Nature and origin of secondary mineral coatings on volcanic rocks of the Black Mountain, Stonewall Mountain, and Kane Springs Wash volcanic centers, southern, Nevada

The following subject areas are covered: (1) genetic, spectral, and LANDSAT Thematic Mapper imagery relationship between desert varnish and tertiary volcanic host rocks, southern Nevada; (2) reconnaissance geologic mapping of the Kane Springs Wash Volcanic Center, Lincoln County, Nevada, using multispectral thermal infrared imagery; (3) interregional comparisons of desert varnish; and (4) airborne scanner (GERIS) imagery of the Kane Springs Wash Volcanic Center, Lincoln County, Nevada

Minimum Length from Quantum Mechanics and Classical General Relativity

We derive fundamental limits on measurements of position, arising from quantum mechanics and classical general relativity. First, we show that any primitive probe or target used in an experiment must be larger than the Planck length, $l_P$. This suggests a Planck-size {\it minimum ball} of uncertainty in any measurement. Next, we study interferometers (such as LIGO) whose precision is much finer than the size of any individual components and hence are not obviously limited by the minimum ball. Nevertheless, we deduce a fundamental limit on their accuracy of order $l_P$. Our results imply a {\it device independent} limit on possible position measurements.Comment: 8 pages, latex, to appear in the Physical Review Letter

Magnitude of the Difference Between Clinic and Ambulatory Blood Pressures and Risk of Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background Obtaining 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure ( BP ) is recommended for the detection of masked or white-coat hypertension. Our objective was to determine whether the magnitude of the difference between ambulatory and clinic BP s has prognostic implications. Methods and Results We included 610 participants of the AASK (African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension) Cohort Study who had clinic and ambulatory BPs performed in close proximity in time. We used Cox models to determine the association between the absolute systolic BP ( SBP ) difference between clinic and awake ambulatory BPs (primary predictor) and death and end-stage renal disease. Of 610 AASK Cohort Study participants, 200 (32.8%) died during a median follow-up of 9.9 years; 178 (29.2%) developed end-stage renal disease. There was a U-shaped association between the clinic and ambulatory SBP difference with risk of death, but not end-stage renal disease. A 5- to <10-mm Hg higher clinic versus awake SBP (white-coat effect) was associated with a trend toward higher (adjusted) mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 0.94-3.56) compared with a 0- to <5-mm Hg clinic-awake SBP difference (reference group). A ≥10-mm Hg clinic-awake SBP difference was associated with even higher mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.27-4.22). A ≥-5-mm Hg clinic-awake SBP difference was also associated with higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.05-3.15) compared with the reference group. Conclusions A U-shaped association exists between the magnitude of the difference between clinic and ambulatory SBP and mortality. Higher clinic versus ambulatory BPs (as in white-coat effect) may be associated with higher risk of death in black patients with chronic kidney disease

Li non-stoichiometry and crystal growth of untwinned 1D quantum spin system Lix Cu2 O2

Floating-zone growth of untwinned single crystal of Li_xCu_2O_2 with high Li content of x ~ 0.99 is reported. Li content of Li_xCu_2O_2 has been determined accurately through combined iodometric titration and thermogravimetric methods, which also ruled out the speculation of chemical disorder between Li and Cu ions. The morphology and physical properties of single crystals obtained from slowing-cooling (SL) and floating-zone (FZ) methods are compared. The floating-zone growth under Ar/O_2=7:1 gas mixture at 0.64 MPa produces large area of untwinned crystal with highest Li content, which has the lowest helimagnetic ordering temperature ~19K in the Li_xCu_2O_2 system.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A Study of Military Recruitment Strategies for Dentists: Possible Implications for Academia

Results of the annual American Dental Education Association surveys of dental school seniors show approximately 10 percent of graduates enter federal government services while less than 1 percent enter dental academia. To examine this difference, this study sought the perceptions of senior dental students and junior military dental officers regarding their choice of a military career in order to determine how military recruitment strategies influenced their career decisions. Official documents explaining military recruitment efforts were requested from the military services and summarized. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted to gather perception data from the students and dental officers on successful strategies. By employing several strategies, the military was able to inform potential recruits about the benefits of being a dentist in the military. The opportunity to have the military finance a student's dental education was a successful military recruitment tool. Other enticing factors included guaranteed employment upon graduation, prestige associated with serving in the military, access to postgraduate training, minimal practice management responsibilities, and opportunities to continue learning and improve clinical skills without significant financial implications. It was concluded that dental education can use the same strategies to highlight the benefits of an academic career and offer many similar incentives that may encourage students to consider a career path in dental education

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition ameliorates deficits in motivational drive

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Apathy is frequently observed in numerous neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. Apathy is defined as a lack of motivation characterized by diminished goal-oriented behavior and self-initiated activity. This study evaluated a chronic restraint stress (CRS) protocol in modeling apathetic behavior, and determined whether administration of an anticholinesterase had utility in attenuating CRS-induced phenotypes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We assessed behavior as well as regional neuronal activity patterns using FosB immunohistochemistry after exposure to CRS for 6 h/d for a minimum of 21 d. Based on our FosB findings and recent clinical trials, we administered an anticholinesterase to evaluate attenuation of CRS-induced phenotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CRS resulted in behaviors that reflect motivational loss and diminished emotional responsiveness. CRS-exposed mice showed differences in FosB accumulation, including changes in the cholinergic basal forebrain system. Facilitating cholinergic signaling ameliorated CRS-induced deficits in initiation and motivational drive and rescued immediate early gene activation in the medial septum and nucleus accumbens.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Some CRS protocols may be useful for studying deficits in motivation and apathetic behavior. Amelioration of CRS-induced behaviors with an anticholinesterase supports a role for the cholinergic system in remediation of deficits in motivational drive.</p