bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liver-Specific Phospholipid Transfer Protein Deficiency Reduces High-Density Lipoprotein and Non–High-Density Lipoprotein Production in Mice
Authors: Yazdanyar Amirfarbod , Quan Wei , Jin Weijun , Jiang Xian-Cheng 
Published: July 2013

Objective—
The liver is one of the critical organs for lipoprotein metabolism and a major source for phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) expression. The effect of liver-specific PLTP deficiency on plasma lipoprotein production and metabolism in mice was investigated.

Approach and Results—
We created a liver-specific PLTP-deficient mouse model. We measured plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein B (apoB)–containing lipoprotein (or non-HDL) levels and their production rates. We found that hepatic ablation of PLTP leads to a significant decrease in plasma PLTP activity, HDL lipids, non-HDL lipids, apoAI, and apoB levels. In addition, nuclear magnetic resonance examination of lipoproteins showed that the deficiency decreases HDL and apoB-containing lipoprotein particle numbers, as well as very low-density lipoprotein particle size, which was confirmed by electron microscopy. Moreover, HDL particles from the deficient mice are lipid-poor ones. To unravel the mechanism, we evaluated the apoB and triglyceride production rates. We found that hepatic PLTP deficiency significantly decreases apoB and triglyceride secretion rates. To investigate the role of liver PLTP on HDL production, we set up primary hepatocyte culture studies and found that the PLTP-deficient hepatocytes produce less nascent HDL. Furthermore, we found that exogenous PLTP promotes nascent HDL production through an ATP-binding cassette A 1-mediated pathway.

Conclusions—
Liver-specific PLTP deficiency significantly reduces plasma HDL and apoB-containing lipoprotein levels. Reduction of production rates of both particles is one of the mechanisms.
Contributions of Leukocyte Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme to Development of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Chen Xiaofeng , Lu Hong , Zhao Mingming , Tashiro Katsuya , Cassis Lisa A. , Daugherty Alan 
Published: July 2013

Objective—
This study determined the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on the development of angiotensin I–induced atherosclerosis and the contribution of leukocyte-specific expression of this enzyme.

Approach and Results—

To define the contribution of ACE-dependent activity to angiotensin II synthesis in atherosclerotic development, male low-density lipoprotein receptor
−/−
mice were fed a fat-enriched diet and infused with either angiotensin I or angiotensin II. The same infusion rate of these peptides had equivalent effects on atherosclerotic development. Coinfusion of an ACE inhibitor, enalapril, ablated angiotensin I–augmented atherosclerosis but had no effect on angiotensin II–induced lesion development. ACE protein was detected in several cell types in atherosclerotic lesions, with a predominance in macrophages. This cell type secreted angiotensin II, which was ablated by ACE inhibition. To study whether leukocyte ACE contributed to atherosclerosis, irradiated male low-density lipoprotein receptor
−/−
mice were repopulated with bone marrow–derived cells from either ACE
+/+
or ACE
−/−
mice and fed the fat-enriched diet for 12 weeks. Chimeric mice with ACE deficiency in bone marrow–derived cells had modestly reduced atherosclerotic lesions in aortic arches but had no effects in aortic roots.

Conclusions—
ACE mediates angiotensin I–induced atherosclerosis, and ACE expression in leukocytes modestly contributes to atherosclerotic development in hypercholesterolemic mice.
Single Subcortical Infarction and Atherosclerotic Plaques in the Middle Cerebral Artery
Authors: Yoon Youngshin , Lee Deok Hee , Kang Dong-Wha , Kwon Sun U. , Kim Jong S. 
Published: July 2013

Background and Purpose—
Single subcortical infarction (SSI) may be classified as proximal SSI (pSSI) or distal SSI (dSSI) according to its extension to the middle cerebral artery (MCA). We investigated the differences between pSSI and dSSI in terms of their clinical features, lesion size, and the frequency of MCA plaques detected by high-resolution MRI.

Methods—
Thirty-nine patients with SSI (20 pSSI and 19 dSSI) were prospectively enrolled who did not show relevant MCA disease on MR angiography. Lesion size, neurological status (initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and modified Rankin Scale at 3 months), and the presence and location (superior versus inferior) of high-resolution MRI–identified plaques were evaluated.

Results—

The frequencies of MCA plaques did not differ between patients with pSSI and those with dSSI (8 [40%] versus 12 [63.2%];
P
=0.205); however, superiorly located plaques were significantly more common in patients with pSSI than in those with dSSI (6 [75%] versus 2 [16.7%];
P
=0.019). Initial lesion volumes were larger (1.96±1.18 versus 1.11±1.11 mm
3
;
P
=0.025), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were higher (5 [3–6.75] versus 3 [1–3] points;
P
=0.017), and microbleeds were fewer (1 [5%] versus 10 [52.6%];
P
=0.001) in patients with pSSI than in those with dSSI. Three-month modified Rankin Scale scores were higher in patients with superior plaques than in those with inferior plaques.

Conclusions—
Compared with dSSI, pSSI is closely associated with large lesions, severe clinical symptoms, and superiorly located MCA plaques, suggesting that the location, rather than simple presence of plaques, determines the SSI location.
Association of Chronic Kidney Disease With Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients With Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Ovbiagele Bruce , Wing Jeffrey J. , Menon Ravi S. , Burgess Richard E. , Gibbons M. Christopher , Sobotka Ian , German Laura , Shara Nawar M. , Fernandez Stephen , Jayam-Trouth Annapurni , Edwards Dorothy Farrar , Kidwell Chelsea S. 
Published: July 2013

Background and Purpose—
To investigate the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and MRI-defined cerebral microbleeds (CMB), a harbinger of future intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), among patients with a recent history of primary ICH.

Methods—

Using data from a predominantly black cohort of patients with a recent ICH-enrolled in an observational study between September 2007 and June 2011, we evaluated the association between CKD (defined as estimated low glomerular filtration rate<60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
) and CMB on gradient-echo MRI. Multivariable models were generated to determine the contribution of CKD to the presence, number, and location of CMB.

Results—
Of 197 subjects with imaging data, mean age was 59 years, 48% were women, 73% were black, 114 (58%) had ≥1 CMBs, and 52 (26%) had CKD. Overall, CKD was associated with presence of CMB (adjusted odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–6.59) and number of CMB (adjusted relative risk, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.27–3.27). CKD was associated with CMB presence (adjusted odds ratio, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.64–7.24) and number (adjusted relative risk, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.11–5.42) in black patients, but not CMB presence (adjusted odds ratio, 3.00; 95% CI, 0.61–14.86) or number (adjusted relative risk, 1.03; 95% CI: 0.22–4.89) in non-Hispanic white patients (interactions by race were statistically not significant).

Conclusions—
CKD is associated with a greater presence and number of CMB in ICH patients, particularly in patients of black race. Future studies should assess whether low estimated glomerular filtration rate may be a CMB risk marker or potential therapeutic target for mitigating the development of CMB.
Knowledge Indicative and Knowledge Conductive Consensus
Authors: Gasparri Luca 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
A traditional proposition in the philosophy and the sociology of science wants that consensus between specialists of a scientific discipline is a reliable indicator of their access to genuine knowledge. In an interesting reassessment of this principle, Aviezer Tucker has analyzed the implications and the significance of this thesis in relation to historical research, and has established that parts of the historiographical community that display high degrees of consensus among their practitioners can be described in terms of the same relationship existing in empirical sciences between the exemplification of significant level of agreement and shared knowledge. After a concise summary of Tucker’s general view of the relationship between consensus and knowledge and an analysis of its discussion by Boaz Miller, this paper proposes a critical discussion of the limits and the virtues of this approach and concludes that it is possible to assume that a theory of the sort outlined by Tucker and Miller may describe in an exhaustive way the dynamics of the consensual communities only after some important caveats and integrations. In the closing section, a brief review of Tucker’s picture of historiographical consensus will be proposed.
The Subject of History: Historical Subjectivity and Historical Science
Authors: Tucker Ericka 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
In this paper, I show how the phenomenological and hermeneutic traditions and method converge on their treatment of the historical subject. Thinkers from both traditions converge on the following thesis: that subjectivity is shaped by a historical worldview. Each tradition provides independent grounds and methodological approaches which provide accounts of how these worldviews are shaped, and thus how essentially historical subjective experience is molded. In the second part of this paper I argue that both traditions, although offering helpful ways of understanding the way history shapes subjectivity, go too far in their epistemic claims for the superiority of subjective over positivist or academic history. They propose that the historicity of subjective experience is unexpressed and therefore inexpressible in positivist or academic history. I propose that although the phenomenological-hermeneutic approach to historical subjectivity is both fruitful and valuable for understanding both history and human nature, it cannot and ought not replace academic or what I will call ‘critical’ history. By showing the importance of historicity, and the force of historical consciousness on our actions, philosophers of history in these traditions expose the epistemic and perhaps even ethical requirement to engage in a rigorous critical history, one which recognizes the importance of historical consciousness. Such critical history is necessary to move beyond the subjective horizon of history as experienced to understand how events shaped this historical horizon.
Application of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model for Air Quality Modeling in the San Francisco Bay Area
Authors: Rogers Raphael E. , Deng Aijun , Stauffer David R. , Gaudet Brian J. , Jia Yiqin , Soong Su-Tzai , Tanrikulu Saffet 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is evaluated by conducting various sensitivity experiments over central California including the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA), with the goal of establishing a WRF model configuration to be used by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) for its air quality applications. For the two selected cases, a winter particulate matter case and a summer ozone case, WRF solutions are evaluated both quantitatively by comparing the error statistics and qualitatively by analyzing the model-simulated mesoscale features. Model evaluation is also performed for the SFBA, Sacramento Valley, and San Joaquin Valley subregions. The recommended WRF configuration includes use of the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model/Dudhia (or RRTMG) radiation schemes and the Pleim–Xiu land surface physics, combined with a multiscale four-dimensional data assimilation strategy throughout the simulation period to assimilate the available observations, including standard observations from the World Meteorological Organization and local special observations. With the recommended model configuration, WRF is able to simulate the meteorological variables with reasonable error, with the added value, although relatively small, of assimilating the additional BAAQMD local special observations. Mesoscale features, simulated reasonably well for both cases, include the upslope and downslope flows that occur along the mountains that surround the Central Valley of California, as well as the mesoscale eddies that develop within the valley.
Compensation between Resolved and Unresolved Wave Driving in the Stratosphere: Implications for Downward Control
Authors: Cohen Naftali Y. , Gerber, and Oliver Bühler Edwin P. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractPerturbations to the orographic gravity wave parameterization scheme in an idealized general circulation model reveal a remarkable degree of compensation between the parameterized and the resolved wave driving: when the orographic gravity wave driving is changed, the resolved wave driving tends to change in the opposite direction, so there is little impact on the Brewer–Dobson circulation. Building upon earlier observations of such compensation, an analysis based on quasigeostrophic theory suggests that the compensation between the resolved and parameterized waves is inevitable when the stratosphere is driven toward instability by the parameterized gravity wave driving. This instability, however, is quite likely for perturbations of small meridional length scale in comparison with the Rossby radius of deformation. The insight from quasigeostrophic theory is confirmed in a systematic study with an idealized general circulation model and supported by analyses of comprehensive models. The compensation between resolved and unresolved waves suggests that the commonly used linear separation of the Brewer–Dobson circulation into components (i.e., resolved versus parameterized wave driving) may provide a potentially misleading interpretation of the role of different waves. It may also, in part, explain why comprehensive models tend to agree more on the total strength of the Brewer–Dobson circulation than on the flow associated with individual components. This is of particular relevance to diagnosed changes in the Brewer–Dobson circulation in climate scenario integrations as well.
Factors for Interannual Variations of September–October Rainfall in Hainan, China
Authors: Feng Xiao , Wu Renguang , Chen Jiepeng , Wen Zhiping 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe present study investigates the year-to-year variations of September–October rainfall in Hainan, China, for the period 1965–2010. The dominant circulation anomalies feature a cyclone (an anticyclone) over the Indochina Peninsula and northern South China Sea, an anticyclone (a cyclone) over subtropical western North Pacific and lower-level convergence (divergence) over the Maritime Continent in the wet (dry) years. These circulation anomalies are responses to an east–west sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly pattern with negative (positive) SST anomalies in the equatorial central Pacific and positive (negative) SST anomalies around the Maritime Continent in the wet (dry) years. Although the SST anomaly pattern is similar (but with opposite anomaly), the SST signal in the equatorial central Pacific is more significant in the dry years than in the wet years. This difference indicates a larger case-to-case variability in the wet years than in the dry years. The large variability in the wet years is attributed to contributions of tropical cyclones (TCs) and intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs). There are more TCs impinging on Hainan and the TC tracks are closer to the island in the wet years than in the dry years. The rainfall shows large intraseasonal variations with periods of 10–20 and 30–60 days during September–October in the wet years. The 10–20-day ISO originates from the Maritime Continent, whereas the 30–60-day ISO develops over tropical Indian Ocean and propagates northeastward to northern South China Sea. In contrast, the ISO signal is much weaker in the dry years.
Object-Based Evaluation of the Impact of Horizontal Grid Spacing on Convection-Allowing Forecasts
Authors: Johnson Aaron , Wang Xuguang , Kong Fanyou , Xue Ming 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Forecasts generated by the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms with 1- and 4-km grid spacing using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW-WRF; ARW1 and ARW4, respectively) for the 2009–11 NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Experiments are compared and verified. Object-based measures, including average values of object attributes, the object-based threat score (OTS), and the median of maximum interest (MMI) are used for the verification. Verification was first performed against observations at scales resolvable by each forecast model and then performed at scales resolvable by both models by remapping ARW1 to the ARW4 grid (ARW1to4). Thirty-hour forecasts of 1-h accumulated precipitation initialized at 0000 UTC on 22, 36, and 33 days during the spring of 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively, are evaluated over a domain covering most of the central and eastern United States. ARW1, ARW1to4, and ARW4 all significantly overforecasted the number of objects during diurnal convection maxima. The overforecasts by ARW1 and ARW1to4 were more pronounced than ARW4 during the first convection maximum at 1-h lead time. The average object area and aspect ratio were closer to observations for ARW1 and ARW1to4 than for ARW4. None of the models showed a significant advantage over the others for average orientation angle and centroid location. Increased accuracy for ARW1, compared to ARW4, was statistically significant for the MMI but not the OTS. However, ARW1to4 had similar MMI and OTS as ARW4 at most lead times. These results are consistent with subjective evaluations that the greatest impact of grid spacing is on the smallest resolvable objects.
Quantification of urinary 18-hydroxycortisol using LC-MS/MS
Authors: Jin Shigeki , Wada Norio , Takahashi Yuji , Hui Shu-Ping , Sakurai Toshihiro , Fuda Hirotoshi , Takeda Seiji , Fujikawa Masato , Yanagisawa Katsuyuki , Ikegawa Shigeo , Kurosawa Takao , Chiba Hitoshi 
Published: July 2013

Background Urinary 18-hydroxycortisol has been investigated as a marker of aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the measurement of 18-hydroxycortisol using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Methods Urine was collected over a 24-hour period in patients with APA ( n = 11), idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA, n = 9), and essential hypertension (EH, n = 6). 18-Hydroxycortisol was extracted in solid-phase, and measured by LC-MS/MS based on selected reaction monitoring. Results The method allowed quantification of 18-hydroxycortisol with a lower quantification limit of 0.26 nmol/L, intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of <3.4% and a range of analytical recovery of 98.0–103.7%. Urinary 18-hydroxycortisol excretion for APA, IHA and EH were determined as 725 (SD 451), 102 (SD 68) and 88 (SD 76) nmol/day, respectively. Conclusions The proposed method met the basic analytical requirements and was considered to be useful in the screening and differential diagnosis of APA.
Discordance in thyroglobulin measurements by radioimmunoassay and immunometric assay: a useful means of identifying thyroglobulin assay interference
Authors: Crane Michael S , Strachan Mark WJ , Toft Anthony D , Beckett Geoffrey J 
Published: July 2013

Background Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is useful for monitoring patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) but is limited by interference from anti-Tg antibodies (TgAb). We determined Tg assay discordance between a radioimmunoassay (RIA) and one of two immunometric assays (IMA) in DTC patients over a 9-year period to gauge assay performance against evidence of recurrent/progressive DTC. Methods Patients with DTC monitored for >1 year attending local clinics between September 2000 and January 2010 were included. All samples were analysed for Tg using both RIA and IMA. TgAb were measured on all Tg requests made after May 2006. Bias plots comparing RIA against IMA were established to calculate a 2-SD outlier limit. Clinical records were viewed to compare discordant Tg results against clinical evidence of recurrent/progressive DTC. Results Discordant Tg results were observed in 53/433 patients (12.2%). Four were discordant owing to a higher IMA result, one of which demonstrated recurrence. The remaining 49 patients demonstrated a disproportionately higher RIA result, of which four had recurrent/persistent disease. Twelve patients with a higher RIA result but no evidence of recurrence underwent thyrogen stimulation testing, which was negative in all 12. In many cases, assay discordance appeared more sensitive at indicating interference than direct measurement of TgAb. Conclusions Interference was evident with both Tg assays, such that neither could be solely relied upon to provide the correct result in the presence of TgAb. The concomitant measurement of Tg by RIA and IMA methods should be considered as an alternative to monitoring TgAb status.
An association between post-meal bile acid response and bone resorption in normal subjects
Authors: Ewang-Emukowhate M , Alaghband-Zadeh J , Vincent RP , Sherwood RA , Moniz CF 
Published: July 2013

Background The mechanism surrounding bone suppression after a meal may involve several mediators, but is yet to be clarified. Bile acids (BA) function as signalling molecules in response to feeding, and may be directly involved in bone suppression acutely after a meal. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that BA are involved in the acute bone suppression observed after a meal. Methods A prospective study in which samples collected from volunteers fed a 400 Kcal test meal after an overnight fast were analysed for parathyroid hormone (PTH), BA, and carboxyterminal of type 1 collagen telopeptide (CTX). The study was carried out in 10 healthy male volunteers. Ethical approval was obtained from the Local Research and Ethics Committee at King's College Hospital. Results Total BA, glycine conjugated bile acids (GCBA), PTH and CTX showed a response to meal ingestion. There was a negative correlation between percentage change in PTH and CTX ( R2 = −0.82, P = 0.004), and between PTH and GCBA ( R2 = −0.39, P = 0.005). Conclusion This study demonstrated an association between GCBA and PTH suppression after a meal. The drop in PTH concentration after a meal may be responsible for the suppression of bone resorption as observed by the decrease in CTX concentration.
The role of thoracoscopic debridement in the treatment of parapneumonic empyema
Authors: Bagheri Reza , Tavassoli Alireza , Haghi Seyed Ziaollah , Attaran Davoud , Sadrizadeh Ali , Asnaashari Amir , Basiri Reza , Salehi Maryam , Moghadam Kamran Adhami , Tabari Azadeh , Sheibani Shima 
Published: July 2013

Aim To evaluate the efficacy of early video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement in patients with the fibropurulent phase of parapneumonic empyema. Patients and methods 40 patients with parapneumonic empyema resistant to 2 weeks of antibiotic therapy, were randomly divided into 2 groups. In group 1 (20 patients), antibiotic therapy and irrigation was continued, and in group 2 (20 patients), video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement was performed. The 2 groups were compared in terms of therapeutic results. Results The male/female ratio was 29/11. Group 1 included 16 men and 4 women with a mean age of 54 years, and mean hospital stay was 41 days. Group 2 consisted of 14 men and 6 women with a mean age of 51 years, and mean hospital stay was 23 days. Considering the therapeutic results, 12 patients in group 1 were cured by antibiotic therapy and irrigation, whereas 8 required decortication and pleurectomy with thoracotomy. In group 2, 18 patients were cured by video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement, and 2 underwent thoracotomy and decortication due to intraoperative bleeding. A significant difference in therapeutic results was noted between the groups ( p = 0.028). Conclusion Video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement provides a high success rate and less invasive treatment for the early stages of empyema.