bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical outcome of critically ill, not fully recompensated, patients undergoing MitraClip therapy
Authors: Rudolph Volker , Huntgeburth Michael , von Bardeleben Ralph Stephan , Boekstegers Peter , Lubos Edith , Schillinger Wolfgang , Ouarrak Taoufik , Eggebrecht Holger , Butter Christian , Plicht Björn , May Andreas , Franzen Olaf , Schofer Joachim , Senges Jochen , Baldus Stephan 
Published: October 2014

AimsAs periprocedural risk is low, MitraClip implantation is often performed in critically ill, not fully recompensated patients, who are in NYHA functional class IV at the time of the procedure, to accelerate convalescence. We herein sought to evaluate the procedural and 30‐day outcome of this patient group.Methods and resultsA total of 803 patients undergoing MitraClip implantation were included in the German Mitral Valve Registry, and 30‐day outcomes were prospectively assessed. Patients were separated based on NYHA functional class [(NYHA IV (n = 143), III (n = 572), and I/II (n = 88)]. No difference was noted in co‐morbities and echocardiographic parameters of LV function between groups. However, parameters of severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) were higher in NYHA IV patients. High procedural success rates and low residual MR grades at discharge were observed throughout all groups. In‐hospital major adverse cardiac events were similar between groups. Importantly, 30‐day mortality (8.0% vs. 3.2% vs. 4.8%; P < 0.05) was significantly higher in NYHA IV patients, whereas rehospitalization did not differ between groups. At 30 days, 47.6% of NYHA IV patients were still in NYHA class III or IV compared with 32.5% and 14.8% in the other groups (P < 0.05), although NYHA functional class decreased in 69% of patients. Quality of life, which was very poor at baseline, showed an overall improvement in NYHA IV patients after 30 days, with, for example, a reduction of bed‐ridden patients from 19.6% to 3.3%.ConclusionMitraClip therapy is feasible and safe even in critically ill, not fully recompensated patients and leads to symptomatic improvement in over two‐thirds of these patients; however, it is associated with an elevated 30‐day mortality.
Different regions of latest electrical activation during left bundle‐branch block and right ventricular pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy patients determined by coronary venous electro‐anatomic mapping
Authors: Mafi Rad Masih , Blaauw Yuri , Dinh Trang , Pison Laurent , Crijns Harry J. , Prinzen Frits W. , Vernooy Kevin 
Published: October 2014

AimCurrent targeted left ventricular (LV) lead placement strategy is directed at the latest activated region during intrinsic activation. However, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is most commonly applied by simultaneous LV and right ventricular (RV) pacing without contribution from intrinsic conduction. Therefore, targeting the LV lead to the latest activated region during RV pacing might be more appropriate. We investigated the difference in LV electrical activation sequence between left bundle‐branch block (LBBB) and RV apex (RVA) pacing using coronary venous electro‐anatomic mapping (EAM).Methods and resultsTwenty consecutive CRT candidates with LBBB underwent intra‐procedural coronary venous EAM during intrinsic activation and RVA pacing using EnSite NavX. Left ventricular lead placement was aimed at the latest activated region during LBBB according to current recommendations. In all patients, LBBB was associated with a circumferential LV activation pattern, whereas RVA pacing resulted in activation from the apex of the heart to the base. In 10 of 20 patients, RVA pacing shifted the latest activated region relative to LBBB. In 18 of 20 patients, the LV lead was successfully positioned in the latest activated region during LBBB. For the whole study population, LV lead electrical delay, expressed as percentage of QRS duration, was significantly shorter during RVA pacing than during LBBB (72 ± 13 vs. 82 ± 5%, P = 0.035).ConclusionRight ventricular apex pacing alters LV electrical activation pattern in CRT patients with LBBB, and shifts the latest activated region in a significant proportion of these patients. These findings warrant reconsideration of the current practice of LV lead targeting for CRT.
Functionalization of the Benzylic C–H Bonds in Azaarenes by Cobalt‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition to Enones
Authors: Jamal Zaini , Teo Yong‐Chua , Wong Ling‐Keong 
Published: October 2014

AbstractFunctionalization of the C(sp3)–H bonds in azaarenes was catalyzed by CoCl2 as an inexpensive Lewis acid catalyst. Enones were demonstrated to be good C=C electrophilic acceptors for the construction of various azaarene‐containing 1,4‐addition products in yields of up to 95 %.
Impedimetric DNA‐Based Biosensor for Silver Ions Detection with Hemin/G‐Quadruplex Nanowire as Enhancer
Authors: Liu Guangpeng , Yuan Yali , Wei Shiqiang , Zhang Dujian 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA DNA‐based biosensor was reported for detection of silver ions (Ag+) by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with [Fe(CN)6]4−/3− as redox probe and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) induced hemin/G‐quadruplex nanowire as enhanced label. In the present of target Ag+, Ag+ interacted with cytosine‐cytosine (CC) mismatch to form the stable CAg+C complex with the aim of immobilizing the primer DNA on electrode, which thus triggered the HCR to form inert hemin/G‐quadruplex nanowire with an amplified EIS signal. As a result, the DNA biosensor showed a high sensitivity with the concentration range spanning from 0.1 nM to 100 µM and a detection limit of 0.05 nM.
Residual displacements of RC structures as SDOF systems
Authors: Liossatou Eftychia , Fardis Michael N. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryResidual displacements are sensitive to ground motion details, hence more random than peak inelastic displacements. Among the factors with systematic impact on residual displacements, the post‐yield‐stiffness‐ratio has been studied thoroughly; its effects are not investigated further. Concerning another important factor, the hysteresis law, past studies have focused on the bilinear model, which does not represent concrete structures. Residual displacements from nonlinear response‐history analyses of bilinear systems are compared to those from models tuned to concrete structures, conforming to modern codes, deficient or intermediate. Deficient‐type structures, with their narrow, almost self‐centering hysteresis loops, develop markedly smaller residual displacements than those with stable energy‐dissipating behavior. A velocity pulse in the motion increases peak inelastic and residual displacements by about the same proportion. As a fraction of the peak inelastic or spectral displacement, residual displacements are on average almost independent of the period and increase when the lateral strength ratio increases, reaching a limit at a lateral strength ratio of 2 to 5. Peak inelastic displacements are a better basis for estimation of residual displacements than spectral ones: the ratio of the two is almost independent of the period, the lateral strength ratio (beyond values of 2 to 3) and velocity pulses. The spectrum of the ratio of residual displacement to peak inelastic or spectral displacement is considered as a random process of period; its mean and variance functions, marginal probability distributions and autocorrelation functions are given in terms of the lateral strength ratio, the hysteresis model and the presence of a velocity pulse. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical review of mercury sediment quality values for the protection of benthic invertebrates
Authors: Conder Jason M. , Fuchsman Phyllis C. , Grover Melissa M. , Magar Victor S. , Henning Miranda H. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Sediment quality values (SQV) are commonly used—and misused—to characterize the need for investigation, understand causes of observed effects, and derive management strategies to protect benthic invertebrates from direct toxic effects. The authors compiled more than 40 SQVs for mercury, nearly all of which are “co-occurrence” SQVs derived from databases of paired chemistry and benthic invertebrate effects data obtained from field-collected sediment. Co-occurrence SQVs are not derived in a manner that reflects cause–effect, concentration–response relationships for individual chemicals such as mercury, because multiple potential stressors often co-occur in the data sets used to derive SQVs. The authors assembled alternative data to characterize mercury-specific effect thresholds, including results of 7 laboratory studies with mercury-spiked sediments and 23 studies at mercury-contaminated sites (e.g., chloralkali facilities, mercury mines). The median (± interquartile range) co-occurrence SQVs associated with a lack of effects (0.16 mg/kg [0.13–0.20 mg/kg]) or a potential for effects (0.88 mg/kg [0.50–1.4 mg/kg]) were orders of magnitude lower than no-observed-effect concentrations reported in mercury-spiked toxicity studies (3.3 mg/kg [1.1–9.4 mg/kg]) and mercury site investigations (22 mg/kg [3.8–66 mg/kg]). Additionally, there was a high degree of overlap between co-occurrence SQVs and background mercury levels. Although SQVs are appropriate only for initial screening, they are commonly misused for characterizing or managing risks at mercury-contaminated sites. Spiked sediment and site data provide more appropriate and useful alternative information for characterization and management purposes. Further research is recommended to refine mercury effect thresholds for sediment that address the bioavailability and causal effects of mercury exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:6–21. © 2014 SETAC
Derivation of a water quality guideline for aluminium in marine waters
Authors: Golding Lisa A. , Angel Brad M. , Batley Graeme E. , Apte Simon C. , Krassoi Rick , Doyle Chris J. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Metal risk assessment of industrialized harbors and coastal marine waters requires the application of robust water quality guidelines to determine the likelihood of biological impacts. Currently there is no such guideline available for aluminium in marine waters. A water quality guideline of 24 µg total Al/L has been developed for aluminium in marine waters based on chronic 10% inhibition or effect concentrations (IC10 or EC10) and no-observed-effect concentrations (NOECs) from 11 species (2 literature values and 9 species tested including temperate and tropical species) representing 6 taxonomic groups. The 3 most sensitive species tested were a diatom Ceratoneis closterium (formerly Nitzschia closterium; IC10 = 18 µg Al/L, 72-h growth rate inhibition) &lt; mussel Mytilus edulis plannulatus (EC10 = 250 µg Al/L, 72-h embryo development) &lt; oyster Saccostrea echinata (EC10 = 410 µg Al/L, 48-h embryo development). Toxicity to these species was the result of the dissolved aluminium forms of aluminate (Al(OH4−) and aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)30) although both dissolved, and particulate aluminium contributed to toxicity in the diatom Minutocellus polymorphus and green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. In contrast, aluminium toxicity to the green flagellate alga Tetraselmis sp. was the result of particulate aluminium only. Four species, a brown macroalga (Hormosira banksii), sea urchin embryo (Heliocidaris tuberculata), and 2 juvenile fish species (Lates calcarifer and Acanthochromis polyacanthus), were not adversely affected at the highest test concentration used. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:141–151. © 2014 SETAC
Selenium tissue burden compartmentalization in resident white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) of the San Francisco Bay Delta estuary
Authors: Linares‐Casenave Javier , Linville R. , Van Eenennaam J.P. , Muguet J.B. , Doroshov S.I. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHigh selenium (Se) loads in the San Francisco Bay Delta are bioaccumulated and biomagnified in food webs and can impair the reproduction of resident oviparous animals such as white sturgeon. The objective of the present study was to determine the Se tissue burden in San Francisco Bay Delta–resident white sturgeon to assess Se bioaccumulation in different organs, including ovaries and liver where egg yolk precursor proteins are synthesized. The authors obtained 54 San Francisco Bay Delta–resident white sturgeon including 26 female and 28 male subadults with immature gonads, 8 females with vitellogenic eggs, and 13 males with maturing gonads. Length, weight, age, reproductive stage of development, and kidney, liver, gonad, and muscle Se concentrations were determined in all fish. Concentrations of Se in muscle, gonads, and liver significantly increased with fish size, whereas kidney Se was not correlated to body size and was at the highest level compared with other organs. There was no difference between the sexes (p > 0.05) in Se concentrations in kidney (12.83 ± 0.51 µg · g−1 dry wt), liver (11.85 ± 1.04 µg · g−1 dry wt), and muscle (7.09 ± 0.52 µg · g−1 dry wt; mean ± standard error, n = 47); but Se concentration was higher in the ovary than in testis (p = 0.04). Females with vitellogenic eggs had higher Se concentrations in the ovaries (20.77 ± 4.11 µg · g−1 dry wt vs 5.22 ± 2.50 µg · g−1 dry wt), liver (21.84 ± 2.07 µg · g−1 dry wt vs 8.03 ± 1.03 µg · g−1 dry wt), and muscle (10.18 ± 1.93 µg · g−1 dry wt vs 5.48 ± 0.64 µg · g−1 dry wt) compared with less advanced, previtellogenic females (p < 0.05). The elevated Se concentrations in the ovaries and liver of vitellogenic San Francisco Bay Delta white sturgeon were comparable with levels previously shown to cause reproductive toxicity in dietary Se experiments with captive white sturgeon. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:152–160. © 2014 SETAC
The effects of phosphate on arsenic uptake and toxicity alleviation in tobacco genotypes with differing arsenic tolerances
Authors: Zvobgo Gerald , Hu Hongliang , Shang Shenghua , Shamsi Imran Haider , Zhang Guoping 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Phosphate (PO43–) has been reported to suppress arsenate (Asv) uptake in plants. However, its effects on controlling the availability of Asv in tobacco genotypes with different arsenic (As) tolerances has not been fully explored. In the present study, the effects of PO43– on Asv uptake were investigated in a hydroponic culture using 2 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) genotypes (ZY90 and FSMY) that differed in Asv tolerance. A total of 9 treatment combinations comprising Asv treatments of 0 µM, 10 µM, and 100 µM and PO43– treatments of 0 µM, 50 µM, and 500 µM were used. The results showed that ZY90 had greater reductions in leaf photosynthetic parameters, root and shoot dry weight, length, and nutrient content than did FSMY when exposed to Asv stress. The addition of 500 µM external PO43– significantly suppressed Asv (100 µM) uptake in both FSMY and ZY90, with the effect being more pronounced in FSMY. Greater PO43– uptake in plants significantly reduced the influx of Asv, causing an increase in photosynthesis and nutrient uptake. Phosphate supply increased superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, and malondialdehyde content. The present study showed that PO43– is an effective competitive inhibitor of Asv, and it can be effectively used to control Asv accumulation in tobacco plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:45–52. © 2014 SETAC
Circumference and Pathwidth of Highly Connected Graphs
Authors: Marshall Emily A. , Wood David R. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBirmele [J Graph Theory 2003] proved that every graph with circumference t has treewidth at most . Under the additional assumption of 2‐connectivity, such graphs have bounded pathwidth, which is a qualitatively stronger conclusion. Birmele's theorem was extended by Birmele et al. [Combinatorica 2007] who showed that every graph without k disjoint cycles of length at least t has treewidth . Our main result states that, under the additional assumption of ‐connectivity, such graphs have bounded pathwidth. In fact, they have pathwidth . Moreover, examples show that ‐connectivity is required for bounded pathwidth to hold. These results suggest the following general question: for which values of k and graphs H does every k‐connected H‐minor‐free graph have bounded pathwidth? We discuss this question and provide a few observations.
On a Conjecture of Erdős, Gallai, and Tuza
Authors: Puleo Gregory J. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractErdős, Gallai, and Tuza posed the following problem: given an n‐vertex graph G, let denote the smallest size of a set of edges whose deletion makes G triangle‐free, and let denote the largest size of a set of edges containing at most one edge from each triangle of G. Is it always the case that ? We have two main results. We first obtain the upper bound , as a partial result toward the Erdős–Gallai–Tuza conjecture. We also show that always , where m is the number of edges in G; this bound is sharp in several notable cases.
Statistical detection of spurious variations in daily raingauge data caused by changes in observation practices, as applied to records from various parts of the world
Authors: Sugahara Shigetoshi , da Rocha Rosmeri Porfirio , Ynoue Rita Yuri , da Silveira Reinaldo Bomfim 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTIn the instrumental records of daily precipitation, we often encounter one or more periods in which values below some threshold were not registered. Such periods, besides lacking small values, also have a large number of dry days. Their cumulative distribution function is shifted to the right in relation to that for other portions of the record having more reliable observations. Such problems are examined in this work, based mostly on the two‐sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test, where the portion of the series with more number of dry days is compared with the portion with less number of dry days. Another relatively common problem in daily rainfall data is the prevalence of integers either throughout the period of record or in some part of it, likely resulting from truncation during data compilation prior to archiving or by coarse rounding of daily readings by observers. This problem is identified by simple calculation of the proportion of integers in the series, taking the expected proportion as 10%. The above two procedures were applied to the daily rainfall data sets from the European Climate Assessment (ECA), Southeast Asian Climate Assessment (SACA), and Brazilian Water Resources Agency (BRA). Taking the statistic D of the KS test >0.15 and the corresponding p‐value <0.001 as the condition to classify a given series as suspicious, the proportions of the ECA, SACA, and BRA series falling into this category are, respectively, 34.5%, 54.3%, and 62.5%. With relation to coarse rounding problem, the proportions of series exceeding twice the 10% reference level are 3%, 60%, and 43% for the ECA, SACA, and BRA data sets, respectively. A simple way to visualize the two problems addressed here is by plotting the time series of daily rainfall for a limited range, for instance, 0–10 mm day−1.
Holocene vegetation history, precipitation changes and Indian Summer Monsoon evolution documented from sediments of Xingyun Lake, south‐west China
Authors: CHEN FAHU , CHEN XUEMEI , CHEN JIANHUI , ZHOU AIFENG , WU DUO , TANG LINGYU , ZHANG XIAOJIAN , HUANG XIAOZHONG , YU JUNQING 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTWe present a pollen‐based precipitation reconstruction and multi‐proxy records from a 485‐cm‐long sequence from a sediment core from Xingyun Lake, Yunnan Plateau, south‐west China, which depicts the evolution of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) during the last 8500 years. Pollen and other palaeoenvironmental records document several stages of vegetation history and climate change. The warmest and wettest climate in the Xingyun Lake catchment occurred before 5500 cal a BP, and subsequently the climate became gradually drier. After 2000 cal a BP the regional environmental conditions became unstable, and a wet Medieval Warm Period is probably recorded. Our reconstruction of the ISM is similar to that portrayed by Holocene speleothem δ18O records from southern China, but is distinctly different from the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) evolution, which features a mid‐Holocene maximum. Our results support the hypothesis that the ISM and EASM evolved asynchronously during the Holocene, and imply that the Chinese speleothem δ18O records from southern China may principally reflect changes in moisture source from the Indian monsoon domain, and thus record the history of the ISM rather than the EASM.
Lateglacial cryptotephra detected within clay varves in Östergötland, south‐east Sweden
Authors: MACLEOD A. , BRUNNBERG L. , WASTEGÅRD S. , HANG T. , MATTHEWS I. P. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTHere we present a 710‐year‐long floating varve record from south‐east Sweden. Tephra analyses confirm the presence of the rhyolitic Vedde Ash preserved within two consecutive varve years, confirming the Younger Dryas age of the varve series. This permits, for the first time, direct correlation of Swedish varved clay with other records of equivalent resolution which also preserve the Vedde Ash and demonstrates that the potential exists to independently date the Swedish Timescale. This discovery will allow direct comparison of rates, timing and duration of key climatic events across Europe and the North Atlantic region in records of equivalent resolution.
Using palaeoenvironmental DNA to reconstruct past environments: progress and prospects
Authors: RAWLENCE NICOLAS J. , LOWE DAVID J. , WOOD JAMIE R. , YOUNG JENNIFER M. , CHURCHMAN G. JOCK , HUANG YU‐TUAN , COOPER ALAN 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTPalaeoenvironmental DNA (PalEnDNA) is defined as ancient DNA (aDNA) originating from disseminated genetic material within palaeoenvironmental samples. Sources of PalEnDNA include marine and lake sediments, peat, loess, till, ice, permafrost, palaeosols, coprolites, preserved gut contents, dental calculus, tephras, and soils as well as deposits in caves/rockshelters and at archaeological sites. PalEnDNA analysis provides a relatively new tool for Quaternary and archaeological sciences and its applications have included palaeoenvironmental and palaeodietary reconstructions, testing hypotheses regarding megafaunal extinctions, human–environment interactions, taxonomic studies, and studies of DNA damage. Because PalEnDNA samples comprise markedly different materials, and represent wide‐ranging depositional and taphonomic contexts, various issues must be addressed to achieve robust, reproducible findings. Such issues include climatic and temporal limitations, the biological origin and state (free versus bound) of PalEnDNA, stratigraphic reliability, sterile sampling, ability to distinguish modern from aDNA signals, DNA damage and PCR amplification, DNA extraction methods, and taxonomic resolution. In this review, we provide a non‐specialist introduction to the use of PalEnDNA for Quaternary and archaeological researchers, assess attributes and limitations of this palaeoenvironmental tool, and discuss future prospects of using PalEnDNA to reconstruct past environments.