TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage classify if the passage has a definite objective/aim/goal or not. Output '1' if the passage has a defininte objective/aim/goal and output '0' if the passage does not have a definite objective/aim/goal.
PROBLEM: Gap junction channels provide for direct electrical coupling between cells, and play an important role in homeostasis and electrical coupling. One of the proteins that form gap junctions, Connexin40 (Cx40), shows restricted expression in the body, and is found in blood vessels and in the atrium and conduction system of the heart. We have investigated whether gap junction channels formed of Cx40 are modulated by protein-kinase-A-mediated phosphorylation.', 'A communication-deficient human hepatoma cell line (SKHep1) was stably transfected with human Cx40 cDNA and the properties of Cx40 gap junctions channels and their modulation by cAMP were analyzed using immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, dual patch clamp, and dye coupling.', 'Administration of 1 mM 8-Br-cAMP resulted in a mobility shift of Cx40 protein on western blot and increased macroscopic gap junctional conductance between cell pairs by 46.2 +/- 12.0% (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 8). Under control conditions, single channel experiments revealed three single channel conductances around 30, 80 and 120 pS. When cAMP was added, channel conductances of 46 and 120 pS were observed. In monolayers, cAMP also increased the permeability of Cx40 gap junction channels for Lucifer Yellow by 58%.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: We designed and tested an innovative transitional care program, involving cardiac surgery nurse practitioners, to improve care continuity after patient discharge home from coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations and decrease the composite end point of 30-day readmission and death.', 'A total of 401 consecutive CABG patients were eligible between May 1, 2010, and August 31, 2011, for analysis. Patient data were entered prospectively into The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database and the New York State Cardiac Surgery Reporting System and retrospectively analyzed with Institutional Review Board approval. The "Follow Your Heart" program enrolled 169 patients, and 232 controls received usual care. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify readmission predictors, and propensity score matching was performed with 13 covariates.', 'Binary logistic regression analysis identified "Follow Your Heart" as the only independently significant variable in preventing the composite outcome (p=0.015). Odds ratios for readmission were 3.11 for dialysis patients, 2.17 for Medicaid recipients, 1.87 for women, 1.86 for non-Caucasians, 1.78 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 1.26 for diabetes, and 1.09 for congestive heart failure. Propensity score matching yielded matches for 156 intervention patients (92%). The intervention showed a significantly lower 30-day readmission/death rate of 3.85% (6 of 156) compared with 11.54% (18 of 156) for the usual care matched group (p=0.023).

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: Proper fluoroscopic education and protocols may reduce the patient radiation dose but few prospective studies in urology have been performed. Using optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters we tested whether fluoroscopy time and/or entrance skin dose would decrease after educational and radiation reduction protocols.', 'At default manufacturer settings fluoroscopy time and entrance skin dose were prospectively measured using optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters in patients undergoing ureteroscopy, retrograde pyelogram/stent or percutaneous nephrolithotomy with access for stone disease. Avalidated radiation safety competency test was administered to urology faculty and residents before and after web based, hands-on fluoroscopy training. Defaultfluoroscopy settings were changed from continuous to intermittent pulserate and from standard to half-dose output. Fluoroscopy time and entrance skin dose were then measured again.', 'The cohorts of 44 pre-protocol and 50 post-protocol patients with stones were similarly matched. The change in mean fluoroscopy time and entrance skin dose from pre-protocol to post-protocol was -0.6 minutes and -11.6 mGy (33%) for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (p = 0.62 and <0.001), 0.5 minutes and -0.1mGy (34%) for ureteroscopy (p = 0.42 and 0.31), and 0.1 minute and -0.1 mGy (29%) for retrograde pyelogram/stent (p = 0.85 and 0.49, respectively). Urologist post-training test scores increased 30% from pretraining scores (p=0.1).

SOLUTION:
1