bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Low Relative Muscle Mass and Coronary Artery Calcification in Healthy Adults
Authors: Ko Byung-Joon , Chang Yoosoo , Jung Hyun-Suk , Yun Kyung Eun , Kim Chan-Won , Park Hye Soon , Chung Eun Chul , Shin Hocheol , Ryu Seungho 
Published: April 2016

Objective—
Sarcopenia or low muscle mass is related to cardiovascular risk factors; however, the association between low muscle mass and subclinical atherosclerosis has been largely unexplored. We investigated whether muscle mass is related to coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a large sample of middle-aged asymptomatic adults.

Approach and Results—

We performed a cross-sectional study of 31 108 asymptomatic adults without cancer, diabetes mellitus, or known cardiovascular disease who underwent a health checkup examination including cardiac tomography estimation of CAC scores between 2012 and 2013. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) [SMI (%)=total skeletal muscle mass (kg)/body weight (kg)×100] was estimated using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. We assessed the relationship between SMI and CAC scores using both multivariate-adjusted Tobit models and multinomial logistic regression models. Of the 31 108 subjects, 3374 subjects (10.9%) had a CAC score 1 to 100, and 628 subjects (2.0%) had a CAC score >100. SMI was inversely associated with CAC score ratios. Specifically, in a multivariable-adjusted model adjusting for potential confounders, CAC score ratios (95% confidence intervals) of SMI for quartiles 1, 2, and 3 compared with quartile 4 were 2.27 (1.70–3.05), 1.46 (1.15–1.85), and 1.24 (0.98–1.55), respectively (
P
for trend <0.001). Adjusting for insulin resistance reduced the magnitude of the associations, but they remained statistically significant.

Conclusions—
Relative muscle mass was negatively associated with the prevalence of coronary calcification, supporting low muscle mass as an independent risk factor of coronary heart disease.
Efficacy of Alteplase in a Mouse Model of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Orset Cyrille , Haelewyn Benoit , Allan Stuart M. , Ansar Saema , Campos Francesco , Cho Tae Hee , Durand Anne , El Amki Mohamad , Fatar Marc , Garcia-Yébenes Isaac , Gauberti Maxime , Grudzenski Saskia , Lizasoain Ignacio , Lo Eng , Macrez Richard , Margaill Isabelle , Maysami Samaneh , Meairs Stephen , Nighoghossian Norbert , Orbe Josune , Paramo Jose Antonio , Parienti Jean-Jacques , Rothwell Nancy J. , Rubio Marina , Waeber Christian , Young Alan R. , Touzé Emmanuel , Vivien Denis 
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—
The debate over the fact that experimental drugs proposed for the treatment of stroke fail in the translation to the clinical situation has attracted considerable attention in the literature. In this context, we present a retrospective pooled analysis of a large data set from preclinical studies, to examine the effects of early versus late administration of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Methods—
We collected data from 26 individual studies from 9 international centers (13 researchers; 716 animals) that compared recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator with controls, in a unique mouse model of thromboembolic stroke induced by an in situ injection of thrombin into the middle cerebral artery. Studies were classified into early (<3 hours) versus late (≥3 hours) drug administration. Final infarct volumes, assessed by histology or magnetic resonance imaging, were compared in each study, and the absolute differences were pooled in a random-effect meta-analysis. The influence of time of administration was tested.

Results—

When compared with saline controls, early recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator administration was associated with a significant benefit (absolute difference, −6.63 mm
3
; 95% confidence interval, −9.08 to −4.17;
I
2
=76%), whereas late recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment showed a deleterious effect (+5.06 mm
3
; 95% confidence interval, +2.78 to +7.34;
I
2
=42%;
P
int
<0.00001). Results remained unchanged after subgroup analyses.

Conclusions—
Our results provide the basis needed for the design of future preclinical studies on recanalization therapies using this model of thromboembolic stroke in mice. The power analysis reveals that a multicenter trial would require 123 animals per group instead of 40 for a single-center trial.
Access to Endovascular Treatment in Remote Areas
Authors: Pérez de la Ossa Natalia , Abilleira Sònia , Dorado Laura , Urra Xabier , Ribó Marc , Cardona Pere , Giralt Eva , Martí-Fàbregas Joan , Purroy Francisco , Serena Joaquín , Cánovas David , Garcés Moisés , Krupinski Jurek , Pellisé Anna , Saura Júlia , Molina Carlos , Dávalos Antoni , Gallofré Miquel , Delgado Mederos R , Martínez Domeño A , Marín Bueno R , Roquer J , Rodríguez-Campello A , Ois Á , Jiménez-Conde J , Cuadrado-Godia E , Guimaraens L , Chamorro A , Obach V , Amaro S , Macho JM , Blasco J , San Roman Manzanera L , López A , Martínez-Yélamos A , Quesada H , Lara B , Cayuela N , Aja L , de Miquel MA , Mora P , Rubiera M , Pagola J , Rodríguez-Luna D , Muchada M , Tomasello A , Coscojuela P , Millán M , Gomis M , López-Cancio E , Castaño C , Remollo S , Del Carmen Garcia M , Estela J , Perendreu J , Huertas S , Nicolás MC , Gómez-Choco M , García S , Martínez R , Sanahuja J , Castellanos M , Silva Y , van Eendenburg C , Marés R , Ustrell X , Baiges J , Soler Insa JM , Aragonés JM , Cocho Calderón L , Otermin P , Palomeras E 
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—
Since demonstration of the benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke patients with proximal arterial occlusion, stroke care systems need to be reorganized to deliver EVT in a timely and equitable way. We analyzed differences in the access to EVT by geographical areas in Catalonia, a territory with a highly decentralized stroke model.

Methods—
We studied 965 patients treated with EVT from a prospective multicenter population-based registry of stroke patients treated with reperfusion therapies in Catalonia, Spain (SONIIA). Three different areas were defined: (A) health areas primarily covered by Comprehensive Stroke Centers, (B) areas primarily covered by local stroke centers located less than hour away from a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and (C) areas primarily covered by local stroke centers located more than hour away from a Comprehensive Stroke Center. We compared the number of EVT×100 000 inhabitants/year and time from stroke onset to groin puncture between groups.

Results—

Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Throughout the study period, there were significant differences in the population rates of EVT across geographical areas. EVT rates by 100 000 in 2015 were 10.5 in A area, 3.7 in B, and 2.7 in C. Time from symptom onset to groin puncture was 82 minutes longer in group B (312 minutes [245–435]) and 120 minutes longer in group C (350 minutes [284–408]) compared with group A (230 minutes [160–407];
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—
Accessibility to EVT from remote areas is hampered by lower rate and longer time to treatment compared with areas covered directly by Comprehensive Stroke Centers.
A Hybrid Index for Characterizing Drought Based on a Nonparametric Kernel Estimator
Authors: Huang Shengzhi , Huang Qiang , Leng Guoyong , Chang Jianxia 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis study develops a nonparametric multivariate drought index, namely, the nonparametric multivariate standardized drought index (NMSDI), by considering the variations of both precipitation and streamflow. Building upon previous efforts in constructing nonparametric multivariate drought index, the nonparametric kernel estimator is used to derive the joint distribution of precipitation and streamflow, thus providing additional insights into drought-index development. The proposed NMSDI is applied in the Wei River basin (WRB), on the basis of which the drought-evolution characteristics are investigated. Three main results were found: 1) In general, NMSDI captures drought onset in a way that is similar to that of the standardized precipitation index and captures drought termination and persistence in a way that is similar to that of the standardized streamflow index. The drought events identified by NMSDI match well with historical drought records in the WRB. Performance is also consistent with that of an existing multivariate standardized drought index at various time scales, confirming the validity of the newly constructed NMSDI in drought detections. 2) An increasing risk of drought has been detected for past decades and will persist to a certain extent in the future in most areas of the WRB. 3) The identified changepoints of annual NMSDI are mainly concentrated in the early 1970s and mid-1990s, coincident with extensive water use and soil conservation practices. In summary, this study highlights a nonparametric multivariable drought index that can efficiently and comprehensively be used for drought detections and predictions.
Observed Signatures of the Barotropic and Baroclinic Annular Modes in Cloud Vertical Structure and Cloud Radiative Effects
Authors: Li Ying , Thompson David W. J. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The signatures of large-scale annular variability on the vertical structure of clouds and cloud radiative effects are examined in vertically resolved CloudSat and other satellite and reanalysis data products. The northern and southern “barotropic” annular modes (the NAM and SAM) have a complex vertical structure. Both are associated with a meridional dipole in clouds between subpolar and middle latitudes, but the sign of the anomalies changes between upper, middle, and lower tropospheric levels. In contrast, the northern and southern baroclinic annular modes have a much simpler vertical structure. Both are linked to same-signed anomalies in clouds extending throughout the troposphere at middle to high latitudes. The changes in cloud incidence associated with both the barotropic and baroclinic annular modes are consistent with dynamical forcing by the attendant changes in static stability and/or vertical motion. The results also provide the first observational estimates of the vertically resolved atmospheric cloud radiative effects associated with hemispheric-scale extratropical variability. In general, the anomalies in atmospheric cloud radiative effects associated with the annular modes peak in the middle to upper troposphere, and are consistent with the anomalous trapping of longwave radiation by variations in upper tropospheric clouds. The southern baroclinic annular mode gives rise to periodic behavior in longwave cloud radiative effects at the top of the atmosphere averaged over Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes.
Separation of Short Time Series of Currents into “Fluctuations,” “Tides,” and “Mean” Flow
Authors: Gargett Ann E. , Savidge Dana K. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWith standard low-frequency velocity data from current meter moorings, pressure gradient–driven mean flow is determined by low-pass filtering, while tides are estimated by fitting tidal constituents, with accuracy and numbers of constituents determined by record length. With the advent of higher-frequency measurements from cabled coastal ocean observatories, current data also include supertidal variability (fluctuation) associated with a variety of turbulent and internal wave processes. To examine the relationships of such fluctuations to variability of the tides and/or potentially time-variable mean flows within which they are embedded, it is highly desirable to find a method whereby these flow components can be separated over relatively short periods of intensified event-scale forcing. A method is presented that first isolates “fluctuations” and then separates the remaining longer time-scale variability into “tides” and a remaining “mean,” without recourse to extraction of a fitted tide with the error inherent in such a fit over short data records.
Evaluating Tropical Cyclone Forecasts from the NCEP Global Ensemble Forecasting System (GEFS) Reforecast Version 2
Authors: Li Weiwei , Wang Zhuo , Peng Melinda S. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractTropical cyclone (TC) forecasts from the NCEP Global Ensemble Forecasting System (GEFS) Reforecast version 2 (1985–2012) were evaluated from the climate perspective, with a focus on tropical cyclogenesis. Although the GEFS captures the climatological seasonality of tropical cyclogenesis over different ocean basins reasonably well, large errors exist on the regional scale. As different genesis pathways are dominant over different ocean basins, genesis biases are related to biases in different aspects of the large-scale or synoptic-scale circulations over different basins. The negative genesis biases over the western North Pacific are associated with a weaker-than-observed monsoon trough in the GEFS, the erroneous genesis pattern over the eastern North Pacific is related to a southward displacement of the ITCZ, and the positive genesis biases near the Cape Verde islands and negative biases farther downstream over the Atlantic can be attributed to the hyperactive Africa easterly waves in the GEFS. The interannual and subseasonal variability of TC activity in the reforecasts was also examined to evaluate the potential skill of the GEFS in providing subseasonal and seasonal predictions. The GEFS skillfully captures the interannual variability of TC activity over the North Pacific and the North Atlantic, which can be attributed to the modulation of TCs by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Atlantic meridional mode (AMM). The GEFS shows promising skill in predicting the active and inactive periods of TC activity over the Atlantic. The skill, however, has large fluctuations from year to year. The analysis presented herein suggests possible impacts of ENSO, the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), and the AMM on the TC subseasonal predictability.
Expressed emotion in panic disorder: Relationship with demographic and clinical variables and quality of life
Authors: Demir Meral Oran , Yıldız Mesut , Batmaz Sedat , Semiz Murat , Songur Emrah , Çakmak Selcen , Demir Osman 
Published: April 2016

Objective: Expressed emotion (EE) predicts the outcome of treatment in patients with anxiety disorders. We aimed to investigate the relationship between EE and demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with panic disorder (PD), to determine whether there is a difference between PD, major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and healthy controls (HC) in terms of EE and to investigate the effect of EE on quality of life (QOL) in patients with PD. Methods: Our study involved a total of 150 participants (50 patients in each group). All participants were given the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) scale and the short-form health survey (SF)-36 . Furthermore, the EE scale was completed by the participant’s key relatives. Results: EE was associated with some sociodemographic and clinical variables in patients with PD. There was no significant difference between PD and MDD and between PD and HC in terms of the LEE and the EE and their subscale scores. It was also demonstrated that EE had no effect on the QOL in patients with PD. Conclusion: EE was not different in PD compared to MDD and HC. Additionally, EE was not related to QOL in PD.
Conflict in the intensive care unit: Nursing advocacy and surgical agency
Authors: Pecanac Kristen E , Schwarze Margaret L 
Published: April 2016

Background: Nurses and surgeons may experience intra-team conflict during decision making about the use of postoperative life-sustaining treatment in the intensive care unit due to their perceptions of professional roles and responsibilities. Nurses have a sense of advocacy—a responsibility to support the patient’s best interest; surgeons have a sense of agency—a responsibility to keep the patient alive. Objectives: The objectives were to (1) describe the discourse surrounding the responsibilities of nurses and surgeons, as “advocates” and “agents,” and (2) apply these findings to determine how differences in role responsibilities could foster conflict during decision making about postoperative life-sustaining treatment in the intensive care unit. Research design: Articles, books, and professional documents were explored to obtain descriptions of nurses’ and surgeons’ responsibilities to their patients. Using discourse analysis, responsibilities were grouped into themes and then compared for potential for conflict. Ethical considerations: No data were collected from human participants and ethical review was not required. The texts were analyzed by a surgeon and a nurse to minimize profession-centric biases. Findings: Four themes in nursing discourse were identified: responsibility to support patient autonomy regarding treatment decisions, responsibility to protect the patient from the physician, responsibility to act as an intermediary between the physician and the patient, and the responsibility to support the well-being of the patient. Three themes in surgery discourse were identified personal responsibility for the patient’s outcome, commitment to patient survival, and the responsibility to prevent harm to the patient from surgery. Discussion: These responsibilities may contribute to conflict because each profession is working toward different goals and each believes they know what is best for the patient. It is not clear from the existing literature that either profession understands each other’s responsibilities. Conclusion: Interventions that improve understanding of each profession’s responsibilities may be helpful to reduce intra-team conflict in the intensive care unit.
Decision-Making of Patients With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators at End of Life: Family Members’ Experiences
Authors: Lee Mei Ching , Sulmasy Daniel P. , Gallo Joseph , Kub Joan , Hughes Mark T. , Russell Stuart , Kellogg Anela , Owens Sharon G. , Terry Peter , Nolan Marie T. 
Published: April 2016

Introduction:Many patients with advanced heart failure (HF) experience the life-extending benefits of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), but at the end stage of HF, patients may experience shocks with increasing frequency and change the plan for end-of-life (EOL) care including the deactivation of the ICD. This report describes family members’ experiences of patients with ICD making decisions at EOL. Understanding the decision-making of patients with ICD at EOL can promote informed decision-making and improve the quality of EOL care.Methods:This pilot study used a mixed methods approach to test the effects of a nurse-guided discussion in decision-making about ICD deactivation (turning off the defibrillation function) at the EOL. Interviews were conducted, audiotaped, and transcribed in 2012 to 2013 with 6 family members of patients with advanced HF and ICDs. Three researchers coded the data and identified themes in 2014.Results:Three main themes described family members’ experiences related to patients having HF with ICDs making health-care decision at EOL: decision-making preferences, patients’ perception on ICD deactivation, and communication methods.Discussion:Health-care providers need to have knowledge of patients’ decision-making preferences. Preferences for decision-making include the allowing of appropriate people to involve and encourages direct conversation with family members even when advance directives is completed. Information of ICD function and the option of deactivation need to be clearly delivered to patients and family members. Education and guidelines will facilitate the communication of the preferences of EOL care.
Bilateral transfer phenomenon: A functional magnetic resonance imaging pilot study of healthy subjects
Authors: Uggetti Carla , Ausenda Carlo D , Squarza Silvia , Cadioli Marcello , Grimoldi Ludovico , Cerri Cesare , Cariati Maurizio 
Published: April 2016

Background The bilateral transfer of a motor skill is a physiological phenomenon: the development of a motor skill with one hand can trigger the development of the same ability of the other hand. Objective The purpose of this study was to verify whether bilateral transfer is associated with a specific brain activation pattern using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods The motor task was implemented as the execution of the Nine Hole Peg Test. Fifteen healthy subjects (10 right-handers and five left-handers) underwent two identical fMRI runs performing the motor task with the non-dominant hand. Between the first and the second run, each subject was intensively trained for five minutes to perform the same motor task with the dominant hand. Results Comparing the two functional scans across the pool of subjects, a change of the motor activation pattern was observed. In particular, we observed, in the second run, a change in the activation pattern both in the cerebellum and in the cerebral cortex. We found activations in cortical areas involved in somatosensory integration, areas involved in procedural memory. Conclusions Our study shows, in a small group of healthy subjects, the modification of the fMRI activation pathway of a motor task performed by the non-dominant hand after intensive exercise performing the same task with the dominant hand.
An unusual variation of carotid-vertebrobasilar arteries: An anatomical case report
Authors: Shi Shi-kui 
Published: April 2016

Background and purpose Having no obvious clinical symptoms and signs, it is difficult to find head and neck vascular variations without the aid of vascular imaging techniques. Summary of case A 66-year-old female patient underwent head and neck computed tomographic angiography examination. Her computed tomographic angiography examination revealed that the internal carotid artery directly migrated to the ophthalmic artery. Brain blood supply is provided by the vertebrobasilar artery independently. Conclusion To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is a very rare anatomical vascular variation of the head and neck found by computed tomographic angiography.
Suitable traverse ratios for step precision winding
Authors: Koranne Milind Vasudeo , Mhedu Kuldeep 
Published: April 2016

AbstractStep precision winding produces a yarn package that is free from ribbon formation and marginal variation in coil angle. In open step precision winding, traverse ratios used during package build are such that the resultant package is open suitable for end user applications like warping and dyeing. It is always a critical task for a manufacturer of step precision yarn winding system to find values of traverse ratios which are open and definitely ribbon free without any appearance of diamonds or honeycomb. Traverse ratios used in any commercial step precision yarn winding system are not accessible to the user. The authors have carried out basic work of finding suitable open wind traverse ratios for step precision winding and have come out with a novel approach of “SAFE ZONES” for finding suitable open traverse ratios. This paper discusses this novel approach that is very useful for manufacturers of step precision winding systems.
Human mast cells capture, store, and release bioactive, exogenous IL-17A
Authors: Noordenbos Troy , Blijdorp Iris , Chen Sijia , Stap Jan , Mul Erik , Cañete Juan D , Lubberts Erik , Yeremenko Nataliya , Baeten Dominique 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
IL-17A, a major proinflammatory cytokine, can be produced by a variety of leukocytes, but its exact cellular source in human inflammatory diseases remains incompletely understood. IL-17A protein is abundantly found in mast cells in human tissues, such as inflamed synovium, but surprisingly, mechanistic murine studies failed to demonstrate IL-17A production by mast cells. Here, we demonstrate that primary human tissue mast cells do not produce IL-17A themselves but actively capture exogenous IL-17A through receptor-mediated endocytosis. The exogenous IL-17A is stored in intracellular granules and can subsequently be released in a bioactive form. This novel mechanism confers to mast cells the capacity to steer IL-17A-mediated tissue inflammation by the rapid release of preformed cytokine.