bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Effectiveness of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Among Patients With Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Khazanie Prateeti , Greiner Melissa A. , Al-Khatib Sana M. , Piccini Jonathan P. , Turakhia Mintu P. , Varosy Paul D. , Masoudi Frederick A. , Curtis Lesley H. , Hernandez Adrian F.
Published: June 2016

Background—

Atrial fibrillation is common in patients with heart failure, but outcomes of patients with both conditions who receive cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) compared with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) alone are unclear.

Methods and Results—

Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s ICD Registry linked with Medicare claims, we identified 8951 patients with atrial fibrillation who were eligible for CRT-D and underwent first-time device implantation for primary prevention between April 2006 and December 2009. We used Cox proportional hazards models and inverse probability-weighted estimates to compare outcomes with CRT-D versus ICD alone. Cumulative incidence of mortality (744 [33%] for ICD; 1893 [32%] for CRT-D) and readmission (1788 [76%] for ICD; 4611 [76%] for CRT-D) within 3 years and complications within 90 days were similar between groups. After inverse weighting for the probability of receiving CRT-D, risks of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.75–0.92), all-cause readmission (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.92), and heart failure readmission (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.62–0.76) were lower with CRT-D compared with ICD alone. There was no significant difference in the 90-day complication rate (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.60–1.29). We observed hospital-level variation in the use of CRT-D among patients with atrial fibrillation.

Conclusions—

Among eligible patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, CRT-D was associated with lower risks of mortality, all-cause readmission, and heart failure readmission, as well as with a similar risk of complications compared with ICD alone.
Preprocedural High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Zanchin Thomas , Räber Lorenz , Koskinas Konstantinos C. , Piccolo Raffaele , Jüni Peter , Pilgrim Thomas , Stortecky Stefan , Khattab Ahmed A. , Wenaweser Peter , Bloechlinger Stefan , Moschovitis Aris , Frenk Andre , Moro Christina , Meier Bernhard , Fiedler Georg M. , Heg Dik , Windecker Stephan
Published: June 2016

Background—

Cardiac troponin detected by new-generation, highly sensitive assays predicts clinical outcomes among patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) treated medically. The prognostic value of baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) elevation in SCAD patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary interventions is not well established. This study assessed the association of preprocedural levels of hs-cTnT with 1-year clinical outcomes among SCAD patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and Results—

Between 2010 and 2014, 6974 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled in the Bern Percutaneous Coronary Interventions Registry. Among patients with SCAD (n=2029), 527 (26%) had elevated preprocedural hs-cTnT above the upper reference limit of 14 ng/L. The primary end point, mortality within 1 year, occurred in 20 patients (1.4%) with normal hs-cTnT versus 39 patients (7.7%) with elevated baseline hs-cTnT (
P
<0.001). Patients with elevated hs-cTnT had increased risks of all-cause (hazard ratio 5.73; 95% confidence intervals 3.34–9.83;
P
<0.001) and cardiac mortality (hazard ratio 4.68; 95% confidence interval 2.12–10.31;
P
<0.001). Preprocedural hs-TnT elevation remained an independent predictor of 1-year mortality after adjustment for relevant risk factors, including age, sex, and renal failure (adjusted hazard ratio 2.08; 95% confidence interval 1.10–3.92;
P
=0.024). A graded mortality risk was observed across higher tertiles of elevated preprocedural hs-cTnT, but not among patients with hs-cTnT below the upper reference limit.

Conclusions—

Preprocedural elevation of hs-cTnT is observed in one fourth of SCAD patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention. Increased levels of preprocedural hs-cTnT are proportionally related to the risk of death and emerged as independent predictors of all-cause mortality within 1 year.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02241291.
Differential Sex Response to Aspirin in Decreasing Aneurysm Rupture in Humans and Mice
Authors: Chalouhi Nohra , Starke Robert M. , Correa Tatiana , Jabbour Pascal M. , Zanaty Mario , Brown Robert D. , Torner James C. , Hasan David M.
Published: June 2016

We previously found that aspirin decreases the risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture in humans. We aim to assess whether a sex differential exists in the response of human cerebral aneurysms to aspirin and confirm these observations in a mouse model of cerebral aneurysm. A nested case–control analysis from the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms was performed to assess whether a sex differential exists in the response of human cerebral aneurysms to aspirin. A series of experiments were subsequently performed in a mouse model of cerebral aneurysms. Aneurysms were induced with hypertension and elastase injection into mice basal cisterns. We found that aspirin decreased the risk of aneurysm rupture more significantly in men than in women in the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms. In mice, aspirin and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor did not affect cerebral aneurysm formation but significantly decreased the incidence of rupture. The incidence of rupture was significantly lower in male versus female mice on aspirin. Gene expression analysis from cerebral arteries showed higher 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase levels in male mice. The rate of cerebral aneurysm rupture was similar in male mice receiving aspirin and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase inhibitor compared with females receiving aspirin and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase agonist, signaling a reversal of the sex-differential response to aspirin. Aspirin decreases aneurysm rupture in human and mice, in part through cyclooxygenase-2 pathways. Evidence from animal and human studies suggests a consistent differential effect by sex. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activation in females reduces the incidence of rupture and eliminates the sex-differential response to aspirin.
Circulating Levels of IL‐6 Receptor and gp130 and Long‐Term Clinical Outcomes in ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ritschel Vibeke N. , Seljeflot Ingebjørg , Arnesen Harald , Halvorsen Sigrun , Eritsland Jan , Fagerland Morten W. , Andersen Geir Ø.
Published: June 2016

Background

Reports on soluble interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) receptor (
sIL
‐6R) and glycoprotein 130 (sgp130) in
ST
‐elevation myocardial infarction (
STEMI
) are few and include a small number of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between levels of these biomarkers in the acute phase of
STEMI
and future cardiovascular events.

Methods and Results

Circulating
IL
‐6, sgp130,
sIL
‐6R, and C‐reactive protein (
CRP
) were measured in 989
STEMI
patients during 2007–2011, and cardiovascular events were recorded during follow‐up. The primary endpoint was composite of all‐cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, unscheduled revascularization, or rehospitalization for heart failure. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (
HRs
) for cardiovascular events in relation to biomarker levels. Median levels of
sIL
‐6R, sgp130,
IL
‐6, and
CRP
measured 24 hours (median) after symptom onset were 39.2 ng/mL, 240 ng/mL, 18.8 pg/mL, and 13.7 mg/L, respectively. During a median follow‐up time of 4.6 years, 200 patients (20.2%) experienced a primary endpoint, and 82 patients (8.3%) died. Patients with
sIL
‐6R levels in the upper quartile (>47.7 ng/mL) had significantly higher risk of future adverse events (primary endpoint) and mortality compared to patients with lower levels (adjusted
HR
, 1.54 [1.08, 2.21];
P
=0.02 and 1.81 [1.04, 3.18];
P
=0.04, respectively). Neither
IL
‐6 nor sgp130 levels were related to future events, but patients with
CRP
levels in the upper quartile (>31.5 mg/L) had higher risk of death.

Conclusion

High levels of
sIL
‐6R were associated with future cardiovascular events and mortality in
STEMI
patients, suggesting an important role of the
IL
‐6 signaling system.
High‐Fat‐Diet Intake Enhances Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Cognitive Impairment in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease, Independently of Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Lin Bowen , Hasegawa Yu , Takane Koki , Koibuchi Nobutaka , Cao Cheng , Kim‐Mitsuyama Shokei
Published: June 2016

Background

The high‐fat Western diet is postulated to be associated with the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the role of high‐fat‐diet consumption in AD pathology is unknown. This study was undertaken to examine the role of high‐fat‐diet intake in AD.

Methods and Results

5XFAD mice, a useful mouse model of AD, and control wild‐type mice were fed (1) high‐fat diet or (2) control diet for 10 weeks. The effects on cerebral AD pathology, cognitive function, and metabolic parameters were compared between each group of mice. High‐fat diet significantly enhanced cerebrovascular β‐amyloid (Aβ) deposition (
P
<0.05) and impaired cognitive function (
P
<0.05) in 5XFAD mice, but not in wild‐type mice. High‐fat diet enhanced hippocampal oxidative stress (
P
<0.05) and NADPH oxidase subunits, gp91
phox
(
P
<0.01) and p22
phox
(
P
<0.01) in 5XFAD mice, but not in wild‐type mice. Furthermore, high‐fat diet reduced cerebral occludin (
P
<0.05) in 5XFAD mice, but not in wild‐type mice. Thus, 5XFAD mice exhibited greater susceptibility to high‐fat diet than wild‐type mice regarding cerebrovascular injury and cognitive impairment. On the other hand, 5XFAD mice fed high‐fat diet exhibited much less increase in body weight, white adipose tissue weight, and adipocyte size than their wild‐type counterparts. High‐fat diet significantly impaired glucose tolerance in wild‐type mice but not in 5XFAD mice. Thus, 5XFAD mice had much less susceptibility to high‐fat‐diet‐induced metabolic disorders than wild‐type mice.

Conclusions

High‐fat diet, independently of metabolic disorders, significantly promotes the progression of AD‐like pathology through enhancement of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and oxidative stress.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With or Without Preimplantation Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Bagur Rodrigo , Kwok Chun Shing , Nombela‐Franco Luis , Ludman Peter F. , de Belder Mark A. , Sponga Sandro , Gunning Mark , Nolan James , Diamantouros Pantelis , Teefy Patrick J. , Kiaii Bob , Chu Michael W. A. , Mamas Mamas A.
Published: June 2016

Background

Preimplantation balloon aortic valvuloplasty (
BAV
) is considered a routine procedure during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (
TAVI
) to facilitate prosthesis implantation and expansion; however, it has been speculated that fewer embolic events and/or less hemodynamic instability may occur if
TAVI
is performed without preimplantation
BAV
. The aim of this study was to systematically review the clinical outcomes associated with
TAVI
undertaken without preimplantation
BAV
.

Methods and Results

We conducted a search of Medline and Embase to identify studies that evaluated patients who underwent
TAVI
with or without preimplantation
BAV
for predilation. Pooled analysis and random‐effects meta‐analyses were used to estimate the rate and risk of adverse outcomes. Sixteen studies involving 1395 patients (674 with and 721 without preimplantation
BAV
) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Crude device success was achieved in 94% (1311 of 1395), and 30‐day all‐cause mortality occurred in 6% (72 of 1282) of patients. Meta‐analyses evaluating outcomes of strategies with and without preimplantation
BAV
showed no statistically significant differences in terms of mortality (relative risk [
RR
] 0.61, 95%
CI
0.32–1.14,
P
=0.12), safety composite end point (
RR
0.85, 95%
CI
0.62–1.18,
P
=0.34), moderate to severe paravalvular leaks (
RR
0.68, 95%
CI
0.23–1.99,
P
=0.48), need for postdilation (
RR
0.86, 95%
CI
0.66–1.13,
P
=0.58), stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (
RR
0.72, 95%
CI
0.30–1.71,
P
=0.45), and permanent pacemaker implantation (
RR
0.80, 95%
CI
0.49–1.30,
P
=0.37).

Conclusions

Our analysis suggests that
TAVI
procedures with or without preimplantation
BAV
were associated with similar outcomes for a number of clinically relevant end points. Further studies including a large number of patients are needed to ascertain the impact of
TAVI
without preimplantation
BAV
as a standard practice.
Change in Angina Symptom Status After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Its Association With Readmission Risk: An Analysis of the Translational Research Investigating Underlying Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients' Health Status (TRIUMPH) Registry
Authors: Doll Jacob A. , Tang Fengming , Cresci Sharon , Ho P. Michael , Maddox Thomas M. , Spertus John A. , Wang Tracy Y.
Published: June 2016

Background

Angina is common both before and after myocardial infarction (
MI
). Whether the change in angina status within the first 30 days after
MI
is associated with subsequent readmission and angina persistence is unknown.

Methods and Results

We studied 2915
MI
patients enrolled at 24 hospitals in the Translational Research Investigating Underlying Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients’ Health Status (TRIUMPH) registry. Angina before and 30 days after
MI
was assessed with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. Patients were divided into angina‐free pre‐ and post‐
MI
(−/−), resolved angina (+/−), new angina (−/+), and persistent angina (+/+) groups. Multivariable proportional hazards and hierarchical modified Poisson models were performed to assess the association of each group with all‐cause readmission, readmission for
MI
or unplanned revascularization, and angina persistence at 1 year. Overall, 1293 patients (44%) had angina before their
MI
and 849 (29%) reported angina within 30 days of discharge. Patients with post‐
MI
angina were more likely to be younger, nonwhite, and uninsured. Compared with patients who were angina‐free pre‐ and post‐
MI
, 1‐year all‐cause readmission risks were significantly higher for patients with persistent angina (hazard ratio [
HR
], 1.35; 95%
CI
1.06–1.71) or new angina (
HR
, 1.40; 95%
CI
, 1.08–1.82). At 1 year, angina was present in 22% of patients and was more likely if angina was persistent (
HR
, 3.55; 95% CI, 3.05–4.13) or new (
HR
, 3.38; 95% CI, 2.59–4.42) at 30 days compared with patients who were angina‐free pre‐ and post‐
MI
.

Conclusions

Post‐
MI
angina, whether new or persistent, is associated with higher likelihood of readmission. Prioritizing post‐
MI
angina management is a potential means of improving 1‐year outcomes.
Relationship Between Arterial Access and Outcomes in ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction With a Pharmacoinvasive Versus Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Strategy: Insights From the STrategic Reperfusion Early After Myocardial Infarction (STREAM) Study
Authors: Shavadia Jay , Welsh Robert , Gershlick Anthony , Zheng Yinggan , Huber Kurt , Halvorsen Sigrun , Steg Phillipe G. , Van de Werf Frans , Armstrong Paul W. ,   the STREAM Investigators
Published: June 2016

Background

The effectiveness of radial access (
RA
) in
ST
‐elevation myocardial infarction (
STEMI
) has been predominantly established in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (
pPCI
) with limited exploration of this issue in the early postfibrinolytic patient. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of
RA
versus femoral (
FA
) access in
STEMI
undergoing either a pharmacoinvasive (
PI
) strategy or
pPCI
.

Methods and Results

Within
ST
rategic Reperfusion Early After Myocardial Infarction (
STREAM
), we evaluated the relationship between arterial access site and primary outcome (30‐day composite of death, shock, congestive heart failure, or reinfarction) and major bleeding according to the treatment strategy received. A total of 1820
STEMI
patients were included: 895
PI
(49.2%; rescue
PCI
[n=379; 42.3%], scheduled
PCI
[n=516; 57.7%]) and 925
pPCI
(50.8%). Irrespective of treatment strategy, there was comparable utilization of either access site (
FA
:
PI
53.4% and
pPCI
57.6%).
FA STEMI
patients were younger, had lower presenting systolic blood pressure, lesser Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction risk, and more ∑
ST
‐elevation at baseline. The primary composite endpoint occurred in 8.9%
RA
versus 15.7%
FA
patients (
P
<0.001). On multivariable analysis, this benefit on the primary composite outcome favoring
RA
persisted (adjusted odds ratio [
OR
], 0.59; 95%
CI
, 0.44–0.78;
P
<0.001) and was evident in both
pPCI
(adjusted
OR
, 0.63; 95%
CI
, 0.43–0.92) and
PI
cohorts (adjusted
OR
, 0.57 95%
CI
, 0.37–0.86;
P
interaction=0.730). There was no difference in nonintracranial major bleeding with either access group (
RA
vs
FA
, 5.2% vs 6.0%;
P
=0.489).

Conclusions

Regardless of the application of a
PI
or
pPCI
strategy,
RA
was associated with improved clinical outcomes, supporting current
STEMI
evidence in favor of
RA
in
PCI
.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00623623.
Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium's Advanced Perfusion and Reperfusion Cardiac Life Support Strategy for Out‐of‐Hospital Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation
Authors: Yannopoulos Demetris , Bartos Jason A. , Martin Cindy , Raveendran Ganesh , Missov Emil , Conterato Marc , Frascone R. J. , Trembley Alexander , Sipprell Kevin , John Ranjit , George Stephen , Carlson Kathleen , Brunsvold Melissa E. , Garcia Santiago , Aufderheide Tom P.
Published: June 2016

Background

In 2015, the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium (MRC) implemented an advanced perfusion and reperfusion life support strategy designed to improve outcome for patients with out‐of‐hospital refractory ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (
VF
/
VT
). We report the outcomes of the initial 3‐month period of operations.

Methods and Results

Three emergency medical services systems serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area participated in the protocol. Inclusion criteria included age 18 to 75 years, body habitus accommodating automated Lund University Cardiac Arrest System (
LUCAS
) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (
CPR
), and estimated transfer time from the scene to the cardiac catheterization laboratory of ≤30 minutes. Exclusion criteria included known terminal illness, Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate status, traumatic arrest, and significant bleeding. Refractory
VF
/
VT
arrest was defined as failure to achieve sustained return of spontaneous circulation after treatment with 3 direct current shocks and administration of 300 mg of intravenous/intraosseous amiodarone. Patients were transported to the University of Minnesota, where emergent advanced perfusion strategies (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation;
ECMO
), followed by coronary angiography and primary coronary intervention (
PCI
), were performed, when appropriate. Over the first 3 months of the protocol, 27 patients were transported with ongoing mechanical
CPR
. Of these, 18 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
ECMO
was placed in 83%. Seventy‐eight percent of patients had significant coronary artery disease with a high degree of complexity and 67% received
PCI
. Seventy‐eight percent of patients survived to hospital admission and 55% (10 of 18) survived to hospital discharge, with 50% (9 of 18) achieving good neurological function (cerebral performance categories 1 and 2). No significant
ECMO
‐related complications were encountered.

Conclusions

The
MRC
refractory
VF
/
VT
protocol is feasible and led to a high functionally favorable survival rate with few complications.
Aporcella charidemiensis sp. n. (Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) from the southern Iberian Peninsula, with comments on the phylogeny of the genus
Authors: Álvarez-Ortega Sergio , Peña-Santiago Reyes
Published: June 2016

Aporcella charidemiensis sp. n. is described from the southern Iberian Peninsula. It is characterised by its 1.38-1.81 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction and 16-17 μm broad, odontostyle 12-13 μm long with aperture occupying 65-73% of its length, 354-420 μm long neck, pharyngeal expansion 164-212 μm long or 46-51% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube-like structure 79-155 μm long or 1.7-3.0 times the corresponding body diam., pars refringens vaginae absent, transverse vulva (V = 53-62), convex conoid tail (24-35 μm, c = 46-69, c′ = 0.8-1.1), 59-63 μm long spicules, and 7-10 irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements bearing a hiatus. The analyses of LSU-DNA sequences of the new species confirm the previous results regarding the phylogeny of the genus Aporcella.
The Impact of the Greek Indignados on Greek Politics
Authors: Aslanidis Paris , Marantzidis Nikos
Published: June 2016

The burden of this paper is to assert the significance of the 2011 movement of the Greek indignados for Greek politics during the Great Recession. Acknowledging the systematically feeble analysis of the nexus between non-institutional and electoral politics in social movement literature, the authors analyze the emergence, development, and heritage of the Greek indignados, focusing squarely on their impact on public opinion and the domestic party system, both at the level of interparty, as well as intraparty dynamics. The authors’ conclusions are drawn mainly from an analysis of political party discourse, public opinion data, and interviews conducted on the field, catering equally for the supply and demand side of the novel political claims that surfaced during the first years of the Greek sovereign debt crisis. The authors point to the crucial contribution of the movement’s discourse in facilitating voter defection from the traditional two-party system that ruled Greece for more than thirty years, and argue that the indignados functioned as a beacon of populist discursive tropes, which cemented the emergence of a new divide in Greek society between pro- and anti-bailout citizens. Conclusively, the authors take the position that the imprint of the indignados on the Greek psyche has had tremendous repercussions in consolidating a new party system, by undermining traditional political forces and legitimizing new, anti-establishment contenders.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement in TTIP from the Perspective of a Public Law Theory of International Adjudication
Authors: Venzke Ingo
Published: June 2016

The article provides an assessment of the European Commission’s recent proposal for reform in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) under the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). It does so on the basis of a public law theory of international adjudication that presents international courts and tribunals as multifunctional actors who exercise public authority and therefore require democratic legitimacy. The article introduces this understanding against the background of other, traditional basic conceptions of international courts and tribunals. It then focuses on the prospects of appellate review and politico-legislative input under the European Commission’s proposal for TTIP, as well as on the provisions pertaining to the arbitrators, the judicial process, and the judicial decisions. While the net merits of ISDS in the Trans-Atlantic context are uncertain, the article submits that the European Commission’s proposal provides, in principle, a welcome response to some of the more egregious shortcomings of investor-state arbitration.
Where the Shadow Falls: Corruption in International Investment Arbitration
Authors: Miles Cameron A.
Published: June 2016

The international community has long been aware of the intersection between domestic corruption and foreign direct investment. As such, corruption is not infrequently (but at the same time, not frequently) a presence in international investment arbitration. Save in rare circumstances (see e.g. World Duty Free Company Limited v Republic of Kenya and Metal-Tech Ltd v Uzbekistan) it is not raised overtly – but instead exercises a tenebrous influence on proceedings that is difficult to quantify precisely. This article is a review essay of the first systematic attempt to chart this influence across every investment arbitration case in which corruption issues have been relevant, Aloysius P. Llamzon’s Corruption in International Investment Arbitration.
Oreorchis yachangensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China
Authors: ZHANG ZI-BIN , XIN RONG-SHI , QIN SU-HUAI , HUANG BO-GAO , WEI XIN-LIAN , LIU YAN
Published: June 2016

Oreorchis yachangensis, a new species of Orchidaceae from Yachang Orchid National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species most closely resembles Oreorchis patens in having samll flowers, yellow sepals and petals, both the petals and the lip with purple spots, but is distinguished from O. patens and the other species in Oreorchis by having lip oblong, mid-lobe 2-lobed. O. yachangensis is restricted to a wet valley in Yachang Orchid National Nature Reserve, southern China.
Rehmannia chrysantha (Rehmanniaceae), a new species from Inner Mongolia, northern China
Authors: YANG MEI-QING , WANG YING-LI , BAI XIAO-RONG , LI MIN-HUI , ZHANG CHUN-HONG , HUANG LU-QI
Published: June 2016

Rehmannia chrysantha M. H. Li & C. H. Zhang, a new species from the Jiufeng Mountains in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China, is here described and illustrated. This species is morphologically similar to Rehmannia glutinosa, but differs by the yellow corolla, green or light green calyx and short stem. Additionally, the leaves of R. chrysantha are abaxially green, while the leaves of R. glutionsa are abaxially purple or mauve. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using three DNA loci (ITS, rps16, and trnL–F) support the delimitation of this newly described species.
Epitypification, emendation and synonymy of Lecanorchis taiwaniana (Vanilleae, Vanilloideae, Orchidaceae)
Authors: SUETSUGU KENJI , HSU TIAN-CHUAN , FUKUNAGA HIROKAZU , SAWA SHINICHIRO
Published: June 2016

The genus Lecanorchis Blume (1856: 188) comprises a group of mycoheterotrophic species that grow in multiple clusters with an erect, branched or unbranched stem (Hashimoto 1990, Sawa et al. 2006, Seidenfaden 1978, Szlachetko & Mytnik 2000). The key characteristic of the species of Lecanorchis is the presence of a calyculus, a cup-like structure between the base of the perianth and the apex of the ovary (Cameron 2003, Hashimoto 1990, Sawa et al. 2006). There are about thirty species and/or varieties in the genus Lecanorchis extending across a large geographical area that includes Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and New Guinea (Hashimoto 1990, Seidenfaden 1978, Su 2000, Szlachetko & Mytnik 2000, Cameron 2003, Averyanov 2011). Precise identification of the Lecanorchis species is often difficult due to close similarities in morphology and the short durations of flowering periods (Hashimoto 1990, Averyanov 2005, Suddee & Pedersen 2011, Tsukaya & Okada 2013). Furthermore, detailed descriptions are lacking for some species, particularly those described in decades past. Given such difficulties in precise identification, adequate taxonomic studies of this genus have not been conducted.
FAMILY MYCETOPHILIDAE
Authors: OLIVEIRA SARAH SIQUEIRA , AMORIM DALTON DE SOUZA
Published: June 2016

The Mycetophilidae include small fungus-gnats which life cycle is associated with fungi, especially of the larvae. The known diversity of the family in the Neotropical region is 1,145 species, but only some very few papers have been published on the Colombian species of Mycetophilidae, with records for the genera Docosia Winnertz, Paraleia Tonnoir, and Dziedzickia Johannsen. This catalogue gathers the information available on mycetophilids from Colombia, including genera and some species that for the first time are mentioned to occur in the country—as Leiella unicincta Edwards and Leiella zonalis Edwards.
FAMILY CERATOPOGONIDAE
Authors: SPINELLI GUSTAVO A. , WOLFF MARTA
Published: June 2016

Two hundred and thirty five species of Ceratopogonids arranged in 28 genera are listed for Colombia, mostly Culicoides (112 species) and Forcipomyia (50 species). For each listed species, information on type locality, type category and sex, location of type material, species distribution, localities for Colombia and main references, is provided. Localities are not specified for 17 species in which the literature searching was negative. Forcipomyia squamitibia Lutz and Bezzia clavipennis are excluded from the list.
FAMILY CHIRONOMIDAE
Authors: MENDES HUMBERTO FONSECA , PINHO LUIZ CARLOS
Published: June 2016

Only 30 chironomid species distributed in 16 genera and three subfamilies are formally recorded to Colombia. Another 32 genera and two subfamilies have been recorded on larval stage, with no identification at species level. Many new records, genera and species are expected when focusing on systematics of chironomids from Colombia.
FAMILY SIMULIIDAE
Authors: WOLFF MARTA I. , MIRANDA-ESQUIVEL DANIEL RAFAEL , MONCADA-ALVAREZ LIGIA INES
Published: June 2016

This catalogue presents 70 species distributed in two genera for Colombia: Gigantodax with 5 groups, and Simulium with 6 subgenera and 17 groups. Three species are recorded for the first time: Gigantodax vulcanius, G. gracilis, and Simulium pautense, and the distributional range is expanded to S.ochraceum, S. paynei, S. metallicum, and S. callidum.
FAMILY TABANIDAE
Authors: WOLFF MARTA E , MIRANDA-ESQUIVEL DANIEL RAFAEL
Published: June 2016

This catalogue presents 256 species distributed in 32 genera, six tribes and three subfamilies recorded to Colombia. For each species we present the available geographical information and most important references.
FAMILY ACROCERIDAE
Authors: GILLUNG JÉSSICA PAULA
Published: June 2016

A catalog of the Acroceridae from Colombia is provided. Five species and five genera are recorded for the country, including one undescribed Ocnaea species.
FAMILY NEMESTRINIDAE
Authors: KOSMANN CECÍLIA , LAMAS CARLOS JOSÉ EINICKER
Published: June 2016

Nemestrinidae (Diptera, Nemestrinoidea) are a relatively rare group of flies, and the knowledge on the Colombian fauna is still incipient. According to the available literature, only one species is recorded to this country, Hyrmophlaeba magdalena Bernardi, 1977.
FAMILY BOMBYLIIDAE
Authors: LAMAS CARLOS JOSÉ EINICKER , EVENHUIS NEAL L.
Published: June 2016

Bombyliidae is one of the largest Diptera families with more than 4,500 recognized species worldwide. Their species vary from robust to thin, and may be small to large (2-20mm) and looks like bees or wasps. They also present great variation in color. Adults can often be seen either resting and sunning themselves on trails, rocks or twigs or feeding on flowering plants as they are nectar feeders. All reared bee flies are predators or parasitoids of arthropods. The Colombian fauna of bombyliids comprises at the moment 22 species, and 12 genera, of which, six are endemic species. Nonetheless, this number may be much higher, as Colombia is a megadiverse country and there are not many specimens of this family deposited in collections all over the world.
FAMILY MYDIDAE
Authors: CALHAU JÚLIA , LAMAS CARLOS JOSÉ EINICKER
Published: June 2016

Mydidae (Diptera, Asiloidea) are a relatively rare group of flies, and the knowledge on the Colombian mydids is very poor. According to available literature, only two species are registered to this country, Protomydas coerulescens (Olivier, 1811) and P. rubidapex (Wiedemann, 1830).
FAMILY DOLICHOPODIDAE
Authors: CAPELLARI RENATO SOARES
Published: June 2016

The Dolichopodidae recorded from Colombia are listed based on literature data only and currently comprise 30 species in 14 genera (six subfamilies). Information on type material and depository institutions is given.
FAMILY PHORIDAE
Authors: AMENT DANILO CÉSAR , BROWN BRIAN V.
Published: June 2016

The Phoridae recorded from Colombia are catalogued, totaling 226 species distributed in 19 genera and three subfamilies. For each species, distribution, hierarchic position and cited references are presented.
FAMILY ANISOPODIDAE
Authors: AMORIM DALTON DE SOUZA , FALASCHI RAFAELA LOPES , OLIVEIRA SARAH SIQUEIRA
Published: June 2016

This considerably small family is poorly known in Colombia, with only two species reported for the genus Sylvicola Harris (1776) so far. We synonymize Neomesochria Amorim & Tozoni (1994) to Mycetobia Meigen (1818), hence transferring the Dominican amber species Neomesochria antillea (Grimaldi 1991) and N. cryptambra (Grimaldi 1991), and the recent Neotropical species N. limanda (Stone 1966) and N. stonei (Lane & d’Andretta 1958) back to the genus Mycetobia. This paper provides new records for Mycetobia and Olbiogaster Osten-Sacken (1886) for Colombia.
FAMILY LONCHAEIDAE
Authors: FERNANDES JULIANA MORGADO , COURI MÁRCIA SOUTO
Published: June 2016

This family was poorly known in the Neotropical region, mainly in Colombia. However, recent studies increased its knowledge with new distribution records. This catalogue presents 44 species distributed in three genera.
FAMILY ROPALOMERIDAE
Authors: ALE-ROCHA ROSALY
Published: June 2016

Ropalomeridae is a small family with most species distributed in the Neotropical Region, from Mexico to Argentina, and only one Nearctic species. In Colombia, eight species distributed in four genera have been found. This catalogue, based on the study of specimens and available literature records, summarizes and updates the information on the Colombian fauna.
FAMILY AGROMYZIDAE
Authors: SOUSA VIVIANE RODRIGUES DE , COURI MÁRCIA SOUTO
Published: June 2016

Agromyzidae are a family with many species described throughout the world. The family is known as leaf-miner flies, for the phytophagous habits of their larvae, feeding within plant tissues. This catalogue presents 74 species recorded from Colombia, distributed in 12 genera and two subfamilies. For each species we present the available geographical distribution in the country.
FAMILY CHLOROPIDAE
Authors: RICCARDI PAULA RAILE
Published: June 2016

The Chloropidae representatives from Colombia are poorly known, and are represented by one Shiphonellopsinae genus, five Chloropinae genera and 19 Oscinellinae genera, in a total of 46 described species.
FAMILY MILICHIIDAE
Authors: SWANN JOHN
Published: June 2016

This catalog summarizes information on the species of Milichiidae known to occur in Colombia. It includes 6 described species in 3 described genera and 6 undescribed species in two genera, one of which is also undescribed.
FAMILY DROSOPHILIDAE
Authors: TIDON ROSANA , ALMEIDA JONATHAN MENDES DE
Published: June 2016

This catalogue presents 176 species distributed in 17 genera and four tribes of Drosophilidae in Colombia, with both subfamilies, Drosophilinae and Steganinae, represented in the Colombian territory. This is probably an underestimate of the real richness of drosophilid species in the country, for two reasons. First, there are relatively few collections of Drosophilidae in Colombia, resulting in significant spatial gaps in the sampling of these flies. Second, we have not considered here species that have already been recorded in neighbour countries but not in Colombia. Consequently, there are certainly several described species, as well as new species, that occur in this area but are not listed here. We hope that this catalogue will stimulate new inventories of drosophilids in Colombia, contributing to fill gaps in the knowledge of this family of flies in the country.
FAMILY EPHYDRIDAE
Authors: MATHIS WAYNE NEILSEN , JÚNIOR FRANCISCO DE ASSIS RODRIGUES , COURI MÁRCIA SOUTO
Published: June 2016

This catalog presents 53 species of Ephydridae from Colombia that are classified into five subfamilies, 15 tribes and 26 genera. For each species we present the available geographical information.
FAMILY HIPPOBOSCIDAE
Authors: GRACIOLLI GUSTAVO
Published: June 2016

This catalog presents 18 species distributed among 11 genera and two subfamilies of hippoboscid flies recorded in Colombia. For each genus we present synonymies and type species, and for each species account we present synonymies, disposition of type material, and specific localities, departments and, when available, the type-host.
FAMILY NYCTERIBIIDAE
Authors: GRACIOLLI GUSTAVO , DICK CARL W. , GUERRERO RICARDO
Published: June 2016

This catalog presents eight species distributed among two genera and one subfamily of nycteribiid bat flies recorded in Colombia. For each genus we present synonymies and type species, and for each species account we present synonymies, disposition of type material, and specific localities and departments.
FAMILY SCIARIDAE
Authors: CARVALHO-FERNANDES SHEILA PATRÍCIA
Published: June 2016

Sciaridae are a widely distributed family with high number of species. They are known as black fungus gnats due to their dark color and feeding activity. This catalogue presents 17 species from Colombia distributed in eight genera, and for each species the geographical distribution is provided.
FAMILY MUSCIDAE
Authors: PÉREZ SANDRA , DE CARVALHO CLAUDIO J. B.
Published: June 2016

The Muscidae species in Colombia are first catalogued. 108 species and 41 genera are reported to the country, added with 14 new species not yet described in Agenamyia, Apsil, Drymeia, Graphomya and Reinwardtia genera. There are 15 new species records to Colombia. References are given to the original descriptions and taxonomic, biological, and applied literature made for Colombia.
FAMILIES CALLIPHORIDAE AND MESEMBRINELLIDAE
Authors: WOLFF MARTA , KOSMANN CECILIA
Published: June 2016

Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae (Diptera, Oestroidea) are very common groups of flies, the Calliphoridae with worldwide distribution and over 1,000 described species, while the Mesembrinellidae are restricted to the Neotropical Region and founded mainly in areas with undisturbed native vegetation. This catalogue presents two families: Calliphoridae, with 4 subfamilies, 31 species distributed in 12 genera, and Mesembrinellidae, with 7 genera and 21 species.
FAMILY TACHINIDAE
Authors: NIHEI SILVIO S.
Published: June 2016

The present catalogue summarizes 154 species and 71 genera occurring in Colombia. All the four subfamilies (Phasiinae, Dexiinae, Tachininae and Exoristinae), and 24 tribes are represented in the Colombian territory.
FAMILY RANGOMARAMIDAE
Authors: FALASCHI RAFAELA LOPES , AMORIM DALTON DE SOUZA
Published: June 2016

This small family of Diptera is poorly known in Colombia. In the present catalogue, we feature a single report for the country, of a species of the genus Eratomyia.
Spatial Patterns and Frequency of Unforced Decadal-Scale Changes in Global Mean Surface Temperature in Climate Models
Authors: Middlemas Eleanor A. , Clement Amy C.
Published: June 2016

The causes of decadal time-scale variations in global mean temperature are currently under debate. Proposed mechanisms include both processes internal to the climate system as well as external forcing. Here, the robustness of spatial and time scale characteristics of unforced (internal) decadal variability among phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) preindustrial control runs is examined. It is found that almost all CMIP5 models produce an interdecadal Pacific oscillation–like pattern associated with decadal variability, but the frequency of decadal-scale change is model dependent. To assess the roles of atmosphere and ocean dynamics in producing decadal variability, two preindustrial control Community Climate System model (version 4) configurations are compared: one with an atmosphere coupled to a slab ocean and the other fully coupled to a dynamical ocean. Interactive ocean dynamics are not necessary to produce an IPO-like pattern but affect the magnitude and frequency of the decadal changes primarily by impacting the strength of El Niño–Southern Oscillation. However, low-frequency El Niño–Southern Oscillation variability and skewness explains up to only 54% of the spread in frequency of decadal swings in global mean temperature among CMIP5 models; there may be other internal mechanisms that can produce such diversity. The spatial pattern of decadal changes in surface temperature are robust and can be explained by atmospheric processes interacting with the upper ocean, while the frequency of these changes is not well constrained by models.
Screening of Astaxanthin-Hyperproducing Haematococcus pluvialis Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and Raman Microspectroscopy
Authors: Liu Jinghua , Huang Qing
Published: June 2016

Haematococcus pluvialis has promising applications owing to its ability to accumulate astaxanthin under stress conditions. In order to acquire higher astaxanthin productivity from H. pluvialis, it is critical not only to develop efficient mutagenesis techniques, but also to establish rapid and effective screening methods which are highly demanded in current research and application practice. In this work, we therefore attempted to develop a new approach to screening the astaxanthin-hyperproducing strains based on spectroscopic tools. Using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman microspectroscopy, we have achieved rapid and quantitative analysis of the algal cells in terms of astaxanthin, β-carotene, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. In particular, we have found that the ratio of the IR absorption band at 1740 cm−1 to the band at 1156 cm−1 can be utilized for identifying astaxanthin-hyperproducing strains. This work may therefore open a new avenue for developing high-throughput screening methods necessary for the microbial mutant breeding industry.
Feasibility Study of Using Breath Ammonia Analysis Based on Off-Axis Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy with External Cavity Diode Laser for Noninvasive Real-Time Diagnosis of Helicobacter Pylori
Authors: Bayrakli Ismail , Turkmen Aysenur , Cem Kockar Muhammet
Published: June 2016

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of using breath ammonia analysis based on off-axis cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (OA-CEAS) with an external-cavity diode laser (ECL) for noninvasive, real-time diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. Analyses are performed for the breath of 15 healthy volunteers, and eight children and 19 adults with HP infection. The range of ammonia levels for healthy participants is determined to be between 178 and 610 ppb, whereas the ranges for child and adult patients with HP infection are measured to be 457–2470 ppb and 450–2990 ppb, respectively. The ammonia concentrations for patients with HP infection are significantly higher than the concentrations for healthy volunteers. However, no sharp boundary between the ammonia concentrations in the breath of patients with HP infection and healthy volunteers is observed. No correlation between breath ammonia and either body mass index (BMI) or age is found. The reported results suggest that our breath ammonia measurement system has the potential for future use in easy, noninvasive diagnosis of HP infection.
Schooling, Skills, and Self-rated Health
Authors: Duke Naomi , Macmillan Ross
Published: June 2016

Education is a key sociological variable in the explanation of health and health disparities. Conventional wisdom emphasizes a life course–human capital perspective with expectations of causal effects that are quasi-linear, large in magnitude for high levels of educational attainment, and reasonably robust in the face of measured and unmeasured explanatory factors. We challenge this wisdom by offering an alternative theoretical account and an empirical investigation organized around the role of measured and unmeasured cognitive and noncognitive skills as confounders in the association between educational attainment and health. Based on longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1997 spanning mid-adolescence through early adulthood, results indicate that (1) effects of educational attainment are vulnerable to issues of omitted variable bias, (2) measured indicators of cognitive and noncognitive skills account for a significant proportion of the traditionally observed effect of educational attainment, (3) such skills have effects larger than that of even the highest levels of educational attainment when appropriate controls for unmeasured heterogeneity are incorporated, and (4) models that most stringently control for such time-stable abilities show little evidence of a substantive association between educational attainment and health.
A novel chemical technique for compatibility of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber in their blends
Authors: Estagy Sara , Movahed Saeed Ostad , Yazdanbakhsh Soheil , Nezhad Majid Karim
Published: June 2016

The market for commercial polymer blends has grown steadily. A good blend should have strong interphases between different parts of the constituted polymers. Lack of strong interphases is a classical problem of the blend industry. Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber (EPDM)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) blends have a very good aging resistance and good compression sets. However, these rubbers are partially miscible. To improve the miscibility of EPDM and SBR in their blends, a Lewis acid, AlCl3, was used to form EPDM–g–SBR copolymer through Friedel–Crafts reactions. The existence of covalent bonds between EPDM and SBR macromolecules was studied by the cure traces of the blends, that is, ΔTorque, Fourier transform infrared spectrums, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) heat flow curves, thermogravimetric analysis curves, and scanning electron (SEM) micrographs. Subsequently, several blends with EPDM/SBR ratio of 40/60 and with various AlCl3 amounts were prepared and after curing, their mechanical properties were measured and compared. The results showed covalent bonds formed between SBR–EPDM and SBR–SBR macromolecules. An exothermic change in heat flow in the DSC curve was observed around 111.28°C, which can be attributed to the formation of carbocations in Friedel–Crafts reactions. Adding 2 phr AlCl3 had an efficient effect on EPDM–SBR and or SBR–SBR linkages. The mechanical properties of the cured blends, that is, tensile strength were lower when compared with corresponding values for prepared compound with SBR. Excellent compatibility between the two polymers and strong interphases were observed in SEM micrograph of the cured blend with 1 phr AlCl3.
Steering a Swarm: Compliance and Learning in a Municipal Performance Regime
Authors: Charbonneau Étienne , Bromberg Daniel , Henderson Alexander C.
Published: June 2016

This is a descriptive longitudinal case study of Ontario’s Municipal Performance Measurement Program that examines what happens in the interaction between performance regimes and public agencies. Specifically, from internal databases, archives, and public documents, this study tests propositions of compliance and benchmarking theories with all 444 municipalities in Ontario. Contrary to expectations, there is little evidence that compliance eventually declines for medium to large municipalities; compliance of small municipalities declined for a stretch of years, before being reversed. In addition, we find limited evidence of widespread organizational learning through benchmarking in this intelligence regime.