Collision and violation involvement of drivers who use cellular telephones.

The study sample consisted of 3,869 drivers, split approximately 50/50 between observed cell phone users and those observed not using cell phones (labeled "nonusers"). Cell phone use was determined by a snapshot observation made on city streets. The sample represented 54% of those originally observed, for whom a match was obtained for both vehicle license plate and for gender and estimated age group of the observed driver and that of the driver named in the vehicle policy.

[Preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles by solvent diffusion method].

Aim: To establish an efficient method for preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles with high recovery.

Methods: Monostearin solid lipid nanoparticles was prepared by solvent diffusion method in aqueous system. The recovery of the method was greatly improved by adjusting the Zeta potential.

DNA supercoiling and transcription control: a model from the study of suppression of the leu-500 mutation in Salmonella typhimurium topA- strains.

DNA supercoiling is known to modulate gene expression. The functional relationship between DNA supercoiling and transcription initiation has been established genetically and biochemically. The molecular mechanism whereby DNA supercoiling regulates gene expression remains unclear however.

Synaptic PDZ domain-mediated protein interactions are disrupted by inhalational anesthetics.

Anesthetics exert multiple effects on the central nervous system through altering synaptic transmission, but the mechanisms for this process are poorly understood. PDZ domain-mediated protein interactions play a central role in organizing signaling complexes around synaptic receptors for efficient signal transduction. We report here that clinically relevant concentrations of inhalational anesthetics dose-dependently and specifically inhibit the PDZ domain-mediated protein interaction between PSD-95 or PSD-93 and the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor or neuronal nitric-oxide synthase.

Thrombin inhibits NMDA-mediated nociceptive activity in the mouse: possible mediation by endothelin.

The CNS expresses many components of an extracellular protease signalling system, including the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) whose tethered ligand is generated by thrombin. Activation of PAR-1 potentiates NMDA receptor activity in hippocampal neurons. Because NMDA activity mediates hyperalgesia, we tested the hypothesis that PAR-1 receptors also regulate pain processing.

A dual image approach for bias field correction in magnetic resonance imaging.

In this paper, we propose a dual image approach to correcting intensity inhomogeneities for MR images acquired using surface coils. Previous methods are usually not satisfactory due to restricted application domains, considerable human interactions, or some undesirable artifacts. The proposed algorithm provides nice correction results for a variety of surface-coil MR images.

Nitrosopeptide mapping: a novel methodology reveals s-nitrosylation of dexras1 on a single cysteine residue.

S-Nitrosylation of specific cysteine residues is a reversible signaling mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) generated by NO synthase (NOS) enzymes. In some proteins, evidence has accumulated that more than one cysteine can be S-nitrosylated; however, it is difficult to distinguish S-nitrosylation on separate cysteine residues. We report a novel simple, sensitive, and specific procedure for nitrosopeptide mapping.

Cadmium affects genes involved in growth regulation during two-stage transformation of Balb/3T3 cells.

Cadmium (Cd), a carcinogenic metal in human and rodents, has been shown to transform cells in vitro. However, the carcinogenic mechanisms of Cd as a mutagen and/or promoter are not well clarified. We already reported that CdCl2 in a range of 1.

Electrostatic layer-by-layer nanoassembly on biological microtemplates: platelets.

Platelets were coated with 78-nm silica nanoparticles, 45-nm fluorescent nanospheres, or bovine immunoglobulin G (IgG) through layer-by-layer assembly by alternate adsorption with oppositely charged linear polyions. Sequential deposition on platelet surfaces of cationic poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) and anionic poly(styrene sulfonate) was followed by adsorption of nanoparticles or immunoglobulins. Nano-organized shells of platelets were demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscope images.