bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Targeting Low-Voltage Areas With Selective Activation Characteristics
Authors: Jadidi Amir S. , Lehrmann Heiko , Keyl Cornelius , Sorrel Jérémie , Markstein Viktor , Minners Jan , Park Chan-Il , Denis Arnaud , Jaïs Pierre , Hocini Mélèze , Potocnik Clemens , Allgeier Juergen , Hochholzer Willibald , Herrera-Siklody Claudia , Kim Steve , Omri Youssef El , Neumann Franz-Josef , Weber Reinhold , Haïssaguerre Michel , Arentz Thomas 
Published: March 2016

Background—
Complex-fractionated atrial electrograms and atrial fibrosis are associated with maintenance of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) plus ablation of selective atrial low-voltage sites may be more successful than PVI only.

Methods and Results—

A total of 85 consecutive patients with persistent AF underwent high-density atrial voltage mapping, PVI, and ablation at low-voltage areas (LVA<0.5 mV in AF) associated with electric activity lasting >70% of AF cycle length on a single electrode (fractionated activity) or multiple electrodes around the circumferential mapping catheter (rotational activity) or discrete rapid local activity (group I). The procedural end point was AF termination. Arrhythmia freedom was compared with a control group (66 patients) undergoing PVI only (group II). PVI alone was performed in 23 of 85 (27%) patients of group I with low amount (<10% of left atrial surface area) of atrial low voltage. Selective atrial ablation in addition to PVI was performed in 62 patients with termination of AF in 45 (73%) after 11±9 minutes radiofrequency delivery. AF-termination sites colocalized within LVA in 80% and at border zones in 20%. Single-procedural arrhythmia freedom at 13 months median follow-up was achieved in 59 of 85 (69%) patients in group I, which was significantly higher than the matched control group (31/66 [47%],
P
<0.001). There was no significant difference in the success rate of patients in group I with a low amount of low voltage undergoing PVI only and patients requiring PVI+selective low-voltage ablation (
P
=0.42).

Conclusions—
Ablation of sites with distinct activation characteristics within/at borderzones of LVA in addition to PVI is more effective than conventional PVI-only strategy for persistent AF. PVI only seems to be sufficient to treat patients with left atrial low voltage <10%.
Prediction of First Cardiovascular Disease Event in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Vistisen Dorte , Andersen Gregers Stig , Hansen Christian Stevns , Hulman Adam , Henriksen Jan Erik , Bech-Nielsen Henning , Jørgensen Marit Eika 
Published: March 2016

Background—
Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), but they are currently undertreated. There are no risk scores used on a regular basis in clinical practice for assessing the risk of CVD in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods and Results—

From 4306 clinically diagnosed adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, we developed a prediction model for estimating the risk of first fatal or nonfatal CVD event (ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease). Detailed clinical data including lifestyle factors were linked to event data from validated national registers. The risk prediction model was developed by using a 2-stage approach. First, a nonparametric, data-driven approach was used to identify potentially informative risk factors and interactions (random forest and survival tree analysis). Second, based on results from the first step, Poisson regression analysis was used to derive the final model. The final CVD prediction model was externally validated in a different population of 2119 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. During a median follow-up of 6.8 years (interquartile range, 2.9–10.9) a total of 793 (18.4%) patients developed CVD. The final prediction model included age, sex, diabetes duration, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin A
1c
, albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, smoking, and exercise. Discrimination was excellent for a 5-year CVD event with a C-statistic of 0.826 (95% confidence interval, 0.807–0.845) in the derivation data and a C-statistic of 0.803 (95% confidence interval, 0.767–0.839) in the validation data. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration (
P
>0.05) in both cohorts.

Conclusions—
This high-performing CVD risk model allows for the implementation of decision rules in a clinical setting.
Heritability and Genome-Wide Association Analyses of Intracranial Carotid Artery Calcification
Authors: Adams Hieab H.H. , Ikram M. Arfan , Vernooij Meike W. , van Dijk Anouk C. , Hofman Albert , Uitterlinden André G. , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Koudstaal Peter J. , Franco Oscar H. , van der Lugt Aad , Bos Daniel 
Published: March 2016

Background and Purpose—
Intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) is one of the most important risk factors for stroke. Although several environmental risk factors for ICAC have been identified, its genetic background remains unclear.

Methods—
Between 2003 and 2006, 2034 participants from the prospective population-based Rotterdam study (mean age: 69.6±6.8 years; 51.7% female) underwent computed tomography to quantify vascular calcification in the intracranial internal carotid artery. Blood samples were drawn for genotyping. Genotypes of the participants were imputed to the 1000 Genomes reference panel to generate genetic relationship matrices for the estimation of the heritability of ICAC volume. Adjustments were made for age and sex. Subsequently, genome-wide association analyses were performed to identify specific variants.

Results—

The age- and sex-adjusted heritability (
h
2
) of ICAC was 47% [standard error (SE): 19%;
P
=0.009]. Genome-wide association analyses identified a variant on chromosome 9p21.3 (rs1537372; N=2034;
P
=4.75×10
−9
) and 1 variant on chromosome 11p11.2 (rs11038042, N=2034;
P
=3.27×10
−8
) that were significantly associated with ICAC volume. Rs1537372 replicated in an independent sample of 716 stroke patients (
P
combined
=1.38×10
−10
).

Conclusions—
ICAC volume is a heritable trait, which is partly explained by common genetic variation. We identified specific genetic variants associated with ICAC, which given the importance of ICAC in stroke risk, needs replication in larger-scale studies to further elucidate its genetic basis.
Transient Distraction and Attentional Control during a Sustained Selective Attention Task
Authors: Demeter Elise , Woldorff Marty G. 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Distracting stimuli in the environment can pull our attention away from our goal-directed tasks. fMRI studies have implicated regions in right frontal cortex as being particularly important for processing distractors [e.g., de Fockert, J. W., & Theeuwes, J. Role of frontal cortex in attentional capture by singleton distractors. Brain and Cognition, 80, 367–373, 2012; Demeter, E., Hernandez-Garcia, L., Sarter, M., & Lustig, C. Challenges to attention: A continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL) study of the effects of distraction on sustained attention. Neuroimage, 54, 1518–1529, 2011]. Less is known, however, about the timing and sequence of how right frontal or other brain regions respond selectively to distractors and how distractors impinge upon the cascade of processes related to detecting and processing behaviorally relevant target stimuli. Here we used EEG and ERPs to investigate the neural consequences of a perceptually salient but task-irrelevant distractor on the detection of rare target stimuli embedded in a rapid, serial visual presentation (RSVP) stream. We found that distractors that occur during the presentation of a target interfere behaviorally with detection of those targets, reflected by reduced detection rates, and that these missed targets show a reduced amplitude of the long-latency, detection-related P3 component. We also found that distractors elicited a right-lateralized frontal negativity beginning at 100 msec, whose amplitude negatively correlated across participants with their distraction-related behavioral impairment. Finally, we also quantified the instantaneous amplitude of the steady-state visual evoked potentials elicited by the RSVP stream and found that the occurrence of a distractor resulted in a transient amplitude decrement of the steady-state visual evoked potential, presumably reflecting the pull of attention away from the RSVP stream when distracting stimuli occur in the environment.
Influence of Synoptic Weather Patterns on Solar Irradiance Variability in Northern Europe
Authors: Parding Kajsa M. , Liepert Beate G. , Hinkelman Laura M. , Ackerman Thomas P. , Dagestad Knut-Frode , Olseth Jan Asle 
Published: March 2016

AbstractObservations have revealed strong variability of shortwave (SW) irradiance at Earth’s surface on decadal time scales, referred to as global dimming and brightening. Previous studies have attributed the dimming and brightening to changes in clouds and atmospheric aerosols. This study assesses the influence of atmospheric circulation on clouds and SW irradiance to separate the influence of “natural” SW variability from direct and, to some extent, indirect aerosol effects. The focus is on SW irradiance in northern Europe in summer and spring because there is little high-latitude SW irradiance during winter. As a measure of large-scale circulation the Grosswetterlagen (GWL) dataset, a daily classification of synoptic weather patterns, is used. Empirical models of normalized SW irradiance are constructed based on the GWL, relating the synoptic weather patterns to the local radiative climate. In summer, a temporary SW peak in the 1970s and subsequent dimming is linked to variations in the synoptic patterns over Scandinavia, possibly related to a northward shift in the North Atlantic storm track. In spring, a decrease of anticyclonic and increase of cyclonic weather patterns over northern Europe contributes to the dimming from the 1960s to 1990. At many sites, there is also a residual SW irradiance trend not explained by the GWL model: a weak nonsignificant residual dimming from the 1950s or 1960s to around 1990, followed by a statistically significant residual brightening. It is concluded that factors other than the large-scale circulation (e.g., decreasing aerosol emissions) also play an important role in northern Europe.
The Meridional Displacement of the Summer Asian Jet, Silk Road Pattern, and Tropical SST Anomalies
Authors: Hong Xiaowei , Lu Riyu 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
The Silk Road pattern (SRP), which depicts the teleconnection pattern along the Asian jet, has been extensively investigated and commonly described as the leading mode of upper-tropospheric meridional wind anomalies in summer. In this study, the SRP is identified as having a significant relationship with the meridional displacement of the Asian jet (JMD), which manifests as the leading mode of upper-tropospheric zonal wind anomalies. This significant relationship is confirmed by the correlation coefficient between the indices for JMD and SRP, which is 0.39 and reaches statistical significance at the 0.01 level. When the Asian jet is in a northward (southward) displacement, the phase of SRP tends to be shown as anticyclonic (cyclonic) anomalies over western Asia and East Asia and cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomalies over Europe and central Asia. The authors propose an internal atmospheric mechanism for this relationship. In addition, it is found that the JMD is significantly affected by the tropical surface temperature anomalies. In particular, the negative (positive) SST anomalies in the tropical central and eastern Pacific of the preceding spring lead to significant cooler (warmer) tropical tropospheric temperatures in summer and may induce the northward (southward) displacement of the Asian jet through modifying the meridional gradient of tropospheric temperatures. The tropical tropospheric temperature anomalies may also affect the SRP through the JMD.
Impact of Ural Blocking on Winter Warm Arctic–Cold Eurasian Anomalies. Part II: The Link to the North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: Luo Dehai , Xiao Yiqing , Diao Yina , Dai Aiguo , Franzke Christian L. E. , Simmonds Ian 
Published: March 2016

AbstractIn Part I of this study, the Ural blocking (UB)-induced amplification role of winter warm Arctic–cold Eurasian (WACE) anomalies has been examined. It was found that the long-lived UB together with the positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO+) significantly contributes to the amplification of the WACE pattern. The present study examines how the UB variability affects quasi-biweekly WACE (QB-WACE) anomalies and depends on the NAO+ and North Atlantic conditions by classifying the UB based on a case study of a cold event that occurred over southern China in January 2008. A composite analysis during 1979–2013 shows that the QB-WACE anomalies associated with the UB that often occur with the NAO+ are strong and influenced by the North Atlantic jet (NAJ) and zonal wind strengths over Eurasia. For NAO+-related UB, the QB-WACE anomaly depends strongly on the location of UB, and the UB anomalies lag the NAO+ by approximately 4–7 days.The strength of the NAJ determines whether the combined NAO+ and UB anomalies exhibit a negative East Atlantic/West Russia (EA/WR−) pattern, while the region of weak zonal winds over Eurasia and the zonal extent of the NAJ dominate the location of UB. For southward-, eastward-, and westward-displaced UBs associated with a strong NAJ, the NAO+ favors the UB with a southward-displaced QB-WACE anomaly through wave train propagation like an EA/WR− pattern. Eastward- and southward-displaced UB anomalies induce similarly displaced cold anomalies with intrusion into southern China. However, for a northward-displaced UB, this happens without pronounced EA/WR− patterns because of a weak NAJ and is accompanied by a northward-displaced QB-WACE anomaly.
Improvements of Rain/No-Rain Classification Methods for Microwave Radiometer over Coasts by Dynamic Surface-Type Classification
Authors: Mega Tomoaki , Shige Shoichi 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe rain/no-rain classification for the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) fails to detect rain over coasts, where the microwave footprint encompasses a mixture of radiometrically cold ocean and radiometrically warm land. A static land–ocean–coast mask is used to determine the surface type of each satellite footprint. The coast mask is conservatively wide to account for the largest footprints, preventing use of the more appropriate ocean or land algorithm for coastal regions.The purpose of this paper is to develop a classification whereby the smallest region possible is defined as coast. In this endeavor, two major improvements are applied to the land–ocean–coast classification. First, the surface classification based on microwave footprints of the high frequency actually used in rain detection is employed. Second, the footprint area of the surface classification is established using an effective field-of-view size and scan geometry of the TMI. These improvements are applied to the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation TMI algorithm. The classification result is validated using the TRMM precipitation radar. The validation shows that these improvements lead to better rain detection in the coastal region.
Promoting individual health using information technology: Trends in the US health system
Authors: Nimkar Swateja 
Published: March 2016

Objectives: Advances in electronics, the Internet and telecommunication have pushed the field of health care to embrace information technology (IT). However, the purposeful use of technology is relatively new to the field of health promotion. The primary objective of this paper is to review various applications of health IT, with a focus on its use in health promotion and its evolving impact on the healthcare system in the USA. It also emphasises on the potential benefits of introducing different applications of health IT in health care and health education. Methods: A detailed review and synthesis of recent literature in the area of health IT was conducted to reflect and describe the recent trends related to health promotion influenced by IT in the USA. Results: This review reveals that despite initial reluctance, health providers and patients are accepting and even crediting health IT for providing patients with resources to educate themselves on their health status and actively participate in their health care by enabling them easy access to health information. Conclusion: Health-related IT can facilitate a paradigm shift from a system-centred disease prevention model of care to a more patient-centred health promotion approach. Furthermore, like most other changes in health care, health IT is facing its share of challenges, yet evolving to be one of the fastest growing trends in the US healthcare system.
Integrated genomic DNA/RNA profiling of hematologic malignancies in the clinical setting
Authors: He Jie , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Nahas Michelle K. , Wang Kai , Rampal Raajit K. , Intlekofer Andrew M. , Patel Jay , Krivstov Andrei , Frampton Garrett M. , Young Lauren E. , Zhong Shan , Bailey Mark , White Jared R. , Roels Steven , Deffenbaugh Jason , Fichtenholtz Alex , Brennan Timothy , Rosenzweig Mark , Pelak Kimberly , Knapp Kristina M. , Brennan Kristina W. , Donahue Amy L. , Young Geneva , Garcia Lazaro , Beckstrom Selmira T. , Zhao Mandy , White Emily , Banning Vera , Buell Jamie , Iwanik Kiel , Ross Jeffrey S. , Morosini Deborah , Younes Anas , Hanash Alan M. , Paietta Elisabeth , Roberts Kathryn , Mullighan Charles , Dogan Ahmet , Armstrong Scott A. , Mughal Tariq , Vergilio Jo-Anne , Labrecque Elaine , Erlich Rachel , Vietz Christine , Yelensky Roman , Stephens Philip J. , Miller Vincent A. , van den Brink Marcel R. M. , Otto Geoff A. , Lipson Doron , Levine Ross L. 
Published: March 2016

Key Points
Novel clinically available comprehensive genomic profiling of both DNA and RNA in hematologic malignancies. Profiling of 3696 clinical hematologic tumors identified somatic alterations that impact diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic selection.
Proteolytic processing of human serum albumin generates EPI-X4, an endogenous antagonist of CXCR4
Authors: Zirafi Onofrio , Hermann Patrick C , Münch Jan 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is an important G protein-coupled receptor. Signaling via CXCL12 regulates a number of important biologic processes, including immune responses, organogenesis, or hematopoiesis. Dysregulation of CXCR4 signaling is associated with a variety of diseases, such as cancer development and metastasis, immunodeficiencies, or chronic inflammation. Here, we review our findings on endogenous peptide inhibitor of CXCR4 as a novel antagonist of CXCR4. This peptide is a 16-residue fragment of human serum albumin and was isolated as an inhibitor of CXCR4-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from a blood-derived peptide library. Endogenous peptide inhibitor of CXCR4 binds the second extracellular loop of CXCR4, thereby preventing engagement of CXCL12 and antagonizing the receptor. Consequently, endogenous peptide inhibitor of CXCR4 inhibits CXCL12-mediated migration of CXCR4-expressing cells in vitro, mobilizes hematopoietic stem cells, and suppresses inflammatory responses in vivo. We discuss the generation of endogenous peptide inhibitor of CXCR4, its relevance as biomarker for disease, and its role in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome pathogenesis and cancer. Furthermore, we discuss why optimized endogenous peptide inhibitor of CXCR4 derivatives might have advantages over other CXCR4 antagonists.
Puberty and Pubertal Growth in GH-treated SGA Children: Effects of 2 Years of GnRHa Versus No GnRHa
Authors: van der Steen Manouk , Lem Annemieke J. , van der Kaay Danielle C. M. , Hokken-Koèelega Anita C. S. 
Published: March 2016

Abstract

Context:
Most studies on puberty in children born small for gestational age (SGA) report height and age at onset of puberty. GH-treated SGA children with an adult height (AH) expectation below −2.5 SDS at onset of puberty can benefit from an additional 2 years of GnRH analog (GnRHa) treatment. There are no data on puberty and growth after discontinuation of GnRHa treatment in GH-treated SGA children.

Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the effects on puberty and pubertal growth of 2 years GnRHa vs no GnRHa in GH-treated SGA children.

Methods:
This was a GH trial involving 76 prepubertal short SGA children (36 girls) treated with GH. Thirty-two children received additional GnRHa for 2 years. Pubertal stages were 3-monthly assessed according to Tanner.

Results:
Age, bone age, and median height at pubertal onset were lower in girls and boys in the GH/GnRHa group compared with the GH group. In girls and boys treated with GH/GnRHa, pubertal duration after stop of GnRHa treatment was shorter than pubertal duration in those with GH only (40.9 vs 46.7 mo; P = .044; 50.8 vs 57.5 months; P = .006; respectively). Height gain from onset of puberty until AH, including height gain during 2 years of GnRHa treatment, was 25.4 cm in girls and 33.0 cm in boys, which was 6.6 cm more than girls and boys treated with GH only. AH was similar in children treated with GH/GnRHa compared with those with GH only.

Conclusions:
GH-treated SGA children who start puberty with an AH expectation below −2.5 SDS and are treated with 2 years of GnRHa have a shorter pubertal duration after discontinuation of GnRHa compared with pubertal duration in children treated with GH only. Height gain from onset of puberty until AH is, however, more due to adequate growth during 2 years of GnRHa treatment resulting in a similar AH as children treated with GH only.
E-cadherin-mediated force transduction signals regulate global cell mechanics
Authors: Muhamed Ismaeel , Wu Jun , Sehgal Poonam , Kong Xinyu , Tajik Arash , Wang Ning , Leckband Deborah E. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
This report elucidates an E-cadherin-based force-transduction pathway that triggers changes in cell mechanics through a mechanism requiring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and the downstream formation of new integrin adhesions. This mechanism operates in addition to local cytoskeletal remodeling triggered by conformational changes in the E-cadherin-associated protein α-catenin, at sites of mechanical perturbation. Studies using magnetic twisting cytometry (MTC), together with traction force microscopy (TFM) and confocal imaging identified force-activated E-cadherin-specific signals that integrate cadherin force transduction, integrin activation and cell contractility. EGFR is required for the downstream activation of PI3K and myosin-II-dependent cell stiffening. Our findings also demonstrated that α-catenin-dependent cytoskeletal remodeling at perturbed E-cadherin adhesions does not require cell stiffening. These results broaden the repertoire of E-cadherin-based force transduction mechanisms, and define the force-sensitive signaling network underlying the mechano-chemical integration of spatially segregated adhesion receptors.