bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of the affordable care act dependent coverage provision on patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Tumin Dmitry , Li Susan S. , Kopp Benjamin T. , Kirkby Stephen E. , Tobias Joseph D. , Morgan Wayne J. , Hayes Don 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, expanded private insurance coverage of young adults through the dependent coverage provision. This policy's implications for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are unknown.MethodsThe CF Foundation Patient Registry was used to identify patients seen at CF centers, 3 years before and after ACA implementation. Patients were grouped according to eligibility for the dependent care provision (18–25 years old in 2010) or ineligibility (26–35 years old). Year‐level difference‐in‐difference logistic regressions evaluated the association between ACA enactment and insurance status (private, public, or no insurance). Routine annual care consistent with CF Foundation guidelines (≥4 clinic visits, ≥4 respiratory cultures, and ≥2 pulmonary function tests/year) was a secondary outcome.ResultsThe analysis included 4,024 and 3,132 patients in the eligible and ineligible groups, respectively (35,353 patient‐years). In the eligible group, 62% had private insurance before and after ACA; 18% had public insurance before and after ACA; and 5% switched from public to private insurance. In the eligible group, lack of insurance coverage became more common in the post‐ACA period (relative risk ratio vs. private insurance [RRR] = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.57, 2.43; P < 0.001). Public insurance coverage also became more common (RRR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.39, 1.62; P < 0.001). Use of routine care increased post‐ACA, but more strongly in the ineligible group than in the eligible group.ConclusionsThe ACA dependent coverage provision did not increase private insurance coverage or use of routine care among CF patients who were potentially affected by this policy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:458–466. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimal experimental design that targets meaningful information
Authors: Morgan J. P. , Stallings Jonathan 
Published: February 2017

Computer generation of experimental designs, for reasons including flexibility, speed, and ease of access, is the first line of approach for many experimentalists. The algorithms generating designs in many popular software packages employ optimality functions to measure design effectiveness. These optimality functions make implicit assumptions about the goals of the experiment that are not always considered and which may be inappropriate as the basis for design selection. General weighted optimality criteria address this problem by tailoring design selection to a practitioner's research questions. Implementation of weighted criteria in some popular design software is easily accomplished. The technique is demonstrated for factorial designs and for designing experiments with a control treatment.WIREs Comput Stat2017, 9:e1393. doi: 10.1002/wics.1393This article is categorized under:Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Knowledge Discovery
Non-discretionary resource allocation as political investment: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Asunka Joseph 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTWhen would politicians reduce or eliminate their own discretion in the distribution of valued benefits to voters? I argue that the answer lies in the extent of partisan attachments among voters: politicians would be more likely to adopt non-discretionary or self-binding resource allocation rules in contexts where voters evince weak attachment to political parties. Non-discretionary distributive rules allow politicians to reach unattached voters with benefits without angering their loyal supporters who might otherwise expect to be favoured. They also signal politicians’ commitment to unbiased distribution of public resources, which, research shows, attracts unattached voters. Analysis of data on allocations of legislators’ development funds in Ghana provides strong support for this argument. This result is robust to controls for alternative explanations and thus advances understanding of when politicians in new democracies would pursue reforms designed to reduce or eliminate political discretion.
The migrant in a plotted adventure: Self-realisation and moral obligation in African stories from Istanbul
Authors: Şaul Mahir 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTThis article presents the cases of two migrant men, a Senegalese and a Nigerian, who spent many years in Istanbul. Although their backgrounds, personalities and circumstances were different, they both did export-related commercial work in the city. After describing sub-Saharan migration to Turkey and the literature concerning it, the text focuses on the stories these migrants spontaneously presented as they explained why they had become migrants. It was striking that with very different personal details, events and coincidences, both stories attribute the decision to migrate to Istanbul to a traumatic accident that forced the protagonists to change a life that until that point did not involve transnational migration. In the stories the protagonist's ambition, determination and will are rendered invisible and he is presented as a victim. I call this rhetorical topos ‘great mishap’. It resonates with stories I have heard from other migrants. I interpret it as an expression of compunction, of social responsibility weighing on the actor for abandoning close others in favour of an individual quest for self-realisation.
Training fellows in paediatric cardiology: the Harvard experience
Authors: Brown David W. , Allan Catherine K. , Newburger Jane W. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Fellowship Program of the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital seeks to train academically oriented leaders in clinical care and laboratory and clinical investigation of cardiovascular disease in the young. The core clinical fellowship involves 3 years in training, comprising 24 months of clinical rotations and 12 months of elective and research experience. Trainees have access to a vast array of research opportunities – clinical, basic, and translational. Clinical fellows interested in basic science may reverse the usual sequence and start their training in the laboratory, deferring clinical training for 1 or more years. An increasing number of clinical trainees apply to spend a fourth year as a senior fellow in one of the subspecialty areas of paediatric cardiology. From the founding of the Department to the present, we have maintained a fundamental and unwavering commitment to training and education in clinical care and research in basic science and clinical investigation, as well as to the training of outstanding young clinicians and investigators.
Training fellows and residents in paediatric cardiac critical care
Authors: Tabbutt Sarah , Ghanayem Nancy , Almodovar Melvin C. , Charpie John , Roth Stephen J. , Fortenberry James , Bronicki Ron 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAs pediatric cardiac critical care becomes more sub-specialized it is reasonable to assume that dedicated units may provide a better infrastructure for improved multidisciplinary care, cardiac-specific patient safety initiatives, and dedicated training of fellows and residents. The knowledge base required to optimally manage pediatric patients with critical cardiac disease has evolved sufficiently to consider a standardized training curriculum and board certification for pediatric cardiac critical care. This strategy would potentially provide consistency of training and healthcare and improve quality of care and patient safety.
LincRNA-Gm4419 knockdown ameliorates NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Yi Hong , Peng Rui , Zhang Lu-yu , Sun Yan , Peng Hui-min , Liu Han-deng , Yu Li-juan , Li Ai-ling , Zhang Ya-juan , Jiang Wen-hao , Zhang Zheng 
Published: February 2017

AbstractDiabetic nephropathy (DN) as the primary cause of end-stage kidney disease is a common complication of diabetes. Recent researches have shown the activation of nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and NACHT, LRR and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are associated with inflammation in the progression of DN, but the exact mechanism is unclear. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have roles in the development of many diseases including DN. However, the relationship between lncRNAs and inflammation in DN remains largely unknown. Our previous study has revealed that 14 lncRNAs are abnormally expressed in DN by RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in the renal tissues of db/db DN mice. In this study, these lncRNAs were verified their expressions by qRT-PCR in mesangial cells (MCs) cultured under high- and low-glucose conditions. Twelve lncRNAs displayed the same expressional tendencies in both renal tissues and MCs. In particular, long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA)-Gm4419 was the only one associating with NF-κB among these 12 lncRNAs by bioinformatics methods. Moreover, Gm4419 knockdown could obviously inhibit the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and renal fibrosis biomarkers, and reduce cell proliferation in MCs under high-glucose condition, whereas overexpression of Gm4419 could increase the inflammation, fibrosis and cell proliferation in MCs under low-glucose condition. Interestingly, our results showed that Gm4419 could activate the NF-κB pathway by directly interacting with p50, the subunit of NF-κB. In addition, we found that p50 could interact with NLRP3 inflammasome in MCs. In conclusion, our findings suggest lincRNA-Gm4419 may participate in the inflammation, fibrosis and proliferation in MCs under high-glucose condition through NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, and may provide new insights into the regulation of Gm4419 during the progression of DN.
MiR-27a rs895819 is involved in increased atrophic gastritis risk, improved gastric cancer prognosis and negative interaction with Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Xu Qian , Chen Tie-jun , He Cai-yun , Sun Li-ping , Liu Jing-wei , Yuan Yuan 
Published: February 2017

AbstractMiR-27a rs895819 is a loop-stem structure single nucleotide polymorphism affecting mature miR-27a function. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis about the association of rs895819 with gastric cancer risk and prognosis, atrophic gastritis risk, as well as the interactions with environmental factors. A total of 939 gastric cancer patients, 1,067 atrophic gastritis patients and 1,166 healthy controls were screened by direct sequencing and MALDI-TOF-MS. The association of rs895819 with clinical pathological parameters and prognostic survival in 357 gastric cancer patients was also been analyzed. The rs895819 variant genotype increased the risk for atrophic gastritis (1.58-fold) and gastric cancer (1.24-fold). While in stratified analysis, the risk effect was demonstrated more significantly in the female, age >60y, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) negative and non-drinker subgroups. Rs895819 and H. pylori showed an interaction effect for atrophic gastritis risk. In the survival analysis, the rs895819 AG heterozygosis was associated with better survival than the AA wild-type in the TNM stage I–II subgroup. In vitro study by overexpressing miR-27a, cells carrying polymorphic-type G allele expressed lower miR-27a than wild-type A allele. In conclusion, miR-27a rs895819 is implicated as a biomarker for gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis risk, and interacts with H. pylori in gastric carcinogenesis.
Dimethyl Fumarate ameliorates pulmonary arterial hypertension and lung fibrosis by targeting multiple pathways
Authors: Grzegorzewska Agnieszka P. , Seta Francesca , Han Rong , Czajka Caitlin A. , Makino Katsunari , Stawski Lukasz , Isenberg Jeffrey S. , Browning Jeffrey L. , Trojanowska Maria 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal condition for which there is no cure. Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF) is an FDA approved anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory agent with a favorable safety record. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of DMF as a therapy for PAH using patient-derived cells and murine models. We show that DMF treatment is effective in reversing hemodynamic changes, reducing inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis in the experimental models of PAH and lung fibrosis. Our findings indicate that effects of DMF are facilitated by inhibiting pro-inflammatory NFκB, STAT3 and cJUN signaling, as well as βTRCP-dependent degradation of the pro-fibrogenic mediators Sp1, TAZ and β-catenin. These results provide a novel insight into the mechanism of its action. Collectively, preclinical results demonstrate beneficial effects of DMF on key molecular pathways contributing to PAH, and support its testing in PAH treatment in patients.
Epigenetic regulation of nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible (Nos2) by NLRC4 inflammasomes involves PARP1 cleavage
Authors: Buzzo Carina de Lima , Medina Tiago , Branco Laura M. , Lage Silvia L. , Ferreira Luís Carlos de Souza , Amarante-Mendes Gustavo P. , Hottiger Michael O. , De Carvalho Daniel D. , Bortoluci Karina R. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractNitric oxide synthase 2, inducible (Nos2) expression is necessary for the microbicidal activity of macrophages. However, NOS2 over-activation causes multiple inflammatory disorders, suggesting a tight gene regulation is necessary. Using cytosolic flagellin as a model for inflammasome-dependent NOS2 activation, we discovered a surprising new role for NLRC4/caspase-1 axis in regulating chromatin accessibility of the Nos2 promoter. We found that activation of two independent mechanisms is necessary for NOS2 expression by cytosolic flagellin: caspase-1 and NF-κB activation. NF-κB activation was necessary, but not sufficient, for NOS2 expression. Conversely, caspase-1 was necessary for NOS2 expression, but dispensable for NF-κB activation, indicating that this protease acts downstream NF-κB activation. We demonstrated that epigenetic regulation of Nos2 by caspase-1 involves cleavage of the chromatin regulator PARP1 (also known as ARTD1) and chromatin accessibility of the NF-κB binding sites located at the Nos2 promoter. Remarkably, caspase-1-mediated Nos2 transcription and NO production contribute to the resistance of macrophages to Salmonella typhimurium infection. Our results uncover the molecular mechanism behind the constricted regulation of Nos2 expression and open new therapeutic opportunities based on epigenetic activities of caspase-1 against infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) secretory component binds to commensal bacteria and pathogens
Authors: Kelly Cecelia , Takizawa Fumio , Sunyer J. Oriol , Salinas Irene 
Published: February 2017

AbstractCommensal bacteria co-exist on the mucosal surfaces of all vertebrates. The host’s mucosal immune system must tolerate commensals while fighting pathogens. One of the mechanisms used by the mucosal immune system to maintain homeostasis is the secretion of immunoglobulins (Igs) across epithelial barriers, which is achieved via the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Rainbow trout pIgR is known to transport IgT and IgM across epithelia. However, other biological functions for trout pIgR or trout secretory component (tSC) remain unknown. This study investigates the interaction of tSC with commensal bacteria, pathogenic bacteria and a fungal pathogen. Our results show that the majority of trout skin and gut bacteria are coated in vivo by tSC. In vitro, tSC present in mucus coats trout commensal isolates such as Microbacterium sp., Staphylococcus warneri, Flectobacillus major, Arthrobacter stackebrantii, and Flavobacterium sp. and the pathogens Vibrio anguillarum and Edwardsiella ictaluri with coating levels ranging from 8% to 70%. Moreover, we found that the majority of tSC is in free form in trout mucus and free tSC is able to directly bind bacteria. We propose that binding of free SC to commensal bacteria is a key and conserved mechanism for maintenance of microbial communities in vertebrate mucosal surfaces.
Tunable plasmon lensing in graphene-based structure exhibiting negative refraction
Authors: Zhong Shifeng , Lu Yanxin , Li Chao , Xu Haixia , Shi Fenghua , Chen Yihang 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe propose a novel method to achieve tunable plasmon focusing in graphene/photonic-crystal hybrid structure exhibiting all-angle negative refraction at terahertz frequencies. A two-dimensional photonic crystal composed of a square lattice of dielectric rods is constructed on the substrate of a graphene sheet to provide the hyperbolic dispersion relations of the graphene plasmon, giving rise to the all-angle plasmonic negative refraction. Plasmon lensing induced from the negative refraction is observed. We show that the ultracompact graphene-based system can produce sub-diffraction-limited images with the resolution significant smaller than the wavelength of the incident terahertz wave. Moreover, by adjusting the Fermi energy of the graphene, the imaging performance of the proposed system can remain almost invariant for different frequencies. Our results may find applications in diverse fields such as subwavelength spatial light manipulation, biological imaging, and so forth.
Fermi level and bands offsets determination in insulating (Ga,Mn)N/GaN structures
Authors: Janicki L. , Kunert G. , Sawicki M. , Piskorska-Hommel E. , Gas K. , Jakiela R. , Hommel D. , Kudrawiec R. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Fermi level position in (Ga,Mn)N has been determined from the period-analysis of GaN-related Franz-Keldysh oscillation obtained by contactless electroreflectance in a series of carefully prepared by molecular beam epitaxy GaN/Ga1−xMnxN/GaN(template) bilayers of various Mn concentration x. It is shown that the Fermi level in (Ga,Mn)N is strongly pinned in the middle of the band gap and the thickness of the depletion layer is negligibly small. For x > 0.1% the Fermi level is located about 1.25–1.55 eV above the valence band, that is very close to, but visibly below the Mn-related Mn2+/Mn3+ impurity band. The accumulated data allows us to estimate the Mn-related band offsets at the (Ga,Mn)N/GaN interface. It is found that most of the band gap change in (Ga,Mn)N takes place in the valence band on the absolute scale and amounts to −0.028 ± 0.008 eV/% Mn. The strong Fermi level pinning in the middle of the band gap, no carrier conductivity within the Mn-related impurity band, and a good homogeneity enable a novel functionality of (Ga,Mn)N as a semi-insulating buffer layers for applications in GaN-based heterostuctures.
Occurrence of acrylamide carcinogen in Arabic coffee Qahwa, coffee and tea from Saudi Arabian market
Authors: Khan Mohammad Rizwan , Alothman Zeid Abdullah , Naushad Mu , Alomary Ahmed Khodran , Alfadul Sulaiman Mohammed , Alsohaimi Ibrahim Hotan , Algamdi Mohammad Saad 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe present work describes the outcomes of the assessment on acrylamide contents in a number of thermally treated foods (Arabic coffee Qahwa, coffee and tea) obtained from the Saudi Arabian markets. A total of 56 food samples of different brands and origin were studied, the amounts of acrylamide in Arabic coffee Qahwa, coffee and tea were obtained in the range of 10 to 682 μg kg−1. In comparison to coffee (152–682 μg kg−1), the Arabic coffee Qahwa (73–108 μg kg−1) and tea (10–97 μg kg−1) contain lower amounts of acrylamide. Among the analyzed samples, the green tea contained low amounts of acrylamide ranged from 10 to 18 μg kg−1, and thus the green tea could be considered as a healthier hot drink. A great variation of acrylamide formation has been observed in these food products. This divergence may be due to the initial concentration of amino acids especially asparagines and reducing sugars in food products, in addition to roasting temperature and time, pH and water activity. The obtained data can also be used in epidemiological investigation to estimate the acrylamide exposure from nutritional survey.
Pericallosal Aneurysms: Effectiveness of Endovascular Management
Authors: Bonadio Lucas , Mello Luis , Boer Vitor , Haas Leandro , Bernardes Celso , De Lara Danielle , Cabral Filipe , Peres Gabriel , Lindner Stephanie 
Published: February 2017

Objective Clarify the safety and efficacy of the endovascular treatment of distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms, reporting outcomes of the aneurysms coiled in our service were compared with series of microsurgical treatment. The impact of embolization on ruptured or unruptured aneurysms remains controversial according to the current data, considering aneurysm from this topography should be aggressively treated due to their high incidence of rupture, currently there is a tend to prefer endovascular treatment.
Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study with 1092 patients admitted with cerebral aneurysm from October 2005 to March 2015 in our service. There were 31 cases of DACA aneurysms treated with the endovascular technique. These were compared with same topography aneurysms underwent to clipping.
Results A total of 21 (67%) of 31 cases presented with ruptured aneurysms, 13 (59%) suffered clinical or radiological vasospasms, with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 3–5 in 7 patients (31%), and 4 deaths (mRS 6), reaching 92% of occlusion at one year.
Conclusion Endovascular approach is associated with high angiographic occlusion rates and security.
Ein internationaler Vergleich zu Public Reporting über die Qualität von Krankenhäusern: Wo stehen wir und was können wir lernen?
Authors: Emmert Martin , Becker Sandra , Sander Uwe 
Published: February 2017

Zusammenfassung
Zielsetzung Public Reporting (PR) über die Versorgungsqualität von Krankenhäusern hat in Deutschland eine relativ junge Tradition.
Im Rahmen des Beitrages erfolgt ein Vergleich von deutschen PR-Instrumenten mit solchen aus Ländern mit einer umfassenderen
PR-Tradition (USA, England) und die Ableitung von Handlungsempfehlungen für das PR in Deutschland.
Methodik 1. Systematische Internetrecherche zur Identifizierung von Report Cards. 2. Analyse der Report Cards hinsichtlich
bestimmter Ein- und Ausschlusskriterien. 3. Literaturbasierte Erstellung eines Analyserasters zur Beschreibung der Report Cards. 4.
Analyse der Report Cards und Datenerhebung. 5. Auswertung der Ergebnisse und Ableitung von Handlungsempfehlungen.
Ergebnisse Es wurden 186 Report Cards eingeschlossen, die meisten aus den USA (N=112), gefolgt von Deutschland (N=39) und England
(N=35). Informationen zur Strukturqualität sind auf 93,5 % aller Report Cards zu finden, solche zur Prozess- (42,5 %) und
Ergebnisqualität (43,5 %) seltener. Über die Patientenerfahrung wird auf nahezu jeder zweiten Report Card berichtet (46,2 %). Rund ein
Drittel aller Report Cards zeigt Ergebnisse von offline durchgeführten Befragungen und eine online Bewertung von Krankenhäusern
ermöglicht nahezu jede sechste Report Card (15,6 %). Ca. 37 % aller Report Cards zeigen Informationen zu bestimmten Krankheiten und
medizinischen Prozeduren sowie 29 % zu medizinischen Fachgebieten. Composite Measures finden sich überwiegend auf US Report
Cards.
Diskussion Bezüglich der Menge und Breite an Qualitätsinformationen kann Report Cards in Deutschland ein gutes Gesamtergebnis
zugesprochen werden. Mögliche Weiterentwicklungen beziehen sich auf die Verwendung von Composite Measures, eine Ausweitung der
Darstellung medizinsicher Leistungsbereiche, die einheitliche Verwendung von Instrumenten zur Qualitätsmessung sowie den Ausbau an
Information über einzelne Klinikärzte.