1,234 research outputs found

    Cultural factors that affected the spatial and temporal epidemiology of kuru

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    Kuru is a prion disease which became epidemic among the Fore and surrounding linguistic groups in Papua New Guinea, peaking in the late 1950s. It was transmitted during the transumption (endocannibalism) of dead family members at mortuary feasts. In this study, we aimed to explain the historical spread and the changing epidemiological patterns of kuru by analysing factors that affected its transmission. We also examined what cultural group principally determined a family’s behaviour during mortuary rituals. Our investigations showed that differences in mortuary practices were responsible for the initial pattern of the spread of kuru and the ultimate shape of the epidemic, and for subsequent spatio-temporal differences in the epidemiology of kuru. Before transumption stopped altogether, the South Fore continued to eat the bodies of those who had died of kuru, whereas other linguistic groups, sooner or later, stopped doing so. The linguistic group was the primary cultural group that determined behaviour but at linguistic boundaries the neighbouring group’s cultural practices were often adopted. The epidemiological changes were not explained by genetic differences, but genetic studies led to an understanding of genetic susceptibility to kuru and the selection pressure imposed by kuru, and provided new insights into human history and evolution

    On the determination of characteristics of the interior ocean dynamics from radar signatures of oceanic internal solitary waves

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    In this paper we discuss two different methods of inferring characteristics of the interior ocean dynamics from radar signatures of internal solitary waves visible on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The first one consists in the recognition and the interpretation of sea surface patterns of internal solitary waves; the second one consists in the analysis of the modulation depth of the normalized radar backscattering cross section (NRCS) associated with internal solitary waves. For this purpose we consider a data set composed of SAR and in situ measurements carried out from 1991 to 1997 in the region of the Strait of Messina. The recognition and the interpretation of sea surface patterns of internal solitary waves in the Strait of Messina can be used to study characteristics of the density distribution in the area: The internal wave field varies with seasonal variations in the vertical density stratification and with remotely induced variations, i.e., variations induced by the larger-scale circulation, in the horizontal density distribution. In order to inquire into the possibility of inferring parameters of the interior ocean dynamics by analyzing the modulation of the NRCS associated with internal solitary waves, several numerical simulations are carried out using a radar imaging model. These simulations are performed by assuming different wind conditions and internal wave parameters. It is shown that an accurate knowledge of wind conditions is crucial for deriving internal wave parameters and hence parameters of the interior ocean dynamics from the modulation of measured NRCS associated with internal solitary waves

    Visible Light Mediated Aryl Migration by Homolytic C−N Cleavage of Aryl Amines

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    The photocatalytic preparation of aminoalkylated heteroarenes from haloalkylamides via a 1,4‐aryl migration from nitrogen to carbon, conceptually analogous to a radical Smiles rearrangement, is reported. This method enables the substitution of amino groups in heteroaromatic compounds with aminoalkyl motifs under mild, iridium(III)‐mediated photoredox conditions. It provides rapid access to thienoazepinone, a pharmacophore present in multiple drug candidates for potential treatment of different conditions, including inflammation and psychotic disorders.Aminoalkylated heteroarenes are synthesized by a radical Smiles rearrangement of haloalkylamides through a key C−N cleavage under mild, iridium(III)‐mediated photoredox conditions. The method provides rapid access to the pharmaceutically relevant thienoazepinone scaffold.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146419/1/anie201806659_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146419/2/anie201806659.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146419/3/anie201806659-sup-0001-misc_information.pd

    Theory of synthetic aperture radar ocean imaging: A MARSEN view

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    This paper reviews basic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) theory of ocean wave imaging mechanisms, using both known work and recent experimental and theoretical results from the Marine Remote Sensing (MARSEN) Experiment. Several viewpoints that have contributed to the field are drawn together in a general analysis of the backscatter statistics of a moving sea surface. A common focus for different scattering models is provided by the mean image impulse response function, which is shown to be identical to the (spatially varying) frequency variance spectrum of the local complex reflectivity coefficient. From the analysis has emerged a more complete view of the SAR imaging phenomenon than has been previously available. A new, generalized imaging model is proposed

    Nurses\u27 Alumnae Association Bulletin - Volume 17 Number 1

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    Alumnae Notes Committee Reports Digest of Alumnae Association Meetings Greetings from Miss Childs Greetings from the Educational Director Greetings from the President Graduation Awards - 1951 Jefferson\u27s New Hospital Addition Marriages Necrology Neurosurgery Department New Arrivals New Drugs Notes on the Cause of Leukemia Nursing Staff Saul Among the Prophets Staff Activities, 1951-1952 Students\u27 Corner The Hospital Pharmacy The Student Nurse Association of Pennsylvania White Haven and Barton Memorial Division

    Microbial sulfate reduction and metal attenuation in pH 4 acid mine water

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    Sediments recovered from the flooded mine workings of the Penn Mine, a Cu-Zn mine abandoned since the early 1960s, were cultured for anaerobic bacteria over a range of pH (4.0 to 7.5). The molecular biology of sediments and cultures was studied to determine whether sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were active in moderately acidic conditions present in the underground mine workings. Here we document multiple, independent analyses and show evidence that sulfate reduction and associated metal attenuation are occurring in the pH-4 mine environment. Waterchemistry analyses of the mine water reveal: (1) preferential complexation and precipitation by H2S of Cu and Cd, relative to Zn; (2) stable isotope ratios of 34S/32S and 18O/16O in dissolved SO4 that are 2–3 ‰ heavier in the mine water, relative to those in surface waters; (3) reduction/oxidation conditions and dissolved gas concentrations consistent with conditions to support anaerobic processes such as sulfate reduction. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses of sediment show 1.5-micrometer, spherical ZnS precipitates. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of Penn Mine sediment show a high biomass level with a moderately diverse community structure composed primarily of iron- and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Cultures of sediment from the mine produced dissolved sulfide at pH values near 7 and near 4, forming precipitates of either iron sulfide or elemental sulfur. DGGE coupled with sequence and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA gene segments showed populations of Desulfosporosinus and Desulfitobacterium in Penn Mine sediment and laboratory cultures

    Nurses\u27 Alumnae Association Bulletin - Volume 7 Number 11

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    Anna M. Shafer Barton Memorial Division Births Changes in the Ophthalmology Division Change of Address Clara Melville Fund Continental Tour Deceased Digest of Meetings Inter-County Hospitalization Plan Katherine Childs\u27 Letter Lost Members Marriages Miscellaneous Nursing Home Committee\u27s Report Physical Advantages President James L. Kauffman\u27s Letter President\u27s Greeting Private Duty Section Prizes Relief Fund School Nursing Silhouette of a Public Health Nurse Rooming-in of Infant with Mother Staff Activities The Student White Haven Divisio

    Levels of anti-pneumococcal antibodies in young children in Papua New Guinea

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    Anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody (anti-PPS) levels were measured in 153 serum samples collected from children aged between 2 and 47 months living in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Fifty-seven of the samples were collected during acute episodes of lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI). Total IgA and IgG increased steadily with age; however, no association was found between the levels of these antibodies and the health status of the child. Total IgM levels showed little relationship to the age of the child but under 12 months of age levels were somewhat higher on average in children with pneumonia. For most of eight pneumococcal serotypes tested, specific IgG levels were found to decline rapidly in the first 6-8 months, reaching a minimum at approximately 12 months of age. Serotype 3 was exceptional in having very low titres in the youngest children. A separate analysis of 24 cord sera suggested that antibodies to this serotype do not usually cross the placenta in PNG. Children with pneumonia tended to have lower levels of specific IgG than healthy controls of the same age. Specific anti-PPS IgA levels were found to increase steadily with age, but were not associated with health statu

    Arylmigration durch sichtbares Licht unter homolytischer C‐N‐Spaltung in Arylaminen

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    Die photokatalytische Synthese von aminoalkylierten Heteroaromaten aus Halogenalkylamiden gelingt durch die einer Smiles‐Umlagerung konzeptionell analogen 1,4‐Arylmigration von Stickstoff zu Kohlenstoff. Mit dieser neuartigen Methode kann die Substitution von Aminogruppen in Heteroaromaten durch Aminoalkylmotive unter milden, Iridium(III)‐vermittelten Photoredox‐Bedingungen realisiert werden. Sie bietet einen schnellen Zugang zum Thienoazepinon‐Bicyclus, einem Pharmakophor, der in unterschiedlichen Verbindungen mit potentiellen Anwendungen bei der Behandlung von bestimmten EntzĂŒndungen und psychischen Krankheiten vorkommt.Aminoalkylierte Heteroarene werden durch Smiles‐Umlagerung von Halogenalkylamiden ĂŒber eine C‐N‐Spaltung unter milden, Iridium(III)‐vermittelten Photoredox‐Bedingungen synthetisiert. Das Verfahren bietet einen schnellen Zugang zu dem pharmazeutisch relevanten Thienoazepinon‐GrundgerĂŒst.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146369/1/ange201806659.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146369/2/ange201806659_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146369/3/ange201806659-sup-0001-misc_information.pd
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