bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitomycin-Induced Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
Authors: Perros Frédéric , Günther Sven , Ranchoux Benoit , Godinas Laurent , Antigny Fabrice , Chaumais Marie-Camille , Dorfmüller Peter , Hautefort Aurélie , Raymond Nicolas , Savale Laurent , Jaïs Xavier , Girerd Barbara , Cottin Vincent , Sitbon Olivier , Simonneau Gerald , Humbert Marc , Montani David 
Published: July 2015

Background—

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is an uncommon form of pulmonary hypertension characterized by the obstruction of small pulmonary veins and a dismal prognosis. PVOD may be sporadic or heritable because of biallelic mutations of the
EIF2AK4
gene coding for GCN2. Isolated case reports suggest that chemotherapy may be a risk factor for PVOD.

Methods and Results—
We reported on the clinical, functional, and hemodynamic characteristics and outcomes of 7 cases of PVOD induced by mitomycin-C (MMC) therapy from the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry. All patients displayed squamous anal cancer and were treated with MMC alone or MMC plus 5-fluoruracil. The estimated annual incidence of PVOD in the French population that have anal cancer is 3.9 of 1000 patients, which is much higher than the incidence of PVOD in the general population (0.5/million per year). In rats, intraperitoneal administration of MMC induced PVOD, as demonstrated by pulmonary hypertension at right-heart catheterization at days 21 to 35 and major remodeling of small pulmonary veins associated with foci of intense microvascular endothelial-cell proliferation of the capillary bed. In rats, MMC administration was associated with dose-dependent depletion of pulmonary GCN2 content and decreased smad1/5/8 signaling. Amifostine prevented the development of MMC-induced PVOD in rats.

Conclusions—
MMC therapy is a potent inducer of PVOD in humans and rats. Amifostine prevents MMC-induced PVOD in rats and should be tested as a preventive therapy for MMC-induced PVOD in humans. MMC-induced PVOD in rats represents a unique model to test novel therapies in this devastating orphan disease.
Prognostic Importance of Impaired Systolic Function in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and the Impact of Spironolactone
Authors: Shah Amil M. , Claggett Brian , Sweitzer Nancy K. , Shah Sanjiv J. , Anand Inder S. , Liu Li , Pitt Bertram , Pfeffer Marc A. , Solomon Scott D. 
Published: July 2015

Background—
Impairment in left ventricular systolic function has been described in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but its prognostic relevance is not known. We determined whether left ventricular longitudinal strain (LS) is predictive of cardiovascular outcomes in HFpEF beyond clinical and conventional echocardiographic measures.

Methods and Results—

LS was assessed by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography at baseline in 447 patients with HFpEF enrolled in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial. At a median follow-up of 2.6 years (interquartile range, 1.5–3.9 years), 115 patients experienced the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, or aborted cardiac arrest. Impaired LS, defined as an absolute LS <15.8%, was present in 52% of patients and was predictive of the composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–3.66;
P
=0.005), cardiovascular death alone (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.44–7.12;
P
=0.004), and HF hospitalization alone (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–4.28;
P
=0.016) after adjustment for clinical and conventional echocardiographic variables. LS was the strongest echocardiographic predictor of the composite outcome. Exploratory analysis in a subset of 131 patients with follow-up LS assessed after 12 to 18 months demonstrated a trend toward improvement in LS associated with spironolactone in patients enrolled in the Americas but not in Russia or Georgia.

Conclusions—
Impaired left ventricular systolic function is a powerful predictor of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, or aborted cardiac arrest in HFpEF independent of clinical predictors. Impaired LS represents a novel imaging biomarker to identify patients with HFpEF at particularly high risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00094302.
Sex‐Specific Parental Effects on Offspring Lipid Levels
Authors: Predazzi Irene M. , Sobota Rafal S. , Sanna Serena , Bush William S. , Bartlett Jacquelaine , Lilley Jessica S. , Linton MacRae F. , Schlessinger David , Cucca Francesco , Fazio Sergio , Williams Scott M. 
Published: July 2015

Background
Plasma lipid levels are highly heritable traits, but known genetic loci can only explain a small portion of their heritability.

Methods and Results

In this study, we analyzed the role of parental levels of total cholesterol (
TC
), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (
LDL‐C
), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (
HDL
‐C), and triglycerides (
TGs
) in explaining the values of the corresponding traits in adult offspring. We also evaluated the contribution of nongenetic factors that influence lipid traits (age, body mass index, smoking, medications, and menopause) alone and in combination with variability at the genetic loci known to associate with
TC
,
LDL
‐C,
HDL
‐C, and
TG
levels. We performed comparisons among different sex‐specific regression models in 416 families from the Framingham Heart Study and 304 from the Sardi
NIA
cohort. Models including parental lipid levels explain significantly more of the trait variation than models without these measures, explaining up to ≈39% of the total trait variation. Of this variation, the parent‐of‐origin effect explains as much as ≈15% and it does so in a sex‐specific way. This observation is not owing to shared environment, given that spouse‐pair correlations were negligible (<1.5% explained variation in all cases) and is distinct from previous genetic and acquired factors that are known to influence serum lipid levels.

Conclusions
These findings support the concept that unknown genetic and epigenetic contributors are responsible for most of the heritable component of the plasma lipid phenotype, and that, at present, the clinical utility of knowing age‐matched parental lipid levels in assessing risk of dyslipidemia supersedes individual locus effects. Our results support the clinical utility of knowing parental lipid levels in assessing future risk of dyslipidemia.
Effects of Centralizing Acute Stroke Services on Stroke Care Provision in Two Large Metropolitan Areas in England
Authors: Ramsay Angus I.G. , Morris Stephen , Hoffman Alex , Hunter Rachael M. , Boaden Ruth , McKevitt Christopher , Perry Catherine , Pursani Nanik , Rudd Anthony G. , Turner Simon J. , Tyrrell Pippa J. , Wolfe Charles D.A. , Fulop Naomi J. 
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—
In 2010, Greater Manchester and London centralized acute stroke care into hyperacute units (Greater Manchester=3, London=8), with additional units providing ongoing specialist stroke care nearer patients’ homes. Greater Manchester patients presenting within 4 hours of symptom onset were eligible for hyperacute unit admission; all London patients were eligible. Research indicates that postcentralization, only London’s stroke mortality fell significantly more than elsewhere in England. This article attempts to explain this difference by analyzing how centralization affects provision of evidence-based clinical interventions.

Methods—
Controlled before and after analysis was conducted, using national audit data covering Greater Manchester, London, and a noncentralized urban comparator (38 623 adult stroke patients, April 2008 to December 2012). Likelihood of receiving all interventions measured reliably in pre- and postcentralization audits (brain scan; stroke unit admission; receiving antiplatelet; physiotherapist, nutrition, and swallow assessments) was calculated, adjusting for age, sex, stroke-type, consciousness, and whether stroke occurred in-hospital.

Results—
Postcentralization, likelihood of receiving interventions increased in all areas. London patients were overall significantly more likely to receive interventions, for example, brain scan within 3 hours: Greater Manchester=65.2% (95% confidence interval=64.3–66.2); London=72.1% (71.4–72.8); comparator=55.5% (54.8–56.3). Hyperacute units were significantly more likely to provide interventions, but fewer Greater Manchester patients were admitted to these (Greater Manchester=39%; London=93%). Differences resulted from contrasting hyperacute unit referral criteria and how reliably they were followed.

Conclusions—
Centralized systems admitting all stroke patients to hyperacute units, as in London, are significantly more likely to provide evidence-based clinical interventions. This may help explain previous research showing better outcomes associated with fully centralized models.
An Improved Trajectory Model to Evaluate the Collection Performance of Snow Gauges
Authors: Colli Matteo , Rasmussen Roy , Thériault Julie M. , Lanza Luca G. , Baker C. Bruce , Kochendorfer John 
Published: July 2015

AbstractRecent studies have used numerical models to estimate the collection efficiency of solid precipitation gauges when exposed to the wind in both shielded and unshielded configurations. The models used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the airflow pattern generated by the aerodynamic response to the gauge–shield geometry. These are used as initial conditions to perform Lagrangian tracking of solid precipitation particles. Validation of the results against field observations yielded similarities in the overall behavior, but the model output only approximately reproduced the dependence of the experimental collection efficiency on wind speed. This paper presents an improved snowflake trajectory modeling scheme due to the inclusion of a dynamically determined drag coefficient. The drag coefficient was estimated using the local Reynolds number as derived from CFD simulations within a time-independent Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes approach. The proposed dynamic model greatly improves the consistency of results with the field observations recently obtained at the Marshall Field winter precipitation test bed in Boulder, Colorado.
Contribution of Synoptic Transients to the Potential Predictability of PNA Circulation Anomalies: El Niño versus La Niña
Authors: Abid Muhammad Adnan , Kang In-Sik , Almazroui Mansour , Kucharski Fred 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
The potential predictability (PP) of seasonal-mean 200-hPa geopotential height (Z200) anomalies in the Pacific–North American (PNA) region is examined for El Niño and La Niña separately by using 50 ensemble members of twentieth-century AGCM simulations. Observed sea surface temperature (SST) is prescribed for the period 1870–2009, and 14 El Niño and La Niña years after 1900 are selected for the present study. The domain-averaged value of PP for Z200 in the PNA region, as measured by the signal-to-noise ratio, for El Niño is about 60% larger than that of La Niña. Such a large PP is mainly due to a larger signal and partly to less noise during El Niño compared to that during La Niña . The transient eddy feedback to the PNA circulation anomalies is stronger during El Niño events (about 50%) than that during La Niña, and this difference in the transients contributes significantly to the different Z200 signals in the PNA region. The noise variance of the transients during El Niño is about 17% smaller than during La Niña, and thus transients play an important role in the reduction of Z200 noise during El Niño. Idealized experiments with the same spatial pattern but different signs of SST anomalies confirm the results mentioned above. Moreover, these experiments with several different amplitudes of positive and negative phases of tropical Pacific SST anomalies show that signals of Z200 and transients are proportional to precipitation anomalies in the tropical Pacific, and noises of Z200 for El Niño cases are somewhat smaller than the corresponding values of La Niña.
Overview of the D3R Observations during the IFloodS Field Experiment with Emphasis on Rainfall Mapping and Microphysics
Authors: Beauchamp Robert M. , Chandrasekar V. , Chen Haonan , Vega Manuel 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
The NASA dual-frequency, dual-polarization Doppler radar (D3R) was deployed as part of the GPM Iowa Flood Studies (IFloodS) ground validation field campaign from 1 May through 15 June 2013. The D3R participated in a multi-instrument targeted investigation of convective initiation and hydrological response in the midwestern United States. An overview of the D3R’s calibration and observations is presented. A method for attenuation correction of Ka-band observations using Ku-band results is introduced. Dual-frequency ratio estimates in stratiform rain and ice are presented and compared with theoretical values. Ku-band quantitative precipitation estimation results are validated against IFloodS ground instruments.
Quality Assessment Techniques Applied to Surface Radial Velocity Maps Obtained from High-Frequency Radars
Authors: Kim Sung Yong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis paper presents examples of the data quality assessment of surface radial velocity maps obtained from shore-based single and multiple high-frequency radars (HFRs) using statistical and dynamical approaches in a hindcast mode. Since a single radial velocity map contains partial information regarding a true current field, archived radial velocity data embed geophysical signals, such as tides, wind stress, and near-inertial and low-frequency variance. The spatial consistency of the geophysical signals and their dynamic relationships with driving forces are used to conduct the quality assurance and quality control of radial velocity data. For instance, spatial coherence, tidal amplitudes and phases, and wind-radial transfer functions are used to identify a spurious range and azimuthal bin. The uncertainty and signal-to-noise ratio of radial data are estimated with the standard deviation and cross correlation of paired radials sampled at nearby grid points that belong to two different radars. This review paper can benefit HFR users and operators and those who are interested in analyzing HFR-derived surface radial velocity data.
Examination of a Stochastic and Deterministic Convection Parameterization in the COSMO Model
Authors: Kober Kirstin , Foerster Annette M. , Craig George C. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Stochastic parameterizations allow the representation of the small-scale variability of parameterized physical processes. This study investigates whether additional variability introduced by a stochastic convection parameterization leads to improvements in the precipitation forecasts. Forecasts are calculated with two different ensembles: one considering large-scale and convective variability with the stochastic Plant–Craig convection parameterization and one considering only large-scale variability with the standard Tiedtke convection parameterization. The forecast quality of both ensembles is evaluated in comparison with radar observations for two case studies with weak and strong synoptic forcing of convection and measured with neighborhood and probabilistic verification methods. The skill of the ensemble based on the Plant–Craig convection parameterization relative to the ensemble with the Tiedtke parameterization strongly depends on the synoptic situation in which convection occurs. In the weak forcing case, where the convective precipitation is highly intermittent, the ensemble based on the stochastic parameterization is superior, but the scheme produces too much small-scale variability in the strong forcing case. In the future, the degree of stochastic variability could be tuned, and these results show that parameters should be chosen in a regime-dependent manner.
The Impact of Pepsin on Human Nasal Epithelial Cells In Vitro
Authors: Southwood Jessica E. , Hoekzema Craig R. , Samuels Tina L. , Wells Clive , Poetker David M. , Johnston Nikki , Loehrl Todd A. 
Published: July 2015

Objectives: To describe potential mechanisms by which pepsin induces inflammation in refractive chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Our hypothesis was that pepsin induces mitochondrial damage and cytokine expression in human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC) in vitro. Methods: Western blot was used to detect pepsin in sinus lavages from patients with CRS and controls. The HNEpC cells were treated with pepsin (pH 7; 0.1 mg/mL) for 1 or 16 hours and routine electron microscopy (EM) and MTT assay were performed. Cytokine ELISA was performed on media collected from HNEpC cells 16 hours following a 1-hour pepsin treatment. Results: Pepsin was detected in sinus lavages from 4 out of 6 CRS patients and 0 out of 3 controls. The EM showed mitochondrial damage in pepsin-treated HNEpC cells but not in control cells. The MTT assay demonstrated reduced mitochondrial activity in pepsin-treated HNEpC cells compared to controls ( P < .001). Pepsin increased IL-1A ( P = .003) and IL-6 ( P = .04) expression in HNEpC cells. Conclusions: Pepsin in sinus lavages from patients with CRS is consistent with previous studies. This study reveals the damaging effect of pepsin on mitochondria in nasal epithelial cells in vitro. Cytokines previously associated with CRS were elevated following pepsin treatment of HNEpC cells in vitro. These results demonstrate mechanisms by which pepsin may potentiate CRS.
Swedish nursing students’ perceptions of the concept of health: A phenomenographic study
Authors: Skär Lisa , Söderberg Siv 
Published: July 2015

Objectives: Health is a central and important concept in nursing and nursing education, and has been theorised about in both positive and negative terms. The purpose of this study was to explore Swedish nursing students’ perceptions of the concept of health. Design: A phenomenographic research approach was used to understand how nursing students perceive the concept of health. Setting: The study group comprised students ( n = 233) attending the nursing programme in the first, third and sixth semester, at one university in northern Sweden. Method: Data were collected during the 2012–2013 school year by asking the nursing students to complete the sentence, ‘I perceive that health is …’ Results: Results indicated that health means a feeling of well-being in both body and mind and that a person is responsible for promoting his or her own health. Promoting good health involved finding a balance between, diet, activity, work and rest. Furthermore, relationships with family and friends were important for experiences of good health. Study participants also commented that a person could feel healthy despite illness. Discussion: Nursing students’ perception of the concept of health was multifaceted and based on a holistic and positive attitude. However, the boundary between health and illness was characterised as being unclear, and none of the students’ included nursing theory in their descriptions of the concept of health. Conclusion: These findings show that it is important to integrate students’ experiences and perceptions into nursing education and theory, to develop a deeper understanding of the concept of health to enhance nursing education.
A Review of Research on Driving Styles and Road Safety
Authors: Sagberg Fridulv , Selpi  , Bianchi Piccinini Giulio Francesco , Engström Johan 
Published: July 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to outline a conceptual framework for understanding driving style and, on this basis, review the state-of-the-art research on driving styles in relation to road safety. Background: Previous research has indicated a relationship between the driving styles adopted by drivers and their crash involvement. However, a comprehensive literature review of driving style research is lacking. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted, including empirical, theoretical, and methodological research, on driving styles related to road safety. Results: A conceptual framework was proposed whereby driving styles are viewed in terms of driving habits established as a result of individual dispositions as well as social norms and cultural values. Moreover, a general scheme for categorizing and operationalizing driving styles was suggested. On this basis, existing literature on driving styles and indicators was reviewed. Links between driving styles and road safety were identified and individual and sociocultural factors influencing driving style were reviewed. Conclusion: Existing studies have addressed a wide variety of driving styles, and there is an acute need for a unifying conceptual framework in order to synthesize these results and make useful generalizations. There is a considerable potential for increasing road safety by means of behavior modification. Naturalistic driving observations represent particularly promising approaches to future research on driving styles. Application: Knowledge about driving styles can be applied in programs for modifying driver behavior and in the context of usage-based insurance. It may also be used as a means for driver identification and for the development of driver assistance systems.
The Workload Curve
Authors: Estes Steven 
Published: July 2015

Objective: In this paper I begin looking for evidence of a subjective workload curve. Background: Results from subjective mental workload assessments are often interpreted linearly. However, I hypothesized that ratings of subjective mental workload increase nonlinearly with unitary increases in working memory load. Method: Two studies were conducted. In the first, the participant provided ratings of the mental difficulty of a series of digit span recall tasks. In the second study, participants provided ratings of mental difficulty associated with recall of visual patterns. The results of the second study were then examined using a mathematical model of working memory. Results: An S curve, predicted a priori, was found in the results of both the digit span and visual pattern studies. A mathematical model showed a tight fit between workload ratings and levels of working memory activation. Conclusion: This effort provides good initial evidence for the existence of a workload curve. The results support further study in applied settings and other facets of workload (e.g., temporal workload). Application: Measures of subjective workload are used across a wide variety of domains and applications. These results bear on their interpretation, particularly as they relate to workload thresholds.