bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Overturning the Point: Exploring Change in Australian–Asian relations
Authors: Sobocinska Agnieszka 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe historiography of Australian–Asian relations is punctuated with numerous ‘turning points’. This article explores the ramifications of ascribing change in Australian–Asian relations to single events. It suggests that this mode encourages ahistorical and teleological interpretations and has implications for contemporary politics. Instead of looking for ‘turning points’, this article suggests that explaining shifts in Australian relations with Asia requires historians to analyse cultural changes over the long term and calls for a broader debate about causation in international relations, both within and outside the discipline.
Migration of a volcanic front inferred from K–Ar ages of late Miocene to Pliocene volcanic rocks in central Japan
Authors: Nakamura Hitomi , Oikawa Teruki , Geshi Nobuo , Matsumoto Akikazu 
Published: August 2014

AbstractK–Ar ages have been determined for 14 late Miocene to Pliocene volcanic rocks in the north of the Kanto Mountains, Japan, for tracking the location of the volcanic front through the time. These samples were collected from volcanoes located behind the trench–trench–trench (TTT) triple junction of the Pacific, Philippine Sea, and North American plates. This junction is the site of subduction of slabs of the Pacific and the Philippine Sea plates, both of which are thought to have influenced magmatism in this region. The stratigraphy and K–Ar ages of volcanic rocks in the study area indicate that volcanism occurred between the late Miocene and the Pliocene, and ceased before the Pleistocene. Volcanism in adjacent areas of the southern NE Japan and northern Izu–Bonin arcs also occurred during the Pliocene and ceased at around 3 Ma with the westward migration of the volcanic front, as reported previously. Combining our new age data with the existing data shows that before 3 Ma the volcanic front around the TTT junction was located about 50 km east of the preset‐day volcanic front. We suggest that northward subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate slab ended at ∼3 Ma as a result of collision between the northern margin of the plate with the surface of the Pacific Plate slab. This collision may have caused a change in the subduction vector of the Philippine Sea Plate from the original north‐directed subduction to the present‐day northwest‐directed subduction. This indicates that the post ∼3 Ma westward migration of the volcanic front was a result of this change in plate motion.
Frequency‐Dependent Qf Value of Microwave Dielectric Ceramics
Authors: Li Lei , Chen Xiang Ming 
Published: August 2014

The microwave dielectric properties of some typical low‐loss dielectric ceramics (CaNdAlO4, Ba(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3, Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3, Ba4Sm9.33Ti18O54, Ca0.71Nd0.26TiO3 and SrTiO3) were evaluated at different frequencies by using high‐order TE0np resonant modes of resonant cavity method. The dielectric constant shows little dependence on frequency for these microwave dielectric ceramics, while the Qf value increases with frequency in the measurement frequency range of 3–14 GHz. The results indicate that the Qf value as a frequency‐independent constant at microwave frequencies is not valid for these microwave dielectric ceramics, while the constant Qf value has been accepted as a common recognition for a long period. The frequency dependence of Qf value is attributed to the defects‐induced extrinsic dielectric loss, which cannot be avoided in actual microwave dielectric ceramics.
EU Leverage and Democratic Backsliding in Central and Eastern Europe: the Case of Romania
Authors: Iusmen Ingi 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThis article examines the effectiveness of European Union post‐accession leverage to contain democratic backsliding in the Member States by employing as a case study the EU's intervention concerning the impeachment of the Romanian President Băsescu in July 2012. It is argued that a set of domestic factors, such as political miscalculations, tensions within the ruling coalition and opportunistic actions, facilitated the success of EU material leverage to halt democratic deterioration in Romania. The comparison drawn with the anti‐democratic turn in Hungary demonstrates that facilitating domestic conditions, available in the Romanian case but lacking in the Hungarian one, can affect the exercise of EU post‐accession leverage to contain democratic regression in the Member States.
Efficacy and safety of canagliflozin alone or as add‐on to other oral antihyperglycemic drugs in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A 52‐week open‐label study
Authors: Inagaki Nobuya , Kondo Kazuoki , Yoshinari Toru , Kuki Hideki 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAims/IntroductionCanagliflozin is a sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor under development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to examine its efficacy and safety as monotherapy or in combination with commonly used oral antihyperglycemic drugs in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsPatients on diet/exercise alone or diet/exercise plus an oral antihyperglycemic drug (sulfonylurea, glinide, α‐glucosidase inhibitor, biguanide, thiazolidinedione or dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor) were randomized to either 100 or 200 mg canagliflozin while continuing prior therapy. Patients were treated for 52 weeks in an open‐label manner.ResultsCanagliflozin significantly reduced hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma glucose and bodyweight in all the study groups. Improvements were apparent by 4 weeks of treatment, and were maintained for 52 weeks. The reduction in hemoglobin A1c ranged from −0.80 to −1.06%, and from −0.93 to −1.26% in the 100 and 200 mg canagliflozin groups, respectively. Drug‐related adverse events occurred in approximately one‐third of patients, and included hypoglycemia/asymptomatic hypoglycemia and pollakiuria. Hypoglycemia/asymptomatic hypoglycemia was most common in patients treated with a sulfonylurea. Most adverse events were classified as mild or moderate in severity.ConclusionsThe results of the present study confirmed that treatment with canagliflozin resulted in significant reductions in glycemic control and bodyweight that were maintained for 52 weeks of treatment irrespective of whether it was administered as monotherapy or in combination with another oral antihyperglycemic drug. Canagliflozin was well tolerated, with a low incidence of drug‐related adverse events. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT01387737).
Long‐Term Outcome after Transcatheter Closure of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Rupture
Authors: HEIBERG JOHAN , HJORTDAL VIBEKE ELISABETH , NIELSEN‐KUDSK JENS ERIK 
Published: August 2014

ObjectivesWe report the long‐term all‐cause mortality and procedure‐related complication rate following transcatheter closure of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) in a single tertiary center.BackgroundVSR is an exceedingly serious and deathly complication to myocardial infarction. Surgical closure has previously been the treatment of choice, but in the last decade a transcatheter approach has gained ground. However, reports on long‐term survival are still sparse and experience is often restricted to large tertiary centers with high flow of patients.MethodsFrom January 2000 to April 2013, 9 patients underwent transcatheter closure of a VSR at Aarhus University Hospital. Primary device closure was chosen mainly because of significant risk factors against surgery. Our major endpoints were 30‐day, 1‐year, and 5‐year mortality and years of survival until time of evaluation.ResultsOur cohort had a mean age of 75.1 ± 8.4 years, and the median time from VSR to closure was 16 days (2–346). The 30‐day, 1‐year, and 5‐year mortality rates were 11.1%, 33.3%, and 62.5%, respectively. Mean time of postprocedural survival was 4.6 ± 4.4 years at the time of review. Three patients were still alive at the time of review, 1 with a shock‐index <1 at the time of VSR closure.ConclusionsAs a single medium‐sized tertiary center, we report lower short‐ and long‐term mortality rates compared with most published data on outcome after surgical closure. Our results are comparable to the few previously published reports on transcatheter closure of postinfarction VSRs. (J Interven Cardiol 2014;27:509–515)
Influence of Sex on Outcome Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI): Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: STANGL VERENA , BALDENHOFER GERD , LAULE MICHAEL , BAUMANN GERT , STANGL KARL 
Published: August 2014

BackgroundSex differences exist in pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and outcome in aortic stenosis (AS). However, only limited information is available concerning sex differences in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of the present study is a comprehensive meta‐analysis of studies that investigate differences between men and women in outcome after TAVI.MethodsWe screened PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Inclusion criteria were: AS treated with all forms of TAVI, studies specifically targeting sex/gender differences, and at least 2 of the following outcome data: 30‐day all‐cause death, mortality during follow‐up, major vascular complications, major bleeding, pacemaker, or stroke rate (<30 days). Studies were excluded if they considered female gender merely in subgroup analysis.ResultsWe included 14 observational studies with a total of 7,973 patients (4,242 women, 3,731 men). At 30 days (12 studies, 3,044 women, 2,784 men), female sex was associated with a significantly lower mortality rate (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.78 [0.64, 0.96]). Of the 14 studies included for analysis, 12 provided data on mortality during follow‐up that likewise show a survival advantage for women (OR 0.70 [0.59, 0.82]). Whereas the major vascular complication rate was greater in women (11 studies, 3,731 women, 3,342 men; OR 1.72 [1.41, 2.09]), major bleeding (8 studies, 2,124 women, 2,100 men; OR 1.13 [0.95, 1.33]) was not. Pacemaker and stroke rate were not significantly different between the groups.ConclusionIn treatment with TAVI, there is evidence for a significantly greater overall survival benefit in women over men.
Protective effect of saponins extract from Panax japonicus on myocardial infarction: involvement of NF-κB, Sirt1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways and inhibition of inflammation
Authors: Wei Na , Zhang Changcheng , He Haibo , Wang Ting , Liu Zhaoqi , Liu Guangyao , Sun Zhiwei , Zhou Zhiyong , Bai Caihong , Yuan Ding 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Objective
Inflammation is widely acknowledged to increase morbidity and mortality in myocardial infarction (MI), and the ideal therapeutic methods should be aimed at the inflammation reaction triggers. The aim was to evaluate the protective effect of saponins extracted from Panax japonicus (SPJ) on MI, and based on these results investigate the possible involvement mechanism of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signalling pathways.

Methods
Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, MI, MI + SPJ 50 and SPJ 100 mg/kg groups. After administration for 3 days, MI rats were created by ligaturing coronary artery, and then underwent the same administration for 7 days as before. Cardiac function and the expressions of pro-apoptosis protein Bax, anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2, NF-κB, SIRT1, MAPKs signal pathway-related proteins and inflammatory factor, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), were assessed.

Key findings
SPJ might significantly improve cardiac function, decrease the serum MCP-1 and TNF-α levels, ameliorate the increased Bax protein expression and decrease Bcl-2 protein expression, and suppress the protein expressions of NF-κBp65 subunit, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK, but have no effect on c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and increase the expression of SIRT1. Histopathological observations provided supportive evidence for aforementioned results, and with the dose of SPJ increasing, the aforesaid improvement became more and more strong.

Conclusion
The studies demonstrated that SPJ exerted beneficially cardioprotective effects on MI rats, mainly inhibiting NF-κB, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK activation, but increased the expression of SIRT1, alleviating MI injury and cardiac cell death.
Effects of two field continuous incremental tests on cardiorespiratory responses in Standardbred trotters
Authors: Fortier J. , Goachet A. G. , Julliand V. , Deley G. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryIn humans, cardiorespiratory responses are widely evaluated from field incremental exercise tests. On the contrary, equine exercise physiology faces a huge lack of oxygen consumption measurements (VO2) in field conditions due to technical concerns. The aim of this study was to test the effects of two incremental continuous field tests on cardiorespiratory responses in Standardbred trotters. The two protocols were realized at trot and ended when horses galloped. The tests started at 4.2 m/s (T1) and 6.4 m/s (T2), with speed increments of 1.4 m/s every 3 min for T1 and 0.8 m/s every 2 min for T2. Velocity (v), heart rate (HR) and gas exchanges were recorded continuously, and blood lactate concentration [La−] was measured before and after tests. Values recorded at the end of the tests were considered as peak values. The vpeakvalues were 10.6 ± 0.3 and 10.7 ± 0.7 m/s for T1 and T2 respectively. Horses reached higherVO2peak(T1: 116.6 ± 11.5 ml/min/kg; T2: 88.9 ± 10.2 ml/min/kg; p < 0.05) andHRpeak(T1: 217 ± 5 bpm; T2: 209 ± 3 bpm; p < 0.05) during T1 compared with T2. T1 was significantly longer than T2 (17.5 ± 1.9vs. 12.9 ± 1.6 min respectively, p < 0.01), and the number of steps entirely ran tended to be different (T1: 5.6 ± 0.6; T2: 6.2 ± 0.8, p = 0.07). Compared to T2, the design of T1 appeared easier to implement and allowed higher cardiorespiratory responses. The relationship betweenHR‐VO2obtained through T1 gave a better correlation between the two variables than T2. These findings suggest that T1 might be better than T2 for evaluating cardiorespiratory adaptations to exercise and for estimating aerobic energy expenditure in exercising trotters.
Chromosome changes after polyploidization in Triticeae
Authors: WANG Qiu‐Xia , GAO Ai‐Nong , YANG Xin‐Ming , LI Li‐Hui 
Published: August 2014

AbstractChromosome changes are common in Triticeae, and they occur widely in natural and resynthesized polyploidy. Two important factors, nucleocytoplasmic interaction (internal) and the environment (external), can significantly influence chromosome changes after polyploidization. And chromosomal DNA changes play key roles during the initial formation, gradual stabilization, and establishment of polyploids. Hybrid breeding between common wheat and related wild species of Triticeae is an example of polyploidization, and many of the chromosome changes occurring after hybridization could be useful for improving wheat varieties. The famous chromosomal translocation 1BL/1RS that occurred after ancestral hybridization between wheat and rye is distributed widely among modern wheat varieties and makes a big contribution to wheat breeding; xiaoyan 6 is a similarly distant hybridization between wheat and Agropyron elongatum (Host) P. Beauv. in China. This chromosome translocation line was cultivated as the main variety in Shaanxi Province for 16 years and has also been used as a core parent for wheat breeding in China during the past 20 years because of its outstanding merits.
Positive fire feedbacks contribute to shifts from Nothofagus pumilio forests to fire‐prone shrublands in Patagonia
Authors: Paritsis Juan , Veblen Thomas T. , Holz Andrés 
Published: August 2014

AbstractQuestionUnder climate change and increased ignitions by humans, burning of forests in which severe fires were naturally infrequent may result in environmental changes that increase the probability that they will burn again. On the eastern slopes of the northern Patagonian Andes, after fire‐resistant Nothofagus pumilio forests burn they are typically replaced by fire‐prone shrublands dominated by resprouting shrubs. We examine fuel properties and microclimatic conditions at the community level as potential fire feedback mechanisms mediating switches from fire‐resistant N. pumilio forests to fire‐prone shrublands.LocationNorthwestern Chubut province, Patagonia, Argentina.MethodsWe characterized the volume and vertical distribution of fine fuels, understorey woody and semi‐woody plant composition, stand structure and microclimatic conditions in unburned and burned N. pumilio forest and shrublands 14–29 yr after severe fire.ResultsFuel amount and arrangement in unburned N. pumilio forests are unfavourable for fire activity compared with post‐fire N. pumilio forests and shrublands. Unburned N. pumilio forests presented vertical discontinuities in fine fuel distribution and lesser amounts of fine fuels near the ground in comparison to fuels in shrublands. Floristic understorey composition of unburned and burned shrublands was very similar, while composition of unburned and burned N. pumilio forests showed clear differences. Additionally, microclimatic conditions following burning of N. pumilio forests and shrublands were significantly warmer and drier than in the unburned forest, and more frequently exceeded thresholds associated with fire activity in this region.ConclusionsPositive feedbacks from initial burning of otherwise fire‐resistant N. pumilio forest will accelerate the rate of fire‐induced conversion of forests to non‐forest assemblages. Once transformed to the alternative state of shrublands, return to a forest cover is unlikely due to increased probability of burning in shrublands, as well as the unfavourable effects of warmer and drier conditions on tree establishment.
Wolbachiado not live by reproductive manipulation alone: infection polymorphism inDrosophila suzukiiandD. subpulchrella
Authors: Hamm Christopher A. , Begun David J. , Vo Alexandre , Smith Chris C. R. , Saelao Perot , Shaver Amanda O. , Jaenike John , Turelli Michael 
Published: August 2014

AbstractDrosophila suzukiirecently invaded North America and Europe. Populations in Hawaii, California, New York and Nova Scotia are polymorphic forWolbachia, typically with <20% infection frequency. TheWolbachiainD. suzukii, denotedwSuz, is closely related towRi, the variant prevalent in continental populations ofD. simulans.wSuz is also nearly identical toWolbachiafound inD. subpulchrella, plausiblyD. suzukii's sister species. This suggests verticalWolbachiatransmission through cladogenesis (‘cladogenic transmission’). The widespread occurrence of 7–20% infection frequencies indicates a stable polymorphism.wSuz is imperfectly maternally transmitted, with wild infected females producing on average 5–10% uninfected progeny. As expected from its low frequency,wSuz produces no cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), that is, no increased embryo mortality when infected males mate with uninfected females, and no appreciable sex‐ratio distortion. The persistence ofwSuz despite imperfect maternal transmission suggests positive fitness effects. Assuming a balance between selection and imperfect transmission, we expect a fitness advantage on the order of 20%. Unexpectedly,Wolbachia‐infected females produce fewer progeny than do uninfected females. We do not yet understand the maintenance ofwSuz inD. suzukii. The absence of detectable CI inD. suzukiiandD. subpulchrellamakes it unlikely that CI‐based mechanisms could be used to control this species without transinfection using novelWolbachia. Contrary to their reputation as horizontally transmitted reproductive parasites, manyWolbachiainfections are acquired through introgression or cladogenesis and many cause no appreciable reproductive manipulation. Such infections, likely to be mutualistic, may be central to understanding the pervasiveness ofWolbachiaamong arthropods.
Vitamin D Insufficiency Is Associated with Lower Physical Function in Patients with Heart Failure and Diabetes
Authors: Lopes M. R. , Ribeiro Paula A. B. , Ledur Priscila , Souza Gabriela C. , Clausell Nadine , Schaan Beatriz D. 
Published: August 2014

Vitamin D deficiency is frequent among patients with heart failure (HF) and diabetes, disorders associated with exercise intolerance and muscle weakness. This study aims to search for associations between vitamin D sufficiency and physical function indexes in patients with HF and diabetes. A cross-sectional study of 146 HF patients, 39.7% with diabetes, at a Brazilian tertiary outpatient clinic was performed. Patients underwent clinical evaluation, 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), handgrip strength, physical activity level (IPAQ), and biochemical evaluations including serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Classification was done according to vitamin D status (≥30 ng/dL, sufficient) and presence/absence of diabetes in vitamin sufficient, no diabetes (DS-C,n=25), vitamin sufficient, diabetes (DS-DM,n=18), vitamin deficient, no diabetes (DD-C,n= 63), and vitamin deficient, diabetes (DD-DM,n=40). Patients age was 55.4 ± 8 yrs; 70.5% had vitamin D deficiency. Clinical characteristics were similar among groups. Total time expended in physical activity was similar among groups(P=0.26). DS-C covered higher distances in the 6 MWT (392 ± 60 m)versusDD-DM (309 ± 116 m);P=0.024. Handgrip strength was similar among groups but tended to lower levels in DD-DM(P=0.074)even after being adjusted to physical activity(P=0.069). Vitamin D deficiency can influence physical function in HF diabetic patients.
Regime-Dependent Nonstationary Relationship between the East Asian Winter Monsoon and North Pacific Oscillation
Authors: Pak Gyundo , Park Young-Hyang , Vivier Frederic , Kwon Young-Oh , Chang Kyung-Il 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
The East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) and the North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) constitute two outstanding surface atmospheric circulation patterns affecting the winter sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the western North Pacific. The present analyses show the relationship between the EAWM and NPO and their impact on the SST are nonstationary and regime-dependent with a sudden change around 1988. These surface circulation patterns are tightly linked to the upper-level Ural and Kamchatka blockings, respectively. During the 1973–87 strong winter monsoon epoch, the EAWM and NPO were significantly correlated to each other, but their correlation practically vanishes during the 1988–2002 weak winter monsoon epoch. This nonstationary relationship is related to the pronounced decadal weakening of the Siberian high system over the Eurasian continent after the 1988 regime shift as well as the concomitant positive NPO-like dipole change and its eastward migration in tropospheric circulation over the North Pacific. There is a tight tropical–extratropical teleconnection in the western North Pacific in the strong monsoon epoch, which disappears in the weak monsoon epoch when there is a significant eastward shift of tropical influence and enhanced storm tracks into the eastern North Pacific. A tentative mechanism of the nonstationary relationship between the EAWM and NPO is proposed, stressing the pivotal role played in the above teleconnection by a decadal shift of the East Asian trough resulting from the abrupt decline of the EAWM since the late 1980s.