Data systems for the Linac coherent light source

The data systems for X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) experiments at the Linac coherent light source (LCLS) are described. These systems are designed to acquire and to reliably transport shot-by-shot data at a peak throughput of 5 GB/s to the offline data storage where experimental data and the relevant metadata are archived and made available for user analysis. The analysis and monitoring implementation (AMI) and Photon Science ANAlysis (psana) software packages are described. Psana is open source and freely available.

Data systems for the Linac Coherent Light Source

The data acquisition and data management systems for X-ray free-electron laser experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source are described. These systems are designed to acquire and to reliably transport shot-by-shot data at a peak throughput of 5 GB s−1to the offline data storage, where experimental data and the relevant metadata are archived and made available for user analysis. A case study of a serial femtosecond crystallography pipeline is presented.

Analysis of the N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid contents of glycoproteins by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

Presence or absence of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) can change a sialylated glycoprotein's serum half-life and possibly its function. We evaluated the linearity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of a HPAEC/PAD method to determine its suitability for routine simultaneous analysis of Neu5Ac and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). An effective internal standard for this analysis is 3-deoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid (KDN). We investigated the effect of the Au working electrode recession and determined that linear range and sensitivity were dependent on electrode recession. Using an electrode that was 350 microm recessed from the electrode block, the minimum detection limits of Neu5Ac, KDN, and Neu5Gc were 2, 5, and 2 pmol, respectively, and were reduced to 1, 2, and 0.5 pmol using a new electrode. The response of standards was linear from 10 to 500 pmol (r2>0.99) regardless of electrode recession. When Neu5Ac, KDN, and Neu5Gc (200 pmol each) were analyzed repetitively for 48 h, area RSDs were <3%. Reproducibility was unaffected when injections of glycoprotein neuraminidase and acid digestions were interspersed with standard injections. Area RSDs of Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc improved when the internal standard was used. We determined the precision and accuracy of this method for both a recessed and a new working electrode by analyzing Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc contents of bovine fetuin and bovine and human transferrins. Results were consistent with published values and independent of the working electrode. The sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of this method make it suitable for direct routine analysis of glycoprotein Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc contents.

Use of the GnRH analogue, deslorelin acetate, in a slow-release implant to accelerate ovulation in oestrous mares

In two separate controlled clinical trials, the efficacy and safety of 2.2 mg of the GnRH analogue deslorelin, administered subcutaneously as a short-term implant to normally cycling mares in oestrus with a dominant ovarian follicle more than 30 mm in diameter, were evaluated, using a placebo as a negative control. The oestrous cycle of each mare was followed by teasing, palpation per rectum and transrectal ultrasonography. Follicles were monitored every 24 hours by ultrasonography until ovulation occurred. The mares were either mated naturally or inseminated artificially. In trial 1, 174 mares were treated at six locations in Canada, and in trial 2, 98 mares were treated at three locations in the USA. In trial 1, the treatment with deslorelin reduced the mean (sd) time to ovulation from 84.2 (48.4) hours to 50.2 (19.6) hours (P < 0.001) and in trial 2 it reduced it from 88.8 (40.3) hours to 54.1 (26.5) hours (P < 0.001). In trial 1, the percentage of mares ovulating within 48 hours increased from 37.7 per cent in control mares to 86.1 per cent in treated mares (P < 0.001) and in trial 2 the percentage increased from 26.5 to 80.9 per cent (P < 0.001). In trial 2, the duration of oestrus in the deslorelin-treated mares was reduced from 6.1 days to 4.3 days and the number of matings or artificial inseminations was reduced from 2.5 to 1.7 (P < 0.001). In trial 1, days 12 to 20 pregnancy rates for matings at the treatment oestrus were not different for deslorelin-treated (75.6 per cent) and placebo-treated (66.1 per cent) mares. In trial 2, days 12 to 20 pregnancy rates from matings at the treatment oestrus were lower for deslorelin-treated (58.7 per cent) than for placebo-treated (83.3 per cent) mares (P < 0.05), although pregnancy rates were similar for deslorelin-treated (97.1 per cent) and placebo-treated (95.0 per cent) mares after mating at the second oestrus. In both trials, pregnancy losses due to early or late abortions were within the normally expected range and similar for deslorelin-treated (3.6 and 3.7 per cent, respectively) and placebo-treated (13.4 and 7.5 per cent) mares. The treatments did not cause systemic side effects and local reactions at the implantation sites were slight and of short duration.

Apoptosis induced in cultured rat embryos by intra-amniotically microinjected sodium nitroprusside

Previously, we reported that massive cell death was induced in the mesencephalic area of cultured rat embryos after embryos of gestational day 10.5 were intra-amniotically microinjected with sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 800 microM) and cultured for 24 hr at 37 degrees C. The massive cell death apparently was the result of NO-mediated embryotoxicity. Damage was concentration dependent and tissue specific. In follow-up studies, we now report evidence that NO generated from SNP induces apoptosis in organogenesis stage cultured rat embryos. Nile blue sulfate (NBS) staining suggested that microinjections of 400 microM SNP induced apoptosis in the mesencephalic area. Since we observed no massive cell death ("white caps") at this concentration, it appeared that early stages of apoptosis preceded "white cap" formation. At 800 microM SNP, total disintegration of cell bodies was evident and may have resulted from later stages of aoptosis or necrosis, or both. The "white caps" per se, an accumulation of disintegrated cell bodies, did not stain with NBS, probably due to total loss of cell integrity and resultant coagulation. The majority of the coagulated dead cells in the "white caps" were heavily stained with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine via in situ 3' end-labeling with terminal transferase. However, it is now known that NO can damage DNA directly and that in situ 3' end-labeling by terminal transferase detects not only apoptosis but also random DNA breakage. Increased 3' end-labeling and a "DNA ladder" were detectable within 5-10 hr after exposure of day 10.5 embryos to 400 or 800 microM of microinjected SNP. Some smear background was also observed in the "ladder." Rostral aspects of embryos exhibited more prominent indices of apoptosis than caudal regions. The results suggested that microinjections of SNP into the amniotic fluid of day 10.5 cultured rat embryos induces NO-mediated cell death in the mesencephalic and rhombencephalic regions by the process of apoptosis or of both apoptosis and necrosis, depending on the timing, concentration, and stage of gestation.

Pregnancy related coronary artery dissection: a case report and collective review

There have been 31 patients with pregnancy related coronary artery dissection reported in the medical literature. We report a case of both right and left coronary artery dissection in a postpartum patient. A collective review of the clinical course, risk factors, and treatment specific mortality rates of coronary artery dissection in near term and postpartum females is discussed. The mean age was 33, the mean parity was 2.7, and the mean time span was 20 days postpartum. Twenty-two percent had known risk factors for coronary artery disease. Eighty-four percent involved the left anterior descending artery. Overall mortality was 66%. Of the patients that were alive on admission, 61% were treated medically (n = 11) with a 64% mortality; 39% were treated surgically (n = 7) with a 0% mortality. We conclude that pregnancy related coronary artery dissection occurs in otherwise healthy women near term or within three months postpartum. Multiparity and advanced maternal age may be risk factors. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment may improve outcome.

Time urgency: the construct and its measurement

Time urgency may be an important construct in industrial and organizational psychology. Preliminary analyses have indicated that time urgency may be multidimensional, and available self-report measures have been criticized on psychometric grounds. The present research addressed the dimensionality of time urgency. Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS), in which behavioral statements are substituted for qualitative anchors, were used to construct time urgency measures. The BARS technique produced multidimensional measures of time urgency that possessed adequate reliability and construct validity. The scales were tested on a wide variety of subjects. It is concluded that time urgency is a multidimensional construct. Relationships between the time urgency measures, job satisfaction, and work stress are discussed in light of previous research findings.

Phenotypic characterization of the transgenic mouse insertional mutation, legless

In this report, we describe the dysmorphologic phenotype associated with the transgenic insertional mutation legless. This autosomal recessive, perinatally lethal mutation results in an interesting pleiotropic array of congenital malformations. The phenotype of the legless mutation in homozygous perinatal mutants is compared to wild-type nontransgenic and heterozygous siblings. Skeletal, craniofacial, and visceral malformations are characterized. We have observed by skeletal analysis a consistent loss of distal hindlimb structures, as well as the loss of distal forelimb structures with a predilection for the preaxial side of the developing forelimb. Craniofacial malformations commonly observed appear to represent a range of severity of affect, with the mildest manifestation evident as apparently shallow lateral clefts of the upper lip and mild midfacial clefts accompanied by clefts of the secondary palate. At the severe end of the spectrum, the midline clefts of the face (and secondary palate) are very wide, with obvious accompanying frontonasal encephaloceles and overt lateral clefts of the upper lip. Examination of the mutant brain has demonstrated marked defects in the anterior structures, particularly the olfactory lobes and cerebrum, in greater than 90% of the brains studied. Observation of the internal viscera has identified transposition of thoracic and abdominal organs in approximately 50% of the mutant offspring. The limb, head, and visceral defects were not observed in the wild-type nontransgenic or heterozygous siblings. Transgenic insertional mutations leading to congenital malformations are useful because the transgene sequence may serve as a tag to facilitate molecular retrieval. Analysis of the flanking DNA sequences will allow the identification of the interrupted gene. A complete description of the mutant phenotype will assist in the understanding of this genetic locus.

Thrombotic complications of umbilical artery catheters: A clinical and radiographic study

Catheterization of the aorta via the umbilical artery provides a convenient route for monitoring arterial blood pressure, for obtaining blood specimens for measurement of blood gas tensions and chemistries, and for the infusion of fluids and pharmacologic preparations in sick newborn infants. Use of this technique may be accompanied by a number of complications of which thrombotic phenomena are the most common. Twenty-three of 98 (24%) newborn infants undergoing umbilical artery catheterization were found to have thrombotic complication determined by aortography. No correlation was present between the duration of time that the umbilical artery catheters were in place and the occurrence of thrombotic complications. From paired aortographic or aortographic and autopsy studies in 24 patients, it was concluded that if a thrombotic complication did not occur early, none was likely to occur subsequently. One patient was considered to have died as a direct result of a thrombotic complication. Aortography is a safe, simple, and reliable technique for the early detection of thrombotic complications of umbilical artery catheters. Umbilical artery catheterization is not without risk and careful selection of patients for this procedure is indicated.