X-FAST: A versatile, high-throughput, and user-friendly XUV femtosecond absorption spectroscopy tabletop instrument.

We present the X-FAST (XUV Femtosecond Absorption Spectroscopy Tabletop) instrument at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The instrument produces femtosecond extreme ultraviolet photon pulses via high-harmonic generation in the range of 40-72 eV, as well as optical pump pulses for transient-absorption experiments. The system implements a gas-cooled sample cell that enables studying the dynamics of thermally sensitive thin-film samples.

Conversion of Organic Dyes into Pigments: Extraction of Flavonoids from Blackberries () and Stabilization.

The blackberry's color is composed mainly of natural dyes called anthocyanins. Their color is red-purple, and they can be used as a natural colorant. Anthocyanins are flavonoids, which are products of plants, and their colors range from orange and red to various shades of blue, purple and green, according to pH.

Economic freedom, pandemics, and robust political economy.

What is the relationship, if any, between economic freedom and pandemics? This paper addresses this question from a robust political economy approach. As is the case with recovery from natural disasters or warfare, a society that is relatively free economically offers economic actors greater flexibility to adapt to pandemics. We argue that societies that are more economically free will be more robust to the impact from pandemics, illustrated by shorter time for economic recovery.

Psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L in patients with major depression: factor analysis and Rasch analysis.

Background: The EQ-5D is one of the most recommended questionnaires for cost-effectiveness studies.

Aims: To study the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L in patients with major depression.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 433 patients with major depression who completed the EQ-5D-5L and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) questionnaires at baseline, of whom 310 also did six months later.

A Review of the Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Genus Teucrium.

The genus is a large and polymorphic genus of the Lamiaceae family distributed in mild climate zones, particularly in the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia. Studies of nonvolatile constituents of species showed that they are a rich source of -clerodane diterpenoids, considered as chemotaxonomic markers of the genus. In addition to the nonvolatile metabolites, there has been a large interest in the essential oils of this genus.

Investigating the kinetics of the formation of a C Cottrell atmosphere around a screw dislocation in bcc iron: a mixed-lattice atomistic kinetic Monte-Carlo analysis.

We present a mixed-lattice atomistic kinetic Monte-Carlo algorithm (MLKMC) that integrates a rigid-lattice AKMC approach with the kinetic activation-relaxation technique (k-ART), an off-lattice/self-learning AKMC. This approach opens the door to study large and complex systems adapting the cost of identification and evaluation of transition states to the local environment. To demonstrate its capacity, MLKMC is applied to the problem of the formation of a C Cottrell atmosphere decorating a screw dislocation in α-Fe.

Interaction between interstitial carbon atoms and a ½ 〈1 1 1〉 self-interstitial atoms loop in an iron matrix: a combined DFT, off lattice KMC and MD study.

A static and kinetic study of the interaction between a 19 ½ 〈1 1 1〉 self-interstitial atoms loop and C atoms in body-centred cubic iron is presented in this work. An empirical potential matching the density functional theory calculations is used to study the static properties of the system. The usual kinetic Monte-Carlo (KMC) on-lattice restriction is not valid when the material is highly distorted, especially in the presence of a dislocation loop.

[Nutrition integrators in sports].

The use or abuse of many preparations, available in the gymnasium or as top-bench drugs, used as nutritive integrators, determines both toxicological and deontological and especially sport medicine problems, because these products are also involved in the antidoping control. Therefore, this article cover the needs for providing a consultation and information manual for all sport operators in the delicate phase of drug-food integration of the athlete, not only to prevent and restrict the doping phenomenon, but also for health-preservation of the athlete.

Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of patients in whom congestive heart failure develops after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: development of a predictive model.

Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of congestive heart failure, which often begins after acute myocardial infarction. To better delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients in whom congestive heart failure develops after acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era, we prospectively evaluated patients enrolled in six of the TAMI trials. The study cohort comprised 1619 consecutive patients who had at least 1 mm of ST-segment elevation in two contiguous electrocardiographic leads within 6 hours of the onset of acute myocardial infarction and who received intravenous thrombolytic therapy.

Bilateral renal artery occlusion: an unusual presentation of atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy predisposes patients to atrial fibrillation and the development of systemic embolization. We describe a rare case of bilateral renal artery thrombosis which presented as acute renal failure requiring dialysis. The patient was successfully treated with a selective, continuous infusion of urokinase which resulted in the return of adequate renal function.

Clinical importance of thrombocytopenia occurring in the hospital phase after administration of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. The Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study Group.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and clinical implications of thrombocytopenia that occurs in hospital after administration of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The use of thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction has improved mortaltiy rates, but hemorrhage remains a major complication. Because thrombocytopenia may be associated with hemorrhage after thrombolytic therapy, we examined the incidence and clinical implications of thrombocytopenia after administration of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

Successful prolonged local infusion of urokinase for the hypothenar hammer syndrome.

Ulnar artery thrombosis secondary to trauma, also known as the hypothenar hammer syndrome, has been most commonly been treated by surgical techniques. Applying concepts of local lysis of thrombotic occlusion used in cardiac and peripheral vascular intervention, we describe a method of correction of the hypothenar hammer syndrome by prolonged urokinase infusion.

Minimizing the risk of inappropriately administering thrombolytic therapy (Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction [TAMI] study group).

Despite the proven benefits of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction, concern for its complications, especially in patients misdiagnosed with myocardial infarction, has led to hesitancy in its use. Historical, clinical and electrocardiographic criteria were developed for enrolling patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction into thrombolytic trials by noncardiovascular specialists. The incidence of misdiagnosis of myocardial infarction and the clinical outcomes when these criteria were used were evaluated for 1,387 consecutive patients given thrombolytic therapy.

Outcome of patients with diabetes mellitus and acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytic agents. The Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) Study Group.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess outcome in patients with diabetes who received thrombolytic therapy and to determine whether differences in angiographic characteristics may account for the worse outcome observed in diabetic patients.

Background: Patients with diabetes are known to have a worse outcome after acute myocardial infarction than that of patients without diabetes.

Methods: Clinical and angiographic characteristics of the 148 patients with diabetes and the 923 patients without diabetes in the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) trials were examined and analyzed.

Intracoronary stenting compared with conventional therapy for abrupt vessel closure complicating coronary angioplasty: a matched case-control study.

Objectives: A case-control analysis was performed to compare clinical outcome after intracoronary stenting with that after conventional therapy for abrupt vessel closure.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that stenting after abrupt vessel closure results in marked angiographic improvement and preservation of coronary flow, leading to the anticipation of similar improvement in clinical outcome.

Methods: Sixty-one of 92 consecutive patients treated at two clinical sites by intracoronary stenting for abrupt vessel closure were matched, according to angiographic features of closure and estimated left ventricular mass threatened by ischemia, with patients treated conventionally during the 18 months before stent availability.

Thrombolytic therapy in patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often considered a contraindication to thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Of 708 patients involved in the first 3 Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction trials of lytic therapy for acute infarction, 59 patients required less than 10 minutes of CPR before receiving lytic therapy (CPR greater than 10 minutes was an exclusion of the trials) or required CPR within 6 hours of treatment. The patients receiving CPR were similar to the remainder of the group with respect to baseline demographics.

Rapid thrombus dissolution by continuous infusion of urokinase through an intracoronary perfusion wire prior to and following PTCA: results in native coronaries and patent saphenous vein grafts.

Even with aspirin and heparin therapy, thrombus present prior to or forming after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) results in significant complications. We report on 33 patients who were treated with continuous infusion of Urokinase through an intracoronary perfusion wire for 24 hr because of visible intracoronary thrombus. Seventeen native vessels (9 pre-PTCA and 8 post-PTCA) and sixteen saphenous vein grafts (12 pre-PTCA and 4 post-PTCA) were treated.

Identification of acute myocardial infarction patients suitable for early hospital discharge after aggressive interventional therapy. Results from the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Background: Very early (day 4) hospital discharge has recently been proposed for selected patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of this study was to determine the most useful factors for identifying acute MI patients treated with aggressive interventional therapy who could be safely discharged on day 4.

Methods And Results: We studied 708 patients enrolled in the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction trials I-III.

The use of intraaortic balloon pumping as an adjunct to reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction. The Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) Study Group.

To assess the risk and possible benefits of use of the percutaneous IABP in patients given thrombolytic therapy as treatment for acute myocardial infarction, we prospectively evaluated 810 consecutive patients entered into the TAMI trials. During hospitalization the 85 patients treated with the IABP had more cardiac risk factors, were slightly older (58 vs 56 years), and more often had anterior infarction (62% vs 38%). At acute cardiac catheterization, patients treated with the IABP also had more multivessel coronary disease (67% vs 43%), more frequent TIMI grade 0 or 1 flow (44% vs 28%), lower global ejection fraction (40% vs 52%), and worse regional infarct (-3.

Myocardial infarction with minimal coronary atherosclerosis in the era of thrombolytic reperfusion. The Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) Study Group.

The incidence of minimal residual atherosclerotic coronary obstruction after successful intravenous thrombolytic therapy was evaluated in 799 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Minimal residual coronary obstruction (less than or equal to 50%) was observed on selective coronary angiography performed 90 min after initiation of thrombolytic therapy in 43 patients (5.5%).

Usefulness of a pericardial friction rub after thrombolytic therapy during acute myocardial infarction in predicting amount of myocardial damage. The TAMI Study Group.

To evaluate the clinical incidence and outcomes of patients with pericarditis after thrombolytic therapy, 810 patients were prospectively studied during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pericarditis was defined as the presence of a pericardial friction rub during the hospital course. Only 5% of patients developed a rub during AMI, a low percent compared with that in the prethrombolytic era.

Fate of patients with acute myocardial infarction with patency of the infarct-related vessel achieved with successful thrombolysis versus rescue angioplasty.

Patients with failure of infarct-related artery recanalization after thrombolytic therapy have a poor clinical outcome. These patients have been considered for rescue angioplasty 90 min after thrombolytic therapy at the time of emergency catheterization in the course of five Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) trials. The outcome of 776 patients with patent infarct-related vessels after emergency catheterization was analyzed--607 with thrombolysis-mediated patency of the infarct-related vessel and 169 with patency achieved by angioplasty.

Consequences of reocclusion after successful reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction. TAMI Study Group.

To determine the clinical consequences of reocclusion of an infarct-related artery after reperfusion therapy, we evaluated 810 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Patients were admitted into four sequential studies with similar entry criteria in which patency of the infarct-related artery was assessed by coronary arteriography 90 minutes after onset of thrombolytic therapy. Successful reperfusion was established acutely in 733 patients.

Stroke and acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era: clinical correlates and long-term prognosis.

Thirteen (1.8%) of 708 patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) I, II and III trials developed a stroke. Four strokes were hemorrhagic and nine were nonhemorrhagic.

Brachial approach to emergency cardiac catheterization during thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. TAMI Study Group.

The use of the brachial approach to acute coronary intervention has not been previously studied. In the course of the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (TAMI) trials, we used the transbrachial approach to cardiac catheterization with or without angioplasty in 202 of 704 (28.6%) patients.