We have measured the W-boson mass M_{W} using data corresponding to 2.2  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity collected in pp[over ¯] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96  TeV with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Samples consisting of 470 126 W→eν candidates and 624 708 W→μν candidates yield the measurement M_{W}=80 387±12_{stat.}±15_{syst.}=80 387±19  MeV/c^{2}. This is the most precise measurement of the W-boson mass to date and significantly exceeds the precision of all previous measurements combined.

The angular distributions of muons from Υ(1S,2S,3S)→μ^{+}μ^{-} decays are measured using data from pp[over ¯] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96  TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6.7  fb^{-1} and collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. This analysis is the first to report the full angular distributions as functions of transverse momentum p_{T} for Υ mesons in both the Collins-Soper and s-channel helicity frames. This is also the first measurement of the spin alignment of Υ(3S) mesons. Within the kinematic range of Υ rapidity |y|<0.6 and p_{T} up to 40  GeV/c, the angular distributions are found to be nearly isotropic.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We recently reported a novel -62 G/A polymorphism within ataxin 8 (ATXN8) gene promoter region, with -62 G displayed significantly higher luciferase activity compared with -62 A. Phenotypic variability in spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) has been suggested and large SCA8 repeats were found in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to investigate that the association of ATXN8 -62 G/A polymorphism with the risk of Taiwanese PD and identify the trans-acting factor modulating the ATXN8 promoter activity. METHODS: A case-control study in a cohort of 569 PD cases and 547 ethnically matched controls was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme analysis. The trans-acting factor binding to the ATXN8 promoter was examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-PCR assay, cDNA co-transfection and luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: When genotype distribution was calculated by comparing the rare AA genotype to the GG + GA genotypes (recessive model), a significant difference was found (P = 0.035, 1 df). Individuals carrying AA genotype exhibited a decreased risk of developing PD (odds ratio: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.55-0.98, P = 0.035). After stratification by age, individuals over 60 years of age carrying AA genotype demonstrated a further decrease in the risk of developing PD (odds ratio: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43-0.96, P = 0.030). ChIP-PCR and cDNA over-expression revealed that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPA) binds to the ATXN8 proximal promoter to up-regulate ATXN8 expression in neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that ATXN8 -62 G/A polymorphism plays a role in Taiwanese PD susceptibility.

OBJECTIVE Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is hyperendemic in Taiwan. We have reported the outcome of (1) recipients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive; HBsAg-negative recipients who receive donor hearts from HBsAg-positive donors; and treatment with lamivudine of hepatitis B flare-ups after heart transplantation, using case numbers that range from 100 to 200. METHODS From July 1987 to May 2011, all 412 orthotopic heart transplant recipients and donors underwent routine preoperative screening for hepatitis B virus markers and liver function parameters. Lamivudine was prescribed prophylactically for recipients with elevated serum enzyme levels or an HBV DNA virus load before transplantation, or when there was evidence of hepatitis B flare-up after transplantation. Postoperative HBV markers and liver function parameters were collected over a mean follow-up time of 7.8 years. RESULTS Thirty-four recipients were HBsAg-positive before heart transplantation, and 23 experiencing HBV reactivation upon follow-up requiring lamivudine treatment. Clinical responses were achieved in all of them: 15 were complete and two, slow partial responses. Twenty-six recipients with an HBV naïve status at the time of heart transplantation, and three patients received donor hearts from an HBsAg-positive donor under perioperative hepatitis B immunoglobulin prophylaxis. HBV infection was successfully prevented in two patients, but the other one contracted HBV hepatitis, which was successfully treated with lamivudine. CONCLUSIONS HBV reactivation after the heart transplantation was common but usually well controlled with lamivudine treatment. Although posttransplantation liver function deteriorated for a period, there was no HBV infection-related morbidity or mortality. Perioperative hepatitis B immunoglobulin prophylaxis can successfully prevent HBV naïve recipients from infection in some cases, but HBsAg-positive donors should only be considered in high risk situations.

A coherent perfect absorber is essentially a specially designed Fabry-Perot interferometer, which completely extinguishes the incident coherent light. The one- and two-beam coherent perfect absorbers have been analyzed using classical electrodynamics by considering index matching in layered structures to totally suppress reflections. This approach presents a clear and physically intuitive picture for the principle of operation of a perfect absorber. The results show that the incident beam(s) must have correct phases and amplitudes, and the real and imaginary parts of the refractive indices of the media in the interferometer must satisfy a well-defined relation. Our results are in agreement with those obtained using the S-matrix analysis. However, the results were obtained solely based on the superposition of waves from multiple reflections without invoking the concept of time reversal as does the S-matrix approach. Further analysis shows that the two-beam device can be configured to function as a phase-controlled three-state switch.

Lin S-J, Lu H-K, Lee H-W, Chen Y-C, Li C-L, Wang L-F. Nitric oxide inhibits androgen receptor-mediated collagen production in human gingival fibroblasts. J Periodont Res 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2012.01484.x. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective:  In our previous study, we found that flutamide [an androgen receptor (AR) antagonist] inhibited the up-regulation of collagen induced by interleukin (IL)-1β and/or nifedipine in gingival fibroblasts. The present study attempted to verify the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the IL-1β/nifedipine-AR pathway in gingival overgrowth. Material and Methods:  Confluent gingival fibroblasts derived from healthy individuals (n = 4) and those with dihydropyridine-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO)(n = 6) were stimulated for 48 h with IL-1β (10 ng/mL), nifedipine (0.34 μm) or IL-1β + nifedipine. Gene and protein expression were analyzed with real-time RT-PCR and western blot analyses, respectively. Meanwhile, Sircol dye-binding and the Griess reagent were, respectively, used to detect the concentrations of total soluble collagen and nitrite in the medium. Results:  IL-1β and nifedipine simultaneously up-regulated the expression of the AR and type-I collagen α1 [Colα1(I)] genes and the total collagen concentration in DIGO cells (p < 0.05). IL-1β strongly increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and the nitrite concentration in both healthy and DIGO cells (p < 0.05). However, co-administration of IL-1β and nifedipine largely abrogated the expression of iNOS mRNA and the nitrite concentration with the same treatment. Spearman's correlation coefficients revealed a positive correlation between the AR and total collagen (p < 0.001), but they both showed a negative correlation with iNOS expression and the NO concentration (p < 0.001). The iNOS inhibitor, 1400W, enhanced IL-1β-induced AR expression; furthermore, the NO donor, NONOate, diminished the expression of the AR to a similar extent in gingival fibroblasts derived from both healthy patients and DIGO patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion:  IL-1β-induced NO attenuated AR-mediated collagen production in human gingival fibroblasts. The iNOS/NO system down-regulated the axis of AR/Colα1(I) mRNA expression and the production of AR/total collagen proteins by DIGO cells.

Despite the known importance of galanin in the nervous system of vertebrates, the galanin gene structure, expression and consequences of galanin deficiency in developing zebrafish are unknown. We cloned the galanin gene, analyzed its expression using in situ hybridization, PCR and immunocytochemistry throughout the early development of zebrafish until the end of the first week of life. The single zebrafish galanin gene encoded for a single amidated galanin peptide and a galanin message-associated peptide. Two forms resulting from alternative processing were identified. Galanin mRNA was maternally expressed and found in developing fish throughout the early development. In situ hybridization showed the first positive neurons in three groups in the brain at 28 hours post fertilization. At 2 days post fertilization, three prosencephalic neuron groups were seen in the preoptic area, and in rostral and caudal periventricular hypothalamus. In addition, two other groups of weakly stained neurons were visible, one in the midbrain and another one in the hindbrain. Translation inhibition of galanin mRNA with morpholino oligonucleotides caused complete disappearance of galanin immunoreactivity in the brain until 7 dpf and did not induce known cascades of non-specific pathways or morphological abnormalities. A minor disturbance of sensory ganglia was found. Galanin knockdown did not alter the expression of tyrosine hydroxylases 1 and 2, choline acetyltransferase, histidine decarboxylase, or orexin mRNA. The results suggest that galanin doesn't regulate the development of these key markers of specific neurons, although galanin-expressing fibers were in a close spatial proximity with several neurons of these neuronal populations. J. Comp. Neurol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic materials is promising for a wide range of applications, yet manipulating magnetic ordering by electric field proves elusive to obtain and difficult to control. In this paper, we explore the prospect of controlling magnetic ordering in misfit strained bismuth ferrite (BiFeO(3), BFO) films, combining theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental characterizations. Electric field induced transformation from a tetragonal phase to a distorted rhombohedral one in strain engineered BFO films has been identified by thermodynamic analysis, and realized by scanning probe microscopy (SPM) experiment. By breaking the rotational symmetry of a tip-induced electric field as suggested by phase field simulation, the morphology of distorted rhombohedral variants has been delicately controlled and regulated. Such capabilities enable nanoscale control of magnetoelectric coupling in strain engineered BFO films that is difficult to achieve otherwise, as demonstrated by phase field simulations.

Background and Aim:  Intrarectal administration of mouse cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (mCRAMP) reduced intestinal inflammation in mice. In the current study, we examined whether mCRAMP-transformed Lactococcus lactis given orally attained similar protective effects. Method:  mCRAMP was produced and secreted from the transformed L. lactis. Murine colitis was induced by ingestion of 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 days. Eight or 10 log colony forming unit (cfu) L. lactis or the transformed strains with or without nisin induction were given orally as a parallel treatment with DSS. The body weight, fecal microbiota populations, clinical symptoms and histological examinations of colonic tissues were determined. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were also evaluated to reflect the degree of inflammation. A prototype anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine was used as a reference drug to compare the efficacy and mechanisms of action for UC. Result:  Comparing with the control group with colitis, cathelicidin-transformed L. lactis could improve the clinical symptoms, maintain crypt integrity and preserve mucus content (p<0.01). The number of apoptotic cells, MPO activity and MDA level were also significantly reduced (p<0.05). The increases of fecal microbiota in colitis animals were markedly prevented (p<0.001). Unlike mCRAMP-encoding L. lactis, effective doses of sulfasalazine only alleviated the clinical symptoms (p<0.01) but not the mucosal damage in the colon. Conclusion:  mCRAMP-transformed L. lactis shown to produce mCRAMP, effectively prevented murine UC. Oral administration of this biological preparation is better than sulfasalazine for the treatment of UC. © 2012 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between resident oral care policies provided by 2 types of long-term care (LTC) institutions. The study also investigated factors affecting LTC institutional caregivers' perceptions of the residents' oral health. Overall, 103 completed questionnaires were returned. Of these, 44 were from senior citizen welfare institutions, and 59 were from nursing homes. The variables affecting these perceptions included institution type and whether the residents attended hospital dental clinics or consulted a hospital doctor regarding oral health problems. The research results showed that institution type and whether an oral care-related professional was available in an institution were correlated with an increase in institutional caregivers' perceptions of oral care.