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Transverse fluctuation analysis of single extended DNA molecules.

We observed fluctuations of elongated DNA molecules by fluorescence microscopy. The molecules are fixed at both ends and undulate. Mode analysis of the thermally excited undulations of the labeled DNA molecules gives access to the spectral density of the amplitude fluctuations. From these measurements we estimate the tension acting on the DNA molecules. We found the forces to be within the entropic elasticity range of a typical DNA molecule (measured on the single-molecule level).

Computer Simulation↗

On the fractal nature of heart rate variability in humans: effects of respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the basic fractal nature of the variability in resting heart rate (HRV), relative to that in breathing frequency (BFV) and tidal volume (TVV), and to test the hypothesis that fractal HRV is due to the fractal BFV and/or TVV in humans. In addition, the possible fractal nature of respiratory volume curves (RVC) and HRV was observed. In the first study, eight subjects were tested while they sat quietly in a comfortable chair for 60 min. Beat-to-beat R-R intervals, i.e., HRV, and breath-by-breath BFV and TVV were measured. In the second study, six subjects were tested while they were in the supine position for 20-30 min. The RVC was monitored continuously together with HRV. Coarse-graining spectral analysis (Yamamoto, Y., and R. L. Hughson, Physica D 68: 250-264, 1993) was applied to these signals to evaluate the percentage of random fractal components in the time series (%Fractal) and the spectral exponent (beta), which characterizes irregularity of the signals. The estimates of beta were determined for each variable only over the range normally used to evaluate HRV. Values for %Fractal and beta of both BFV and TVV were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than those for HRV. In addition, there was no significant (P > 0.05) correlation between the beta values of HRV relative to either BFV (r = 0.14) or TVV (r = 0.34). RVC showed a smooth oscillation as compared with HRV; %Fractal for RVC (42.3 +/- 21.7%, mean +/- SD) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that for HRV (78.5 +/- 4.2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Electroencephalographic signal analysis and desynchronization effect caused by two differing mental arithmetic skills.

Using several electroencephalographic signal analysis methods, it is possible to detect activated cortical areas during cognitive processes. These methods are of interest for neuropsychological studies and in an attempt to develop neurophysiological methods that can be used in the clinic. We used two distinct methods to study two different mental arithmetic tasks. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that there are different desynchronization effects during the two distinct cognitive processes and to compare the two methods used. The first method concerned EEG signal band reactivity changes. The bands were obtained using spectral analysis. The second method is a new one for estimation of the whole EEG signal complexity (ASE = Acceleration Spectrum Entropy). We estimated the EEG signal bands and the ASE changes during two arithmetical tasks in 24 subjects and compared them with the values of the resting state. The ASE method and the EEG band reactivity method could distinguish between the resting condition and the tasks thus demonstrating the usefulness of the ASE method to study cognitive processes. Furthermore, the two tasks affected differently the power spectrum values of the delta, theta and the alpha bands thus indicating the involvement of different brain mechanisms.

Adult↗

Is the valve OK or not? Immediate evaluation of a replaced aortic valve.

Transesophageal echocardiography is a crucial tool in intraoperative evaluation of newly implanted/repaired heart valves because suspected valvular malfunction needs to be identified and sometimes surgically corrected. Although color Doppler is often adequate in evaluating the expected regurgitant jets, as well as excluding pathologic paravalvular leaks, spectral Doppler techniques are the most commonly used methods for estimating transvalvular gradients in the operating room. However, these methods are subject to a variety of confounding factors, including subvalvular gradients and pressure recovery. Other methods of valve area estimation should also be used when evaluating a prostethic aortic valve, including the continuity equation and the left ventricular outflow tract/aortic valve velocity ratio.

Aortic Valve↗

A method and contrast-detail phantom for the quantitative assessment of radiotherapy portal imaging systems.

Several designs of electronic portal imaging systems for radiotherapy have been reported or are now commercially available, as well as the familiar radiographic screen-film combinations. In order to evaluate imaging performance of these, and future, systems a prototype contrast-detail test object has been developed in conjunction with a method for determining contrast from a model of the X-ray spectra produced by linear accelerators. Several existing test objects rely on qualitative or semi-quantitative estimates of contrast. In this technique, quantitative estimates of contrast may be determined for each detail size from realistic estimates of the X-ray spectrum by using a spectral model either in conjunction with narrow-beam attenuation measurements on the linear accelerator used, or by using the nominal value of maximum photon energy. This technique should facilitate the comparison of imaging systems used with linear accelerators of different energies as well as providing a quantitative quality control tool for regular measurements of imaging performance. Examples of the use of the test object in the evaluation of several commercial screen-film combinations are given.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Characterization and quantitation of a tertiary mixture of salts by Raman spectroscopy in simulated hydrothermal vent fluid.

This article will demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can be a useful tool for monitoring the chemical composition of hydrothermal vent fluids in the deep ocean. Hydrothermal vent systems are difficult to study because they are commonly found at depths greater than 1000 m under high pressure (200-300 bar) and venting fluid temperatures are up to 400 degrees C. Our goal in this study was to investigate the use of Raman spectroscopy to characterize and quantitate three Raman-active salts that are among the many chemical building blocks of deep ocean vent chemistry. This paper presents initial sampling and calibration studies as part of a multiphase project to design, develop, and deploy a submersible deep sea Raman instrument for in situ analysis of hydrothermal vent systems. Raman spectra were collected from designed sets of seawater solutions of carbonate, sulfate, and nitrate under different physical conditions of temperature and pressure. The role of multivariate analysis techniques to preprocess the spectral signals and to develop optimal calibration models to accurately estimate the concentrations of a set of mixtures of simulated seawater are discussed. The effects that the high-pressure and high-temperature environment have upon the Raman spectra of the analytes were also systematically studied. Information gained from these lab experiments is being used to determine design criteria and performance attributes for a deployable deep sea Raman instrument to study hydrothermal vent systems in situ.

Calibration↗

Photo-oxidation of methionine-containing peptides by the 4-carboxybenzophenone triplet state in aqueous solution. Competition between intramolecular two-centered three-electron bonded (S...S)+ and (S...N)+ formation.

Quantum yields for the formation of transients were measured following the quenching of triplet 4-carboxy-benzophenone (3CB*) by methionine-containing peptides in aqueous solutions. Ketyl radicals (CBH.), ketyl radical anions (CB.-) and various sulfur radical cations were identified following the triplet-quenching events. The presence of these intermediates indicated that the triplet-quenching mechanism can be characterized as mainly electron-transfer in nature. The quenching rate constants were of the order of 2 x 10(9) M-1 s-1. There were small, but significant, differences in the triplet-quenching rate constants, and these trends indicate the existence of multiple sulfur targets in the quenchers. The absorption of the transient products was followed in detail by using spectral-resolution analysis. From the absorption data, quantum yields were estimated for the formation of the various transients. There were differences found in the yields of the transient products between the experiments, where the quenchers were the "mixed" stereoisomers of methionylmethionine (L,D and D,L) and experiments where the quenchers were L,L and D,D stereoisomers. Triplet-quenching data from several other methionine-containing small oligopeptides were analyzed in an analogous manner. Systematic variations were observed, and these patterns were discussed in terms of competitive donation of protons to the CB.- within the charge-transfer complex. The competition was between protons on carbons adjacent to the sulfur-radical center and protons on the protonated amino groups of the radical cation. In addition, there was a competition between the two intramolecular two-centered, three-electron bonded species (S therefore S)+ and (S therefore N)+ that play roles in the secondary kinetics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[An analysis of radiation risk for manned space flight in low-earth orbits with medium inclination].

The radiation risk for manned space flight in the orbit with altitude <500km and inclination 40 degrees-50 degrees was analyzed. The doses of several anomalously large solar proton events (SPE) were estimated from the measured doses during the SPE where the spectral parameters were known. The result shows that the radiation risk is not serious for the mission with above orbital parameters.

Cosmic Radiation↗

[Separation and analysis of immunochemical properties of multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 from the rat liver].

Four cytochromes P-450 induced by phenobarbital (PB-1--PB-4) and two cytochromes P-450 induced by S-methylcholanthrene (MC-1, MC-2) were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from rat liver microsomes. The purification procedure involved sequential chromatography on n-aminooctyl-Sepharose 4B, DEAE-Sephacel and hydroxylapatite columns. The spectral and immunochemical properties of the cytochromes P-450 were estimated. All, but MC-1, cytochromes P-450 were found to exist in a low spin state. Using the Ouchterlony double diffusion method, it was shown that all cytochromes P-450 under study can be divided into two groups, i. e., PB-1--PB-2 and PB-3--PB-4, sharing common antigenic determinants inside the groups. High performance liquid chromatography of PB-3 and MC-2 on anion-exchangers yielded two additional peaks from the PB-induced major cytochrome P-450 PB-3 and three peaks from the MC-induced major cytochrome P-450 MC-2. The multiplicity of cytochrome P-450 forms is discussed.

Animals↗

Laser scanning confocal microscopy and factor analysis of biomedical image sequences (FAMIS) to detect and characterise HPV DNA sequences by FISH in HeLa cells.

Visualisation and localisation of specific DNA sequences were performed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and factor analysis of biomedical image sequences (FAMIS). HeLa cells containing 10-50 copies per cell of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA type 18 integrated in cellular DNA were used as a model. HPV-DNA was identified by DNA probes and DNA-DNA hybrids were revealed by alkaline phosphatase and Fast Red (FR) TR salt/naphtol-MX phosphate. Cell nuclei were counterstained with thiazole orange (TO). FAMIS summarises image sequences into a reduced number of images called factor images and curves called factors. Factor images correspond to spatial distributions of the different factors. Factors estimate different individual physical behaviours in the sequence (extinction velocity, spectral emission, depth emission profiles). We verified that HPV-DNA hybridisation signals are specific to the spectrum of FR, and distinguished between FR and TO. The latter result was found by taking into account differences in their extinction velocities. The focus of CLSM was improved on 3D image sequences, and the location of fluorescent signals inside the preparations was determined. Factor images showed that FR stained targets were located on different focal planes at the periphery of the nuclei.

DNA, Viral↗

Parameter fitting for piano sound synthesis by physical modeling.

A difficult issue in the synthesis of piano tones by physical models is to choose the values of the parameters governing the hammer-string model. In fact, these parameters are hard to estimate from static measurements, causing the synthesis sounds to be unrealistic. An original approach that estimates the parameters of a piano model, from the measurement of the string vibration, by minimizing a perceptual criterion is proposed. The minimization process that was used is a combination of a gradient method and a simulated annealing algorithm, in order to avoid convergence problems in case of multiple local minima. The criterion, based on the tristimulus concept, takes into account the spectral energy density in three bands, each allowing particular parameters to be estimated. The optimization process has been run on signals measured on an experimental setup. The parameters thus estimated provided a better sound quality than the one obtained using a global energetic criterion. Both the sound's attack and its brightness were better preserved. This quality gain was obtained for parameter values very close to the initial ones, showing that only slight deviations are necessary to make synthetic sounds closer to the real ones.

Journal Article↗

The time-frequency characteristics of violin vibrato: modal distribution analysis and synthesis

A high-resolution time-frequency distribution, the modal distribution, is applied to the study of violin vibrato. The analysis indicates that the frequency modulation induced by the motion of the stopped finger on the string is accompanied by a significant amplitude variation in each partial of that note. Amplitude and frequency estimates for each partial are extracted from the modal distribution of ten pitches that span the range of the violin instrument. The frequency modulation is well-represented by a single sinusoid with a mean rate of 5.9 Hz and a mean excursion of +/- 15.2 cents. A spectral decomposition of the amplitude envelopes of the partials shows that the peaks lie primarily at integer multiples of the vibrato rate. These amplitude and frequency estimates are used in an additive synthesis model to generate synthetic replicates of violin vibrato. Simple approximations to these estimates are created, and synthesized sounds using these are evaluated perceptually by seven subjects using discrimination, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (MDS), and sound quality scoring tasks. It is found that the absence of frequency modulation has little effect on the perceptual response to violin vibrato, while the absence of amplitude modulation causes marked changes in both sound quality and MDS results. Low-order spectral decompositions of the amplitude and frequency estimates also occupy the same perceptual space as the original recording for a subset of the pitches studied.

Journal Article↗

Slow light and chromatic temporal dispersion in photonic crystal waveguides using femtosecond time of flight.

We report time-of-flight experiments on photonic-crystal waveguide structures using optical Kerr gating of a femtosecond white-light supercontinuum. These photonic-crystal structures, based on engineered silicon-nitride slab waveguides, possess broadband low-loss guiding properties, allowing the group velocity dispersion of optical pulses to be directly tracked as a function of wavelength. This dispersion is shown to be radically disrupted by the spectral band gaps associated with the photonic-crystal periodicity. Increased time-of-flight effects, or "slowed light," are clearly observed at the edges of band gaps in agreement with two-dimensional plane-wave theoretical models of group velocity dispersion. A universal model for slow light in such photonic crystals is proposed, which shows that slow light is controlled predominantly by the detuning from, and the size of, the photonic band gaps. Slowed light observed up to time delays of approximately 1 ps, corresponds to anomalous dispersion of approximately 3.5 ps/nm per mm of the photonic crystal structure. From the decreasing intensity of time-gated slow light as a function of time delay, we estimate the characteristic losses of modes which are guided in the spectral proximity of the photonic band gaps.

Journal Article↗

Cardiovascular autonomic regulation in preterm infants: the effect of atropine.

To study cardiovascular autonomic control, we assessed the effect of atropine on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability in 12 preterm infants (range 26-32 wk) before intubation for respiratory insufficiency. Spectral power analysis of R-R interval and systolic BP (SBP) series were estimated in a low-frequency (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.4-1.5 Hz) band and evaluated for a 10-min period before and a 10-min period after atropine sulfate (0.01 mg/kg). Baroreceptor reflex (BR) functioning was estimated using transfer function analysis at LF (coherence, gain, and phase). Atropine resulted in a significant 12% increase in steady-state HR (p < 0.01) and unchanged SBP. For R-R interval series, the total spectral power decreased 6-fold (p < 0.01), which was predominantly due to a reduction in the LF band (16-fold; p < 0.01). In contrast, we observed a significant increase (25%; p < 0.05) in total spectral power of SBP series partly as a result of an increase in HF power. The LF power of SBP series was not altered. The median LF transfer gain (BR sensitivity) between SBP and R-R interval decreased from 4.2 to 1.4 ms/mm Hg (p < 0.01) after atropine. The LF phase relationship (BP leads R-R interval fluctuations by approximately 4 s) was not changed after atropine. In conclusion, even in preterm infants in distress, atropine modulates HR and BP variability, suggesting that BR-mediated parasympathetic control of heart rate is of significance for cardiovascular control at that age.

Atropine↗

Identification of beta-turn and random coil amide III infrared bands for secondary structure estimation of proteins.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is increasingly becoming an important method to determine secondary structure of peptides and proteins. Among the spectral regions arising out of coupled and uncoupled stretching and bending modes of amide bonds, amide I and amide III spectral bands have been found to be the most sensitive to the variations in secondary structure folding. Amide I spectral region (1700-1600 cm-1), although most commonly used primarily because of its strong signal, suffers from several limitations, including a strong interference from water vibrational band, relatively unstructured spectral contour, and overlap of revolved bands correspondingly to various secondary structures. In contrast, amide III spectral region (1350-1200 cm-1), albeit relatively weak in signals, does not have the above limitations. Easily resolved and better defined amide III bands are quite suitable for quantitative analysis of protein secondary structure. While amide III region has been successfully used for determination of alpha-helix and beta-sheets (Fu, F.-N., et al. (1994) Appl. Spectrosc. 48, 1432-1441), bands corresponding to beta-turns and random coils have not been identified, so far. In this paper, we describe, for the first time, identification of amide III bands corresponding to beta-turns and random coils by selectively enhancing random coils by treatment with a denaturing reagent, and secondary structure estimation of several proteins by using the band assignments. The assignments of spectral bands were as follows: 1330-1295 cm-1, alpha-helix; 1295-1270 cm-1, beta-turns; 1270-1250 cm-1, random coils; and 1250-1220 cm-1, beta-sheets. The estimations of secondary structural elements by the above assignments correlated quite well with secondary structure estimations from X-ray crystallography data.

Amides↗

Quantum tunneling in the midrange vibrational fundamentals of tropolone.

The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of tropolone(OH) vapor in the 1175-1700 cm(-1) region is reported at 0.0025 and 0.10 cm(-1) spectral resolutions. The 12 vibrational fundamentals in this region of rapidly rising vibrational state density are dominated by mixtures of the CC, CO, CCH, and COH internal coordinates. Estimates based on the measurement of sharp Q branch peaks are reported for 11 of the spectral doublet component separations DS(v) = |Delta(v) +/- Delta(0)|. Delta(0) = 0.974 cm(-1) is the known zero-point splitting, and three a(1) modes show tunneling splittings Delta(v) approximately Delta(0), four b(2) modes show splittings Delta(v) approximately 0.90Delta(0), and the remaining four modes show splittings Delta(v) falling 5-14% from Delta(0.) Significantly, the splitting for the nominal COH bending mode nu(8) (a(1)) is small, that is, 10% from Delta(0). Many of the vibrational excited states demonstrate strong anharmonic behavior, but there are only mild perturbations on the tautomerization mechanism driving Delta(0). The data suggest, especially for the higher frequency a(1) fundamentals, the onset of selective intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution processes that are fast on the time scale of the tautomerization process. These appear to delocalize and smooth out the topographical modifications of the zero-point potential energy surface that are anticipated to follow absorption of the nu(v) photon. Further, the spectra show the propensity for the Delta(v) splittings of b(2) and other complex vibrations to be damped relative to Delta(0).

Journal Article↗

Spectral weights in level discrimination by preschool children: synthetic listening conditions.

On most auditory discrimination and detection tasks young children perform more poorly than adults. The current experiment applies a technique which potentially can reveal the extent to which the adult-child performance difference results from suboptimal attentional strategies or simply greater internal noise in the children. In this experiment preschool children and adults were asked to discriminate between complex tones comprised of three random-amplitude sinusoidal components. A trial-by-trial correlational analysis [R. A. Lutfi, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 97, 1333-1334 (1995)] provided an estimate of the weight listeners placed on the level information from individual spectral components in making the discrimination. The patterns of weights were interpreted as measures of "attentional strategy." Both children and adults produced reliable patterns of weights. This is an especially important result since measuring a single weighting pattern requires large numbers of trials and hence multiple sessions with the children. While individual weighting patterns were reliable, weighting patterns differed both within and across groups. Moreover, neither the children nor the adults produced weighting patterns that would maximize percent correct in the task. A substantial proportion of the responses from both children and adults could be predicted from their weighting patterns even when performance was near chance. However, differences in overall performance between children and adults could not be accounted for by differences in their weighting functions.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

Applications of least-squares FIR filters to virtual acoustic space.

A virtual acoustic space (VAS) employs the localization cues specified by the direction-dependent 'free-field to eardrum transfer function' (FETF) to synthesize sound-pressure waveforms present near the tympanum. The combination of a VAS and the earphone delivery of synthesized waveforms is useful to study parametrically the neural mechanisms of directional hearing. The VAS-earphone procedure requires accurate FETF estimation from free-field measurements and appropriate compensation for the undesirable spectral characteristics of the closed-field earphone sound delivery and measurement systems. Here we describe how specially designed finite-impulse-response (FIR) filters improve these two operations. The coefficients of an FIR filter are determined using a least-squares error criterion. The least-squares FIR filter is implemented entirely in the time domain and avoids the usual problems with division inherent in a frequency domain approach. The estimation of an FETF by a least-squares FIR filter is veracious since its impulse response can recover signals that were recorded near the eardrum in the free field with a very high fidelity. The correlation coefficient between recorded and recovered time waveforms typically exceeds 0.999. Similarly, least-squares FIR filters prove excellent in compensating closed-field sound systems since comparisons of waveforms delivered by a compensated earphone to their corresponding predistorted signals yield correlation coefficients that exceed 0.99 on average.

Acoustic Stimulation↗