bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
De Novo Assembly and Characterization of the Transcriptome of the Parasitic Weed Dodder Identifies Genes Associated with Plant Parasitism
Authors: Ranjan Aashish , Ichihashi Yasunori , Farhi Moran , Zumstein Kristina , Townsley Brad , David-Schwartz Rakefet , Sinha Neelima R.
Published: January 2014

Parasitic flowering plants are one of the most destructive agricultural pests and have major impact on crop yields throughout the world. Being dependent on finding a host plant for growth, parasitic plants penetrate their host using specialized organs called haustoria. Haustoria establish vascular connections with the host, which enable the parasite to steal nutrients and water. The underlying molecular and developmental basis of parasitism by plants is largely unknown. In order to investigate the process of parasitism, RNAs from different stages (i.e. seed, seedling, vegetative strand, prehaustoria, haustoria, and flower) were used to de novo assemble and annotate the transcriptome of the obligate plant stem parasite dodder (Cuscuta pentagona). The assembled transcriptome was used to dissect transcriptional dynamics during dodder development and parasitism and identified key gene categories involved in the process of plant parasitism. Host plant infection is accompanied by increased expression of parasite genes underlying transport and transporter categories, response to stress and stimuli, as well as genes encoding enzymes involved in cell wall modifications. By contrast, expression of photosynthetic genes is decreased in the dodder infective stages compared with normal stem. In addition, genes relating to biosynthesis, transport, and response of phytohormones, such as auxin, gibberellins, and strigolactone, were differentially expressed in the dodder infective stages compared with stems and seedlings. This analysis sheds light on the transcriptional changes that accompany plant parasitism and will aid in identifying potential gene targets for use in controlling the infestation of crops by parasitic weeds.
The relationship between innovation capability and performance
Authors: Saunila Minna , Pekkola Sanna , Ukko Juhani
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether performance measurement moderates the relationship between innovation capability and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was conducted through a web-based survey in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A total of 311 responses were received from a sample of 2,400 randomly selected SMEs.

Findings

– Consistent with predictions, the link between innovation capability and firm performance is significant in the presence of performance measurement. Performance measurement can thus be used as a tool for improving the performance of SMEs through innovation capability.

Practical implications

– Using the results of this study, practitioners can improve their innovation capability through performance measurement by taking better account of various aspects.

Originality/value

– Previous research has studied the effects of performance measurement, but not in the area of innovation management. Previous research has also showed that measurement has positive effects on innovation capability. The present study goes one step further by investigating the impacts of measurement on the relationship of multiple aspects of innovation capability and firm performance.
Emerging economies, productivity growth and trade with resource‐rich economies by 2030
Authors: Anderson Kym , Strutt Anna
Published: January 2014

Rapid economic growth in some emerging economies in recent decades has significantly increased their global economic importance. If this rapid growth continues and is strongest in resource‐poor Asian economies, the growth in global demand for imports of primary products also will continue, to the ongoing benefit of natural resource‐rich countries. This paper explores how global production, consumption and trade patterns might change over the next two decades in the course of economic development and structural changes under various scenarios. We employ the GTAP model and version 8.1 of the GTAP database with a base year of 2007, along with supplementary data from a range of sources, to support projections of the global economy to 2030. We first project a baseline assuming that trade‐related policies do not change in each region but that factor endowments and real GDP grow at exogenously estimated rates. That baseline is compared with two alternative scenarios: one in which the growth rates of China and India are lower by one‐quarter and the other in which this slowdown in emerging economies leads to slower productivity growth in the primary sectors of all countries. Throughout the results, implications are drawn out for natural resource‐abundant economies, including Australia and New Zealand.
Supporting Democracy: Political Participation and Political Attitudes. Exploring Causality using Panel Data
Authors: Quintelier Ellen , Van Deth Jan W.
Published: January 2014

The relationship between political participation and political attitudes is at the heart of any discussion about fostering democratic engagement. However, many authors simply presume that political attitudes reinforce political behaviour. Using a three-wave panel data set with more than 3,000 adolescents, we show that political attitudes do not necessarily precede behaviour. On the contrary, focusing on the relationships between five political attitudes and two variants of political participation, our findings indicate that it is much more likely that political participation strengthens political attitudes than that attitudes trigger participation. This does not mean that attitudes are irrelevant for behaviour, but the reverse impact is much stronger. More specifically, we find that the effects of being politically engaged on political interest, efficacy, confidence and norms of citizenship are clearly stronger than the effects of these attitudes on participation.
Antenatal interventions to reduce maternal distress: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised trials
Authors: Fontein‐Kuipers YJ , Nieuwenhuijze MJ , Ausems M , Budé L , de Vries R
Published: January 2014

Background

Maternal distress can have adverse health outcomes for mothers and their children. Antenatal interventions may reduce maternal distress.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of antenatal interventions for the reduction of maternal distress during pregnancy and for up to 1 year postpartum.

Search strategy

EBSCO, Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, secondary references of Cochrane reviews and review articles, and experts in the field.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials in which the association between an antenatal intervention and the reduction of maternal distress was reported.

Data collection and analysis

Two authors independently abstracted data from each trial. A random‐effects meta‐analysis assessed the reduction of maternal distress associated with antenatal preventive and treatment interventions, compared with routine antenatal care or another intervention.

Main results

Ten trials with 3167 participants met the inclusion criteria, and nine trials (n = 3063) provided data for the meta‐analysis of six preventive interventions and three treatment interventions. The preventive interventions indicated no beneficial reduction of maternal distress (six trials;n = 2793; standardised mean difference,SMD–0.06; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI−0.14–0.01). The treatment interventions indicated a significant effect for the reduction of maternal distress (three trials;n = 270;SMD–0.29; 95% CI–0.54 to –0.04). A sample of women, selected retrospectively, who were more vulnerable for developing maternal distress showed a significant reduction of maternal distress after the interventions (three trials;n = 1410;SMD–0.25; 95% CI–0.37 to –0.14).

Author's conclusions

Preventive antenatal interventions for maternal distress show no effect. Antenatal interventions for women who have maternal distress or are at risk for developing maternal distress are associated with a small reduction in maternal distress.
Mismatches in skills and attributes of immigrants and problems with workplace integration: a study of IT and engineering professionals in Australia
Authors: Mahmud Sharmin , Alam Quamrul , Härtel Charmine
Published: January 2014

This article examines the mismatches between supply of skills and attributes of immigrants and the demands of employers that influence workplace integration of skilled immigrants in Australia. It argues that, despite being skilled, immigrants still cannot meet the requirements of employers in doing their jobs effectively. There are mismatches, which happen mainly in the aspects of English proficiency, qualification and culture. The study followed a qualitative research design taking skilled immigrants from IT and engineering professional backgrounds and their employers in Australia as the interviewees. The results confirm that the workplace integration of immigrants is not only affected by the inherent capacities of immigrants, but the mindset of employers and their perception towards immigrants' overall qualities also manipulate the process. The results are, however, indicative only, as the study is confined to IT and engineering professional groups, and does not report the experiences of other immigrants.
Tolerance to ethanol intoxication after chronic ethanol: role of GluN2A and PSD‐95
Authors: Daut Rachel A. , Busch Erica F. , Ihne Jessica , Fisher Daniel , Mishina Masayoshi , Grant Seth G. N. , Camp Marguerite , Holmes Andrew
Published: January 2014

The neural and genetic factors underlying chronic tolerance to alcohol are currently unclear. The GluN2A N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors (NMDAR) subunit and the NMDAR‐anchoring protein PSD‐95 mediate acute alcohol intoxication and represent putative mechanisms mediating tolerance. We found that chronic intermittent ethanol exposure (CIE) did not produce tolerance [loss of righting reflex (LORR)] or withdrawal‐anxiety in C57BL/6J, GluN2A or PSD‐95 knockout mice assayed 2–3 days later. However, significant tolerance to LORR was evident 1 day after CIE in C57BL/6J and PSD‐95 knockouts, but absent in GluN2A knockouts. These data suggest a role for GluN2A in tolerance, extending evidence that human GluN2A gene variation is involved in alcohol dependence.
A semiparametric approach to simultaneous covariance estimation for bivariate sparse longitudinal data
Authors: Das Kiranmoy , Daniels Michael J.
Published: January 2014

Estimation of the covariance structure for irregular sparse longitudinal data has been studied by many authors in recent years but typically using fully parametric specifications. In addition, when data are collected from several groups over time, it is known that assuming the same or completely different covariance matrices over groups can lead to loss of efficiency and/or bias. Nonparametric approaches have been proposed for estimating the covariance matrix for regular univariate longitudinal data by sharing information across the groups under study. For the irregular case, with longitudinal measurements that are bivariate or multivariate, modeling becomes more difficult. In this article, to model bivariate sparse longitudinal data from several groups, we propose a flexible covariance structure via a novel matrix stick‐breaking process for the residual covariance structure and a Dirichlet process mixture of normals for the random effects. Simulation studies are performed to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed approach over more traditional approaches. We also analyze a subset of Framingham Heart Study data to examine how the blood pressure trajectories and covariance structures differ for the patients from different BMI groups (high, medium, and low) at baseline.
Anti‐proliferative and apoptosis‐inducing activity of lycopene against three subtypes of human breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Takeshima Mikako , Ono Misaki , Higuchi Takako , Chen Chen , Hara Takayuki , Nakano Shuji
Published: January 2014

Although lycopene, a major carotenoid component of tomatoes, has been suggested to attenuate the risk of breast cancer, the underlying preventive mechanism remains to be determined. Moreover, it is not known whether there are any differences in lycopene activity among different subtypes of human breast cancer cells. Using ER/PR positive MCF‐7, HER2‐positive SK‐BR‐3 and triple‐negative MDA‐MB‐468 cell lines, we investigated the cellular and molecular mechanism of the anticancer activity of lycopene. Lycopene treatment for 168 consecutive hours exhibited a time‐dependent and dose‐dependent anti‐proliferative activity against these cell lines by arresting the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase at physiologically achievable concentrations found in human plasma. The greatest growth inhibition was observed in MDA‐MB‐468 where the sub‐G0/G1 apoptotic population was significantly increased, with demonstrable cleavage of PARP. Lycopene induced strong and sustained activation of the ERK1/2, with concomitant cyclin D1 suppression and p21 upregulation in these three cell lines. In triple negative cells, lycopene inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream molecule mTOR, followed by subsequent upregulation of proapoptotic Bax without affecting anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐xL. Taken together, these data indicate that the predominant anticancer activity of lycopene in MDA‐MB‐468 cells suggests a potential role of lycopene for the prevention of triple negative breast cancer.
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Protects Neurons against Ischemic Injury through Regulation of Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression
Authors: Li Shi‐Ting , Pan Jing , Hua Xu‐Ming , Liu Hong , Shen Sa , Liu Jia‐Fu , Li Bin , Tao Bang‐Bao , Ge Xiao‐Li , Wang Xu‐Hui , Shi Juan‐Hong , Wang Xiao‐Qiang
Published: January 2014

Aims

Several lines of evidence demonstrated that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) confers protective effects during cerebral ischemia. In this study, we explored the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuroprotection by eNOS.

Methods

A series of in vivo and in vitro ischemic models were employed to study the role of eNOS in maintaining neuronal survival and to identify the downstream factors.

Results

The current data showed that pretreatment with a specific eNOS inhibitor, L‐N5‐(1‐iminoethyl) ornithine (L‐NIO), aggravated the neuronal loss in the rat cerebral ischemic model, accompanied by reduction in brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level, which was consistent with the findings in an oxygen‐glucose deprivation model (OGD) with two neuronal cells: primary rat cortical neurons and human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells. Furthermore, the extensive neuronal loss induced by L‐NIO was totally abolished by exogenous BDNF in both in vitro and in vivo models. On the other hand, eNOS overexpression through an adenoviral vector exerted a prominent protective effect on the neuronal cells subject to OGD, and the protective effect was totally abrogated by a neutralizing anti‐BDNF antibody.

Conclusion

Collectively, our results indicate that the neuroprotection of neuron‐derived eNOS against the cerebral ischemia was mediated through the regulation of BDNF secretion. In conclusion, our discovery provides a novel explanation for the neuroprotective effect of eNOS under pathological ischemic conditions such as stroke.
Postprandial effects of long‐term niacin/laropiprant use on glucose and lipid metabolism and on cardiovascular risk in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Aye M. M. , Kilpatrick E. S. , Afolabi P. , Wootton S. A. , Rigby A. S. , Coady A. M. , Sandeman D. D. , Atkin S. L.
Published: January 2014

Aim

This study investigated the effect of long‐term niacin/laropiprant therapy on CV risk and IR in obese women with PCOS.

Methods

In this double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial, 13 and 12 PCOS women completed a 12 week course of niacin/laropiprant or placebo, respectively. Fasted subjects had an endothelial function test (EndoPat2000) and then consumed a mixed meal with blood sampled postprandially for 6 h before and after intervention.

Results

By 12 weeks, niacin/laropiprant lowered low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐c) (13%) and increased HDL‐c (17%). Despite a reduction in fasting triglycerides (21%), the drug had no effect on their postprandial rise (2.69 ± 1.44 vs. 2.49 ± 1.14 mmol/l, p = 0.72). However, following the mixed meal, plasma glucose area under the response curve increased from 13.1 ± 2.9 to 14.0 ± 2.8 mmol/l, p = 0.05, as a consequence of both increased insulin resistance [HOMA‐IR: 2.2 (1.2, 4.2) vs. 3.8(1.3, 5.5), p = 0.02] and a reduced acute insulin response to glucose [424 (211, 975) vs. 257(122, 418) pmol/mmol, p = 0.04]. Niacin/laropiprant did not improve RHI (1.97 ± 0.40 vs. 2.05 ± 0.58, p = 0.33) or hsCRP.

Conclusions

In PCOS, niacin/laropiprant had a significant negative impact on postprandial glucose and no improvement in postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia, with at least the former mediated through increased IR and reduced β‐cell function. This data may help explain why the improvement in fasting lipids has not translated into improved CV risk markers in PCOS.
Old and new basal insulin formulations: understanding pharmacodynamics is still relevant in clinical practice
Authors: Rossetti P. , Ampudia‐Blasco F. J. , Ascaso J. F.
Published: January 2014

Long‐acting insulin analogues have been developed to mimic the physiology of basal insulin secretion more closely than human insulin formulations (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn, NPH). However, the clinical evidence in favour of analogues is still controversial. Although their major benefit as compared with NPH is a reduction in the hypoglycaemia risk, some cost/effectiveness analyses have not been favourable to analogues, largely because of their higher price. Nevertheless, these new formulations have conquered the insulin market. Human insulin represents currently no more than 20% of market share. Despite (in fact because of) the widespread use of insulin analogues it remains critical to analyse the pharmacodynamics (PD) of basal insulin formulations appropriately to interpret the results of clinical trials correctly. Importantly, these data may help physicians in tailoring insulin therapy to patients' individual needs and, additionally, when clinical evidence is not available, to optimize insulin treatment. For patients at low risk for/from hypoglycaemia, it might be acceptable and also cost‐effective not to use long‐acting insulin analogues as basal insulin replacement. Conversely, in patients with a higher degree of insulin deficiency and increased risk for hypoglycaemia, analogues are the best option due to their more physiological profile, as has been shown in PD and clinical studies. From this perspective optimizing basal insulin treatment, especially in type 2 diabetes patients who are less prone to hypoglycaemia, would be suitable making significant resources available for other relevant aspects of diabetes care.
Using PowerPoint Animations to Teach Operations Management Techniques and Concepts
Authors: Treleven Mark D. , Penlesky Richard J. , Callarman Thomas E. , Watts Charles A. , Bragg Daniel J.
Published: January 2014

This article examines the value of using complex animated PowerPoint presentations to teach operations management techniques and concepts. To provide context, literature covering the use of PowerPoint animations in business education is briefly reviewed. The specific animations employed in this study are identified and their expected benefits to students and faculty are discussed. Evidence of their perceived value to students and faculty is then presented.
In vitro bioassay methods for laboratory screening of novel mosquito repellents
Authors: Deng Wan , Zhu Na , Mo Jianchu
Published: January 2014

Repellents are highly effective in preventing humans from being bitten by mosquitoes and other blood‐feeding insects. Here we provide an overview of the representative in vitro bioassays for the laboratory testing of these agents. Currently, potential repellents are mostly evaluated on human skin, using the arm‐in‐cage method. However, for the testing of large numbers of chemicals for mosquito repellent activity, several in vitro bioassays have been established. Based on their components, as described in the recent literature, these can be categorized: (i) the natural tendency system; (ii) the membrane plus blood system; (iii) the skin plus attractants system; and (iv) the host plus netting system. The major advantages and disadvantages of these bioassays are discussed with the aim of establishing reliable and practical methods for discovering novel mosquito repellents.
Efficacy of perampanel: A review of pooled data
Authors: Steinhoff Bernhard J.
Published: January 2014

Perampanel (PER) has been tested in three randomized placebo‐controlled prospective phase III trials as an adjunctive antiepileptic drug (AED) in adult and adolescent patients age 12 years and older who had ongoing focal epileptic seizures despite receiving one to three AEDs. Patients were randomized to once‐daily placebo or maintenance dosages of 2, 4, or 8 mg of PER daily in one trial or to dosages of 8 and 12 mg of PER in the other two studies. Baseline and double‐blind titration periods comprised 6 weeks each before a 12‐week maintenance phase. Primary endpoints were median change in partial seizure frequency (baseline vs. double‐blind phase), and the percentage of patients achieving >50% reduction in seizure frequency (so‐called responders, baseline vs. maintenance). All patients had the opportunity to enter an open follow‐up study that allowed a titration of PER of up to 12 mg. Pooled data of all three studies included 1,478 patients. There was a statistically significant median change in seizure frequency and responder rates with PER dosages of 4, 8, and 12 mg (p < 0.01, each dose vs. placebo). Both the results of each trial and the pooled data are reported in this review. For the open follow‐up study, 1,218 patients were recruited. Ninety‐one percent finally reached maintenance dosages of 10 or 12 mg. After 1 year, both median seizure reduction and responder rates reached almost 50%.
Introduction: Perampanel—New mode of action and new option for patients with epilepsy
Authors: Steinhoff Bernhard J.
Published: January 2014

With perampanel the first‐in‐class selective alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolprepionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist has been finally approved for add‐on treatment in patients with focal‐onset seizures. This suggests additional therapeutic potential in hitherto difficult‐to‐treat epilepsies.
Soil animal responses to moisture availability are largely scale, not ecosystem dependent: insight from a cross‐site study
Authors: Sylvain Zachary A. , Wall Diana H. , Cherwin Karie L. , Peters Debra P. C. , Reichmann Lara G. , Sala Osvaldo E.
Published: January 2014

Climate change will result in reduced soil water availability in much of the world either due to changes in precipitation or increased temperature and evapotranspiration. How communities of mites and nematodes may respond to changes in moisture availability is not well known, yet these organisms play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling processes. We determined how communities of these organisms respond to changes in moisture availability and whether common patterns occur along fine‐scale gradients of soil moisture within four individual ecosystem types (mesic, xeric and arid grasslands and a polar desert) located in the western United States and Antarctica, as well as across a cross‐ecosystem moisture gradient (CEMG) of all four ecosystems considered together. An elevation transect of three sampling plots was monitored within each ecosystem and soil samples were collected from these plots and from existing experimental precipitation manipulations within each ecosystem once in fall of 2009 and three times each in 2010 and 2011. Mites and nematodes were sorted to trophic groups and analyzed to determine community responses to changes in soil moisture availability. We found that while both mites and nematodes increased with available soil moisture across theCEMG, within individual ecosystems, increases in soil moisture resulted in decreases to nematode communities at all but the arid grassland ecosystem; mites showed no responses at any ecosystem. In addition, we found changes in proportional abundances of mite and nematode trophic groups as soil moisture increased within individual ecosystems, which may result in shifts within soil food webs with important consequences for ecosystem functioning. We suggest that communities of soil animals at local scales may respond predictably to changes in moisture availability regardless of ecosystem type but that additional factors, such as climate variability, vegetation composition, and soil properties may influence this relationship over larger scales.
Effects of comprehensive geriatric assessment‐based individually targeted interventions on mobility of pre‐frail and frail community‐dwelling older people
Authors: Tikkanen Päivi , Lönnroos Eija , Sipilä Sarianna , Nykänen Irma , Sulkava Raimo , Hartikainen Sirpa
Published: January 2014

Aim

To assess the effects of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA)‐based individually targeted interventions on the ability to walk 400 m in pre‐frail or frail and non‐frail community‐dwelling older people.

Methods

A subgroups analysis of a population‐based comparative study, theGeriatricMultidisciplinaryStrategy for theGoodCare of theElderly (GeMS) was carried out in the city ofKuopio,Finland, from 2004 to 2007. This study was based on data from 2005 to 2007. The present analysis included 605 community‐dwelling older adults aged ≥76 years (mean age 80.9, 70% women), 314 in the intervention and 291 in the control group. Frailty status was assessed in 2005. Mobility was assessed by self‐reported ability to walk 400 m. The generalized estimating equation model with binary logistic regression was used to assess the treatment effect of the interventions on the ability to walk 400 m between 2005 and 2007.

Results

In 2005, 55% (n = 173) of the participants in the intervention group and 64% (n = 187) in the control group were pre‐frail or frail. The intervention prevented the loss of ability to walk 400 m among pre‐frail and frail persons (OR0.74, 95%CI0.59–0.93,P = 0.01). The treatment effect was not statistically significant among non‐frail participants (OR0.99, 95%CI0.68–1.42,P = 0.94).

Conclusions

CGA‐based individually targeted interventions were effective in preventing mobility limitations among pre‐frail and frail older people.Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 80–88.
Improved Crystal Quality of Transparent Conductive Ga‐doped ZnO Films by Magnesium Doping Through Radio‐Frequency Magnetron Sputtering Preparation
Authors: Liu Wei‐Sheng , Chen Wei‐Ku , Wu Shen‐Yu , Hsueh Kuang‐Po
Published: January 2014

This study investigates the enhanced structural, and optoelectronic properties of transparent conductive Ga‐doped MgxZn1−xO (GMZO) thin films with a varied magnesium (Mg) composition of 2% and 8%, respectively. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed that GMZO with an 8% Mg composition shows a stronger (002) diffraction intensity and narrower linewidth than that with a 2% Mg composition. Improved crystallinity and enlarged grain size in the postgrowth thermal annealed GMZO thin films were also observed in XRD and morphological measurements by atomic force microscopy. Photoluminescence measurements were conducted to investigate the improved GMZO thin‐film quality, and the oxygen vacancy signal was found to decrease with increased Mg content, consistent with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. This study also shows high optical transmittance over 98%, and a low resistivity of 5.7 × 10−4 Ω·cm in Ga‐doped MgxZn1−xO (x = 0.02) thin film, which indicates the highly promising candidate for use in optoelectronic devices.
The coefficient of dominance is not (always) estimable with biallelic markers
Authors: García‐Cortés L.A. , Legarra A. , Toro M.A.
Published: January 2014

The genetic relationship among individuals at one locus is characterized by nine coefficients of identity. The coefficients of inbreeding, coancestry and dominance (or fraternity) are just linear functions of them. Here, it is shown how they can be estimated using biallelic and triallelic markers using the method of moments, and comparisons are made with other methods based on molecular coancestry or molecular covariance. It is concluded that in the general case of dominance and inbreeding with biallelic markers, only the coefficients of inbreeding and coancestry can be estimated, but neither the single coefficients of identity nor the coefficient of dominance can be estimated. More than two alleles are required for a full estimation as illustrated with the triallelic situation.
The Incidence of Phrenic Nerve Injury During Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using the Second‐Generation 28 mm Cryoballoon
Authors: METZNER ANDREAS , RAUSCH PETER , LEMES CHRISTINE , REISSMANN BRUNO , BARDYSZEWSKI ALEXANDER , TILZ ROLAND , RILLIG ANDREAS , MATHEW SHIBU , DEISS SEBASTIAN , KAMIOKA MASASHI , TOENNIS TOBIAS , LIN TINA , OUYANG FEIFAN , KUCK KARL‐HEINZ , WISSNER ERIK
Published: January 2014

The Incidence of Phrenic Nerve Injury

Introduction

The second‐generation cryoballoon (CB; Arctic Front Advance, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) has demonstrated greater procedural efficacy compared to the original CB. Whether increased efficacy translates into a higher incidence of phrenic nerve (PN) injury needs further evaluation.

Materials and Methods

In patients with drug‐refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) or short‐standing persistent AF, pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed using the 28 mm second‐generation CB. During cryoenergy delivery along the septal PVs, continuous PN pacing was performed. The freeze cycle was aborted in case of weakening or loss of diaphragmatic contraction.

Results

A total of 115 patients (42 female, mean age 61 ± 11 years, mean LA‐diameter 43 ± 6 mm) with a history of paroxysmal AF (93/115 patients [81%]) or short‐standing persistent AF (22/115 patients [19%]) underwent CB‐based PVI. A total 445 of 448 (99%) PVs were isolated successfully. PN palsy (PNP) occurred in 4 of 115 (3.5%) patients, while applying cryoenergy to the right superior PV. Despite prompt interruption of the freezing cycle, PN function failed to recover during the periprocedural phase. PN recovery was observed as late as 10 months postablation.

Conclusions

Using the second‐generation 28 mm CB, PNP occurred in 4 of 115 (3.5%) patients. While 1 of 4 PNP recovered 10 months after ablation, long‐term outcome in the remaining 3 patients is currently unknown due to the rather short follow‐up period.
Gain‐of‐Function KCNH2 Mutations in Patients with Brugada Syndrome
Authors: WANG QI , OHNO SEIKO , DING WEI‐GUANG , FUKUYAMA MEGUMI , MIYAMOTO AKASHI , ITOH HIDEKI , MAKIYAMA TAKERU , WU JIE , BAI JIAYU , HASEGAWA KANAE , SHINOHARA TETSUJI , TAKAHASHI NAOHIKO , SHIMIZU AKIHIKO , MATSUURA HIROSHI , HORIE MINORU
Published: January 2014

Novel KCNH2 Mutations in Brugada Syndrome

Background

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited disease characterized by right precordial ST segment elevation on electrocardiograms (ECGs) that predisposes patients to sudden cardiac death as a result of polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation (VF). In BrS patients, except for SCN5A, mutations in other responsible genes are poorly elucidated.

Methods and Results

We identified 4 KCNH2 mutations, T152I, R164C, W927G, and R1135H, in 236 consecutive probands with BrS or Brugada‐like ECG. Three of these mutation carriers showed QTc intervals shorter than 360 milliseconds and 1 experienced VF. We performed patch‐clamp analyses on IKr reconstituted with the KCNH2 mutations in Chinese hamster ovary cells and compared the phenotypes of the patients with different genotypes. Three mutations, R164C, W927G, and R1135H, increased IKr densities. Three mutations, T152I, R164C, and W927G, caused a negative shift in voltage‐dependent activation curves. Only the R1135H mutant channel prolonged the deactivation time constants. We also identified 20 SCN5A and 5 CACNA1C mutation carriers in our cohort. Comparison of probands’ phenotypes with 3 different genotypes revealed that KCNH2 mutation carriers showed shorter QTc intervals and SCN5A mutation carriers had longer QRS durations.

Conclusions

All KCNH2 mutations that we identified in probands with BrS exerted gain‐of‐function effects on IKr channels, which may partially explain the ECG findings in our patients.
CEO Ownership, Stock Market Performance, and Managerial Discretion
Authors: LILIENFELD‐TOAL ULF VON , RUENZI STEFAN
Published: January 2014

We examine the relationship between CEO ownership and stock market performance. A strategy based on public information about managerial ownership delivers annual abnormal returns of 4% to 10%. The effect is strongest among firms with weak external governance, weak product market competition, and large managerial discretion, suggesting that CEO ownership can reverse the negative impact of weak governance. Furthermore, owner‐CEOs are value increasing: they reduce empire building and run their firms more efficiently. Overall, our findings indicate that the market does not correctly price the incentive effects of managerial ownership, suggesting interesting feedback effects between corporate finance and asset pricing.
Hepatic stellate cells and extracellular matrix in hepatocellular carcinoma: more complicated than ever
Authors: Carloni Vinicio , Luong Tu Vinh , Rombouts Krista
Published: January 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death. Recent epidemiological data indicate that the mortality rate of HCC will double over the next decades in the USA and Europe. Liver cancer progresses in a large percentage of cases during the clinical course of chronic fibro‐inflammatory liver diseases leading to cirrhosis. Therefore, HCC development is regarded as the result of different environmental risk factors each involving different genetic, epigenetic‐ and chromosomal alterations and gene mutations. During tumour progression, the malignant hepatocytes and the activated hepatic stellate cells are accompanied by cancer‐associated fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and immune cells generally called tumour stromal cells. This new and dynamic milieu further enhances the responsiveness of tumour cells towards soluble mediators secreted by tumour stromal cells, thus directly affecting the malignant hepatocytes. This results in altered molecular pathways with cell proliferation as the most important mechanism of liver cancer progression. Given this contextual complexity, it is of utmost importance to characterize the molecular pathogenesis of HCC, and to identify the dominant pathways/drivers and aberrant signalling pathways. This will allow an effective therapy for HCC that should combine strategies affecting both cancer and the tumour stromal cells. This review provides an overview of the recent challenges and issues regarding hepatic stellate cells, extracellular matrix dynamics, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and therapy, tumour microenvironment and HCC.
Survival of rabid rabbits after intrathecal immunization
Authors: Kesdangsakonwut Sawang , Sunden Yuji , Aoshima Keisuke , Iwaki Yoshimi , Okumura Masahiro , Sawa Hirofumi , Umemura Takashi
Published: January 2014

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease for which no effective treatment measures are currently available. Rabies virus (RABV) has anti‐apoptotic and anti‐inflammatory properties that suppress nerve cell damage and inflammation in the CNS. These features imply that the elimination of RABV from the CNS by appropriate treatment could lead to complete recovery from rabies. Ten rabbits showing neuromuscular symptoms of rabies after subcutaneous (SC) immunization using commercially available vaccine containing inactivated whole RABV particles and subsequent fixed RABV (CVS strain) inoculation into hind limb muscles were allocated into three groups. Three rabbits received no further treatment (the SC group), three rabbits received three additional SC immunizations using the same vaccine, and four rabbits received three intrathecal (IT) immunizations, in which the vaccine was inoculated directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (the SC/IT group). An additional three naïve rabbits were inoculated intramuscularly with RABV and not vaccinated. The rabbits exhibited neuromuscular symptoms of rabies within 4–8 days post‐inoculation (dpi) of RABV. All of the rabbits died within 8–12 dpi with the exception of one rabbit in the SC group and all four rabbits in SC/IT group, which recovered and started to respond to external stimuli at 11–18 dpi and survived until the end of the experimental period. RABV was eliminated from the CNS of the surviving rabbits. We report here a possible, although still incomplete, therapy for rabies using IT immunization. Our protocol may rescue the life of rabid patients and prompt the future development of novel therapies against rabies.
Familial florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia in mother and her identical twins: a report with review of the literatures
Authors: Sim Y.C. , Bakhshalian N. , Lee J‐H. , Ahn K‐M.
Published: January 2014

The objective of this study is to present a hereditary pattern of florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia. A 49‐year‐old female was diagnosed with familial florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia in 2008. Her identical twin daughters were referred for evaluation of mixed radio‐opaque/lucent lesions in both maxilla and mandible in 2009. Based on radiographic and histopathological findings, the lesions of the identical twins were diagnosed as early‐stage familial florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia. Microscopically, the tissue showed a mixture of woven trabeculae and cementum‐like calcification in the fibrous stroma. This study reports the first familial florid cemento‐osseous dysplasia in a mother and her identical twin daughters. Long‐term follow‐up is required to observe the progression of this disease.
Morphologicalversusgenetic diversity ofViola reichenbachianaandV. riviniana(sect.Viola,Violaceae) from soils differing in heavy metal content
Authors: Kuta E. , Jędrzejczyk‐Korycińska M. , Cieślak E. , Rostański A. , Szczepaniak M. , Migdałek G. , Wąsowicz P. , Suda J. , Combik M. , Słomka A.
Published: January 2014

Morphological characters,AFLPmarkers and flow cytometry were used to investigate the morphological and genetic variability and differentiation ofViola reichenbachianaandV. rivinianain non‐metallicolous (NM) and metallicolous (M) populations. The aims were to clarify the taxonomic status of plants occurring in ore‐bearing areas, to determine any relationship inV. reichenbachianaandV. rivinianafrom sites not polluted with heavy metals, and to examine the genetic variability and differentiation of M andNMpopulations of both species. Multivariate analyses based on morphological characters showed significant differences betweenV. reichenbachianaandV. rivinianafrom non‐polluted sites, high levels of intra‐ and inter‐population variability, and the occurrence of inter‐specific hybrids. Plants from M populations showed hybrid characters but also fell within the range ofV. rivinianaorV. reichenbachiana. There were no significant differences in relative genome size between plants from polluted areas andV. rivinianafromNMpopulations. Bayesian analysis of population genetic structure based onAFLPmarkers distinguished two main groups:V. reichenbachianaandV. rivinianatogether with the M populations. That analysis also revealed the occurrence of populations of inter‐specific hybrids from non‐polluted areas. Further Bayesian analysis ofV. rivinianaincludingNMand M populations separated all the studied M populations fromNMpopulations. We conclude that plants forming the M populations are well adapted to a metal‐polluted environment, and could be considered as stabilised introgressive forms resulting from unidirectional (asymmetric) introgression towardV. riviniana.
Mechanisms underlying hemodynamic and neuroendocrine stress reactivity at different phases of the menstrual cycle
Authors: Gordon Jennifer L. , Girdler Susan S.
Published: January 2014

This study examined the association of menstrual cycle phase with stress reactivity as well as the hormonal and neuroendocrine mechanisms contributing to cycle effects. Fifty‐seven women underwent a modified Trier Social Stress Test during the early follicular, late follicular, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Greater increases in cardiac index (CI) and greater decreases in vascular resistance index (VRI) during speech were observed in the luteal phase relative to other phases, while greater increases in epinephrine (EPI) was observed during the late follicular and luteal phases compared to the early follicular phase. Luteal phase estradiol predicted luteal EPI reactivity but not CI or VRI reactivity, while luteal phase EPI reactivity predicted luteal phase CI and VRI reactivity. Thus, cycle‐related changes in EPI reactivity may be a stronger determinant of cycle effects on hemodynamic reactivity than sex hormones per se.
International Trade and Unemployment—the Worker‐selection Effect
Authors: de Pinto Marco , Michaelis Jochen
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates the labor market effects of trade liberalization. We incorporate trade unions and heterogeneous workers into the Melitz framework. Workers differ with respect to their abilities. Our main findings are: (i) trade liberalization harms low‐ability workers, they lose their job and switch to long‐term unemployment (worker‐selection effect); (ii) high‐ability workers are better off in terms of both higher wages and higher employment; (iii) if a country is endowed with a large fraction of low‐ability workers, trade liberalization leads to a rise in aggregate unemployment—in this case, trade liberalization may harm a country's welfare; (iv) the overall employment and welfare effect crucially hinges on the characteristics of the wage bargain.
Worldwide HLA‐E nucleotide and haplotype variability reveals a conserved gene for coding and 3′ untranslated regions
Authors: Felício L. P. , Porto I. O. P. , Mendes‐Junior C. T. , Veiga‐Castelli L. C. , Santos K. E. , Vianello‐Brondani R. P. , Sabbagh A. , Moreau P. , Donadi E. A. , Castelli E. C.
Published: January 2014

The human leukocyte antigen‐E (HLA‐E) locus is a human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene associated with immune‐modulation and suppression of the immune response by the interaction with specific natural killer (NK) and T cell receptors (TCRs). It is considered one of the most conserved genes of the human MHC; however, this low nucleotide variability seems to be a consequence of the scarce number of studies focusing on this subject. In this manuscript we assessed the nucleotide variability at the HLA‐E coding and 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) in Brazil and in the populations from the 1000Genomes Consortium. Twenty‐eight variable sites arranged into 33 haplotypes were detected and most of these haplotypes (98.2%) are encoding one of the two HLA‐E molecules found worldwide, E*01:01 and E*01:03. Moreover, three worldwide spread haplotypes, associated with the coding alleles E*01:01:01, E*01:03:01 and E*01:03:02, account for 85% of all HLA‐E haplotypes, suggesting that they arose early before human speciation. In addition, the low nucleotide diversity found for the HLA‐E coding and 3′UTR in worldwide populations suggests that the HLA‐E gene is in fact a conserved gene, which might be a consequence of its key role in the modulation of the immune system.
Killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor gene 3DL1*077 isolated using long‐range sequence‐based techniques
Authors: Yindom L.‐M. , Wang L. , Rowland‐Jones S.L. , Dong T.
Published: January 2014

KIR3DL1*077 gene has two non‐synonymous mutations (exon 5) and six intronic changes compared to KIR3DL1*0150201.
Bispectral index analysis during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a propofol‐anesthetized calf
Authors: Aprea Francesco , Martin‐Jurado Olga , Jenni Simon , Mosing Martina
Published: January 2014

Objective

To describe bispectral index (BIS) findings and compare them with cardiovascular and respiratory trends during cardiac arrest and successful CPR in a propofol‐anesthetized calf.

Case Summary

A 3‐month‐old calf was anesthetized as part of a research project. A thromboxane analog drug (U46619) was administered IV to induce pulmonary hypertension. Within 10 minutes following U46619 administration, cardiac activity deteriorated, leading to asystole. At this point, BIS and suppression rate were 0 and 100, respectively. Anesthetic drug delivery was discontinued and external chest compressions were initiated. During CPR, end‐tidal CO2 concentration decreased and BIS increased, but no spontaneous cardiac activity was noted, thus IV epinephrine was administered. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved and systemic arterial hypertension developed, while BIS briefly decreased and then increased during the following 2 minutes. The calf's cardiopulmonary variables returned to physiological ranges within 10 minutes after the return of spontaneous circulation and remained stable.

Unique Information Provided

This is the first report in which BIS is documented together with standard monitoring techniques during cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation in a calf. BIS varied with cardiovascular performance, and may be indicative of cerebral blood flow in this context. Further research may be warranted to define the role of BIS for monitoring cerebral activity during CPR.
Cytotoxic Activity of Major Compounds from Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. Fruits
Authors: Md Othman Siti Nur Atiqah , Basar Norazah , Mohd Bohari Siti Pauliena
Published: January 2014

P. macrocarpa is a well known Indonesian medicinal plant which is traditionally claimed to have anticancer properties. To date, there are numerous cytotoxic studies conducted on crude extracts of this plant. However, there are limited informations available regarding cytotoxic activity of the compounds isolated from this plant. Thus, this study investigated cytotoxic activity of two benzophenones derivatives identified as 2,6,4'-trihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (1) and 6,4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. Cytotoxic activities of these compounds were performed against human cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa) and mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (3T3) using MTT assay. The result showed that benzophenone (1)  exhibited low cytotoxic effect against HeLa and 3T3 cell lines with IC50 values of 132 µg/ml and 158 µg/ml, repectively while benzophenone (2) was non toxic against HeLa and 3T3 cell lines are because the IC50 is more than 250 µg/ml. These findings may sheds light on the actual properties of this plant.
Effect of 2,4-D on Embryogenic Callus Induction of Malaysian indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars MR123 and MR127
Authors: Illyas Ahmad Fauziah , Johan Nur Shafiqoh , Wagiran Alina
Published: January 2014

The aim of this study is to study the effect of various concentrations of 2,4-D on embryogenic callus induction of indica rice MR123 cultivar and MR127 cultivar using mature seeds. Optimal media for induction of callus of both cultivars was MS basal media supplemented with 30g/L sucrose, 500mg/L glutamine and 500mg/L proline supplemented with 2.5 mg/L 2,4-D. The highest percentage of callus induction was 70% and 76% for MR123 and MR127 respectively. Both cultivars produced an embryogenic callus from scutellum after a week in culture with white-yellowish in color. The viability tested using Evans blue show callus obtained was embryogenic. This simple protocol using staining method could be used for screening embryogenic callus before further experiments can be conducted.