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We hypothesized that quantitative MS/MS-based proteomics at multiple time points, incorporating rapid microwave and magnetic (M(2) ) sample preparation, could enable relative protein expression to be correlated to disease progression in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model of multiple sclerosis. To test our hypothesis, microwave-assisted reduction/alkylation/digestion of proteins from brain tissue lysates bound to C8 magnetic beads and microwave-assisted isobaric chemical labeling were performed of released peptides, in 90 s prior to unbiased proteomic analysis. Disease progression in EAE was assessed by scoring clinical EAE disease severity and confirmed by histopathologic evaluation for central nervous system inflammation. Decoding the expression of 283 top-ranked proteins (p <0.05) at each time point relative to their expression at the peak of disease, from a total of 1191 proteins observed in four technical replicates, revealed a strong statistical correlation to EAE disease score, particularly for the following four proteins that closely mirror disease progression: 14-3-3ε (p = 3.4E-6); GPI (p = 2.1E-5); PLP1 (p = 8.0E-4); PRX1 (p = 1.7E-4). These results were confirmed by Western blotting, signaling pathway analysis, and hierarchical clustering of EAE risk groups. While validation in a larger cohort is underway, we conclude that M(2) proteomics is a rapid method to quantify putative prognostic/predictive protein biomarkers and therapeutic targets of disease progression in the EAE animal model of multiple sclerosis., (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A discrete nonlinear transmission network with dispersive element is considered. It is shown that the dynamics of slowly modulated waves propagating in this network are governed by a generalized cubic‐quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation with self‐steepening and self‐frequency shift. Through the baseband modulational instability (MI) analysis, the conditions for this network to support the propagation of chirped super rogue waves (SRWs) are obtained. Based on the analytical rational solutions of the governed equation, chirped first‐ and second‐order super rogue waves are engineered in the nonlinear transmission network under consideration. The effects of the dispersive elements of the network on the chirped SRWs propagating in the network system are investigated. Particularly, it is shown that the introduction of the dispersive linear capacitance of the network enhances the baseband MI and both the derived SRWs and the corresponding frequency chirp are localized in both time and space. It is also shown that the structure of the frequency chirp depends strongly on the pulse self‐steepening and self‐frequency shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal ultrafine structure of human hair was explored with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cross sections of hair were prepared by a proprietary technique that provided a smooth surface for effective imaging in contact-mode AFM. Investigations of virgin hair revealed structural details of cortical and cuticle cells consistent with previous transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies, in addition to the identification of a boundary region surrounding macrofibrils of the cortex. The effects of bleaching and solvent extraction on the internal structure of hair were also investigated. In the cuticle cell, bleaching causes the most damage to the endocuticle and cell membrane complex, evident by erosion of these components. Similarly, bleaching results in crevices, cracks, and asperities in the cortex of hair. In addition, the cortical cell membrane complex appears compromised along with either lipid or protein structures at the outer boundaries of macrofibrils. In delipidated hair, most structural components of the fi ber appear intact with the exception of an overall swollen nature of the various morphological components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have synthesized a new type of high quality semiconductor doped glass (CdSSe embedded in a fluorine-phosphate matrix) using batch technology. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of this glass are investigated and compared with borosilicate glass doped with the same semiconductor. The optical susceptibility of glass is measured using degenerate four wave mixing technique. © 1997 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an entropy analysis to resonant and short pulses propagation in four-level atomic medium. As an example, we take D1 transition in rubidium 87Rb atoms including hyperfine structure. We show how to construct the time dependent Bloch-metric for each optical transition in the Liouville space. Furthermore, we attempt to relate local stabilization of the pulse area to the distribution of the space-entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption spectra of glasses of fluorine-phosphate matrix in the near-UV spectral region have been investigated in the temperature range from 20 to 420°C. It is shown that the absorption bands in this spectral region are exciton absorption bands of copper chloride(I) nanocrystals. Results of X-ray diffraction analysis of the glasses are presented. It is shown that the temperature dependences of the exciton absorption bands of CuCl nanocrystals, obtained upon heating and cooling samples, have a a form of hysteresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem Chlamydia trachomatis ( CT) is the leading sexually transmitted bacterial infection in humans and is associated with reproductive tract damage. However, little is known about the involvement and regulation of micro RNAs (miRs) in genital CT. Methods We analyzed miRs in the genital tract ( GT) following C. muridarum (murine strain of CT) challenge of wild type ( WT) and CD4+ T-cell deficient ( CD4−/−) C57 BL/6 mice at days 6 and 12 post-challenge. Results At day 6, miRs significantly downregulated in the lower GT were miR-125b-5p, -16, -214, -23b, -135a, -182, -183, -30c, and -30e while -146 and -451 were significantly upregulated, profiles not exhibited at day 12 post-bacterial challenge. Significant differences in miR-125b-5p (+5.06-fold change), -135a (+4.9), -183 (+7.9), and -182 (+3.2) were observed in C. muridarum-infected CD4−/− compared to WT mice. In silico prediction and mass spectrometry revealed regulation of miR-135a and -182 and associated proteins, that is, heat-shock protein B1 and alpha-2 HS-glycoprotein. Conclusion This study provides evidence on regulation of miRs following genital chlamydial infection suggesting a role in pathogenesis and host immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental differential cross sections for the optical collision process Na(3 s)S + Xe + hν → Na(3 p)P + Xe are presented. By comparison with the results of accurate quantum calculations, the observed oscillatory structure is used to investigate the XΣ and BΣ potential curves of the NaXe van der Waals molecule. The repulsive branches of both curves are probed in addition to the binding minimum of the ground state. A value of 92 cm is obtained for the dissociation energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of a diode laser frequency stabilization system using the Zeeman effect is described. Various regimes of operation are analyzed using the Jones matrix approach. The system is different from the original Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics design in that the magnetic fields are fully contained and thus it can be used in proximity of magnetically sensitive instruments. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]