University of Utah

About: University of Utah is a education organization based out in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 52894 authors who have published 124076 publications receiving 5265834 citations. The organization is also known as: The U & The University of Utah.

Properties and performance of the prototype instrument for the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract: Construction of the first stage of the Pierre Auger Observatory has begun. The aim of the Observatory is to collect unprecedented information about cosmic rays above 1018 eV. The first phase of the project, the construction and operation of a prototype system, known as the engineering array, has now been completed. It has allowed all of the sub-systems that will be used in the full instrument to be tested under field conditions. In this paper, the properties and performance of these sub-systems are described and their success illustrated with descriptions of some of the events recorded thus far. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Elastin is an essential determinant of arterial morphogenesis

Abstract: Elastin, the main component of the extracellular matrix of arteries, was thought to have a purely structural role. Disruption of elastin was believed to lead to dissection of arteries, but we showed that mutations in one allele encoding elastin cause a human disease in which arteries are blocked, namely, supravalvular aortic stenosis. Here we define the role of elastin in arterial development and disease by generating mice that lack elastin. These mice die of an obstructive arterial disease, which results from subendothelial cell proliferation and reorganization of smooth muscle. These cellular changes are similar to those seen in atherosclerosis. However, lack of elastin is not associated with endothelial damage, thrombosis or inflammation, which occur in models of atherosclerosis. Haemodynamic stress is not associated with arterial obstruction in these mice either, as the disease still occurred in arteries that were isolated in organ culture and therefore not subject to haemodynamic stress. Disruption of elastin is enough to induce subendothelial proliferation of smooth muscle and may contribute to obstructive arterial disease. Thus, elastin has an unanticipated regulatory function during arterial development, controlling proliferation of smooth muscle and stabilizing arterial structure.

Phenotype and genotype of pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Abstract: The dismal prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is due in part due to a lack of molecular information regarding disease development. Established cell lines remain a useful tool for investigating these molecular events. Here we present a review of available information on commonly used PA cell lines as a resource to help investigators select the cell lines most appropriate for their particular research needs. Information on clinical history, in vitro and in vivo growth characteristics, phenotypic characteristics, such as adhesion, invasion, migration and tumorigenesis, and genotypic status of commonly altered genes (KRAS, p53, p16, and SMAD4) was evaluated. Identification of both consensus and discrepant information in the literature suggests careful evaluation before selection of cell lines and attention be given to cell line authentication.

Long QT syndrome patients with mutations of the SCN5A and HERG genes have differential responses to Na+ channel blockade and to increases in heart rate : implications for gene-specific therapy

Abstract: Background The genes for the long QT syndrome (LQTS) linked to chromosomes 3 (LQT3) and 7 (LQT2) were identified as SCN5A, the cardiac Na+ channel gene, and as HERG, a K+ channel gene. These findings opened the possibility of attempting gene-specific control of ventricular repolarization. We tested the hypothesis that the QT interval would shorten more in LQT3 than in LQT2 patients in response to mexiletine and also in response to increases in heart rate. Methods and Results Fifteen LQTS patients were studied. Six LQT3 and 7 LQT2 patients were treated with mexiletine, and its effects on QT and QTc were measured. Mexiletine significantly shortened the QT interval among LQT3 patients (QTc from 535±32 to 445±31 ms, P<.005) but not among LQT2 patients (QTc from 530±79 to 503±60 ms, P=NS). LQT3 patients (n=7) shortened their QT interval in response to increases in heart rate much more than LQT2 patients (n=4) and also more than 18 healthy control subjects (9.45±3.3 versus 3.95±1.97 and 2.83±1.33, P<.05; data e...

Subsidiaries and knowledge creation: the influence of the MNC and host country on innovation

Abstract: This paper studies the influence of external knowledge on innovation in subsidiaries of multinational firms. The focus on subsidiaries is especially interesting since they are simultaneously embedded in two knowledge contexts: (a) the internal multinational corporation (MNC) comprised of the headquarters and other subsidiaries; and (b) an external environment of regional or host country firms. We develop hypotheses to suggest that the extent of influences of these contexts on subsidiary technological innovation depends on the characteristics of the knowledge network (technological richness and diversity) and the knowledge linkages of the subsidiary with other entities. The study uses patent citation data pertaining to innovations by foreign subsidiaries of U.S. semiconductor firms to test these hypotheses. The paper finds that (a) the technological richness of the MNC, (b) the subsidiary's knowledge linkages to host country firms, and (c) the technological diversity within the host country have a positive impact on innovation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.