bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Left Ventricular Interstitial Fibrosis in Asymptomatic Chronic Primary Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Edwards Nicola C. , Moody William E. , Yuan Mengshi , Weale Peter , Neal Desley , Townend Jonathan N. , Steeds Richard P. 
Published: August 2014

Background—
The optimum timing of surgery in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe primary degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial, and further markers are needed to improve decision-making. There are limited data that wall stress is increased in MR and may result in ventricular fibrosis. We investigated the hypothesis that chronic volume overload in MR is a stimulus for myocardial fibrosis using T1-mapping cardiac MRI.

Methods and Results—

A cross-sectional study of 35 patients (age 60±14 years) with asymptomatic moderate and severe primary degenerative MR (mean effective regurgitant orifice area, 0.45±0.25 cm)

2

with no class I indication for surgery were compared with age and sex controls. Subjects were studied with cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI.

Longitudinal and circumferential myocardial deformation was reduced with MR when left ventricular ejection fraction (67%±10%) and N-terminal pro B Natriuretic peptide (126 [76–428] ng/L) were within the normal range. Myocardial extracellular volume was increased (0.32±0.07 versus 0.25±0.02,
P
<0.01) and was associated with increased left ventricular end-systolic volume index (
r
=0.62,
P
<0.01), left atrial volume index (
r
=0.41,
P
<0.05) but lower left ventricular ejection fraction (
r
=−0.60,
P
<0.01), longitudinal function (mitral annular plane systolic excursion,
r
=−0.46,
P
<0.01), and peak V
O
2 max
(
r
=−0.51,
P
<0.05). In a multivariable regression model, left ventricular end-systolic volume index and left atrial volume index were independent predictors of extracellular volume (
r
2
=0.42,
P
<0.01).

Conclusions—
Patients with asymptomatic MR demonstrate a spectrum of myocardial fibrosis associated with reduced myocardial deformation and reduced exercise capacity. Future work is warranted to investigate whether left ventricle fibrosis affects clinical outcomes.
Jefferson’s Platonic Republicanism
Authors: Holowchak M. Andrew 
Published: August 2014

That Jefferson execrated Plato in an 1814 letter to friend John Adams. In it, he expresses an unsympathetic, hostile view of Plato’s Republic, and the reasons are several. Nonetheless, Plato’s views on what makes government fundamentally sound are, at base, remarkably similar to Jefferson’s both in substance and sentiment, so much so that it is inconceivable to think that Plato’s Republic had little effect on Jefferson’s political thinking. That makes his execration of Plato difficult to understand.
This paper is an attempt to show that Jefferson, despite the tenor of his letter to Adams, had much more than a dilettante’s grasp of the political content of Plato’s major work. Jefferson was very likely quite familiar with the work, since his own political philosophy assimilates key substratal Platonic political principles of good, stable governing. His disavowal of the work and execration of Plato, then, is due to a constellation of other factors: Adams’s feelings toward Plato, Jefferson’s views on the corruptions of Jesus’s teachings, his deep-dyed detestation of metempiricism, his view that Plato was an unoriginal thinker, and strong disagreement with Plato’s means to instantiate substratal political principles.
An annotated Checklist of the Italian Butterflies and Skippers <br />(Papilionoidea, Hesperiioidea)
Authors: BALLETTO EMILIO , CASSULO LUIGI A. , BONELLI SIMONA 
Published: August 2014

We present here an updated checklist of the Italian butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) organised in the following sections (tables):1. Introduction, providing a broad outline of the paper.2. Checklist proper, summarised in a table, listing, in separate columns:a. Indications of endemicity (sub-endemic, Italian endemic).b. The relevant Annex in the Habitats Directive (legally protected species).c. Threat levels (in Europe: for threatened species only).d. A serial number (whose format is uniform across all Italian animal groups). This number runs throughout all the following tables (see 3, 4).e. Name, author, date of publication.f. Schematic overall indication of each specie’s Italian range (N[orth], S[outh], Si[icily], Sa[rdinia]).3. Nomenclature, containing basic nomenclatural details for all listed genera, species and some of the generally or historically recognised subspecies and synonyms.4. Notes, where a variety of other information is provided, on a name by name (family, subfamily, genus, species, subspecies) basis. All remaining doubts as concerns each individual case are clearly stated. The number of nominal species listed in the previous edition of this checklist, published almost 20 years ago, was 275, whereas it has raised to 290 in the current list. The status of about a dozen of these remains controversial, as discussed in the text. The present checklist is meant to provide an update of the Italian butterfly fauna, taking into account all relevant publications, and tries to explain all nomenclatural changes that had to be introduced, in the appropriate section. Many detailed comments are offered, when necessary or useful, in the notes.
Intercomparisons of CloudSat and Ground-Based Radar Retrievals of Rain Rate over Land
Authors: Matrosov Sergey Y. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractExperimental retrievals of rain rates using the CloudSat spaceborne 94-GHz radar reflectivity gradient method over land were evaluated by comparing them with standard estimates from ground-based operational S-band radar measurements, which are widely used for quantitative precipitation estimations. The comparisons were performed for predominantly stratiform precipitation events that occurred in the vicinity of the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) KGWX and KSHV radars during the CloudSat overpasses in the vicinity of these ground radar sites. The standard reflectivity-based WSR-88D rain-rate retrievals used in operational practice were utilized as a reference for the CloudSat retrieval evaluation. Spaceborne and ground-based radar rain-rate estimates that were closely collocated in space and time were generally well correlated. The correlation coefficients were approximately 0.65 on average, and the mean relative biases were usually within ±35% for the whole dataset and for individual events with typical rain rates exceeding ~2 mm h−1. For events with lighter rainfall, higher biases and lower correlations were often present. The normalized mean absolute differences between satellite- and ground-based radar retrievals were on average ~60%, with an increasing trend for lighter rainfall. Such mean differences are comparable to combined retrieval errors from both ground-based and satellite radar remote sensing approaches. Evaluation of potential effects of partial beam blockage on the ground-based radar measurements was performed, and the influence of the choice of relation between WSR-88D reflectivity and rain rate that was utilized in the ground-based rain-rate retrievals was assessed.
Unique Migration of a Dental Needle Into the Parapharyngeal Space
Authors: Okumura Yuri , Hidaka Hiroshi , Seiji Kazumasa , Nomura Kazuhiro , Takata Yusuke , Suzuki Takahiro , Katori Yukio 
Published: August 2014

Objectives: The first objective was to describe a novel case of migration of a broken dental needle into the parapharyngeal space. The second was to address the importance of simulation elucidating visualization of such a thin needle under X-ray fluoroscopy. Methods: Clinical case records (including computed tomography [CT] and surgical approaches) were reviewed, and a simulation experiment using a head phantom was conducted using the same settings applied intraoperatively. Results: A 36-year-old man was referred after failure to locate a broken 31-G dental needle. Computed tomography revealed migration of the needle into the parapharyngeal space. Intraoperative X-ray fluoroscopy failed to identify the needle, so a steel wire was applied as a reference during X-ray to locate the foreign body. The needle was successfully removed using an intraoral approach with tonsillectomy under surgical microscopy. The simulation showed that the dental needle was able to be identified only after applying an appropriate compensating filter, contrasting with the steel wire. Conclusion: Meticulous preoperative simulation regarding visual identification of dental needle foreign bodies is mandatory. Intraoperative radiography and an intraoral approach with tonsillectomy under surgical microscopy offer benefits for accessing the parapharyngeal space, specifically for cases medial to the great vessels.
Perceived barriers to hearing protection use by employees in amplified music venues, a focus group study
Authors: Kelly Aoife C , Boyd Sara M , Henehan Gary TM 
Published: August 2014

Objective: It is a legal requirement for employees in noisy workplaces such as nightclubs to be provided with suitable information regarding their noise exposure risks, used a focus group approach to examine employees’ attitudes to workplace noise and to hearing protection use. The subsequent analysis was based on an adapted Health Belief Model. Design/Setting: A total of five focus group interviews were conducted in three nightclubs between July and October 2011. The 32 participants were employees in nightclubs that were shown to have daily noise exposures in excess of 80 dBA. Method: A tailor-made noise-training programme was designed using the combined Health Belief Model and Health Promotion Model as a framework. Results: The focus groups provided a deeper level of understanding of the barriers faced by the employees to hearing protection use and issues with management engagement. Participants were fatalistic, and although they acknowledged that exposure to noise in nightclubs could lead to hearing loss in the distant future, they felt there was very little that they could do to prevent it from happening. Conclusion: The focus groups offered insight into the barriers faced by the employees, especially relating to hearing protection use and management engagement. Findings from this study may be used to design sector-specific noise awareness training content designed to address the adapted Health Belief Model constructs identified here.
Reducing adult obesity in childhood: Parental influence on the food choices of children
Authors: Watkins Francine , Jones Sue 
Published: August 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the complexities and pressures faced by parents when trying to embed knowledge of healthy eating in their children’s lifestyles. Design: Qualitative design using focus groups with parents and children aged 10 to 11 years. Methods: The research was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved five focus groups with 47 children. The results of these focus groups then informed the development of a second phase consisting of three focus groups with 15 parents of these children. The findings from the children’s focus groups were then discussed with parents to explore their understandings and perceptions of how children perceived health, diet and lifestyle. Results: Parents are one of the main influences when it comes to shaping their children’s decisions in relation to healthy eating. Children, but also parents, appeared to only have a partial knowledge about food and diet, and parents did not know how to translate this knowledge into decisions about healthy eating. Parents in this study felt under pressure when trying to incorporate healthy messages within the context of their own lives and they also wanted to feel more confident about the role they can play in the nutritional choices of their children. Conclusion: Healthy eating strategies may need to move away from focusing solely on parents as conduits of knowledge but instead see both them and their children as playing an active part in designing interactive strategies about making healthy food choices.
Causes and Risk Factors for Revision Hip Preservation Surgery
Authors: Ricciardi Benjamin F. , Fields Kara , Kelly Bryan T. , Ranawat Anil S. , Coleman Struan H. , Sink Ernest L. 
Published: August 2014

Background: Identifying causes and risk factors for failure of hip preservation surgery is critical to properly address residual pathological abnormalities in the revision setting and improve outcomes in this subset of patients. Purpose: To identify the structural causes of failure in both open and arthroscopic hip preservation procedures and to identify demographic and radiographic risk factors that correlate with the need for revision surgery. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A single-center hip preservation registry was reviewed (N = 1898 procedures in 1600 patients) to identify 147 patients (n = 152 procedures) who had undergone previous pelvic surgery. Exclusion criteria included residual deformity from pediatric hip disease (n = 5 patients). Preoperative demographics, intraoperative findings, radiographic data, and clinical outcome scores were compared between cohorts with and without revision surgery in the registry. Postoperative, short-term patient-reported outcome scores for the revision cohort were described. Results: The most common reason for revision was residual intra-articular femoroacetabular impingement (74.8%), followed by extra-articular impingement (9.5%). The majority of revision cases (78.9%) could be addressed with arthroscopic surgery, with the exception of extra-articular impingement or residual acetabular dysplasia, which necessitated open approaches. Patients who underwent revision were more likely to be female, were younger in age, and had worse preoperative outcome scores than did those in the primary cohort. Abnormal femoral version and the presence of acetabular dysplasia were not significantly different between the revision and primary cohorts. Short-term improvements in patient-reported outcome scores were found in the revision cohort at a mean of 15.0 months from the last revision surgery. Conclusion: Residual intra- and extra-articular impingement were the most common reasons for revision in this cohort. Patients who underwent revision tended to be younger in age, were female, and had worse preoperative hip functional outcomes than did those in the primary cohort. Abnormal femoral version or acetabular coverage was not increased in our revision cohort.
Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding at Hospital Discharge in Rural Western Australia
Authors: Cox Kylee , Giglia Roslyn , Zhao Yun , Binns Colin W. 
Published: August 2014

Background: Breastfeeding is accepted as the best way of feeding infants, and health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding to around 6 months of age, but despite the evidence of its benefits, few mothers meet this goal. Infants who are exclusively breastfed in the early postpartum period are more likely to continue breastfeeding at 6 and 12 months, reinforcing the role that Baby-Friendly hospital practices play in supporting exclusive breastfeeding. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the rate of breastfeeding initiation and identify the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from hospital for rural mothers. Methods: The prospective cohort study recruited 489 women from hospitals in regional Western Australia following the birth of their infant. Breastfeeding exclusivity at discharge was assessed based on mothers’ self-reported infant feeding behavior during her hospital stay. The self-administered baseline questionnaire was completed by 427 mothers. Results: Breastfeeding was initiated by 97.7% of the mothers in this cohort, with 82.7% exclusively breastfeeding at hospital discharge. The odds of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge were more than 4 times higher for women whose infants did not require admission to the special care nursery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.98-9.99). Demand feeding (aOR = 3.33; 95% CI, 1.59-6.95) and 24-hour rooming-in (aOR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.15-4.62) were also significant positive factors. Conclusion: The findings suggest that hospital practices are strong predictors of exclusive breastfeeding. Greater emphasis on Baby-Friendly hospital practices in the early postpartum period may help the establishment of exclusive breastfeeding, assisting rural mothers to reach established international breastfeeding recommendations.
Cortical thickness and surface area relate to specific symptoms in early relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Nygaard Gro O , Walhovd Kristine B , Sowa Piotr , Chepkoech Joy-Loi , Bjørnerud Atle , Due-Tønnessen Paulina , Landrø Nils I , Damangir Soheil , Spulber Gabriela , Storsve Andreas B , Beyer Mona K , Fjell Anders M , Celius Elisabeth G , Harbo Hanne F 
Published: August 2014

Background: Cortical atrophy is common in early relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Whether this atrophy is caused by changes in cortical thickness or cortical surface area is not known, nor is their separate contributions to clinical symptoms. Objectives: To investigate the difference in cortical surface area, thickness and volume between early RRMS patients and healthy controls; and the relationship between these measures and neurological disability, cognitive decline, fatigue and depression. Methods: RRMS patients ( n = 61) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neurological and neuropsychological examinations. We estimated cortical surface area, thickness and volume and compared them with matched healthy controls ( n = 61). We estimated the correlations between clinical symptoms and cortical measures within the patient group. Results: We found no differences in cortical surface area, but widespread differences in cortical thickness and volume between the groups. Neurological disability was related to regionally smaller cortical thickness and volume. Better verbal memory was related to regionally larger surface area; and better visuo-spatial memory, to regionally larger cortical volume. Higher depression scores and fatigue were associated with regionally smaller cortical surface area and volume. Conclusions: We found that cortical thickness, but not cortical surface area, is affected in early RRMS. We identified specific structural correlates to the main clinical symptoms in early RRMS.
Atrophy and structural variability of the upper cervical cord in early multiple sclerosis
Authors: Biberacher Viola , Boucard Christine C , Schmidt Paul , Engl Christina , Buck Dorothea , Berthele Achim , Hoshi Muna-Miriam , Zimmer Claus , Hemmer Bernhard , Mühlau Mark 
Published: August 2014

Background: Despite agreement about spinal cord atrophy in progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), data on clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) are conflicting. Objective: To determine the onset of spinal cord atrophy in the disease course of MS. Methods: Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was acquired from 267 patients with CIS (85) or RRMS (182) and 64 healthy controls (HCs). The upper cervical cord cross-sectional area (UCCA) was determined at the level of C2/C3 by a segmentation tool and adjusted for focal MS lesions. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated from all measurements between C2/C3 and 13 mm above as a measure of structural variability. Results: Compared to HCs (76.1±6.9 mm2), UCCA was significantly reduced in CIS patients (73.5±5.8 mm2, p=0.018) and RRMS patients (72.4±7.0 mm2, p<0.001). Structural variability was higher in patients than in HCs, particularly but not exclusively in case of focal lesions (mean CV HCs/patients without/with lesions: 2.13%/2.55%/3.32%, all p-values<0.007). UCCA and CV correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores ( r =−0.131/0.192, p=0.044/<0.001) and disease duration ( r=−0.134/0.300, p=0.039/< 0.001). CV additionally correlated with hand and arm function ( r=0.180, p=0.014). Conclusion: In MS, cervical cord atrophy already occurs in CIS. In early stages, structural variability may be a more meaningful marker of spinal cord pathology than atrophy.
Do thrombotic events during endovascular interventions lead to poorer outcomes in patients with severe limb ischemia?
Authors: Chia Daryl , May Kyin Kyin , Zaw Min Htet , Hartman Mikael , Robless Peter A , Ho Pei 
Published: August 2014

Introduction Intra-procedural acute thrombosis (IPAT) is a complication of endovascular procedures. We aim to identify risk factors for IPAT and compare the outcomes of patients with or without IPAT. Methods Paired T test and χ2 test were used to identify risk factors and short-term outcomes. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used for mid-term outcomes. Results A total of 228 procedures were performed with 21 IPAT events (9.21%). The odds ratio of Indian patients developing IPAT was 2.8x (95% CI 1.1–7.6). Patients with in-stent occlusion or prior IPAT were 5.6x (95% CI 1.3–24.2) and 5.6x (95% CI 1.3–24.4) more likely to develop an IPAT event. Patients without IPAT had significantly more improvement in mean runoff score (−1.15 ± 1.31, p < 0.01). The odds of patients with IPAT requiring subsequent endovascular intervention and arterial bypass surgery were 4.2x (95% CI 1.6–10.7) and 7.1x (95% CI 1.9–27.0). There was no significant Kaplan–Meier estimated overall survival or amputation-free survival difference between patients with or without IPAT event. Conclusion Indian ethnicity, in-stent occlusion and previous IPAT were associated with higher risk of IPAT. Even after successful endovascular salvage, patients with IPATs were more likely to require secondary revascularization procedure. Patients with IPATs had no decrease in overall survival or amputation-free survival.
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase β mediates microvascular endothelial repair of thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Haddad George , Zhabyeyev Pavel , Farhan Maikel , Zhu Lin Fu , Kassiri Zamaneh , Rayner David C. , Vanhaesebroeck Bart , Oudit Gavin Y. , Murray Allan G. 
Published: August 2014

Key Points
Endothelial PI3Kβ is not required in the quiescent vasculature, but PI3Kβ loss confers sensitivity for thrombotic microangiopathy. PI3Kβ activity is required for endothelial angiogenic differentiation and microvascular repair.
Export of virulence proteins by malaria-infected erythrocytes involves remodeling of host actin cytoskeleton
Authors: Rug Melanie , Cyrklaff Marek , Mikkonen Antti , Lemgruber Leandro , Kuelzer Simone , Sanchez Cecilia P. , Thompson Jennifer , Hanssen Eric , O’Neill Matthew , Langer Christine , Lanzer Michael , Frischknecht Friedrich , Maier Alexander G. , Cowman Alan F. 
Published: August 2014

Key Points
Maurer's clefts are P falciparum–derived membranous structures within the host erythrocyte that are essential for parasite survival. PfPTP1 functions in a large complex of proteins and is required for linking of Maurer's clefts to the host actin cytoskeleton.