bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Memory T-Cell Responses to
Vibrio cholerae
O1 Infection
Authors: Weil Ana A. , Arifuzzaman Mohammad , Bhuiyan Taufiqur R. , LaRocque Regina C. , Harris Aaron M. , Kendall Emily A. , Hossain Azim , Tarique Abdullah A. , Sheikh Alaullah , Chowdhury Fahima , Khan Ashraful I. , Murshed Farhan , Parker Kenneth C. , Banerjee Kalyan K. , Ryan Edward T. , Harris Jason B. , Qadri Firdausi , Calderwood Stephen B.
Published: August 2009

Vibrio cholerae
O1 can cause diarrheal disease that may be life-threatening without treatment. Natural infection results in long-lasting protective immunity, but the role of T cells in this immune response has not been well characterized. In contrast, robust B-cell responses to
V. cholerae
infection have been observed. In particular, memory B-cell responses to T-cell-dependent antigens persist for at least 1 year, whereas responses to lipopolysaccharide, a T-cell-independent antigen, wane more rapidly after infection. We hypothesize that protective immunity is mediated by anamnestic responses of memory B cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and T-cell responses may be required to generate and maintain durable memory B-cell responses. In this study, we examined B- and T-cell responses in patients with severe
V. cholerae
infection. Using the flow cytometric assay of the specific cell-mediated immune response in activated whole blood, we measured antigen-specific T-cell responses using
V. cholerae
antigens, including the toxin-coregulated pilus (TcpA), a
V. cholerae
membrane preparation, and the
V. cholerae
cytolysin/hemolysin (VCC) protein. Our results show that memory T-cell responses develop by day 7 after infection, a time prior to and concurrent with the development of B-cell responses. This suggests that T-cell responses to
V. cholerae
antigens may be important for the generation and stability of memory B-cell responses. The T-cell proliferative response to VCC was of a higher magnitude than responses observed to other
V. cholerae
antigens.
Borrelia burgdorferi
BmpA Is a Laminin-Binding Protein
Authors: Verma Ashutosh , Brissette Catherine A. , Bowman Amy , Stevenson Brian
Published: August 2009

The
Borrelia burgdorferi
BmpA outer surface protein plays a significant role in mammalian infection by the Lyme disease spirochete and is an important antigen for the serodiagnosis of human infection.
B. burgdorferi
adheres to host extracellular matrix components, including laminin. The results of our studies indicate that BmpA and its three paralogous proteins, BmpB, BmpC, and BmpD, all bind to mammalian laminin. BmpA did not bind mammalian type I or type IV collagens or fibronectin. BmpA-directed antibodies significantly inhibited the adherence of live
B. burgdorferi
to laminin. The laminin-binding domain of BmpA was mapped to the carboxy-terminal 80 amino acids. Solubilized collagen inhibited BmpA-laminin binding, suggesting interactions through the collagen-binding domains of laminin. These results, together with previous data, indicate that BmpA and its paralogs are targets for the development of preventative and curative therapies for Lyme disease.
Pathogen Profiling: Rapid Molecular Characterization of
Staphylococcus aureus
by PCR/Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry and Correlation with Phenotype
Authors: Wolk Donna M. , Blyn Lawrence B. , Hall Thomas A. , Sampath Rangarajan , Ranken Raymond , Ivy Cristina , Melton Rachael , Matthews Heather , White Neill , Li Feng , Harpin Vanessa , Ecker David J. , Limbago Brandi , McDougal Linda K. , Wysocki Vicki H. , Cai Mian , Carroll Karen C.
Published: August 2009

There are few diagnostic methods that readily distinguish among community-acquired methicillin (meticillin)-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
strains, now frequently transmitted within hospitals. We describe a rapid and high-throughput method for bacterial profiling of staphylococcal isolates. The method couples PCR to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and is performed on a platform suitable for use in a diagnostic laboratory. This profiling technology produces a high-resolution genetic signature indicative of the presence of specific genetic elements that represent distinctive phenotypic features. The PCR/ESI-MS signature accurately identified genotypic determinants consistent with phenotypic traits in well-characterized reference and clinical isolates of
S. aureus
. Molecular identification of the antibiotic resistance genes correlated strongly with phenotypic in vitro resistance. The identification of toxin genes correlated with independent PCR analyses for the toxin genes. Finally, isolates were correctly classified into genotypic groups that correlated with genetic clonal complexes, repetitive-element-based PCR patterns, or pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types. The high-throughput PCR/ESI-MS assay should improve clinical management of staphylococcal infections.
Endophthalmitis Caused byVibrio alginolyticus
Authors: Li Xiao Chun , Xiang Zhen Yang , Xu Xiao Ming , Yan Wei Hua , Ma Jian Min
Published: August 2009

Vibrio alginolyticusis a facultative anaerobic gram-negative bacillus found in normal marine flora. Ocular infections induced byV. alginolyticusare extremely rare. We report a case of endophthalmitis caused byV. alginolyticusto draw attention toV. alginolyticusinfections following ocular injuries.
Sharing of
Escherichia coli
Sequence Type ST131 and Other Multidrug-Resistant and Urovirulent
E. coli
Strains among Dogs and Cats within a Household
Authors: Johnson James R. , Miller Sybille , Johnston Brian , Clabots Connie , DebRoy Chitrita
Published: August 2009

A multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Escherichia coli
strain from a human-associated pulsotype within sequence type ST131 (O25:H4) colonized three of five dogs and cats within a household. Of the four other colonizing strains identified, two were MDR and two colonized multiple hosts. The ST131 strain uniquely exhibited high resistance and virulence scores.
Sequence Analysis of Unusual P[7]G5 Bovine Rotavirus Strains Reveals Evidence of Interspecies Transmission
Authors: Ha Thi Phuong Mai , Kim Hyun-Jeong , Saif Linda J. , Jeong Young-Ju , Kim Ha-Hyun , Kwon Hyung-Jun , Park Su-Jin , Cho Kyoung-Oh
Published: August 2009

By sequence and phylogenetic analyses, the 11 genomic segments of two bovine rotaviruses isolated from clinically infected calves were proven to be derived from the swine-like P[7]G5 genotype. This finding reinforced the hypothesis that interspecies transmission of completely heterologous strains can occur in nature.
Rhesus Theta-Defensin Prevents Death in a Mouse Model of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Wohlford-Lenane Christine L. , Meyerholz David K. , Perlman Stanley , Zhou Haixia , Tran Dat , Selsted Michael E. , McCray Paul B.
Published: August 2009

We evaluated the efficacy of rhesus theta-defensin 1 (RTD-1), a novel cyclic antimicrobial peptide, as a prophylactic antiviral in a mouse model of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) lung disease. BALB/c mice exposed to a mouse-adapted strain of SARS-CoV demonstrated 100% survival and modest reductions in lung pathology without reductions in virus titer when treated with two intranasal doses of RTD-1, while mortality in untreated mice was ∼75%. RTD-1-treated, SARS-CoV-infected mice displayed altered lung tissue cytokine responses 2 and 4 days postinfection compared to those of untreated animals, suggesting that one possible mechanism of action for RTD-1 is immunomodulatory.
Genetic Heterogeneity and Recombination in Canine Noroviruses
Authors: Martella Vito , Decaro Nicola , Lorusso Eleonora , Radogna Arianna , Moschidou Paschalina , Amorisco Francesca , Lucente Maria Stella , Desario Costantina , Mari Viviana , Elia Gabriella , Banyai Krisztian , Carmichael Leland Eugene , Buonavoglia Canio
Published: August 2009

Alphatronlike (genogroup IV [GIV]) noroviruses (NoVs) have been recently identified in carnivores. By screening a collection of 183 fecal samples collected during 2007 from dogs with enteric signs, the overall NoV prevalence was found to be 2.2% (4/183). A unique strain, Bari/91/07/ITA, resembled GIV.2 NoVs in its ORF1 (polymerase complex), while it was genetically unrelated in its full-length ORF2 (capsid gene) to GIV animal and human NoVs (54.0 to 54.4% amino acid identity) and to any other NoV genogroup (<54.7% amino acid identity). It displayed the highest identity (58.1% amino acid identity) to unclassified human strain Chiba/040502/04/Jp. Interestingly, the very 5′ end of ORF2 of the canine virus matched short noroviral sequences (88.9% nucleotide identity and 98.9% amino acid identity) identified from oysters in Japan, indicating that similar viruses may be common environmental contaminants.
Mutational Analysis of the Bunyamwera Orthobunyavirus Nucleocapsid Protein Gene
Authors: Eifan Saleh A. , Elliott Richard M.
Published: August 2009

The bunyavirus nucleocapsid protein, N, is a multifunctional protein that encapsidates each of the three negative-sense genome segments to form ribonucleoprotein complexes that are the functional templates for viral transcription and replication. In addition, N protein molecules interact with themselves to form oligomers, with the viral L (RNA polymerase) protein, with the carboxy-terminal regions of either or both of the virion glycoproteins, and probably also with host cell proteins. Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototype bunyavirus, encodes an N protein of 233 amino acids in length. To learn more about the roles of individual amino acids in the different interactions of N, we performed a wide-scale mutagenic analysis of the protein, and 110 single-point mutants were obtained. When the mutants were employed in a minireplicon assay to examine their effects on viral RNA synthesis, a wide range of activities compared to those of wild-type N protein were observed; changes at nine amino acid positions resulted in severely impaired RNA synthesis. Seventy-seven mutant clones were selected for use in the bunyavirus reverse genetics system, and 57 viable recombinant viruses were recovered. The recombinant viruses displayed a range of plaque sizes and titers in cell culture (from approximately 10
3
to 10
8
PFU/ml), and a number of viruses were shown to be temperature sensitive. Different assays were applied to determine why 20 mutant N proteins could not be recovered into infectious virus. Based on these results, a preliminary domain map of the BUNV N protein is proposed.
Computer Science meets environmental science
Authors: Frenkel Karen A.
Published: August 2009

Scientists share knowledge and seek collaborators at computational sustainability conference.
The profession of ITComputing
Authors: Denning Peter J. , Rosenbloom Paul S.
Published: August 2009

Computing is as fundamental as the physical, life, and social sciences.
Monitoring and control of large systems with MonALISA
Authors: Legrand Iosif , Voicu Ramiro , Cirstoiu Catalin , Grigoras Costin , Betev Latchezar , Costan Alexandru
Published: August 2009

MonALISA developers describe how it works, the key design principles behind it, and the biggest technical challenges in building it.
Making sense of revision-control systems
Authors: O'Sullivan Bryan
Published: August 2009

All revision-control systems come with complicated sets of trade-offs. How do you find the best match between tool and team?
What intellectual property law should learn from software
Authors: Boyle James
Published: August 2009

Software's close encounters with the law provide some lessons for our future.
Optimistic parallelism requires abstractions
Authors: Kulkarni Milind , Pingali Keshav , Walter Bruce , Ramanarayanan Ganesh , Bala Kavita , Chew L. Paul
Published: August 2009

The problem of writing software for multicore processors is greatly simplified if we could automatically parallelize sequential programs. Although auto-parallelization has been studied for many decades, it has succeeded only in a few application areas such as dense matrix computations. In particular, auto-parallelization of irregular programs, which are organized around large, pointer-based data structures like graphs, has seemed intractable.

The Galois project is taking a fresh look at autoparallelization. Rather than attempt to parallelize all programs no matter how obscurely they are written, we are designing programming abstractions that permit programmers to highlight opportunities for exploiting parallelism in sequential programs, and building a runtime system that uses these hints to execute the program in parallel. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a system based on these ideas. Experimental results for two real-world irregular applications, a Delaunay mesh refinement application and a graphics application that performs agglomerative clustering, demonstrate that this approach is promising.
Future tenseConfusions of the hive mind
Authors: Lanier Jaron
Published: August 2009

Future Tense, one of the revolving features on this page, presents stories and essays from the intersection of computational science and technological speculation, their boundaries limited only by our ability to imagine what will and could be.

Cherish the individual.
Efficient memory management for hardware accelerated Java Virtual Machines
Authors: Bertels Peter , Heirman Wim , D'Hollander Erik , Stroobandt Dirk
Published: August 2009

Application-specific hardware accelerators can significantly improve a system's performance. In a Java-based system, we then have to consider a hybrid architecture that consists of a Java Virtual Machine running on a general-purpose processor connected to the hardware accelerator. In such a hybrid architecture, data communication between the accelerator and the general-purpose processor can incur a significant cost, which may even annihilate the original performance improvement of adding the accelerator. A careful layout of the data in the memory structure is therefore of major importance to maintain the acceleration performance benefits.

This article addresses the reduction of the communication cost in a distributed shared memory consisting of the main memory of the processor and the accelerator's local memory, which are unified in the Java heap. Since memory access times are highly nonuniform, a suitable allocation of objects in either main memory or the accelerator's local memory can significantly reduce the communication cost. We propose several techniques for finding the optimal location for each Java object's data, either statically through profiling or dynamically at runtime. We show how we can reduce communication cost by up to 86% for the SPECjvm and DaCapo benchmarks. We also show that the best strategy is application dependent and also depends on the relative cost of remote versus local accesses. For a relative cost higher than 10, a self-learning dynamic approach often results in the best performance.
A hardware platform for efficient worm outbreak detection
Authors: Faezipour Miad , Nourani Mehrdad , Panigrahy Rina
Published: August 2009

Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) monitor network traffic to detect attacks or unauthorized activities. Traditional NIDSes search for patterns that match typical network compromise or remote hacking attempts. However, newer networking applications require finding the frequently repeated strings in a packet stream for further investigation of potential attack attempts. Finding frequently repeated strings within a given time frame of the packet stream has been quite efficient to detect polymorphic worm outbreaks. A novel real-time worm outbreak detection system using two-phase hashing and monitoring repeated common substrings is proposed in this article. We use the concept of shared counters to minimize the memory cost while efficiently sifting through suspicious strings. The worm outbreak system has been prototyped on Altera Stratix FPGA. We have tested the system for various settings and packet stream sizes. Experimental results verify that our system can support line speed of gigabit-rates with negligible false positive and negative rates.
Thermal sensor allocation and placement for reconfigurable systems
Authors: Lee Byunghyun , Chung Ki-Seok , Koo Bontae , Eum Nak-Woong , Kim Taewhan
Published: August 2009

A dynamic monitoring of thermal behavior of hardware resources using thermal sensors is very important to maintain the operation of systems safe and reliable. This article addresses the problem of thermal sensor allocation and placement for reconfigurable systems. For programmable logic arrays, the degree of the use of hardware resources in the systems highly depends on the target application to be implemented, making the allocation of thermal sensors at the manufacturing stage inadequate (or too costly if implemented) due to the unpredictable thermal profile. This means that the thermal sensor allocation could be processed at the time when the reconfigurable logic is implemented (i.e., at the post manufacturing stage). This work proposes an effective solution to the problem of thermal sensor allocation and placement at the post-manufacturing stage. Specifically, we define the Sensor Allocation and Placement Problem (SAPP), and propose a solution which formulates SAPP into the Unate-Covering Problem (UCP) and solves it optimally. Also we combine SAPP with temperature correlation to reduce required sensors more aggressively and propose a solution by applying UCP again. We then provide an extended solution to handle a practical design issue where the hardware resources for the sensor implementation on specific array locations have already been used up by the application logic. Experimental results using MCNC benchmarks show that our proposed technique uses 62.4% and 19.7% less number of sensors to monitor hotspots on the average than that used by the grid-based and the bisection-based approaches while the overhead of auxiliary circuitry is minimized, respectively.
Leakage-aware task scheduling for partially dynamically reconfigurable FPGAs
Authors: Yuh Ping-Hung , Yang Chia-Lin , Li Chi-Feng , Lin Chung-Hsiang
Published: August 2009

As technology continues to shrink, reducing leakage power of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) becomes a critical issue for the practical use of FPGAs. In this article, we address the leakage issue of partially dynamically reconfigurable FPGA architectures with sleep transistors embedded into FPGA fabrics. In particular, we focus on eliminating leakage waste due to the delay between reconfiguration and execution time of a task. For partially dynamically reconfigurable FPGAs, the configuration prefetching technique is commonly used to hide runtime reconfiguration overhead. With prefetching, the configuration of a task is loaded into FPGAs as early as possible. Therefore, there is often a delay between reconfiguration and execution time of a task. In this period of time, the SRAM cells allocated to a task cannot be turned off even though they are not utilized.

In this article, we propose a two-stage task scheduling methodology to reduce leakage waste due to the delay between reconfiguration and execution time of a task without sacrificing performance. In the first stage, a performance-driven task scheduler that targets at minimizing the schedule length is invoked to generate an initial placement. In the second stage, a postplacement leakage-aware task scheduling is applied to refine the initial placement such that leakage waste is minimized provided that the schedule length is not increased. To solve the postplacement leakage optimization problem, we propose two algorithms. The first one is an optimal algorithm based on Integer Linear Programming (ILP). The second algorithm is a heuristic approach that iteratively refines the placement to reduce leakage waste. Experimental results on real and synthetic designs show that the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed postplacement leakage reduction techniques.
Variation-aware multimetric optimization during gate sizing
Authors: Ranganathan Nagarajan , Gupta Upavan , Mahalingam Venkataraman
Published: August 2009

The aggressive scaling of technology has not only accentuated the effects of intradie parametric variations in devices, but it has also impacted the effects of optimizing a certain performance metric on the optimality of other metrics. Thus, there is a need for optimization methods that can perform the simultaneous optimization of multiple metrics considering the effects of process variations. In this article, a novel variation-aware gate sizing framework has been developed that can perform simultaneous optimization of multiple performance metrics. In this framework, the relationships between the optimization metrics (like dynamic power, leakage power, and crosstalk noise) are modeled as a function of the gate sizes in the objective function. The delay values obtained from unconstrained delay optimization and the noise margins derived from coupling capacitance information form the constraints for the multimetric optimization problem. As an abstract framework, it is independent of the type of mathematical programming approach as well as the metrics chosen to be optimized. The framework has been implemented using a mathematical programming approach and has been tested on ITC'99 benchmarks for different combinations of multimetric and single-metric optimizations of delay, dynamic power, leakage power, and crosstalk noise. The results indicate that the framework identifies good solution points, and is efficient for postlayout optimization via gate sizing.
Laminar, Transitional, and Turbulent Flows in Rotor-Stator Cavities
Authors: Launder Brian , Poncet Sébastien , Serre Eric
Published: August 2009

This article reviews the range of flows that may be created within thin cylindrical or annular cavities due to the rotation of one of the confining disks. At low Reynolds numbers, the rotation gives rise to an axisymmetric, radially outward motion near the rotor with a return flow along the stationary disk. As the Reynolds number is raised, this base flow gives way to a shear flow populated by discrete vortices, whether of cylindrical or spiral form, near both the rotating and stationary disks. At Reynolds numbers high enough for turbulent flow to occur, in the twentieth century both experimental and computational studies treated the flow as axisymmetric and steady. Recent research has shown, however, that complex organized structures also persist in the turbulent regime.
Scale-Dependent Models for Atmospheric Flows
Authors: Klein Rupert
Published: August 2009

Atmospheric flows feature length scales from 10−5to 105m and timescales from microseconds to weeks or more. For scales above several kilometers and minutes, there is a natural scale separation induced by the atmosphere's thermal stratification, together with the influences of gravity and Earth's rotation, and the fact that atmospheric-flow Mach numbers are typically small. A central aim of theoretical meteorology is to understand the associated scale-specific flow phenomena, such as internal gravity waves, baroclinic instabilities, Rossby waves, cloud formation and moist convection, (anti-)cyclonic weather patterns, hurricanes, and a variety of interacting waves in the tropics. Single-scale asymptotics yields reduced sets of equations that capture the essence of these scale-specific processes. For studies of interactions across scales, techniques of multiple-scales asymptotics have received increasing recognition in recent years. This article recounts the most prominent scales and associated scale-dependent models and summarizes recent multiple-scales developments.
Recovery from renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is associated with altered renal hemodynamics, blunted pressure natriuresis, and sodium-sensitive hypertension
Authors: Pechman Kimberly R. , De Miguel Carmen , Lund Hayley , Leonard Ellen C. , Basile David P. , Mattson David L.
Published: August 2009

The present studies evaluated intrarenal hemodynamics, pressure natriuresis, and arterial blood pressure in rats following recovery from renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Acute I/R injury, induced by 40 min of bilateral renal arterial occlusion, resulted in an increase in plasma creatinine that resolved within a week. Following 5 wk of recovery on a 0.4% NaCl diet, the pressure-natriuresis response was assessed in anesthetized rats in which the kidney was denervated and extrarenal hormones were administered intravenously. Increasing renal perfusion pressure (RPP) from 107 to 141 mmHg resulted in a fourfold increase in urine flow and sodium excretion in sham control rats. In comparison, pressure diuresis and natriuresis were significantly attenuated in post-I/R rats. In sham rats, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) averaged 1.6 ± 0.2 ml·min−1·g kidney weight−1and renal blood flow (RBF) averaged 7.8 ± 0.7 ml·min−1·g kidney weight−1at RPP of 129 mmHg. Renal cortical blood flow, measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry, was well autoregulated whereas medullary blood flow and renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure increased directly with elevated RPP in sham rats. In contrast, GFR and RBF were significantly reduced whereas medullary perfusion and interstitial pressure demonstrated an attenuated response to RPP in post-I/R rats. Further experiments demonstrated that conscious I/R rats develop hypertension when sodium intake is increased. The present data indicate that the pressure-natriuretic-diuretic response in I/R rats is blunted because of a decrease in GFR and RBF and the depressed pressure-dependent increase in medullary blood flow and interstitial pressure.
Time Course of Activity in Itch-Related Brain Regions: A Combined MEG–fMRI Study
Authors: Mochizuki Hideki , Inui Koji , Tanabe Hiroki C. , Akiyama Lisa F. , Otsuru Naofumi , Yamashiro Koya , Sasaki Akihiro , Nakata Hiroki , Sadato Norihiro , Kakigi Ryusuke
Published: August 2009

Functional neuroimaging studies have identified itch-related brain regions. However, no study has investigated the temporal aspect of itch-related brain processing. Here this issue was investigated using electrically evoked itch in ten healthy adults. Itch stimuli were applied to the left wrist and brain activity was measured using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the MEG experiment, the magnetic responses evoked by the itch stimuli were observed in the contralateral and ipsilateral frontotemporal regions. The dipoles associated with the magnetic responses were mainly located in the contralateral (nine subjects) and ipsilateral (eight subjects) secondary somatosensory cortex (SII)/insula, which were also activated by the itch stimuli in the fMRI experiment. We also observed an itch-related magnetic response in the posterior part of the centroparietal region in six subjects. MEG and fMRI data showed that the magnetic response in this region was mainly associated with itch-related activation of the precuneus. The latency was significantly longer in the ipsilateral than that in the contralateral SII/insula, suggesting the difference to be associated with transmission in the callosal fibers. The timing of activation of the precuneus was between those of the contralateral and ipsilateral SII/insula. Other sources were located in the premotor, primary motor, and anterior cingulate cortices (one subject each). This study is the first to demonstrate part of the time course of itch-related brain processing. Combining methods with high temporal and spatial resolution (e.g., MEG and fMRI) would be useful to investigate the temporal aspect of the brain mechanism of itch.
Exercise-Induced ECG Changes in Brugada Syndrome
Authors: Amin Ahmad S. , de Groot Elisabeth A.A. , Ruijter Jan M. , Wilde Arthur A.M. , Tan Hanno L.
Published: August 2009

Background—

Ventricular arrhythmia occurrence during exercise is reported in Brugada syndrome (BrS). Accordingly, experimental studies suggest that BrS-linked
SCN5A
mutations reduce sodium current more at fast heart rates. Yet, the effects of exercise on the BrS ECG phenotype have not been studied. We aimed to assess ECG responses to exercise in BrS and determine whether these responses are affected by the presence of an
SCN5A
mutation.

Methods and Results—

ECGs at baseline, at peak exercise, and during recovery were analyzed from 35 male control subjects, 25 BrS men without
SCN5A
mutation (BrS

SCN5A

−
), and 25 BrS men with
SCN5A
mutation (BrS

SCN5A+

; 15 with missense mutation and 10 with mutation leading to premature truncation of the protein). No differences existed in clinical phenotype between BrS groups. At baseline, BrS

SCN5A

−
and BrS

SCN5A+

patients had lower heart rates, wider QRS, shorter QT
c
, and higher peak J-point amplitudes than control subjects; BrS

SCN5A+

patients also had longer PR than BrS

SCN5A

−
and control subjects. Exercise resulted in PR shortening in all groups, more QRS widening in BrS

SCN5A+

than in BrS

SCN5A

−
and control subjects
,
and less QT shortening in BrS

SCN5A

−
and BrS

SCN5A+

than in control subjects. The latter resulted in QT
c
shortening in control subjects but QT
c
prolongation in BrS

SCN5A

−
and BrS

SCN5A+

. Finally, the increase in peak J-point amplitude during exercise was similar in all 3 groups but resulted in a coved-type pattern only in BrS

SCN5A

−
and BrS

SCN5A+

.

Conclusions—

Exercise aggravated the ECG phenotype in BrS. The presence of an
SCN5A
mutation was associated with further conduction slowing at fast heart rates. Possible mechanisms that may explain the observed ECG changes are discussed.
Prospective, Comprehensive Assessment of Cardiac Troponin T Testing After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: Mohammed Asim A. , Agnihotri Arvind K. , van Kimmenade Roland R.J. , Martinez-Rumayor Abelardo , Green Sandy M. , Quiroz Rene , Januzzi James L.
Published: August 2009

Background—

The significance and clinical role of cardiac troponin testing after coronary artery bypass grafting remain unclear.

Methods and Results—

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was measured during the first 24 hours after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 847 consecutive patients. Only 17 patients (2.0%) had new Q waves or left bundle-branch block after surgery; however, cTnT elevation was observed in nearly all subjects, with a median cTnT concentration of 1.08 ng/mL overall. Direct predictors of postoperative cTnT values included preoperative myocardial infarction (
P
<0.001), preoperative intraaortic balloon pump (
P
<0.001), intraoperative/postoperative intraaortic balloon pump (
P
<0.001), number of distal anastomoses (
P
=0.005), bypass time (
P
<0.001), and number of intraoperative defibrillations (
P
=0.009), whereas glomerular filtration rate (
P
<0.001), off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (
P
=0.003), and use of warm cardioplegia (
P
=0.02) were inversely associated with cTnT values. A linear association was seen between cTnT levels and length of stay and ventilator hours, and in an analysis adjusted for the Society for Thoracic Surgery Risk Model, cTnT remained independently prognostic for death (odds ratio, 3.20;
P
=0.003), death or heart failure (odds ratio, 2.04;
P
=0.008), death or need for vasopressors (odds ratio, 2.70;
P
<0.001), and the composite of all 3 (odds ratio, 2.57;
P
<0.001). In contrast to consensus-endorsed cTnT cut points for postoperative evaluation, a cTnT <1.60 ng/mL had a negative predictive value of 93% to 99% for excluding various post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery complications.

Conclusions—

cTnT concentrations after coronary artery bypass graft surgery are nearly universally elevated, are determined by numerous factors, and are independently prognostic for impending postoperative complications when used at appropriate cut points.
Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Biotinylated Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Nanofibers Improve Endogenous and Exogenous Myocardial Regeneration After Infarction
Authors: Padin-Iruegas M. Elena , Misao Yu , Davis Michael E. , Segers Vincent F.M. , Esposito Grazia , Tokunou Tomotake , Urbanek Konrad , Hosoda Toru , Rota Marcello , Anversa Piero , Leri Annarosa , Lee Richard T. , Kajstura Jan
Published: August 2009

Background—

Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) possess the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-IGF-1 receptor system, and IGF-1 can be tethered to self-assembling peptide nanofibers (NF-IGF-1), leading to prolonged release of this growth factor to the myocardium. Therefore, we tested whether local injection of clonogenic CPCs and NF-IGF-1 potentiates the activation and differentiation of delivered and resident CPCs enhancing cardiac repair after infarction.

Methods and Results—

Myocardial infarction was induced in rats, and untreated infarcts and infarcts treated with CPCs or NF-IGF-1 only and CPCs and NF-IGF-1 together were analyzed. With respect to infarcts exposed to CPCs or NF-IGF-1 alone, combination therapy resulted in a greater increase in the ratio of left ventricular mass to chamber volume and a better preservation of +dP/dt, −dP/dt, ejection fraction, and diastolic wall stress. Myocardial regeneration was detected in all treated infarcts, but the number of newly formed myocytes with combination therapy was 32% and 230% higher than with CPCs and NF-IGF-1, respectively. Corresponding differences in the volume of regenerated myocytes were 48% and 115%. Similarly, the length density of newly formed coronary arterioles with both CPCs and NF-IGF-1 was 73% and 83% greater than with CPCs and NF-IGF-1 alone, respectively. Importantly, activation of resident CPCs by paracrine effects contributed to cardiomyogenesis and vasculogenesis. Collectively, CPCs and NF-IGF-1 therapy reduced infarct size more than CPCs and NF-IGF-1 alone.

Conclusions—

The addition of nanofiber-mediated IGF-1 delivery to CPC therapy improved in part the recovery of myocardial structure and function after infarction.
Nitrite Therapy After Cardiac Arrest Reduces Reactive Oxygen Species Generation, Improves Cardiac and Neurological Function, and Enhances Survival via Reversible Inhibition of Mitochondrial Complex I
Authors: Dezfulian Cameron , Shiva Sruti , Alekseyenko Aleksey , Pendyal Akshay , Beiser D.G. , Munasinghe Jeeva P. , Anderson Stasia A. , Chesley Christopher F. , Vanden Hoek T.L. , Gladwin Mark T.
Published: August 2009

Background—

Three-fourths of cardiac arrest survivors die before hospital discharge or suffer significant neurological injury. Except for therapeutic hypothermia and revascularization, no novel therapies have been developed that improve survival or cardiac and neurological function after resuscitation. Nitrite (NO
2
−
) increases cellular resilience to focal ischemia/reperfusion injury in multiple organs. We hypothesized that nitrite therapy may improve outcomes after the unique global ischemia/reperfusion insult of cardiopulmonary arrest.

Methods and Results—

We developed a mouse model of cardiac arrest characterized by 12 minutes of normothermic asystole and a high cardiopulmonary resuscitation rate. In this model, global ischemia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were associated with blood and organ nitrite depletion, reversible myocardial dysfunction, impaired alveolar gas exchange, neurological injury, and an ≈50% mortality. A single low dose of intravenous nitrite (50 nmol=1.85 μmol/kg=0.13 mg/kg) compared with blinded saline placebo given at cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiation with epinephrine improved cardiac function, survival, and neurological outcomes. From a mechanistic standpoint, nitrite treatment restored intracardiac nitrite and increased S-nitrosothiol levels, decreased pathological cardiac mitochondrial oxygen consumption resulting from reactive oxygen species formation, and prevented oxidative enzymatic injury via reversible specific inhibition of respiratory chain complex I.

Conclusion—

Nitrite therapy after resuscitation from 12 minutes of asystole rapidly and reversibly modulated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation during early reperfusion, limiting acute cardiac dysfunction, death, and neurological impairment in survivors.
Noninvasive Coronary Angiography by 320-Row Computed Tomography With Lower Radiation Exposure and Maintained Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Dewey Marc , Zimmermann Elke , Deissenrieder Florian , Laule Michael , Dübel Hans-Peter , Schlattmann Peter , Knebel Fabian , Rutsch Wolfgang , Hamm Bernd
Published: August 2009

Background—

Noninvasive coronary angiography with the use of multislice computed tomography (CT) scanners is feasible with high sensitivity and negative predictive value; however, the radiation exposure associated with this technique is rather high. We evaluated coronary angiography using whole-heart 320-row CT, which avoids exposure-intensive overscanning and overranging.

Methods and Results—

A total of 30 consecutive patients with suspected coronary artery disease referred for clinically indicated conventional coronary angiography (CCA) were included in this prospective intention-to-diagnose study. CT was performed with the use of up to 320 simultaneous detector rows before same-day CCA, which, together with quantitative analysis, served as the reference standard. The per-patient sensitivity and specificity for CT compared with CCA were 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72 to 100) and 94% (95% CI, 73 to 100), respectively. Per-vessel versus per-segment sensitivity and specificity were 89% (95% CI, 62 to 98) and 96% (95% CI, 90 to 99) versus 78% (95% CI, 56 to 91) and 98% (95% CI, 96 to 99), respectively. Interobserver agreement between the 2 readers was significantly better for CCA (97% of 121 coronary arteries) than for CT (90%;
P
=0.04). Percent diameter stenosis determined with the use of CT showed good correlation with CCA (
P
<0.001,
R
=0.81) without significant underestimation or overestimation (−3.1±24.4%;
P
=0.08). Intraindividual comparison of CT with CCA revealed a significantly smaller effective radiation dose (median, 4.2 versus 8.5 mSv;
P
<0.05) and amount of contrast agent required (median, 80 versus 111 mL;
P
<0.001) for 320-row CT. The majority of patients (87%) indicated that they would prefer CT over CCA for future diagnostic imaging (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

CT with the use of emerging technology has the potential to significantly reduce the radiation dose and amount of contrast agent required compared with CCA while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.
Long-Term Weight Loss From Lifestyle Intervention Benefits Blood Pressure?
Authors: Aucott Lorna , Rothnie Helen , McIntyre Linda , Thapa Mohan , Waweru Charles , Gray Denise
Published: August 2009

Weight gain may increase blood pressure. Weight loss may reduce this. Reviews have considered the long-term effects of weight loss but are related mainly to more obese participants often on obesity medication and/or undergoing obesity surgery. This systematic review, based on lifestyle interventions for adults (18 to 65 years) with mean baseline BMI of <35 kg/m
2
, links weight change to blood pressure difference. A systematic review of studies reporting weight differences and blood pressure outcomes, published between 1990 and 2008 with follow-up of ≥2 years identified 8 clinical trials or controlled before and after studies (represented by 9 articles) and 8 cohort studies. Differences ranged from −11 to +4kg for weight, −7 to +2.2 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure and −13 to +6.1 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure. For this population group, no quantifiable relationship between weight and diastolic blood pressure difference was found, possibly because of small weight losses, differing weight status responses, or because pharmacologically controlled hypertension masked weight loss influences. Systolic differences were in line with previous reviews of 1 kg:1 mm Hg relationship, but only for follow-up periods of 2 to 3 years, possibly reflecting the fact that regardless of maintained weight loss, blood pressure often reverts back to higher levels. Lifestyle interventions for weight and blood pressure are limited in this target group, and there has been no exploration of successful intervention components. An individual patient data analysis may uncover baseline and medication effects, explore differences between weight groups, and may identify successful components. Such an analysis would enable effective development of preventative interventions for both hypertension and obesity.
A Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Climatology for Romania
Authors: Antonescu Bogdan , Burcea Sorin
Published: August 2009

The first study of the characteristics of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning in Romania, based on the data recorded by the Romanian National Lightning Detection Network (RNLDN), is presented. The data, more than 1.75 million CG flashes, covers the entirety of Romania and were recorded between January 2003 and December 2005 and January and December 2007. The spatial analyses (total and positive flash density, the percentage of positive flashes, and negative and positive peak currents) were done with a resolution of 20 km. The average spatial distribution shows a maximum (3.06 flashes km−2 yr−1) over the south slopes of the central meridional Carpathians possibly associated with the Romanian Plain convergence zone. The mean monthly variation shows maximum CG lightning between May and September (98%) and minimum values in December and January. High values (>0.028 km−2 yr−1) for positive CG lightning density are observed in southwestern and central Romania. The monthly distribution of positive flashes shows a main maximum in May (25%) and a secondary maximum in August (23%), suggesting that positive flashes tend to occur earlier in the year than total flashes. The mean annual percentage of positive flashes has lower values at 1.3% in the central parts of the country. The percentage of positive CG flashes changes over the year from 1% in June to 19% in January. The monthly variation of the median first-strike peak currents has a maximum in winter and reaches a minimum in July, for both negative and positive currents. The mean diurnal cycle for total CG lightning flashes peaks between 1230 and 1430 UTC (2.2%) and shows a minimum between 0600 and 0800 UTC (0.3%).
“Perceiving […] in one’s own body” the Violence of History, Politics and Writing: Anil’s Ghost and Witness Writing
Authors: Marinkova Milena
Published: August 2009

This article discusses Michael Ondaatje’s novel Anil’s Ghost as a form of witness writing, which does not become a redemptive spectacle of, or a cure-all solution to, the civil war context of the text. Resisting transparent representation and absolute cognitive mechanisms, Ondaatje’s work bears witness to the irreducibility and opacity of difference through its emphasis on the corporeal and the tangible. Intimate and affectionate, witnessing emerges in the novel as a gesture of micropolitical empowerment whereby unwitnessed stories and unacknowledged witnesses are recognized and validated. Engendering anxiety rather than relief, however, the intimate and disturbing scope of Anil’s Ghost does not redeem history through art; instead, by unsettling the fundamentals of optical transparency and absolute knowledge, this act of witness writing exposes historical whitewashings and excisions, and offers affectionate caress in the irreparable sutures of macropolitical pressures.
College Students With Learning Disability Diagnoses
Authors: Sparks Richard L. , Lovett Benjamin J.
Published: August 2009

The purpose of this study is to provide an up-to-date review of the literature on postsecondary students classified as having learning disabilities (LD). The review focused on the criteria by which students were classified as LD and the cognitive and achievement characteristics of the participants. From almost 400 studies, only 30% were empirical (data-based) investigations reporting original data. Findings showed that a wide range of criteria was used to classify students as LD, although various discrepancy criteria and registration with university offices of disability services were most often cited. Participants’ mean scores on standardized intelligence and achievement tests were in the average range but somewhat lower than those of other college students. Generally, the findings show a lack of consensus among diagnosticians and researchers about how LD should be diagnosed and also show that college students classified as LD tend to have average achievement, despite scoring below their classmates.
Production and Characterization of Yarns Containing Turkey Feather Fibers
Authors: Evazynajad Ali , George Brian R.
Published: August 2009

Turkey feather fibers were converted into yarn and knitted fabrics for a study into the feasibility of their use as textile products. Yarns containing blends of nylon and up to 30% of turkey feather fibers were spun by combining novel techniques with commercial yarn spinning machinery. These yarns were tested for determination of their mechanical properties. As the percentage of turkey feather fibers increased, the tenacity and breaking extension of the yarns decreased, while the modulus increased.
Emerging musicality during the pre-school years: a case study of one child
Authors: Forrester Michael A.
Published: August 2009

Studies of communication in early infancy and childhood have highlighted the significance of rhythm, sound and music for emotional and social development. There is, however, little detailed empirical data on the emergence of naturalistic music-related behaviour by children in the early years. The aim of this work is to examine instances of musicality with respect to their form and/or function and to trace out developmental indices of musically related behaviours and competencies. Employing a single-case study approach, this paper documents the emergence of one child’s musicality between the ages of 1 year, and 3 years 10 months. From a data corpus of video-recordings, 33 examples of musicality, representing 20 time periods, were examined and categorized. In order to examine specific instances, ethnomethodologically informed conversation analysis was used to consider examples in more detail. Beyond indicating what conversation analysis might bring to the study of musical behaviour in context, the results highlight certain interrelationships between musicality, early word use, interpersonal skill and narrative development. Distinct phases — social-affective followed by ‘song-word’ play and finally narrative-related musicality — were identified in the data. Concluding comments touch on the significance of emerging musicality for social and cognitive development.
An Exploration of the Relationship Between Criminal Cognitions and Psychopathy in a Civil Psychiatric Sample
Authors: Magyar Melissa , Carr W. Amory , Rosenfeld Barry , Rotter Merrill
Published: August 2009

The relationship between psychopathy and thinking styles that support and maintain a criminal lifestyle is examined using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV; Hart, Cox, & Hare, 1995) and the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS; Walters, 1995). These measures are administered to a sample of 75 patients recruited from a state psychiatric hospital in the northeastern United States. Correlational analyses indicate that the PICTS General Criminal Thinking, Self-Assertion/Deception factor scale, and several criminal thinking style scales are significantly related to psychopathy. The significantly associated criminal thinking scales include Entitlement ( r = .44) and Superoptimism ( r = .43) with Factors 1 and 2 of the PCL:SV, respectively. Multiple regression analyses reveal that these two criminal thinking scales are the strongest predictors of Factors 1 and 2 of the PCL:SV, respectively. Implications for the cognitive basis of the construct of psychopathy, as well as potential treatment interventions, are discussed.