bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infarct size, left ventricular function, and prognosis in women compared to men after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results from an individual patient-level pooled analysis of 10 randomized trials
Authors: Kosmidou Ioanna , Redfors Björn , Selker Harry P. , Thiele Holger , Patel Manesh R. , Udelson James E. , Magnus Ohman E. , Eitel Ingo , Granger Christopher B. , Maehara Akiko , Kirtane Ajay , Généreux Philippe , Jenkins Paul L. , Ben-Yehuda Ori , Mintz Gary S. , Stone Gregg W. 
Published: March 2017

Aim
Studies have reported less favourable outcomes in women compared with men after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Whether sex-specific differences in the magnitude or prognostic impact of infarct size or post-infarction cardiac function explain this finding is unknown.

Methods and results
We pooled patient-level data from 10 randomized primary PCI trials in which infarct size was measured within 1 month (median 4 days) by either cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography. We assessed the association between sex, infarct size, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the composite rate of death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization within 1 year. Of 2632 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, 587 (22.3%) were women. Women were older than men and had a longer delay between symptom onset and reperfusion. Infarct size did not significantly differ between women and men, and women had higher LVEF. Nonetheless, women had a higher 1-year rate of death or HF hospitalization compared to men, and while infarct size was a strong independent predictor of 1-year death or HF hospitalization (P &lt; 0.0001), no interaction was present between sex and infarct size or LVEF on the risk of death or HF hospitalization.

Conclusions
In this large-scale, individual patient-level pooled analysis of patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, women had a higher 1-year rate of death or HF hospitalization compared to men, a finding not explained by sex-specific differences in the magnitude or prognostic impact of infarct size or by differences in post-infarction cardiac function.
Protective Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Against the Development of Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture in Mice
Authors: Kuwabara Atsushi , Liu Jia , Kamio Yoshinobu , Liu Airan , Lawton Michael T , Lee Jae-Woo , Hashimoto Tomoki 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem or stromal cells found in multiple tissues. Intravenous MSC injections have been used to treat various diseases with an inflammatory component in animals and humans. Inflammation is emerging as a key component of pathophysiology of intracranial aneurysms. Modulation of inflammation by MSCs may affect sustained inflammatory processes that lead to aneurysmal rupture.

OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of MSCs on the development of aneurysm rupture using a mouse model.

METHODS
Intracranial aneurysms were induced with a combination of a single elastase injection into the cerebrospinal fluid and deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced hypertension in mice. We administered allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs or vehicle, 6 and 9 d after aneurysm induction.

RESULTS
MSC administration significantly reduced rupture rate (vehicle control vs MSCs, 90% vs 36%; P < .05). In cell culture experiments with an MSC and mast cell coculture, MSCs stabilized mast cells through cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-dependent production of prostaglandin E2, thereby reducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines from mast cells. Pretreatment of MSCs with COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398, abolished the protective effect of MSCs against the development of aneurysm rupture.

CONCLUSION
Intravenous administration of MSCs after aneurysm formation prevented aneurysmal rupture in mice. The protective effect of MSCs against the development of aneurysm rupture appears to be mediated in part by the stabilization of mast cells by MSCs.
A simulation study investigating power estimates in Phenome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Verma Anurag , Bradford Yuki , Dudek Scott , Lucas Anastasia M. , Verma Shefali S. , Pendergrass Sarah A. , Ritchie Marylyn D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackgroundPhenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) are a high-throughput approach to evaluate comprehensive associations between genetic variants and a wide range of phenotypic measures. PheWAS has varying sample sizes for quantitative traits, and variable numbers of cases and controls for binary traits across the many phenotypes of interest, which can affect the statistical power to detect associations. The motivation of this study is to investigate the various parameters which affect the estimation of statistical power in PheWAS, including sample size, case-control ratio, minor allele frequency, and disease penetrance.ResultsWe performed a PheWAS simulation study, where we investigated variations in statistical power based on different parameters, such as overall sample size, number of cases, case-control ratio, minor allele frequency, and disease penetrance. The simulation was performed on both binary and quantitative phenotypic measures. Our simulation on binary traits suggests that the number of cases has more impact than the case to control ratio; also, we found that a sample size of 200 cases or more maintains the statistical power to identify associations for common variants. For quantitative traits, a sample size of 1000 or more individuals performed best in the power calculations. We focused on common genetic variants (MAF>0.01) in this study; however, in future studies, we will be extending this effort to perform similar simulations on rare variants.ConclusionsThis study provides a series of PheWAS simulation analyses that can be used to estimate statistical power for some potential scenarios. These results can be used to provide guidelines for appropriate study design for future PheWAS analyses.
Gut microbiota of the pine weevil degrades conifer diterpenes and increases insect fitness
Authors: Berasategui Aileen , Salem Hassan , Paetz Christian , Santoro Maricel , Gershenzon Jonathan , Kaltenpoth Martin , Schmdit Axel 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), a major pest of conifer forests throughout Europe, feeds on the bark and cambium, tissues rich in terpenoid resins that are toxic to many insect herbivores. Here we report the ability of the pine weevil gut microbiota to degrade the diterpene acids of Norway spruce. The diterpene acid levels present in ingested bark were substantially reduced on passage through the pine weevil gut. This reduction was significantly less upon antibiotic treatment, and supplementing the diet with gut suspensions from untreated insects restored the ability to degrade diterpenes. In addition, cultured bacteria isolated from pine weevil guts were shown to degrade a Norway spruce diterpene acid. In a metagenomic survey of the insect’s bacterial community, we were able to annotate several genes of a previously described diterpene degradation (dit) gene cluster. Antibiotic treatment disrupted the core bacterial community ofH. abietisguts and eliminated nearly alldit-genes concordant with its reduction of diterpene degradation. Pine weevils reared on an artificial diet spiked with diterpenes, but without antibiotics, were found to lay more eggs with a higher hatching rate than weevils raised on diets with antibiotics or without diterpenes. These results suggest that gut symbionts contribute towards host fitness, but not by detoxification of diterpenes, since these compounds do not show toxic effects with or without antibiotics. Rather the ability to thrive in a terpene rich environment appears to allow gut microbes to benefit the weevil in other ways, such as increasing the nutritional properties of their diet.
Long-term dysbiosis promotes insulin resistance during obesity despite rapid diet-induced changes in the gut microbiome of mice
Authors: Foley Kevin P. , Denou Emmanuel , Duggan Brittany M. , Chan Rebecca , Stearns Jennifer C. , Schertzer Jonathan D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe intestinal microbiota and insulin sensitivity are rapidly altered in response to a high fat diet (HFD). It is unclear if gut dysbiosis precedes insulin resistance or vice versa. The initial triggers of diet-induced insulin resistance can differ from mechanisms underlying chronic dysglycemia during prolonged obesity. It is not clear if intestinal dysbiosis contributes to insulin resistance during short-term or long-term HFD-feeding. We found that diet-induced changes in the composition of the fecal microbiome preceded changes in glucose and insulin tolerance at both the onset and removal of a HFD in mice. Dysbiosis occurred after 1-3 days of HFD-feeding, whereas insulin and glucose intolerance manifested by 3-4 days. Antibiotic treatment did not alter glucose tolerance during this short-term HFD period. Conversely, antibiotics improved glucose tolerance in mice with protracted obesity caused by long-term HFD feeding for over 2 months. We also found that microbiota transmissible glucose intolerance only occurred after prolonged diet-induced dysbiosis. Germ-free mice had impaired glucose tolerance when reconstituted with the microbiota from long-term, but not short-term HFD-fed animals. Our results are consistent with intestinal microbiota contributing to chronic insulin resistance and dysglycemia during prolonged obesity, despite rapid diet-induced changes in the taxonomic composition of the fecal microbiota.
Cavalier Hospital
Authors: Schill Michael J. , Yount Kenan W. 
Published: March 2017

A midsize community hospital must choose a strategy to compete with an expanding regional rival. The strategy, focused on acquiring patient volume, includes expanding investment into integrated care, setting the reimbursement structure for revenue collection, and moving to a capitation-based payment system. The case presents an evaluation of revenue models to select that which best supports a given business strategy.This case is designed to introduce a health care audience to financial analysis. It provides a straightforward introduction to hospital financial-statement ratio analysis and hospital operating statistics, so it can also serve to introduce any audience with a business or medical background to hospital finance.
RadNet, Inc.: Financing an Acquisition
Authors: Chaplinsky Susan , Droznik Alex 
Published: March 2017

This case examines issues surrounding the choice of financing arrangements for the acquisition of Radiologix in July 2006. The case follows Mark Stolper, the CFO of RadNet, as he considers how to raise the $363 million in funds necessary to finance the acquisition. When completed, the combined firms will be the largest private diagnostic-imaging provider in the United States. When Stolper joined RadNet in 2003, he confronted a company with “too much debt, and the wrong kind of debt.” His goal is to finance the acquisition in a way that further enhances the financial strength and operating flexibility of the company. Given the large size of funding required, the firm is unlikely to be able to fund the entire transaction with first-lien or bank debt. His financial advisors differ in their recommendations for how to raise the remaining funds—one suggests using second-lien debt, and the other, high-yield debt.The purpose of the case is to familiarize students with frequently encountered types of debt financing that are used to finance mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. The case provides information on the distinctions among first-lien, second-lien, and high-yield debt in relation to their price, availability, flexibility of covenants, repayment ease, and composition of likely investors. The case is designed for use in courses that cover corporate financing, M&As, and debt financing.
The Wonderful World of Human Resources at Disney
Authors: Isabella Lynn A. , Yemen Gerry 
Published: March 2017

“What kind of culture does Walt Disney Company (WDC) want to create? This case uses the experiences of a young visitor to one of WDC's resort hotels to set the stage for an analysis of selecting, hiring, training, and retaining and how those practices are governed by the culture of a large American company. The situation provides an opportunity to explore human resource policies, organizational design as well as how all those elements reinforce the culture.The case opens with an interaction between a young Animal Kingdom Lodge guest and an employee (or cast member as the company refers to employees). There were many different ways the exchange could have unfolded yet the experience was magical for the youngster. What made this exchange a memorable experience for this young guest? Would Walt Disney have been surprised?”
A New Mission Statement for the MBC Corporation
Authors: Feddersen Timothy J. , Edwards Susan 
Published: March 2017

Dave Williams has taken over as CEO for MBC Corporation and wants to change the mission statement of the company. However, he needs to get approval from four shareholders: a former board chairman, his father and current board chairman, and two members of his own executive team. Williams must navigate the varying dynamics and opinions of the shareholders to gain their buy-in and create a new mission statement that will take MBC on a new path for the future.The concept this case addresses is that of the mission statement and how it is used to align an organization and its stakeholders. After students have analyzed this case, they will be able to:

Communicate the importance of a mission statement
Engage stakeholders in the creation of a mission statement
Implement a new mission and culture at an organization
Analyzing Low Patient Satisfaction at Herzog Memorial Hospital
Authors: Boepple Jack 
Published: March 2017

In late 2012 Adeline Herzog Memorial Hospital in Castle Rock, Colorado, was facing a problem with patient satisfaction. The Press-Ganey scores for the third-floor nursing unit–the primary destination (70 percent) for patients admitted through the emergency department–were at the 15th percentile, and the key HCAHPS score for inpatients was well below the Colorado average. Over the past six months Jeri Tinsley, director of medical, surgical, and intensive care services, had made various changes to try to improve the patient satisfaction scores for her 32-bed unit, but the scores seemed stuck at an unacceptably low level.Tinsley worried that if improvements were not made soon, patients would start “voting with their feet” and take their business to competing hospitals. As a registered nurse, Tinsley's expertise was helping people heal; it was not analyzing data. In particular, she was overwhelmed by the patient comments included in the surveys; she had no idea how to analyze them and could not decide which issues to address first.After analyzing the case, students should be able to:

Organize and analyze qualitative data using affinity diagrams
Identify priorities using Pareto diagrams
Identify which aspects of a problem are (1) within their control to solve, (2) within their influence to solve, or (3) outside their control to solve
Arbor City Community Foundation: Executive Education Version
Authors: Schmedders Karl , Walker Russell , Stritch Michael 
Published: March 2017

The Arbor City Community Foundation (ACCF) was a medium-sized endowment established in Illinois in the late 1970s through the hard work of several local families. The vision of the ACCF was to be a comprehensive center for philanthropy in the greater Arbor City region. ACCF had a fund balance (known collectively as “the fund”) of just under $240 million. The ACCF board of trustees had appointed a committee to oversee investment decisions relating to the foundation assets. The investment committee, under the guidance of the board, pursued an active risk-management policy for the fund. The committee members were primarily concerned with the volatility and distribution of portfolio returns. They relied on the value-at-risk (VaR) methodology as a measurement of the risk of both short- and mid-term investment losses. In its report for the investment committee, the ACCF risk analytics team recommended the daily VaR at 95% confidence as a measure for short-term risk and reported the corresponding numbers. It is now the task of the investment committee to interpret these figures. The case questions guide the executive students to a critical evaluation of both the reported VaR figures as well as of the VaR methodology.Understanding the concept of value at risk (VaR); Interpreting the results of VaR calculations; Evaluating the appropriateness of VaR calculations; Critical discussion of the VaR methodology.
Balancing Access with Accuracy for Infant HIV Diagnostics in Tanzania (B)
Authors: Palamountain Kara , Waikar Sachin , Hanson Andrea , Nelson Katherine 
Published: March 2017

The Global Health Initiative (GHI) is a tripartite collaboration among Northwestern University, non-profit donors, and commercial diagnostics companies. GHI attempts to bridge the gap between the market for sophisticated medical diagnostics equipment in wealthy nations and the need for point-of-care diagnostics in resource limited settings. In 2006 GHI narrowed its focus to HIV diagnostics for underserved nations. The case examines the accuracy-access tradeoff related to the roll-out of infant HIV diagnostics in Tanzania. Tanzania has a prevalent HIV/AIDS problem, particularly in children. As of 2007, Tanzania had an estimated 140,000 children infected with HIV. Existing lab-based diagnostic equipment was either inaccurate for use in infants or required highly skilled health workers. Tanzania's limited infrastructure also forced healthcare providers to choose between providing advanced care to a minority of the population and offering minimal care to the majority with poor access. A Kellogg MBA student research team performed more than thirty in-country interviews to collect data on stakeholder perceptions of three infant test concepts: the strip test, the squeeze test, and the filter paper test. Across the three tests, access decreased as accuracy increased---rural labs could not find or afford health workers skilled enough to conduct the test. In general, interviewees closely affiliated with the government preferred accuracy over access. In contrast, private health facilities had to follow fewer regulations and preferred access over accuracy. The case focuses on the decisions facing Kara Palamountain, the executive director of GHI, in her roll-out recommendations for infant HIV tests in Tanzania. It examines key factors of working in a developing country, including the need to operate in the absence of sufficient market research, balance the competing agendas of different stakeholders, and mitigate external risks such as major international funding dryThis case was written to be used as a teaching case for students unfamiliar with how to approach and analyze a typical business school case. Unlike many cases used in specific classroom settings, this case is intended to be broad enough that any single student will not have a significant advantage because of his or her background. Moreover, the case is designed to guide students' thinking in a certain direction, using open-ended and more focused discussion questions provided at the case's end.
BAT Case: Putting Tech Support on the Fast Track
Authors: Lariviere Martin A. 
Published: March 2017

Bruce-Alfred Technologies (BAT) has built a successful business selling packaged software. Its marketing has long promised free technical support to all customers, a key point of differentiation from BAT's competitors. However, the call center providing tech support is now in crisis. Wait times for callers are unacceptably high, leading to low customer satisfaction and negative press. BAT managers are evaluating the Fast Track Proposal, which would create two classes of calls. Fast Track calls would be promised a one-minute wait but pay for service. Standard calls would still be free but be given lower priority and have no wait time guarantee. Considers both the operational impact of this change and the strategic considerations of backing away from free tech support.To emphasize the impact of priorities and alternative ways of managing capacity, discuss different ways of pricing services--i.e., pay-per-transaction vs. subscription, and demonstrate the basics of the relation between utilization and delay.
BP's Office of the Chief Technology Officer (B): Driving Open Innovation through an Advocate Team
Authors: Wolcott Robert C. , Lippitz Michael J. 
Published: March 2017

The (A) case describes the evolution between 1999 and 2005 of an unusual innovation team within the office of the chief information officer at oil and gas giant BP. This team helped business units conceive, develop, and implement novel, value-added applications for emerging information technologies. The team leader, vice president and chief technology officer Phiroz Darukhanavala (“Daru”), eschewed a large group and venture budget in favor of a small, lean team intimately engaged with BP's business units. The case describes several mechanisms created by the CTO office during its early evolution: “Blue Chalk” events that expanded executives' appreciation of emerging technology capabilities, a network of relationships through which emerging technologies were scouted and vetted, a structured technology transfer process, and annual “game-changer” projects.The (B) case describes how the CTO office team members in 2011 again solicited advice from their ecosystem of thought leaders and held workshops to significantly enhance their impact. As a result, they began developing solutions for broader, more fundamental business problems that came to be known as Grand Challenges: extremely difficult business problems whose solutions could potentially create hundreds of millions—or billions—of dollars in business value.
After reading and analyzing the case, students will be able to:

Understand the management challenges associated with realizing the business value of new technologies
Explore how innovation management evolves as an innovation team learns from its successes and failures and, more importantly, builds a reputation within and outside the company
Examine a prototypical “advocate” model of corporate entrepreneurial practice
Explore a leading example of a successful internal innovation program
Business as Unusual: Managing Commercial Property in Distress
Authors: Furfine Craig 
Published: March 2017

In January 2010, Benedict Clarke, general partner of a small real estate private equity venture, faced difficulty with one of his properties. When purchased in early 2007, Tulaberry Plaza was a thriving retail shopping center outside Orlando, Florida. The financial crisis and severe economic downturn forced Tulaberry's anchor tenant into bankruptcy and weakened the other tenants in the plaza. Clarke now faces pressures placed on him by his limited partners, who were shown rosy projections of the returns they would receive, and by his lender, who is presently taking most of the property's cash flow to satisfy required debt service. Clarke must devise a plan that presents the most logical and profitable way forward, while also justifying his actions to elicit the necessary support from the others involved in the transaction. The case asks students to make decisions from the perspective of Clarke, giving them an appreciation not only of the details of strategic decision-making in real estate leasing, but also of the interplay between lenders and equity partners when managing a commercial property in distress.After reading and analyzing the case, students will be able to:

Choose the right tenant for a retail establishment, with an understanding that it may not be the one that promises to pay the most rent
Identify the connections among commercial property performance, mortgage loan covenants, and partnership agreements, all of which can influence optimal decision-making