bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐Term Arrhythmia Follow‐Up of Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy
Authors: BENHAYON DANIEL , LUGO RICARDO , PATEL RUTUKE , CARBALLEIRA LIDIA , ELMAN LAUREN , COOPER JOSHUA M.
Published: December 2014

Arrhythmias in Myotonic Dystrophy Patients

Background

Myotonic dystrophy (MD) is the most common muscular dystrophy in adults and is associated with sudden death. Reported predictors of sudden death in this population include atrial tachyarrhythmias, a PR interval greater than 240 milliseconds, aberrant QRS conduction, and any degree of AV block.

Objective

We sought to report on the arrhythmic outcome of a cohort of patients with a new diagnosis of genetically proven MD.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 37 patients with genetically confirmed MD referred to our electrophysiology clinic for primary cardiac screening.

Results

There were 25 patients with MD type 1 (MD1) and 12 patients with MD type 2 (MD2). Eight patients with MD1 (32%) had atrial fibrillation, compared to only one patient with MD2 (8.3%). Patients with MD1 were more likely to have evidence of conduction disease abnormalities (40% vs. 8.3%, P = ns) and had a higher all‐cause mortality (16% vs. 0%) than those with MD2.
Criteria for recommending ICD implantation were based on sudden death risk factors suggested by published literature. Eleven patients were offered an ICD, 2 refused and died within the next year. Of the 9 patients who received an ICD, 8 had MD1. Three patients received appropriate shocks, 2 for monomorphic VT, and one for polymorphic VT.

Conclusion

The presence of AV conduction disturbance in MD patients is associated with a greater risk for ventricular arrhythmias. MD1 was more likely to be associated with cardiac arrhythmias than MD2. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias among those who received a primary prevention ICD was 33% over 22 months, with 2 patients experiencing monomorphic VT and one experiencing polymorphic VT.
The Effect of ICD Programming on Inappropriate and Appropriate ICD Therapies in Ischemic and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: The MADIT‐RIT Trial
Authors: SEDLÁČEK KAMIL , RUWALD ANNE‐CHRISTINE , KUTYIFA VALENTINA , MCNITT SCOTT , THOMSEN POUL ERIK BLOCH , KLEIN HELMUT , STOCKBURGER MARTIN , WICHTERLE DAN , MERKELY BELA , DE LA CONCHA JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ , SWISSA MOSHE , ZAREBA WOJCIECH , MOSS ARTHUR J. , KAUTZNER JOSEF , RUWALD MARTIN H. ,   for the MADIT‐RIT Investigators
Published: December 2014

ICD Programming in Ischemic and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction

The MADIT‐RIT trial demonstrated reduction of inappropriate and appropriate ICD therapies and mortality by high‐rate cut‐off and 60‐second‐delayed VT therapy ICD programming in patients with a primary prophylactic ICD indication. The aim of this analysis was to study effects of MADIT‐RIT ICD programming in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods and Results

First and total occurrences of both inappropriate and appropriate ICD therapies were analyzed by multivariate Cox models in 791 (53%) patients with ischemic and 707 (47%) patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy had similar incidence of first inappropriate (9% and 11%, P = 0.21) and first appropriate ICD therapy (11.6% and 14.1%, P = 0.15). Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy had higher mortality rate (6.1% vs. 3.3%, P = 0.01). MADIT‐RIT high‐rate cut‐off (arm B) and delayed VT therapy ICD programming (arm C) compared with conventional (arm A) ICD programming were associated with a significant risk reduction of first inappropriate and appropriate ICD therapy in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (HR range 0.11–0.34, P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Occurrence of total inappropriate and appropriate ICD therapies was significantly reduced by high‐rate cut‐off ICD programming and delayed VT therapy ICD programming in both ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy patients.

Conclusion

High‐rate cut‐off and delayed VT therapy ICD programming are associated with significant reduction in first and total inappropriate and appropriate ICD therapy in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy.
Relationship Between Contact Force Sensing Technology and Medium‐Term Outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Multicenter Study of 600 Patients
Authors: JARMAN JULIAN W.E. , PANIKKER SANDEEP , DAS MOLOY , WYNN GARETH J. , ULLAH WAQAS , KONTOGEORGIS ANDRIANOS , HALDAR SHOUVIK K. , PATEL PREYA J. , HUSSAIN WAJID , MARKIDES VIAS , GUPTA DHIRAJ , SCHILLING RICHARD J. , WONG TOM
Published: December 2014

Contact Force Sensing AF Ablation Outcomes

Introduction

Contact force sensing (CFS) technology improves acute pulmonary vein isolation durability; however, its impact on the clinical outcome of ablating atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown.

Methods and Results

First time AF ablation procedures employing CFS from 4 centers were matched retrospectively to those without CFS in a 1:2 manner by type of AF. Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia was defined as the primary outcome measure, and fluoroscopy time the secondary outcome measure. Nineteen possible explanatory variables were tested in addition to CFS. A total of 600 AF ablation procedures (200 using CFS and 400 using non‐CFS catheters) performed between 2010 and 2012 (46% paroxysmal, 36% persistent, 18% long‐lasting persistent) were analyzed. The mean follow‐up duration was 11.4 ± 4.7 months—paroxysmal AF 11.2 ± 4.1 CFS versus 11.3 ± 3.9 non‐CFS (P = 0.745)—nonparoxysmal AF 10.4 ± 4.5 CFS versus 11.9 ± 5.4 non‐CFS (P = 0.015). The use of a CFS catheter independently predicted clinical success in ablating paroxysmal AF (HR 2.24 [95% CIs 1.29–3.90]; P = 0.004), but not nonparoxysmal AF (HR 0.73 [0.41–1.30]; P = 0.289) in a multivariate analysis that included follow‐up duration. Among all cases, the use of CFS catheters was associated with reduced fluoroscopy time in multivariate analysis (reduction by 7.7 [5.0–10.5] minutes; P < 0.001). Complication rates were similar in both groups.

Conclusions

At medium‐term follow‐up, CFS catheter technology is associated with significantly improved outcome of first time catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF, but not nonparoxysmal AF. Fluoroscopy time was lower when CFS technology was employed in all types of AF ablation procedures.
Frequency of Fractionated Ventricular Activation and Atrial/Ventricular Electrogram Amplitude Ratio at Successful Ablation Target of Accessory Pathways in Patients with Ebstein's Anomaly
Authors: GUO XIAO‐GANG , LIU XU , ZHOU GONG‐BU , MA JIAN , OUYANG FEIFAN , ZHANG SHU
Published: December 2014

Accessory Pathway Target in Ebstein's Anomaly

Introduction

Knowledge about local electrogram and atrial/ventricular electrogram amplitude ratio (A/V ratio) at the true atrioventricular ring for successful ablation of accessory pathways (APs) in patients with Ebstein's anomaly is limited.

Methods

Twenty‐two adults with Ebstein's anomaly and APs were managed by 24 sessions of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). A right atrial/ventricular angiogram with or without 3‐dimensional electroanatomic mapping was performed to delineate the true atrioventricular ring and atrialized right ventricle (ARV). Electrograms of successful targets were analyzed. For each right‐sided AP target, 2 AP targets matched by location and conduction property from normal hearts were selected as controls, and their A/V ratios were compared.

Results

In 32 right‐sided APs of all 22 patients, local ventricular activation at successful site presented as normal electrogram in 14, fractionated ventricular electrogram (FVE) in 16, and double ventricular potentials in 2. The bipolar voltage of ARV was markedly lower than in normal hearts. The A/V ratio at the successful target was significantly higher in APs with FVE than in control (1.64 ± 1.34 vs. 0.47 ± 0.19, P < 0.01), and was similar in APs with normal ventricular electrogram and in the control (0.38 ± 0.15 vs. 0.46 ± 0.15, P = 0.1726). The A/V ratio at the successful target with double ventricular potentials (after surgical correction) was 0.30 ± 0.20. All APs were successfully ablated without complications.

Conclusions

In patients with Ebstein's anomaly, FVE was found in 50% of the successful targets of APs. High A/V ratio at successful sites with FVE and normal A/V ratio at targets with normal ventricular electrogram can facilitate target recognition and ablation.
Epidemiological cut‐off values for Flavobacterium psychrophilum MIC data generated by a standard test protocol
Authors: Smith P , Endris R , Kronvall G , Thomas V , Verner‐Jeffreys D , Wilhelm C , Dalsgaard I
Published: December 2014

Epidemiological cut‐off values were developed for application to antibiotic susceptibility data for Flavobacterium psychrophilum generated by standard CLSI test protocols. The MIC values for ten antibiotic agents against Flavobacterium psychrophilum were determined in two laboratories. For five antibiotics, the data sets were of sufficient quality and quantity to allow the setting of valid epidemiological cut‐off values. For these agents, the cut‐off values, calculated by the application of the statistically based normalized resistance interpretation method, were ≤16 mg L−1 for erythromycin, ≤2 mg L−1 for florfenicol, ≤0.025 mg L−1 for oxolinic acid (OXO), ≤0.125 mg L−1 for oxytetracycline and ≤20 (1/19) mg L−1 for trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole. For ampicillin and amoxicillin, the majority of putative wild‐type observations were ‘off scale’, and therefore, statistically valid cut‐off values could not be calculated. For ormetoprim/sulphadimethoxine, the data were excessively diverse and a valid cut‐off could not be determined. For flumequine, the putative wild‐type data were extremely skewed, and for enrofloxacin, there was inadequate separation in the MIC values for putative wild‐type and non‐wild‐type strains. It is argued that the adoption of OXO as a class representative for the quinolone group would be a valid method of determining susceptibilities to these agents.
MicroRNA‐181c negatively regulates the inflammatory response in oxygen‐glucose‐deprived microglia by targeting Toll‐like receptor 4
Authors: Zhang Li , Li Ya‐Jian , Wu Xun‐Yi , Hong Zhen , Wei Wen‐Shi
Published: December 2014

Cerebral hypoxia/ischemia rapidly induces inflammation in the brain, which is characterized by microglial activation and the release of inflammatory cytokines. We have previously demonstrated that miR‐181c can directly regulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production post‐transcriptionally. Here, we determined that hypoxia up‐regulated TLR4 expression but down‐regulated miR‐181c expression in primary microglia. We also demonstrated that miR‐181c suppresses TLR4 by directly binding its 3′‐untranslated region. In addition, miR‐181c inhibited NF‐κB activation and the downstream production of proinflammatory mediators, such as TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and iNOS. Knocking down TLR4 in microglia significantly decreased TLR4 expression and inhibited NF‐κB activation and the downstream production of proinflammatory mediators, whereas ectopic TLR4 expression significantly abrogated the suppressed inflammatory response induced by miR‐181c. Therefore, our study identified an important role for the miR‐181c‐TLR4 pathway in hypoxic microglial activation and neuroinflammation. This pathway could represent a potential therapeutic target for cerebral hypoxic diseases associated with microglial activation and the inflammatory response.

image

Cerebral hypoxia/ischemia induces microglial activation and the release of inflammatory cytokines. We found that hypoxia down‐regulated miR‐181c in primary microglia. In addition, miR‐181c inhibited TLR4 expression through binding to its 3′UTR, thus inhibiting NF‐kB activation and the production of downstream proinflammatory mediators. Therefore, the miR‐181c‐TLR4 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cerebral hypoxic diseases.
The role of affective commitment and future work self salience in the abusive supervision–job performance relationship
Authors: Yu Kun , Lin Weipeng , Wang Lei , Ma Jingjing , Wei Wenqi , Wang Haifeng , Guo Wencai , Shi Jing
Published: December 2014

Drawing upon the identity‐based perspective, the current research focused on the role of affective commitment and future work self salience (FWSS) in the relationship between abusive supervision and job performance. We expected that affective commitment, which represents the organization‐based identities of employees, would mediate the relationship between abusive supervision and job performance. Furthermore, we predicted that employees’FWSS, which represents the ease of construction and clarity of an individual's hoped‐for work‐based identity, would amplify the indirect effect of abusive supervision on job performance via affective commitment. Specifically,FWSSwas expected to play an amplifying role in the abusive supervision–affective commitment path. Based on a sample of 480 salespersons, the results of a 3‐wave study revealed that affective commitment mediated the abusive supervision–sales performance relationship. Moreover, the indirect effect of abusive supervision on sales performance via affective commitment was stronger for employees with higherFWSS. Specifically, the deleterious effect of abusive supervision on affective commitment was amplified byFWSS. This was the case even when emotional exhaustion and leader–member exchange were incorporated as competing mediators. Implications of our findings and future directions are discussed.

Practitioner points

Organizations should pay greater attention to employees with higherFWSSbecause they are more vulnerable to abusive supervision in terms of their decreased affective commitment and performance.

To maintain affective commitment and job performance of employees with higherFWSS, organizations should train leaders to reduce or eliminate abusive behaviours, especially for those leading teams with a majority of high‐FWSSemployees.
Diagnostic opportunities for evaluation of the exposure of dairy cows to the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN): reliability of blood plasma, bile and follicular fluid as indicators
Authors: Winkler J. , Kersten S. , Meyer U. , Stinshoff H. , Locher L. , Rehage J. , Wrenzycki C. , Engelhardt U. H. , Dänicke S.
Published: December 2014

To investigate the usefulness of follicular fluid (FF) in relation to blood plasma and bile as indicators of exposure of dairy cows to ZEN, DON and their metabolites, a dose–response study was performed with 30 dairy cows. The cows, 10 in each group (named CON; FUS‐50, FUS‐100), received a diet with three different concentrations of Fusarium toxin‐contaminated maize. Thereby, the following dietary concentration were reached: CON (0.02 mg ZEN and 0.07 mg DON, per kg dry matter, DM), FUS‐50 (0.33 mg ZEN and 2.62 mg DON, per kg DM) and FUS‐100 (0.66 mg ZEN and 5.24 mg DON, per kg DM). ZEN, DON and de‐epoxy‐DON (de‐DON) were detected in FF. Based on the linear regression between toxin concentration in plasma and FF, it seems that about 50 % (m = 0.5) of ZEN present in plasma is present in FF while an increase of 1 ng/ml DON or de‐DON in plasma is paralleled by an increase of 1.5 ng/ml DON or 1.1 ng/ml de‐DON in FF. ZEN, DON and their metabolites, except zearalenone (ZAN), were also detected in bile. Contrary to DON and de‐DON, ZEN and its metabolites were accumulated in bile so that the concentration of ZEN and metabolites was much higher than for DON and de‐DON. The main compound was β‐zearalenol (β‐ZEL). The biliary ZEN, α‐zearalenol (α‐ZEL) and β‐ZEL concentration correlated linearly with each other with an uncertainty of <15 % (r2 ≥ 0.86), whereas the ratio between ZEN: α‐ZEL: β‐ZEL was about 1.5:1:11. With the help of established linear relationship between toxin intake and toxin concentration, bile could be used as diagnostic indicator to assess the exposure of cows.
Porphyromonas gingivalis and related bacteria: from colonial pigmentation to the type IX secretion system and gliding motility
Authors: Nakayama K.
Published: December 2014

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a gram‐negative, non‐motile, anaerobic bacterium implicated as a major pathogen in periodontal disease. P. gingivalis grows as black‐pigmented colonies on blood agar, and many bacteriologists have shown interest in this property. Studies of colonial pigmentation have revealed a number of important findings, including an association with the highly active extracellular and surface proteinases called gingipains that are found in P. gingivalis. The Por secretion system, a novel type IX secretion system (T9SS), has been implicated in gingipain secretion in studies using non‐pigmented mutants. In addition, many potent virulence proteins, including the metallocarboxypeptidase CPG70, 35 kDa hemin‐binding protein HBP35, peptidylarginine deiminase PAD and Lys‐specific serine endopeptidase PepK, are secreted through the T9SS. These findings have not been limited to P. gingivalis but have been extended to other bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes. Many Bacteroidetes species possess the T9SS, which is associated with gliding motility for some of these bacteria.
Natural law, Aquinas and the Magisterium
Authors: Charlton William
Published: December 2014

The Catholic Church claims that its ethical teaching, especially on sex,
is based upon natural law. I first show that natural law theories prior to
the Middle Ages provide no authority for the Church's teaching on sex. I
then examine Aquinas's teaching on natural functions and natural law in the
two Summae. I suggest that he partly anticipates
Enlightenment thinking about law and morals. I compare his theory of natural
law with that of Germain Grisez and John Finnis. Finally, I examine the
notion of a principle of practical reasoning and indicate how such
principles could be formulated to correspond to elements in human
nature.
Electroanatomic Mapping Guided Cryoablation of Mahaim Pathways in Children with Limited Fluoroscopy Exposure
Authors: OZTURK ERKUT , ERGUL YAKUP , TANIDIR I. CANSARAN , AKDENIZ CELAL , TOLA H. TAHSIN , TUZCU VOLKAN
Published: December 2014

Background

The presence of Mahaim accessory pathways (MAP) with anterograde decremental conduction is a disorder that leads to antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia. There are rare reports of cryoablation use in MAP. This study aims at sharing our experience with using cryoablation to treat MAP in children.

Methods

Electrophysiology study and catheter ablation were performed in 14 patients diagnosed with Mahaim tachycardia between January 2010 and December 2013. Cryoablation was used in nine of the cases. A three‐dimensional navigation system with surface electrode patches (EnSite System, St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA) was used for all procedures.

Results

The patients (two girls and seven boys) had a median age of 11.5 years (8–18 years) and a median weight of 67 kg (31–80 kg). Mahaim conduction was localized in the right posterolateral (n = 4), right lateral region (n = 2), right posteroseptal (n = 1), right anterolateral (n = 1), and right anterior (n = 1). A pathway potential was noted in six of nine cases at the tricuspid annulus. Catheter choices and acute success rates were as follows: cryoablation in four (three of four successful), radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) and cryoablation in five (successful in four of five). No fluoroscopy was used in six of nine patients. The mean procedure duration was 249 ± 90 minutes. No major complications were observed. The final long‐term success rate for cryoablation was seven of nine (78%).

Conclusions

Cryoablation can be used as a reliable and effective alternative to RFA in the treatment of Mahaim accessory conduction pathways in children. Prospective comparative studies are necessary in order to further evaluate the long‐term efficacy of this method.
Antisense suppression of LOX3 gene expression in rice endosperm enhances seed longevity
Authors: Xu Huibin , Wei Yidong , Zhu Yongsheng , Lian Ling , Xie Hongguang , Cai Qiuhua , Chen Qiushi , Lin Zhongping , Wang Zonghua , Xie Huaan , Zhang Jianfu
Published: December 2014

Lipid peroxidation plays a major role in seed longevity and viability. In rice grains, lipid peroxidation is catalyzed by the enzyme lipoxygenase 3 (LOX3). Previous reports showed that grain from the rice variety DawDam in which the LOX3 gene was deleted had less stale flavour after grain storage than normal rice. The molecular mechanism by which LOX3 expression is regulated during endosperm development remains unclear. In this study, we expressed a LOX3 antisense construct in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants to down‐regulate LOX3 expression in rice endosperm. The transgenic plants exhibited a marked decrease in LOX mRNA levels, normal phenotypes and a normal life cycle. We showed that LOX3 activity and its ability to produce 9‐hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (9‐HPOD) from linoleic acid were significantly lower in transgenic seeds than in wild‐type seeds by measuring the ultraviolet absorption of 9‐HPOD at 234 nm and by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The suppression of LOX3 expression in rice endosperm increased grain storability. The germination rate of TS‐91 (antisense LOX3 transgenic line) was much higher than the WT (29% higher after artificial ageing for 21 days, and 40% higher after natural ageing for 12 months). To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that decreased LOX3 expression can preserve rice grain quality during storage with no impact on grain yield, suggesting potential applications in agricultural production.
Wittgenstein in China
Authors: Zhang Xue‐guang
Published: December 2014

Although Chinese philosophers were somewhat influenced by Wittgenstein before 1949 – the Tractatus was first translated into Chinese in 1927–28 – they tended to see him either as a disciple of Russell or as a member of the Vienna Circle. However, since 1979 (following 30 years in which they were unable to study such Western philosophers), Chinese scholars have done their utmost to catch up with world standards in Wittgenstein scholarship in three overlapping routes – textual reading, contextual interpretation and philosophical application. As China continues its modernisation, there will likely be more substantive interaction between Wittgenstein's thought and Chinese philosophy and culture.
The Varieties of Intrinsicality
Authors: Marshall Dan
Published: December 2014

Intrinsicality is a central notion in metaphysics that can do important work in many areas of philosophy. It is not widely appreciated, however, that there are in fact a number of different notions of intrinsicality, and that these different notions differ in what work they can do. This paper discusses what these notions are, describes how they are related to each other, and argues that each of them can be analysed in terms of a single notion of intrinsic aboutness that relates states of affairs to the things they are intrinsically about.
Tick saliva increases production of three chemokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, a histamine‐releasing cytokine
Authors: Langhansová H. , Bopp T. , Schmitt E. , Kopecký J.
Published: December 2014

The effect of Ixodes ricinus tick saliva on the production of various cytokines and chemokines by mouse splenocytes was tested by a cytokine array. We demonstrated a strong upregulation of three chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), thymus‐derived chemotactic agent 3 (TCA‐3) and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP‐2). MCP‐1 could be induced by tick saliva itself. While TCA‐3 and MIP‐2 are engaged in Th2 polarization of the host immune response associated with tick feeding, MCP‐1 may act as a histamine release factor, increasing blood flow into the feeding lesion thus facilitating tick engorgement in the late, rapid feeding phase.
Brugia malayi infective larvae fail to activate Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells in human skin
Authors: Cotton R. N. , McDonald‐Fleming R. , Boyd A. , Spates K. , Nutman T. B. , Tolouei Semnani R.
Published: December 2014

Filarial infection in humans is initiated when a mosquito deposits third‐stage parasite larvae (L3) in the skin. Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells (DDCs) are the first cells that the parasite encounters, and L3s must evade these highly effective antigen‐presenting cells to establish infection. To assess LC and DDC responses to L3 in human skin, we employed three models of increasing physiologic relevance: in vitro‐generated LCs, epidermal blister explants and full‐thickness human skin sections. In vitro‐generated LCs expressed TLR1‐10 and robustly produced IL‐6 and TNF‐α in response to PolyI:C, but pre‐exposure to L3s did not alter inflammatory cytokine production or TLR expression. L3s did not modulate expression of LC markers CDH1, CD207, or CD1a, or the regulatory products TSLP or IDO in epidermal explants or in vitro‐generated LC. LC, CD14+ DDC, CD1c+ DC and CD141+ DC from human skin sections were analysed by flow cytometry. While PolyI:C potently induced CCL22 production in LC, CD1c+ DC, and CD141+ DC, and IL‐10 production in LC, L3s did not modulate the numbers of or cytokine production by any skin DC subset. L3s broadly failed to activate or modulate LCs or DDCs, suggesting filarial larvae expertly evade APC detection in human skin.
How specialised is bird pollination in the Cactaceae?
Authors: Gorostiague P. , Ortega‐Baes P.
Published: December 2014

Many cactus species produce ‘bird’ flowers; however, the reproductive biology of the majority of these species has not been studied. Here, we report on a study of the pollination of two species from the Cleistocactus genus, cited as an ornithophilous genus, in the context of the different ways in which they are specialised to bird pollination. In addition, we re‐evaluate the level of specialisation of previous studies of cacti with bird pollination and evaluate how common phenotypic specialisation to birds is in this family. Both Cleistocactus species exhibited ornithophilous floral traits. Cleistocactus baumannii was pollinated by hummingbirds, whereas Cleistocactus smaragdiflorus was pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. Pollination by birds has been recorded in 27 cactus species, many of which exhibit ornithophilous traits; however, they show generalised pollination systems with bees, bats or moths in addition to birds being their floral visitors. Of all cactus species, 27% have reddish flowers. This trait is associated with diurnal anthesis and a tubular shape. Phenotypic specialisation to bird pollination is recognised in many cactus species; however, it is not predictive of functional and ecological specialisation in this family.
Control of resin production in Araucaria angustifolia, an ancient South American conifer
Authors: Perotti J. C. , da Silva Rodrigues‐Corrêa K. C. , Fett‐Neto A. G.
Published: December 2014

Araucaria angustifolia is an ancient slow‐growing conifer that characterises parts of the Southern Atlantic Forest biome, currently listed as a critically endangered species. The species also produces bark resin, although the factors controlling its resinosis are largely unknown. To better understand this defence‐related process, we examined the resin exudation response of A. angustifolia upon treatment with well‐known chemical stimulators used in fast‐growing conifers producing both bark and wood resin, such as Pinus elliottii. The initial hypothesis was that A. angustifolia would display significant differences in the regulation of resinosis. The effect of Ethrel® (ET – ethylene precursor), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), sulphuric acid (SuA) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP – nitric oxide donor) on resin yield and composition in young plants of A. angustifolia was examined. In at least one of the concentrations tested, and frequently in more than one, an aqueous glycerol solution applied on fresh wound sites of the stem with one or more of the adjuvants examined promoted an increase in resin yield, as well as monoterpene concentration (α‐pinene, β‐pinene, camphene and limonene). Higher yields and longer exudation periods were observed with JA and ET, another feature shared with Pinus resinosis. The results suggest that resinosis control is similar in Araucaria and Pinus. In addition, A. angustifolia resin may be a relevant source of valuable terpene chemicals, whose production may be increased by using stimulating pastes containing the identified adjuvants.
Genotype of FLOWERING LOCUS T homologue contributes to flowering time differences in wild and cultivated roses
Authors: Otagaki S. , Ogawa Y. , Hibrand‐Saint Oyant L. , Foucher F. , Kawamura K. , Horibe T. , Matsumoto S.
Published: December 2014

Rose flowers have long delighted humans as ornamental plants. To improve the ornamental value of roses it is necessary to understand the regulatory mechanisms of flowering. We previously found that flowering time is controlled by three minor quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and a major QTL co‐localised with RoFT. In this study, we isolated three RoFT alleles encoding completely identical amino acid sequences from the parents of a mapping population. Correlation analysis of the RoFT genotypes and flowering time phenotypes in the mapping population showed that the RoFT_f and RoFT_g alleles contribute to the early‐flowering phenotype, while the RoFT_e allele contributes to the late‐flowering phenotype. We developed two novel cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers based on the genomic sequences of the RoFT alleles and clearly showed that the relationship between RoFT genotype and flowering time was applicable to 12 of 13 cultivated roses grown at the Higashiyama Botanical Gardens, Japan. Allele‐specific expression analysis using a reverse transcription CAPS assay suggested that these RoFT alleles are regulated differentially at the transcription level. Furthermore, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants ectopically expressing the RoFT gene showed an early‐flowering phenotype. Conversely, in roses, RoFT was continuously expressed after floral bud formation, and RoFT transcript accumulation reached its peak after that of the floral meristem identity gene RoAP1b. These data suggest that RoFT may be essential not only for floral transition but also for normal floral development and flowering in roses.
Effect of smoke derivatives on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube elongation of species from different plant families
Authors: Kumari A. , Papenfus H. B. , Kulkarni M. G. , Pošta M. , Van Staden J.
Published: December 2014

Plant‐derived smoke stimulates seed germination in numerous plant species. Smoke also has a positive stimulatory effect on pollen germination and pollen tube growth. The range of plant families affected my smoke still needs to be established since the initial study was restricted to only three species from the Amaryllidaceae. The effects of smoke‐water (SW) and the smoke‐derived compounds, karrikinolide (KAR1) and trimethylbutenolide (TMB) on pollen growth characteristics were evaluated in seven different plant families. Smoke‐water (1:1000 and 1:2000 v:v) combined with either Brewbaker and Kwack's (BWK) medium or sucrose and boric acid (SB) medium significantly improved pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Aloe maculata All., Kniphofia uvaria Oken, Lachenalia aloides (L.f.) Engl. var. aloides and Tulbaghia simmleri P. Beauv. Karrikinolide (10−6 and 10−7 m) treatment significantly improved pollen tube growth in A. maculata, K. uvaria, L. aloides and Nematanthus crassifolius (Schott) Wiehle compared to the controls. BWK or SB medium containing TMB (10−3 m) produced significantly longer pollen tubes in A. maculata, K. uvaria and N. crassifolius. These results indicate that plant‐derived smoke and the smoke‐isolated compounds may stimulate pollen growth in a wide range of plant species.
Climate of Consensus: Managing Decision Making in the UN Climate Change Negotiations
Authors: Vihma Antto
Published: December 2014

The United Nations climate change negotiations have been constantly hampered by procedural disputes and unclear decision making. This article explores ideas for reforming the decision making of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the importance of COP decisions. It argues that scholars have tended to overlook the importance of COP decisions in global climate governance as a whole, on the one hand, and the weak practices of the COP's decision‐making process, on the other. The article underscores that while majority voting is not politically viable – although voting on a limited set of issues is potentially useful – decision making can be significantly improved by enhancing the current practices of consensus building. The article calls for the strategic leadership role of the COP Presidency to be recognized and its best practices institutionalized. The primary goal of this article is to contribute to the wider ongoing debate on the possibilities and limitations of the regime established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Biodiversity Offsetting in Transnational Governance
Authors: Penca Jerneja
Published: December 2014

This article discusses the introduction of biodiversity offsets at the transnational governance level, at the vanguard of which is the practice by the Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme (BBOP). The institutional setting of the BBOP and the legal arrangement of biodiversity offsets at the international level are analyzed, zooming in on the institutional and normative interplay between the transnational governance network (BBOP) and the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the Ramsar Convention. The significance of the case study lies in highlighting the cooperative, but also the exclusionary, effect of transnational networks and in demonstrating how new governance structures implement treaty provisions but rely on a contested interpretation, which then feeds back into the treaty process.
Standards for Development: Food Safety and Sustainability in Wal‐Mart's Honduran Produce Supply Chains
Authors: Bloom J. Dara
Published: December 2014

Public‐private partnerships between supermarket retailers and development agencies help small‐scale producers reach growing domestic markets in developing countries. Drawing on qualitative data that focuses on relationships between producers, development agencies, and Wal‐Mart‐owned supermarkets in Honduras, the research presented here demonstrates how, by introducing food safety standards to development agencies' outreach efforts, but without necessarily certifying producers or offering a price premium, Wal‐Mart uses these standards to simultaneously differentiate production practices by promoting quality, while maintaining a standardized market. As a result, the responsibility and costs for incentivizing growers to change their practices is shifted to nongovernmental organizations. Therefore, although an extensive body of literature describes standards and third‐party certification systems as the means for corporations to control production practices, this research indicates that public‐private partnerships are a new vehicle by which corporations can influence agricultural production practices. In addition, this article argues that the inclusion of food safety standards in development projects leads to the conflation of food safety and sustainability, without adequately interrogating which agroecological processes food safety standards include and exclude. Therefore, retailers' private food safety standards dominate how sustainability is perceived and practiced in the development context.
Fecal colonization and infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Nesher L. , Rolston K.V.I. , Shah D.P. , Tarrand J.T. , Mulanovich V. , Ariza‐Heredia E.J. , Chemaly R.F.
Published: December 2014

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, especially multidrug‐resistant (MDR) isolates, is an important pathogen in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients. The ability to identify patients at risk for these infections and administer appropriate empiric therapy, particularly during episodes of neutropenia, may improve outcomes and also direct infection control and antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Many transplant centers obtain routine surveillance stool cultures (SSCs) from HCT recipients to test for colonization with vancomycin‐resistant enterococci, and extended‐spectrum beta lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae. Our center initiated the performance of SSCs for P. aeruginosa, because of a perceived increase in the frequency of infection with MDR strains. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of this practice.

Methods

We conducted a 2‐year (2010–2011) retrospective review of the medical records of all patients who underwent allogeneic HCT at our cancer center to (a) determine the frequency of fecal colonization with P. aeruginosa, including MDR strains; (b) to determine the overall frequency of subsequent P. aeruginosa infection, as well as the frequency of infection with MDR strains; (c) to ascertain the proportion of subsequent infections likely arising from the intestinal tract; and (d) to determine risk factors for progression from colonization to infection.

Results

Of 794 study patients, 58 (7.3%) had at least 1 positive SSC for P. aeruginosa; 19/58 (32.8%) developed a subsequent pseudomonal infection (11 with matching antimicrobial resistance patterns). On the other hand, 37/736 (5%) of the patients who were not colonized, developed a pseudomonal infection. The type of infection observed was pneumonia in 26 (46%) patients, bloodstream infection in 20 (36%), urinary tract infection in 8 (14%), and infections at other sites in 2 (4%). The incidence of MDR P. aeruginosa in the entire cohort was 2.2% (18 of 794): 12 had positive SSCs and 7 of these patients later developed MDR P. aeruginosa infections. Patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were more likely to be colonized and to develop subsequent infection. No infection‐related deaths were observed during the first 30 days after infection.

Conclusions

The incidence of P. aeruginosa colonization and subsequent infection was low. Patients who were not colonized had a low chance of developing P. aeruginosa infection. Most patients who developed infection did not have fecal colonization, suggesting a different source of infection. SSCs for P. aeruginosa provide incomplete information regarding the source of infection.
Human–Dromedary Camel Interactions and the Risk of Acquiring Zoonotic Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection
Authors: Gossner C. , Danielson N. , Gervelmeyer A. , Berthe F. , Faye B. , Kaasik Aaslav K. , Adlhoch C. , Zeller H. , Penttinen P. , Coulombier D.
Published: December 2014

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) cases without documented contact with another human MERS‐CoV case make up 61% (517/853) of all reported cases. These primary cases are of particular interest for understanding the source(s) and route(s) of transmission and for designing long‐term disease control measures. Dromedary camels are the only animal species for which there is convincing evidence that it is a host species for MERS‐CoV and hence a potential source of human infections. However, only a small proportion of the primary cases have reported contact with camels. Other possible sources and vehicles of infection include food‐borne transmission through consumption of unpasteurized camel milk and raw meat, medicinal use of camel urine and zoonotic transmission from other species. There are critical knowledge gaps around this new disease which can only be closed through traditional field epidemiological investigations and studies designed to test hypothesis regarding sources of infection and risk factors for disease. Since the 1960s, there has been a radical change in dromedary camel farming practices in the Arabian Peninsula with an intensification of the production and a concentration of the production around cities. It is possible that the recent intensification of camel herding in the Arabian Peninsula has increased the virus' reproductive number and attack rate in camel herds while the ‘urbanization’ of camel herding increased the frequency of zoonotic ‘spillover’ infections from camels to humans. It is reasonable to assume, although difficult to measure, that the sensitivity of public health surveillance to detect previously unknown diseases is lower in East Africa than in Saudi Arabia and that sporadic human cases may have gone undetected there.
Asian women have attenuated sympathetic activation but enhanced renal–adrenal responses during pregnancy compared to Caucasian women
Authors: Okada Yoshiyuki , Best Stuart A. , Jarvis Sara S. , Shibata Shigeki , Parker Rosemary S. , Casey Brian M. , Levine Benjamin D. , Fu Qi
Published: December 2014

Key points

Asian women have a lower prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than Caucasian women.

This is the first longitudinal study to investigate neural and humoral responses during pregnancy in Asians and Caucasians.

The key finding was that Asians had attenuated sympathetic activation but enhanced renal–adrenal responsiveness during pregnancy compared to Caucasians.

These results may provide insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms for racial differences in the prevalence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Asians have a lower prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than Caucasians. Since sympathetic overactivity and dysregulation of the renal–adrenal system (e.g. low aldosterone levels) have been found in preeclamptic women, we hypothesized that Asians have lower muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and greater aldosterone concentrations during normal pregnancy than Caucasians. In a prospective study, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and MSNA were measured during supine and upright tilt (30 deg and 60 deg for 5 min each) in 9 Asians (32 ± 1 years (mean ± SEM)) and 12 Caucasians (29 ± 1 years) during pre‐, early (≤8 weeks of gestation) and late (32–36 weeks) pregnancy, and post‐partum (6–10 weeks after delivery). Supine MSNA increased with pregnancy in both groups (P < 0.001); it was significantly lower in Asians than Caucasians (14 ± 3 vs. 23 ± 3 bursts min−1 and 16 ± 5 vs. 30 ± 3 bursts min−1 in early and late pregnancy, respectively; P = 0.023). BP decreased during early pregnancy (P < 0.001), but was restored during late pregnancy. HR increased during pregnancy (P < 0.001) with no racial difference (P = 0.758). MSNA increased during tilting and it was markedly lower in Asians than Caucasians in late pregnancy (31 ± 6 vs. 49 ± 3 bursts min−1 at 60 deg tilt; P = 0.003). Upright BP was lower in Asians, even in pre‐pregnancy (P = 0.006), and this racial difference persisted during pregnancy. Direct renin and aldosterone increased during pregnancy (both P < 0.001); these hormones were greater in Asians (P = 0.086 and P = 0.014). Thus, Asians have less sympathetic activation but more upregulated renal–adrenal responses than Caucasians during pregnancy. These results may explain, at least in part, why Asian women are at low risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
A Legendre Polynomials Based Method for Stability Analysis of Milling Processes
Authors: Ding Ye , Zhang XiaoJian , Ding Han
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a time-domain approach for a semi-analytical prediction of stability in milling using the Legendre polynomials. The governing equation of motion of milling processes is expressed as a delay-differential equation (DDE) with time periodic coefficients. After the DDE being re-expressed in state-space form, the state vector is approximated by a series of Legendre polynomials. With the help of the Legendre–Gauss–Lobatto (LGL) quadrature, a discrete dynamic map is formulated to approximate the original DDE, and utilized to predict the milling stability based on Floquet theory. With numerical examples illustrating the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed approach, an experimental example validates the method.
A New Model for the Relationship Between Vibration Characteristics Caused by the Time-Varying Contact Stiffness of a Deep Groove Ball Bearing and Defect Sizes
Authors: Liu Jing , Shao Yimin , Zhu W. D.
Published: December 2014

Vibration characteristics of a deep groove ball bearing caused by a localized surface defect are greatly affected by defect sizes, such as the length, width, and depth. However, effects of the defect depth, the time-varying contact stiffness between the ball and defect, and the relationship between the time-varying contact stiffness and defect sizes have not been considered in previous defect models. In this work, a new defect model considering a new force–deflection relationship is presented to replace the Hertzian force–deflection relationship to describe the ball-line contact between the ball and defect edge. Both the time-varying displacement impulse and time-varying contact stiffness are considered. The relationship between the time-varying contact stiffness and defect sizes is obtained. Effects of defect sizes on the vibrations of the deep groove ball bearing, especially the defect depth that cannot be described by previous defect models, are investigated. The simulation results are compared with those from the previous defect models. The results show that the model developed can predict a more realistic impulse caused by a localized surface defect for dynamic simulation of the deep groove ball bearing. An experimental investigation is also presented to validate the proposed model.
Cohesive Zone Model for the Interface of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Copper: Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Awad Ibrahim , Ladani Leila
Published: December 2014

Due to their superior mechanical and electrical properties, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have the potential to be used in many nano-/micro-electronic applications, e.g., through silicon vias (TSVs), interconnects, transistors, etc. In particular, use of MWCNT bundles inside annular cylinders of copper (Cu) as TSV is proposed in this study. However, the significant difference in scale makes it difficult to evaluate the interfacial mechanical integrity. Cohesive zone models (CZM) are typically used at large scale to determine the mechanical adherence at the interface. However, at molecular level, no routine technique is available. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations is used to determine the stresses that are required to separate MWCNTs from a copper slab and generate normal stress–displacement curves for CZM. Only van der Waals (vdW) interaction is considered for MWCNT/Cu interface. A displacement controlled loading was applied in a direction perpendicular to MWCNT's axis in different cases with different number of walls and at different temperatures and CZM is obtained for each case. Furthermore, their effect on the CZM key parameters (normal cohesive strength (σmax) and the corresponding displacement (δn) has been studied. By increasing the number of the walls of the MWCNT, σmax was found to nonlinearly decrease. Displacement at maximum stress, δn, showed a nonlinear decrease as well with increasing the number of walls. Temperature effect on the stress–displacement curves was studied. When temperature was increased beyond 1 K, no relationship was found between the maximum normal stress and temperature. Likewise, the displacement at maximum load did not show any dependency to temperature.