bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural mechanism of the ATP-induced dissociation of rigor myosin from actin
Authors: Kühner Sebastian , Fischer Stefan 
Published: April 2011

Myosin is a true nanomachine, which produces mechanical force from ATP hydrolysis by cyclically interacting with actin filaments in a four-step cycle. The principle underlying each step is that structural changes in separate regions of the protein must be mechanically coupled. The step in which myosin dissociates from tightly bound actin (the rigor state) is triggered by the 30 Å distant binding of ATP. Large conformational differences between the crystal structures make it difficult to perceive the coupling mechanism. Energetically accessible transition pathways computed at atomic detail reveal a simple coupling mechanism for the reciprocal binding of ATP and actin.
Accuracy and reliability of forensic latent fingerprint decisions
Authors: Ulery Bradford T. , Hicklin R. Austin , Buscaglia JoAnn , Roberts Maria Antonia 
Published: April 2011

The interpretation of forensic fingerprint evidence relies on the expertise of latent print examiners. The National Research Council of the National Academies and the legal and forensic sciences communities have called for research to measure the accuracy and reliability of latent print examiners’ decisions, a challenging and complex problem in need of systematic analysis. Our research is focused on the development of empirical approaches to studying this problem. Here, we report on the first large-scale study of the accuracy and reliability of latent print examiners’ decisions, in which 169 latent print examiners each compared approximately 100 pairs of latent and exemplar fingerprints from a pool of 744 pairs. The fingerprints were selected to include a range of attributes and quality encountered in forensic casework, and to be comparable to searches of an automated fingerprint identification system containing more than 58 million subjects. This study evaluated examiners on key decision points in the fingerprint examination process; procedures used operationally include additional safeguards designed to minimize errors. Five examiners made false positive errors for an overall false positive rate of 0.1%. Eighty-five percent of examiners made at least one false negative error for an overall false negative rate of 7.5%. Independent examination of the same comparisons by different participants (analogous to blind verification) was found to detect all false positive errors and the majority of false negative errors in this study. Examiners frequently differed on whether fingerprints were suitable for reaching a conclusion.
Isoform-specific monobody inhibitors of small ubiquitin-related modifiers engineered using structure-guided library design
Authors: Gilbreth Ryan N. , Truong Khue , Madu Ikenna , Koide Akiko , Wojcik John B. , Li Nan-Sheng , Piccirilli Joseph A. , Chen Yuan , Koide Shohei 
Published: April 2011

Discriminating closely related molecules remains a major challenge in the engineering of binding proteins and inhibitors. Here we report the development of highly selective inhibitors of small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) family proteins. SUMOylation is involved in the regulation of diverse cellular processes. Functional differences between two major SUMO isoforms in humans, SUMO1 and SUMO2/3, are thought to arise from distinct interactions mediated by each isoform with other proteins containing SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs). However, the roles of such isoform-specific interactions are largely uncharacterized due in part to the difficulty in generating high-affinity, isoform-specific inhibitors of SUMO/SIM interactions. We first determined the crystal structure of a “monobody,” a designed binding protein based on the fibronectin type III scaffold, bound to the yeast homolog of SUMO. This structure illustrated a mechanism by which monobodies bind to the highly conserved SIM-binding site while discriminating individual SUMO isoforms. Based on this structure, we designed a SUMO-targeted library from which we obtained monobodies that bound to the SIM-binding site of human SUMO1 with
K
d
values of approximately 100 nM but bound to SUMO2 400 times more weakly. The monobodies inhibited SUMO1/SIM interactions and, unexpectedly, also inhibited SUMO1 conjugation. These high-affinity and isoform-specific inhibitors will enhance mechanistic and cellular investigations of SUMO biology.
First Report of Powdery Mildew on Ruth's Golden Aster (Pityopsis ruthii) Caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
Authors: Trigiano R. N. , Dattilo A. J. , Wadl P. A. 
Published: April 2011

Ruth's golden aster (Pityopsis ruthii (Small) Small: Asteraceae) is an endangered, herbaceous perennial that occurs only at a few sites along small reaches of the Hiwassee and Ocoee rivers in Polk County, Tennessee. As part of a planned restoration program, Ruth's golden aster has been micropropagated in vitro and acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. In February 2011, several established plants in a greenhouse in Knoxville, TN exhibited signs and symptoms of powdery mildew including growth of white mycelium and conidiophores on the adaxial surface of leaves and slight curling upward of leaf margins. Mycelium was superficial and nipple-shaped appressoria were present. Mycelia, conidiophores, and conidia were removed from several leaves, mounted in water, and examined microscopically. Cylindrical to ovoid conidia (n = 100) lacking fibrosin bodies were borne in chains and had a mean length of 32.0 μm (19.2 to 38.7 μm) and width of 14.9 μm (6.3 to 21.2 μm). The description and dimension of the conidia agreed well with that provided for Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum) reported on Coreopsis spp. (1,3) and Cirsium arvense (creeping thistle) (2). The teleomorph was not observed. Total genomic DNA was extracted from infected leaves, amplified with ITS1 and ITS4 primers for the 18S rRNA subunit (4), and visualized on a 2% ethidium bromide agarose gel. An amplicon of fungal origin, approximately 550 bp and smaller than the approximately 700-bp plant ITS amplicon, was excised, purified, and then sequenced. This sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JF779687) and was 99% identical to two G. cichoracearum accessions (Nos. AB77627 and AB77625). Infected leaves were rubbed on leaves of four healthy plants and healthy leaves were rubbed onto other healthy leaves of two additional plants as controls in the greenhouse. Signs of powdery mildew developed on those plants inoculated with infected leaves after 7 to 10 days and the morphology of the fungus was identical to our previous description. To our knowledge, this is the first report of G. cichoracearum (E. cichoracearum) infecting Ruth's golden aster. We are not aware of the disease occurring in wild populations of the plant, but it does impact the production of micropropagated plants in the greenhouse. References: (1) D. A. Glawe et al. Online publication. doi:10.1094/PHP-2006-0405-01-BR. Plant Health Progress, 2006. (2) G. Newcombe and C. Nischwitz. Plant Dis. 88:312, 2004. (3) T. E. Seijo et al. Online publication. doi: 10.1094/PHP-2006-1214-01-BR. Plant Health Progress, 2006. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press Inc, New York, 1990.
Development and Validation of a Risk Quantification Index for 30-Day Postoperative Mortality and Morbidity in Noncardiac Surgical Patients
Authors: Dalton Jarrod E. , Kurz Andrea , Turan Alparslan , Mascha Edward J. , Sessler Daniel I. , Saager Leif 
Published: April 2011

Background
Optimal risk adjustment is a requisite precondition for monitoring quality of care and interpreting public reports of hospital outcomes. Current risk-adjustment measures have been criticized for including baseline variables that are difficult to obtain and inadequately adjusting for high-risk patients. The authors sought to develop highly predictive risk-adjustment models for 30-day mortality and morbidity based only on a small number of preoperative baseline characteristics. They included the Current Procedural Terminology code corresponding to the patient's primary procedure (American Medical Association), American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, and age (for mortality) or hospitalization (inpatient vs. outpatient, for morbidity).

Methods
Data from 635,265 noncardiac surgical patients participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2005 and 2008 were analyzed. The authors developed a novel algorithm to aggregate sparsely represented Current Procedural Terminology codes into logical groups and estimated univariable Procedural Severity Scores-one for mortality and morbidity, respectively-for each aggregated group. These scores were then used as predictors in developing respective risk quantification models. Models were validated with c-statistics, and calibration was assessed using observed-to-expected ratios of event frequencies for clinically relevant strata of risk.

Results
The risk quantification models demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy for 30-day postoperative mortality (c-statistic [95% CI] 0.915 [0.906-0.924]) and morbidity (0.867 [0.858-0.876]). Even in high-risk patients, observed rates calibrated well with estimated probabilities for mortality (observed-to-expected ratio: 0.93 [0.81-1.06]) and morbidity (0.99 [0.93-1.05]).

Conclusion
The authors developed simple risk-adjustment models, each based on three easily obtained variables, that allow for objective quality-of-care monitoring among hospitals.
Moderate-dose Vasopressin Therapy May Impair Gastric Mucosal Perfusion in Severe Sepsis
Authors: Klinzing Stefan , Simon Mark , Reinhart Konrad , Meier-Hellmann Andreas , Sakr Yasser 
Published: April 2011

Background
The effects of moderate-dose vasopressin on gastric mucosal perfusion and its relation to global and hepatosplanchnic hemodynamic and oxygen transport variables were investigated in patients with severe sepsis.

Methods
Vasopressin was administered at a dose of 0.04 IU · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹ over 4 h in 12 patients with severe sepsis who were receiving norepinephrine. During the study period, the norepinephrine infusion rate was reduced to keep mean arterial blood pressure constant. Hepatosplanchnic blood flow, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption (via hepatic venous catheterization using the Fick principle and continuous indocyanine green infusion technique), global hemodynamics (transpulmonary thermodilution method), and the difference between the gastric mucosal and arterial carbon dioxide tension (Pco₂-gap) were measured at baseline and 4 h after the start of the vasopressin infusion.

Results
The administration of 0.04 IU · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹ vasopressin over 4 h was associated with minimal changes in global hemodynamics. Heart rate decreased slightly from 99 [81-115] (median [interquartile range]) to 96 [74-109] beats/min (P = 0.016) and cardiac index from 3.7 [2.8-4.7] to 3.5 [2.7-3.6] L · min⁻¹ · m⁻² (P = 0.003). Global oxygen delivery index decreased significantly from 461 [375-637] to 419 [352-551] ml · min⁻¹ · m⁻² (P = 0.002), whereas hepatosplanchnic blood flow and oxygen uptake remained unchanged. Gastric mucosal Pco₂-gap increased significantly from 13.3 [8.0-16.7] to 17.1 [10.3-28.7] mmHg (P = 0.002), suggesting that blood flow may have been redistributed away from the gut mucosa.

Conclusions
Vasopressin at a dosage of 0.04 IU · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹ may impair gastric mucosal perfusion with minimal global hemodynamic effects.
Eyes in the Needle
Authors: Chiang Huihua K. , Zhou Qifa , Mandell M. Susan , Tsou Mei-Yung , Lin Shih-Pin , Shung K. Kirk , Ting Chien-Kun 
Published: April 2011

Background
Epidural needle insertion is usually a blind technique where the rate of adverse events depends on the experience of the operator. A novel ultrasound method to guide epidural catheter insertion is described.

Methods
An ultrasound transducer (40 MHz, a -6 dB fractional bandwidth of 50%) was placed into the hollow chamber of an 18-gauge Tuohy needle. The single crystal was polished to a thickness of 50 μm, with a width of 0.5 mm. Tissue planes were identified from the reflected signals in an A-mode display. The device was inserted three times into both the lumbar and thoracic regions of five pigs (average weight, 20 kg) using a paramedian approach at an angle of 35-40°. The epidural space was identified using signals from the ligamentum flavum and dura mater. Epidural catheters were placed with each attempt and placement confirmed by contrast injection.

Results
The ligamentum flavum was identified in 83.3% of insertions and the dura mater in all insertions. The dura mater signal was stronger than that of the ligamentum flavum and served as a landmark in all epidural catheter insertions. Contrast studies confirmed correct placement of the catheter in the epidural space of all study animals.

Conclusions
This is the first study to introduce a new ultrasound probe embedded in a standard epidural needle. It is anticipated that this technique could reduce failed epidural blocks and complications caused by dural puncture.
Formation and fragmentation of a late Miocene supradetachment basin in central Crete: implications for exhumation mechanisms of high‐pressure rocks in the Aegean forearc
Authors: Zachariasse Willem Jan , van Hinsbergen Douwe J.J. , Fortuin Anne Rutger 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTWe present a new lithostratigraphy and chronology for the Miocene on central Crete, in the Aegean forearc. Continuous sedimentation started at ∼10.8 Ma in the E–W trending fluvio‐lacustrine Viannos Basin, formed on the hangingwall of the Cretan detachment, which separates high‐pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks from very low‐grade rocks in its hangingwall. Olistostromes including olistoliths deposited shortly before the Viannos Basin submerged into the marine Skinias Basin between 10.4 and 10.3 Ma testifies to significant nearby uplift. Uplift of the Skinias Basin between 9.7 and 9.6 Ma, followed by fragmentation along N–S and E–W striking normal faults, marks the onset of E–W arc‐parallel stretching superimposed on N–S regional Aegean extension. This process continued between 9.6 and 7.36 Ma, as manifested by tilting and subsidence of fault blocks with subsidence events centred at 9.6, 8.8, and 8.2 Ma. Wholesale subsidence of Crete occurred from 7.36 Ma until ∼5 Ma, followed by Pliocene uplift and emergence. Subsidence of the Viannos Basin from 10.8 to 10.4 Ma was governed by motion along the Cretan detachment. Regional uplift at ∼10.4 Ma, followed by the first reworking of HP rocks (10.4–10.3 Ma) is related to the opening and subsequent isostatic uplift of extensional windows exposing HP rocks. Activity of the Cretan detachment ceased sometime between formation of extensional windows around 10.4 Ma, and high‐angle normal faulting cross‐cutting the detachment at 9.6 Ma. The bulk of exhumation of the Cretan HP‐LT metamorphic rocks occurred between 24 and 12 Ma, before basin subsidence, and was associated with extreme thinning of the hangingwall (by factor ∼10), in line with earlier inferences that the Cretan detachment can only explain a minor part of total exhumation. Previously proposed models of buyoant rise of the Cretan HP rocks along the subducting African slab provide an explanation for extension without basin subsidence.
External quality control for immunocytochemistry on cytology samples: a review of UK NEQAS ICC (cytology module) results
Authors: Kirbis I. S. , Maxwell P. , Fležar M. S. , Miller K. , Ibrahim M. 
Published: April 2011

I. S. Kirbis, P. Maxwell, M. S. Fležar, K. Miller and M. Ibrahim External quality control for immunocytochemistry on cytology samples: a review of UK NEQAS ICC (cytology module) results Objective:  To date, external quality control for immunocytochemistry on cytology samples is provided only by the United Kingdom national external quality assessment service for immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation (UK NEQAS ICC & ISH). For the purpose of this study a retrospective analysis of a comprehensive collection of quality‐related data regarding immunocytochemistry on cytology samples collected through this service was analysed.Methods:  The quality of immunocytochemical reactions, using on‐line collected data, was analysed for the last 23 UK NEQAS ICC cytology module external quality assessments carried out on cytology samples completed in the period from 2004 to 2010.Results:  Our study showed that the majority of participants in the cytology module (66%) sent formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue sections for assessment as in‐house control slides and only 34% sent cytology slides of various types. The highest UK NEQAS ICC score for the quality of immunocytochemical staining among in‐house control slides was achieved on cell block sections, followed by cytospins, FFPE tissue sections, liquid‐based cytology slides and smears. With regard to fixation, acetone‐fixed slides achieved significantly lower scores than other reported fixatives. The strength of agreement in perception of immunocytochemical staining quality was good between in‐house assessors (Kappa = 0.64) but only fair between in‐house and UK NEQAS ICC assessors (Kappa = 0.22).Conclusions:  Good quality of immunocytochemical staining can be achieved on cytology slides prepared and fixed in different ways as well as on cell blocks. Unified criteria for high‐quality immunocytochemical staining and proper internal and external quality assurance could facilitate further improvement and standardization of immunocytochemistry on cytology samples.
Pathological ankle–brachial index is equivalent of advanced age in acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Cordero Alberto , Morillas Pedro , Bertomeu‐González Vicente , Quiles Juan , Soria Federico , Guindo Josep , Mazón Pilar , Anguita Manuel , Rodríguez‐Padial Luís , González‐Juanatey José Ramón , Bertomeu‐Martínez Vicente ,   en nombre de los investigadores del estudio PAMISCA
Published: April 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2011; 41 (12): 1268–1274AbstractBackground  Age is one the factors associated with poor prognosis in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and elderly patients are a high‐risk collective with few parameters for mid‐term cardiovascular stratification. We aimed to assess the predictive value of ankle–brachial index (ABI) in patients (> 75 years) for 1‐year mortality after an ACS.Materials and methods  Prospective, observational and multicentre study of ACS patients in whom ABI was assessed during hospitalization.Results  A total of 1·054 patients were included, mean age 66·6 (11·7) years from whom 26·6% were > 75 years. Elderly patients showed more history of cardiovascular disease and higher prevalence of all risk factors, except current smoking. Angiography and revascularization were performed less frequently in the elderly. Patients > 75 years showed higher presence of three vessel coronary disease and received fewer guideline‐recommended treatments. Patients who died through the follow‐up, mean time 387·9 ± 7·2 days, had lower ABI (0·73 ± 0·24 vs. 0·92 ± 0·22; P < 0·01), also in the elderly patients (0·73 ± 0·24 vs. 0·86 ± 0·23; P < 0·01). Cox regression analysis identified age > 75 years (HR: 2·30; IC 95% 1·26–4·18; P < 0·01) and ABI < 0·90 (HR: 3·58; IC 95% 1·80–7·15; P < 0·01) as risk factors for to 1‐year mortality. Mortality was similar in elderly patients with ABI > 0·90 and young patients with ABI < 0·90; the worst prognosis was observed in elderly patients with ABI < 0·90 (HR: 10·01; 95% CI 3·74–27·15).Conclusions  Elderly patients represent a relevant collective of patients with ACS and are treated less optimally. ABI predicts 1‐year mortality after an ACS in elderly patients.
Unraveling the drivers of intensifying forest disturbance regimes in Europe
Authors: SEIDL RUPERT , SCHELHAAS MART‐JAN , LEXER MANFRED J. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractNatural disturbances like wildfire, windthrow and insect outbreaks are critical drivers of composition, structure and functioning of forest ecosystems. They are strongly climate‐sensitive, and are thus likely to be distinctly affected by climatic changes. Observations across Europe show that in recent decades, forest disturbance regimes have intensified markedly, resulting in a strong increase in damage from wind, bark beetles and wildfires. Climate change is frequently hypothesized as the main driving force behind this intensification, but changes in forest structure and composition associated with management activities such as promoting conifers and increasing standing timber volume (i.e. ‘forest change’) also strongly influence susceptibility to disturbances. Here, we show that from 1958 to 2001, forest change contributed in the same order of magnitude as climate change to the increase in disturbance damage in Europe's forests. Climate change was the main driver of the increase in area burnt, while changes in forest extent, structure and composition particularly affected the variation in wind and bark beetle damage. For all three disturbance agents, damage was most severe when conducive weather conditions and increased forest susceptibility coincided. We conclude that a continuing trend towards more disturbance‐prone conditions is likely for large parts of Europe's forests, and can have strong detrimental effects on forest carbon storage and other ecosystem services. Understanding the interacting drivers of natural disturbance regimes is thus a prerequisite for climate change mitigation and adaptation in forest ecosystem management.
Effects of fishing and acidification‐related benthic mortality on the southeast Australian marine ecosystem
Authors: GRIFFITH GARY P. , FULTON ELIZABETH A. , RICHARDSON ANTHONY J. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractOceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) is altering the carbonate chemistry of seawater, with potentially negative consequences for many calcifying marine organisms. At the same time, increasing fisheries exploitation is impacting on marine ecosystems. Here, using increased benthic‐invertebrate mortality as a proxy for effects of ocean acidification, the potential impact of the two stressors of fishing and acidification on the southeast Australian marine ecosystem to year 2050 was explored. The individual and interaction effects of the two stressors on biomass and diversity were examined for the entire ecosystem and for regional assemblages. For 61 functional groups or species, the cumulative effects of moderate ocean acidification and fishing were additive (30%), synergistic (33%), and antagonistic (37%). Strong ocean acidification resulted in additive (22%), synergistic (40%), and antagonistic (38%) effects. The greatest impact was on the demersal food web, with fishing impacting predation and acidification affecting benthic production. Areas that have been subject to intensive fishing were the most susceptible to acidification effect, although fishing also mitigated some of the decline in biodiversity observed with moderate acidification. The model suggested that ocean acidification and long‐term fisheries exploitation could act synergistically with the increasing sensitivity to change from long‐term (decades) fisheries exploitation potentially causing unexpected restructuring of the pelagic and demersal food webs. Major regime shifts occur around year 2040. Greater focus is needed on how differential fisheries exploitation of marine resources may exacerbate or accelerate effects of environmental changes such as ocean acidification.