Foreword

The Program in Law and Technology at the University of Dayton School of Law hosted a Scholarly Symposium on The Constitutionality of Protecting Factual Compilations on October 4-5, 2002, in Dayton, Ohio. Sponsored by Lexis-Nexis, Reed-Elsevier, Thomson-West, the Software & Information Industry Associations, and eBay, the Symposium provided a forum in which law professors, practicing attorneys, and law students could interact with business and technology professionals. These diverse parties engaged in spirited and insightful analysis and discussion of constitutional law issues associated with application of federal and state law to protect ownership of databases and other forms of factual compilations

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

A Theory for the High-T_c Cuprates: Anomalous Normal-State and Spectroscopic Properties, Phase Diagram, and Pairing

A theory of highly correlated layered superconducting materials isapplied for the cuprates. Differently from an independent-electron approximation, their low-energy excitations are approached in terms of auxiliary particles representing combinations of atomic-like electron configurations, where the introduction of a Lagrange Bose field enables treating them as bosons or fermions. The energy spectrum of this field accounts for the tendency of hole-doped cuprates to form stripe-like inhomogeneities. Consequently, it induces a different analytical behavior for auxiliary particles corresponding to "antinodal" and "nodal" electrons, enabling the existence of different pairing temperatures at T^* and T_c. This theory correctly describes the observed phase diagram of the cuprates, including the non-Fermi-liquid to FL crossover in the normal state, the existence of Fermi arcs below T^* and of a "marginal-FL" critical behavior above it. The qualitative anomalous behavior of numerous physical quantities is accounted for, including kink- and waterfall-like spectral features, the drop in the scattering rates below T^* and more radically below T_c, and an effective increase in the density of carriers with T and \omega, reflected in transport, optical and other properties. Also is explained the correspondence between T_c, the resonance-mode energy, and the "nodal gap".Comment: 28 pages, 7 figure

Should Vein Be Saved for Future Operations? A 15-Year Review of Infrainguinal Bypasses and the Subsequent Need for Autogenous Vein

The decision to use prosthetic or autogenous vein as the initial conduit for first-time vascular bypass of the lower extremity depends in part on the likelihood of subsequent need for autogenous conduit for another leg or heart bypass. The true frequency of these later events is not known. To answer this question, we analyzed a database of infrainguinal and coronary artery bypasses (CABG) performed at one institution between January 1980 and July 1995, to determine how many patients required subsequent infrainguinal bypass or CABG after their initial leg bypass. Five hundred and seventy-two infrainguinal bypasses were performed on 440 patients (mean age 63.9); average follow-up was 5.6 years. The clinical philosophy favored autogenous vein for first bypass, which was used in 84% of first operations performed during the study period while prosthetic material was used in 16%. For patients in which vein was used for the first operation, and who went on to have a second operation, the use of prosthetic conduit rose from 16% of operations to 27% (p \u3c 0.05). The rate of subsequent CABG after leg bypass was very low, 2% at 5 years, 3% at 10 years. The cumulative probability of requiring a subsequent infrainguinal bypass was 27% at 5 years, 32% at 10 years. Of these, 46% were ipsilateral and 54% were contralateral. Considering only subsequent tibial bypasses (where vein might be considered obligatory), the cumulative 5–year rate of subsequent leg bypass was only 13%. Another bypass was most likely to occur within the first 3 years, rarely thereafter. In summary, after primary infrainguinal bypass, additional procedures using vein may arise in ¼ to ⅓ of patients, mostly in the first 3 years. However, only 13% will definitely need vein for tibial bypass in 5 years, and subsequent CABG is uncommon

Should Vein Be Saved for Future Operations? A 15-Year Review of Infrainguinal Bypasses and the Subsequent Need for Autogenous Vein

The decision to use prosthetic or autogenous vein as the initial conduit for first-time vascular bypass of the lower extremity depends in part on the likelihood of subsequent need for autogenous conduit for another leg or heart bypass. The true frequency of these later events is not known. To answer this question, we analyzed a database of infrainguinal and coronary artery bypasses (CABG) performed at one institution between January 1980 and July 1995, to determine how many patients required subsequent infrainguinal bypass or CABG after their initial leg bypass. Five hundred and seventy-two infrainguinal bypasses were performed on 440 patients (mean age 63.9); average follow-up was 5.6 years. The clinical philosophy favored autogenous vein for first bypass, which was used in 84% of first operations performed during the study period while prosthetic material was used in 16%. For patients in which vein was used for the first operation, and who went on to have a second operation, the use of prosthetic conduit rose from 16% of operations to 27% (p \u3c 0.05). The rate of subsequent CABG after leg bypass was very low, 2% at 5 years, 3% at 10 years. The cumulative probability of requiring a subsequent infrainguinal bypass was 27% at 5 years, 32% at 10 years. Of these, 46% were ipsilateral and 54% were contralateral. Considering only subsequent tibial bypasses (where vein might be considered obligatory), the cumulative 5–year rate of subsequent leg bypass was only 13%. Another bypass was most likely to occur within the first 3 years, rarely thereafter. In summary, after primary infrainguinal bypass, additional procedures using vein may arise in ¼ to ⅓ of patients, mostly in the first 3 years. However, only 13% will definitely need vein for tibial bypass in 5 years, and subsequent CABG is uncommon

Minimally Invasive Vein Harvesting: A Comparison of Endoscopic Versus Traditional Open Saphenectomy

The greater saphenous vein (SV) is the conduit of choice for coronary and infrapopliteal revascularization procedures. Unfortunately, to harvest an SV it is often necessary to make an incision the length of the leg, and this is associated with a significant incidence of wound complications. Minimally invasive procedures have several advantages including reduced incidence of wound complications, decreased hospital length of stay, and, therefore, health-care savings. Currently, little information is available that compares traditional open saphenectomy (OS) versus a minimally invasive procedure, endoscopic saphenectomy (ES). The purpose of this study was to compare SV harvest time, incision length, and harvested vein quality between the OS and ES techniques in six nonpreserved cadavers. Each limb was randomly selected for either OS or ES. The length of incision, number of SV leaks after harvest, length of SV, and time required for harvest were recorded for each technique. (continued on next page) The table summarizes the findings of the cadaver dissections. Per limb, no difference was noted in vein harvest length or number of leaks between OS and ES. A significant reduction was found in incision length for ES (14.4 ±1.4 cm per limb), but the time required for OS was significantly shorter (P=0.01). This study suggests an equivalent length of SV can be harvested with either OS or ES techniques; however, with the ES technique there is a reduction in incision length and, therefore, a less morbid operative technique

Minimally Invasive Vein Harvesting: A Comparison of Endoscopic Versus Traditional Open Saphenectomy

The greater saphenous vein (SV) is the conduit of choice for coronary and infrapopliteal revascularization procedures. Unfortunately, to harvest an SV it is often necessary to make an incision the length of the leg, and this is associated with a significant incidence of wound complications. Minimally invasive procedures have several advantages including reduced incidence of wound complications, decreased hospital length of stay, and, therefore, health-care savings. Currently, little information is available that compares traditional open saphenectomy (OS) versus a minimally invasive procedure, endoscopic saphenectomy (ES). The purpose of this study was to compare SV harvest time, incision length, and harvested vein quality between the OS and ES techniques in six nonpreserved cadavers. Each limb was randomly selected for either OS or ES. The length of incision, number of SV leaks after harvest, length of SV, and time required for harvest were recorded for each technique. (continued on next page) The table summarizes the findings of the cadaver dissections. Per limb, no difference was noted in vein harvest length or number of leaks between OS and ES. A significant reduction was found in incision length for ES (14.4 ±1.4 cm per limb), but the time required for OS was significantly shorter (P=0.01). This study suggests an equivalent length of SV can be harvested with either OS or ES techniques; however, with the ES technique there is a reduction in incision length and, therefore, a less morbid operative technique

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Human Vein Grafts

Background: The patency of vascular reconstructive procedures is limited by the development of intimai hyperplasia (IH). Nitric oxide (NO) seems to be beneficial in abrogating this process. Currently, there is little information concerning inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the enzyme responsible for NO synthesis, and human vein grafts. The purpose of this study was to examine iNOS gene expression in human aortocoronary vein grafts (ACVG) and infrainguinal vein bypass grafts (IVG). Methods: Nonthrombosed sections from ACVG (n = 5), IVG (n = 5), and control saphenous vein (SV; n = 4) were harvested and processed for RNA isolation. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on samples using 3P radioactively end labeled primers. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was the internal control, and results were expressed as iNOS pmol/ GAPDH pmol. Results: There was a significant increase in the iNOS gene expresssion in the ACVG (0.049 ± 0.01) when compared with IVG (0.019 ± 0.001) or normal SV (0.011 ± 0.002; P ≤ 0.05). There was no significant difference between normal vein and the infrainguinal grafts. Sequencing of a fragment of the amplified 428 bp gene product confirmed 84% homology with the available gene bank human sequence. conclusions: This study proves that iNOS is expressed in human vein bypass grafts. Additionally, there is a significant elevation of iNOS message in human ACVGs compared with IVG or normal SV. This difference may be the result of the unique vascular beds supplied by these grafts. Ultimately, manipulation of iNOS expression may lead to therapies to alleviate IH in these grafts