bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deletion of NF-κB/RelA in Angiotensin II-Sensitive Mesenchymal Cells Blocks Aortic Vascular Inflammation and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation
Authors: Ijaz Talha , Sun Hong , Pinchuk Irina V. , Milewicz Dianna M. , Tilton Ronald G. , Brasier Allan R. 
Published: August 2017

Objective—
Infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) induces extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation resulting in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in normolipidemic mice. Although Ang II activates mesenchymal cells in the media and adventitia to become fibrogenic, the sentinel role of this mesenchymal population in modulating the inflammatory response and aneurysms is not known. We test the hypothesis that these fibrogenic mesenchymal cells play a critical role in Ang II-induced aortic wall vascular inflammation and AAA formation.

Approach and Results—

Ang II infusion increased phospho-Ser536-RelA and interleukin (IL)-6 immunostaining in the abdominal aorta. In addition, aortic mRNA transcripts of RelA-dependent cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly elevated suggesting that Ang II functionally activates RelA signaling. To test the role of mesenchymal RelA in AAA formation, we generated RelA-CKO mice by administering tamoxifen to double transgenic mice harboring RelA-flox alleles and tamoxifen-inducible Col1a2 promoter-driven Cre recombinase (Col1a2-CreER
T
). Tamoxifen administration to Col1a2-CreER
T
•mT/mG mice induced Cre expression and RelA depletion in aortic smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts but not in endothelial cells. Infusion of Ang II significantly increased abdominal aortic diameter and the incidence of AAA in RelA wild-type but not in RelA-CKO mice, independent of changes in systolic blood pressure. Furthermore, mesenchymal cell-specific RelA-CKO mice exhibited decreased expression of IL-6 and IL-1β cytokines and decreased recruitment of C68+ and F4/80
lo
•Ly6C
hi
monocytes during Ang II infusion.

Conclusions—
Fibrogenic mesenchymal RelA plays a causal role in Ang II-induced vascular inflammation and AAA in normolipidemic mice.
Palliative Care for Hospitalized Patients With Stroke
Authors: Singh Tarvinder , Peters Steven R. , Tirschwell David L. , Creutzfeldt Claire J. 
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose—
Substantial variability exists in the use of life-prolonging treatments for patients with stroke, especially near the end of life. This study explores patterns of palliative care utilization and death in hospitalized patients with stroke across the United States.

Methods—

Using the 2010 to 2012 nationwide inpatient sample databases, we included all patients discharged with stroke identified by
International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision
codes. Strokes were subclassified as ischemic, intracerebral, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. We compared demographics, comorbidities, procedures, and outcomes between patients with and without a palliative care encounter (PCE) as defined by the
International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision
code V66.7. Pearson χ
2
test was used for categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to account for hospital, regional, payer, and medical severity factors to predict PCE use and death.

Results—

Among 395 411 patients with stroke, PCE was used in 6.2% with an increasing trend over time (
P
<0.05). We found a wide range in PCE use with higher rates in patients with older age, hemorrhagic stroke types, women, and white race (all
P
<0.001). Smaller and for-profit hospitals saw lower rates. Overall, 9.2% of hospitalized patients with stroke died, and PCE was significantly associated with death. Length of stay in decedents was shorter for patients who received PCE.

Conclusions—
Palliative care use is increasing nationally for patients with stroke, especially in larger hospitals. Persistent disparities in PCE use and mortality exist in regards to age, sex, race, region, and hospital characteristics. Given the variations in PCE use, especially at the end of life, the use of mortality rates as a hospital quality measure is questioned.
Detection of Left Ventricular Thrombus by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source
Authors: Takasugi Junji , Yamagami Hiroshi , Noguchi Teruo , Morita Yoshiaki , Tanaka Tomotaka , Okuno Yoshinori , Yasuda Satoshi , Toyoda Kazunori , Gon Yasufumi , Todo Kenichi , Sakaguchi Manabu , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki 
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose—
We aimed to use contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CE-CMR) imaging to elucidate the prevalence of left ventricular (LV) thrombus in patients suspected of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) with previous myocardial infarction or LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] <50%).

Methods—
We prospectively investigated 797 consecutive patients who presented to our hospital with acute ischemic stroke between 2014 and 2015. Patients with myocardial infarction or LVEF<50% underwent CE-CMR imaging. ESUS was diagnosed according to proposal criteria based on transthoracic echocardiography findings.

Results—

The prevalence of ESUS was 22% (178 of 797) on initial diagnosis. Among 60 patients with myocardial infarction or LVEF<50%, the stroke subtypes were as follows: small artery disease, 17% (10 of 60); large artery atherosclerosis, 5% (3 of 60); cardioembolic stroke, 49% (29 of 60); ESUS, 23% (14 of 60); and undetermined causes other than ESUS, 6% (4 of 60). Of 60 patients examined via CE-CMR, LV thrombus was confirmed in 12 patients, whereas only 1 had been detected on transthoracic echocardiography (
P
=0.04). Importantly, 29% (4 of 14) of patients with ESUS had LV thrombus. A prediction model based on CE-CMR findings showed higher performance in LV thrombus detection, permitting a net improvement of 0.46 (95% confidence interval, 0.08–0.82;
P
=0.016) in cardioembolic stroke reclassification. Compared with patients without LV thrombus, those with LV thrombus had lower LVEF (median: 26% versus 40%;
P
=0.003). Notably, 42% (5 of 12) of patients with LV thrombus had LVEF≥30%.

Conclusions—
When ESUS-suspected patients have myocardial infarction or LV dysfunction, CE-CMR may help improve detection of cardioembolic stroke and provide relevant information for anticoagulation therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02251665.
Asymmetric Compression of Representational Space for Object Animacy Categorization under Degraded Viewing Conditions
Authors: Grootswagers Tijl , Ritchie J. Brendan , Wardle Susan G. , Heathcote Andrew , Carlson Thomas A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAnimacy is a robust organizing principle among object category representations in the human brain. Using multivariate pattern analysis methods, it has been shown that distance to the decision boundary of a classifier trained to discriminate neural activation patterns for animate and inanimate objects correlates with observer RTs for the same animacy categorization task [Ritchie, J. B., Tovar, D. A., & Carlson, T. A. Emerging object representations in the visual system predict reaction times for categorization. PLoS Computational Biology, 11, e1004316, 2015; Carlson, T. A., Ritchie, J. B., Kriegeskorte, N., Durvasula, S., & Ma, J. Reaction time for object categorization is predicted by representational distance. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26, 132–142, 2014]. Using MEG decoding, we tested if the same relationship holds when a stimulus manipulation (degradation) increases task difficulty, which we predicted would systematically decrease the distance of activation patterns from the decision boundary and increase RTs. In addition, we tested whether distance to the classifier boundary correlates with drift rates in the linear ballistic accumulator [Brown, S. D., & Heathcote, A. The simplest complete model of choice response time: Linear ballistic accumulation. Cognitive Psychology, 57, 153–178, 2008]. We found that distance to the classifier boundary correlated with RT, accuracy, and drift rates in an animacy categorization task. Split by animacy, the correlations between brain and behavior were sustained longer over the time course for animate than for inanimate stimuli. Interestingly, when examining the distance to the classifier boundary during the peak correlation between brain and behavior, we found that only degraded versions of animate, but not inanimate, objects had systematically shifted toward the classifier decision boundary as predicted. Our results support an asymmetry in the representation of animate and inanimate object categories in the human brain.
Brazilian Federal Military Justice’s Jurisdiction to Prosecute Civilians
Authors: Augusto de Sousa Carlos 
Published: August 2017

Brazilian Federal Military Justice has received criticism, especially with regard to the jurisdiction to try civilians in peacetime. However, this judgment protects the interests of the military and rests on the most current positivity.
There is no incompatibility between the Constitution and the rule established by Article 9 of the Military Criminal Code. The competence therein derives from the legislature’s intention that used the original ratione legis and also the ratione personae criteria to fix it.
On the other hand, the doctrine and the Supreme Court understand that the protection of the interests of the Armed Forces are not restricted to the hierarchy and discipline, recognizing the competence of military courts to try civilians, also in the light of its peculiarity.
It is important to emphasize the Brazilian Federal Military Justice is neither a martial court nor an administrative tribunal, but a branch of the Judiciary Power. Its guiding principles are in line with the human rights enshrined in the Brazilian legal system and the American Convention on Human Rights.
Under the auspices of the adversarial system, the trial of civilians by federal military court does not violate the guarantee of due process, since every process started respects the superior constitutional principles.
Civilian Sentencing Principles in Summary Military Discipline Proceedings
Authors: Marsh MAJ Tennille 
Published: August 2017

The Australian Defence Force (adf) has had a number of inquiries or reviews into its military justice system in the past two decades. The recommendations of those inquiries have led to an increasing ‘civilianisation’ of the military discipline system. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the specific requirement of section 70 of the Defence Force Discipline Act (dfda) which requires sentencing authorities to explicitly consider ‘civilian’ sentencing principles. Given that the vast majority of adf personnel plead guilty during summary hearings, it is the sentencing process that is the most critical exercise of legal principles in the summary jurisdiction. The requirement to explicitly consider civilian sentencing principles, where such principles are not defined in the dfda, and are hotly contested amongst highly educated and experienced civilian lawyers, is impractical, inappropriate and does not serve what should be the fundamental purpose of the dfda: the maintenance of service discipline. This paper will discuss the difficulties of the current ‘civilianisation’ of the sentencing process and will propose potential guidelines for legislative reform of section 70 of the dfda, particularly in relation to summary authority hearings.
Frontogenesis in the Agulhas Return Current Region Simulated by a High-Resolution CGCM
Authors: Ohishi Shun , Tozuka Tomoki , Cronin Meghan F. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDetailed mechanisms for frontogenesis/frontolysis of the sea surface temperature (SST) front in the Agulhas Return Current (ARC) region are investigated using outputs from a high-resolution coupled general circulation model. The SST front is maintained throughout the year through an approximate balance between frontolysis by surface heat flux and frontogenesis by horizontal advection. Although a southward (northward) cross-isotherm flow on the northern (southern) side of the front is weaker than a strong eastward along-isotherm current in the frontal region, this cross-isotherm confluent flow advects warmer (cooler) temperature toward the SST front north (south) of the front and acts as the dominant frontogenesis mechanism. In addition, stronger (weaker) frontogenesis in austral summer (winter) is attributed to the stronger (weaker) cross-isotherm confluence, which may be linked to seasonal variations of the Agulhas Current, ARC, and Antarctic Circumpolar Current. On the other hand, the contribution from entrainment is relatively small, because frontolysis by larger (smaller) entrainment velocity on the northern (southern) side opposes frontogenesis by less (more) effective cooling associated with a thicker (thinner) mixed layer and smaller (larger) temperature difference between the mixed layer and entrained water in the northern (southern) region. To gain further insight into the time-mean cross-isotherm confluent flow in the frontal region, the vorticity balance is examined. It is shown that anticyclonic (cyclonic) vorticity advection north (south) of the front by the mean cross-isotherm confluence is in balance with the sum of cyclonic (anticyclonic) vorticity advection by the mean along-isotherm flow and cross-isotherm eddy–mean interaction.
Forecasting Storm Surge and Inundation: Model Validation
Authors: Veeramony Jayaram , Condon Andrew , van Ormondt Maarten 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
Coastal regions are increasingly vulnerable to damage from storm surge and inundation. Delft3D is used by the Naval Oceanographic Office to model the ocean dynamics in the near shore. In this study, the performance of Delft3D in predicting the surge and inundation during Hurricane Ike, which impacted the northern Gulf of Mexico in September 2008, is examined. Wave height, water level, and high-water mark comparisons with a number of observations confirm that the model does well in predicting the surge and inundation during extreme events. The impact of using forecast winds based on the best-track data as opposed to hindcast winds is also investigated, and it is found that the extent of inundation is represented reasonably well with the forecast winds. In Delft3D, waves can be coupled to the hydrodynamic component using the radiation stress gradient method or the dissipation method. Comparing the results of using the two shows that for low-resolution grids such as that needed for a forecast model the dissipation method works better at reproducing the water levels and inundation.
Combining 2 Commonly Adopted Nutrition Instruments in the Critical Care Setting Is Superior to Administering Either One Alone
Authors: Lew Charles Chin Han , Cheung Ka Po , Chong Mary Foong Fong , Chua Ai Ping , Fraser Robert J. L. , Miller Michelle 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackground: This study aimed to determine the agreement between the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically ill Score (mNUTRIC) and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and compare their ability in discriminating and quantifying mortality risk independently and in combination. Methods: Between August 2015 and October 2016, all patients in a Singaporean hospital received the SGA within 48 hours of intensive care unit admission. Nutrition status was dichotomized into presence or absence of malnutrition. The mNUTRIC of patients was retrospectively calculated at the end of the study, and high mNUTRIC was defined as scores ≥5. Results: There were 439 patients and 67.9% had high mNUTRIC, whereas only 28% were malnourished. Hospital mortality was 29.6%, and none was lost to follow‐up. Although both tools had poor agreement (κ statistics: 0.13, P < .001), they had similar discriminative value for hospital mortality (C‐statistics [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0.66 [0.62–0.70] for high mNUTRIC and 0.61 [0.56–0.66] for malnutrition, P = .12). However, a high mNUTRIC was associated with higher adjusted odds for hospital mortality compared with malnutrition (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI], 5.32 [2.15–13.17], P < .001, and 4.27 [1.03–17.71], P = .046, respectively). Combination of both tools showed malnutrition and high mNUTRIC were associated with the highest adjusted odds for hospital mortality (14.43 [5.38–38.78], P < .001). Conclusion: The mNUTRIC and SGA had poor agreement. Although they individually provided a fair discriminative value for hospital mortality, the combination of these approaches is a better discriminator to quantify mortality risk.
Characterization of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who meet the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome
Authors: Hasegawa E , Sato H , Wada Y , Takai K , Wakamatsu A , Nozawa Y , Nakatsue T , Kuroda T , Suzuki Y , Nakano M , Narita I 
Published: August 2017

Purpose TAFRO syndrome is a novel disorder manifesting as fever, anasarca, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency and organomegaly, and its etiology has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to elucidate similarities and differences between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and TAFRO syndrome. Methods We examined 46 consecutive patients diagnosed with SLE and determined whether they meet the proposed diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome (2015 version). Results Of the 46 patients with SLE, four (8.7%) also met the TAFRO syndrome criteria (TAFRO-like group). All patients in the TAFRO-like group were males, and their mean age was significantly higher than that of the non-TAFRO group (67.5 ± 8.7 vs. 39.3 ± 18.1 years, p = 0.004). C-reactive protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were significantly higher, and frequencies of anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibodies were significantly lower in the TAFRO-like than non-TAFRO group. Elder cases (onset age ≥ 50 years) met significantly more categories of the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome than did those with younger cases. Conclusions Several patients with SLE, especially elder cases, showed features similar to those of TAFRO syndrome. Although exclusion of SLE is needed in the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome, TAFRO syndrome-like SLE should be considered.
Driving habits – A Canadian study
Authors: Jahanfar Shayesteh 
Published: August 2017

Introduction Motor vehicle accidents are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Safe driving behavior constitutes proper use of seat belts as a driver and as a passenger. The correct use of seat belts has been shown to reduce death and injury following motor vehicle accidents by more than 50%. This study aims at investigating seat belt use and driving habits among Canadians. Method A population-based database from the Canadian Community Health Survey was analyzed. Result About 12% reported that they use seat belts most of the times, rarely or never and 27% of respondents were using cellphone while driving often or sometimes; 8% of respondents admitted to driving after 2 or more alcoholic drinks. Seat belt use in taxi passengers is much lower than in own cars, with 40% not using a seatbelt all of the time when in a taxi. Discussion and conclusions The major risk factors for not wearing seat belt as a passenger include age, education, ethnicity and income.
The CCR2 3′UTR functions as a competing endogenous RNA to inhibit breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Hu Jinhang , Li Xiaoman , Guo Xinwei , Guo Qianqian , Xiang Chenxi , Zhang Zhiting , Xing Yingying , Xi Tao , Zheng Lufeng 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT
Diverse RNA transcripts acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) can co-regulate each other's expression by competing for shared microRNAs. CCR2 protein, the receptor for CCL2, is implicated in cancer progression. However, we found that a higher CCR2 mRNA level is remarkably associated with prolonged survival of breast cancer patients. These conflicting results prompted us to study the non-coding function of CCR2 mRNA. We found that the CCR2 3′ untranslated region (UTR) inhibited MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell metastasis by repressing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro, and suppressed breast cancer metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, the CCR2 3′UTR modulated the expression of the RhoGAP protein STARD13 via acting as a STARD13 ceRNA in a microRNA-dependent and protein coding-independent manner. The CCR2 3′UTR blocked the activation of RhoA–ROCK1 pathway, which is the downstream effector of STARD13, and thus decreased the phosphorylation level of myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) and formation of F-actin. Additionally, the function of the CCR2 3′UTR was dependent on STARD13 expression. In conclusion, our results confirmed that the CCR2 3′UTR acts as a metastasis suppressor by acting as a ceRNA for STARD13 and thus inhibiting RhoA–ROCK1–MLC–F-actin pathway in breast cancer cells.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Maternal DCAF2 is crucial for maintenance of genome stability during the first cell cycle in mice
Authors: Xu Yi-Wen , Cao Lan-Rui , Wang Min , Xu Ying , Wu Xin , Liu Junping , Tong Chao , Fan Heng-Yu 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT
Precise regulation of DNA replication and genome integrity is crucial for gametogenesis and early embryogenesis. Cullin ring-finger ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4) has multiple functions in the maintenance of germ cell survival, oocyte meiotic maturation, and maternal-zygotic transition in mammals. DDB1–cullin-4-associated factor-2 (DCAF2, also known as DTL or CDT2) is an evolutionarily conserved substrate receptor of CRL4. To determine whether DCAF2 is a key CRL4 substrate adaptor in mammalian oocytes, we generated a novel mouse strain that carries a Dcaf2 allele flanked by loxP sequences, and specifically deleted Dcaf2 in oocytes. Dcaf2 knockout in mouse oocytes leads to female infertility. Although Dcaf2-null oocytes were able to develop and mature normally, the embryos derived from them were arrested at one- to two-cell stage, owing to prolonged DNA replication and accumulation of massive DNA damage. These results indicate that DCAF2 is a previously unrecognized maternal factor that safeguards zygotic genome stability. Maternal DCAF2 protein is crucial for prevention of DNA re-replication in the first and unique mitotic cell cycle of the zygote.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
The prevalence and clinical significance of anemia in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure
Authors: Frigy Attila , Fogarasi Zoltán , Kocsis Ildikó , Máthé Lehel , Nagy Előd 
Published: August 2017

Abstract: In a cohort of patients hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF) the prevalence of anemia and the existence of a correlation between anemia and the severity of the clinical picture were assessed. Methods: 50 consecutive patients (34 men, 16 women, mean age 67.5 years) hospitalized with AHF were enrolled. Statistical analysis was performed for studying correlations between anemia and the presence/levels of diverse parameters (clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic, treatment related) reflecting the severity and prognosis of AHF (α=0.05). Results: 21 patients (14 men, 7 women, mean age 69.6 years), representing 42%, had anemia at admission. Comparing patients with and without anemia there were no significant differences regarding age, gender, presence of atrial fibrillation (p=0.75), diabetes (p=1), ischemic heart disease (p=0.9), left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (p=1), hypotension (p=0.34) and tachycardia>100 b/min at admission (p=0.75), level of eGFR (p=0.72), and need of high dose (>80 mg/day) loop diuretic (p=0.23). However, EF showed a significant positive correlation with eGFR only in AHF patients with anemia (r=0,65, p=0.001). In a multiple regression model, EF had a significant effect on the eGFR quartiles (p=0,004). Conclusions: Anemia is a frequent finding in patients hospitalized with AHF. The presence of anemia was not correlated with other factors related to AHF severity and prognosis. However, a low EF associated with low eGFR was characteristic for patients with anemia, suggesting that the decrease of renal perfusion by low cardiac output further aggravates anemia on the background of chronic kidney disease.