bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyses of Eurasian wild and domestic pig genomes reveals long-term gene-flow and selection during domestication
Authors: Frantz Laurent A.F. , Schraiber Joshua G. , Madsen Ole , Megens Hendrik-Jan , Cagan Alex , Bosse Mirte , Paudel Yogesh , Crooijmans Richard PMA , Larson Greger , Groenen Martien AM
Published: November 2014

Traditionally, the process of domestication is assumed to be initiated by people, involve few individuals and rely on reproductive isolation between wild and domestic forms. However, an emerging zooarcheological consensus depicts animal domestication as a long-term process without reproductive isolation or strong intentional selection. Here, we ask whether pig domestication followed a traditional linear model, or a complex, reticulate model as predicted by zooarcheologists. To do so, we fit models of domestication to whole genome data from over 100 wild and domestic pigs. We found that the assumptions of traditional models, such as reproductive isolation and strong domestication bottlenecks, are incompatible with the genetic data and provide support for the zooarcheological theory of a complex domestication process. In particular, gene-flow from wild to domestic pigs was a ubiquitous feature of the domestication of pigs. In addition, we show that despite gene-flow, the genomes of domestic pigs show strong signatures of selection at loci that affect behaviour and morphology. Specifically, our results are consistent with independent parallel sweeps in two independent domestication areas (China and Anatolia) at loci linked to morphological traits. We argue that recurrent selection for domestic traits likely counteracted the homogenising effect of gene-flow from wild boars and created "islands of domestication" in the genome. Overall, our results suggest that genomic approaches that allow for more complex models of domestication to be embraced should be employed. The results from these studies will have significant ramifications for studies that attempt to infer the origin of domesticated animals.

Significance Statement

Though animal domestication has traditionally been viewed as a human-directed process involving small populations of domestic animals and limited interbreeding between wild and domestic forms, but recent zooarcheological insights have questioned this model. By studying domestication in pigs, we demonstrate that complex models of domestication incorporating long-term gene-flow from multiple wild boar populations fit genomic data from modern wild and domestic pigs significantly better than models based on the traditional perspective. In addition, we demonstrate that selection at genes associated with domestic traits countered the effects of the gene flow, thus allowing morphological and behavioural differentiation between wild and domestic populations to be maintained.
Reliable Gene Expression Analysis by Reverse Transcription-Quantitative PCR: Reporting and Minimizing the Uncertainty in Data Accuracy
Authors: Remans Tony , Keunen Els , Bex Geert Jan , Smeets Karen , Vangronsveld Jaco , Cuypers Ann
Published: November 2014

Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has been widely adopted to measure differences in mRNA levels; however, biological and technical variation strongly affects the accuracy of the reported differences. RT-qPCR specialists have warned that, unless researchers minimize this variability, they may report inaccurate differences and draw incorrect biological conclusions. The Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE) guidelines describe procedures for conducting and reporting RT-qPCR experiments. The MIQE guidelines enable others to judge the reliability of reported results; however, a recent literature survey found low adherence to these guidelines. Additionally, even experiments that use appropriate procedures remain subject to individual variation that statistical methods cannot correct. For example, since ideal reference genes do not exist, the widely used method of normalizing RT-qPCR data to reference genes generates background noise that affects the accuracy of measured changes in mRNA levels. However, current RT-qPCR data reporting styles ignore this source of variation. In this commentary, we direct researchers to appropriate procedures, outline a method to present the remaining uncertainty in data accuracy, and propose an intuitive way to select reference genes to minimize uncertainty. Reporting the uncertainty in data accuracy also serves for quality assessment, enabling researchers and peer reviewers to confidently evaluate the reliability of gene expression data.
Economic and environmental effects of nutrient budgeting strategies in animal excreta treatment
Authors: Ma Yongxi , Lu Wencong , Bergmann Holger
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to optimize manure allocation through nutrient budgeting strategy to meet crop nutrient requirements under maximizing economic returns and environmental constraints, and then to evaluate the economic and environmental effects of different nutrient budgeting strategies in animal excreta treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this study, a holistic integrated “ecological-economic” model is developed. It incorporates the systems of animal-crop production and waste treatment is developed for a pilot pig farm in China in order to simulate the economic and environmental effects of several nutrient budgeting strategies in excreta treatment for resource use.

Findings

– The results reveal nutrient management deficiencies cause some serious environmental problems. The operations including biogas and composting are economically and environmentally efficient methods for manure management through nutrient budgeting strategy in an intensive animal farming with limited access to cropland. The nutrient budgeting strategy of constrained phosphorus, however, creates better environmental effects and brings more income from the waste treatment than the strategy of constrained nitrogen. The current standard of manure application in cropland which emphasizes on crop requirements for nitrogen should be reconsidered.

Originality/value

– The paper is an original work and its methodology makes a meaningful contribution to understanding the relations between different nutrient budgeting strategies and their economic and environmental effects.
Shortest distance estimation in large scale graphs
Authors: Chen Yuzhong , Yu Yang , Chen Guolong
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Shortest distance query between a pair of nodes in a graph is a classical problem with a wide variety of applications. Exact methods for this problem are infeasible for large-scale graphs such as social networks with hundreds of millions of users and links due to their high complexity of time and space. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel landmark selection strategy which can estimate the shortest distances in large-scale graphs and clarify the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed strategy in comparison with currently used strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Different from existing strategies, the landmark selection problem is regarded as a binary combinational optimization problem consisting of two optimization objectives and one constraint. Further, the original binary combinational optimization problem with constraints is transformed to a proper form of optimization objectives without any additional constraints and the equivalence of solutions is proved. Finally the solution of the optimization problem is performed with a modified multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) integrating the mutation operator and crossover operator of genetic algorithm.

Findings

– Four real networks of large scale are used as data sets to carry out the experiments and the experiment results show that the proposed strategy improves both of the accuracy and time efficiency to perform shortest distance estimation in large scale graph compared to other currently used strategies.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes a novel landmark selection strategy which regards the landmark selection problem as a binary combinational optimization problem. The original binary combinational optimization problem with constraints is transformed to a proper form of optimization objectives without constraints and the equivalence of these two optimization problems is proved. This novel strategy also utilizes a modified MOPSO integrating the mutation operator and crossover operator of genetic algorithm.
Improved initial cluster center selection in K-means clustering
Authors: Zhu Minchen , Wang Weizhi , Huang Jingshan
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– It is well known that the selection of initial cluster centers can significantly affect K-means clustering results. The purpose of this paper is to propose an improved, efficient methodology to handle such a challenge.

Design/methodology/approach

– According to the fact that the inner-class distance among samples within the same cluster is supposed to be smaller than the inter-class distance among clusters, the algorithm will dynamically adjust initial cluster centers that are randomly selected. Consequently, such adjusted initial cluster centers will be highly representative in the sense that they are distributed among as many samples as possible. As a result, local optima that are common in K-means clustering can then be effectively reduced. In addition, the algorithm is able to obtain all initial cluster centers simultaneously (instead of one center at a time) during the dynamic adjustment.

Findings

– Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm greatly improves the accuracy of traditional K-means clustering results and, in a more efficient manner.

Originality/value

– The authors presented in this paper an efficient algorithm, which is able to dynamically adjust initial cluster centers that are randomly selected. The adjusted centers are highly representative, i.e. they are distributed among as many samples as possible. As a result, local optima that are common in K-means clustering can be effectively reduced so that the authors can achieve an improved clustering accuracy. In addition, the algorithm is a cost-efficient one and the enhanced clustering accuracy can be obtained in a more efficient manner compared with traditional K-means algorithm.
Validity and reliability of lean manufacturing frameworks
Authors: Vamsi Krishna Jasti Naga , Kodali Rambabu
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate, validity and reliability analysis on existing Lean manufacturing (LM) frameworks when applied to Indian organizations. LM is one of the best manufacturing strategies that are used by manufacturing plant managers to improve manufacturing capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the present research work, a questionnaire-based survey was used to examine 35 LM frameworks. The study targeted respondents ranging from top- and middle-level management personnel in Indian manufacturing industry. The sample includes organizations in a variety of industries ranging from automobile, electronics, engineering, process and textile industries products. The survey tool was prepared with team of 12 members i.e. six academicians and six professionals from manufacturing industry environment. The study received 186 responses from various sectors of manufacturing industry, 180 surveys were usable resulting in a response rate of 23.90 per cent. Factor analysis was conducted to check unidimentionality of the framework. Cronbach’s alpha is calculated to find reliability of each framework’s. Lastly, frequency analysis was used to recognize familiar constructs of LM on the chosen framework.

Findings

– This study has identified that most of the LM frameworks revealed a high level of reliability. When the study has examined further advance about unidimensionality with respect to the construct, i.e. the LM it measures, it confirmed 11 frameworks were revealing unidimensionality. The frequency analysis was evident that a greater part of the constructs has a high mean score and mode. Finally, the research concludes that there is requirement for a novel framework to Indian manufacturing industry to stay in competition with global manufacturing industries.

Research limitations/implications

– Cross-sectional data from manufacturing industries and India (only one country) is used with sample size restricted to 180 only, and it would be interesting to test these frameworks for more than one industry sector and country.

Practical implications

– The present work tries to find the suitability of the presented LM frameworks to Indian manufacturing industry sector. The authors hoped that the present research would give the information to the management to execute the suitable LM framework in their firm.

Originality/value

– The present work tries to find the suitability of the presented LM frameworks to Indian manufacturing industry sector. The authors hoped that the present research would give the information to the management to execute the suitable LM framework in their firm.
Revisiting Islamic education: the case of Indonesia
Authors: Roslan Mohd Nor Mohd , Malim Maksum
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to attempt to examine the aims and objectives outlined in the formation of Islamic education in Indonesia. This study also looks at the development of Islamic education in general and the various approaches taken by the Indonesian Government.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study has mainly used a library research methodology. The data relevant to the study were collected and analysed by using an analytical approach.

Findings

– The study found that there is a significant contribution from the Ministry in formulation of Islamic Education policy in Indonesia.

Originality/value

– Indonesia is the largest Muslim majority country in the world. Islamic education in Indonesia has been around for a long time. In modern days, many have tried to study on Islamic education in terms of philosophy and objectives to be achieved. This study addresses the Islamic education in Indonesia; hence, it provides values for readers, researchers and those who are involved in future studies of this country.
Parental involvement in college planning
Authors: M. Hines Erik , DiAnne Borders L. , M. Gonzalez Laura , Villalba José , Henderson Alia
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article was to describe Hossler and Gallagher’s (1987) college choice model and emphasize the predisposition phase of the model as the starting point for school counselors’ efforts to help African American parents foster their children’s college planning in the college choice process.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors wrote this manuscript as a conceptual approach to helping school counselors work with African American parents in their children’s college planning process by including two case studies as examples.

Findings

– This is a conceptual article.

Practical implications

– School counselors should be culturally competent and aware of how African Americans rear their children to help them successfully navigate college planning. For example, school counselors can learn about and share information with families about colleges that have support programs assisting African American students toward college completion.

Originality/value

– This paper is important to the field of education as it contributes to the literature regarding how school counselors can assist students in becoming college and career ready by working with their parents using a college choice model.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) prevails in the second circuit in defending its no-admission settlement policy
Authors: Healy Terence , J. Greer Amy , Z. Herbst Daniel
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– To explain the impact of a recent decision by the USA Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on the SEC’s “neither admit nor deny” practice on SEC enforcement matters after the practice was called into question by a federal district court judge.

Design/methodology/approach

– Explains the background on the practice of no-admission, the challenge by Judge Rakoff to the practice, and the ruling of the Second Circuit and its practical approach on enforcement matters.

Findings

– The ruling should resolve much of the uncertainty that has surrounded court approval of SEC settlements since Judge Rakoff’s decision to question the practice of no-admit or deny settlements. However, recent comments from SEC Chair Mary Jo White and Senior Enforcement Staff suggest that the SEC may continue to seek admissions in certain cases.

Originality/value

– Practical guidance from experienced securities and financial services lawyers.
Identifying entrepreneurs through risk taking behaviour: illegal downloading
Authors: Pascoe Kate , Mortimer Kathleen
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore, and is the first in a series, whether it is possible to use risk-taking activities as way of identifying potential entrepreneurs. The research examines the motivations of individuals to engage in deviant consumer behaviour, in this case illegal downloading and the link between this behaviour and possible entrepreneurial characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology approach was of a quantitative nature using a 32-item questionnaire disseminated to 215 undergraduate students at a UK university.

Findings

– Although there was strong evidence of entrepreneurial traits existing across the participants, including risk-taking propensity, no relationship could be found between risk-taking propensity and illegal downloading. Reasons put forward for these findings were that the level of risk involved was too low to be identified as such by the downloaders, even though the non-downloaders were worried about being caught and, therefore, were not participating in it. Attitudes towards this misbehaviour change when it is not for their own consumption and very few students participated in that activity.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is limited to a cohort of undergraduate students at only one university. This study begins to understand the potential link between misbehaviour and entrepreneurial traits.

Originality/value

– This paper examines the possible link between consumer misbehaviour, in this case illegal downloading and the display of entrepreneurial risk-taking characteristics. The implication of “consumer misbehaviour” through illegal downloading being “entrepreneurial” has, to our knowledge, not been previously tested and could be a useful and inexpensive way of identifying future entrepreneurs and consequently directing relevant support and training to the right people.
Scalable decision support for digital preservation
Authors: Becker Christoph , Faria Luis , Duretec Kresimir
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Preservation environments such as repositories need scalable and context-aware preservation planning and monitoring capabilities to ensure continued accessibility of content over time. This article identifies a number of gaps in the systems and mechanisms currently available and presents a new, innovative architecture for scalable decision-making and control in such environments.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper illustrates the state of the art in preservation planning and monitoring, highlights the key challenges faced by repositories to provide scalable decision-making and monitoring facilities, and presents the contributions of the SCAPE Planning and Watch suite to provide such capabilities.

Findings

– The presented architecture makes preservation planning and monitoring context-aware through a semantic representation of key organizational factors, and integrates this with a business intelligence system that collects and reasons upon preservation-relevant information.

Research limitations/implications

– The architecture has been implemented in the SCAPE Planning and Watch suite. Integration with repositories and external information sources provide powerful preservation capabilities that can be freely integrated with virtually any repository.

Practical implications

– The open nature of the software suite enables stewardship organizations to integrate the components with their own preservation environments and to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the systems.

Originality/value

– The paper reports on innovative research and development to provide preservation capabilities. The results enable proactive, continuous preservation management through a context-aware planning and monitoring cycle integrated with operational systems.
5‐Fluorouracil combined with apigenin enhances anticancer activity through mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm)‐mediated apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Hu Xiao‐Yun , Liang Ji‐Yun , Guo Xue‐Jun , Liu Li , Guo Ya‐Bing
Published: November 2014

The development of chemoresistance may reduce the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, the effects of apigenin on intensifying the chemosensitivity of HCC cells and an HCC xenograft model in response to 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) were investigated. Sub‐toxic concentrations of apigenin (4 μmol/L) significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of 5‐FU (100 μg/mL) in HCC cells. In vivo, combined treatment with apigenin (20 mg/kg, five times/week for 3 weeks) and 5‐FU (20 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days) significantly inhibited the growth of HCC xenograft tumours. Annexin V–propidium iodide dual staining assays, terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP–digoxigenin nick end‐labelling assays and western blotting analysis were used to confirm the synergistic effects of apigenin and 5‐FU on HCC apoptosis. Coincubation of HCC cells with apigenin and 5‐FU increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was followed by a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). In addition, combined triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as indicated by decreased Bcl‐2 expression and loss of ΔΨm, with significant activation of caspase 3 and poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase. The present study is the first to demonstrate that apigenin may potentiate the cytotoxicity of 5‐FU in HCC via inhibition of ROS‐mediated drug resistance and concurrent activation of the mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis.
Sleep quality in patients with psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Gezer Orhan , Batmaz İbrahim , Sariyildiz Mustafa Akif , Sula Bilal , Ucmak Derya , Bozkurt Mehtap , Nas Kemal
Published: November 2014

Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) on sleep quality and investigate the association between sleep quality and clinical parameters of PsA, quality of life and psychological state in patients with PsA.

Method

Forty‐one patients with PsA and 38 healthy volunteers were included in this study. In both patients and healthy controls, sleep quality was assessed by means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression were assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In addition, PsA Quality of Life (PsAQoL) Index and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were used on patients. Generalized pain was assessed by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results

Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction and total PSQI scores were significantly higher in patients with PsA compared to healthy controls. Total PSQI scores significantly correlated with anxiety, generalized pain, PsAQoL scores, enthesitis and levels of C‐reactive protein (CPR) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P < 0.05). Also, multiple regression analysis indicated that ESR level was independently associated with total PSQI score (P < 0.05, R2 = 0.325).

Conclusion

Sleep quality is diminished in patients with PsA. Sleep disturbance is particularly associated with generalized pain, anxiety, enthesitis and levels of CRP and ESR in patients carrying the diagnosis of PsA.
Printing soil: a single‐step, high‐throughput method to isolate micro‐organisms and near‐neighbour microbial consortia from a complex environmental sample
Authors: Ringeisen Bradley R. , Rincon Karina , Fitzgerald Lisa A. , Fulmer Preston A. , Wu Peter K.
Published: November 2014

Traditional high throughput methods for isolating microorganisms from environmental samples such as soil or sediment require pre‐processing steps to remove the living species from their solid‐phase microniche, creating a liquid‐phase sample. This process destroys near‐neighbor relationships that could be crucial to culturing and studying the microorganisms to be isolated.

An automated, high throughput method is described here that isolates pure microbial cultures and spatially related microbial consortia directly from a solid‐phase complex environmental sample. By using an orifice‐free printing mechanism, Biological Laser Printing (BioLP) enabled single‐step isolation of viable environmental microorganisms directly from soil. Soil was spread onto a titania‐coated quartz plate prior to initiating printing of soil micro‐particles with focused ultraviolet laser pulses.

Tunable amounts of soil were printed to glass slides, Luria Bertani agar plates and broth filled 96‐well plates at deposition rates exceeding 20 micro‐particles per second, demonstrating the ability to isolate thousands of micro‐particles of soil in minutes. Viability, culturability and significant morphological diversity were demonstrated post‐printing.

Results show that single step soil printing can be used to (a) generate pure microbial cultures (isolates), and (b) isolate consortia from a micro‐ecological system that exists naturally in near‐neighbor proximity, undisturbed from the environmental sample.
On the nature of implicit soul beliefs: When the past weighs more than the present
Authors: Anglin Stephanie M.
Published: November 2014

Intuitive childhood beliefs in dualism may lay the foundation for implicit soul and afterlife beliefs, which may diverge from explicit beliefs formed later in adulthood. Brief Implicit Association Tests were developed to investigate the relation of implicit soul and afterlife beliefs to childhood and current beliefs. Early but not current beliefs covaried with implicit beliefs. Results demonstrated greater discrepancies in current than in childhood soul and afterlife beliefs among religious groups, and no differences in implicit beliefs. These findings suggest that implicit soul and afterlife beliefs diverge from current self‐reported beliefs, stemming instead from childhood beliefs.
Effects of sitagliptin on blood pressure and heart rate in response to intraduodenal glucose infusion in patients with Type 2 diabetes: a potential role for glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide?
Authors: Wu T. , Trahair L. G. , Bound M. J. , Deacon C. F. , Horowitz M. , Rayner C. K. , Jones K. L.
Published: November 2014

Aims

To evaluate the effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor sitagliptin on blood pressure and heart rate, measured during a previously reported study, in which the effects of sitagliptin during intraduodenal glucose infusion at the rate of 2 kcal/min on glucose homeostasis were examined in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

A total of 10 people with Type 2 diabetes were studied on two different days, 30 min after oral ingestion of sitagliptin (100 mg) or placebo. Intraduodenal glucose was infused at 2 kcal/min (60 g over 120 min), and blood pressure, heart rate, plasma glucagon‐like peptide‐1 and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (total and intact), glucose, insulin and glucagon responses were evaluated.

Results

In response to intraduodenal glucose infusion, heart rate (treatment effect: P = 0.001) and serum insulin concentration (treatment × time interaction: P = 0.041) were higher after sitagliptin treatment than placebo, without a significant difference in blood pressure, plasma glucagon or glucose. During intraduodenal glucose infusion, there was a substantial increase in plasma total glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide on both days (time effect: P < 0.001), but not in total glucagon‐like peptide‐1. After sitagliptin, plasma intact glucagon‐like peptide‐1 concentration increased slightly (treatment × time interaction: P = 0.044) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide concentration increased substantially (treatment × time interaction: P = 0.003).The heart rate response to intraduodenal glucose was related directly to plasma intact glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide concentrations (r = 0.75, P = 0.008).

Conclusions

Sitagliptin increased the heart rate response to intraduodenal glucose infusion at 2 kcal/min in people with Type 2 diabetes, which was associated with augmentation of plasma intact glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide concentrations. These observations warrant further clarification of a potential role for glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide in the control of the ‘gut–heart’ axis.
Evaluation of Adult versus Pediatric Transesophageal Echocardiography Probe Efficiency for Guiding Septal Puncture during Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Authors: Guler Ekrem , Babur Guler Gamze , Demir Gultekin Gunhan , Kizilirmak Filiz , Gunes Hacı Murat , Barutcu İrfan , Turkmen Mehmet Muhsin , Kilicaslan Fethi
Published: November 2014

Purpose

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has a pivotal role in invasive cardiology practice in terms of guiding a variety of procedures. It is challenging to perform TEE examination with sedated patients due to difficulties in cooperation and positioning the patient properly, therefore the risk of complications is escalated. We aimed to assess the impact of pediatric TEE probe utilization on procedural success and complication rates; in comparison with conventional adult TEE probe.

Methods

Fifty‐eight patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with TEE guidance were enrolled and patients were grouped based on probe size: Group 1 (n  =  35) included patients undergoing the procedure with adult TEE probe guidance and Group 2 (n  =  23) included patients with pediatric TEE probe guidance. Procedural success, postprocedural odynophagia and periprocedural intra‐oral bleeding frequency, number of intubation attempts, TEE imaging time, and midazolam doses for both groups were compared.

Results

Odynophagia frequency was significantly higher in Group 1 (25.7% [n  =  9] vs. 0%, P  =  0.008) besides oral mucosal bleeding was also higher in Group 1, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (5.7% [n  =  2] vs. 0%, P  =  0.513). Number of repeated attempts was lower in Group 2 (median, 1; range [3–1] vs. 1, [1–1], P  =  0.038). Image resolutions and septal puncture success rates were similar for both groups. Total imaging time with TEE was significantly shorter in Group 2 (6.4 ± 1.8 min vs. 3.6 ± 0.9 min, P < 0.001). Midazolam dose was lower in Group 2 (7.0 ± 1.7 vs. 6.2 ± 1.7, P  =  0.065).

Conclusion

Using TEE probes with smaller size for guiding invasive percutaneous procedures performed in cardiac catheterization laboratory decreased TEE‐associated complication rates and enhanced patient comfort without any negative effect on procedural success.
Infective Endocarditis Related to a Coronary Artery Fistula with an Unusual Localization and Ectatic Coronary Arteries
Authors: Gerede Demet Menekse , Acibuca Aynur , Uzun Caglar , Goksuluk Huseyin , Ongun Aydan , Kilickap Mustafa , Erol Cetin
Published: November 2014

Coronary artery fistulas (CAF) are a rare cardiac anomaly that can be either congenital or acquired. CAFs have clinical significance because of complications such as dyspnea on exertion, congestive heart failure, and cardiac tamponade. The literature also contains case reports of CAF presenting as bacterial endocarditis. We describe a 31‐year‐old man who presented with native valve infective endocarditis related to an unusual form of a CAF between the circumflex coronary artery and left ventricle. He also had giant coronary arteries, which were imaged with computed tomography angiography and transesophageal echocardiography. The diameter of the circumflex coronary artery and left main coronary artery was measured as 19 mm. Surgical intervention for heart valves was performed because of vegetations resistant to continued antibiotic treatment. At the same time, the CAF was treated with surgery.
Left Atrial Appendage Flow Velocity and Time from P‐Wave Onset to Tissue Doppler–Derived A' Predict Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation
Authors: Fukushima Keiko , Fukushima Noritoshi , Ejima Koichiro , Kato Ken , Sato Yasuto , Uematsu Shoko , Arai Kotaro , Manaka Tetsuyuki , Takagi Atsushi , Ashihara Kyomi , Shoda Morio , Hagiwara Nobuhisa
Published: November 2014

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with atrial remodeling. We investigate the abilities of preprocedural echocardiographic parameters reflecting atrial remodeling to predict AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for paroxysmal AF (PAF).

Methods

Preprocedural echocardiographic parameters were measured during sinus rhythm in 105 patients with PAF undergoing RFCA. Electrical remodeling was assessed by the time from the onset of the P‐wave to the peak A′‐wave on the tissue Doppler imaging (PA‐TDI), functional remodeling was assessed by the left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAAFV), and structural remodeling was assessed by the left atrial volume index (LAVI). PA‐TDI, LAAFV, and LAVI values were divided into tertiles, and their abilities to predict AF recurrence were assessed using Cox regression analysis.

Results

AF recurrence occurred in 39/105 (37.1%) patients. After adjustment for confounders, the rate of AF recurrence was significantly higher in the highest tertile of PA‐TDI compared with the lowest tertile (≥151.3 msec vs. <131.0 msec; hazard ratio [HR]: 2.477, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.031–5.950; P = 0.042), and in the lowest tertile of LAAFV compared with the highest tertile (<48.5 cm/sec vs. ≥64.9 cm/sec; HR: 2.680, 95% CI: 1.136–6.318; P = 0.024). The risk of AF recurrence was also higher in the highest tertile of LAVI (≥34.2 mL/m2) compared with the lowest tertile, but this difference was not significant (HR: 2.146, 95% CI: 0.834–5.523; P = 0.113).

Conclusions

LAAFV (reflecting functional remodeling) and PA‐TDI (reflecting electrical remodeling) are independent predictors of AF recurrence after RFCA for PAF.
Predictive Role of Stress Echocardiography before Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Galyfos George , Tsioufis Constantinos , Theodorou Dimitris , Katsaragakis Stilianos , Zografos Georgios , Filis Konstantinos
Published: November 2014

Objectives

Our aim was to examine the predictive value of preoperative stress echocardiography regarding early myocardial ischemia and late cardiac events after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods

Patients with coronary artery disease undergoing CEA were prospectively included in this study. All patients (n = 162) were classified into low, medium, and high cardiac risk group, according to preoperative stress echocardiography. Classification was based on the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography. For all patients, cTnI was measured before surgery and on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. Postoperative cTnI values ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 ng/mL were classified as myocardial ischemia; values >0.5 ng/mL were classified as myocardial infarction. Cardiac damage was defined as either myocardial ischemia or infarction.

Results

No deaths, strokes, or symptomatic coronary events were observed during the early postoperative period. There were 112 low cardiac risk patients, 42 medium‐risk patients, and 8 high‐risk patients, according to stress echocardiography findings. Overall, there were 22 patients (14%) that increased their cTnI values postoperatively (12 of low cardiac risk and 10 of medium cardiac risk), and all of them were asymptomatic. None of the high‐risk patients showed any troponin increase. Late cardiac events were associated with cTnI increase, although no high‐risk patients showed any late event.

Conclusions

Preoperative stress echocardiography does not seem to independently recognize patients in high risk for asymptomatic cardiac damage after CEA. Postoperative troponin elevation seems to be more predictive for late adverse cardiac events than preoperative stress echocardiography.
Evaluation of Peak Pressure Gradients in Patients after Melody Valve Implantation: A Comparison of Cardiac Catheterization and Doppler Echocardiography
Authors: Bauer Brenton S. , Zachariah Sybil , Levi Daniel , Rothman Abraham , Galindo Alvaro , Aboulhosn Jamil A
Published: November 2014

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine and quantify the relationship between Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization measurements of the peak right ventricle‐pulmonary artery (RV‐PA) pressure gradient in patients within 24 hours of Melody valve implantation for treatment of a dysfunctional RV outflow tract (RVOT) conduit or bioprosthetic valve (BPV).

Background

Patients with a dysfunctional RVOT conduit or BPV are now routinely treated percutaneously with implantation of a Melody valve. However, often the postimplantation catheter measurements of the RV‐PA peak gradient do not match the postimplant echo‐derived gradients obtained after completion of the procedure. Importantly, these echo gradients are commonly used to monitor patients after implantation over time.

Methods

Medical records of 42 patients with Melody valve implantation were reviewed (men: 25/42; mean age: 22.4 ± 11.2 years; RVOT conduit: 23/42; BPV: 18/42; pulmonic stenosis: 6/42, pulmonic regurgitation: 3/42, both: 33/42).

Results

The postimplantation RV‐PA peak gradient measured by Doppler echocardiography (within 24 hours of valve implantation) was significantly higher than the measurements acquired by catheterization immediately following implantation (24.2 ± 16.3 mmHg vs. 11.6 ± 8.5 mmHg, P < 0.0001). The relationship showed a moderate–strong correlation (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001) with regression analysis suggesting a linear association in both directions (echo gradient = 1.24 × cath gradient + 9.8, P<0.0001 vs. cath gradient = 0.34 × echo gradient + 3.4, P<0.0001).

Conclusion

The Doppler echocardiography‐derived RV‐PA peak gradient within 24 hours of valve implantation is predictably higher than the catheter measured peak gradient immediately following valve implantation. A regression equation was derived to define this important relationship.
Development of a dietary‐induced metabolic syndrome model using miniature pigs involvement of AMPK and SIRT1
Authors: Li Sin‐Jin , Liu Chia‐Hsin , Chang Chei‐Wei , Chu Hsien‐Pin , Chen Kuen‐Jaw , Mersmann Harry J. , Ding Shih‐Torng , Chu Chun‐Han , Chen Ching‐Yi
Published: November 2014

Background

During the progression of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) appear clinically in many individuals and cause death. As a result, it is essential to set up an optimal animal model to study the mechanism of MetS leading to CVD. SIRT1 and AMPK are the master regulators of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The objective of this study was to establish a miniature pig model of Western diet‐induced MetS and investigate the role of SIRT1/AMPK during MetS development.

Materials and Methods

Five‐month‐old Lee‐Sung (LS) and Lanyu (LY) minipigs were each randomly assigned to two groups: control diet (C) and Western diet (W), in a 6‐month experimental period.

Results

Western diet caused obesity in both minipig models. Compared with the CLS pigs, WLS pigs exhibited hypercholesterolaemia. However, WLY pigs maintained a similar plasma lipid profile to the CLY pigs. Western diet caused a lower antioxidant capacity in the liver of both pig models. WLS pigs had higher triglyceride accumulation in the liver than CLS pigs, whereas WLY and CLY pigs had similar hepatic triglyceride accumulation. Compared with CLS pigs, WLS pigs had a lower hepatic SIRT1 expression, whereas WLY pigs had a higher expression of AMPK, FOXO1 and SIRT1 than CLY pigs.

Conclusion

Long‐term feeding of the Western diet to Lee‐Sung miniature pigs not only caused obesity but also induced MetS and fatty liver, whereas Western diet induced obesity in Lanyu pigs without metabolic dysfunctions. SIRT1/AMPK and their downstream pathways might be one of the possible regulators for pathological obesity in Lee‐Sung pigs.
Tradeoff in two winter‐active wolf spiders: increased mortality for increased growth
Authors: Whitney Thomas D. , Philip Benjamin N. , Harwood James D.
Published: November 2014

A number of arthropods, including some spiders, forgo diapause as an overwintering strategy and are instead active at low temperatures. The higher metabolic rates and periodic foraging behavior associated with winter activity, however, can be incompatible with high levels of freeze avoidance. This is thought to be due, in part, to increased ice nucleators in the gut after feeding events and physiological complications brought on by accumulating certain cryoprotectants. To characterize the relationship between winter activity and cold hardiness, this study quantified the seasonal resistance to freezing in two common wolf spiders of hardwood forests in the eastern USA, Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) and Schizocosa stridulans (Stratton) (Araneae: Lycosidae). Individual spiders were collected from a deciduous forest in Kentucky from August 2012 to March 2013 and were subjected to supercooling point (SCP) determination assays. Contrary to many invertebrates with high cold hardiness, mean SCP of S. ocreata and S. stridulans remained constant throughout the study, which we subsequently determined was their lower lethal temperature. Interestingly, daily low temperatures within the leaf litter occasionally fell below the mean SCP of the spiders, subjecting them to a significant risk of freezing during winter. To determine whether this high risk was a result of winter predation, we fed spiders varying quantities of prey, but found no significant association between consumption and SCP. Despite exposure to potentially lethal temperatures, Schizocosa did not seasonally augment their cold hardiness to better survive. This suggests an ecological tradeoff, where these spiders appear to assume increased mortality risk in exchange for maximized growth opportunity during a time of year when few competitors are active. We posit that the increased fitness benefits associated with early maturation and larger size in spring help to sustain these abundant spider populations.
Relaxed predation hinders development of anti‐predator behaviors in an aposematic beetle
Authors: Tabadkani Seyed Mohammad , Nozari Jamasb
Published: November 2014

Predation is a key force constraining the time and space in which prey can forage. Theoretical models propose that warning coloration (aposematism) may help unprofitable prey to extend their foraging niche without suffering the costs of predation. In this study, we show that aposematism can alter the development of those behaviors that are associated with detection by predators. The aposematic rove beetle Paederus fuscipes Curtis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) harbors a symbiotic bacterium, which produces a non‐proteinaceous compound named pederin. We showed that pederin is highly toxic orally to insect predators and that adult P. fuscipes are well protected against predators. Field analysis revealed that Paederus is the most abundant genus of the tribe Paederini compared to five other closely related genera and that adult Paederus beetles are much more likely to be discovered during the day in open areas. In addition, laboratory analysis of common anti‐predator behaviors in P. fuscipes and three closely related, but non‐toxic, rove beetles revealed that non‐toxic beetles tend to seek refuge immediately after stimulation. Conversely, adult P. fuscipes are not adapted to conceal themselves even when intensely threatened. Instead, they walk in open areas and climb plant stalks, two behaviors that expose them to predators. These results imply that the chemical defense of P. fuscipes may have relaxed selective pressures on the development and maintenance of anti‐predator behaviors. These findings explain the unique biological characteristics of P. fuscipes beetles and provide evidence that aposematic animals may gain benefit by extending their foraging activities across both time and space.
Dietary specialization and the effects of plant species on potential multitrophic interactions of three species of nymphaline caterpillars
Authors: Lampert Evan C. , Dyer Lee A. , Bowers M. Deane
Published: November 2014

The diet breadth of insect herbivores influences their response to variation in plant quality, and these bitrophic interactions have implications for the higher‐level trophic interactions between herbivores and their natural enemies. In this comparative study, we examined the role of host plant species and plant secondary chemistry on the potential interactions between three species of nymphaline caterpillars and their natural enemies. The caterpillar species (all Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) varied in their degree of specialization: the buckeye, Junonia coenia Hübner, is a specialist on plants that contain iridoid glycosides (IGs); the white peacock, Anartia jatrophae L., feeds on plants in five families, some of which contain IGs and some of which do not; and the painted lady, Vanessa cardui L., is a generalist, feeding on plants in at least 15 families. Each species was reared on leaves of an introduced host plant, Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae), which produces two IGs, aucubin and catalpol, and on another plant species that is a common host plant. These alternate host plants were Plantago major L. (Plantaginaceae) for J. coenia, Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell (Plantaginaceae) for A. jatrophae, and Malva parviflora L. (Malvaceae) for V. cardui. We examined growth, sequestration, and immune response of these caterpillars on the different host plant species. Junonia coenia developed more rapidly and sequestered higher IG concentrations when reared on P. lanceolata, whereas both other species grew more slowly on P. lanceolata. Host plant did not influence immune response of J. coenia or A. jatrophae, whereas V. cardui immune response was weaker when reared on P. lanceolata. Junonia coenia was most efficient at IG sequestration and A. jatrophae was least efficient, when all three species were reared on P. lanceolata. These results indicate that diet breadth may play an important role in structuring tritrophic interactions, and this role should be further explored.