bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renin–Angiotensin System Inhibition, Worsening Renal Function, and Outcome in Heart Failure Patients With Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Beldhuis Iris E. , Streng Koen W. , Ter Maaten Jozine M. , Voors Adriaan A. , van der Meer Peter , Rossignol Patrick , McMurray John J.V. , Damman Kevin 
Published: February 2017

Background—
Renin–angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors significantly improve outcome in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF), irrespective of the occurrence of worsening renal function (WRF). However, in HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), RAAS inhibitors have not been shown to improve outcome but are still frequently prescribed.

Methods and Results—

Random effect meta-analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between RAAS inhibitor therapy, WRF in both HF phenotypes, and mortality. Studies were selected based on literature search in MEDLNE and included randomized, placebo controlled trials of RAAS inhibitors in chronic HF. The primary outcome consisted of the interaction analysis for the association between RAAS inhibition–induced WRF, HF phenotype and outcome. A total of 8 studies (6 HFREF and 2 HFPEF, including 28 961 patients) were included in our analysis. WRF was more frequent in the RAAS inhibitor group, compared with the placebo group, in both HFREF and HFPEF. In HFREF, WRF induced by RAAS inhibitor therapy was associated with a less increased relative risk of mortality (relative risk, 1.19 (1.08–1.31);
P
<0.001), compared with WRF induced by placebo (relative risk, 1.48 (1.35–1.62);
P
<0.001;
P
for interaction 0.005). In contrast, WRF induced by RAAS inhibitor therapy was strongly associated with worse outcomes in HFPEF (relative risk, 1.78 (1.43–2.21);
P
<0.001), whereas placebo-induced WRF was not (relative risk, 1.25 (0.88–1.77);
P
=0.21;
P
for interaction 0.002).

Conclusions—
RAAS inhibitors induce renal dysfunction in both HFREF and HFPEF. However, in contrast to patients with HFREF where mortality increase with WRF is small, HFPEF patients with RAAS inhibitor–induced WRF have an increased mortality risk, without experiencing improved outcome with RAAS inhibition.
Depression Treatment and 1-Year Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Smolderen Kim G. , Buchanan Donna M. , Gosch Kensey , Whooley Mary , Chan Paul S. , Vaccarino Viola , Parashar Susmita , Shah Amit J. , Ho P. Michael , Spertus John A. 
Published: February 2017

Background:
Depression among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is prevalent and associated with an adverse quality of life and prognosis. Despite recommendations from some national organizations to screen for depression, it is unclear whether treatment of depression in patients with AMI is associated with better outcomes. We aimed to determine whether the prognosis of patients with treated versus untreated depression differs.

Methods:
The TRIUMPH study (Translational Research Investigating Underlying Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients’ Health Status) is an observational multicenter cohort study that enrolled 4062 patients aged ≥18 years with AMI between April 11, 2005, and December 31, 2008, from 24 US hospitals. Research coordinators administered the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the index AMI admission. Depression was defined by a PHQ-9 score of ≥10. Depression was categorized as treated if there was documentation of a discharge diagnosis, medication prescribed for depression, or referral for counseling, and as untreated if none of these 3 criteria was documented in the medical records despite a PHQ score ≥10. One-year mortality was compared between patients with AMI having: (1) no depression (PHQ-9<10; reference); (2) treated depression; and (3) untreated depression adjusting for demographics, AMI severity, and clinical factors.

Results:
Overall, 759 (18.7%) patients met PHQ-9 criteria for depression and 231 (30.4%) were treated. In comparison with 3303 patients without depression, the 231 patients with treated depression had 1-year mortality rates that were not different (6.1% versus 6.7%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.63–1.99). In contrast, the 528 patients with untreated depression had higher 1-year mortality in comparison with patients without depression (10.8% versus 6.1%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.39–2.62).

Conclusions:
Although depression in patients with AMI is associated with increased long-term mortality, this association may be confined to patients with untreated depression.
Uncovering environmental, land-use and fire effects on the distribution of a low-dispersal species, the Hermann’s tortoise Testudo hermanni
Authors: Badiane Arnaud , Matos Cátia , Santos Xavier 
Published: February 2017

Habitat destruction has resulted in the fragmented distribution of numerous terrestrial species, which poses a challenge for conservationists. Furthermore, species management can be further compounded by life history constraints such as low dispersal, hindering the ability of species to recolonize areas they formerly occupied. For these species, a thorough understanding of the local threats and factors that limit their distribution is crucial for effective management. We used occupancy models to examine which factors at landscape and habitat scales (i.e. land uses, fire history, and vegetation structure) explain the presence of terrestrial tortoises within the range of the westernmost isolated population of the endangeredTestudo hermanni hermanniin the Albera Range (NE of the Iberian Peninsula). We randomly surveyed 25 sites (75% of the area known with presence of tortoises) of natural woodlands with 5 to 8 replicates per site in spring 2012-2014. From a sampling effort of 148 hours, we only detected 52 tortoises in 12 of 25 transects. These low numbers are evidence of low population densities. Sites with presence of tortoises were spatially aggregated although the species was absent from apparently adequate sites on the edges of its distribution range. Current and historic land-use primarily explained the presence of tortoises. Besides, wildfires and reduction of habitat complexity also participate to explain the distribution of Hermann’s tortoises. We also discuss some aspects of the conservation ofTestudo hermanniin relation to our results.
Time Perspective in Late Adulthood: Aging Patterns in Past, Present and Future Dimensions, Deviations from Balance, and Associations with Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Rönnlund Michael , Åström Elisabeth , Carelli Maria Grazia 
Published: February 2017

We examined cross-sectional aging patterns for subscales of the Swedish version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory in a population-based sample of older adults (60–90 years;N = 447). Alternative methods to assess time perspective balance (DBTP, involving a single Future dimension; S-BTP; and DBTP-E, including in addition, Future Negative), were compared and their relations to subjective well-being (SWB) were examined. Significant negative age relations were observed for Past Negative and Future Negative with a clear age-related increase in Present Fatalistic, while Past Positive, Present Hedonistic, and Future Positive were relatively stable across age. A significant age-related increase in deviation from balance was observed across methods (Cohen’sds 0.28–0.57), with the highest value for DBTP-E. Overall, S-BTP and DBTP-E were more strongly associated with SWB than DBTP (r = −0.40), with the highest value for DBTP-E (r = −0.53). Analyses of separate age groups (60–65 vs. 70–75 vs. 80–90 years) revealed a trend of weakened association with balance in old-old age, for S-BTP and DBTP-E in particular. This seemed to reflect the fact that negative views of the future are strongly related to SWB in young-old adults but diminish in importance in late senescence (80–90 years). Potential factors behind the observed patterns of results, including deficits in cognitive functioning and physical health to account for the age-related increase in present fatalism, and the potential role of a self-transcendent future time perspective for well-being in old-old age, are discussed.
Monthly Extreme Temperature Trends in CMIP5 Hindcast/Prediction Simulations, 1981–2010 and 2006–35
Authors: Stegall Steve T. , Kunkel Kenneth E. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA simple index of extreme surface (2 m) monthly temperature was analyzed over the conterminous United States for 13 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) hindcast (1981–2010) and prediction (2006–35) datasets as well as the U.S. climate division dataset, version 2 (nClimDiv), as observations for 1981–2010. Results are analyzed for regions defined in the recent Third U.S. National Climate Assessment. There is good agreement between models and observations for all regions for the annual warm and cold indices except for the warm index in the Northwest. For seasonal values of the temperature index, model simulations generally agree with the sign of the observed seasonal trends in all regions except for the Northwest and a few seasons in the “warming hole” areas of the central and southeastern United States. Most individual ensemble member simulations agree with the sign of the observed trend. However, in all regions and seasons, some simulations, in the range of 10%–40% of all ensemble members, show opposite signs, indicating that even overall skillful projections can have substantial uncertainty. These results indicate that there is potential skill in use of GCMs to provide projections of hot and cold extremes on the 30-yr time scale. However, it is important to note that natural variability is comparable to the forced signal on this time scale and thus introduces uncertainty. Analysis of the future simulations (2006–35) indicates that warm extremes increase rapidly while cold extremes become substantially more rare.
Assessment of Radiometric Data from a Buoy in the St. Lawrence Estuary
Authors: Bélanger Simon , Carrascal-Leal Claudia , Jaegler Thomas , Larouche Pierre , Galbraith Peter 
Published: February 2017

AbstractFisheries and Oceans Canada maintains a network of scientific buoys in the St. Lawrence estuary and gulf. Among a suite of environmental parameters documented, the in-water upwelling radiance is measured using an ocean color radiometer located underneath the center of the buoy. The shadow effect from the 1.05-m-radius buoy on the measured upwelling radiance is estimated and empirical models to correct for it are proposed. On average, the shading error (i.e., the percent of missing radiance) was and for the 555- and 412-nm channels, respectively. Two analytical models were tested to predict the shading error using measured inherent optical properties, the sun zenith angle, and the fraction of diffuse sky irradiance. Neglecting light scattering led to overestimates of the shading error. In contrast, the bias was removed when the scattering coefficient was accounted for, but the overall error was only barely improved (root-mean-square error ). Empirical relationships based on the uncorrected reflectance ratio measured by the buoy were used to predict both the shading error and the diffuse attenuation of the upwelling radiance, two quantities needed to calculate remote sensing reflectance . Overall, was retrieved with an averaged absolute percent difference ranging from 12% to 20%, which appears adequate for the validation of ocean color data such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS-Aqua) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) products in the optically complex waters of the St. Lawrence estuary.
Surface Emissivity at Microwaves to Millimeter Waves over Polar Regions: Parameterization and Evaluation with Aircraft Experiments
Authors: Wang D. , Prigent C. , Kilic L. , Fox S. , Harlow C. , Jimenez C. , Aires F. , Grassotti C. , Karbou F. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Tool to Estimate Land Surface Emissivity from Microwave to Submillimeter Waves (TELSEM2) is linked to a climatology of monthly emissivity estimates and provides a parameterization of the surface emissivity up to 700 GHz, in the framework of the preparation for the Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) on board the Meteorological Operational Satellite Second Generation (MetOp-SG). It is an updated version of the Tool to Estimate Land Surface Emissivities at Microwave Frequencies (TELSEM; Aires et al. 2011). This study presents the parameterization of continental snow and ice and sea ice emissivities in TELSEM2. It relies upon satellite-derived emissivities up to 200 GHz, and it is anchored to the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) TELSEM monthly climatology dataset (19–85 GHz). Emissivities from Météo-France and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at frequencies up to 190 GHz were used, calculated from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) observations. TELSEM2 has been evaluated up to 325 GHz with the observations of the International Submillimeter Airborne Radiometer (ISMAR) and the Microwave Airborne Radiometer Scanning System (MARSS), which were operated on board the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) aircraft during the Cold-Air Outbreak and Submillimeter Ice Cloud Study (COSMICS) campaign over Greenland. Above continental snow and ice, TELSEM2 is very consistent with the aircraft estimates in spatially homogeneous regions, especially at 89 and 157 GHz. Over sea ice, the aircraft estimates are very variable spatially and temporally, and the comparisons with the TELSEM2 were not conclusive. TELSEM2 will be distributed in the new version of the RTTOV radiative transfer community code, to be available in 2017.
Weak and Strong Constraints Variational Data Assimilation with the NCOM-4DVAR in the Agulhas Region Using the Representer Method
Authors: Ngodock Hans , Carrier Matthew , Smith Scott , Souopgui Innocent 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
The difference between the strong and weak constraints four-dimensional variational (4DVAR) analyses is examined using the representer method formulation, which expresses the analysis as the sum of a first guess and a finite linear combination of representer functions. The latter are computed analytically for a single observation under both strong and weak constraints assumptions. Even though the strong constraints representer coefficients are different from their weak constraints counterparts, that difference is unable to help the strong constraints compensate for the loss of information that the weak constraints includes. Numerical experiments carried out in the Agulhas retroflection for single and multiobservation assimilations clearly show that the weak constraint 4DVAR produces analyses that fit the observations with significantly higher accuracy than the strong constraints.
Investigating mathematical methods for high-throughput prediction of the critical buckling load of non-uniform wool fibers
Authors: Vetharaniam Indrakumar , Tandon Surinder , Plowman Jeffrey E , Harland Duane P 
Published: February 2017

The sensation of prickle from textile garments is directly related to the force that a fiber protruding from the fabric surface can exert on the skin without buckling – its critical buckling load (CBL). Finite element modeling (FEM) has previously been used in the literature to predict CBLs for a set of 25 fibers with different along-fiber morphology. With a view to high-throughput analysis of fibers, we investigated two analytical methods that were potentially faster and less computationally intensive than FEM and applied them to calculate CBLs for the same set of fibers. In addition, we tested a numerical integration and gradient search (NIGS) method that we developed by adapting a previously published, non-FEM, numerical approach. The analytical methods that we tested were either inadequately formulated or prone to instability. Our NIGS method was more reliable that the analytical methods (but slower to compute), and its results appeared more accurate than the published FEM results, based on an inconsistency metric that we developed. The published FEM results and the NIGS predictions agreed within 5% for 60% of the fibers, and within 10% for 72% of the fibers (with differences ranging from 0.4% to 19.1%) and generally showed qualitative agreement on the response of CBL to fiber shape, with some notable exceptions. The response of CBL to dimensional variation was complex. This, and the inconsistency between methods, highlights the need for caution when analyzing complicated biological structures, such as wool, and the value of verifying the reliability of any predictions from any approach.
Notch1 Overexpression Correlates to Improved Survival in Cancer of the Oropharynx
Authors: Kaka Azeem S. , Nowacki Nicholas B. , Kumar Bhavna , Zhao Songzhu , Old Matthew O. , Agrawal Amit , Ozer Enver , Carrau Ricardo L. , Schuller David E. , Kumar Pawan , Teknos Theodoros N. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectivesThe Notch1 signaling pathway has recently been shown to be highly dysregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but the value of Notch1 as a predictive biomarker is yet to be elucidated in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The objective of this study is to evaluate Notch1 expression in surgical OPSCC specimens and determine clinicopathologic correlates.Study DesignCase series with planned data collection.SettingTertiary academic medical center.Subjects and MethodsSurgical specimens from 181 patients with OPSCC were collected to create a tissue microarray (TMA). Human papillomavirus (HPV) status and Notch1 expression were determined and correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics.ResultsIn univariate analysis, Notch1 expression correlated with improved survival as a categorical variable (hazard ratio [HR], 0.346; P <. 0001) and correlated with HPV/p16 positivity as a continuous variable (P <. 0001). In multivariate analysis, Notch1 expression retained significance in HPV‐positive (HR, 0.303; P =. 033) and HPV‐negative (HR, 0.416; P =. 0055) subgroups. Similarly, Notch1 expression positively correlated with survival in p16‐positive (HR, 0.469; P =. 031) and p16‐negative subgroups (HR, 0.310; P =. 014).ConclusionsIn the largest OPSCC cohort to date, we found that Notch1 receptor expression positively correlates with overall survival, regardless of HPV or p16 status. Furthermore, we found higher Notch1 receptor expression in HPV/p16‐positive tumors than their HPV/p16‐negative counterparts.
Electronic visual analogue scales for pain, fatigue, anxiety and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis using smartphone and tablet: a reliability and feasibility study
Authors: Kos D , Raeymaekers J , Van Remoortel A , D’hooghe MB , Nagels G , D’Haeseleer M , Peeters E , Dams T , Peeters T 
Published: February 2017

Objective: To explore the reliability and feasibility of electronic visual analogue scales in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy individuals. Design: Cross-sectional observational study Setting: Clinical setting Subjects: Convenience sample of 52 people with MS and 52 matched healthy controls Interventions: NA Main measures: Participants scored 15 statements assessing fatigue, pain, anxiety and quality of life on an electronic visual analogue scale (eVAS), either using a smartphone or a tablet (randomly allocated). To check for test-retest reliability, statements were administered in two separate randomly ordered groups. Subjects completed a feasibility questionnaire. Results: Mean (SD) eVAS scores ranged from 35 (28.1) to 80 (22.1) in MS group, and from 57 (28.0) to 86 (13.2) in controls. Intra Class Correlations ranged from 0.73 to 0.95 in MS sample; 0.61 to 0.92 in controls. For most statements, Bland-Altman plots indicated no systematic error, but relatively large random error of the eVAS scores (exceeding 20mm). Considerable ceiling effects (i.e. better health) were found in healthy controls. Similar reliability was found among smartphone or tablet, different demographic groups and the experience-groups. Conclusion: Electronic visual analogue scales are reliable and useful for people with MS to register fatigue, pain, anxiety and quality of life.
Negative Bias in the Perception and Memory of Emotional Information in Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Maria Gomez-Gallego , Juan Gomez-Garcia 
Published: February 2017

Background: There is some controversy about the ability of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) to experience and remember emotional stimuli. This study aims to assess the emotional experience of patients with AD and the existence of emotional enhancement of memory. We also investigated the influence of affective state on these processes. Methods: Sixty pictures from the International Affective Picture System were administered to 106 participants (72 patients with AD and 54 controls). Participants performed immediate free recall and recognition tasks. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule was used to assess the participants’ current affect. Results: Patients identified the valence of unpleasant pictures better than of others pictures and experienced them as more arousing. Patients and controls recalled and recognized higher number of emotional pictures than of neutral ones. Patients discriminated better the unpleasant pictures. A mood congruent effect was observed on emotional experience but not on memory. Positive affect was associated with better immediate recall and with a more liberal response bias. Conclusion: Patients with AD can identify the emotional content of the stimuli, especially of the unpleasant ones, and the emotional enhancement of memory is preserved. Affective state does not explain the differences in the processing and memory of emotional items between patients and controls.
Recurrence of malignancy-associated venous thromboembolism among patients treated with rivaroxaban compared to enoxaparin
Authors: Nicklaus Megan D , Ludwig Shannon L , Kettle Jacob K 
Published: February 2017

Purpose Although low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) remains the standard of care, factor Xa inhibitors such as rivaroxaban may serve as an alternative treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with active malignancy. The purpose of the analysis was to evaluate outcomes of VTE management in cancer patients treated with rivaroxaban compared to enoxaparin. Methods This single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with malignancy-associated VTE initiated on treatment with either rivaroxaban or enoxaparin. The primary endpoint was the incidence of recurrent VTE. Secondary outcomes included a comparison in rates of bleeding, mean duration of treatment, and mean time to recurrence of VTE. Results A total of 45 patients were included in each group. The incidence of recurrent VTE was 8.9% in the rivaroxaban group versus 13.3% in the enoxaparin group ( p = 0.53). There were no statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes with the exception of longer mean duration of treatment in the rivaroxaban group compared to the enoxaparin group (169 vs. 110 days, respectively; p = 0.04). Conclusions This study provides important preliminary information regarding the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban for treatment of VTE in cancer patients. Although LMWH should remain the standard of care, these results provide initial reassurance that rivaroxaban serves as a viable alternative in the event that injectable anticoagulation is not an acceptable approach to VTE management.