did not prevent LDCAE or sinus rate acceleration by isoproterenol.

Conclusions—

Acceleration of the Ca
2+
clock in the superior SAN plays an important role in sinus acceleration during β-adrenergic stimulation, interacting synergistically with the voltage clock to increase sinus rate.