2,061 research outputs found

    The magnitude distribution of earthquakes near Southern California faults

    Get PDF
    We investigate seismicity near faults in the Southern California Earthquake Center Community Fault Model. We search for anomalously large events that might be signs of a characteristic earthquake distribution. We find that seismicity near major fault zones in Southern California is well modeled by a Gutenberg-Richter distribution, with no evidence of characteristic earthquakes within the resolution limits of the modern instrumental catalog. However, the b value of the locally observed magnitude distribution is found to depend on distance to the nearest mapped fault segment, which suggests that earthquakes nucleating near major faults are likely to have larger magnitudes relative to earthquakes nucleating far from major faults

    Zinc supplementation alters airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness to a common allergen

    Get PDF
    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Zinc supplementation can modulate immunity through inhibition of NF-ÎșB, a transcription factor that controls many immune response genes. Thus, we sought to examine the mechanism by which zinc supplementation tempers the response to a common allergen and determine its effect on allergic airway inflammation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were injected with zinc gluconate prior to German cockroach (GC) feces (frass) exposure and airway inflammation was assessed. Primary bone marrow-derived neutrophils and DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells were used to assess the role of zinc gluconate on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α expression. NF-ÎșB:DNA binding and IKK activity were assessed by EMSA and <it>in vitro </it>kinase assay. Protein levels of A20, RIP1 and TRAF6 were assessed by Western blot analysis. Establishment of allergic airway inflammation with GC frass was followed by administration of zinc gluconate. Airway hyperresponsiveness, serum IgE levels, eosinophilia and Th2 cytokine production were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Administration of zinc gluconate prior to allergen exposure resulted in significantly decreased neutrophil infiltration and TNFα cytokine release into the airways. This correlated with decreased NF-ÎșB activity in the whole lung. Treatment with zinc gluconate significantly decreased GC frass-mediated TNFα production from bone-marrow derived neutrophils and HL-60 cells. We confirmed zinc-mediated decreases in NF-ÎșB:DNA binding and IKK activity in HL-60 cells. A20, a natural inhibitor of NF-ÎșB and a zinc-fingered protein, is a potential target of zinc. Zinc treatment did not alter A20 levels in the short term, but resulted in the degradation of RIP1, an important upstream activator of IKK. TRAF6 protein levels were unaffected. To determine the application for zinc as a therapeutic for asthma, we administered zinc following the establishment of allergic airway inflammation in a murine model. Zinc supplementation decreased airway hyperresponsiveness and serum IgE levels, but had no effect on Th2 cytokine expression.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This report suggests that the mechanism by which zinc supplementation alters NF-ÎșB activity is via the alteration of A20 activity. In addition, this study provides evidence that supplementation of zinc to asthmatics may alter airway reactivity and serum IgE levels, suggesting zinc supplementation as a potential treatment for asthmatics.</p

    Preventing violence-related injuries in England and Wales: A panel study examining the impact of on-trade and off-trade alcohol prices

    Get PDF
    Objective To examine the influence of real on-trade and off-trade alcohol prices and socioeconomic and environmental factors on rates of violence-related emergency department (ED) attendances in England and Wales over an 8-year period. Methods Anonymised injury data which included attendance date, age and gender of patients aged over 18 years who reported injury in violence were collected from a structured sample of 100 EDs across England and Wales between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2012. Alcohol prices and socioeconomic measures were obtained from the UK Office for National Statistics. Panel techniques were used to derive a statistical model. Results Real on-trade (ÎČ=−0.661, p<0.01) and off-trade (ÎČ=−0.277, p<0.05) alcohol prices were negatively related with rates of violence-related ED attendance among the adult population of England and Wales, after accounting for the effects of regional poverty, income inequality, youth spending power and seasonal effects. It is estimated that over 6000 fewer violence-related ED attendances per year in England and Wales would result from a 1% increase in both on-trade and off-trade alcohol prices above inflation. Of the variables studied, changes in regional poverty and income inequality had the greatest effect on violence-related ED attendances in England and Wales. Conclusions Small increases in the price of alcohol, above inflation, in both markets, would substantially reduce the number of patients attending EDs for treatment of violence-related injuries in England and Wales. Reforming the current alcohol taxation system may be more effective at reducing violence-related injury than minimum unit pricing

    Reversal of Induced Dormancy in Lettuce by Ethylene, Kinetin, and Gibberellic Acid

    Full text link

    On the missing 2175 Angstroem-bump in the Calzetti extinction curve

    Full text link
    The aim of the paper is to give a physical explanation of the absence of the feature in the Calzetti extinction curve. We analyze the dust attenuation of a homogeneous source seen through a distant inhomogeneous distant screen. The inhomogeneities are described through an idealized isothermal turbulent medium where the probability distribution function (PDF) of the column density is log-normal. In addition it is assumed that below a certain critical column density the carriers of the extinction bump at 2175 Angstroem are being destroyed by the ambient UV radiation field. Turbulence is found to be a natural explanation not only of the flatter curvature of the Calzetti extinction curve but also of the missing bump provided the critical column density is N_H >= 10^21 cm^-2. The density contrast needed to explain both characteristics is well consistent with the Mach number of the cold neutral medium of our own Galaxy which suggests a density contrast sigma_(rho/) 6.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures accepted for publication in A&A, section

    A Community Narration Assessment of Master's Level Psychology Students at Antioch University Los Angeles

    Get PDF
    Applied Community Psychology (ACP) is a specialty field of study in the Master’s of Arts in Clinical Psychology (MAP) at Antioch University Los Angeles (AULA).&nbsp; Students participate in classes and workshops that present theory along with opportunities for real life application.&nbsp; In the Spring 2019 quarter, eight students were enrolled in a Community Narration (CN) approach workshop to learn the theory and practice of facilitating the CN.&nbsp; The students used CN to discover commonalities and differences in their experiences as students of AULA.&nbsp; They created a community narrative which expressed the culture of students at AULA.&nbsp; In addition, the students learned how to conduct CN in the community with application in program evaluation and consultation.&nbsp; A discussion of the results of the community narrative that emerged is described, and implications for faculty and administrators are presented

    A Community Narration Assessment of Master's Level Psychology Students at Antioch University Los Angeles

    Get PDF
    Applied Community Psychology (ACP) is a specialty field of study in the Master’s of Arts in Clinical Psychology (MAP) at Antioch University Los Angeles (AULA).&nbsp; Students participate in classes and workshops that present theory along with opportunities for real life application.&nbsp; In the Spring 2019 quarter, eight students were enrolled in a Community Narration (CN) approach workshop to learn the theory and practice of facilitating the CN.&nbsp; The students used CN to discover commonalities and differences in their experiences as students of AULA.&nbsp; They created a community narrative which expressed the culture of students at AULA.&nbsp; In addition, the students learned how to conduct CN in the community with application in program evaluation and consultation.&nbsp; A discussion of the results of the community narrative that emerged is described, and implications for faculty and administrators are presented

    Prospectus, April 22, 2004

    Get PDF
    https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2004/1011/thumbnail.jp

    Detection of an X-ray periodicity in the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 Galaxy Mrk 766 with XMM-Newton

    Get PDF
    We have analyzed the timing properties of the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 766 observed with XMM-Newton during the PV phase. The source intensity changes by a factor of 1.3 over the 29,000 second observation. If the soft excess is modeled by a black body component, as indicated by the EPIC pn data, the luminosity of the black body component scales with its temperature according to L ~ T^4. This requires a lower limit 'black body size` of about 1.3*10^25 cm^2. In addition, we report the detection of a strong periodic signal with 2.4*10^-4 Hz. Simulations of light curves with the observed time sequence and phase randomized for a red noise spectrum clearly indicate that the periodicity peak is intrinsic to the distant AGN. Furthermore, its existence is confirmed by the EPIC MOS and RGS data. The spectral fitting results show that the black body temperature and the absorption by neutral hydrogen remain constant during the periodic oscillations. This observational fact tends to rule out models in which the intensity changes are due to hot spots orbiting the central black hole. Precession according to the Bardeen-Petterson effect or instabilities in the inner accretion disk may provide explanations for the periodic signal.Comment: 6 pages, 8 Figures, accepted for publication in the special A&A Letters issue for XMM-Newton; corrections in Section 2.2 require
    • 

    corecore