Association of alcohol consumption and sleep disordered breathing in men and women.

Study Objectives: Experimental evidence indicates that alcohol use near bedtime may exacerbate sleep disordered breathing (SDB). However, scarce research has examined the relation between moderate habitual alcohol use and objectively assessed SDB, and it is unclear whether patients with SDB, or those at risk for SDB, should be counseled to avoid alcohol regardless of proximity to bedtime. In this population-based epidemiology study, our objective is to measure the association of SDB with usual alcohol consumption habits.

Design, microfabrication, and analysis of micrometer-sized cylindrical ion trap arrays.

A description of the design and microfabrication of arrays of micrometer-scale cylindrical ion traps is offered. Electrical characterization and initial ion trapping experiments with a massively parallel array of 5 microm internal radius (r(0)) sized cylindrical ion traps (CITs) are also described. The ion trap, materials, and design are presented and shown to be critical in achieving minimal trapping potential while maintaining minimal power consumption.

Chewing cycle kinematics of subjects with deepbite malocclusion.

Introduction: The notion that chewing cycle shape and cycle dynamics differ between subjects with and without malocclusion is largely based on qualitative studies that combined various types of malocclusion. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine whether chewing cycle kinematics of untreated young adults with deepbite malocclusion differ from those with normal occlusion.

Methods: Twenty-three deepbite subjects (>50% overbite) and 24 controls with normal occlusion chewed gum (right side only) while their jaw movements were recorded at 100 Hz by using an optoelectric jaw tracking system.

Calculated cancer risks for conventional and "potentially reduced exposure product" cigarettes.

Toxicant deliveries (by machine smoking) are compiled and associated cancer risks are calculated for 13 carcinogens from 26 brands of conventional cigarettes categorized as "regular" (R), "light" (Lt), or "ultralight" (ULt), and for a reference cigarette. Eight "potentially reduced exposure product" (PREP) cigarettes are also considered. Because agency-to-agency differences exist in the cancer slope factor (CSF) values adopted for some carcinogens, two CSF sets were used in the calculations: set I [U.

Completely autotrophic nitrogen-removal over nitrite in lab-scale constructed wetlands: evidence from a mass balance study.

A mass-balance study was carried out to investigate the transformation of nitrogenous pollutants in vertical flow wetlands. Landfill leachate containing low BOD, but a high concentration of ammonia, was treated in four wetland columns under predominately aerobic conditions. Influent total nitrogen in the leachate consisted mainly of ammonia with less than 1% nitrate and nitrite, and negligible organic nitrogen.

An Internet-based investigation of the catastrophic misinterpretation model of panic disorder.

The catastrophic misinterpretation (CM) model of panic disorder proposes that spontaneous panic attacks are the result of interpretation of harmless autonomic arousal as precursors to physical (e.g., heart attack) or psychological (e.

Halo ion trap mass spectrometer.

We describe a novel radio frequency ion trap mass analyzer based on toroidal trapping geometry and microfabrication technology. The device, called the halo ion trap, consists of two parallel ceramic plates, the facing surfaces of which are imprinted with sets of concentric ring electrodes. Radii of the imprinted rings range from 5 to 12 mm, and the spacing between the plates is 4 mm.

Jun N-terminal protein kinase enhances middle ear mucosal proliferation during bacterial otitis media.

Mucosal hyperplasia is a characteristic component of otitis media. The present study investigated the participation of signaling via the Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase in middle ear mucosal hyperplasia in animal models of bacterial otitis media. Otitis media was induced by the inoculation of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae into the middle ear cavity.

Novel compounds with antiproliferative activity against imatinib-resistant cell lines.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is caused by the Bcr-Abl hybrid gene that encodes the p210Bcr-Abl chimeric oncoprotein. Although it reduces the total body burden of leukemia cells, the use of imatinib mesylate as a single agent may be accompanied by the evolution of resistance due mainly to the acquisition of point mutations. Imatinib has been combined with drugs that inhibit both the active and the inactive states of the p210Bcr-Abl kinase.

Linking movement, diving, and habitat to foraging success in a large marine predator.

Establishing where and when predators forage is essential to understanding trophic interactions, yet foraging behavior remains poorly understood in large marine carnivores. We investigated the factors leading to foraging success in gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Northwest Atlantic in the first study to use simultaneous deployments of satellite transmitters, time depth recorders, and stomach-temperature loggers on a free-ranging marine mammal. Thirty-two seals were each fitted with the three types of instrumentation; however, complete records from all three instruments were obtained from only 13 individuals, underscoring the difficulty of such a multi-instrument approach.

Narrowband supercontinuum control using phase shaping.

We study theoretically, numerically and experimentally the effect of self-phase modulation of ultrashort pulses with spectrally narrow phase features. We show that spectral enhancement and depletion is caused by changing the relative phase between the initial field and the nonlinearly generated components. Our theoretical results explain observations of supercontinuum enhancement by fiber Bragg gratings, and predict similar enhancements for spectrally shaped pulses in uniform fiber.

Informed consent and subject motivation to participate in a large, population-based genomics study: the Marshfield Clinic Personalized Medicine Research Project.

Background: The objective of this study was to measure subject perspective and reaction to participation in the Personalized Medicine Research Project (PMRP) and to identify factors predicting understanding of the study elements.

Method: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 1,593 subjects (10% sample). The questionnaire had three sections: section A consisted of 21 factual questions; section B consisted of 14 questions to assess the level of understanding about the PMRP concepts, and section C asked about the purpose of the PMRP.

EBP, a program for protein identification using multiple tandem mass spectrometry datasets.

MS/MS combined with database search methods can identify the proteins present in complex mixtures. High throughput methods that infer probable peptide sequences from enzymatically digested protein samples create a challenge in how best to aggregate the evidence for candidate proteins. Typically the results of multiple technical and/or biological replicate experiments must be combined to maximize sensitivity.

Dispersive wave blue-shift in supercontinuum generation.

We numerically study dispersive wave emission during femtosecond-pumped supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fibres. We show that dispersive waves are primarily generated over a short region of high temporal compression. Despite the apparent complexity of the pump pulse in this region, we show that the dynamics of dispersive wave generation are dominated by a single fundamental soliton.

Paclitaxel induces calcium oscillations via an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and neuronal calcium sensor 1-dependent mechanism.

Taxol (Paclitaxel) is an important natural product for the treatment of solid tumors. Despite a well documented tubulin-stabilizing effect, many side effects of taxol therapy cannot be explained by cytoskeletal mechanisms. In the present study submicromolar concentrations of taxol, mimicking concentrations found in patients, induced cytosolic calcium (Ca(2+)) oscillations in a human neuronal cell line.

Comparison of microshear bond strengths of four self-etching bonding systems to enamel using two test methods.

Background: Recent advances in enamel and dentine adhesive technology have resulted in the emergence of many new adhesive systems. Self-etching bonding systems do not require a separate etching step and the newest systems are the "all-in-one" systems which combine etching, priming and bonding into a single application. This study reports laboratory enamel microshear bond strengths of a self-etching priming and three all-in-one systems and also evaluates two different microshear bond test methods.

A mid year comparison study of career satisfaction and emotional states between residents and faculty at one academic medical center.

Background: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) new requirements raise multiple challenges for academic medical centers. We sought to evaluate career satisfaction, emotional states, positive and negative experiences, work hours and sleep among residents and faculty simultaneously in one academic medical center after implementation of the ACGME duty hour requirements.

Methods: Residents and faculty (1330) in the academic health center were asked to participate in a confidential survey; 72% of the residents and 66% of the faculty completed the survey.

Frequency domain analysis of noise in simple gene circuits.

Recent advances in single cell methods have spurred progress in quantifying and analyzing stochastic fluctuations, or noise, in genetic networks. Many of these studies have focused on identifying the sources of noise and quantifying its magnitude, and at the same time, paying less attention to the frequency content of the noise. We have developed a frequency domain approach to extract the information contained in the frequency content of the noise.

Do GPs use electronic mental health resources? - a qualitative study.

Background: The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOMHC) initiative encourages general practitioners to use electronic mental health resources (EMHRs) during consultation with patients requiring psychological assistance. However, there is little data on GPs' acceptance and use of EMHRs.

Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 27 GPs to determine their attitude toward EMHRs, and their use during consultation with patients.

Stomach temperature telemetry reveals temporal patterns of foraging success in a free-ranging marine mammal.

1. We studied feeding frequency in free-ranging grey seals using stomach temperature telemetry to test if previously reported sex differences in the diving, movement and diet were reflected in the temporal pattern of foraging success. 2.

Ethics and opportunity costs: have NICE grasped the ethics of priority setting?

The consultation document reveals NICE's failure to understand its role in healthcare prioritisation