University of Nebraska Omaha

About: University of Nebraska Omaha is a education organization based out in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 4526 authors who have published 8905 publications receiving 213914 citations. The organization is also known as: UNO & University of Omaha.

Association of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide with postoperative cardiac events in patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm or leg bypass.

Abstract: Postoperative cardiac events are related to myocardial ischemia and reduced left ventricular function. The utility of N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) for preoperative cardiac risk evaluation has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess whether plasma NT-pro-BNP predicts postoperative cardiac events in patients who undergo major vascular surgery in addition to clinical and dobutamine stress echocardiographic data. One hundred seventy consecutive patients scheduled for major noncardiac vascular surgery were prospectively evaluated by dobutamine stress echocardiographic and NT-pro-BNP measurements. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictors of cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction during a follow-up of 30-days. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off value of NT-pro-BNP to predict outcome. Patients' mean age was 59 +/- 13 years, and 71% were men. The median NT-pro-BNP level was 110 pg/ml (interquartile range 42 to 389). Cardiac events occurred in 2 of 144 patients (1.4%) with NT-pro-BNP or=533 pg/ml (unadjusted odds ratio 52, 95% confidence interval 11 to 256, p <0.0001). After adjustment for cardiac risk factors and dobutamine stress echocardiographic results, NT-pro-BNP remained significantly associated with cardiac events (adjusted odds ratio 17, 95% confidence interval 3 to 106, p = 0.002). In conclusion, in patients scheduled for major vascular surgery, elevated plasma NT-pro-BNP levels are independently associated with an increased risk for postoperative cardiac events. Further studies in a larger number of patients are required to confirm these findings.

Naming and placing the other: power and the urban landscape in Zanzibar

Abstract: Place names mark the spatiality of power relationships, but toponymy has yet to be reexamined in light of human geography's recent philosophical and theoretical emphasis on power and language. This essay utilizes the example of Zanzibar's Ng'ambo neighborhoods, literally the city's ‘Other Side’, in order to show how toponymy and boundary-making embody a complex spatial discourse on power. Rather than simply reflecting the impress of state or elite ideologies, the toponymic tapestry of the Other Side and the micro-geographies of boundary-making that accompany it indicate die presence of many interwoven layers of power in the landscape. Toponymy and the accompanying emplacement process can thus be rich sources for analysis of the ‘capillary’ nature of power.

EphA2 overexpression is associated with angiogenesis in ovarian cancer.

Abstract: BACKGROUND. EphA2 is overexpressed in the majority of ovarian cancers and predicts poor clinical outcome. Based on EphA2's emerging role in angiogenesis, we hypothesized that tumors overexpressing EphA2 demonstrate greater microvessel density (MVD) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. METHODS. After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, 77 invasive epithelial ovarian tumors were analyzed for CD31, EphA2, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP expression. RESULTS. The median age of the patients was 59 years (range, 34-83). EphA2 was overexpressed in 76% of tumors and was associated with advanced-stage disease (P 12.7 vessels/high-power field [HPF]) versus low (≤12.7 vessels/HPF) counts. High MVD was significantly associated with advanced stage (P < .001), presence of ascites (P < .001), and suboptimal surgical cytoreduction (P = .01). MMP expression was scored separately in the stromal (percentage of tumors with high expression: MMP-2 = 43%; MMP-9 = 74%; MT1-MMP = 40%) and epithelial (percentage of tumors with high expression: MMP-2 = 52%; MMP-9 = 61%; MT1-MMP = 44%) compartments. Endothelial cell EphA2 overexpression correlated with epithelial MMP-9 (P = .02), whereas EphA2 overexpression in tumor cells was significantly associated with high MVD (P = .002), as well as strong stromal and epithelial MMP-9 (P = .01 and P = .04, respectively), epithelial MMP-2 (P = .006), and epithelial MT1-MMP (P = .01) expression. CONCLUSIONS. EphA2 overexpression in endothelial and ovarian cancer cells was strongly associated with critical factors involved in angiogenesis and invasion. These findings may explain the poor clinical outcome of patients with EphA2 overexpression. Cancer 2007. © 2006 American Cancer Society.

SBML Qualitative Models: a model representation format and infrastructure to foster interactions between qualitative modelling formalisms and tools

Abstract: Background: Qualitative frameworks, especially those based on the logical discrete formalism, are increasingly used to model regulatory and signalling networks. A major advantage of these frameworks is that they do not require precise quantitative data, and that they are well-suited for studies of large networks. While numerous groups have developed specific computational tools that provide original methods to analyse qualitative models, a standard format to exchange qualitative models has been missing. Results: We present the System Biology Markup Language (SBML) Qualitative Models Package ("qual"), an extension of the SBML Level 3 standard designed for computer representation of qualitative models of biological networks. We demonstrate the interoperability of models via SBML qual through the analysis of a specific signalling network by three independent software tools. Furthermore, the cooperative development of the SBML qual format paved the way for the development of LogicalModel, an open-source model library, which will facilitate the adoption of the format as well as the collaborative development of algorithms to analyze qualitative models. Conclusion: SBML qual allows the exchange of qualitative models among a number of complementary software tools. SBML qual has the potential to promote collaborative work on the development of novel computational approaches, as well as on the specification and the analysis of comprehensive qualitative models of regulatory and signalling networks.

Math proficiency: a key to success for computer science students

Abstract: A computer science aptitude predictor was administered to students enrolled in a first technical course in computer science to determine potential for success. The study revealed significant differences in the scoring between students who withdrew from the course and those students who did not. The causes for the differences all related to the students' mathematical background: high school performance, previous computer science education, and the number of college mathematics courses taken.