bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Myocardial Regional Interstitial Fibrosis is Associated With Left Intra-Ventricular Dyssynchrony in Patients With Heart Failure: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study
Authors: Lin Lian-Yu , Wu Cho-Kai , Juang Jyh-Ming Jimmy , Wang Yi-Chih , Su Mao-Yuan Marine , Lai Ling-Ping , Hwang Juey-Jen , Chiang Fu-Tien , Tseng Wen-Yih Issac , Lin Jiunn-Lee 
Published: February 2016

AbstractLeft ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony is associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). The mechanisms leading to LV dyssynchrony are not fully elucidated. This study evaluates whether myocardium regional variation in interstitial fibrosis is associated with LV dyssynchrony. Forty-two patients with systolic heart failure (SHF), 76 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and 20 patients without HF received cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. LV was divided into 18 segments by short-axis view. In each segment, regional extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and the time taken to reach minimum regional volume (Tmv) were derived. Intra-LV dyssynchrony were represented by maximum difference (Dysyn_max) and standard deviation (Dysyn_sd) of all Tmv. The results showed that among the covariates, only age (1.87, 95% CI: 0.61–3.13, p = 0.004) and ECV (3.77, 95% CI: 2.72–4.81, p < 0.001) were positively associated with Tmv. The results remained robust in certain subgroups. In conclusion, we demonstrated that LV myocardium regional variation in interstitial fibrosis is closely related to LV intra-ventricular dyssynchrony irrespective of the LV global function. These data might help explain the pathophysiology of LV dyssynchrony and it’s underlying mechanisms leading to poor prognosis.
Inhibition of airway surface fluid absorption by cholinergic stimulation
Authors: Joo Nam Soo , Krouse Mauri E. , Choi Jae Young , Cho Hyung-Ju , Wine Jeffrey J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn upper airways airway surface liquid (ASL) depth and clearance rates are both increased by fluid secretion. Secretion is opposed by fluid absorption, mainly via the epithelial sodium channel, ENaC. In static systems, increased fluid depth activates ENaC and decreased depth inhibits it, suggesting that secretion indirectly activates ENaC to reduce ASL depth. We propose an alternate mechanism in which cholinergic input, which causes copious airway gland secretion, also inhibits ENaC-mediated absorption. The conjoint action accelerates clearance, and the increased transport of mucus out of the airways restores ASL depth while cleansing the airways. We were intrigued by early reports of cholinergic inhibition of absorption by airways in some species. To reinvestigate this phenomenon, we studied inward short-circuit currents (Isc) in tracheal mucosa from human, sheep, pig, ferret, and rabbit and in two types of cultured cells. Basal Isc was inhibited 20–70% by the ENaC inhibitor, benzamil. Long-lasting inhibition of ENaC-dependent Isc was also produced by basolateral carbachol in all preparations except rabbit and the H441 cell line. Atropine inhibition produced a slow recovery or prevented inhibition if added before carbachol. The mechanism for inhibition was not determined and is most likely multi-factorial. However, its physiological significance is expected to be increased mucus clearance rates in cholinergically stimulated airways.
Cardioprotection from emulsified isoflurane postconditioning is lost in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes due to the impairment of Brg1/Nrf2/STAT3 signalling
Authors: Wang Yan , Li Haobo , Huang Huansen , Liu Shiming , Mao Xiaowen , Wang Sheng , Wong Stanley Sau-ching , Xia Zhengyuan , Irwin Michael G. 
Published: February 2016

Isoflurane postconditioning (IsoPostC) attenuates myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) is critical in ischaemic postconditioning cardioprotection, which can be regulated by the Brahma-related gene (Brg1) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), although they are both reduced in diabetic hearts. We hypothesized that reduced Brg1/Nrf2 and STAT3 activation may jeopardize IsoPostC-mediated cardioprotection in diabetic hearts. In the present study, Langendorff-perfused, non-diabetic (control) and 8-week-old streptozotocin-induced Type 1 diabetic rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischaemia and 120 min of reperfusion without or with IsoPostC, which was achieved by administering emulsified isoflurane (2.0%, v/v) in Krebs–Henseleit (KH) solution immediately at the onset of reperfusion for 10 min and switching to KH solution perfusion alone thereafter. Cultured H9C2 cells were exposed to normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mM) or high glucose (HG, 30 mM) and subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR) in the presence or absence of IsoPostC. Diabetic rats displayed larger post-ischaemic myocardial infarction and more severe haemodynamic dysfunction, associated with increased myocardial oxidative stress and reduced cardiac Brg1, Nrf2 and STAT3 phosphorylation/activation (p-STAT3), compared with controls. These changes were reversed/prevented by IsoPostC in control but not in diabetic rats. In H9C2 cells exposed to NG but not HG, IsoPostC significantly attenuated HR-induced cellular injury and superoxide anion production with increased Brg1, Nrf2 and p-STAT3. These beneficial effects of IsoPostC were abolished by Brg1, Nrf2 or STAT3 gene knockdown. Brg1 or Nrf2 gene knockdown abolished IsoPostC-induced STAT3 activation. N-acetylcysteine restored Brg1, Nrf2 and p-STAT3, and IsoPostC-induced protection in H9C2 cells exposed to HG and HR. In conclusion, IsoPostC confers cardioprotection through Brg1/Nrf2/STAT3 signalling, and impairment of this pathway may be responsible for the loss of IsoPostC cardioprotection in diabetes.
The role of inflammation in the pathology of preeclampsia
Authors: Harmon Ashlyn C. , Cornelius Denise C. , Amaral Lorena M. , Faulkner Jessica L. , Cunningham Mark W. , Wallace Kedra , LaMarca Babbette 
Published: February 2016

Preeclampsia (PE) affects 5–7% of all pregnancies in the United States and is the leading cause of maternal and prenatal morbidity. PE is associated with hypertension after week 20 of gestation, decreased renal function and small-for-gestational-age babies. Women with PE exhibit chronic inflammation and production of autoantibodies. It is hypothesized that during PE, placental ischaemia occurs as a result of shallow trophoblast invasion which is associated with an immune imbalance where pro-inflammatory CD4+ T-cells are increased and T regulatory cells (Tregs) are decreased. This imbalance leads to chronic inflammation characterized by oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies. Studies conducted in our laboratory have demonstrated the importance of this immune imbalance in causing hypertension in response to placental ischaemia in pregnant rats. These studies confirm that increased CD4+ T-cells and decreased Tregs during pregnancy leads to elevated inflammatory cytokines, endothelin (ET-1), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and agonistic autoantibodies to the angiotensin II (Ang II), type 1 receptor (AT1-AA). All of these factors taken together play an important role in increasing the blood pressure during pregnancy. Specifically, this review focuses on the decrease in Tregs, and their associated regulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, which is seen in response to placental ischaemia during pregnancy. This study will also examine the effect of regulatory immune cell repopulation on the pathophysiology of PE. These studies show that restoring the balance of the immune system through increasing Tregs, either by adoptive transfer or by infusing IL-10, reduces the blood pressure and pathophysiology associated with placental ischaemia in pregnant rats.
Evaluation of Speech Amplification Devices in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Andreetta Monika D. , Adams Scott G. , Dykstra Allyson D. , Jog Mandar 
Published: February 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected speech amplification devices in individuals with hypophonia and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodThis study compared the effectiveness of seven devices (ADDvox, BoomVox, ChatterVox, Oticon Amigo, SoniVox, Spokeman, and Voicette) to unamplified speech for 11 participants with PD during conversation in 65-dB SPL multitalker noise, using experience ratings collected from participant questionnaires and speech performance measures (i.e., speech-to-noise ratio [SNR], speech intensity, and intelligibility) obtained from audio recordings.ResultsCompared with unamplified speech, device use increased SNR by 1.07–4.73 dB SPL and speech intensity by 1.1–5.1 dB SPL, and it significantly increased transcribed intelligibility from 13.8% to 58.9%. In addition, the type of device used significantly affected speech performance measures (e.g., BoomVox was significantly higher than most of the other devices for SNR, speech intensity, and intelligibility). However, experience ratings did not always correspond to performance measures.ConclusionsThis study found preliminary evidence of improved speech performance with device use for individuals with PD. A tentative hierarchy is suggested for device recommendations. Future research is needed to determine which measures will predict long-term device acceptance in PD.
Hazardous Alcohol use and Cultural Adjustment among U.S. College Students Abroad in Italy: Findings and Recommendations for Study Abroad Staff and Researchers
Authors: Mitchell Michael A. , Poyrazli Senel , Broyles Lauren Matukaitis 
Published: February 2016

Background Italy is a top destination for U.S. college students studying abroad. Both international and local Italian media outlets, such as city newspapers, have cited the discordance between Italian cultural norms and U.S. college students’ drinking behaviors. Hazardous alcohol consumption abroad, such as binge drinking, can result in individual- (e.g., physical injury) and social- (e.g., promotion of negative stereotypes) level adverse consequences. Methods We assessed the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use and recent binge drinking in a sample of U.S. college students studying abroad in Italy ( n = 111). We evaluated associations among drinking and cultural adjustment and determined which sociocultural factors predicted binge drinking for students abroad. Results Forty-six percent of students were classified as hazardous drinkers and 63% reported recent binge drinking. Socializing with American peers was a significant predictor for binge drinking abroad. Conclusions Binge drinking was quite prevalent in our sample of students studying abroad in Italy. Study abroad advisors, instructors, and staff should consider diverse strategies to screen, educate, prevent, and/or intervene on alcohol misuse with their students. These strategies should be personalized to both the student as well as the host culture's norms.
Predictors of Higher-Risk Chronic Opioid Prescriptions in An Academic Primary Care Setting
Authors: Bauer Scott R. , Hitchner Lily , Harrison Hannah , Gerstenberger John , Steiger Scott 
Published: February 2016

Background Patients with chronic noncancer pain treated with higher doses of opioids or concurrent substance use are at increased risk of adverse events. Although several national guidelines recommend maximum dosing thresholds and urine drug testing, adherence to these guidelines is inconsistent. Methods To identify predictors of higher-risk opioid prescriptions in 2 academic primary care clinics, the authors developed a retrospective cohort of 842 patients who were prescribed ≥5 opioid prescriptions for noncancer pain between March 2012 and March 2013. The authors evaluated odds of higher-dose opioid prescriptions and urine drug testing using multivariate logistic models. Results Among study subjects, 47% received prescriptions for the equivalent of ≥50 mg morphine per day. After adjustment for confounders, patients with a resident primary care provider were less likely to receive higher-dose prescriptions compared with faculty providers (odds ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46–0.94), whereas patients with a nonlocal home address were more likely to be prescribed higher doses (odds ratio = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.5–2.9). Hispanic, Asian, and older patients were also less likely to be prescribed higher doses. Urine drug testing was not regularly completed (35% over 2 years), but odds of testing were higher for patients who self-identified as black, had resident primary care providers, lived locally, or were prescribed higher opioid doses. Conclusions In this academic clinical setting, patients with a resident primary care provider are less likely to receive higher-risk opioid prescriptions, as are Hispanic, Asian, and older patients. Black patients complete urine drug tests more frequently independent of other patient and provider characteristics. Additional studies are needed to assess why patients who travel larger distances to their primary care clinic are prescribed higher doses of opioids for chronic noncancer pain.
Interpreting inertial fusion neutron spectra
Authors: Munro David H. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
A burning laser fusion plasma produces a neutron spectrum first described by Brysk (1973 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
15 611). This and more recent work deals with the spectrum produced by a single fluid element. The distribution of temperatures and velocities in multiple fluid elements combine in any real spectrum; we derive formulas for how the neutron spectrum averages these contributions. The single element momentum spectrum is accurately Gaussian, but the multi-element spectrum exhibits higher moments. In particular, the skew and kurtosis are likely to be large enough to measure. Even the single fluid element spectrum may exhibit measurable directional anisotropy, so that instruments with different lines of sight should see different yields, mean velocities, mean temperatures, and higher moments. Finally, we briefly discuss how scattering in the imploded core modifies the neutron spectrum by changing the relative weighting of fuel regions with different temperatures and velocities.
Intrinsic plasma rotation and Reynolds stress at the plasma edge in the HSX stellarator
Authors: Wilcox R.S. , Talmadge J.N. , Anderson D.T. , Anderson F.S.B. , Lore J.D. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Using multi-tipped Langmuir probes in the edge of the HSX stellarator, the radial electric field and parallel flows are found to deviate from the values calculated by the neoclassical transport code PENTA for the optimized quasi-helically symmetric (QHS) configuration. To understand whether Reynolds stress might explain the discrepancy, fluctuating floating potential measurements are made at two locations in the torus corresponding to the low field and high field sides of the device. The measurements at the two locations show clear evidence of a gradient in the Reynolds stress. However, the resulting flow due to the gradient in the stress is found to be large and in opposite directions for the two locations. This makes an estimation of the flux surface average using a small number of measurement locations impractical from an experimental perspective. These results neither confirm nor rule out whether Reynolds stress plays an important role for the QHS configuration. Measurements made in configurations with the quasi-symmetry degraded show even larger flows and greater deviations from the neoclassically calculated velocity profiles than the QHS configuration while the fluctuation magnitudes are reduced. Therefore, for these configurations in particular, the Reynolds stress is most likely not responsible for the additional momentum.
Perturbative thermal diffusivity from partial sawtooth crashes in Alcator C-Mod
Authors: Creely A.J. , White A.E. , Edlund E.M. , Howard N.T. , Hubbard A.E. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Perturbative thermal diffusivity has been measured on Alcator C-Mod via the use of the extended-time-to-peak method on heat pulses generated by partial sawtooth crashes. Perturbative thermal diffusivity governs the propagation of heat pulses through a plasma. It differs from power balance thermal diffusivity, which governs steady state thermal transport. Heat pulses generated by sawtooth crashes have been used extensively in the past to study heat pulse thermal diffusivity (Lopes Cardozo 1995 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
37 799), but the details of the sawtooth event typically lead to non-diffusive ‘ballistic’ transport, making them an unreliable measure of perturbative diffusivity on many tokamaks (Fredrickson et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas
7 5051). Partial sawteeth are common on numerous tokamaks, and generate a heat pulse without the ‘ballistic’ transport that often accompanies full sawteeth (Fredrickson et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas
7 5051). This is the first application of the extended-time-to-peak method of diffusivity calculation (Tubbing et al 1987 Nucl. Fusion
27 1843) to partial sawtooth crashes. This analysis was applied to over 50 C-Mod shots containing both L- and I-Mode. Results indicate correlations between perturbative diffusivity and confinement regime (L- versus I-mode), as well as correlations with local temperature, density, the associated gradients, and gradient scale lengths (a/L

Te
and a/L

n
). In addition, diffusivities calculated from partial sawteeth are compared to perturbative diffusivities calculated with the nonlinear gyrokinetic code GYRO. We find that standard ion-scale simulations (ITG/TEM turbulence) under-predict the perturbative thermal diffusivity, but new multi-scale (ITG/TEM coupled with ETG) simulations can match the experimental perturbative diffusivity within error bars for an Alcator C-Mod L-mode plasma. Perturbative diffusivities extracted from heat pulses due to partial sawteeth provide a new constraint that can be used to validate gyrokinetic simulations.
Measurement and modelling of suprathermal electron bursts generated in front of a lower hybrid antenna
Authors: Gunn J.P. , Fuchs V. , Petržílka V. , Ekedahl A. , Fedorczak N. , Goniche M. , Hillairet J. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Measurements in the tokamak scrape-off layer show the existence of fast electrons as far as a few centimeters radially in front of a lower hybrid antenna grill, which is one order of magnitude further than earlier predictions of interaction zones not exceeding 5 mm in width (Rantamäki et al 2000 Nucl. Fusion
40 1477). The present contribution aims at understanding these experimental results on the basis of electron Landau damping in a turbulent scrape-off layer. A crucial guiding element from the experiments is the observation of temporal intermittency of the fast electron signal at positions radially away from the grill mouth at a rate comparable with the detachment rate of relatively hot and dense field-aligned plasma filaments, or ‘blobs,’ from the last closed flux surface. When the dynamic character of the scrape-off layer is taken into account, transient low density and low temperature states occur during which the Landau damping can be weak enough to allow the radiated spectrum to penetrate radially deep inward. When the lower hybrid wave intercepts a dense and hot ‘blob’ a few cm in front of the antenna, then strong damping of the high wave number components can occur. This is the scenario we propose for explaining the generation of fast electrons far away from the grill mouth.
Structural response of transient heat loading on a molybdenum surface exposed to low-energy helium ion irradiation
Authors: Sinclair G. , Tripathi J.K. , Diwakar P.K. , Hassanein A. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
The advancement of fusion reactor engineering is currently inhibited by the lack of knowledge surrounding the stability of plasma facing components (PFCs) in a tokamak environment. During normal operation, events of high heat loading occur periodically where large amounts of energy are imparted onto the PFC surface. Concurrently, irradiation by low-energy helium ions present in the fusion plasma can result in the synthesis of a fibre form nanostructure on the PFC surface, called ‘fuzz’. In order to understand how this heterogeneous structure evolves and deforms in response to transient heat loading, a pulsed Nd:YAG millisecond laser is used to simulate these events on a fuzz form molybdenum (Mo) surface. Performance was analysed by three metrics: nanostructure evolution, particle emission, and improvement in optical properties. Experiments performed at the upper end of the expected range for type-I edge-localized modes (ELMs) found that the helium-induced nanostructure completely disappears after 200 pulses of the laser at 1.5 MJ m−2. In situ mass loss measurements found that the amount of particles leaving the surface increases as energy density increases and the rate of emission increases with pulse count. Finally, optical properties assisted in providing a qualitative indication of fuzz density on the Mo surface; after 400 pulses at 1.5 MJ m−2, the optical reflectivity of the damaged surface is ~90% of that of a mirror polished Mo sample. These findings provide different results than previous studies done with tungsten (W), and further help illustrate the complicated nature of how transient events of high heat loading in a tokamak environment might impact the performance and lifetime of PFCs in ITER and future DEMO devices (Ueda et al 2014 Fusion Eng. Des. 89 901–6).
3D simulations of gas puff effects on edge density and ICRF coupling in ASDEX Upgrade
Authors: Zhang W. , Bobkov V. , Lunt T. , Noterdaeme J.-M. , Coster D. , Bilato R. , Jacquet P. , Brida D. , Feng Y. , Wolfrum E. , Guimarais L. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
In recent experiments, a local gas puff was found to be an effective way to tailor the scrape-off layer (SOL) density and improve the ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) power coupling in tokamaks. In order to quantitatively reproduce these experiments, to understand the corresponding physics and to optimize the gas valve positions and rates, simulations were carried out with the 3D edge plasma transport code EMC3-EIRENE in ASDEX Upgrade. An inter-ELM phase of an H-mode discharge with a moderate gas puff rate (1.2  ×  1022 electrons s−1) is used in our simulations. We simulated cases with gas puff in the lower divertor, the outer mid-plane and the top of the machine while keeping other conditions the same. Compared with the lower divertor gas puff, the outer mid-plane gas puff can increase the local density in front of the antennas most effectively, while a toroidally uniform but significantly smaller enhancement is found for the top gas puff. Good agreement between our simulations and experiments is obtained. With further simulations, the mechanisms of SOL density tailoring via local gas puffing and the strategies of gas puff optimization are discussed in the paper.
Method to select gamma rays with energy above 50 GeV against a
charge-particle background in the GAMMA-400 space telescope
Authors: Kheymits M D , Leonov A A , Galper A M , Kadilin V , Arkhangelskaya I V , Arkhangelskiy A I , Gusakov Yu V , Zverev V G , Kaplin V , Naumov P Yu , Runtso M F , Suchkov S I , Topchiev N P , Yurkin Yu T , Bakaldin A , Dalkarov O 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Studying high-energy (>50GeV) cosmic gamma radiation raises a problem of selection
of neutral gamma rays from a background of charged particles. The problem is
embarrassed by the backsplash effect. The backsplash consists, in the main, of
low-energy (1 MeV) secondary photons moving backwards and is produced by any
high-energy gamma quantum. A charged-particle rejection method using the
anticoincidence and time-of-flight systems is proposed. Charged-particle events are
distinguished from those being triggered by high-energy gamma-rays producing
backsplash. The method is based on the time separation of signals. It allows us to
keep the gamma-ray detection efficiency high up to high energies.