cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aborted myocardial infarction: Is it real in the troponin era?

Background Cardiac troponins are the markers of choice for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of “aborted myocardial infarction” (no detectable myocardial injury) determined by measurement of troponin versus that determined by creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase–muscle brain (CK-MB) measurement criteria among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who received reperfusion therapy. Methods Since 2004, the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) has had a standard reperfusion protocol for the treatment of patients with STEMI. During the study period, 767 patients presented with new or presumed new ST elevation or left bundle block. Results The diagnosis of STEMI was confirmed in 765 (99.7%) patients. Using the 99th percentile cutoff value, troponin T elevations occurred in 765 (100%) of 765 patients when serial samples were available. Creatine kinase–MB levels of twice or more the upper limit of normal occurred in 681 (90.1%) of 749 patients with serial samples for CK-MB, and CK equal or greater than twice the gender-specific upper limits of normal occurred in 521 (78.8%) of 661 patients with serial samples for CK available. Conclusion The frequency of aborted myocardial infarction is 0% when using troponin at the 99th percentile cutoff as recommended by contemporary guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (Nice, France) and American College of Cardiology (Washington, DC).
EphB-Mediated Degradation of the RhoA GEF Ephexin5 Relieves a Developmental Brake on Excitatory Synapse Formation

The mechanisms that promote excitatory synapse formation and maturation have been extensively studied. However, the molecular events that limit excitatory synapse development so that synapses form at the right time and place and in the correct numbers are less well understood. We have identified a RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Ephexin5, which negatively regulates excitatory synapse development until EphrinB binding to the EphB receptor tyrosine kinase triggers Ephexin5 phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and degradation. The degradation of Ephexin5 promotes EphB-dependent excitatory synapse development and is mediated by Ube3A, a ubiquitin ligase that is mutated in the human cognitive disorder Angelman syndrome and duplicated in some forms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). These findings suggest that aberrant EphB/Ephexin5 signaling during the development of synapses may contribute to the abnormal cognitive function that occurs in Angelman syndrome and, possibly, ASDs.
Immunohistochemically Determined Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Levels: A Comparison of Three Antibodies with the Ligand-Binding Assay

: Traditionally, estrogen and progesterone receptor levels have been determined by biochemical ligandbinding assays, but more recently immunohistochemical techniques have become available. They have gained popularity due to their low cost, smaller sample size requirements, and direct visualization capability of reaction location. Several antibody clones are commercially available and antibodies directed against the estrogen receptor (ER) are supplied by Ventana Medical Systems (Tucson, AZ), Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL), and lmmunotech Westbrook, ME). Antibodies directed against the progesterone receptor (PgR) are supplied by Ventana Medical Systems (Tucson, AZ), lmmunotech (Westbrook, ME), and Becton-DickinsonKelI Analysis Systems (San Jose, CA). Computer-assisted image analysis using the CAS ZOOTM (Becton-DickinsonKIS, San Jose, CA) allows quantitation of immunohistochemically determined receptor levels. Correlation of quantitated immunohistochemical ER levels with values determined by ligand-binding assay revealed the Ventana antibody to most closely predict the ligand-binding results (wk = .667). The Ventana anti-progesterone antibody quantitation most closely correlated with the ligand-binding results (wk = 435) for determination of PgR. Progesterone receptor level as determined by any of the tested methods did not stratify patients into favorable and unfavorable prognostic groups. Estrogen receptor level as determined by the Ventana antibody was the most predictive of patient outcome but this relationship did not reach statistical significance (p = .09). Most discrepancies between the ligand-binding assay and the immunohistochemical assays were associated with one of three factors: (a) low volume of neoplastic cells present due either to small sample size or high stromal content, (b) premenopausal status with circulating endogenous estrogens potentially occupying receptor sites, (c) presence of benign breast epithelium resulting in a false-positive ligand-binding assay.
Circadian rhythms in anesthesia and critical care medicine: potential importance of circadian disruptions.

The rotation of the earth and associated alternating cycles of light and dark—the basis of our circadian rhythms—are fundamental to human biology and culture. However, it was not until 1971 that researchers first began to describe the molecular mechanisms for the circadian system. During the past few years, groundbreaking research has revealed a multitude of circadian genes affecting a variety of clinical diseases, including diabetes, obesity, sepsis, cardiac ischemia, and sudden cardiac death. Anesthesiologists, in the operating room and intensive care units, manage these diseases on a daily basis as they significantly affect patient outcomes. Intriguingly, sedatives, anesthetics, and the intensive care unit environment have all been shown to disrupt the circadian system in patients. In the current review, we will discuss how newly acquired knowledge of circadian rhythms could lead to changes in clinical practice and new therapeutic concepts.
Spectroscopic Characterization of Inhibitor Interactions With the Mn(III)/Mn(IV) Core in Lactobacillus plantarum Manganese Catalase

X-ray absorption (XAS), UV−visible, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopies have been used to characterize the interaction of azide and cyanide with the Mn(III)(μ-O)2Mn(IV) site in superoxidized Mn catalase. The addition of azide causes no significant change in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) region and only minor changes in the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra, consistent with only minimal changes in Mn−ligand geometry. In contrast, addition of either azide or cyanide causes an approximately 3-fold increase in the intensity of the visible absorption bands and a small (approximately 4%) decrease in the Mn hyperfine coupling. Anion-binding titrations indicate cooperativity in anion binding. ESEEM experiments on the azide- and cyanide-free enzyme reveal hyperfine (A = 2.88 MHz) and electric quadrupolar couplings (e2qQ = 2.29 MHz and η = 0.58) for a single 14N nucleus of the protein. These parameters are...
Special report: adjusted lupus prevalence Results of a marketing study by the Lupus Foundation of America

There are many estimates of the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus. These range from a high of 1:245 to 1:1000 from numerous worldwide epidemiologic studies. In a departure from scientific procedure the Lupus Foundation of America recently completed an inexpensive marketing study which produced three findings. Firstly, that lupus awareness in the USA was about 86%, much higher than many other immunologic illnesses. Secondly, that many people have been told by their physicians that they have the disease lupus, and considering that data, that over 1.4 million people in the USA have the disease. Lastly, that the prevalence of the disease, by unsubstantiated claim, would be a very high 1 in 177 patients. The overall conclusion is that more people are being told that they have the disease lupus than previously expected. Self-reporting studies are notoriously inaccurate as the criteria for the disease are not verified, indicating that the numbers derived from this study may not be true.
Position Dependent Perfusion of The Vertebrobasilar System in Premature Infants < 1750 Gram

Position Dependent Perfusion of The Vertebrobasilar System in Premature Infants < 1750 Gram
Variable thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone after small decreases in plasma thyroid hormone concentrations in patients of advanced age.

Abstract It was recently reported that TSH regulation was abnormal in 50% of patients hospitalized for nonthyroidal diseases because the TSH response to TRH was not augmented following an iodide-induced small decrease in serum T 4 and T 3 concentrations. Since the mean age of that group was 65.0 years, we considered the possibility that some of the findings of that study were due to the advanced age of the patients in addition to the presence of nonthyroidal illness. Accordingly, some aspects of TSH regulation in 24 outpatients of advanced age followed for routine health maintenance have now been studied; eight young adults (28–49 years of age) were studied as controls. Six patients were between 60 and 69 years of age, nine were between 70 and 79 years of age, and nine were between 80 and 89 years of age. TSH regulation was studied by measuring the TSH response to injected thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) before and after a small decrease in plasma thyroid hormone concentrations had been produced by a 10-day treatment course with iodides (262 mg/d). Iodide treatment resulted in a 10% or greater decrease in serum T 4 , FT 4 , or T 3 levels in 20 of the 24 patients. A significant decrease in the mean plasma T 4 level from 7.6 ± 0.5 μg/dL to 6.7 ± 0.4 μg/dL ( P 3 level from 116 ± 5 ng/dL to 110 ± 4 ng/dL was significant only at the P 0.05 level. No major difference in the mean T 4 , FT 4 , or T 3 levels or the integrated TSH response to TRH were observed between the men (13) and women (11) in the different age groups except in the 70–79-year-old group, in which the integrated TSH response of the men was decreased. Iodide treatment did not affect basal plasma TSH levels but the mean integrated TSH response to TRH was increased from 801 ± 123 μU·min to 996 ± 135 μU·min ( P 4 and T 3 levels after iodide treatment. Whereas the TSH response to TRH after iodide treatment was augmented in all of the younger control subjects, only 9 of the 20 aged patients who responded to iodide treatment had normal TSH responsiveness. There was no significant age or sex difference between the TSH responders and nonresponders. Similarly, there was no significant difference between the mean plasma T 4 , FT 4 , and TSH levels between these groups; the mean plasma T 3 level in the TSH responsive group, 103 ± 4 ng/dL, wss significantly lower than that of the TSH nonresponders, 128 ± 7 ng/dL. Because the anticipated increase in plasma TSH in response to a small decrease in T 4 , FT 4 , or T 3 occurred in less than one-half of patients of advanced age, a normal plasma TSH level may not be a reliable index of the euthyroid state in aged patients.
A comparison of three methods for color scaling.

This investigation is concerned with the amount of agreement among perceptual color scales constructed from liminal differences, large psychological intervals, and absolute judgment data. These comparisons were made for the same observers and for constant viewing conditions. Scales were constructed for mixtures of yellow and blue primaries produced by filtered light, at constant luminance. Each of five observers completed three experiments from which color scales were derived: successive bisection, yielding an equal-interval scale; color matching, yielding an integrated just-noticeable difference scale; and absolute judgment, yielding an equal-discriminability scale. Very good agreement was found between the just-noticeable difference and equal-discriminability scales for all observers. The correspondence between the bisection scales and the other scales ranged from very good to very poor for different observers.
Glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency in a Dutch family.

: Van Biervliet, J. P. G. M. (University Children's Hospital, Het Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands). Glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency in a Dutch family. Acta Paediatr Scand, 64: 868, 1975.–A mentally retarded girl with severe hemolytic anemia due to glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency is described. The deficiency was detected in erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, liver and muscle tissues. Besides the glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency, a glutathione instability of unknown origin was found in the erythrocytes of the propositus.
Health Care Use by Preschool Children: Effects of Maternal Occupation and Household Structure

This study examines the effects of a mother's occupation and the presence or absence of a father figure at home on the use of pediatric services by 5,611 preschool children. The children with the lowest number of physician visits are those whose mothers are employed in traditionally female-specific occupations and who live in a household where afatherfigure is present. Health insurance, Medicaid, age and gender of child, number of siblings, mother's education, and health condition of child also were found to be important factors associated with the use of physician services by preschool children.
Exploratory Divertor Heat Load Studies for Compact Stellarator Reactors

Divertor heat load evaluation studies are being carried out for an example compact stellarator reactor configuration modeled after the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX). Using the field line tracing technique, an initial divertor plate geometry has been obtained, with one plate per field period, which covers 15% of the plasma surface area. A plate heat load peaking factor of 14 is acceptable with reasonable core and SOL radiation fractions in order to satisfy the engineering constraint of 10 MW/m peak heat load. Assessment of heat flux due to ejected energetic alpha particles is equally important for their contribution to the heat load. A particle gyro-orbit code follows these particles in the scrape-off layer (SOL) until they hit the divertor plates and the first wall, while the distribution of lost particles on the plasma surface can be calculated with a Monte Carlo guiding center code with collisions
On turbulent secondary flows in pipes of noncircular cross-section

Abstract The origin of turbulent secondary flow in pipes of noncircular cross section is examined from a theoretical standpoint. It is proven mathematically that secondary flows result from a nonzero difference in the normal Reynolds stresses on planes perpendicular to the axial flow direction. Furthermore, it is shown that the K-ϵ model of turbulence has no natural mechanism for the development of secondary flow while the currently popular second-order closure models do. The implications that this has on turbulence modeling are discussed briefly.
Influence of Light and CO2 on Senescence of Detached Leaves of C3 and C4 Plants

Summary The influence of atmospheric CO2 concentration on senescence of detached leaves of two C3 plants (Avena sativa, Tropaeolum majus) and one C4 plant (Zea mays) in light was studied. Leaf senescence was enhanced in CO2-free air only in leaves of oat and nasturtium. This seems to support the possibility that products of photorespiration are involved in senescence processes. The role of photorespiratory products in senescence is discussed, especially under consideration of plant adaptation to stress conditions like drought, salinity and high temperature.
Crown retention and flexural strength of eight provisional cements.

Statement of problem Few studies have compared the retention of resin-based and zinc-oxide noneugenol provisional cements. Crown retention testing is difficult and variable; therefore, a simpler method of testing by using flexural strength is indicated. Purpose The purpose of this study was to measure the retention of base metal alloy castings to dentin provided by 8 provisional cements (3 resin-based and 5 zinc oxide) and correlate the retention to their flexural strength. Material and methods Flexural strength specimens (2.5 × 2.5 × 22 mm) were made of each cement. The specimens were placed in a 3-point bending testing mode and loaded at 1 mm/min until failure. Ten extracted teeth were milled to a standardized complete crown preparation, fitted with Rexillium III castings, and cemented with each provisional cement. The specimens were subjected to a tensile load (1 mm/min) until failure in a universal testing machine. The flexural strength for each cement was calculated in MPa and correlated to the retention. A 1-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc analysis were used to determine significant intergroup differences (α=.05). Linear regression was used to correlate flexural strength and crown retention (α=.05). Results Significant differences were found in the flexural strengths and retention provided by the various cements. Flexure strength was correlated with cement retention for resin-based cements (r=0.998) but not zinc-oxide noneugenol cements (r=0.058). Conclusions Based on a 20-degree preparation, stronger cements provide increased retention. Therefore, the desired amount of retention should be based on both the cement and a clinical evaluation of the preparation. (J Prosthet Dent 2007;98:455-460)
Sex-Independent Synthesis of a2u-Globulin and Its Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Rat Preputial Gland: Biochemical and Immunocytochemical Analyses*

α2u-Globulin is the principal urinary protein of the mature male rat. The major urinary source of this protein is the liver where it is synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes under hormonal regulation. High levels of α2u-globulin and its messenger RNA (mRNA) are also present in the preputial gland of both male and female rats, and neither castration nor ovariectomy significantly alters the preputial concentration of this protein and its mRNA. Per unit mass of RNA and protein, the preputial gland as compared to liver contains about 3-fold higher level of α2u-globulin mRNA and about 300-fold higher level of α2u-globulin. Despite a 3-fold (300%) difference in the content of α2u-globulin mRNA, nuclear run-off experiments show only a 30% higher rate of α2u-globulin gene transcription in the preputial gland than in the liver. Immunocytochemical analyses reveal that the liver possesses two α2u-globulin cell populations, one showing higher immunoreactivity than the other. In contrast, the preputial gland contain...
μ-Opioid Receptor and CREB Activation Are Required for Nicotine Reward

Environmental cues associated with nicotine delivery are an important part of the stimulus that sustains smoking behavior and is often coupled with craving and relapse; however, the neuronal circuitry and molecular substrates underlying this process are still poorly understood. Exposure to an environment previously associated with rewarding properties of nicotine results in an increase of CREB phosphorylation similar to that seen following nicotine administration, and this response is absent in MOR(-/-) mice. Moreover, a single administration of an opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, blocks both the conditioned molecular response (CREB phosphorylation) and the conditioned behavioral response (nicotine reward) in a place preference paradigm. Lastly, repeated nicotine administration results in increased expression of MORs. However, this effect, along with rewarding properties of nicotine, is blocked in mice with a targeted disruption in the CREB gene. Together, pharmacologic and genetic manipulations indicate that phosphorylation of CREB and upregulation of functional MORs are required for nicotine-conditioned reward.
Comparative Properties of Transition Metal Catalysts Inferred from Activation Energies of Elementary Steps of Catalytic Reactions

Experimental and calculated values of the activation energies of elementary steps provide insight into the mechanisms of many important catalytic reactions. The collections of these values also present an opportunity to apply knowledge discovery techniques in order to find more general qualitative patterns that are implicit in the data. Here, we apply classical hierarchical clustering and recently developed classification profiling methods to 168 steps and activation energies relevant to carbon dioxide re-forming of methane, compiled for eight different transition metal catalysts. The core fragments of the 168 transition states are defined and used as features. These methods and features address the basic questions of what the similarities and differences among catalysts are and why they are similar or different. The consistency of the results with experimental observations suggests that the methods are reliably predictive.
Untransposed EHV Line Computations

The unbalance caused by connecting a generating station to a large load center by an untransposed series-compensated 500,000-volt bundled-conductor transmission line is analyzed digitally. Calculations are made by representing each conductor individually. Currents and voltages on the line and at apparatus terminals under both normal and faulted conditions are computed. Power angle curves of each phase are plotted. Various methods of decreasing the unbalance are presented.
What’s Writing Got to Do with It?: Citizen Wisdom, Civil Rights Activism, and 21st Century Community Literacy

This article examines what a pedagogy of public rhetoric and community literacy might look like based on an understanding of twentieth century Mexican American civil rights rhetoric. The inductive process of examining archival materials and conducting oral histories informs this discussion on the processes and challenges of gaining civic inclusion. I argue that writing can be both a healing process and an occasion for exercising agency in a world of contingency and uncertainty. To illustrate, I describe several key events shaping the evolution of the post-World War II Mexican American civil rights movement in New Mexico. Taking a case study approach, I begin this chapter by examining the civic discourses of one prominent New Mexico leader in the post-World War II civil rights movement: Vicente Ximenes. As a leader, Ximenes confronted critical civil rights issues about culture and belonging for over fifty years beginning in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a historical moment worth revisiting. First, I set the stage for this examination about writing, citizenship, and civic literacy by analyzing two critical rhetorical moments in the life of this post World War II civil rights activist. Secondly, I connect the Ximenes legacy to a growing movement at the University of New Mexico and the ways that we are making critical responses to current issues facing our local communities in New Mexico. By triangulating social acts of literacy, currently and historically, this article offers organizing principles for Composition teachers and advocates of community literacy serving vulnerable communities in their various spheres of practice.
Binding multiple phosphodiesters with a polyazacleft

Polyazaclefts designed to bind a phosphoric acid ester with either four or two hydrogen bonds were both found to bind multiple phosphoric acid esters in chloroform.
Evaluation of the epinephrine skin test as a biological assay for endotoxin.

SummaryOn the basis of these experiments, we conclude: 1, that the EST is a highly reproducible bioassay for endotoxin; 2, that the EST is about 10 times less sensitive than the chick embryo in terms of volume for volume of test material available. But when the concentration of endotoxin per unit volume is very low, the EST can be much more reliable than the chick embryo test for detecting the presence of endotoxin; 3, that serotonin does not give false positive ESTs for endotoxin; and 4, that circulating endotoxin may be detected in rabbits up to 51/2 hours after a lethal dose of endotoxin intravenously.
Characterization of “linegraph of an affine space”

An incidence structure is a triple (X, B, I) where X and B are disjoint sets and I C X x B. Members of X are called points or vertices, and elements of B are called blocks or lines. A simple, undirected graph is an incidence structure (V, E, I) where for each e E E e is incident with exactly two elements of V. Members of E are commonly known as edges. We shall only consider finite, undirected, simple graphs and as such, we will drop the adjectives. In order to specify the graph G, we often write V(G) as the set of vertices and E(G) as the set of edges. An edge e will also be denoted by (x, y) where x and y are the vertices incident with e. Let G be a graph. Two vertices x and y are said to be adjacent if and only if (x, y) E E(G). If x1 , . . . , xk are vertices of G, then d(x, ,..., xlc> denotes the set of vertices adjacent to all of the xi’s, i = I,..., k, and d(xl ,..., xk) denotes the cardinality of ,4(x, ,..., q). A graph G is said to be regular if and only if every vertex of G has the same vertex degree. Three distinct vertices are said to form a triangle if they are pairwise adjacent. If x, y and z form a triangle in G, then d(x, y, z) is called the triangle-degree of (x, y, z). A 2-w y, z) is a triple of vertices in G such that x is adjacent to both y and z, but y and z are nonadjacent; hence d(x, y, z) is the 2-claw-degree of (x; y, z). A (v, n, A, p) strongly regular graph G is a graph satisfying the following:
Four-dimensional intensity-modulated radiation therapy planning for dynamic tracking using a direct aperture deformation (DAD) method

Purpose: Planning for the delivery of intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) to a moving target, referred to as four-dimensional (4D) IMRT planning, is a crucial step for achieving the treatment objectives for sites that move during treatmentdelivery. The authors proposed a simplistic method that accounts for both rigid and nonrigid respiration-induced target motion based on 4D computed tomography (4DCT) data sets. Methods: A set of MLC apertures and weights was first optimized on a reference phase of a 4DCT data set. At each beam angle, the apertures were morphed from the reference phase to each of the remaining phases according to the relative shape changes in the beam’s eye view of the target. Three different planning schemes were evaluated for two lung cases and one pancreas patient: (1) Individually optimizing each breathing phase; (2) optimizing the reference phase and shifting the optimized apertures to other breathing phases based on a rigid-body image registration; and (3) optimizing the reference phase and deforming the optimized apertures to the other phases based on the deformation and translation of target contours. Planning results using scheme 1 serves as the “gold standard” for plan quality assessment; scheme 2 is the method previously proposed in the literature; and scheme 3 is the method the authors proposed in this article. The optimization results were compared between the three schemes for all three cases. Results: The proposed scheme 3 is comparable to scheme 1 in plan quality, and provides improved target coverage and conformity with similar normal tissue dose compared with scheme 2. Conclusions: Direct aperture deformation method for 4D IMRT planning improves upon methods that only consider rigid-body motion and achieves a plan quality close to that optimized for each of the phases.
Entropy minimization, DAD problems, and doubly stochastic kernels

Abstract The classical DAD problem asks, for a square matrix A with nonnegative entries, when it is possible to find positive diagonal matrices D 1 and D 2 with D 1 AD 2 doubly stochastic. We consider various continuous and measurable generalizations of this problem. Through a fusion of variational and fixed point techniques we obtain strong analogues of the classical results. Our extensions appear inaccessible by either technique separately.
Perchlorate identification in fertilizers

Perchlorate has contaminated groundwater, drinking water, and soils at several locations in the United States. The primary source of contamination at sites that have been investigated to date seems to be from industrial and military operations that use perchlorate as an oxidizing agent. However, recent examination of several fertilizers and fertilizer components showed that perchlorate is present at levels up to 0.84 wt %. These preliminary results suggest that fertilizers could be a source for perchlorate accumulation in the food chain.
Adaptation of Fire Blight Forecasting to Optimize the Use of Biological Controls.

ABSTRACT We investigated adaptation of fire blight forecasting concepts to incorporate and optimize the use of biological agents for disease suppression. The effect of temperature on growth of the bacterial antagonists, Pseudomonas fluorescens A506 and Pantoea agglomerans C9-1S, and of the pathogen Erwinia amylovora153N, on pear and apple blossoms was evaluated in growth chamber and screenhouse experiments. New blossoms were inoculated with the strains and subsequent growth was measured over 96 h. Bacterial growth rates on blossoms were described as functions of temperature. A degree hour-based “bacterial growth index” (96-h moving total of degree hours >10°C) was created to assess conduciveness of orchard environments for antagonist colonization. A comparison of this index to a disease risk index indicated that biocon-trol treatments could be timed such that the antagonists could be expected to grow to an effective population size before the disease index shifted from “low” to “moderate” risk. For six pe...
Detection of ovine herpesvirus 2 major capsid gene transcripts as an indicator of virus replication in shedding sheep and clinically affected animals

The aim of this study was to identify tissues where ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) replication occurs in vivo. A reverse-transcriptase PCR targeting the OvHV-2 major capsid protein gene (ORF 25) was developed and the presence of transcripts used as an indicator of virus replication in naturally infected sheep, and cattle and bison with sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF). ORF 25 transcripts were detected in 18 of 60 (30%) turbinate, trachea, and lung samples from five sheep experiencing a shedding episode; 12 of the 18 positive samples were turbinates. ORF 25 transcripts were not detected in any other tissue from the shedding sheep (n = 55). In contrast, 86 of 102 (84%) samples from clinically affected bovine and bison tissues, including brain, kidney, intestine, and bladder, had ORF 25 transcripts. The data strongly suggest that OvHV-2 replication is localized to the respiratory tract of shedding sheep, predominantly in the turbinate, while it occurs in virtually all tissues of cattle and bison with SA-MCF. These findings represent an important initial step in understanding viral pathogenesis, and in potentially establishing a system for OvHV-2 propagation in vitro.
Epidemiology and outcomes of carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteriuria in kidney transplant recipients

Background Little is known about the epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) bacteriuria following kidney transplantation. We determined the incidence of post-transplant CRKP bacteriuria in adults who underwent kidney transplant from 2007 to 2010 at 2 New York City centers. Methods We conducted a case–control study to identify factors associated with CRKP bacteriuria compared with carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae (CSKP) bacteriuria, assessed whether CRKP bacteriuria was associated with mortality or graft failure, and compared outcomes of treated episodes of CRKP and CSKP bacteriuria. Results Of 1852 transplants, 20 (1.1%) patients developed CRKP bacteriuria. Factors associated with CRKP bacteriuria included receipt of multiple organs (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–20.4), deceased-donor allograft (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.3–26.8), transplant admission length of stay (OR 1.1 per day, 95% CI 1.0–1.1), pre-transplant CRKP infection or colonization (OR 18.3, 95% CI 2.0–170.5), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.0–7.8), and receipt of antimicrobials other than trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.6–11.2). Conclusion Compared to CSKP bacteriuria, CRKP bacteriuria was associated with increased mortality (30% vs. 10%, P = 0.03) but not graft failure. Treated episodes of CRKP bacteriuria were less likely to achieve microbiologic clearance (83% vs. 97%; P = 0.05) and more likely to recur within 3 months (50% vs. 22%, P = 0.02) than CSKP episodes. CRKP bacteriuria after kidney transplant is associated with mortality and antimicrobial failure after treatment.
Templates for selecting PC-based synthetic environments for application to human performance enhancement and training

This report covers two analyses that were conducted on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) synthetic environments (SEs), in this case games. (1.) Analysis 1 used a factor analysis on a set of 19 self-reported cognitive skills exercised while respondents played various PC-based games. The results verified the hypothesis that a few general cognitive phases could be drawn from the 19 variables. The four meaningful and predictable factors were detection (D), understanding (U), decision-making (DM), and execution (E). These factors represent general cognitive stages found in human factors literature such as situational awareness theory. (2.) The second analysis correlated the four derived factors with the participants' self-report of specific game enjoyment features. The outcome of this project provided a set of blueprints or templates for proper selection of COTS SEs and their components when attempting to apply them for enhancing human performance or training utility.
Osteopontin and β3 Integrin Are Coordinately Expressed in Regenerating Endothelium In Vivo and Stimulate Arg-Gly-Asp–Dependent Endothelial Migration In Vitro

Osteopontin is an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing acidic glycoprotein postulated to mediate cellular adhesion and migration in a growing number of normal and pathological conditions through interaction with integrin molecules. In this report, we have investigated the potential contributions of osteopontin and one of its receptors, the alpha v beta 3 integrin, to endothelial regenerative processes by using both in vivo and in vitro models. In vivo, uninjured rat arterial endothelium had undetectable levels of osteopontin and beta 3-integrin mRNA by in situ hybridization. After balloon catheter denudation, osteopontin mRNA levels correlated temporally and spatially with active endothelial proliferation and migration, with the highest levels observed at the wound edge between 8 hours and 2 weeks after injury, declining to uninjured levels at 6 weeks, when regeneration was complete. Osteopontin protein levels, as determined by immunocytochemistry, paralleled the time course of mRNA expression. Likewise, beta 3-integrin mRNA and protein levels were substantially elevated in regenerating endothelial cells but were not detectable in uninjured or healed endothelium. In vitro, rat smooth muscle cell-derived and bacterial expressed mouse recombinant osteopontins both stimulated the adhesion and directed migration of bovine aortic endothelial cells through interactions with the alpha v beta 3 receptor. Structural mutants of osteopontin confirmed the importance of the RGD domain for both adhesion and migration of endothelial cells through alpha v beta 3. These data suggest important roles for osteopontin and beta 3 integrin in regenerating endothelium.
Comparison of hybrid FDMA/CDMA systems in frequency selective Rayleigh fading

A hybrid FDMA/CDMA scheme operating over a frequency selective Rayleigh fading channel is described and analyzed. The performance of the hybrid system is then compared with that of a wideband CDMA system occupying the same total bandwidth. Both coherent and noncoherent modulation formats are investigated; it is found that, for coherent modulation with a RAKE receiver, wideband CDMA has greater capacity than does the hybrid. However, for the noncoherent modulation formats (either DPSK or square-law detected orthogonal signalling), a hybrid system can have a greater capacity if a high channel error rate can be tolerated. Otherwise, a wideband noncoherent system remains optimal. >
Perfusion imaging using dynamic arterial spin labeling (DASL).

Recently, a technique based on arterial spin labeling, called dynamic arterial spin labeling (DASL (Magn Reson Med 1999;41:299‐ 308)), has been introduced to measure simultaneously the transit time of the labeled blood from the labeling plane to the exchange site, the longitudinal relaxation time of the tissue, and the perfusion of the tissue. This technique relies on the measurement of the tissue magnetization response to a time varying labeling function. The analysis of the characteristics of the tissue magnetization response (transit time, filling time constant, and perfusion) allows for quantification of the tissue perfusion and for transit time map computations. In the present work, the DASL scheme is used in conjuction with echo planar imaging at 4.7 T to produce brain maps of perfusion and transit time in the anesthetized rat, under graded hypercapnia. The data obtained show the variation of perfusion and transit time as a function of arterial pCO2. Based on the data, CO2 reactivity maps are computed. Magn Reson Med 45:1021‐1029, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. †
Quantifying Changes in Innovation: Patenting Activity and IPR Regimes *

This paper develops a sequential application-grant framework to analyze how changes in patent regimes influence an inventor’s propensity to patent. Using the two changes in the U.S. patent system during the mid-eighties and early nineties, we distinguish between increases in patenting activity due to (a) the lowered cost of patenting (friendly court hypothesis) and (b) lowered patent examination standards (regime laxity hypothesis). Results from the empirical models show that the patent surge of the mid-1980s can be partly attributed to the “friendly court hypothesis.” The 1990s surge cannot be attributed to regime laxity and was a result of increasing world inventiveness.
T cell responses in calcineurin A alpha-deficient mice.

We have created embryonic stem (ES) cells and mice lacking the predominant isoform (alpha) of the calcineurin A subunit (CNA alpha) to study the role of this serine/threonine phosphatase in the immune system. T and B cell maturation appeared to be normal in CNA alpha -/- mice. CNA alpha -/- T cells responded normally to mitogenic stimulation (i.e., PMA plus ionomycin, concanavalin A, and anti-CD3 epsilon antibody). However, CNA alpha -/- mice generated defective antigen-specific T cell responses in vivo. Mice produced from CNA alpha -/- ES cells injected into RAG-2-deficient blastocysts had a similar defective T cell response, indicating that CNA alpha is required for T cell function per se, rather than for an activity of other cell types involved in the immune response. CNA alpha -/- T cells remained sensitive to both cyclosporin A and FK506, suggesting that CNA beta or another CNA-like molecule can mediate the action of these immunosuppressive drugs. CNA alpha -/- mice provide an animal model for dissecting the physiologic functions of calcineurin as well as the effects of FK506 and CsA.
Design of a 3-D Fractal Heatsink Antenna

A new type of dual-function structure is presented, a 3-D fractal heatsink antenna. This design is simulated at different fractal iterations in Ansoft HFSS and ePhysics to assess its electromagnetic and thermal performance, relative to a patch antenna and a finned heatsink antenna. It compares favorably to a patch antenna, improving radiation efficiency (up to 0.98) and directivity (up to 8.21 dB). As a heatsink, it decreases thermal resistance in comparison to a typical finned heatsink by an order of magnitude.
In vitro effects of a thiopeptide and monensin on ruminal fermentation of soluble carbohydrates.

Abstract Using a purified diet and a mixed culture of ruminal microorganisms, we studied the in vitro effects of a sulfur-containing peptide (A10255) and monensin on ruminal VFA and lactic acid concentrations. After 22h of fermentation, total VFA concentration was greater in cultures with A10255 and monensin (2.5ppm each) than in untreated controls (84.1, 91.9, and 65.2m M for cultures with A10255, monensin, and control, respectively). The molar proportions of propionate were more than 40% greater, and the molar proportions of acetate were about 15% less, in treated than in untreated cultures. The molar proportions of the remaining VFA were lowest in monensin-treated cultures, intermediate in A10255-treated cultures, and greatest in untreated cultures. Addition of A10255 or monensin also prevented the accumulation of lactate and maintained higher pH than in untreated cultures. In pure culture, growth of Streprococcus bovis was slowed by A10255 at pH 5.5 and 6.5. Growth of S. bovis was reduced markedly with addition of monensin at pH 6.5 and inhibited at pH 5.5. Growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus was inhibited more at pH 5.5 than 6.5 with monensin but was unaffected by A10255. The thiopeptide A10255 and monensin inhibited ruminal lactate production, but sensitivities of lactate-producing bacteria differed between compounds.
Structuring the Talk: Ensuring Academic Conversations Matter

Abstract This article focuses on structures that should be in place to engage students in academic discussions. The authors focus on establishing purpose, using language frames, and productive group work. The authors provide multiple examples of students engaged in structured conversations that ensure they practice both content and language.
Orientations of transfer RNA in the ribosomal A and P sites

In protein synthesis, peptide bond formation requires that the tRNA carrying the amino acid (A site tRNA) contact the tRNA carrying the growing peptide chain (P site tRNA) at their 3' termini. Two models have been proposed for the orientations of two tRNAs as they would be bound to the mRNA in the ribosome. Viewing the tRNA as an upside down L, anticodon loop pointing down, acceptor stem pointing right, and calling this the front view, the R (Rich) model would have the back of the P site tRNA facing the front of the A site tRNA. In the S (Sundaralingam) model the front of the P site tRNA faces the back of the A site tRNA. Models of two tRNAs bound to mRNA as they would be positioned in the ribosomal A and P sites have been created using MC-SYM, a constraint satisfaction search program designed to build nucleic acid structures. The models incorporate information from fluorescence energy transfer experiments and chemical crosslinks. The models that best answer the constraints are of the S variety, with no R conformations produced consistent with the constraints.
Delaunay: a database visualization system

Visual query systems have traditionally supported a set of pre-defined visual displays. We describe the Delaunay system, which supports visualizations of object-oriented databases specified by the user with a visual constraint-based query language. The highlights of our approach are the expressiveness of the visual query language, the efficiency of the query engine, and the overall flexibility and extensibility of the framework. The user interface is implemented using Java and is available on the WWW.
In situ creation of nanoparticles from YBCO by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract Nanoparticles created by the laser ablation of YBCO are reported. The experimental procedure entailed pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of YBCO at a high background pressure of 5 Torr O2. The sizes of the nanoparticles range from ∼3 to 5 nm and are typical of the depositions made using laser energies of 50 mJ per pulse. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to characterize the PLD plume. Under nanoparticle deposition conditions, the visible plume emission is very weak. Even so, the distribution among electronically excited states cannot be described by a single temperature. The plume remains collisionally dynamic even at high pressures and low laser energies and retains considerable excitation when nanoparticles are formed.
DNA sequence variants in the LOXL1 gene are associated with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in a U.S. clinic-based population with broad ethnic diversity

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a major risk factor for glaucoma in many populations throughout the world. Using a U.S. clinic-based case control sample with broad ethnic diversity, we show that three common SNPs in LOXL1 previously associated with pseudoexfoliation in Nordic populations are significantly associated with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Three LOXL1 SNPs were genotyped in a patient sample (206 pseudoexfoliation, 331 primary open angle glaucoma, and 88 controls) from the Glaucoma Consultation Service at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The SNPs were evaluation for association with pseudeoexfoliation syndrome, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and primary open angle glaucoma. The strongest association was found for the G allele of marker rs3825942 (G153D) with a frequency of 99% in pseudoexfoliation patients (with and without glaucoma) compared with 79% in controls (p = 1.6 × 10-15; OR = 20.93, 95%CI: 8.06, 54.39). The homozygous GG genotype is also associated with pseudoexfoliation when compared to controls (p = 1.2 × 10-12; OR = 23.57, 95%CI: 7.95, 69.85). None of the SNPs were significantly associated with primary open angle glaucoma. The pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a common cause of glaucoma. These results indicate that the G153D LOXL1 variant is significantly associated with an increased risk of pseudoexfoliation and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in an ethnically diverse patient population from the Northeastern United States. Given the high prevalence of pseudooexfoliation in this geographic region, these results also indicate that the G153D LOXL1 variant is a significant risk factor for adult-onset glaucoma in this clinic based population.
Myocardial Infarction following Administration of Sublingual Ergotamine

Ergotamine is commonly used in the treatment of migraine headache. Since migraine may be associated with variant angina, some patients with migraine may develop coronary ischemia following therapy with ergotamine. We describe a young woman with migraine who had two myocardial infarctions following low dose sublingual ergotamine. We feel that the ergotamine was an important precipitating cause in both infarctions.
Blood Pressure and the Obese

With the prevalence of obesity escalating globally, an increasing number of patients who are obese are seeking elective or requiring emergency surgery. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are challenged to provide vigilant, safe care. The ability to provide supportive therapy and make anesthetic adjustments is often hindered with obesity. Although technological advancements may enhance patient care delivery, health care providers must question why and how specific tasks are performed. Health care providers should challenge themselves to acquire and evaluate current evidence that enables communication with colleagues, dissemination of findings to health care providers worldwide, and implementation of evidence-based practice.