bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Practice‐Level Variation in Outpatient Cardiac Care and Association With Outcomes
Authors: Clough Jeffrey D. , Rajkumar Rahul , Crim Matthew T. , Ott Lesli S. , Desai Nihar R. , Conway Patrick H. , Maresh Sha , Kahvecioglu Daver C. , Krumholz Harlan M. 
Published: February 2016

Background
Utilization of cardiac services varies across regions and hospitals, yet little is known regarding variation in the intensity of outpatient cardiac care across cardiology physician practices or the association with clinical endpoints, an area of potential importance to promote efficient care.

Methods and Results

We included 7 160 732 Medicare beneficiaries who received services from 5635 cardiology practices in 2012. Beneficiaries were assigned to practices providing the plurality of office visits, and practices were ranked and assigned to quartiles using the ratio of observed to predicted annual payments per beneficiary for common cardiac services (outpatient intensity index). The median (interquartile range) outpatient intensity index was 1.00 (0.81–1.24). Mean payments for beneficiaries attributed to practices in the highest (Q4) and lowest (Q1) quartile of outpatient intensity were: all cardiac payments (Q4 $1272 vs Q1 $581; ratio, 2.2); cardiac catheterization (Q4 $215 vs Q1 $64; ratio, 3.4); myocardial perfusion imaging (Q4 $253 vs Q1 $83; ratio, 3.0); and electrophysiology device procedures (Q4 $353 vs Q1 $142; ratio, 2.5). The adjusted odds ratios (95%
CI
) for 1 incremental quartile of outpatient intensity for each outcome was: cardiac surgical/procedural hospitalization (1.09 [1.09, 1.10]); cardiac medical hospitalization (1.00 [0.99, 1.00]); noncardiac hospitalization (0.99 [0.99, 0.99]); and death at 1 year (1.00 [0.99, 1.00]).

Conclusion
Substantial variation in the intensity of outpatient care exists at the cardiology practice level, and higher intensity is not associated with reduced mortality or hospitalizations. Outpatient cardiac care is a potentially important target for efforts to improve efficiency in the Medicare population.
Association Between Prolactin and Incidence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Therkelsen Kate E. , Abraham Tobin M. , Pedley Alison , Massaro Joseph M. , Sutherland Patrice , Hoffmann Udo , Fox Caroline S. 
Published: February 2016

Background
Prolactin is an anterior pituitary hormone that may modulate the adverse effects of obesity. Prolactin has been associated with cardiovascular disease mortality, but less is known about whether prolactin predicts incidence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Methods and Results

Our sample (n=3232, mean age 40.4 years, 52.1% women) was drawn from Framingham Heart Study participants who attended 2 examinations an average of 6.1 years apart. After excluding those with elevated prolactin (>30 mg/dL for women, >20 mg/dL for men), multivariable‐adjusted regressions modeled the associations between baseline prolactin and changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors. Models were adjusted for age, sex, baseline value of the risk factor, smoking status, hormone replacement therapy, and menopausal status and additionally for body mass index. Mean prolactin levels were 11.9 mg/dL (
SD
5.2) in women and 8.0 mg/dL (
SD
2.9) in men. No associations were observed for change in weight, body composition, total cholesterol, triglycerides, or fasting glucose. In women, for example, for each 5‐mg/dL increment in prolactin, odds of incident hypercholesterolemia were 1.06, which was not significant (95%
CI
0.91–1.23,
P
=0.46). Some exceptions were of note. In women, for each 5‐mg/dL increment in prolactin, we observed increased odds of low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol at follow‐up (odds ratio 1.50, 95%
CI
1.18–1.91,
P
=0.001) that persisted after adjustment for body mass index (
P
=0.001). In men, a 5‐mg/dL increment in prolactin was associated with increased odds of incident hypertension (odds ratio 1.61, 95%
CI
1.18–2.20
P
=0.002) and incident diabetes (odds ratio 1.70, 95%
CI
1.04–2.78,
P
=0.03).

Conclusions
Prolactin is not associated with a comprehensive panel of incident cardiovascular disease risk factors. Measurement of circulating prolactin levels in the community likely does not provide substantial insight into cardiometabolic risk.
Impairment of Coronary Flow Reserve Evaluated by Phase Contrast Cine‐Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Kato Shingo , Saito Naka , Kirigaya Hidekuni , Gyotoku Daiki , Iinuma Naoki , Kusakawa Yuka , Iguchi Kohei , Nakachi Tatsuya , Fukui Kazuki , Futaki Masaaki , Iwasawa Tae , Kimura Kazuo , Umemura Satoshi 
Published: February 2016

Background

Phase contrast (
PC
) cine‐magnetic resonance imaging (
MRI
) of the coronary sinus allows for noninvasive evaluation of coronary flow reserve (
CFR
), which is an index of left ventricular microvascular function. The objective of this study was to investigate coronary flow reserve in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (
HF
p
EF
).

Methods and Results

We studied 25 patients with
HF
p
EF
(mean and SD of age: 73±7 years), 13 with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (
LVH
) (67±10 years), and 18 controls (65±15 years). Breath‐hold
PC
cine‐
MRI
images of the coronary sinus were obtained to assess blood flow at rest and during
ATP
infusion.
CFR
was calculated as coronary sinus blood flow during
ATP
infusion divided by coronary sinus blood flow at rest. Impairment of
CFR
was defined as
CFR
<2.5 according to a previous study. The majority (76%) of
HF
p
EF
patients had decreased
CFR
.
CFR
was significantly decreased in
HF
p
EF
patients in comparison to hypertensive
LVH
patients and control subjects (
CFR
: 2.21±0.55 in
HF
p
EF
vs 3.05±0.74 in hypertensive
LVH
, 3.83±0.73 in controls;
P
<0.001 by 1‐way
ANOVA
). According to multivariable linear regression analysis,
CFR
independently and significantly correlated with serum brain natriuretic peptide level (β=−68.0; 95% CI, −116.2 to −19.7;
P
=0.007).

Conclusions

CFR
was significantly lower in patients with
HF
p
EF
than in hypertensive
LVH
patients and controls. These results indicated that impairment of
CFR
might be a pathophysiological factor for
HF
p
EF
and might be related to
HF
p
EF
disease severity.
Projected Changes in Heat Extremes and Associated Synoptic- and Mesoscale Conditions over the Northwest United States
Authors: Brewer Matthew C. , Mass Clifford F. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
A number of studies have suggested that heat waves will increase in frequency, intensity, and duration under anthropogenic global warming. However, changes to heat extremes and temperature distributions in general are less understood in regions of complex terrain and substantial land–water contrasts. Such surface variations are important in the northwest United States, where synoptic- and mesoscale circulations interact with local topography and land–water interfaces to produce heat waves that have substantial impacts on fire weather, air quality, wind energy, and the population in general. Thus it is crucial to identify how the synoptic- and mesoscale circulations that drive such local extremes will change in a warming world.
This paper analyzes changes to the conditions associated with heat extremes over the northwest United States by utilizing global and regional climate models. A maximum in 700-hPa warming is projected over the northwest United States and southwest Canada, with low-level warming attenuated near the coast. Soil moisture declines are projected over the region, which further enhances future extremes. It is found that low-level zonal wind distributions over the northwest United States become narrower, leading to fewer days with strong offshore flow. This is important since extreme warming events are associated with the strongest offshore/downslope flow. Historical and future regional temperature distributions are described and it is shown that although CMIP5 models predict increases in heat extremes for west Oregon and Washington, these increases are less than for inland areas.
Statistics of Nonlinear Internal Waves during the Shallow Water 2006 Experiment
Authors: Badiey Mohsen , Wan Lin , Lynch James F. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDuring the Shallow Water Acoustic Experiment 2006 (SW06) conducted on the New Jersey continental shelf in the summer of 2006, detailed measurements of the ocean environment were made along a fixed reference track that was parallel to the continental shelf. The time-varying environment induced by nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) was recorded by an array of moored thermistor chains and by X-band radars from the attending research vessels. Using a mapping technique, the three-dimensional (3D) temperature field for over a month of NLIW events is reconstructed and analyzed to provide a statistical summary of important NLIW parameters, such as the NLIW propagation speed, direction, and amplitude. The results in this paper can be used as a database for studying the NLIW generation, propagation, and fidelity of nonlinear internal wave models.
Adverse reactions in mRCC patients documented in routine practice by German office-based oncologists and uro-oncologists
Authors: Marschner Norbert , Müller Lothar , Münch Axel , Blumenstengel Klaus , Hutzschenreuter Ulrich , Busies Sabine 
Published: February 2016

Background Signal transduction inhibitors (STIs) have considerably improved treatment of advanced/metastasized renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Most safety data for these drugs are derived from clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate which adverse drug reactions are documented during first-line treatments in routine clinical practice. Patients and methods The ongoing prospective German mRCC clinical registry is recruiting patients in 110 oncology and urology outpatient centers. Data from the first 250 patients who had completed first-line treatment were analyzed regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) documented in patients’ medical records. Results Patients were older than in clinical trials and had comorbidities. Patients were treated with the STIs sunitinib (61%), temsirolimus (14%), sorafenib (10%), or bevacizumab combined with interferon (6%). About 520 ADRs were documented, of which 29% resulted in treatment modifications. The most frequently affected organ system was the gastrointestinal system. The most frequently documented ADRs were mucositis/stomatitis (14%), fatigue (14%), diarrhea (12%), and nausea (12%). Conclusions In routine practice, mRCC first-line treatments using STIs frequently lead to ADRs partly necessitating treatment modifications. The pattern of reported ADRs is similar to that reported in clinical trials, but frequencies of events differ, especially for symptoms of multifactorial origin that are not immediately associated with the treatment. These results indicate that perception and documentation of adverse reactions is different between clinical trials and routine practice, and that reviews of patients’ medical records might not be the best method to assess safety in routine practice.
Grey Oxisol from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil: a conceptual challenge to the soil classification system?
Authors: Silva A. C. , Murad E. , Fabris J. D. , De Souza S. , Mendes Pires M. J . , Pereira M. C. , Guimarães A. O. , Vargas H. , Ardisson J . D. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe upper Jequitinhonha Valley is located within the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional mountain range in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The topography is flat or gently undulating with large flat areas known aschapadas(‘high plains’) that are dissected by rivers forming swamps known locally asveredas(‘paths’). The present study is concerned mainly with a representative toposequence in the watershed of the Lagoa do Leandrovereda, a swamp near the city of Minas Novas on a chapada of the highlands of the Alto (Upper) Jequitinhonha region.The soils of this sequence were studied by a variety of physical and chemical techniques, including Mössbauer, electron spin resonance (ESR) and photoacoustic (PAS) spectroscopies, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and carbon isotope data. Mössbauer spectra of the silt fraction of a grey Xanthic Haplustox (Munsell 10YR 3/2) from the Lagoa do Leandrovereda, referred to here as a ‘Grey Haplustox’ (‘LAC’), proved the existence of Fe2+- and Fe3+-bearing components. Photoacoustic spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Fe2+, as shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy, probably in an octahedrally coordinated site, but the principal optical absorption bands are due to different Fe3+sites. A ferrimagnetic contribution and three other paramagnetic lines attributed to Fe3+and Ti3+were demonstrated by means of ESR. The ESR and PAS results are thus in agreement with the chemical composition and Mössbauer spectroscopy, allowing a detailed characterization of the mineralogy of this silt.Carbon isotope data indicate the climate to have varied during the past: awetter climate in the Pleistocene, with drier phases in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, and again a more humid climate 1200 years ago. δ13Cdata indicate the C3scrubland vegetation to have occupied the bottom of theveredain the past (Bispo & Silva, 2014).Greyish Oxisols that consist chiefly of phyllosilicate minerals of the kaolinite group (which are usually associated with binary oxides and hydroxides) are of common occurrence in tropical soils resulting from leaching and precipitation. Such Oxisols of greyish appearance and similar mineralogy have been described elsewhere from Brazil and, for example, from India. Such soils are therefore proposed here as a new hierarchical level of the Soil Classification System.
Disturbed B-lymphocyte selection in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
Authors: Janda Ales , Schwarz Klaus , van der Burg Mirjam , Vach Werner , Ijspeert Hanna , Lorenz Myriam Ricarda , Elgizouli Magdeldin , Pieper Kathrin , Fisch Paul , Hagel Joachim , Lorenzetti Raquel , Seidl Maximilian , Roesler Joachim , Hauck Fabian , Traggiai Elisabetta , Speckmann Carsten , Rensing-Ehl Anne , Ehl Stephan , Eibel Hermann , Rizzi Marta 
Published: February 2016

Key PointsFas-mutated B cells accumulate in the memory compartment and are highly mutated and polyreactive. Fas deficiency leads to an intrinsic defect in B cells selection that predisposes to autoimmunity and identifies B cells as therapeutic targets for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.
GEMINI: a computationally-efficient search engine for large gene expression datasets
Authors: DeFreitas Timothy , Saddiki Hachem , Flaherty Patrick 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Background
Low-cost DNA sequencing allows organizations to accumulate massive amounts of genomic data and use that data to answer a diverse range of research questions. Presently, users must search for relevant genomic data using a keyword, accession number of meta-data tag. However, in this search paradigm the form of the query – a text-based string – is mismatched with the form of the target – a genomic profile.

Results
To improve access to massive genomic data resources, we have developed a fast search engine, GEMINI, that uses a genomic profile as a query to search for similar genomic profiles. GEMINI implements a nearest-neighbor search algorithm using a vantage-point tree to store a database of n profiles and in certain circumstances achieves an $\mathcal {O}(\log n)$
O
(
log
n
)
expected query time in the limit. We tested GEMINI on breast and ovarian cancer gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas project and show that it achieves a query time that scales as the logarithm of the number of records in practice on genomic data. In a database with 105 samples, GEMINI identifies the nearest neighbor in 0.05 sec compared to a brute force search time of 0.6 sec.

Conclusions
GEMINI is a fast search engine that uses a query genomic profile to search for similar profiles in a very large genomic database. It enables users to identify similar profiles independent of sample label, data origin or other meta-data information.
TLR4, TLR7/8 agonist-induced miR-146a promotes macrophage tolerance to MyD88-dependent TLR agonists
Authors: Nahid M Abu , Benso Lia M , Shin John D , Mehmet Huseyin , Hicks Alexandra , Ramadas Ravisankar A 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
TLRs facilitate the recognition of pathogens by immune cells and the initiation of the immune response, leading to the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Production of proinflammatory mediators by innate immune cells, such as macrophages, is tightly regulated to facilitate pathogen clearance while limiting an adverse impact on host tissue. Exposure of innate immune cells to TLR ligands induces a state of temporary refractoriness to a subsequent exposure of a TLR ligand, a phenomenon referred to as “tolerance.” This study sought to evaluate the mechanistic regulation of TLR4 and TLR7/8 ligand-induced tolerance to other TLRs by microRNA-146a. With the use of THP-1 macrophages, as well as human classic and alternative macrophages, we demonstrate that priming with a TLR4 agonist (LPS) or a TLR7/8 agonist (R848) induces homologous and heterologous tolerance to various TLR ligands in macrophages, leading to the impaired production of cytokines and chemokines. We also demonstrate that overexpression of microRNA-146a is sufficient to mimic LPS or R848-induced hyporesponsiveness. Conversely, inhibition of microRNA-146a activity leads to LPS- or R848-induced TLR hyper-responsiveness in TLR signaling tolerance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that microRNA-146a dampens cytokine production following a primary stimulus with MyD88-dependent but not MyD88-independent TLR pathways. Collectively, these data provide comprehensive evidence of the central role of microRNA-146a in TLR signaling tolerance to plasma membrane, as well as endosomal TLR ligands in human macrophages.
A survey of the Finnish mechanized tree-planting industry in 2013 and its success factors
Authors: Laine Tiina , Kärhä Kalle , Hynönen Antti 
Published: February 2016

The aim of the study was to update the information pertaining to mechanized tree-planting activity in Finland in 2013 and its success factors. All businesses providing a mechanized tree-planting service were interviewed and asked to describe their equipment and activities, identify critical success factors (CSFs), and suggest areas for improvement. In 2013, 31 planting machines (18Â Bracke P11.a, 11 M-Planter and 2 Risutec) operated by 22 businesses planted approximately 4.7 million seedlings on 2663 hectares. CSFs included expertise of planting machine operators, high quality planting, adequate amount of work, stoniness, and removal of slash. Based on the survey, some recommendations for improving mechanized planting work can be made. Firstly, improving the cost-efficiency of mechanized planting is necessary to enhance businessesâ profitability. Secondly, worksite selection is crucial as stoniness, stumps and slash debris diminish productivity. Lastly, the popularity of mechanized planting in the future will benefit from more marketing. Many businesses were unwilling to increase the area of service, invest in new equipment, or increase the volume of planting work but they believed that mechanized planting will become more popular in the near future.
Crisphead lettuce under influence of soil conditioner, organic fertilizers and liming
Authors: Marchi Edilene Carvalho Santos , Marchi Giuliano , Silva Carlos Alberto , Alvarenga Marco Antônio Rezende 
Published: February 2016

Lettuce is considered the main leafy vegetable crop in Brazil. High amounts of mineral and organic fertilizers are applied to soils during lettuce growth. There is a need of data concerning the effect of organic fertilizers and liming, including soil conditioners. Few studies were carried out verifying effects of soil conditioners, organic fertilizers and liming on lettuce production. The aim of this work was to test a soil conditioner composed of humic material, organic fertilizers and liming on “iceberg” lettuce production. The experiment was conducted at Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from March to July, in greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme 5x3x2. Five doses of soil conditioner (0, 20, 40, 100, 200 L ha-1), 3 types of fertilizers (organic compost, chicken manure and mineral), with or without liming were studied. Fresh and dried biomass, commercial fresh and dried biomass, plants height, circumference of lettuce head, number of leaves, and dried root weight yield were evaluated. Chicken manure rendered the higher lettuce shoot commercial fresh weight and circumference than the other evaluated fertilizers. In general the soil conditioner did not influence lettuce production. The use of liming was very important on lettuce production when mineral fertilizers were used.
Use of Internet and social media as a new communication medium among nurses
Authors: Işık Erer Türkan , Ardıç Çobaner Aslıhan 
Published: February 2016

This study was planned with the aim of determining the usage of the Internet and social media among the nurses at the Centre of Health Research and Practice at the University of Mersin, in addition to investigating its contribution to their professional development and evaluating the usage of social media in an ethical perspective. Nurses as an employee group work very closely with society and provide services to healthy and ill individuals. They have been increasingly using both Internet and social media sources while undertaking their roles. This study is a descriptive study. A questionnaire was supplied to 260 nurses who were on duty at the hospital while the data was being collected and who agreed to participate in the research. The data acquired was analyzed using the statistical methods of arithmetic averages, percentages, standard deviations (SD) and chi-square (X2). The results were evaluated using a confidence interval of 95%, with a level of significance of p<0.05. The nurses who stated that they use the Internet comprised 259 of the 260 nurses that participated, while 83.8% of them used social media. According to this study, the usage of the Internet and social media for professional development is also common. The majority of the nurses accept that the usage of social media has various risks and state that there is a need for informative studies directed towards more effective usage of these tools.
Dynamics of the Third Exotic Contact Form on the Sphere Along a Vector Field in its Kernel
Authors: Maalaoui Ali 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
In this paper we study the dynamics of the third exotic contact form of Gonzalo and Varela [5] on

S
3

${S^{3}}$

in the framework of contact form geometry. This dynamics has an impact on the variational problem associated to the contact form such as the violation of the Fredholm condition and the Morse indices of different periodic orbits.