State University of New York System

About: State University of New York System is a education organization based out in Albany, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 54077 authors who have published 78070 publications receiving 2985160 citations.

The suppressive effect of dietary restriction and weight loss in the obese on the generation of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation.

Abstract: Increased reactive oxygen species generation by the leukocytes of the obese may be responsible for increased oxidative injury to lipids and proteins and, hence, atherosclerosis. We have investigated whether reactive oxygen species generation by leukocytes and other indexes of oxidative damage in the body fall with short-term dietary restriction and weight loss. Nine nondiabetic obese subjects (body mass index, 32.5-64.4 kg/m(2)), not taking any antioxidants, were put on a 1000-Cal diet. Fasting blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks and at 12 weeks after the cessation of dietary restriction. Blood samples were also obtained at 1 and 2 h after administration of 75 g oral glucose at 0 and 4 weeks. Mononuclear cells (MNC) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were isolated, and reactive oxygen species generation was measured. Plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS), 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE), carbonylated proteins, o-tyrosine, and m-tyrosine as indexes of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and amino acids, respectively, were measured. Antioxidant vitamins were measured as indexes of antioxidant reserves. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were also measured. Mean weight loss was 2.4 +/- 0.6 kg at week 1, 2.5 +/- 1.7 kg at week 2, 3.9 +/- 0.8 kg at week 3, and 4.5 +/- 2.8 kg at week 4 (P < 0.05). Reactive oxygen species generation by PMN fell from 236.4 +/- 95.8 to 150.9 +/- 69.0, 125.9 +/- 24.3, 96.0 +/- 39.9, and 103.1 +/- 35.7 mV at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (P < 0.001). It increased 3 months after the cessation of dietary restriction to 270.0 +/- 274.3 mV. Reactive oxygen species generation by MNC fell from 187.8 +/- 75.0 to 101.7 +/- 64.5, 86.9 +/- 42.8, 63.8 +/- 14.3, and 75.1 +/- 32.2 mV and increased thereafter to 302.0 +/- 175.5 mV at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 16 weeks, respectively (P < 0.005). Reactive oxygen species generation by PMN and MNC increased in response to glucose; the relative increase was greater at 4 weeks than that at week 0 due to a fall in the basal levels of reactive oxygen species generation. Consistent with the fall in reactive oxygen species generation, there was a reduction in plasma TBARS from 1.68 +/- 0.17 micromol/L at week 0 to 1.47 micromol/L at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). The 13-HODE to linoleic acid ratio fell from a baseline of 100% to 56.4 +/- 36.1% at 4 weeks (P < 0.05), and the 9-HODE to linoleic acid ratio fell from a baseline of 100% to 60.5 +/- 37.7% at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Carbonylated proteins fell from 1.39 +/- 0.27 microgram/mg protein at week 0 to 1.17 +/- 0.12 microgram/mg protein at week 4 (P < 0.05); o-tyrosine fell from 0.42 +/- 0.03 mmol/mol phenylalanine at week 0 to 0.36 +/- 0.02 mmol/mol phenylalanine at 4 weeks (P < 0.005), and m-tyrosine fell from 0.45 +/- 0.04 mmol/mol phenylalanine at week 0 to 0.40 +/- 0.03 mmol/mol phenylalanine at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). The basal concentrations of TBARS, 9-HODE, 13-HODE, carbonylated proteins, o-tyrosine, and m-tyrosine in the obese were significantly greater than those in normal subjects. On the other hand, tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations did not change during this 4-week period, nor was there any change in antioxidant vitamins. This is the first demonstration of 1) an increase in reactive oxygen species-induced damage in lipids, proteins, and amino acids in the obese compared with normal subjects; and 2) a decrease in reactive oxygen species generation by leukocytes and oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and amino acids after dietary restriction and weight loss in the obese over a short period.

The design and implementation of SnB version 2.0

Abstract: SnB is a direct-methods program based on the Shake-and-Bake methodology. It has been used to solve difficult or large structures that could not be solved by traditional reciprocal-space routines based on the tangent formula. Recently, it has also been used to determine the Se sites in large selenomethionyl-substituted proteins. SnB version 1.5 has been available for several years and is being used regularly in many laboratories. In this paper, we introduce SnB version 2.0, which incorporates a graphical user interface written in Java, a dynamic histogram display, and an interactive Java/VRML-based visualization facility. In addition, it provides the user with several utility routines and a variety of new algorithmic options.

Polymeric fullerene chains in RbC60 and KC60

Abstract: NEARLY all of the molecular crystals containing C60, formed at ambient pressure1,2 have inter-fullerene separations of the order of 10 A — the expected distance based on the molecular van der Waals radii. The sole exceptions are the room-temperature phases of AC60 (where A denotes K, Rb or Cs), which are formed by reversible solid-state transformation from high-temperature (>150 °C) phases3. These phases have lattice parameters about 9% shorter in one direction, and in addition RbC60 has magnetic properties suggestive of a one-dimensional metal4. We suggested in ref. 4 that this short distance may be due to covalent bonding between neighbouring C60 molecules. Here we provide direct evidence for such bonding from powder X-ray diffraction studies of RbC60 and KC60 . The linkage is through a [2+2] cycloaddition, which has been hypothesized to take place during photopolymerization of solid C60 (ref. 5), and which has also been proposed6 for RbC60. Such inter-fullerene linkages are calculated7,8 to be the preferred mode of dimerization of C60. The AC60 phases thus provide an example of a thermal phase transition driven by the reversible formation and breaking of covalent bonds.

Effects of Parental Monitoring and Peer Deviance on Substance Use and Delinquency

Abstract: From socialization theory, it was hypothesized that parental support and monitoring as well as peer deviance would influence individual trajectories of alcohol misuse, other substance use, and delinquency. Six waves of data were analyzed using interviews with 506 adolescents in a general population sample. Results from multilevel modeling showed that monitoring significantly predicted adolescents' initial levels (intercepts) of alcohol misuse and delinquency. Parental monitoring strongly predicted the rates of increase (slope) in all 3 problem behaviors. Peer deviance significantly predicted initial levels of all problem behaviors and the rates of increase in them. This study provides evidence that both effective parenting and avoidance of associations with delinquent peers are important factors in preventing adolescent problem behaviors. Key Words: adolescence, alcohol misuse, delinquency, parental monitoring, peer deviance, substance use. Alcohol misuse, illicit substance use, and delinquency increase during adolescence. Furthermore, these behaviors have been shown to co-occur constituting what has been called a syndrome of problem behaviors (Donovan & lessor, 1985; lessor, Donovan, & Costa, 1991). Although many adolescents with problem behaviors phase out of this pattern of behavior as they acquire stable roles in young adulthood (Bachman et al., 2002; Moffitt, 1993), many young people with an early pattern of drinking, other substance use, or antisocial behavior set a course for persistent problems later in adulthood (Grant & Dawson, 1997; Moffitt). Thus, developing a better understanding of which factors have the potential to change the upward trajectory of problem behaviors in adolescence is critically important for prevention and social policy. Comprehensive reviews document the numerous risk and protective factors associated adolescent alcohol use (e.g., Windle, 1999), substance use (e.g., Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992), and delinquency (e.g., Hawkins, 1996). From the large body of research on adolescent problem behaviors, parental and peer influences are among the most widely cited predictive factors. Our theoretical model depicts the central importance of the parental and peer socialization process in the development of adolescent alcohol misuse and related problem behaviors after taking into account key sociodemograhic factors, such as gender, age, and race, and individual factors, such as adolescent temperament and family history of alcohol abuse (see elaboration of the model in Barnes, 1990; Barnes & Farrell, 1992). Family Socialization Factors On the basis of classical family theory and decades of empirical research (e.g., Barnes & Farrell, 1992; Farrell & Barnes, 2000; Rollins & Thomas, 1979), two key constructs, parental support and control, have been found to be critically important in the family socialization/parenting process. Parental support is denned as parental behaviors toward the child, such as praising, encouraging, giving affection, which convey to the child that she or he is valued and loved. Conceptually related terms include nurturance, affection, cohesion, acceptance, and open communication. The parental control dimension includes parental behaviors toward the child that are intended to direct the child's behavior in a manner acceptable to the parent. Positive control attempts include the related concepts of discipline, supervision, and monitoring of adolescent behavior (Barnes & Farrell; Farrell & Barnes, 2000; Rollins & Thomas). Parental support and control are viewed as common factors that influence multiple, co-occurring adolescent behaviors: alcohol misuse, other substance use, and delinquent behaviors (Barnes & Farrell). Using a three-wave structural equation model, we showed that the sequencing of these two parenting behaviors on alcohol misuse occurred as follows. Higher levels of Wave 1 family support predicted increased levels of Wave 2 monitoring (also characterized as adolescents' receptivity to be monitored); these two parenting factors predicted decreased levels of Wave 3 alcohol misuse. …