bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Huge right ventricular outflow echinococcosis presenting as acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Xiong Feng , Liu Chunxia , Wang Shuzhen , Feng Kun 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTHydatid disease is a human parasitic infection caused by larvae of Echinococcus granulosus in various sheep‐ and cattle‐raising areas. It can be found commonly in the liver and lungs, but rarely involves the heart. In this report, we present an unusual case in which cardiac echinococcosis mimicked acute coronary syndrome by compressing the right ventricular outflow tract. The patient was referred to our emergency room for typical angina. His electrocardiogram revealed ischemic changes, but coronary angiography was normal. The diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis was made by transthoracic echocardiography and contrast‐enhanced CT and confirmed by pathologic examination. The patient accepted cardiac surgery for resection of the cyst. The postoperative period and follow‐up were uneventful. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:518–521, 2016
Relationship between hospital financial performance and publicly reported outcomes
Authors: Nguyen Oanh Kieu , Halm Ethan A. , Makam Anil N. 
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUNDHospitals that have robust financial performance may have improved publicly reported outcomes.OBJECTIVESTo assess the relationship between hospital financial performance and publicly reported outcomes of care, and to assess whether improved outcome metrics affect subsequent hospital financial performance.DESIGNObservational cohort study.SETTING AND PATIENTSHospital financial data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in California in 2008 and 2012 were linked to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare website.MEASUREMENTSHospital financial performance was measured by net revenue by operations, operating margin, and total margin. Outcomes were 30‐day risk‐standardized mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and pneumonia (PNA).RESULTSAmong 279 hospitals, there was no consistent relationship between measures of financial performance in 2008 and publicly reported outcomes from 2008 to 2011 for AMI and PNA. However, improved hospital financial performance (by any of the 3 measures) was associated with a modest increase in CHF mortality rates (ie, 0.26% increase in CHF mortality rate for every 10% increase in operating margin [95% confidence interval: 0.07%‐0.45%]). Conversely, there were no significant associations between outcomes from 2008 to 2011 and subsequent financial performance in 2012 (P > 0.05 for all).CONCLUSIONSRobust financial performance is not associated with improved publicly reported outcomes for AMI, CHF, and PNA. Financial incentives in addition to public reporting, such as readmissions penalties, may help motivate hospitals with robust financial performance to further improve publicly reported outcomes. Reassuringly, improved mortality and readmission rates do not necessarily lead to loss of revenue. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:481–488. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
Variability and trends of annual and seasonal thunderstorm frequency over Bangladesh
Authors: Saha Toma Rani , Quadir Dewan Abdul 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTThe climatology of thunderstorm (TS) activities over Bangladesh has been investigated using monthly, seasonal, and annual time series data of 29 meteorological stations in the country for a maximum period of 35 years (1976–2010). The climatology of the TS and its inter‐annual variability and trends have been investigated using country average as well as station‐wise data. The results of the trend analysis show that the country average TS frequency exhibits statistically significant trends for annual and seasonal data, except for winter. The monthly TS frequency shows significant increasing trends for the months April–November. The station‐wise analysis of annual and seasonal data shows dominant increasing trends over the country, with a few stations having negative trends. The correlation coefficients of the time series of seasonal and annual TS frequency with rainfall and minimum and maximum temperature have been computed. Also, the composite climatology of geopotential height and temperature fields of the troposphere covering Bangladesh and its surrounding areas for the month of May individually for the years with high TS frequency and low TS frequency has been presented and analysed. The low level moisture and meridional component of wind fields have also been considered. Additionally, the correspondence of TS frequency for this month with the low level vertical wind shear (VWS) between 850 and 500 hpa levels for the u‐component of the wind has also been studied using the data of 1976–2010, which shows that the TS frequency is correlated with VWS.
Configuring Anion‐Exchange Membranes for High Conductivity and Alkaline Stability by Using Cationic Polymers with Tailored Side Chains
Authors: Jannasch Patric , Weiber Eva Annika 
Published: February 2016

Polymeric anion‐exchange membranes (AEMs) are critical components for alkaline membrane fuel cells (AMFCs) which offer several attractive advantages including the use of platinum‐free catalysts and a wide choice of fuel. The development of AMFCs and other electrochemical energy systems is currently severely limited by the lack of AEMs with sufficient alkaline stability. Still, significant advances have been made in recent years and one of the most promising approaches to emerge is the design and synthesis of cationic polymers with various side chain arrangements. Especially, synthetic strategies where the cationic ion‐exchange groups are placed on pendant alkyl spacer chains along the backbone seem to significantly improve microphase separation, hydroxide ion conductivity, and alkaline stability in relation to standard AEMs with cations placed in benzylic positions directly on the backbone. This article reviews recent approaches to high‐performance cationic membrane polymers involving different side chain designs, and discusses some possible future directions.
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A Monte Carlo model for estimating tornado impacts
Authors: Strader Stephen M. , Pingel Thomas J. , Ashley Walker S. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTDetermining the likelihood and severity of tornado disasters requires an understanding of the dynamic relationship between tornado risk and vulnerability. As population increases in the future, it is likely that tornado disaster frequency and magnitude will amplify. This study presents the Tornado Impact Monte Carlo (TorMC) model, which simulates tornado events atop a user‐defined spatial domain to estimate the possible impact on people, the built‐environment or other potentially vulnerable assets. Using a Monte Carlo approach, the model employs a variety of sampling techniques on observed tornado data to provide greater insight into the tornado disaster potential for a location. Simulations based on 10 000 years of significant tornado events for the relatively high‐risk states of Alabama, Illinois and Oklahoma are conducted to demonstrate the model processes, and its reliability and applicability. These simulations are combined with a fine‐scale (100 m), residential built‐environment cost surface to illustrate the probability of housing unit impact thresholds for a contemporary year. Sample results demonstrate the ability of the model to depict successfully tornado risk, residential built‐environment exposure and the probability of disaster. Additional outcomes emphasize the importance of developing versatile tools that capture better the tornado risk and vulnerability attributes in order to provide precise estimates of disaster potential. Such tools can provide emergency managers, planners, insurers and decision makers a means to advance mitigation, resilience and sustainability strategies.
Assessment of viscous energy loss and the association with three‐dimensional vortex ring formation in left ventricular inflow: In vivo evaluation using four‐dimensional flow MRI
Authors: Elbaz Mohammed S.M. , van der Geest Rob J. , Calkoen Emmeline E. , de Roos Albert , Lelieveldt Boudewijn P.F. , Roest Arno A.W. , Westenberg Jos J.M. 
Published: February 2016

PurposeTo evaluate viscous energy loss and the association with three‐dimensional (3D) vortex ring formation in left ventricular (LV) blood flow during diastolic filling.Theory and MethodsThirty healthy volunteers were compared with 32 patients with corrected atrioventricular septal defect as unnatural mitral valve morphology and inflow are common in these patients. 4DFlow MRI was acquired from which 3D vortex ring formation was identified in LV blood flow at peak early (E)‐filling and late (A)‐filling and characterized by its presence/absence, orientation, and position from the lateral wall. Viscous energy loss was computed over E‐filling, A‐filling, and complete diastole using the Navier‐Stokes energy equations.ResultsCompared with healthy volunteers, viscous energy loss was significantly elevated in patients with disturbed vortex ring formation as characterized by a significantly inclined orientation and/or position closer to the lateral wall. Highest viscous energy loss was found in patients without a ring‐shaped vortex during E‐filling (on average more than double compared with patients with ring‐shape vortex, P < 0.003). Altered A‐filling vortex ring formation was associated with significant increase in total viscous energy loss over diastole even in the presence of normal E‐filling vortex ring.ConclusionAltered vortex ring formation during LV filling is associated with increased viscous energy loss. Magn Reson Med 77:794–805, 2017. © 2016 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
MR fingerprinting using the quick echo splitting NMR imaging technique
Authors: Jiang Yun , Ma Dan , Jerecic Renate , Duerk Jeffrey , Seiberlich Nicole , Gulani Vikas , Griswold Mark A. 
Published: February 2016

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to develop a quantitative method for the relaxation properties with a reduced radio frequency (RF) power deposition by combining magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) technique with quick echo splitting NMR imaging technique (QUEST).MethodsA QUEST‐based MRF sequence was implemented to acquire high‐order echoes by increasing the gaps between RF pulses. Bloch simulations were used to calculate a dictionary containing the range of physically plausible signal evolutions using a range of T1 and T2 values based on the pulse sequence. MRF‐QUEST was evaluated by comparing to the results of spin‐echo methods. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of MRF‐QUEST was compared with the clinically available methods.ResultsMRF‐QUEST quantifies the relaxation properties with good accuracy at the estimated head SAR of 0.03 W/kg. T1 and T2 values estimated by MRF‐QUEST are in good agreement with the traditional methods.ConclusionsThe combination of the MRF and the QUEST provides an accurate quantification of T1 and T2 simultaneously with reduced RF power deposition. The resulting lower SAR may provide a new acquisition strategy for MRF when RF energy deposition is problematic. Magn Reson Med 77:979–988, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Impact of Pill Burden on Adherence, Risk of Hospitalization, and Viral Suppression in Patients with HIV Infection and AIDS Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Scott Sutton S. , Magagnoli Joseph , Hardin James W. 
Published: February 2016

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of pill burden on outcomes in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) as a single‐tablet regimen (STR) or multiple‐tablet regimen (MTR).DesignRetrospective cohort study.Data SourcesSouth Carolina Medicaid medical and pharmacy paid claims data were obtained from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office; laboratory data were obtained from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.PatientsA total of 2174 patients covered by South Carolina Medicaid who were dispensed a complete ART STR (580 patients) or MTR (1594 patients) lasting at least 60 days between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2013.Measurements and Main ResultsOutcomes were ART adherence; risk of, time to, and total number of hospitalizations; and viral load suppression. Patients were followed from the index date (start date of their complete ART regimen) until the earliest date of one of the following: treatment discontinuation; treatment switch from MTR to STR, or vice versa; end of study period; last date of Medicaid eligibility; or death. Differences in outcomes were evaluated by using bivariate χ2 and Wilcoxon rank sum tests, as well as multivariate regression models controlling for covariates measured during a 6‐month baseline period. The STR and MTR cohorts were, on average, similar in terms of age at index date, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, sex, drug abuse, and mental health diagnoses, but they differed significantly in racial composition, index year of regimen, previous treatment, baseline viral load, and CD4 measures. The bivariate analysis revealed that the STR cohort was more adherent (p<0.0001), had a lower risk of hospitalization (p=0.0076), and had a higher proportion of patients with viral suppression (64.5% vs 49.5%, p<0.0001). In addition, multivariate regression models revealed that the STR cohort was more adherent and was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (hazard ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.59–0.86), but no significant difference in viral load suppression was noted between the STR and MTR cohorts.ConclusionThe STR was associated with higher adherence rates and a lower risk of hospitalization (both in the adjusted and unadjusted analyses) in South Carolina Medicaid patients with HIV infection and AIDS. A higher proportion of patients in the STR cohort had viral suppression during the follow‐up period in the unadjusted analysis compared with the MTR cohort; however, no significant difference in viral suppression was observed when controlling for adherence.
Cold‐conveyor‐belt jet, sting jet and slantwise circulations in idealized simulations of extratropical cyclones
Authors: Coronel B. , Ricard D. , Rivière G. , Arbogast P. 
Published: February 2016

The present study investigates the formation of sting‐jet cyclones using an idealized configuration of a high‐resolution mesoscale numerical model. The initial set‐up is composed of axisymmetric finite‐amplitude synoptic‐scale cyclones added to a baroclinic zonal jet. When the surface cyclone is initialized on the warm‐air side of the zonal jet, a strong bent‐back warm front forms, which is a favourable condition for sting jets. A rather high vertical resolution of about 200 m in the lower troposphere is required to obtain well‐formed slantwise circulations near the cloud head and to make the distinction between cold‐conveyor‐belt jet and sting jet. In contrast, when the surface cyclone is initialized on the jet axis, the surface cyclone is more representative of the Norwegian cyclone model and the bent‐back warm front is almost non‐existent.Sting‐jet mechanisms are analyzed using backward Lagrangian trajectories. A minority group of air parcels entering the sting‐jet region undergoes diabatic cooling due to sublimation of snow and graupel. The majority group does not present such a diabatic cooling and corresponds to descending air masses from the cloud‐head region in a near‐neutral environment with respect to conditional symmetric instability. Indeed, the saturated moist potential vorticity is near zero and the momentum surfaces and saturated moist isentropes are quasi‐parallel in the main slantwise descent. The latter descent is shown to be geostrophically forced by the strong divergent component of the along‐front Q vector.Boundary‐layer processes are also analyzed. In most areas, the static stability being strong, there is no penetration of descents coming from the sting jet into the boundary layer and the peaks in surface wind gusts are connected to intrinsic boundary‐layer convective cells and parametrized turbulence. Such a penetration occurs in some areas but is not related to the strongest wind gusts.
Repetitive dengue outbreaks in East Africa: A proposed phased mitigation approach may reduce its impact
Authors: Baba Marycelin , Villinger Jandouwe , Masiga Daniel K. 
Published: February 2016

SummaryDengue outbreaks have persistently occurred in eastern African countries for several decades. We assessed each outbreak to identify risk factors and propose a framework for prevention and impact mitigation. Seven out of ten countries in eastern Africa and three islands in the Indian Ocean have experienced dengue outbreaks between 1823 and 2014. Major risk factors associated with past dengue outbreaks include climate, virus and vector genetics and human practices. Appropriate use of dengue diagnostic tools and their interpretation are necessary for both outbreak investigations and sero‐epidemiological studies. Serosurvey findings during inter‐epidemic periods have not been adequately utilised to prevent re‐occurrence of dengue outbreaks. Local weather variables may be used to predict dengue outbreaks, while entomological surveillance can complement other disease‐mitigation efforts during outbreaks and identify risk‐prone areas during inter‐epidemic periods. The limitations of past dengue outbreak responses and the enormous socio‐economic impacts of the disease on human health are highlighted. Its repeated occurrence in East Africa refutes previous observations that susceptibility may depend on race. Alternate hypotheses on heterotypic protection among flaviviruses may not be applied to all ecologies. Prevention and mitigation of severe dengue outbreaks should necessarily consider the diverse factors associated with their occurrence. Implementation of phased dengue mitigation activities can enforce timely and judicious use of scarce resources, promote environmental sanitation, and drive behavioural change, hygienic practices and community‐based vector control. Understanding dengue epidemiology and clinical symptoms, as determined by its evolution, are significant to preventing future dengue epidemics. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth and Smoltification of Three Norwegian Strains of Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar Reared under Different Thermal Regimes
Authors: Imsland A. K. , Pettersen K. , Stefansson S. O. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractA comparative study was performed with juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar from three stocks in Western Norway that differ in their natural conditions. One is from warm, lowland river conditions (Årdal), one is from cold glacial river conditions (Stryn) and the last one (Suldalslågen) is from a hydropower‐regulated river. The salmon parr were tagged and reared at 4, 5.5 and 7 °C and simulated natural water temperature (SNT) for river Suldalslågen. Size distribution was unimodal at 4 °C, with a change to a bimodal distribution, representing potential 1+ and 2+ smolts, at the other temperature regimes. The relative biomass of 1+ smolts varied between the stocks as Stryn (cold glacial river) stock had the highest number of smolts at 7 °C and the Suldalsågen stock (hydropower‐regulated river) displaying the highest number at the SNT regime. Overall, the Stryn stock, originating from cold river conditions, seemed to be well adapted to growth and smoltification at cold temperatures, whereas salmon parr from river Suldalslågen seem to be better adapted to the natural temperature regime (SNT) of this river than the other two stocks. This was reflected in the gill Na+,K+‐ATPase as the Suldalslågen stock showed increasing activity from 16 April (4.2 µmol ADP mg protein−1 h−1) to 10 May (9.2 µmol ADP mg protein−1 h−1), and at the end of the experiment, enzyme activity in Suldalslågen stock was significantly higher than both Stryn (5.7) and Årdal (5.9 µmol ADP mg protein−1 h−1) stock. In contrast, the warm lowland stock, Årdal, fish had low Na+,K+‐ATPase activity with no distinct peak at any of the sampled dates from March through May. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surgical treatment for hydrosalpinx prior to in‐vitro fertilization embryo transfer: a network meta‐analysis
Authors: Tsiami A. , Chaimani A. , Mavridis D. , Siskou M. , Assimakopoulos E. , Sotiriadis A. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe presence of hydrosalpinx impairs the outcome of in‐vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF‐ET). Surgical methods to either aspirate the fluid or isolate the affected Fallopian tubes have been attempted as a means of improving outcome. The aim of this network meta‐analysis was to compare the effectiveness of surgical treatments for hydrosalpinx before IVF‐ET.MethodsAn electronic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central) and the US Registry of clinical trials for articles published from inception to July 2015 was performed. Eligibility criteria included randomized controlled trials of women with hydrosalpinx before IVF‐ET comparing ultrasound‐guided aspiration of the fluid, tubal occlusion, salpingectomy or no intervention. Ongoing pregnancy was the primary outcome and clinical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage were secondary outcomes. A random‐effects network meta‐analysis synthesizing direct and indirect evidence from the included trials was carried out. We estimated the relative effect sizes as risk ratios (RRs) and obtained the relative ranking of the interventions using cumulative ranking curves. The quality of evidence according to GRADE guidelines, adapted for network meta‐analysis, was assessed.ResultsProximal tubal occlusion (RR, 3.22 (95% CI, 1.27–8.14)) and salpingectomy (RR, 2.24 (95% CI, 1.27–3.95)) for treatment of hydrosalpinx were superior to no intervention for ongoing pregnancy. For an outcome of clinical pregnancy, all three interventions appeared to be superior to no intervention. No superiority could be ascertained between the three surgical methods for any of the outcomes. In terms of relative ranking, tubal occlusion was the best surgical treatment followed by salpingectomy for ongoing and clinical pregnancy rates. No significant statistical inconsistency was detected; however, the point estimates for some inconsistency factors and their CIs were relatively large. The small study number and sizes were the main limitations. The quality of evidence was commonly low/very low, especially when aspiration was involved, indicating that the results were not conclusive and should be interpreted with caution.ConclusionsProximal tubal occlusion, salpingectomy and aspiration for treatment of hydrosalpinx scored consistently better than did no intervention for the outcome of IVF‐ET. In terms of relative ranking, proximal tubal occlusion appeared to be the most effective intervention, followed by salpingectomy. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.