In Situ Combustion Measurements of CO(2) by Use of a Distributed-Feedback Diode-Laser Sensor Near 2.0 mum.

High-resolution absorption measurements of CO(2) were made in a heated static cell and in the combustion region above a flat-flame burner for the development of an in situ CO(2) combustion diagnostic based on a distributed-feedback diode laser operating near 2.0 mum. Calculated absorption spectra of high-temperature H(2)O and CO(2) were used to find candidate transitions for CO(2) detection, and the R(50) transition at 1.

Uptake of calcium phosphate nanoshells by osteoblasts and their effect on growth and differentiation.

The influence of calcium phosphate nanoshell materials on the uptake, viability, and mineralization of human fetal osteoblast cultures was evaluated. Proliferation rates and alkaline phosphatase activity of the cultures were unaffected by the addition of nanoshells to the growth media, but mineralization levels were enhanced by nearly 40%, in contrast to media prepared without nanoshells, or with other calcium phosphate nanomaterials. Nanoshells were internalized by macropinocytosis, and migrated toward the cell nucleus at a rate of 0.

Phenotypic and proteomic characterization of multiply antibiotic-resistant variants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium selected following exposure to disinfectants.

In previous work, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain SL1344 was exposed to sublethal concentrations of three widely used farm disinfectants in daily serial passages for 7 days in an attempt to investigate possible links between the use of disinfectants and antimicrobial resistance. Stable variants OXCR1, QACFGR2, and TOPR2 were obtained following treatment with an oxidizing compound blend, a quaternary ammonium disinfectant containing formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, and a tar acid-based disinfectant, respectively. All variants exhibited ca.

Correlates of prenatal HIV testing in women with undocumented status at delivery.

Objective: To determine factors associated with prenatal HIV testing in women who accepted rapid testing at delivery.

Methods: The mother-infant rapid intervention at delivery (MIRIAD) protocol offered counseling and voluntary HIV testing in six US cities including New York City (NYC). These hospitals are required to document the HIV status of pregnant women or their infants.

Tumor suppressor gene inactivation during cadmium-induced malignant transformation of human prostate cells correlates with overexpression of de novo DNA methyltransferase.

Background: Aberrant DNA methylation is common in carcinogenesis. The typical pattern appears to involve reduced expression of maintenance DNA methyltransferase, DNMT1, inducing genomic hypomethylation, whereas increased expression of de novo DNMT3a or 3b causes gene-specific hypermethylation.

Objectives: During cadmium-induced malignant transformation, an unusual pattern of genomic hypermethylation occurred that we studied to provide insight into the roles of specific DNMTs in oncogenesis.

Women identified with HIV at labor and delivery: testing, disclosing and linking to care challenges.

Objective: To determine if women with undocumented HIV status in late pregnancy or at labor and delivery who are rapidly tested and identified as HIV infected have high-risk behaviors and psychosocial obstacles hindering postpartum follow-up.

Methods: Consenting participants (women with undocumented HIV status and > or =24 weeks gestational age (GA) and imminent delivery or > or =34 weeks GA) in 6 cities were rapidly tested and interviewed. HIV-positive women were offered follow-up.

Commonly used farm disinfectants can select for mutant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with decreased susceptibility to biocides and antibiotics without compromising virulence.

Objectives: To determine if one passage of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the presence of farm disinfectants selected for mutants with decreased susceptibility to disinfectants and/or antibiotics.

Methods: Eight Salmonella Typhimurium strains including field isolates and laboratory mutants were exposed to either a tar oil phenol (PFD) disinfectant, an oxidizing compound disinfectant (OXC), an aldehyde based disinfectant (ABD) or a dairy sterilizer disinfectant (based on quaternary ammonium biocide) in agar. The susceptibility of mutants obtained after disinfectant exposure to antibiotics and disinfectants was determined as was the accumulation of norfloxacin.

Prolonged treatment of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with commercial disinfectants selects for multiple antibiotic resistance, increased efflux and reduced invasiveness.

Objectives: To study how disinfectants affect antimicrobial susceptibility and phenotype of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1,344.

Methods: Wild-type strain SL1,344 and its isogenic gyrA mutant were passaged daily for 7 days in subinhibitory concentrations, and separately for 16 days in gradually increasing concentrations of a quaternary ammonium disinfectant containing formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde (QACFG), an oxidizing compound blend (OXC), a phenolic tar acids-based disinfectant (TOP) and triclosan. The MICs of antimicrobials and antibiotics for populations and representative isolates and the proportion of cells resistant to the MICs for the wild-type were determined.

Rapid human immunodeficiency virus-1 testing on labor and delivery in 17 US hospitals: the MIRIAD experience.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and accuracy of rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing during labor. The Mother-Infant Rapid Intervention at Delivery (MIRIAD) study was a prospective, multicenter study that offered voluntary, rapid HIV testing to women with undocumented HIV status at 17 hospitals in 6 cities. Of 12,481 eligible women, 74% were approached for participation and 85.

Primary human immunodeficiency virus infection during pregnancy detected by repeat testing.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics of pregnant women with newly acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that was identified by repeat testing.

Study Design: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored Mother-Infant Rapid Intervention at Delivery (MIRIAD) study, which was conducted in 6 US cities, encouraged repeat HIV testing during pregnancy to identify primary infections.

Results: Fifty-four HIV-infected women were identified.

Acquisition of apoptotic resistance in cadmium-transformed human prostate epithelial cells: Bcl-2 overexpression blocks the activation of JNK signal transduction pathway.

Background: We have recently shown that cadmium can induce malignant transformation of the human prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1) and that these cadmium-transformed prostate epithelial (CTPE) cells acquire apoptotic resistance concurrently with malignant phenotype.

Objective: The present study was designed to define the mechanism of acquired apoptotic resistance in CTPE cells.

Methods: Various molecular events associated with apoptosis were assessed in control and CTPE cells that were obtained after 8 weeks of continuous cadmium exposure.

Measuring access to social capital: the validity and reliability of the Resource Generator-UK and its association with common mental disorder.

Resource generators measure an individual's access to social resources within their social network. They can facilitate the analysis of how access to these resources may assist recovery from illness. As these instruments are culture and context dependent different versions need to be validated for different populations.

Mechanisms of acquired androgen independence during arsenic-induced malignant transformation of human prostate epithelial cells.

Background: Prostate cancer progression often occurs with overexpression of growth factors and receptors, many of which engage the Ras/mitogen-activated protein MAP kinase (MAPK) pathway.

Objectives: In this study we used arsenic-transformed human prostate epithelial cells, which also show androgen-independent growth, to study the possibility that chronic activation of Ras/MAPK signaling may contribute to arsenic-induced prostate cancer progression.

Methods: Control and chronic arsenic-transformed prostate epithelial cells (CAsE-PE) were compared for Ras/MAPK signaling capacities using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses.

Body image in older men with or at-risk for HIV infection.

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of factors associated with negative body image among 550 older men with or at-risk for HIV infection, including demographics, depression, illicit drug use, and antiretroviral therapy adherence. Overall, 31 per cent of participants reported negative body image, which was independently associated with increased BMI, self-rated fair/poor health, depression, and erectile dysfunction, but not HIV status. Screening for and treating depression, sexual dysfunction, and obesity in older men should be considered.

Rural industries and water pollution in China.

Water pollution from small rural industries is a serious problem throughout China. Over half of all river sections monitored for water quality are rated as being unsafe for human contact, and this pollution is estimated to cost several per cent of GDP. While China has some of the toughest environmental protection laws in the world, the implementation of these laws in rural areas is not effective.

Estrogen signaling and disruption of androgen metabolism in acquired androgen-independence during cadmium carcinogenesis in human prostate epithelial cells.

Background: Lethal prostate cancers often become androgen-independent due to androgen receptor (AR) overexpression. The role of cadmium in prostate tumor progression was determined.

Methods: Control and cadmium-transformed prostate epithelial cells (CTPE) were compared for steroid-induced proliferation, steroid receptor expression, and androgen metabolism.

Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and the retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) are synergistic for chemoprevention of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men, develops slowly over many years. The long latent period of 20 to 30 years, involved in the multistep process of carcinogenesis, provides an important opportunity to block or reverse progression to a malignant state. Vitamin A (retinoids) and vitamin D not only have the ability to block steps in the process of carcinogenesis but they can also modulate or reverse some malignant characteristics of cancer cells.

Body image in middle-aged HIV-infected and uninfected women.

We assessed factors associated with negative body image among 225 HIV-infected and 207 uninfected women. Standardized interviews obtained sociodemographic data and elicited agreement with the statement: 'Overall I am satisfied with my body shape'. Height and weight were measured.

Local and descending circuits regulate long-term potentiation and zif268 expression in spinal neurons.

Long-term potentiation (LTP), a use dependent long-lasting modification of synaptic strength, was first discovered in the hippocampus and later shown to occur in sensory areas of the spinal cord. Here we demonstrate that spinal LTP requires the activation of a subset of superficial spinal dorsal horn neurons expressing the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1-R) that have previously been shown to mediate certain forms of hyperalgesia. These neurons participate in local spinal sensory processing, but are also the origin of a spino-bulbo-spinal loop driving a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor (5HT3-R)- mediated descending facilitation of spinal pain processing.

Ten key questions about the management of water in the Yellow River basin.

Water is scarce in many regions of the world, clean water is difficult to find in most developing countries, there are conflicts between irrigation needs and urban demands, and there is wide debate over appropriate means of resolving these problems. Similarly, in China, there is limited understanding of the ways in which people, groups, and institutions contribute to, are affected by, and respond to changes in water quantity and quality. We use the example of the Yellow River basin to argue that these social, managerial, and policy dimensions of the present water problems are significant and overshadow the physical ones.

Council tax valuation bands, socio-economic status and health outcome: a cross-sectional analysis from the Caerphilly Health and Social Needs Study.

Unlabelled: Council tax valuation bands (CTVBs) are a categorisation of household property value in Great Britain. The aim of the study was to assess the CTVB as a measure of socio-economic status by comparing the strength of the associations between selected health and lifestyle outcomes and CTVBs with two measures of socio-economic status: the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC) and the 2001 UK census-based Townsend deprivation index.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data on 12,092 respondents (adjusted response 62.

Depletion of endogenous spinal 5-HT attenuates the behavioural hypersensitivity to mechanical and cooling stimuli induced by spinal nerve ligation.

There is compelling evidence for a strong facilitatory drive modulating spinal nociceptive transmission. This is in part via serotonergic pathways and originates from the rostroventral medulla. We previously demonstrated that neuropathic pain is associated with an enhanced descending facilitatory drive onto the mechanical evoked responses of dorsal horn neurones, mediated by 5-HT acting at spinal 5-HT3 receptors.

The AcrAB-TolC efflux system of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium plays a role in pathogenesis.

The ability of an isogenic set of mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium L354 (SL1344) with defined deletions in genes encoding components of tripartite efflux pumps, including acrB, acrD, acrF and tolC, to colonize chickens was determined in competition with L354. In addition, the ability of L354 and each mutant to adhere to, and invade, human embryonic intestine cells and mouse monocyte macrophages was determined in vitro. The tolC and acrB knockout mutants were hyper-susceptible to a range of antibiotics, dyes and detergents; the tolC mutant was also more susceptible to acid pH and bile and grew more slowly than L354.