Absence Of Chills Research Articles

Decoding peak emotional responses to music from computational acoustic and lyrical features

Music can evoke strong emotions. Research has suggested that pleasurable chills (shivering) and tears (weeping) are peak emotional responses to music. The present study examines whether computational acoustic and lyrical features can decode chills and tears. The experiment comprises 186 pieces of self-selected music to evoke emotional responses from 54 Japanese participants. Machine learning analysis with L2-norm-regularization regression revealed the decoding accuracy and specified well-defined features. In Study 1, time-series acoustic features significantly decoded emotional chills, tears, and the absence of chills or tears by using information within a few seconds before and after the onset of the three responses. The classification results showed three significant periods, indicating that complex anticipation-resolution mechanisms lead to chills and tears. Evoking chills was particularly associated with rhythm uncertainty, while evoking tears was related to harmony. Violating rhythm expectancy may have been a trigger for chills, while the harmonious overlapping of acoustic spectra may have played a role in evoking tears. In Study 2, acoustic and lyrical features from the entire piece decoded tears but not chill frequency. Mixed emotions stemming from happiness were associated with major chords, while lyric content related to sad farewells can contribute to the prediction of emotional tears, indicating that distinctive emotions in music may evoke a tear response. When considered in tandem with theoretical studies, the violation of rhythm may biologically boost both the pleasure- and fight-related physiological response of chills, whereas tears may be evolutionarily embedded in the social bonding effect of musical harmony and play a unique role in emotional regulation.

Development and validation of a parsimonious and pragmatic CHARM score to predict mortality in patients with suspected sepsis

BackgroundWe aimed to derive and validate a parsimonious and pragmatic clinical prediction rule using the concepts of Predisposition, Infection, Response, and Organ Dysfunction to predict in-hospital mortality; and to compare it with other prediction rules, as well as with conventional biomarkers for evaluating the mortality risk of patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department (ED). MethodsWe conducted a pragmatic cohort study with consecutive ED patients aged 18 or older with documented diagnostic codes of infection and two sets of blood culture ordered by physicians between 2010 and 2012 in a tertiary teaching hospital. Results7011 and 12,110 patients were included in the derivation cohort and the validation cohort for the final analysis. There were 479 deaths (7%) in the derivation cohort and 1145 deaths (9%) in the validation cohort. Independent predictors of death were absence of Chills (odds ratio: 2.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.75–2.97), Hypothermia (2.12, 1.57–2.85), Anemia (2.45, 1.97–3.04), wide Red cell Distribution Width (RDW) (3.27, 2.63–4.05) and history of Malignancy (2.00, 1.63–2.46). This novel clinical prediction rule (CHARM) performed well for stratifying patients into mortality risk groups (sensitivity: 99.4%, negative predictive value 99.7%, receiver operating characteristic area 0.77). The CHARM score also outperformed the other scores or biomarkers such as PIRO, SIRS, MEDS, CURB-65, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and lactate (all p<.05). ConclusionsIn patients with suspected sepsis, this parsimonious and pragmatic model could be utilized to stratify the mortality risk of patients in the early stage of sepsis.

Flowering physiology and cold resistance of Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop., a wild relative of the strawberry

SummaryEnvironmental control of growth and flowering and the freezing tolerance of two Norwegian populations of Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop. were studied under controlled environment conditions. Under short day (SD; 10 h) conditions, the plants ceased growing and entered a semi-dormant state at temperatures ranging from 9° - 21°C, while under long day (LD; 24 h) conditions, growth was highly temperature-dependent. At 21°C, the plants continued to grow and remained vegetative in LD for at least 16 weeks. Flowering was induced at all temperatures in SD, while in LD at lower temperatures only.The critical photoperiods for floral induction at 21°C were 18 h and 20 h for the South Norwegian and the North Norwegian population, respectively. However, the initiation of floral primordia required a transition from SD to LD conditions. Three weeks of exposure to SD at an intermediate temperature was sufficient for floral induction in both cultivars, but flowering increased with increasing exposure, up to 7 weeks. SD-induced plants, that had ceased growing, resumed normal growth when returned to LD and high temperature in the absence of chilling, but only a few plants flowered without chilling. High-latitude P. palustris plants survived freezing at temperatures down to -30°C, whereas even the hardiest populations of the related wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) were killed at temperatures below -10°C.We conclude that, considering the relative ease with which the frost-susceptible garden strawberry can be crossed with the frost-resistant P. palustris, the latter represents a promising progenitor for breeding new, cold-resistant strawberry cultivars.

Risk factors and clinical impact of levofloxacin or cefazolin nonsusceptibility or ESBL production among uropathogens in adults with community-onset urinary tract infections

Gram-negative bacilli causing community-onset urinary tract infections (CoUTIs) are getting increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents. Clinical significance and risk factors of the acquisition of antimicrobial-nonsusceptible pathogens are still under investigation. A prospective study was performed in the medical wards of two hospitals in southern Taiwan between August 2009 and January 2012. Patients were enrolled if they were aged >18, admitted through the emergency department, and had CoUTI due to Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Overall 136 adults with CoUTI were enrolled. Their mean age was 67 years and females were predominant (68.4%). Comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus (30.1%) and hypertension (54.4%), were common. Escherichia coli (111, 81.6%) was the predominant species, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (11, 8.1%), and Proteus mirabilis (7, 5.1%). Nine (8.0%) of E. coli isolates and 5 (45%) of K. pneumoniae isolates had extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production. Out of 122 non-ESBL producing isolates, 35 (28.7%) and 31 (25.4%) were nonsusceptible to levofloxacin and cefazolin, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, several clinical characters were found to be independently associated with CoUTIs due to levofloxacin-nonsusceptible (i.e. males, recent hospitalization, underlying old stroke, diabetes mellitus, and altered consciousness, or absence of chills, pyuria, or tachycardia), cefazolin-nonsusceptible (i.e. males, recent hospitalization, underlying old stroke, absence of fever or chills), or ESBL-producing isolates (i.e. recent hospitalization or antimicrobial therapy). All patients survived and discharged. However, the patients with CoUTIs due to levofloxacin-nonsusceptible (16.1 vs. 7.5 days, p < 0.01), cefazolin-nonsusceptible (15.4 vs. 8.4 days, p < 0.01) or ESBL-producing (16.7 vs. 9.6 days; p < 0.01) pathogens had a longer hospitalization stay than those due to their susceptible comparators. Several host factors were recognized to be independently associated with the acquisition of UTIs due to levofloxacin- or cefazolin- nonsusceptible, or ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacilli. The clinical impact of UTIs due to nonsusceptible uropathogens is that they result in the prolongation of hospital stays.

Germination requirements of the alpine endemic Silene elisabethae Jan: effects of cold stratification, light and GA3

Summary Silene elisabethae Jan (Caryophyllaceae) is a narrow endemic plant species that occurs in calcareous grasslands of the Southern Italian Alps, and is protected by National and Regional Red Lists (IUCN). Seed germination requirements of this species were studied for the fi rst time with the aim of producing appropriate germination protocols for use in ex situ conservation. Seeds were collected from three populations and sown on agar in the laboratory. Increasing durations of cold stratifi cation resulted in an increase in germination from 20 to 90%. In addition, GA3 could substitute for a cold stratifi cation requirement resulting in 90 to 100% germination in the absence of chilling. All populations germinated to higher levels in the light than dark, and populations from the coldest collection site germinated better at low temperatures, suggesting adaptation of seed germination behaviour to the local microclimate. Our results indicate that seeds of S. elisabethae exhibit non-deep physiological dormancy and that light plays an important role as a germination cue.

Factors affecting seed germination of threehorn bedstraw (Galium tricornutum) in Australia

Abstract Threehorn bedstraw is an important dicotyledonous weed in southern Australia that is particularly difficult to control in pulse crops. Knowledge of the germination ecology of this weed would facilitate development of effective weed-control programs. Experiments were conducted to study the germination of two populations, Roseworthy Campus (RC) and Yorke Peninsula (YP), of threehorn bedstraw from South Australia. In the absence of chilling, seeds germinated only in the darkness. Germination was considerably higher under an alternating day/night temperature range of 13/7 C compared with 20/12 or 25/15 C day/night temperature. Germination was inhibited by light; however, when seeds were subsequently transferred to complete darkness they germinated readily. Potassium nitrate (0.005 M KNO3) and gibberellic acid (0.001 M GA3) stimulated germination in the darkness in both populations. This concentration of KNO3 increased germination of the RC and YP populations from 26 and 37% to 56 and 68%, respectivel...

Transcriptional regulation of a pineapple polyphenol oxidase gene and its relationship to blackheart

Two genes encoding polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were isolated from pineapple (Ananas comosus[L.] Merr. cv. Smooth Cayenne). Sequence analyses showed that both contained a single intron and encoded typical chloroplast-localized PPO proteins, the sequences of which corresponded to two pineapple PPO cDNAs, PINPPO1 and PINPPO2, recently described by Stewart et al. (2001). Southern blot analyses suggested that pineapple contained only two PPO genes. Analysis of expression of PINPPO1 promoter GUS fusion constructs showed this promoter had a low basal activity and was cold- and wound-inducible, consistent with known mRNA expression profiles. Striking homologies to gibberellin response complexes (GARC) were observed in sequences of both the PINPPO1 and PINPPO2 promoters. Transient assays in mature pineapple fruit and stable expression in transgenic tobacco showed that PINPPO1 promoter-GUS fusions were indeed gibberellin (GA) responsive. A role for the element within the putative GARCs in mediating GA-responsiveness of the PINPPO1 promoter was confirmed by mutational analysis. PINPPO2 was also shown to be GA-responsive by RT-PCR analysis. Mutant PINPPO1 promoter-GUS fusion constructs, which were no longer GA-inducible, showed a delayed response to cold induction in pineapple fruit in transient assays, suggesting a role for GA in blackheart development. This was supported by observations that exogenous GA(3) treatment induced blackheart in the absence of chilling. Sequences showing homology to GARCs are also present in some PPO promoters in tomato, suggesting that GA regulates PPO expression in diverse species.

Effects of Chilling Duration on Time to Shoot Emergence and Subsequent Growth of Hosta

Abstract Eight hosta species or cultivars, Hosta plantaginea, H. ventricosa ‘Aureo Marginata’, H. ‘Tokudama’, H. ‘Francee’, H. ‘Sum and Substance’, H. ‘Fragrant Bouquet’, H. ‘Frances Williams’, and H. sieboldiana ‘Elegans’, were chilled in a walk-in cooler in two-week increments from 2 to 10 weeks at 4C (39F), prior to forcing in a heated greenhouse. More than 80% of all cultivars in all treatments emerged, except for H. ‘Tokudama’. For all cultivars tested, days to shoot emergence and days to first leaf unfurled decreased quadratically as chilling duration increased. Most rapid decreases occurred between 0 and 6 weeks of chilling. In the absence of chilling, H. plantaginea was the first cultivar to emerge, between 34 and 79 days before other cultivars. H. plantaginea was followed by H. ventricosa ‘Aureo Marginata’, H. ‘Sum and Substance’, and H. ‘Fragrant Bouquet’, all of which emerged before H. ‘Frances Williams’. Leaf area index, an indicator of plant vigor, increased linearly as chilling duration increased. Shoot dry weight increased in H. ‘Fragrant Bouquet’, H. ‘ Frances Williams’ and H. ‘Francee’, decreased slightly in H. plantaginea, and did not change in H. ventricosa ‘Aureo Marginata’, H. ‘Tokudama’, H. ‘Sum and Substance’, or H. sieboldiana ‘Elegans’ as chilling duration increased. This study indicates that there is no absolute chilling requirement for shoot emergence or subsequent growth of hosta tested. All cultivars benefited from chilling with quicker shoot emergence and fewer days to first leaf unfurled, with the greatest benefits occurring between 0 and 6 weeks. However, the benefits of chilling, as exemplified by growth and vigor, varied widely among species and cultivars.

Community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly: Spanish multicentre study.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly has increased as a consequence of an overall increase of the elderly population. A controversy about the aetiology and outcome of CAP in this population still exists and more epidemiological studies are needed. A prospective, 12-month, multicentre study was carried out to assess the clinical characteristics, aetiology, evolution and prognostic factors of elderly patients (> or = 65 yrs) admitted to hospital for CAP. The study included 503 patients (age 76 +/- 7 yrs). The clinical picture lasted < or = 5 days in 318 (63%) and the main clinical features were cough (n = 407, 81%) and fever (n = 380, 76%). Aetiological diagnosis was achieved in 199 (40%) cases, with a definite diagnosis obtained in 164 (33%). Of the 223 microorganisms isolated the main agents found were Streptococcus pneumoniae in 98 (49%) and Haemophilus influenzae in 27 (14%). A total of 53 patients died (11%) and the multivariate analysis showed the following factors of bad prognosis: previous bed confinement, alteration in mental status, absence of chills, plasma creatinine > or = 1.4 mg x dL(-1), oxygen tension in arterial blood/inspiratorv oxygen fraction ratio < 200 at the time of admission, and shock and renal failure during the evolution. The results of this study may aid in the management of empiric antibiotic treatment in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia and the patients who have a greater probability of bad evolution may be identified based on the risk factors.

Predicting bacteremia and bacteremic mortality in liver transplant recipients.

Predictors of bacteremia and mortality in bacteremic liver transplant recipients were prospectively assessed. One hundred eleven consecutive episodes of fever or infections were documented in 59 patients over a 4-year period. Forty-nine percent (29 of 59 patients) of the patients had bacteremia, 39% (23 of 59 patients) had nonbacteremic infections, and 12% (7 of 59 patients) had fever of noninfectious cause. Primary (catheter-related) bacteremia (31%; 9 of 29 patients), pneumonia (24%; 7 of 29 patients), abdominal and/or biliary infections (14%; 4 of 29 patients), and wound infections (10%; 3 of 29 patients) were the predominant sources of bacteremia. Diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 6.9; P =.03) and serum albumin level less than 3.0 mg/dL (odds ratio, 0.14; P =.02) were independently significant predictors of bacteremia compared with nonbacteremic infections. Mortality at 14 days was 28% (8 of 29 patients) in those with bacteremia compared with 4% (1 of 23 patients) in those with nonbacteremic infections and 0% (0 of 7) in patients with fever of noninfectious cause (P =.03). Intensive care unit stay at the time of bacteremia (100% v 47%; P =.005), absence of chills (0% v 53%; P =.005), lower temperature at the onset of bacteremia (99.2 degrees F v 101.5 degrees F; P =.009), lower maximum temperature during the course of bacteremia (99.3 degrees F v 102 degrees F, P =.008), greater serum bilirubin level (7.6 v 1.5 mg/dL; P =.024), presence of abnormal blood pressure (80% v 16%; P =. 0013), and greater prothrombin time (15.6 v 13.3 seconds; P =.013) were significantly predictive of greater mortality in the bacteremic patients. These data have implications for discerning the likelihood of bacteremia and initiation of empiric antibiotics pending cultures. Lack of febrile response in bacteremic liver transplant recipients portended a poorer outcome.

Clematis vitalba in a New Zealand native forest remnant: does seed germination explain distribution?

The pattern of distribution of the invasive vine Clematis vitalba in a typical New Zealand native forest remnant and the influence of chilling duration (chilling), nitrate (NO3 -), and light on germination of C. vitalba were investigated. In the forest remnant, C. vitalba was not established in undisturbed forest where light levels were ≤3% fall sunlight and rarely established where light levels were ≤5%. Clematis vitalba was, however, established in forest gaps and margins where light levels exceeded 5%, particularly when these areas were associated with recent soil disturbance. Under controlled environment conditions, germination in the absence of chilling, NO3 -, or light was low (3%). When applied alone, chilling and NO3 - increased germination. Light, however, only increased germination when applied with one or both other factors. In the presence of light, germination increased up to c. 80% with increased chilling (0–12 weeks), and increased up to c. 50% with increased applied NO3 - in the range 0.1–2.5 mol/m3 but then changed little with additional NO3 - up to 50.0 mol/m3. In general, germination in the presence of two or three factors was greater than when either factor was applied alone. In the field, seeds remaining on vines over winter retained a high degree of dormancy and viability. We suggest that sporadic release of this seed effectively produces a seed bank. By comparing the levels of chilling, NO3 -, and light that can be expected in the field with the levels that influence germination under controlled environment conditions, and considering a seed bank, we argue that C. vitalba is likely to rapidly establish following soil disturbance. We suggest that rapid establishment may account for the distribution of C. vitalba in recently disturbed, high light sites and, to some extent, the success of C. vitalba in New Zealand native forest remnants.

Effects of Chilling, Light and Nitrogen-containing Compounds on Germination, Rate of Germination and Seed Imbibition ofClematis vitalbaL.

Abstract Effects of chilling (5 °C) period, light and applied nitrogen (N) on germination (%), rate of germination (d to 50% of total germination; T 50% ) and seed imbibition were examined in Clematis vitalba L. In the absence of chilling, light and N, germination was minimal (3%). When applied alone, both chilling and N increased germination. Chilling for 12 weeks increased germination to 64%, and 2.5 m M NO − 3 or NH + 4 increased germination to 10–12%. Light did not increase germination when applied alone, but did when applied in combination with chilling and/or N. Half the seed germinated when light was combined with 2.5 m M NO − 3 or NH + 4 . The influence of chilling, light and/or N on germination was greater when combined, than when either factor was applied alone. Both oxidized (NO − 3 ) and reduced (NH + 4 ) forms of N increased germination, but non-N-containing compounds did not, suggesting the response was due to N and not ionic or osmotic effects. Without additional N, T 50% decreased from 16–20 d at zero chilling, to around 5 d at 8 and 12 weeks chilling. Although T 50% was not influenced by an increase in NO − 3 or NH + 4 from 0.5 to 5.0 m M , it did increase with additional applied N thereafter. However, the magnitude of the N effect was small compared to that of chilling. Like germination, seed imbibition increased with a longer chilling period, but in contrast imbibition decreased slightly with increased applied NO − 3 or NH + 4 . It is argued that increased imbibition is not directly related to an increase in total germination, but that it may be related to the rate of germination. Possible mechanisms involved in the reduction in dormancy of C. vitalba seed are discussed.

Cold-induced accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylate oxidase protein in Granny Smith apples

Abstract Preclimacteric Granny Smith apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruits exhibited a sharp increase in ethylene production after 5 days in the cold (4 °C), while in the absence of chilling (17 °C) ethylene production started to increase only at 35 days. Antibodies raised against a recombinant tomato 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylate oxidase — the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of ACC into C2H4 — were used to demonstrate an accumulation of ACC oxidase protein in fruits stored at 4 °C which paralleled the increase in ethylene production. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that the protein corresponded to one polypeptide species only which was identical in both chilled and non-chilled fruits. These results therefore indicate that ACC oxidase, in addition to ACC synthase, is induced during chilling of pre-climacteric Granny Smith apples and accumulates before any transfer of the fruit to warmer temperatures.

Somatic embryogenesis from leaf- and petiole-derived callus of Vitis rupestris

Somatic embryogenesis from leaf- and petiole-derived calli of Vitis rupestris was obtained with an efficiency of 3.2% and 4.2% of plated explants, respectively on two combinations of 6-benzyladenine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (1/0.1 and 1/1 mgl(-1)) added to MS medium. Embryogenic callus, embryo subcultures and somatic embryogenesis from somatic embryos were obtained either in the presence of 1 mgl(-1) indole-3-acetic acid or 0.1 mgl(-1) indole-3-butyric acid added to MS or NN media. Within a 4-month culture, embryo germination occurred at a frequency of 13% of explanted embryos when chilling at 4°C was provided for two weeks and a combination of 6-benzyladenine (1 mgl(-1)) with indole-3-butyric acid (0.1 mgl(-1)) was added to NN medium supplemented with casein hydrolysate (250 mgl(-1)). A higher frequency (51%) was obtained in a longer culture time (9 months) when only indole-3-butyric acid was present in the medium and in absence of chilling.

Aetiology, outcome and prognostic factors in community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization

Outcome and prognostic factors were prospectively studied in 277 adult patients (average age 62 yrs) with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The aetiology was established in 68%, with S. pneumoniae as the predominating agent. Mortality was 4% (12 of 277), and all but one who died were greater than or equal to 60 yrs of age. Features associated with high mortality included greater age, absence of chills and chest pain, high respiratory rate (greater than 30 breaths.min-1) and low serum albumin on admission, and the occurrence of airway colonization and secondary infection during hospital stay. Multivariate analysis showed that low serum albumin and the occurrence of secondary infection, but also absence of chills and airway colonization, were correlated to a higher mortality. In patients who survived, the median length of hospital stay was seven days, and at follow-up, about eight weeks after admission, 81% had recovered and chest X-ray was normal in 84%. In conclusion, we believe that the outcome of community-acquired pneumonia can be influenced by prophylactic measures against pneumococcal infection, and an increased surveillance of risk patients.

Evaluation of the Risering Requirements for the Za-27 Zinc–Base Alloy

AbstractFoundry data are presented based on experimental work conducted during gravity casting studies of zinc-aluminum (ZA) alloys. In particular, the development of feeding distance and risering data (Vr /Vc and H/D ratios) for both chilled and un chilled sand castings, produced under controlled conditions, are discussed. The study showed that feeding distance and optimum Vr /Vc ratio for ZA-27 sand castings are dependent on both casting geometry and the presence or absence of chills. The results of earlier work devoted to fluidity, underside shrinkage and directional solidification are summarized. A comparison to published data available for ferrous and nonferrous foundry alloys is also provided.

Evaluation of the Risering Requirements for the Za-27 Zinc–Base Alloy

Foundry data are presented based on experimental work conducted during gravity casting studies of zinc-aluminum (ZA) alloys. In particular, the development of feeding distance and risering data (Vr /Vc and H/D ratios) for both chilled and un chilled sand castings, produced under controlled conditions, are discussed. The study showed that feeding distance and optimum Vr /Vc ratio for ZA-27 sand castings are dependent on both casting geometry and the presence or absence of chills. The results of earlier work devoted to fluidity, underside shrinkage and directional solidification are summarized. A comparison to published data available for ferrous and nonferrous foundry alloys is also provided.