bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal Trends in Patient Characteristics and Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement in the United States, 2006–2010
Authors: Borne Ryan T. , Peterson Pamela N. , Greenlee Robert , Heidenreich Paul A. , Wang Yongfei , Curtis Jeptha P. , Tzou Wendy S. , Varosy Paul D. , Kremers Mark S. , Masoudi Frederick A. 
Published: August 2014

Background—
Contemporary patterns of use and outcomes of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in community practice settings are not well characterized. We assessed temporal trends in patient characteristics and outcomes among older patients undergoing primary prevention ICD therapy in US hospitals between 2006 and 2010.

Methods and Results—
Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s ICD Registry, we identified Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥65 years and older with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent primary prevention ICD implantation, including those receiving concomitant cardiac resynchronization therapy between 2006 and 2010 and could be matched to Medicare claims. Outcomes were mortality and hospitalization (all-cause and heart failure) at 180 days, and device-related complications. We used multivariable hierarchical logistic regression to assess temporal trends in outcomes accounting for changes in patient, physician, and hospital characteristics. The cohort included 117 100 patients. Between 2006 and 2010, only modest changes in patient characteristics were noted. Fewer single lead devices and more cardiac resynchronization therapy devices were used over time. Between 2006 and 2010, there were significant improvements in all outcomes, including 6-month all cause mortality (7.1% in 2006, 6.5% 2010; adjusted odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.95), 6-month rehospitalization (36.3% in 2006, 33.7% in 2010; adjusted odds ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.91), and device-related complications (5.8% in 2006, 4.8% in 2010; adjusted odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.88).

Conclusions—
The clinical characteristics of this national population of Medicare patients undergoing primary prevention ICD implantation were stable between 2006 and 2010. Simultaneous improvements in outcomes suggest meaningful advances in the care for this patient population.
Learning to Play It Safe (or Not): Stable and Evolving Neural Responses during Adolescent Risky Decision-making
Authors: Kahn Lauren E. , Peake Shannon J. , Dishion Thomas J. , Stormshak Elizabeth A. , Pfeifer Jennifer H. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Adolescent decision-making is a topic of great public and scientific interest. However, much of the neuroimaging research in this area contrasts only one facet of decision-making (e.g., neural responses to anticipation or receipt of monetary rewards). Few studies have directly examined the processes that occur immediately before making a decision between two options that have varied and unpredictable potential rewards and penalties. Understanding adolescent decision-making from this vantage point may prove critical to ameliorating risky behavior and improving developmental outcomes. In this study, participants aged 14–16 years engaged in a driving simulation game while undergoing fMRI. Results indicated activity in ventral striatum preceded risky decisions and activity in right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) preceded safe decisions. Furthermore, participants who reported higher sensation-seeking and sensitivity to reward and punishment demonstrated lower rIFG activity during safe decisions. Finally, over successive games, rIFG activity preceding risky decisions decreased, whereas thalamus and caudate activity increased during positive feedback (taking a risk without crashing). These results indicate that regions traditionally associated with reward processing and inhibition not only drive risky decision-making in the moment but also contribute to learning about risk tradeoffs during adolescence.
Representational Similarity of Social and Valence Information in the Medial pFC
Authors: Chavez Robert S. , Heatherton Todd F. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe human brain is remarkably adept at integrating complex information to form unified psychological representations of agents, objects, and events in the environment. Two domains in which this ability is particularly salient are the processing of social and valence information and are supported by common cortical areas in the medial pFC (MPFC). Because social information is often embedded within valenced emotional contexts, it is possible that activation patterns within the MPFC may represent both of these types of cognitive processes when presented simultaneously. The current study tested this possibility by employing a large-scale automated meta-analysis tool, together with multivoxel pattern analysis to investigate the representational similarity of social and valence information in the MPFC during fMRI. Using a representational similarity analysis, we found a high degree of representational similarity both within social dimensions and within valence dimensions, but not across them (e.g., positive social information was highly dissimilar to negative nonsocial information), in a ventral portion of the MPFC. These results were significantly correlated with a behaviorally measured similarity structure of the same stimuli, suggesting that a psychologically meaningful representation of social and valence information is reflected by multivoxel activation patterns in the ventral MPFC.
Symmetric Instability in the Outflow Layer of a Major Hurricane
Authors: Molinari John , Vollaro David 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
A set of 327 dropsondes from the NOAA G-IV aircraft was used to create a composite analysis of the azimuthally averaged absolute angular momentum in the outflow layer of major Hurricane Ivan (2004). Inertial instability existed over a narrow layer in the upper troposphere between the 350- and 450-km radii. Isolines of potential and equivalent potential temperature showed that the conditions for both dry and moist symmetric instability were satisfied in the same region, but over a deeper layer from 9 to 12 km. The radial flow maximized at the outer edge of the unstable region. The symmetrically unstable state existed above a region of outward decrease of temperature between the cirrus overcast of the storm and clear air outside. It is hypothesized that the temperature gradient was created as a result of longwave heating within the cirrus overcast and longwave cooling outside the cloudy region. This produced isentropes that sloped upward with radius in the same region that absolute momentum surfaces were flat or sloping downward, thus creating symmetric instability. Although this instability typically follows rather than precedes intensification, limited numerical evidence suggests that the reestablishment of a symmetrically neutral state might influence the length of the intensification period.
The Concept of Active Consciousness in Marcien Towa
Authors: Bâ Cheikh Moctar 
Published: August 2014

AbstractIt is a question of seeing through the study of certain philosophical positions of Marcien Towa how philosophical activity is an experience of freedom, an active consciousness in motion. Indeed, in Marcien Towa, freedom is the result of a process of rediscovery of self that animates the subject aware of its existence in the world. The unveiling of the essence of me is a necessity or an imperative whose effectiveness is the result of questioning the essence of the self that is reborn from its treating myself as a goal, as a consciousness of freedom. This is where there is reconciliation of the self with itself, the advent of a new subject that can take care of themselves as free and autonomous entity and that supports his destiny.
Ethical conflicts and the process of reflection in undergraduate nursing students in Brazil
Authors: Ramos Flávia Regina Souza , Brehmer Laura Cavalcanti de Farias , Vargas Mara Ambrosina , Trombetta Ana Paula , Silveira Luciana Ramos , Drago Laila 
Published: August 2014

Background: Nursing students on clinical placements as part of their professional training are routinely faced with situations involving ethical conflicts. The initial act of perceiving a situation as causing an ethical dilemma is the result of both the students’ personal values, drawn from their culture and families, and of the professional knowledge and values that they have acquired through training and experience. Objectives: Nursing students’ experiences on clinical placements in primary care settings were investigated in order to identify situations that they perceived as involving ethical conflict and describe the elements they took into consideration during their decision-making processes in these situations. Methods: The research design was qualitative descriptive case study. Around 50 students from three different intakes to a nursing degree answered a questionnaire and discussed it in focus groups. Ethical considerations: The study was designed in accordance with the principles guiding research with human beings and was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee. Results: Synthesised into two principal axes: (a) ethical conflicts in primary care, linked with the domains of working processes, professional nursing ethics and human and social rights and (b) students’ decision-making processes – realisation, reflection and intervention. Conclusion: The student nurses saw themselves both as actors and spectators in situations involving ethical problems and demanding moral deliberation, demonstrating the ability to base their arguments soundly. They tended to emphasise the possibilities offered by dialogue and that different ethical values must be respected to find fair solutions to ethical problems.
The effect of ethics training on students recognizing ethical violations and developing moral sensitivity
Authors: Baykara Zehra Gocmen , Demir Sevil Guler , Yaman Sengul 
Published: August 2014

Background: Moral sensitivity is a life-long cognitive ability. It is expected that nurses who work in a professional purpose at “curing human beings” should have a highly developed moral sensitivity. The general opinion is that ethics education plays a significant role in this sense to enhance the moral sensitivity in terms of nurses’ professional behaviors and distinguish ethical violations. Aim: This study was conducted as intervention research for the purpose of determining the effect of the ethics training on fourth-year students of the nursing department recognizing ethical violations experienced in the hospital and developing ethical sensitivity. Methods: The study was conducted with 50 students, with 25 students each in the experiment and control groups. Students in the experiment group were provided ethics training and consultancy services. The data were collected through the data collection form, which consists of questions on the socio-demographic characteristics and ethical sensitivity of the students, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the observation form on ethical principle violations/protection in the clinic environment. The data were digitized on the computer with the SPSS for Windows 13.0 program. The data were evaluated utilizing number, percentile calculation, paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and the McNemar test. Results: The total Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire pre-test score averages of students in the experiment group were determined to be 93.88 ± 13.57, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 89.24 ± 15.90. The total pre-test score averages of students in the control group were determined to be 91.48 ± 17.59, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 97.72 ± 19.91. In the study, it was determined that the post-training ethical sensitivity of students in the experiment group increased; however, this was statistically not significant. Furthermore, it was determined that the number of ethical principle protection/violation observations and correct examples provided by students in the experiment group were higher than the control group and the difference was statistically significant. Ethical considerations: Written permission and ethical approval were obtained from the university where the study was conducted. Written consent was received from students accepting to participate in the study. Conclusion: As a result, ethics education given to students enables them to distinguish ethical violations in a hospital and make a proper observation in this issue.
Double empowerment: The roles of ethnic-based groups in the Korean community in New Zealand – Implications for social work practice
Authors: Kang Wook-Mo , Harington Phil , Park Hong-Jae 
Published: August 2014

Summary The current forces of globalisation facilitate the migration of people around the world. The purpose of this article is to explore the roles of ethnic-based groups and organisations in the Korean community in New Zealand. A qualitative approach was employed to collect data from in-depth interviews of Korean adults within the ethnic community. Fourteen participants served as key informants in this study. The data collected were analysed mainly using a concept-mapping technique in a bilingual context. Findings There was a range of community groups in the Korean community in New Zealand. Those ethnic-based groups played important roles in not only enabling migrants to meet their needs but also connecting them with local communities. Some groups or organisations often served as ‘transnational’ bridges, promoting a range of interactions and exchanges between the host society and the homeland. The information and resources necessary for their survival were likely to be obtained from both the societies, which made the community becoming ‘double-empowered’ in the transnational context. Applications This study highlights the claim that ethnic-based groups have vital functions, providing contact places for migrants and local people, and creating social and transnational influences in the context of modern migration. It is suggested that a community-empowerment approach would help social work practitioners work effectively with migrants and their community groups.
Selection of the comparator product in the World Health Organisation Prequalification of Medicines Programme
Authors: Welink Jan , Gordon John D , Stahl Matthias 
Published: August 2014

The World Health Organisation’s Prequalification of Medicines Programme (WHO PQP) evaluates generic medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, influenza, and neglected tropical diseases, as well as zinc for the treatment of acute diarrhoea, and generic products related to reproductive health. For in vivo (i.e. bioequivalence studies) or in vitro studies (i.e. Biopharmaceutics Classification System-based biowaivers) used to establish the safety and efficacy of a generic product, selection of an appropriate comparator product is of great importance. Generic products prequalified by the WHO PQP are used in treatment programmes on a worldwide basis and therefore, the comparator products acting as a reference for their safety and efficacy should be of globally accepted quality, safety, and efficacy. Thus, to provide guidance to potential applicants and to discourage submission of bioequivalence studies with a comparator product that is not acceptable for the WHO PQP, comparators have been identified which should be employed in bioequivalence or biowaiver studies undertaken for submission to WHO PQP. The comparator of choice is normally the innovator product for which the quality, safety and efficacy have been established. In addition, to ensure that the comparator product has been adequately controlled from production to use, WHO PQP stipulates that comparator products should be procured from markets with a stringent regulatory authority, i.e. from countries participating in ICH or an ICH-associated country. However there can be many challenges associated with identifying appropriate comparators for WHO PQP. These challenges, ranging from the absence of a clear innovator product to the unavailability of a well-established innovator product to availability limited to non-ICH-associated markets, are discussed and the selections of specific comparator products supported. Furthermore, clear guidance on procuring the WHO PQP comparator are given, establishing further confidence that an appropriate comparator has been selected with proven quality, safety and efficacy.
Preliminary Evaluation of a New Semi-Closed-Loop Insulin Therapy System Over the Prandial Period in Adult Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Quemerais Marie Aude , Doron Maeva , Dutrech Florent , Melki Vincent , Franc Sylvia , Antonakios Michel , Charpentier Guillaume , Hanaire Helene , Benhamou Pierre Yves ,   on behalf of the Diabeloop Consortium, Charpentier Guillaume , Franc Sylvia , Penfornis Alfred , Reznik Yves , Benhamou Pierre Yves , Raccah Denis , Renard Eric , Guerci Bruno , Jeandidier Nathalie , Hanaire Helene , Simon Chantal , Doron Maeva , Antonakios Michel , Guillemaud Regis 
Published: August 2014

Objective: There is room for improvement in the algorithms used in closed-loop insulin therapy during the prandial period. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the Diabeloop algorithm (model predictive control type) during the postprandial period. Methods: This 2-center clinical trial compared interstitial glucose levels over two 5-hour periods (with/without the algorithm) following a calibrated lunch. On the control day, the amount of insulin delivered by the pump was determined according to the patient’s usual parameters. On the test day, 50% or 75% of the theoretical bolus required was delivered, while the algorithm, informed of carbohydrate intake, proposed changes to insulin delivery every 15 minutes using modeling to forecast glucose levels. The primary endpoint was percentage of time spent at near normoglycemia (70-180 mg/dl). Results: Twelve patients with type 1 diabetes (9 men, age 35.6 ± 12.7 years, HbA1c 7.3 ± 0.8%) were included. The percentage of time spent in the target range was 84.5 ± 20.8 (test day) versus 69.2 ± 33.9% (control day, P = .11). The percentage of time spent in hypoglycemia < 70 mg/dl was 0.2 ± 0.8 (test) versus 4.4 ± 8.2% (control, P = .18). Interstitial glucose at the end of the test (5 hours) was 127.5 ± 40.1 (test) versus 146 ± 53.5 mg/dl (control, P = .25). The insulin doses did not differ, and no differences were observed between the 50% and 75% boluses. Conclusion: In a semi-closed-loop configuration with manual priming boluses (25% or 50% reduction), the Diabeloop v1 algorithm was as successful as the manual method in determining the prandial bolus, without any exposure to excessive hypoglycemic risk.
Selective and efficient generation of functional Batf3-dependent CD103+ dendritic cells from mouse bone marrow
Authors: Mayer Christian Thomas , Ghorbani Peyman , Nandan Amrita , Dudek Markus , Arnold-Schrauf Catharina , Hesse Christina , Berod Luciana , Stüve Philipp , Puttur Franz , Merad Miriam , Sparwasser Tim 
Published: August 2014

Key Points
A new bone marrow DC culture method with FLT3L and GM-CSF efficiently generates functional Batf3-dependent CD103+ DCs. GM-CSF promotes DC precursor polarization and CD103+ DC proliferation.
Microbial transformation of quinic acid to shikimic acid by Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Ghosh Saptarshi , Pawar Harish , Pai Omkar , Banerjee Uttam Chand 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Background
Biotransformation of quinic acid to shikimic acid was attempted using whole cells of Bacillus megaterium as a biocatalyst.

Results
Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature (37°C), pH (7.0), agitation (200 rpm), substrate (5 mM) and cell mass concentrations (200 kg/m 3) and reaction time (3 h) were found optimum to enhance the bioconversion. Maximum conversion (89%) of quinic acid to shikimic acid was achieved using the above optimized parameters. Shikimic acid was extracted from the reaction mixture by a pH-dependent method and maximum recovery (76%) was obtained with petroleum ether.

Conclusions
Biotransformation of quinic acid to shikimic acid seems to be a better alternative over its fermentative production.
Pdcd4 modulates markers of macrophage alternative activation and airway remodeling in antigen-induced pulmonary inflammation
Authors: Zhong Bo , Yang Xudong , Sun Qingzhu , Liu Li , Lan Xi , Tian Jia , He Qirui , Hou Wei , Liu Haiyan , Jiang Congshan , Gao Ning , Lu Shemin 
Published: August 2014

AbstractPdcd4 has been known as a tumor-suppressor gene initially and is up-regulated during apoptosis. Surprisingly, we found that Pdcd4 was differentially expressed in the lung from E3 rats with AIPI, an animal model for asthma, but the precise role of Pdcd4 in AIPI still remained to be defined. In the present study, we first evaluated the expression of Pdcd4 in lung from control and AIPI rats with RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Then, we investigated the effects of intervention of Pdcd4 on markers of macrophage alternative activation and airway remodeling. Upon challenging E3 rats with OVA, Pdcd4 was up-regulated in lung tissue with AIPI. Immunohistochemistry results showed that alveolar macrophages and airway epithelia expressed Pdcd4 protein. Overexpression of Pdcd4 in the rat alveolar macrophage cell line, NR8383 cells, increased the mRNA expression of arginase-1 and TGF-β1, which are markers of macrophage alternative activation. In response to Pdcd4 RNAi in NR8383 cells, the mRNA expression of markers Fizz1, Ym1/2, arginase-1, and TGF-β1 was decreased significantly. In addition, Pdcd4 RNAi in AIPI rats led to a decrease of the mRNA expression of Fizz1, Ym1/2, arginase-1, and TGF-β1 in BALF cells. Finally, knockdown of Pdcd4 suppressed airway eosinophil infiltration, bronchus collagen deposition, and mucus production. Overall, these results suggest that Pdcd4 may be worthy of further investigation as a target for macrophage alternative activation and airway remodeling in allergic pulmonary inflammation.
Transition-Metal Catalysis with Hollow-Shaped Triethynylphosphine Ligands
Authors: Iwai Tomohiro , Sawamura Masaya 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Triethynylphosphines with bulky end caps such as triarylsilyl and triarylmethyl groups at alkyne termini have a novel molecular shape presenting a large, deep metal-binding cavity. The hollow-shaped triethynylphosphines functioned as effective ligands in the rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones with triorganosilanes due to the preferential formation of a mono-P-ligated rhodium species. Furthermore, the phosphines displayed remarkable rate enhancement in the gold(I)-catalyzed alkyne cyclization constructing six- to eight-membered ring compounds. It is proposed that the cavity in the ligand forces a nucleophilic center of the acetylenic compounds close to the gold-bound alkyne, making ring-closing anti attack feasible.
A Community College Instructor Like Me: Race and Ethnicity Interactions in the Classroom
Authors: Fairlie Robert W. , Hoffmann Florian , Oreopoulos Philip 
Published: August 2014

Administrative data from a large and diverse community college are used to examine if underrepresented minority students benefit from taking courses with underrepresented minority instructors. To identify racial interactions, we estimate models that include both student and classroom fixed effects and focus on students with limited choice in courses. We find that the performance gap in terms of class dropout rates and grade performance between white and underrepresented minority students falls by 20 to 50 percent when taught by an underrepresented minority instructor. We also find these interactions affect longer-term outcomes such as subsequent course selection, retention, and degree completion. (JEL I23, J15, J44)