This chapter examines the syntactic and semantic properties of heads, e.g. Voice, Appl, and little p, that add participants to events. Instead of assuming that such heads exist as distinct primitives in the functional lexicon, it is proposed that there is one such head, which can get different interpretations depending on how it is merged into the structure. The chapter’s approach attributes the relative uniformity of the expression of argument structure to the principles that interpret syntactic structure semantically; thus, syntax is truly autonomous, with the atoms of syntactic representations carrying no inherent semantic values. Once syntactic heads are absolved from the necessity of explicitly carrying certain features relevant to their interpretation, a sparse inventory of functional heads can be developed. The system is applied to a set of constructions that present distinct challenges to theories that demand a kind of transparent reflection of argument structure in underlying syntactic representations.
Background
The clinical relevance of echocardiographic measurements of right heart size and function in dogs with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is unknown.
Objective
To determine if echocardiographic measurements of right heart size and right ventricular (RV) function are associated with survival times in dogs with PH.
Animals
Eighty‐two client‐owned dogs.
Methods
Retrospective study where data from medical records and baseline echocardiographic examinations were collected and measured in a standardized manner. Owners or primary veterinarians were contacted for outcome data.
Results
Enlargement of the right atrium (88%), RV (69%), and pulmonary artery (72%) was common. One‐third of the cases had reduced RV function quantified by two‐dimensional echocardiography‐derived tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Decreased TAPSE was significantly (
P
= .008) more common in dogs with PH not secondary to left heart disease (LHD; 43%) compared to dogs with PH secondary to LHD (14%) but median survival times (182, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 39‐309 versus 298, 95% CI = 85‐314 days, respectively) were not significantly different (
P
= .78). Right atrial area (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.58‐4.70), TAPSE < 3.23 mm/kg
0.284
(HR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.28‐3.74), and right heart failure (HR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.18‐3.57) were independently associated with shorter survival time (
P
≤ .04).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Right atrial area, RV function (TAPSE < 3.23 mm/kg
0.284
), and right heart failure offer clinically relevant prognostic information in dogs with PH. Results support the quantitative assessment of right heart size and function in dogs with PH.
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