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BACKGROUND: The metabolism of sphingomyelin generates important signals regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Previous studies found that the administration of colon carcinoma carcinogen was associated with an accumulation of membrane sphingomyelin, and that dietary sphingomyelin inhibited promotion of experimental colon carcinoma in mice, indicating that the abnormal metabolism of sphingom
During screening of genes upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; endotoxin) treatment of bone marrow-derived mouse macrophages, it was unexpectedly found that cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (Ch25h) was strongly upregulated. Treatment of macrophages with 10 ng/ml of LPS for 2 h resulted in a 35-fold increase in the expression of Ch25h. In contrast, LPS treatment did not increase the expression of Cyp2
Recently it was discovered that composites of Terfenol-D alloys with an insulating binder produce very large magnetostrictions. Resistivities of these composites reach high values, making them attractive for high-frequency applications which require small eddy current losses. In this paper the magnetostriction, magnetization, and Young's moduli measurements made under constant magnetic field condi
Humans are poorly adapted for underwater vision. In air, the curved corneal surface accounts for two-thirds of the eye's refractive power, and this is lost when air is replaced by water [1]. Despite this, some tribes of sea gypsies in Southeast Asia live off the sea, and the children collect food from the sea floor without the use of visual aids [2]. This is a remarkable feat when one considers th
A model for an electric infrared (IR) heater has been developed. The model includes non-grey radiative heat transfer between the different parts of the IR heater, as well as conduction in reflector material and convective cooling of surfaces. The geometry is simplified into one dimension. Using IR module voltage, as the only input, the model predicts the temperature of heater components and coolin
The aim of treatment of von Willebrand's disease (VWD) is to correct the dual defect of haemostasis, i.e. the abnormal platelet adhesion due to reduced and/or dysfunctional von Willebrand factor (VWF) and the abnormal coagulation expressed by low levels of factor VIII (FVIII). Desmopressin (DDAVP) is the treatment of choice for type 1 VWD because it can induce release of normal VWF from cellular c
This study uses aggregate data for 23 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries over the 1960-1997 period to examine the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and deaths. The main finding is that total mortality and deaths from several common causes rise when labor markets strengthen. For instance, controlling for year effects, location fixed-effects (FE), coun
Diffusion measurements by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to investigate the host-guest association between beta-cyclodextrin (CD) and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants with different chain lengths, ranging from 6 up to 16 carbons. The scope and limitations of the method in the study of formation of inclusion complexes are discussed. The influences of the presence
The ground and excited state properties (e.g., the intramolecular charge and energy transfer, and electron-hole coherence) of the chromophore of the asFP595 chromoprotein from Anemonia sulcata in the neutral and anionic forms are theoretically studied with quantum chemistry methods. The ground-state properties of the asFP595 in the neutral and anionic forms, such as the alternations of the bond le
Studies have indicated that females are more vulnerable to the deleterious effect of tobacco smoking than males. The current study aimed to investigate the associations between tobacco smoking and reported respiratory symptoms, self-rated health, and lung function by sex. In 1995-1997 65,225 subjects aged greater than or equal to 20 yrs (71% of invited) attended for screening within the Nord-Trond
Inactivation of factor Va (FVa) by activated protein C (APC) is a key reaction in the down- regulation of thrombin formation. FVa inactivation by APC is correlated with a loss of FXa cofactor activity as a result of three proteolytic cleavages in the FVa heavy chain at Arg(306), Arg(506), and Arg(679). Recently, we have shown that heparin specifically inhibits the APC- mediated cleavage at Arg(506
A succession of 26 conodont zones and 63 successive subzones and conodont faunas have been identified in the exposed latest Landovery to latest Ludlow strata of Gotland, Sweden. All zones, and several of the subzones and faunas, have been identified elsewhere on Baltica as well as on other palaeocontinents, indicating that this zonation serves well as the standard zonation for calcareous successio
For a fundamental understanding of ultrafast dynamics in chemistry, biology and materials science it has been a long-standing dream to record a molecular movie in which both the atomic trajectories and the chemical states of every atom in matter are followed in real time(1). Free- electron lasers provide this perspective as they deliver brilliant femtosecond X-ray pulses spanning a wide photon ene
A sample of 215 suicide attempters was categorized in a cluster analysis into four groups according to temperamental trails. Monoamine metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid were analysed (n = 106). Dexamethasone suppression tests (DST) were performed (n = 154) and the activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase in platelets (pl-MAO) was assessed (n = 103). Patients belonging to the two clusters with
This study aimed to characterize the ST-recovery loop and assess which range of heart rates (HRs) best discriminates between patients with and without significant coronary artery stenosis. Bicycle exercise tests were undertaken in 44 men and IS women with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in 59 controls (26 men, 33 women) in the same age range with no signs of CAD. The ST level and the ST-segment
In this article we discuss a generalization of the Greek called vega which is used to study the stability of option prices and hedging portfolios with respect to the volatility in various models. We call this generalization the local vega index. We compute through Monte Carlo simulations this index in the cases of Asian options under the classical Black-Scholes setup. Simulation methods using Mall
