bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heart valve prostheses
Authors: Badano Luigi P. , Muraru Denisa 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Echocardiography is the single most-useful imaging modality to assess heart valve prosteses function. In the majority of patients, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is sufficient to assess baseline prostehsis hemodynamics and routine follow-up studies. However, in patients with suspected dysfunction, particularly for prostheses in mitral position, the addition of transoesophageal echocardiography is usually necessary. Stress echocardiography may also be necessary in patients with exertional symptoms unexplained by the resting TTE. To increase accuracy in detecting prosthesis malfunction and to address patient management, a baseline echocardiographic study obtained between 3 and 6 months after valve replacement, should be used to compare follow-up study data.
The aim of this chapter is to summarize the normal appearance of heart valve prostheses by position and also to describe the echocardiographic findings of malfunctioning valves.
Endocarditis
Authors: Habib Gilbert , Thuny Franck 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Imaging plays a key role in the assessment of infective endocarditis. Echocardiography, particularly transoesophageal echocardiography, gives useful information concerning the diagnosis of infective endocarditis, the assessment of the severity of the disease, the prediction of short-term and long-term prognosis, and the follow-up of patients under specific antibiotic therapy. Other imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging, Computed tomography (CT) scan, and invasive angiography, are of limited value for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis, but are useful for the diagnosis and management of its complications. FDG PET/CT imaging seems the most promising new imaging technique, particularly for the diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis
Echocardiography and detection of coronary artery disease
Authors: Sicari Rosa 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Coronary artery disease provokes an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand inducing myocardial ischaemia and infarction. Myocardial ischaemia causes left ventricular regional dyssynergy (an early, sensitive, and specific marker of ischaemia) and global dysfunction (a late and non-sensitive sign). To date, echocardiography has been the technique of choice for the assessment of regional ventricular function, both in resting conditions and even more so during stress, in spite of the dependence of echocardiographic imaging on the patient’s acoustic window and on the experience of the cardiologist interpreting the study. The advantages of feasibility, safety, reliability, and unsurpassed temporal resolution allow the documentation under optimal conditions of a regional dysfunction, which can be extremely localized in space and transient in time. Stress echocardiography is the combination of 2D-echocardiography with a physical, pharmacological, or electrical stress. The diagnostic end-point for the detection of myocardial ischaemia is the induction of a transient worsening in regional function during stress. Stress echocardiography provides similar diagnostic and prognostic accuracy as radionuclide stress perfusion imaging, but at a substantially lower cost, without environmental impact, and with no biohazards for the patient and the physician. New emerging fields of application taking advantage from the versatility of the technique are Doppler stress echo in valvular heart disease and in post-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. In spite of its dependence upon operator’s training, stress echocardiography is today the best (most cost-effective and risk-effective) possible imaging choice to achieve the still elusive target of sustainable cardiac imaging.
Nuclear cardiology and detection of coronary artery disease
Authors: Stirrup James , Richard Underwood S. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Experience with radionuclide assessments of myocardial perfusion can be measured over decades. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) has been validated for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac disease and the technique is embedded in national and international guidelines. Positron emission tomography (PET) has been used to assess myocardial viability but it is now used increasingly to detect flow- limiting coronary artery disease (CAD). With alternative cardiac imaging techniques now available it is more important than ever to understand the principles, indications, and pitfalls of the options. No single technique provides a complete assessment of the heart; many provide complementary rather than equivalent information. In this chapter, the value of cardiac radionuclide imaging in stable CAD and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is discussed, with a particular emphasis on the role of MPS, the most commonly used technique in nuclear cardiology.
Imaging the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque
Authors: Vancraeynest David , Vanoverschelde Jean-Louis J. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Although mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease have decreased in the past decades, diseases of the heart and circulatory system remain the main cause of death in Europe, accounting for over 4 million fatalities each year (nearly half of all deaths). Arterial thrombosis superimposed on the atherosclerotic plaque precipitates an acute vascular event, which is what underlies the high mortality rate. The plaque morphologies responsible for thrombosis are either plaque rupture or plaque erosion. Plaque rupture is the most common cause of acute vascular events, and the rupture-prone plaques are called ‘vulnerable plaques’. Because the detection of such plaques represents the ‘Holy Grail’ for every clinician, much effort has been invested in accurately detecting the presence of vulnerable plaques using different imaging techniques. This chapter provides an overview of the currently available non-invasive imaging modalities aimed at detecting vulnerable plaques and discusses their place in clinical practice.
Evaluation of right ventricular function
Authors: Pierard Luc A. , Dulgheru Raluca E. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
A correct and attentive evaluation of right ventricular (RV) morphology and function is mandatory in each patient. RV is considered rather difficult to assess by imaging techniques. However, with the use of echocardiography and CMR, a complete assessment of RV geometry and function is usually achievable. Because of its non-invasive nature, wide availability, and repeatability, echocardiography remains the first-line imaging technique to be used for assessing RV morphology and function in patients with suspected right-side heart disease. CMR is, undoubtedly, the ‘gold-standard’ in assessing RV volumes, ejection fraction, and tissue characterization. 3D-echocardiography, deformation imaging, and cardiac CT add valuable information, depending on the clinical question to be answered. A multi-modality approach for RV function assessment is recommended when echocardiography is not able to provide complete diagnostic information.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy: optimization and follow-up
Authors: Sitges Marta , Derumeaux Genevieve 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Cardiac imaging techniques have an important role in the follow-up of patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) as they provide objective evidence of changes in cardiac dimensions and function. The role of echocardiography is well established in the assessment of left ventricular reverse remodelling and the evaluation of secondary (functional) mitral regurgitation. Additionally, echocardiography might be used for optimizing the programming of atrio-ventricular (AV) and inter-ventricular (VV) delays of current CRT devices. Acute benefits from this optimization have been demonstrated, but longer follow-up studies have failed to show a clear benefit of optimized CRT on top of simultaneous biventricular pacing on the outcome of patients with CRT. This chapter reviews the role of imaging in assessing follow-up and outcome of patients undergoing CRT, as well as the rationale, the methods used, and the clinical impact of optimization of the programming of CRT devices.
Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade
Authors: Leeson Paul , Becher Harald 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
A pericardial effusion is an accumulation of fluid within the pericardial space and can occur in response to a range of conditions including inflammatory, iatrogenic, metabolic, and neoplastic problems. Cardiac tamponade describes the clinical situation in which the collection of fluid has become severe enough to cause haemodynamic compromise and is characterized by hypotension and tachycardia, with an exaggerated respiratory motion of the jugular venous pulse. Tamponade is an acute problem that usually requires immediate intervention with drainage of the effusion by pericardiocentesis. Echocardiography is the modality of choice for initial diagnosis, investigation, and monitoring of pericardial effusions. Echocardiography also identifies changes in cardiac function suggestive of cardiac tamponade, such as collapse of the right atrium and ventricle, as well as exaggerated variation in transvalvular Doppler flow with respiration. Echocardiography can also be used to plan the removal of fluid by pericardiocentesis and be of value during the procedure to confirm location of the pericardiocentesis needle. As an adjunct to echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography and magnetic resonance provide further detailed information on fluid characteristics and localization of effusions, although are usually impractical for acute management of effusions and, in particular, tamponade. However, these additional modalities are particularly suited to investigation of related pathology and can inform on the appearance and thickness of the pericardium, as well as identify pathology within the heart or wider thoracic field of view that may underlie the effusion.
Myocarditis
Authors: Mahrholdt Heiko , Yilmaz Ali , Sechtem Udo 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
The symptoms and signs of myocarditis are non-specific. Thus, myocarditis is a differential diagnosis in many patients with heart complaints. As clinical tools, such as history taking, physical examination, blood tests, the ECG, and the chest X-ray are not sufficient to ascertain the diagnosis of myocarditis, additional information from cardiac imaging techniques, or endomyocardial biopsy are necessary to confirm or exclude the disease. Echocardiography still represents the first-choice imaging modality in patients with a clinical suspicion of myocarditis, since it offers the acquisition of comprehensive anatomic and functional data very quickly at the bedside of the patient. Due to its non-invasiveness, the lack of radiation exposure, its image quality, which helps assessing and quantifying cardiac function, and its high tissue contrast, which can be modified using various pulse sequences, CMR has become an important technique for evaluating patients with suspected myocarditis. Emerging hybrid PET/CT and PET/MRI techniques may have considerable potential for future cardiovascular inflammation imaging because they combine PET, a highly sensitive and quantitative modality to detect even low-grade inflammation, with CT or MRI that enable non-invasive assessment of cardiovascular anatomy with excellent spatial resolution. However, when managing patients with inflammatory heart disease today, it should be kept in mind that endomyocardial biopsy remains the only technique that can directly assess the presence and intensity of myocardial inflammation in vivo. Therefore, it is the technique of choice if clinically indicated to differentiate between active and healed myocarditis.
Simultaneous multifrequency radio observations of the Galactic Centre magnetar SGR J1745−2900
Authors: Torne P. , Eatough R. P. , Karuppusamy R. , Kramer M. , Paubert G. , Klein B. , Desvignes G. , Champion D. J. , Wiesemeyer H. , Kramer C. , Spitler L. G. , Thum C. , Güsten R. , Schuster K. F. , Cognard I. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
We report on simultaneous observations of the magnetar SGR J1745−2900 at frequencies ν = 2.54–225 GHz using the Nançay 94-m equivalent, Effelsberg 100-m, and IRAM 30-m radio telescopes. We detect SGR J1745−2900 up to 225 GHz, the highest radio frequency detection of pulsed emission from a neutron star to date. Strong single pulses are also observed from 4.85 up to 154 GHz. At the millimetre band we see significant flux density and spectral index variabilities on time scales of tens of minutes, plus variability between days at all frequencies. Additionally, SGR J1745−2900 was observed at a different epoch at frequencies ν = 296–472 GHz using the APEX 12-m radio telescope, with no detections. Over the period MJD 56859.83-56862.93 the fitted spectrum yields a spectral index of 〈α〉 = −0.4 ± 0.1 for a reference flux density 〈S154〉 = 1.1 ± 0.2 mJy (with Sν ∝ να), a flat spectrum alike those of the other radio-loud magnetars. These results show that strongly magnetized neutron stars can be effective radio emitters at frequencies notably higher to what was previously known and that pulsar searches in the Galactic Centre are possible in the millimetre band.
Correlation of Macular Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness With Frequency-doubling Technology Perimetry in Open-angle Glaucoma With Hemifield Defects
Authors: Hayashi Keiko , Araie Makoto , Konno Shinsuke , Tomidokoro Atsuo 
Published: May 2015

Purpose:
To understand better the relationship between the macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) thickness and visual field sensitivity assessed by frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in the standard automated perimetry (SAP) normal hemifields of glaucomatous eyes, a model of preperimetric stage of glaucoma.

Patients and Methods:
Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients with glaucomatous visual field defects restricted to the superior or inferior hemifield were included. Patients underwent the mGCC and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography and the FDT testing with N-30 full-threshold protocol. SAP and FDT sensitivity values were averaged in the area corresponding to thickness measurements and the thickness sensitivity relationships were assessed in the SAP normal and SAP abnormal halves (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient).

Results:
FDT sensitivity was significantly correlated with both the cpRNFL and mGCC thicknesses either in the SAP normal (ρ=0.384 and 0.462, respectively) or in the SAP abnormal (ρ=0.402 and 0.717, respectively) halves. Correlation between the FDT sensitivity and the mGCC thickness was significantly (P=0.016) stronger than that with the cpRNFL thickness in the SAP abnormal half. SAP sensitivity was correlated significantly (ρ=0.570) only with the mGCC thickness in the SAP abnormal half.

Conclusions:
Similarly strong correlations of the mGCC thickness with the FDT sensitivity in the SAP normal and SAP abnormal halves, but not with the SAP sensitivity, indicates that the mGCC thickness and the FDT sensitivity may be more optimal structure-function indicator in preperimetric stage of glaucoma.
A Case Study of the Environmental Experience of a Hospitalized Newborn Infant With Complex Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Daniels Jacki M. , Harrison Tondi M. 
Published: May 2015

Background:
Infants with complex congenital heart disease are at high risk for developmental delays. Although the etiology of these delays is multifactorial, the physical environment may be a contributory factor. Extensive studies have been conducted in neonatal intensive care units measuring environmental influences on development, resulting in policy and practice changes. Cardiothoracic intensive care units and cardiac step-down units are new environments in which newborns with heart disease receive care. No environmental studies have been conducted in units caring for newborn infants recovering from cardiac surgery.

Objective:
The aim of this study is to examine the environmental experience of a newborn infant with heart disease after surgical intervention within the first month of life.

Methods:
Measurements of illumination, sound levels, and sleep were recorded on 1 infant for 2 consecutive postoperative days in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit and 2 consecutive days in the step-down unit.

Results:
Although average daily noise exposure remained below recommended guidelines on 3 of 4 days, the infant experienced intermittent periods of excessive noise (≥55 dBA) during 59 of 87 hours and 110 episodes of acute noise events greater than 70 dBA. Average daily light exposure was below the recommended guidelines. However, light levels were more than twice the recommended levels at multiple points daily. For each of the 4 observation days, the infant experienced 66 to 102 awakenings during sleep, and sleep durations were less than 30 minutes 90% of the time.

Conclusions:
This study provides the first report of potential environmental stressors in newborn infants cared for in cardiac specialty units. Excessive levels of light and noise as well as frequent interruptions for medical and nursing care may contribute to disorganized sleep and increased patient distress and may impact subsequent neurodevelopment. Studies are needed to identify potentially adverse aspects of the intensive caregiving environment for newborn infants who have undergone cardiac surgery.
Spatial extent of neighboring plants influences the strength of associational effects on mammal herbivory. Insights from a meta-analysis
Authors: Champagne Emilie , Tremblay Jean-Pierre , D. Côté Steeve 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThere is high variability in the level of herbivory between individual plants from the same species with potential effects on population dynamics, community composition, and ecosystem structure and function. This variability can be partly explained by associational effects i.e. the impact of the presence of neighboring plants on the level of herbivory experienced by a focal plant, but it is still unclear how the spatial scale of plant neighborhood modulates foraging choice of herbivores; an inherently spatial process in itself. Using a meta-analysis, we investigated how spatial scale modifies associational effects on the susceptibility to browsing by herbivores with movement capacities similar to deer. From 2496 articles found in literature databases, we selected 46 studies providing a total of 168 differences of means in damage by herbivores or survival to woody plants (mostly) with and without neighboring plants. Spatial scales were reported as distance between plants or as plot size. We estimated the relationships between the effect sizes and spatial scale, type of associational effects and nature of the experiment using meta-analysis mixed models. The strength of associational effects declined with increasing plot size, regardless of the type of associational effects. Associational defences (i.e. decrease in herbivory for focal plants associated with unpalatable neighbors) had stronger magnitude than associational susceptibilities. The high remaining heterogeneity among studies suggests that untested factors modulate associational effects, such as nutritional quality of focal and neighboring plants, density of herbivores, timing of browsing, etc. Associational effects are already considered in multiple restoration contexts worldwide, but a better understanding of these relationships could improve their use in conservation, restoration and forest exploitation when browsing is a concern. This study is the first to investigate spatial patterns of associational effects across species and ecosystems, an issue that is essential to determine differential herbivory damages among plants.
Corrosion protection of steel by poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer blends
Authors: Hernández-Martínez Diego , León-Silva Ulises , Nicho Maria Elena 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of thermal treatment on the corrosion protection of steel by using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and P3HT/PS(polystyrene) or P3HT/PMMA(polymethyl methacrylate) blends coatings in sulfuric acid solution.

Design/methodology/approach
– The polymer coatings were thermally treated at two different temperatures (100 and 200°C, respectively) and were compared with the polymer coatings dried at room temperature in their application as protective coatings against corrosion of A36 steel. The corrosion resistance of polymer coatings-covered steel substrates was evaluated by using potentiodynamic polarization curves and linear polarization resistance.

Findings
– At 25 and 100°C, polymer coatings showed a better protection of the A36 steel, and the corrosion rate diminished in three orders of magnitude with regard to the bare steel. Morphological study showed that the increased temperature benefited the integration of the two polymeric phases; however; the temperature of 200°C affected the film quality, generated cracks and holes, which affected the barrier properties of the coatings.

Research limitations/implications
– The research involved the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of the polymeric coatings (P3HT, PS/P3HT y PMMA/P3HT), as well as their application as coatings in the steel to prevent corrosion. The effect of thermal treatment of the protective coatings on steel corrosion was studied.

Practical implications
– This paper aims to contribute to reducing the problem of metal corrosion through the use of polymer coatings.

Social implications
– Today, majority of metal surfaces are subject under the protection to prevent a very common phenomenon, that is corrosion. Corrosion is the result of chemical reactions that occur between a metal or a metal alloy and its environment. Corrosion creates a degradation of the material that has an impact on some economic, environmental and even social aspects, here the great importance of its protection.

Originality/value
– It is shown in this study that the P3HT coating provides better corrosion protection of the A36 steel than the PS and PMMA coatings. However, mixtures of P3HT with PMMA and PS protected the steel from corrosion by two and three orders of magnitude similar to the simple P3HT coating. Polymer blends improved adhesion to the substrate and mechanical property of the coating, and in addition, the polymer blends made cheaper coating.
Macau gambling industry: current challenges and opportunities next decade
Authors: Liu Matthew Tingchi , Chang Tina Tsing Gya , Loi Edmund H. N. , Chan Andrew Chi Hong 
Published: May 2015

Purpose
– The viewpoints from industry briefly review the success in last decade, analyze what challenges and difficulties came across currently and forecast opportunities/development in next decade of Macau gambling industry. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Practitioners from banking and gambling industries offered their cutting-edged analysis and viewpoints with scholars’ observation.

Findings
– Macroeconomic and political factors in China are the principal direct cause of Macau’s gambling revenue decline in 2014, implicating the vulnerability and unsustainability associated with the VIP business model of gambling industry. Although Macau continues to face challenges since late 2014, the prospect of Macau gambling industry is still optimistic in the long term, as there are emerging positive catalysts which will boost demand. From casino operators’ perspective, they should continue to try to increase revenue from mass market and non-gambling business by relocating the resource and adding more non-gambling amenities.

Originality/value
– This paper provides a fresh perspective, and a new line of thinking with regard to how gambling industry in Macau will develop in next decade since 2015. It therefore potentially directs a new path of research in the area.