bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Augmentation index is not a proxy for wave reflection magnitude: mechanistic analysis using a computational model
Authors: Heusinkveld Maarten H. G. , Delhaas Tammo , Lumens Joost , Huberts Wouter , Spronck Bart , Hughes Alun D. , Reesink Koen D. 
Published: May 2019

The augmentation index (AIx) is deemed to capture the deleterious effect on left ventricular (LV) work of increased wave reflection associated with stiffer arteries. However, its validity as a proxy for wave reflection magnitude has been questioned. We hypothesized that, in addition to increased wave reflection due to increased pulse wave velocity, LV myocardial shortening velocity influences AIx. Using a computational model of the circulation, we investigated the isolated and combined influences of myocardial shortening velocity vs,LV and arterial stiffness on AIx. Aortic blood pressure waveforms were characterized using AIx and the reflected wave pressure amplitude ([Formula: see text], obtained using wave separation analysis). Our reference simulation (normal vs,LV and arterial stiffness) was characterized by an AIx of 21%. A realistic reduction in vs,LV caused AIx to increase from 21 to 42%. An arterial stiffness increase, characterized by a relevant 1.0 m/s increase in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, caused AIx to increase from 21 to 41%. Combining the reduced vs,LV and increased arterial stiffness resulted in an AIx of 54%. In a multistep parametric analysis, both vs,LV and arterial stiffness were about equal determinants of AIx, whereas [Formula: see text] was only determined by arterial stiffness. Furthermore, the relation between increased AIx and LV stroke work was only ≈50% explained by an increase in arterial stiffness, the other factor being vs,LV. The [Formula: see text], on the other hand, related less ambiguously to LV stroke work. We conclude that the AIx reflects both cardiac and vascular properties and should not be considered an exclusively vascular parameter. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used a state-of-the-art computational model to mechanistically investigate the validity of the augmentation index (AIx) as a proxy for (changes in) wave reflection. In contrary to current belief, we found that LV contraction velocity influences AIx as much as increased arterial stiffness, and increased AIx does not necessarily relate to an increase in LV stroke work. Wave reflection magnitude derived from considering pressure, as well as flow, does qualify as a determinant of LV stroke work.
The Immune Contexture Associates with the Genomic Landscape in Lung Adenomatous Premalignancy
Authors: Krysan Kostyantyn , Tran Linh M. , Grimes Brandon S. , Fishbein Gregory A. , Seki Atsuko , Gardner Brian K. , Walser Tonya C. , Salehi-Rad Ramin , Yanagawa Jane , Lee Jay M. , Sharma Sherven , Aberle Denise R. , Spira Arum E. , Elashoff David A. , Wallace William D. , Fishbein Michael C. , Dubinett Steven M. 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Epithelial cells in the field of lung injury can give rise to distinct premalignant lesions that may bear unique genetic aberrations. A subset of these lesions may escape immune surveillance and progress to invasive cancer; however, the mutational landscape that may predict progression has not been determined. Knowledge of premalignant lesion composition and the associated microenvironment is critical for understanding tumorigenesis and the development of effective preventive and interception strategies. To identify somatic mutations and the extent of immune cell infiltration in adenomatous premalignancy and associated lung adenocarcinomas, we sequenced exomes from 41 lung cancer resection specimens, including 89 premalignant atypical adenomatous hyperplasia lesions, 15 adenocarcinomas in situ, and 55 invasive adenocarcinomas and their adjacent normal lung tissues. We defined nonsynonymous somatic mutations occurring in both premalignancy and the associated tumor as progression-associated mutations whose predicted neoantigens were highly correlated with infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells as well as upregulation of PD-L1 in premalignant lesions, suggesting the presence of an adaptive immune response to these neoantigens. Each patient had a unique repertoire of somatic mutations and associated neoantigens. Collectively, these results provide evidence for mutational heterogeneity, pathway dysregulation, and immune recognition in pulmonary premalignancy.
Significance: These findings identify progression-associated somatic mutations, oncogenic pathways, and association between the mutational landscape and adaptive immune responses in adenomatous premalignancy.
See related commentary by Merrick, p. 4811
Multifaceted Mechanisms of Vascular Calcification in Aging
Authors: Pescatore Luciana A. , Gamarra Lionel F. , Liberman Marcel 
Published: May 2019

Approximately 20% of the world’s population will be around or above 65 years of age by the next decade. Out of these, 40% are suspected to have cardiovascular diseases as a cause of mortality. Arteriosclerosis, characterized by increased vascular calcification, impairing Windkessel effect and tissue perfusion, and determining end-organ damage, is a hallmark of vascular pathology in the elderly population. Risk factors accumulated during aging affect the normal physiological and vascular aging process, which contributes to the progression of arteriosclerosis. Traditional risk factors, age-associated diseases, and respective regulating mechanisms influencing vascular calcification and vascular stiffness have been extensively studied for many years. Despite the well-known fact that aging alone can induce vascular damage, specific mechanisms that implicate physiological aging in vascular calcification, contributing to vascular stiffness, are poorly understood. This review focuses on mechanisms activated during normal aging, for example, cellular senescence, autophagy, extracellular vesicles secretion, and oxidative stress, along with the convergence of premature aging models’ pathophysiology, such as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria (prelamin accumulation) and Klotho deficiency, to understand vascular calcification in aging. Understanding the mechanisms of vascular damage in aging that intersect with age-associated diseases and risk factors is crucial to foster innovative therapeutic targets to mitigate cardiovascular disease.

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Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Calcification in Aortic Aneurysm Formation
Authors: Petsophonsakul Ploingarm , Furmanik Malgorzata , Forsythe Rachael , Dweck Marc , Schurink Geert Willem , Natour Ehsan , Reutelingsperger Chris , Jacobs Michael , Mees Barend , Schurgers Leon 
Published: May 2019

Aortic aneurysm is a vascular disease whereby the ECM (extracellular matrix) of a blood vessel degenerates, leading to dilation and eventually vessel wall rupture. Recently, it was shown that calcification of the vessel wall is involved in both the initiation and progression of aneurysms. Changes in aortic wall structure that lead to aneurysm formation and vascular calcification are actively mediated by vascular smooth muscle cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells in a healthy vessel wall are termed contractile as they maintain vascular tone and remain quiescent. However, in pathological conditions they can dedifferentiate into a synthetic phenotype, whereby they secrete extracellular vesicles, proliferate, and migrate to repair injury. This process is called phenotypic switching and is often the first step in vascular pathology. Additionally, healthy vascular smooth muscle cells synthesize VKDPs (vitamin K-dependent proteins), which are involved in inhibition of vascular calcification. The metabolism of these proteins is known to be disrupted in vascular pathologies. In this review, we summarize the current literature on vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and vascular calcification in relation to aneurysm. Moreover, we address the role of vitamin K and VKDPs that are involved in vascular calcification and aneurysm.

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A new species of Astropecten (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Paxillosida: Astropectinidae) and a comparison of the Astropecten species from the Gulf of Mexico and the East Florida Shelf
Authors: COBB JANESSA C. , LAWRENCE JOHN M. , HERRERA JOAN C. , JANIES DANIEL 
Published: May 2019

A new species of Astropecten is described, supported by morphological and molecular evidence, from the Gulf of Mexico and the East Florida Shelf with most specimens from 30–60 m in depth. The new species, A. mcedwardi n. sp., is small, with a maximum major radius < 30 mm. Specimens of A. mcedwardi n. sp. have been found in five museums as an undescribed species or misidentified under several names. The spination of the oral surface most closely resembles that of Astropecten antillensis Lütken, 1859 from the Caribbean, but the body form is similar to that of Astropecten duplicatus Gray, 1840, which is found in the same geographic range. Examination of specimens from different collections indicates that the new species may overlap in distribution with A. antillensis along the East Florida Shelf. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of two mitochondrial genes reveal that A. mcedwardi is closely related to A. antillensis but that its phylogenetic lineage is distinct from that of A. antillensis.
100 Years of Progress in Applied Meteorology. Part II: Applications that Address Growing Populations
Authors: Haupt Sue Ellen , Hanna Steven , Askelson Mark , Shepherd Marshall , Fragomeni Mariana A. , Debbage Neil , Johnson Bradford 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
The human population on Earth has increased by a factor of 4.6 in the last 100 years and has become more centered in urban environments. This expansion and migration pattern has resulted in stresses on the environment. Meteorological applications have helped to understand and mitigate those stresses. This chapter describes several applications that enable the population to interact with the environment in more sustainable ways. The first topic treated is urbanization itself and the types of stresses exerted by population growth and its attendant growth in urban landscapes—buildings and pavement—and how they modify airflow and create a local climate. We describe environmental impacts of these changes and implications for the future. The growing population uses increasing amounts of energy. Traditional sources of energy have taxed the environment, but the increase in renewable energy has used the atmosphere and hydrosphere as its fuel. Utilizing these variable renewable resources requires meteorological information to operate electric systems efficiently and economically while providing reliable power and minimizing environmental impacts. The growing human population also pollutes the environment. Thus, understanding and modeling the transport and dispersion of atmospheric contaminants are important steps toward regulating the pollution and mitigating impacts. This chapter describes how weather information can help to make surface transportation more safe and efficient. It is explained how these applications naturally require transdisciplinary collaboration to address these challenges caused by the expanding population.
Structures and Mechanisms of 20–60-Day Intraseasonal Oscillation of the Observed Rainfall in Vietnam
Authors: Truong Nguyen Minh , Tuan Bui Minh 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
The present study explores the characteristics of the 20–60-day intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in the 29-yr observed rainfall in north Vietnam (NVN), central Vietnam (CVN), and south Vietnam (SVN) in rainy seasons. Composite analyses reveal that the 20–60-day ISO in NVN accompanies dual vortices straddling Taiwan, which alternately favor and suppress convection extending from the northern Philippines to NVN. The wet phase in CVN coincides with convergence of northerly and easterly winds over the region. The large-scale pattern governing the 20–60-day ISO in SVN resembles the characteristics of the boreal summer ISO (BSISO). Conditionally unstable anomalies are observed within anomalous anticyclones where the moisture flux diverges out during the dry phase in NVN and SVN, and vice versa. Such anomalies prevent the existence of the anticyclones and finally replace them with anomalous cyclones to start the wet phase. The unstable anomalies could result from descending motion that increases the boundary layer temperature due to adiabatic compression of air. Conversely, boundary layer cooling due to evaporation of rain and interception of solar radiation by clouds produces stable anomalies. The unstable anomalies, moisture flux convergence, and vertical motions shift northward from the convection maximum, leading to the northward propagation of the BSISO convection. The 20–60-day ISO in CVN is not governed by local instability. Vertical cross sections indicate that the ISO in SVN possesses a westward-tilting structure, which is not observed in the NVN and CVN case.
Motor Vehicle CO2 Emissions in the United States: Potential Behavioral Feedback and Global Warming
Authors: Robertson Leon S. 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
The previously found correlation of average annual temperature and motor vehicle travel among U.S. states suggests amplifying feedback of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and warming. This study employed a regression model relating average annual temperature to motor vehicle CO2 emissions among the 48 contiguous states, controlling for other factors that affect travel. Increased emissions were associated with higher temperatures during 2000–14. Application of the model to 2015–16 data indicated that 27 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2015 and 38 million metric tons in 2016 would have not occurred if the average annual temperatures among U.S. states in those years had remained at 2014 levels. A 2018 proposal by the U.S. government to reduce future vehicle fuel economy standards ignored the potential effect of warming on vehicle travel and contained erroneous analyses of the relation of vehicle weight to fatality risk, vehicle scrappage rate to new vehicle sales, and the relation of new vehicle costs to fuel economy. Huge improvement in fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions based on required hybrid technology are possible at reasonable cost.
Investigation of the Effectiveness of Surgical Treatment on Respiratory Functions in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Kersin Burak , Karaman Murat , Aynacı Engin , Keleş Ahmet 
Published: May 2019

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a problem that involves many bodily systems and its effects on the respiratory system deserve special attention. Although many studies exist that investigate respiratory functions in patients using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for the treatment of sleep apnea, there is a lack of research regarding the effect of OSAS surgery on respiratory function in the literature, which has motivated us to perform such a study. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients diagnosed with OSAS with an apnea hypopnea index ranging between 15 and 30 and had undergone robotic tongue base resection and uvulopharyngoplasty were included as study participants. Pulmonary function tests were performed on all participants 1 day prior to, and at 3 and 6 months after the operation. Weight and body mass indices (BMIs) were also recorded at the same intervals for all participants. Data were electronically recorded and analyzed through SPSS 22.0. Values of P < .05 have been considered as statistically significant. Results: Average age of the 32 participants was 43.2±10.7, average body weight was 94.1±12.6, and average BMI was 31.4±4.7. Decreases in body weight and BMI values recorded at 3 and 6 months postoperatively had statistical significance when compared with values recorded preoperatively ( P < .05). Comparisons made in terms of pulmonary functions revealed a statistically significant increase in 3 and 6-month postoperative values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and FEF 25-75 ( P < .05). Conclusion: Our study shows the positive effects of robotic tongue base resection and uvulopharyngoplasty operation on respiratory function parameters. This suggests that surgical treatment in OSAS patients is as effective as CPAP on respiratory function.
Effects of thyroid hormone and depression on common components of central obesity
Authors: Du Fu-Man , Kuang Hong-Yu , Duan Bin-Hong , Liu Da-Na , Yu Xin-Yang 
Published: May 2019

Objective We investigated the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and depression in centrally obese participants, and to analyze the relationship of thyroid hormones and depression with components of central obesity. Methods We randomly selected 858 centrally obese participants and 500 non-obese controls in this study. For all participants, we measured serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid concentrations, and blood pressure. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. Results Centrally obese participants had a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism and depression than non-obese controls. Serum FT4 levels negatively correlated with BMI and serum TSH levels and positively correlated with BMI, WHR, total triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). After excluding participants with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, serum FT4 levels showed negative correlation and serum TSH levels showed positive correlation with BMI in the remaining centrally obese participants. CES-D scores positively correlated with BMI. Conclusion We found high prevalences of hypothyroidism and depression among centrally obese participants. FT4 and TSH are important in weight regulation. Depression positively correlated with obesity.
Orbital fat expansion in thyroid eye disease is related to age
Authors: Ugradar Shoaib , Rootman Daniel B 
Published: May 2019

Purpose: To objectively measure the differential expansion of orbital fat and muscle volume in patients with thyroid eye disease. Methods: In this retrospective study, eligible participants were adults with clinical evidence of thyroid eye disease and high-resolution computed tomography scans of their orbits. Patients with a history of decompression surgery and/or medical or other conditions that could alter the orbital anatomy were excluded. Three dimensional reconstructions of the orbits allowed the calculation of the fat volume, muscle volume and bony orbital volume using the MIMICS imaging analysis tool. Both orbits from each patient were included without bias through the use of the generalized estimating equation. The primary outcome was the measurement of fat volume. Secondary outcome measures included the correlation of the muscle volume, bony orbital volume and exophthalmometry with age. Results: Fifty patients with thyroid eye disease who were included contributed 100 orbits. The sample included 29 females (age 57, standard deviation = 14.8) and 21 males (age 52, standard deviation = 18.14). Mean (standard deviation) exophthalmometry measurement was 21.58 (4.01). Fat volume and exophthalmometry were negatively correlated with age (p = 0.00001 and p = 0.00001, respectively). Muscle volume (p = 0.985) and bony orbital volume (p = 0.484) did not correlate with age. Conclusion: Older patients with thyroid eye disease have less expansion of fat volume compared with younger patients. There are no associations between age and the bony orbital volume or muscle volume. These results support the growing body of evidence which suggests that the pathophysiology of TED is different in older patient.
Urinary pH as a Target in the Management of Lithiasic Patients in Real-World Practice: Monitoring and Nutraceutical Intervention for a Nonlithogenic pH Range
Authors: Galan-Llopis Juan Antonio , Torrecilla-Ortiz Carlos , Luque-Gálvez Maria Pilar , Group Prevent-Lit , Peris-Nieto Xavier , Cuñé-Castellana Jordi 
Published: May 2019

Introduction: We assessed the effectiveness of the joint use of a pH meter in combination with dietary supplements in restoring the urinary pH balance of patients with medical history of uric acid or calcium phosphate/calcium oxalate stones in real-world practice. Methods: An interventional, prospective, and open-label study was performed. At baseline visit, patients were assigned to a group according to the type of previous calculus and urinary pH: the alkalinizer group (uric acid stones and/or pH < 5.5) and acidifier group (calcium oxalate stones and/or pH > 6.2) received dietary supplement to increase or decrease, respectively, urinary pH. Patients were examined at baseline and after treatment for 30, 60, and 90 days. Urinary pH, type of therapy, compliance, and self-reported renal colic events were recorded at each visit. Results: The study included 143 patients, 45.5% in the alkalinizer group and 54.5% in the acidifier group, and the mean age was 53.60 years. Both nutraceuticals were significantly effective in normalizing urinary pH ( P < 0.00001) at all follow-up visits compared with baseline, with a maximum percentage of patients who achieved nonlithogenic pH (54.9%) at day 60 ( P < 0.00001). Analysis of the effect of treatment compliance at 60 days indicated that 71.8% of compliant and 45.9% of noncompliant patients achieved nonlithogenic pH (odds ratio [OR]: 3.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-6.66). A Cox-regression model indicated that nonlithogenic pH at 90 days (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.428, 95% CI: 0.193-0.947) and compliance at 60 days (HR: 0.428, 95% CI: 0.189-0.972) were independently associated with colic complaints-free survival. Conclusions: In patients with medical history of renal lithiasis, monitoring of pH in combination with dietary supplements may be useful in maintaining nonlithogenic pH values, yielding very high ratios of success, especially in compliant patients. Besides this main outcome, a reduction in self-reported colic complaints associated with pH balance was also observed.