bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acute Versus Chronic Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Nishino Shun , Watanabe Nozomi , Kimura Toshiyuki , Kuriyama Nehiro , Shibata Yoshisato 
Published: April 2018

Background:
Little is known on the mechanism of acute ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) caused by sudden-onset left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to investigate the mitral valve (MV) complex geometry in acute IMR in comparison with chronic IMR by 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.

Methods and Results:

Forty-four first-onset acute MI and 36 previous MI with ≥moderate IMR were examined by 2-dimensional/3-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. MV morphology was quantitatively analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume and left ventricular end-systolic volume were significantly smaller in acute IMR than in chronic IMR (40.8 [33.1–48.3] versus 88.8 [66.5–108.8] mL/m
2
;
P
<0.001, 17.8 [17.0–30.1] versus 49.5 [34.2–73.7] mL/m
2
;
P
<0.001). MV tenting volume and annular area were significantly smaller in acute IMR compared with chronic IMR (0.98 [0.66–1.68] versus 1.88 [1.16–2.65] cm
3
/m
2
;
P
=0.008, 5.17 [4.80–5.86] versus 5.81 [5.47–8.22] cm
2
/m
2
;
P
=0.008). Leaflet surface area was significantly smaller in acute IMR than in chronic IMR (5.78 [5.16–6.32] versus 7.56 [6.89–11.32] cm
2
/m
2
;
P
<0.001). The ratio of MV leaflet surface area and MV annular area was significantly smaller in acute IMR than in chronic IMR (1.08 [1.01–1.14] versus 1.28 [1.24–1.37];
P
=0.001).

Conclusions:
Sudden-onset left ventricular dysfunction in acute MI may cause loss of coaptation of the MV even with a relatively mild degree of valve tethering. Compared with previously studied chronic IMR, a smaller leaflet area without leaflet adaptation and a larger hemodynamic burden at the acute onset of MI could result in clinically significant IMR despite relatively small leaflet tethering.
Endothelial C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Acts on Pericytes to Regulate Microcirculatory Flow and Blood Pressure
Authors: Špiranec Katarina , Chen Wen , Werner Franziska , Nikolaev Viacheslav O. , Naruke Takashi , Koch Franziska , Werner Andrea , Eder-Negrin Petra , Diéguez-Hurtado Rodrigo , Adams Ralf H. , Baba Hideo A. , Schmidt Hannes , Schuh Kai , Skryabin Boris V. , Movahedi Kiavash , Schweda Frank , Kuhn Michaela 
Published: April 2018

Background:
Peripheral vascular resistance has a major impact on arterial blood pressure levels. Endothelial C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) participates in the local regulation of vascular tone, but the target cells remain controversial. The cGMP-producing guanylyl cyclase–B (GC-B) receptor for CNP is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). However, whereas endothelial cell–specific CNP knockout mice are hypertensive, mice with deletion of GC-B in vascular SMCs have unaltered blood pressure.

Methods:

We analyzed whether the vasodilating response to CNP changes along the vascular tree, ie, whether the GC-B receptor is expressed in microvascular types of cells. Mice with a floxed GC-B (
Npr2
) gene were interbred with
Tie2-Cre
or
PDGF-Rβ-Cre

ERT2

lines to develop mice lacking GC-B in endothelial cells or in precapillary arteriolar SMCs and capillary pericytes. Intravital microscopy, invasive and noninvasive hemodynamics, fluorescence energy transfer studies of pericyte cAMP levels in situ, and renal physiology were combined to dissect whether and how CNP/GC-B/cGMP signaling modulates microcirculatory tone and blood pressure.

Results:
Intravital microscopy studies revealed that the vasodilatatory effect of CNP increases toward small-diameter arterioles and capillaries. CNP consistently did not prevent endothelin-1–induced acute constrictions of proximal arterioles, but fully reversed endothelin effects in precapillary arterioles and capillaries. Here, the GC-B receptor is expressed both in endothelial and mural cells, ie, in pericytes. It is notable that the vasodilatatory effects of CNP were preserved in mice with endothelial GC-B deletion, but abolished in mice lacking GC-B in microcirculatory SMCs and pericytes. CNP, via GC-B/cGMP signaling, modulates 2 signaling cascades in pericytes: it activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase I to phosphorylate downstream targets such as the cytoskeleton-associated vasodilator-activated phosphoprotein, and it inhibits phosphodiesterase 3A, thereby enhancing pericyte cAMP levels. These pathways ultimately prevent endothelin-induced increases of pericyte calcium levels and pericyte contraction. Mice with deletion of GC-B in microcirculatory SMCs and pericytes have elevated peripheral resistance and chronic arterial hypertension without a change in renal function.

Conclusions:
Our studies indicate that endothelial CNP regulates distal arteriolar and capillary blood flow. CNP-induced GC-B/cGMP signaling in microvascular SMCs and pericytes is essential for the maintenance of normal microvascular resistance and blood pressure.
God’s Name ὁ Ὤν (Exod 3:14) as a Source of Accusing Jews of Onolatry
Authors: Kozlowski Jan M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe author of this article presents arguments in favor of the new hypothesis, according to which the misunderstanding by non-Jews of God’s nameho ōn(Exod 3:14), and its subsequent association with the Greek wordho onos(“the ass”), stands as a source for accusing Jews of onolatry.
Climate and Energy Emergencies
Authors: Quirk William J. 
Published: April 2018

On 3–5 November 1980 an informal meeting was held of Department of Energy (DOE) and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) personnel and contractors to discuss what kind of climate information was needed to prepare for possible energy emergencies. At the meeting it was pointed out that presently available world oil supplies and stockpiles should be adequate to prevent any oil supply shortfalls this winter (1980–81). However, any additional supply shortfalls or a world economic recovery that increased oil demand could be expected to cause problems in coming winters.
The most important effect of climate on energy under these circumstances is its influence on the demand for heating fuel. The difference in oil and gas demand between a warm and a cold winter can be the energy equivalent of 400 million barrels of oil in the United States alone. This is comparable to the projected size of the strategic petroleum reserve. Because of the large impacts even small energy shortfalls can have on the nation's economy, it is essential that we make the best possible use of the nation's energy stockpiles.
DOE and NOAA are collaborating on assembling a climate data base that will give much more detailed information on temperatures and heating degree days than was ever available before. Current data, forecasts, and historical data back to 1931 will be available for some 350 regions throughout the country. These data, together with more accurate models of the use of energy for heating, could give far better estimates of the amount of fuel reserves that are needed for a cold winter. Because these data show that not all parts of the country are cold at once, they could be used to develop plans for sharing fuel throughout the country. Since smaller reserves would be needed, significant additional reserves would be available to tide the country over during a cold winter and international oil supply shortfalls.
The most important recommendation arising from the conference was that potential climate information users be contacted, both to make them aware of how the newly available climate information could be used and to find out what additional data requirements they might have.
Evaluation of Atmospheric River Predictions by the WRF Model Using Aircraft and Regional Mesonet Observations of Orographic Precipitation and Its Forcing
Authors: Martin Andrew , Ralph F. Martin , Demirdjian Reuben , DeHaan Laurel , Weihs Rachel , Helly John , Reynolds David , Iacobellis Sam 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Accurate forecasts of precipitation during landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs) are critical because ARs play a large role in water supply and flooding for many regions. In this study, we have used hundreds of observations to verify global and regional model forecasts of atmospheric rivers making landfall in Northern California and offshore in the midlatitude northeast Pacific Ocean. We have characterized forecast error and the predictability limit in AR water vapor transport, static stability, onshore precipitation, and standard atmospheric fields. Analysis is also presented that apportions the role of orographic forcing and precipitation response in driving errors in forecast precipitation after AR landfall. It is found that the global model and the higher-resolution regional model reach their predictability limit in forecasting the atmospheric state during ARs at similar lead times, and both present similar and important errors in low-level water vapor flux, moist-static stability, and precipitation. However, the relative contribution of forcing and response to the incurred precipitation error is very different in the two models. It can be demonstrated using the analysis presented herein that improving water vapor transport accuracy can significantly reduce regional model precipitation errors during ARs, while the same cannot be demonstrated for the global model.
Influences of the Monsoon Trough and Arabian Heat Low on Summer Rainfall over the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Steinhoff Daniel F. , Bruintjes Roelof , Hacker Joshua , Keller Teddie , Williams Christopher , Jensen Tara , Al Mandous Abdulla , Al Yazeedi Omar A. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
The factors responsible for rare summertime rainfall over portions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which have not been previously explored in detail, are elucidated with the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis and WRF mesoscale model simulations. The simulations show associations between active phases of the southwest Asian monsoon and intensification of the Arabian heat low, leading up to UAE rainfall events. Variability in the location and strength of the Arabian heat low circulation, which differs from the static portrayal in climatological minimum sea level pressure (MSLP), can affect the development of deep convection over the UAE. Analysis of the vorticity equation for a two-day case study period confirms that convergence is solely responsible for the spinup and maintenance of the primary heat low circulation. Convergence is also responsible for the spinup of a separate cyclonic circulation over the eastern UAE, which propagates offshore to the Arabian Gulf during morning hours. This cyclonic circulation advects moist air onshore over the western UAE, and deep convection follows from inland horizontal convective rolls and interaction with the approaching sea-breeze front. The development of widespread deep convection is shown to be most favorable during the decay phase of the Arabian heat low, when the preconditioned moist air is not replaced by drier continental flow, and the vertical profiles of temperature and moisture are also more favorable. Three other rainfall cases are briefly discussed to illustrate how the strength and geographic position of the Arabian heat low can affect rainfall characteristics over the UAE.
Belgian and Swiss service providers faced with the challenge of jobseekers guidance: predominance of stakeholder games or of the collaborative framework?
Authors: Remy Céline 
Published: April 2018

The public employment services have contracted out their jobseeker guidance role to service providers. The article focuses on how the collaboration between the public services and private employment operators is organised in Belgium and Switzerland. These partnerships have to contend with two challenges, which are the recruitment of candidates for training projects and the measurement of the results of the service. Our initial hypothesis supports the idea that stakeholder games are more effective in solving critical situations than the collaborative framework. The international comparison allows us to vary the partnership creation methods and to show a particular articulation between the stakeholder games and collaborative framework. Points for practitioners The model of cooperation between public and private operators influences the quality of the relationship. Some partnership models are more likely to inspire trust between partners because they leave more room for expression and negotiation than others. Faced with the difficulties that arise in the course of a collaboration, the private operators will adopt opportunistic attitudes when the initial frame of the collaboration is narrower and accompanied by a relational asymmetry in order to somehow counteract the lack of a margin of manoeuvre for negotiation.
Identifying Algorithms to Improve the Accuracy of Unverified Diagnosis Codes for Birth Defects
Authors: Salemi Jason L. , Rutkowski Rachel E. , Tanner Jean Paul , Matas Jennifer L. , Kirby Russell S. 
Published: April 2018

Objectives: We identified algorithms to improve the accuracy of passive surveillance programs for birth defects that rely on administrative diagnosis codes for case ascertainment and in situations where case confirmation via medical record review is not possible or is resource prohibitive. Methods: We linked data from the 2009-2011 Florida Birth Defects Registry, a statewide, multisource, passive surveillance program, to an enhanced surveillance database with selected cases confirmed through medical record review. For each of 13 birth defects, we calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) to compare the accuracy of 4 algorithms that varied case definitions based on the number of diagnoses, medical encounters, and data sources in which the birth defect was identified. We also assessed the degree to which accuracy-improving algorithms would affect the Florida Birth Defects Registry’s completeness of ascertainment. Results: The PPV generated by using the original Florida Birth Defects Registry case definition (ie, suspected cases confirmed by medical record review) was 94.2%. More restrictive case definition algorithms increased the PPV to between 97.5% (identified by 1 or more codes/encounters in 1 data source) and 99.2% (identified in >1 data source). Although PPVs varied by birth defect, alternative algorithms increased accuracy for all birth defects; however, alternative algorithms also resulted in failing to ascertain 58.3% to 81.9% of cases. Conclusions: We found that surveillance programs that rely on unverified diagnosis codes can use algorithms to dramatically increase the accuracy of case finding, without having to review medical records. This can be important for etiologic studies. However, the use of increasingly restrictive case definition algorithms led to a decrease in completeness and the disproportionate exclusion of less severe cases, which could limit the widespread use of these approaches.
Improved Health and Insurance Status Among Cigarette Smokers After Medicaid Expansion, 2011-2016
Authors: Brown Clare C. , Tilford J. Mick , Bird T. Mac 
Published: April 2018

Objectives: The high concentration of smokers among subgroups targeted by the Affordable Care Act and the historically worse health and lower access to health care among smokers warrants an evaluation of how Medicaid expansion affects smokers. We evaluated the impact of Medicaid expansion on smoking behavior, access to health care, and health of low-income adults, and we compared outcomes of all low-income people with outcomes of low-income current smokers by states’ Medicaid expansion status. Methods: We obtained data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2011-2016) for low-income adults aged 18-64. We estimated multivariable linear ordinary least squares probability models using a quasi-experimental difference-in-difference approach to compare smoking behavior, access to health care, and health between people in expansion states and nonexpansion states and, specifically, on low-income adults and the subgroup of low-income current smokers. Results: Compared with low-income smokers in nonexpansion states, low-income smokers in expansion states were 7.6 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7-9.6; P < .001) more likely to have health insurance, 3.2 percentage points (95% CI, 1.3-5.2; P = .001) more likely to report good or better health, and 2.0 percentage points (95% CI, –3.9 to –0.1; P = .044) less likely to have cost-related barriers to care. Health and insurance gains among current smokers in expansion states were larger relative to health gains (1.6 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.5-2.7; P = .003) and insurance gains (4.6 percentage points; 95% CI, 3.5-5.8; P < .001) of all low-income adults in these states. Conclusions: Greater improvements among low-income smokers in Medicaid expansion states compared with nonexpansion states could influence future smoking behaviors and warrant longer-term monitoring. Additionally, health and insurance gains among low-income smokers in expansion states suggest the potential for Medicaid expansion to improve health among smokers compared with nonsmokers.
On the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma: A necropsy-based study of 171 cases (1997–2016)
Authors: Barbieri Pietro Gino , Mirabelli Dario , Magnani Corrado , Brollo Alessandro 
Published: April 2018

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) diagnosis is known to be difficult. We report on the diagnostic elements available in life in an MPM necropsy case series and describe the frequency of non-neoplastic asbestos-related diseases as biological exposure indices. Methods: We reviewed pathologic and clinical records of an unselected series of autopsies (1977–2016) in patients with MPM employed in the Monfalcone shipyards or living with shipyard workers. We assessed the consistency with autopsy results of diagnoses based on, respectively, radiologic, cytologic, and histologic findings, with and without immunophenotyping. Results: Data on 171 cases were available: for 169, autopsy confirmed the MPM diagnosis. In life, 119 cases had histologic confirmation of diagnosis, whereas 7 were negative; all cases without immunophenotypization were autoptic MPMs. Cytology alone had been positive in 18 autoptic MPM cases, negative in 14. Radiologic imaging alone had been positive in another 16, negative in 11. In the 2 cases not confirmed at autopsy, MPM had been suspected by chest computed tomography only. Bilateral pleural plaques were found in 144 and histologic evidence of asbestosis in 62 cases. Conclusions: Autopsies confirmed 169/171 cases, including cases that would not be considered as certain based on diagnosis in life. Radiologic imaging, cytologic examination of pleural effusions, or both combined had low sensitivity but high positive predictive value: when they are positive, proceeding to thoracoscopy should be justified. MPM has been correctly diagnosed even without immunohistochemistry. The prevalence of pleural plaques and asbestosis was high due to severity of asbestos exposures in these cases.
Dual-task cost in people with multiple sclerosis: A case–control study
Authors: Lemmens Jolien , Ferdinand Sofie , Vandenbroucke Annick , Ilsbroukx Stephan , Kos Daphne 
Published: April 2018

Introduction Limitations in fine motor functioning and cognitive performance are frequently reported in multiple sclerosis. Studies about dual-task costs in multiple sclerosis generally explore walking and postural performance. This study aims at exploring dual-task costs when simultaneously performing fine motor and cognitive tasks. Method Eighty people with multiple sclerosis and 80 matched controls performed the nine-hole peg test and the months backward test under single and dual-task conditions. Differences in performance over time were analysed with the paired t-test; differences in dual-task costs between groups were analysed with independent t-tests. Results People with multiple sclerosis and controls showed a significant decrease in fine motor and cognitive performance in dual-task conditions compared to single-task conditions ( P < 0.01). People with multiple sclerosis with limited hand capacity showed larger dual-task costs for cognitive performance compared to other hand capacity groups ( P < 0.05). Individuals with multiple sclerosis with lower cognitive capacity showed larger dual-task costs for fine motor performance ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Both people with multiple sclerosis and controls experience dual-task costs. People with multiple sclerosis with limited hand function showed an increased dual-task cost of cognitive performance and individuals with limited cognitive capacity showed a higher dual-task cost for fine motor performance. Therefore, occupational therapists should focus on cognitive or fine motor aspects during dual-task training dependent on individuals' capacities.
Does acute myocardial infarction kill more people on weekends? Analysis of in-hospital mortality rates for weekend admissions in Portugal
Authors: Fiorentino Francesca , Ascenção Raquel , Rosati Nicoletta 
Published: April 2018

Objectives To investigate a possible weekend effect in the in-hospital mortality rate for acute myocardial infarction in Portugal, and whether the delay in invasive intervention contributes to this effect. Methods Data from the National 2011–2015 Diagnostic-Related-Group databases were analysed. The focus was on adult patients admitted via the emergency department and with the primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Patients were grouped according to ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction episodes. We employed multivariable logistic regressions to determine the association between weekend admission and in-hospital mortality, controlling for episode complexity (through a severity index and acute comorbidities), demographic characteristics and hospital identifications. The association between the probability of a prompt surgery (within one day) and the day of admission was investigated to explore the possible delay of care delivery for patients admitted during weekends. Results Our results indicate that in-hospital mortality rates were not significantly higher for weekend admissions than for weekday admissions in both ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI episodes. This result is robust to the inclusion of a number of potential confounding mechanisms. Patients admitted on weekends had lower probabilities of undergoing invasive cardiac surgery within the day after admission, but delay in care delivery during the weekend was not associated with worse outcomes in terms of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions There is no evidence for the existence of a weekend effect due to admission for acute myocardial infarction in Portugal, in both STEMI and non-STEMI episodes.