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.

In vitro studies of the dual properties of Allopurinol anti- and photo-oxidants Mechanisms / Estudio in vitro de dos propiedades del Alopurinol.

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of allopurinol (1) to inhibit free radical or reactive oxygen species (.OH, ¹O2, H2O2) as well as the study of its photochemical activity. We investigated the ability of 1 to scavenge oxygen metabolites generated by cell-free systems using luminol enhanced-chemiluminescence and electronic absorption spectra as monitors. Both absorbance and fluorescence scans reveal that 1 is able to react with equimolar quantities of H2O2. In the presence of 1 a dose-dependent inhibition period was observed in this system as assayed by isoluminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (ILCL) in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), as well as by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL) in the presence of H2O2 or ferrous ion. On the other hand, 1 did not show an efficient scavenging activity of galvanoxyl radical in ethanolic solutions. Furthermore, in a separate experiment, it was not observed trapping of singlet oxygen (¹O2) generated by Rose Bengal, in the presence of 1. The activity of 1 was compared with that of vitamins E and C. In vitro experiments of photohemolysis in presence of 1 and cinoxacin, a phototoxic antibacterial quinolone, the photohemolytic effect of cinoxacin was diminished. Allopurinol alone did not show any phototoxic effect under irradiation with UV-A or visible light but was photo-unstable and phototoxic in vitro with UV-B light.

Se estudió la habilidad del alopurinol (1) para inhibir radicales libres o especies reactivas de oxigeno (.OH, ¹O2, H2O2), igualmente se determinó su actividad fotoquímica. De otro lado se midió la habilidad de 1 para eliminar los metabolitos de oxígeno generados por un sistema libre de células basado en quimioluminicencia aumentada de luminol y se monitoreo el espectro de absorción electrónica. Las dos determinaciones, absorbancia y fluorescencia, revelan que 1 es capaz de reaccionar con cantidades equimoleculares de H2O2. En presencia de alopurinol se observan periodos de inhibición dosis dependiente al usar isoluminol como intensificador de luminiscencia (ILCL) en presencia de peroxidasa de rábano o ión ferroso. Por otro lado, 1 no mostró una eficiente actividad frente a radicales galvanoxil en solución etanólica. En otros experimentos en presencia de 1 no se observó bloqueo de especies de oxígeno singlete (¹O2) generado por rosa bengala. La habilidad de 1 fue comparada con la de vitaminas E y C. En experimentos de fotohemólisis in vitro en presencia de 1 y cinoxacin, quinolona fototóxico antibanterial, el efecto fotohemolítico del cinoxacin fue disminuido. El alopurinol no mostró efecto fototóxico por irradiación con luz UV-A o luz visible, sin embargo se mostró foto - inestable y fototóxico in vitro bajo irradiación con luz UV-B.

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.

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.

[Genotoxic effects of pesticide-treated vegetable extracts using the Allium cepa chromosome aberration and micronucleus tests]. / Valutazione della genotossicità di frutta e verdura contaminata da pesticidi mediante il test dell'Allium cepa.

The presence of chemical residues in vegetables and fruit is a source of human exposure to toxic and genotoxic chemicals. The mutagenic and carcinogenic action of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides on experimental animals is already known. Several studies have shown that chronic exposure to low levels of pesticides can cause adverse health effects and that many pesticides are mutagenic/carcinogenic. In the present research we monitored concurrently the presence of pesticides and genotoxic compounds extracted from 21 treated vegetables and 8 types of grapes sampled from the markets of a region in Southern Italy. The extracts were analysed for pesticides by gas-chromatography and HPLC, and for genotoxicity with two plant tests in Allium cepa roots: the micronucleus test and the chromosomal aberration test. We found 33 pesticides, some of which are outlawed. Genotoxicity was found in some of the vegetables and grapes tested. Allium cepa tests were sensitive for monitoring genotoxicity in food extracts. The micronucleus test in interphase cells gave much higher mutagenicity than the chromosomal aberration test in anaphase-telophase cells.

Cognitive and affective disorders associated to HIV infection in the HAART era: findings from the NeuroICONA study. Cognitive impairment and depression in HIV/AIDS. The NeuroICONA study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the natural story of HIV-associated affective and cognitive disorders and the relationship with clinical, pharmacological, immunological and behavioural factors. METHOD: A total of 395 HIV-positive patients, naive to Highly Active Antirectroviral therapy (HAART), with no severe psychiatric disorders have been enrolled in the Neuro-ICONA Study. All participants were administered a comprehensive data collection instrument including an addiction behaviour survey, a medical problem list, a psychiatric assessment, a validated neuropsychological test battery. RESULTS: The global prevalence of cognitive impairment and of prominent depressive symptomatology were 17.9 and 15.5%, respectively. A significant difference in the prevalence of prominent depressive symptomatology was observed between patients in HAART and those not taking HAART(14.1 vs. 23.8%; P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Depressive and cognitive disorders affect a substantial proportion of HIV-seropositive subjects. The prevalence of prominent depressive symptomatology appears to significantly vary in relationship to the therapeutic protocol.

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.

Quality of life assessment in HIV-positive persons: application and validation of the WHOQOL-HIV, Italian version.

QoL assessment is currently considered essential for clinical trials in HIV infection, as commonly used end-points (CD4 level, viral load, opportunistic diseases) are inadequate to catch the complexity of treatment outcomes. The World Health Organization has recently developed a standardized set of instruments to assess subjective quality of life (QoL) in different medical conditions, including HIV infection. Here we report evidence for the acceptability, reliability and validity of the Italian version of the WHOQOL-HIV. The Italian version of WHOQOL-HIV has been administered in a sample of 151 HIV-positive persons, consecutively attending the largest infectious diseases hospital in southern Italy. Mean time of administration and percentage of missing responses, Cronbach alpha, Pearson coefficient and oneway ANOVA were applied to assess, respectively, acceptability, reliability, convergent and disciminant validity, and sensitivity to change. Mean time of administration was 28 minutes; only 2 questionnaires showed more than 20% of missing responses. Cronbach alpha was above 0.70 in 22 of the 28 sections of the WHOQOL-HIV; it ranged between 0.53 and 0.68 in the remaining 6 sections. Each of the 7 QoL principal domains correlated with overall QoL at a significance level p < 0.001. Moreover, correlation between principal domains were always statistically significant (p < 0.01) with only two exceptions. Finally, mean scores in each QoL domain were in the expected direction (worse in AIDS patients as compared to asymptomatic and symptomatic persons). The Italian version of WHOQOL-HIV is a valid and reliable instrument to assess subjective QoL in HIV-positive persons. It seems potentially useful to assess patients' life satisfaction, and to calibrate standards of care in different stages of the infection.

Self-reported symptoms and medication side effects influence adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in persons with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: To identify variables predictive of nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to assess whether self-reported symptoms or medication side effects are related to adherence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional multicenter study Adherence Italian Cohort Naive Antiretrovirals [AdICONA] within the Italian Cohort Naive Antiretrovirals (ICONA). METHODS: Participants receiving HAART completed a 16-item self-administered questionnaire to assess nonadherence in the last 3 days as well as the type and intensity of 24 common HIV- and HAART-related symptoms experienced during the last 4 weeks. RESULTS: From May 1999 to March 2000, 358 persons were enrolled: 22% reported nonadherence and were less likely to have HIV RNA <500 copies/ml (odds ratio = 0.51; 95% confidence interval: 0.31-0.85). Frequency of moderate/severe symptoms or medication side effects in nonadherent participants ranged from 3.6% to 30%. On univariate analysis, nausea, anxiety, confusion, vision problems, anorexia, insomnia, taste perversion, and abnormal fat distribution were significantly associated with nonadherence. Nonadherent persons had a higher mean overall symptom score (12.3 +/- 9.2 versus 8.1 +/- 6.6; p <.001) and mean medication side effect score (2.9 +/- 2.7 versus 1.9 +/- 1.9; p <.001) when compared with adherent participants. In the multivariate analysis, nausea ( p =.003); anxiety ( p =.006); younger age ( p =.007); unemployment ( p <.001); not recalling name, color, and timing of drugs ( p =.009); running out of pills between visits ( p =.002); and being too busy ( p =.03) were independently associated with nonadherence in the last 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to patient characteristics, medication-related variables, and reasons for nonadherence, patient-reported symptoms and medication side effects were significantly associated with adherence to HAART.

[Experience at a branch center of the National HIV Protease Inhibitor Registry]. / L'esperienza di un centro periferico sul registro nazionale degli inibitori delle proteasi di HIV.

In the present study we show our experience as one of the Centers (center 006) of the Italian Index of Protease Inhibitors (PI). In this multicentric, observational study we studied HIV-positive naive patients for antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors. From 8/1/97 to 31/1/98 in our department 64 patients were enrolled and followed up through an electronic medical sheet in order to evaluate efficacy, tolerability, toxicity and compliance of treatment with PI. Our results show a reduction in AIDS-related mortality and a decrease in AIDS defining diseases: in particular data show an increase in CNS pathologies in comparison with other opportunistic events. Moreover, in patients non complaints to therapy, the progression of the disease was more frequent. The side effects more frequently observed during PI treatment were hypertrigliceridaemia and lipodystrophy; gynaecomastia and hyperprolactinaemia were even present, perhaps as expression of direct metabolic action of HAART therapy.

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.