Controlled Rate Research Articles

Assessing recovery rates of distinct exogenous controls for gDNA extraction efficiency using phenol-chloroform or silica-column based extractions

Assessment of genomic DNA (gDNA) extraction efficiency is required for accurate bacterial quantification by qPCR. Exogenous DNA molecules are often added after bacterial cultures are lysed, but before DNA purification steps, to determine extraction efficiency. Herein we found that different exogenous DNA controls have different recovery rates, suggesting distinct DNA extraction efficiencies. Recovery rates are also affected by the gDNA extraction method being more affected in silica-based columns than in phenol-chloroform extraction. Overall, we determined that the use of long DNA fragments, such as gDNA, as exogenous controls have a higher recovery rate than use of smaller size DNA molecules.

The impact of institutional investors' corporate site visits on corporate social responsibility

Using the unique data of China, this paper finds that institutional investors' corporate site visits will promote firms' corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance, the main conclusions remain unchanged when we mitigate endogeneity concerns and consider a series of robust tests. Further, the mediation analyses confirm the mediating roles of internal control and information disclosure rating. We also conduct tests based on China's institutional settings and find that: (a) firms visited by institutions have better CSR performance after mandatory information disclosure, (b) firms visited by institutions have higher probability to disclose CSR reports voluntarily.

Comparative evaluation of the genotoxicity of carbendazim technical grade active ingredients in the Ames test and micronucleus in vivo test

Introduction. Carbendazim is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide used against a wide range of crop diseases. The ability of carbendazim to induce the incidence of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in mammalian cells by influencing the processes of mitotic spindle formation in the cell cycle have been shown in various in vitro and in vivo tests. Contradictory data were obtained in the bacterial test system Salmonella/microsomes, indicating both the absence and the presence of mutagenic activity of carbendazim. The discrepancy in the results may stem from the presence of impurities. The aim of the study was a comparative evaluation of the genotoxicity of various technical products of carbendazim. Materials and methods. The genotoxicity of carbendazim was studied using the plate incorporation version of the Ames test on 5 strains of Salmonella typhimurium in the presence and the absence of metabolic activation system (+S9/-S9) and in a micronucleus test in CD-1 mice. Two technical grade active ingredients (TGAI) and an analytical standard for carbendazim were tested. Results. In the Ames test, the analytical standard of carbendazim possessed no mutagenic activity (±S9) on any of the strains. The most pronounced mutagenic effect was observed for the TGAI I in TA98 strain, the number of revertants at the maximum concentration was 5-7 times higher than that in the negative control. The positive effects of carbendazim TGAIs in the Ames test are likely mediated by the presence of impurities. Under in vivo conditions, all tested TGAIs of carbendazim induced a statistically significant and dose-dependent formation of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) of mouse bone marrow. The mean frequency of PCE with micronuclei at the maximum dose exceeded this rate in the negative control by 21-24 times. Research limitations. The study is limited to testing the mutagenic activity of two samples of carbendazim technical products and one sample of its analytical standard in both in vivo and in vitro tests. Conclusion. Taking into account the high content of the active substance in the tested TGAIs, the bacterial reverse mutation test is a highly sensitive method for assessment of the equivalence of carbendazim generic products. The use of a micronucleus test for evaluating of the equivalence of carbendazim TGAIs to the original substance is inappropriate due to the pronounced aneugenic effect.

Herbicide selection for controlling Tahitian bridal veil (Gibasis pellucida)

AbstractTahitian bridal veil [Gibasis pellucida (M. Martens & Galeotti) D.R. Hunt], a Central and South America native plant that is often confused with another more well-known invasive plant, small leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis Vell.), has become invasive in natural areas throughout Florida. However, very little is known regarding herbicide control or other methods. To begin the process of developing herbicide recommendations for land managers who are working to control G. pellucida, multiple postemergence herbicides were screened for efficacy in a shaded greenhouse to determine active ingredients and/or combinations that warrant further investigation under field conditions. Nine different herbicides or combinations, including glyphosate, triclopyr acid, 2,4-D + triclopyr, aminopyralid, 2,4-D, triclopyr amine, metsulfuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, and glufosinate, were applied at standard label rates and compared with a nontreated control group. Visual control ratings were taken at 2, 4, and 8 wk after treatment (WAT), and shoot dry weights were determined at trial conclusion (8 WAT). Data showed glufosinate and triclopyr (acid and amine) provided the highest level of control, as evidenced by control ratings (100% or complete control) and shoot fresh weight reduction, followed by 2,4-D + triclopyr (∼70%) and fluroxypyr (∼50% control). Metsulfuron-methyl and 2,4-D provided the lowest level of control, with results similar to those for nontreated plants on most evaluation dates.

SUBSTITUTION OF FISHMEAL PROTEIN BY SOYBEAN MEAL IN DIET FOR GIANT FRESH WATER PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII (de Man)

A 95 days experiment was conducted to observe the growth performance of giant fresh water prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) replacing fishmeal protein by dietary soybean meal protein in ten earthen mini ponds (50 m2), at Khulna University campus . Five experimental diets containing 25% protein as Control, Diet 1, Diet 2, Diet 3 and Diet 4 were used. In Control, 36% fishmeal was used as a sole source of protein and Diet 1, 2, 3 and 4 were prepared by substituting fishmeal protein with 30, 40, 50, and 80% fishmeal protein with soybean meal protein respectively. Juvenile shrimps were collected from local vendors having 1.7 g average weight and stocked at a density of 3 m-2. Water and soil quality was monitored regularly and found within the acceptable range. The prawns were fed twice daily at satiations by serving the diets in feeding trays. The highest average weight gain was found in Diet 4 (23.89 ± 5.29 g) and the lowest in Diet 2 (17.68 ± 1.09), although no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed among the treatment and the lowest FCR (1.09) the highest SGR (2.60) and PER (3.43) was achieved in Diet 4 that showed significant difference (p<0.05) with that of Control. Survival rate in Control, D1, D2, D3 and D4 was found 71%, 83%, 95%, 95% and 86% respectively. Among all treatments the better growth performance was found in Diet 4.

Focal epilepsy impacts rapid eye movement sleep microstructure.

Whereas there is plenty of evidence on the influence of epileptic activity on non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep macro- and micro-structure, data on the impact of epilepsy on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep remains sparse. Using high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG), we assessed global and focal disturbances of sawtooth waves (STW) as cortically generated sleep oscillations of REM sleep in patients with focal epilepsy. Twenty-two patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy (13 females; mean age, 32.6 ± 10.7 years; 12 temporal lobe epilepsy) and 12 healthy controls (3 females; 24.0 ± 3.2 years) underwent combined overnight HD-EEG and polysomnography. STW rate, duration, frequency, power, spatial extent, IED rates and sleep homeostatic properties were analyzed. STW rate and duration were reduced in patients with focal epilepsy compared to healthy controls (rate: 0.64/min ± 0.46 vs. 1.12/min ± 0.41, p = .005, d = -0.98; duration: 3.60 s ± 0.76 vs. 4.57 ± 1.00, p = .003, d = -1.01). Not surprisingly given the fronto-central maximum of STW, the reductions were driven by extratemporal lobe epilepsy patients (rate: 0.45/min ± 0.31 vs. 1.12/min ± 0.41, p = .0004, d = -1.35; duration: 3.49 s ± 0.92 vs. 4.57 ± 1.00, p = .017, d = -0.99) and were more pronounced in the first vs. the last sleep cycle (rate first cycle patients vs. controls: 0.60/min ± 0.49 vs. 1.10/min ± 0.55, p = .016, d = -0.90, rate last cycle patients vs. controls: 0.67/min ± 0.51 vs. 0.99/min ± 0.49, p = .11, d = -0.62; duration first cycle patients vs. controls: 3.60s ± 0.76 vs. 4.57 ± 1.00, p = .003, d = -1.01, duration last cycle patients vs. controls: 3.66s ± 0.84 vs. 4.51 ± 1.26, p = .039, d = -0.80). There was no regional decrease of STWs in the region with the epileptic focus vs. the contralateral side (all p > .05). Patients with focal epilepsy and in particular extratemporal lobe epilepsy show a global reduction of STW activity in REM sleep. This may suggest that epilepsy impacts cortically generated sleep oscillations even in REM sleep when epileptic activity is low.

Peptide hydrolysate from fish skin collagen to prevent and treat Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Oreochromis niloticus.

Aquaculture with an intensive system can both increase production and the disease risk. The use of antibiotics to reduce pathogens has bacterial resistance consequence. Peptides have rapidly gained more attention due to their antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties important to combat pathogens. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of peptide hydrolysate against Aeromonas hydrophila in vitro and in vivo in Nile tilapia. The peptides obtained from fish skin collagen of tilapia, milkfish, and catfish were applied in different doses. Protein content and hydrolysis degree of the peptide were also measured. The peptides were tested in vitro using A. hydrophila. For in vivo test, The peptides and positive control treatments used A. hydrophila bacteria, while negative control treatment used a phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The results showed that all three peptide hydrolysates had similar protein content. The highest hydrolysis degree was shown by milkfish collagen hydrolysate. In vitro assay revealed that 12.5% milkfish skin collagen obtained the highest antibacterial activity. In vivo assay showed that the phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, and lysozyme activity was higher in preventive control than therapy, positive control, or negative control treatments. The growth and survival rate in preventive control was also better than positive control or therapy treatment. This study concludes that the peptide hydrolysate can inhibit the growth of A. hydrophila. Peptide hydrolysate from milkfish skin collagen at 12.5% dose was more effective in preventing the A. hydrophila infection, regarding the immune response, growth, and survival.

Long-term mortality from birth in individuals with and without isolated congenital aortic stenosis: a nationwide, register-based cohort study

Abstract Background Congenital aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) accounts for almost 5% of congenital heart defects. Increased survival has been reported in patients with complex congenital heart defects over the last decade. However, data on the long-term outcomes of simple defects such as in isolated CAVS, are still limited. Purpose The present study aimed to investigate the risk of mortality in patients with isolated CAVS over the last half century in Sweden. Methods We used data from the Swedish National Patient and Cause of Death Register to identify patients with isolated CAVS born between 1970 and 2017. Each CAVS was matched with 10 controls without congenital heart disease from the Total Population Register, according to sex and birth year. The maximal follow-up time was from birth up to 47.5 years of age. We estimated mortality rates for cases and controls, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of their ratio. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate the survival for cases and controls under the follow-up. Results A total of 1,258 patients with isolated CAVS and 12,550 matched controls were included in the study. The median follow-up was 24.5 years (interquartile range (IQR):18.0) for cases and 25.5 years (IQR: 17.6) for controls respectively. The overall risk of mortality was more than three times higher for patients with isolated CAVS, compared with matched controls, hazard ratio (HR) 3.1 (95%, CI 2.1–4.5). Survival at 47.5 years of age was 94.1% for cases and 97.3% for controls. Within the first year of life, the mortality risk in patients with isolated CAVS was more than 19 times higher (95%, CI 8.8–43.6) than controls. By contrast, when diagnosed with isolated CAVS above the age of 10 years, the risk of mortality was 2.1 times higher (95%, CI 1.1–3.5) compared to controls. Conclusions The mortality in patients with isolated CAVS was more than three times higher compared with matched controls. The highest mortality was found in patients with a diagnosis of isolated CAVS diagnosed within the first year after birth, verifying the critical form of the disease. Furthermore, patients diagnosed with isolated CAVS later in life (hence clinically assumed as a mild form of valvulopathy) have a mortality risk twice as high as controls, highlighting the need for follow-up and lifetime management, even in the mild forms of valvulopathies. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Swedish state under an agreement between the Swedish Government and county Councils (ALF)

Prognostic significance of sarcopenia as determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel: A retrospective study.

Sarcopenia often affects patients with various types of cancer, and has been reported to affect patient prognosis and therapeutic effects. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on the relationship between gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel combination therapy (GnP) and sarcopenia in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The present study analyzed the relationship between overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rate, disease control rate, adverse events (AEs) and sarcopenia in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with GnP. A total of 121 consecutive patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received GnP as first-line chemotherapy between January 2015 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. GnP consisted of 1,000 mg/m2 gemcitabine and 125 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel, which were administered on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) as an index of sarcopenia prior to GnP. The patients were divided into sarcopenia (n=41) and non-sarcopenia (n=80) groups using cutoff values of 8.87 and 6.42 kg/m2 for male and female patients, respectively. The sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups had a median OS of 8.1 and 13.9 months, respectively [hazard ratio (HR) 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-1.20], and a median PFS of 4.3 and 6.3 months, respectively (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.42-0.95). The response and disease controls rate were not statistically different between the groups (20 vs. 32%, P=0.20; 81 vs. 80%, P=1.0). In addition, comparison of common grade 3 and 4 AEs between the two groups revealed no statistically significant differences. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that SMI obtained by BIA may be a predictor of treatment response and prognosis in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who undergo GnP.

Predicting preschool children's self-regulation from positive emotion: The moderating role of parental positive emotion socialization

Guided by the broaden-and-build model, the role that both parent and child positivity play in supporting children's self-regulation was examined. Specifically, parental positive emotional expression and emotion coaching were predicted to moderate the association of children's positive emotions to their self-regulation. Parents rated preschool-aged children's (n = 156) high-intensity and low-intensity pleasure. Parents’ positive emotional expression and emotion coaching were coded in an emotion talk task where parents discussed an upsetting event with children. Children's regulation was measured through observed distraction in a frustration task and parental rating of effortful control. Children's high-intensity pleasure was negatively associated with effortful control, whereas low-intensity pleasure was positively related to effortful control. Parents’ positive emotional expression when discussing an upsetting event was positively associated with children's distraction and effortful control and moderated the relation of child low-intensity pleasure to distraction. Parents’ positive emotion coaching was negatively related to children's effortful control and moderated the relation of children's low-intensity pleasure to distraction. Findings support the idea that parents’ socialization of positive emotion is related to children's own low-intensity positive emotion and their self-regulation during early childhood, which is a foundational period for the development of children's self-regulation.

Discordance of chronic rhinosinusitis disease control between EPOS guidelines and patient perspectives identifies utility of patient-rated control assessment.

The objective of this study was to determine concordance of patient-reported chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) disease control with CRS disease control assessed according to European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) criteria. In 421 participants, CRS disease control was determined using EPOS criteria which include the burden of 5 symptoms measured on a binary scale, use of rescue medications in the prior 6 months and presence of diseased mucosa on nasal endoscopy. Symptom severity was also assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Participants rated their CRS disease control as "controlled","partly controlled" or "uncontrolled". Patient-reported and EPOS-based CRS disease control ratings agreed for 49.6% of participants. Amongst cases of disagreement, EPOS guidelines assessed worse CRS disease control relative to 92.9% of patients. Facial pain/pressure and impaired sense of smell distinctly associated with patient agreement with EPOS guidelines on having "uncontrolled" CRS. Higher VAS symptom scores were associated with worse patient-reported CRS disease control (i.e., agreeing with EPOS guidelines). Removal of the nasal endoscopy criterion improved agreement between patients' and EPOS control assessments, and replacement of this criterion with patient-reported control further aligned EPOS guidelines with patient perspectives. EPOS guidelines regularly assess worse CRS control than assessed by patients. The lack of more gradated symptom severity criteria and inclusion of nasal endoscopy may contribute to discordance of EPOS guidelines with patient-reported CRS control. Replacement of nasal endoscopy findings with a measure of patient-reported CRS disease control better aligns EPOS CRS disease control guidelines with patients' perspectives.

Rescue IVM of Denuded GV- and MI-Stage Oocytes of Premenopausal Rats with Oncostatin M, Insulin-like Growth Factor I, and Growth Hormone.

Immature oocytes are retrieved and matured through in vitro maturation (IVM). Maturation, fertilization rates, and embryo development via IVM are all lower than those found in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. We investigated the effects of oncostatin M (OSM), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), and growth hormone (GH) in rescue IVM. A total of 111 germinal vesicle (GV) and 17 metaphase I (MI) oocytes were obtained after conventional IVF from 28 female Wistar albino rats. Denuded immature oocytes were cultured in maturation medium supplemented with OSM, IGF-1, or GH. The quantities of metaphase II (MII) oocytes matured from the GV stage were 17 of 30 (56.6%), 15 of 28 (53.5%), 10 of 30 (33.3%), and 7 of 23 (30.3%), in control, OSM, IGF-I, and GH groups, respectively. Maturation rates in control and OSM groups were higher than those in IGF-I and GH groups (p = 0.001). The quantities of MII oocytes matured from MI stage were 7 of 7 (100%), 4 of 4 (100%), 1 of 1 (100%), and 1 of 5 (20%) in control, OSM, IGF-I, and GH groups, respectively. Maturation rates from MI to MII stages in control, OSM, and IGF-I groups were higher than those in the GH group (p = 0.004). Acceptable maturation rates are observed with OSM in rat oocytes in rescue IVM.

Long-term prognosis after a first myocardial infarction: eight years follow up of the case-control study PAROKRANK

Objective. To explore long-term cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients after a first myocardial infarction (MI) compared with matched controls in a contemporary setting. Methods. During 2010–2014 the Swedish study PAROKRANK recruited 805 patients <75 years with a first MI and 805 age-, gender-, and area-matched controls. All study participants were followed until 31 December 2018, through linkage with the National Patient Registry and the Cause of Death Registry. The primary endpoint was the first of a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke, and heart failure hospitalization. Event rates in cases and controls were calculated using a Cox regression model, subsequently adjusted for baseline smoking, education level, and marital status. Kaplan–Meier curves were computed and compared by log-rank test. Results. A total of 804 patients and 800 controls (mean age 62 years; women 19%) were followed for a mean of 6.2 (0.2–8.5) years. The total number of primary events was 211. Patients had a higher event rate than controls (log-rank test p < .0001). Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the primary outcome was 2.04 (95% CI 1.52–2.73). Mortality did not differ between patients (n = 38; 4.7%) and controls (n = 35; 4.4%). A total of 82.5% patients and 91.3% controls were event-free during the follow up. Conclusions. In this long-term follow up of a contemporary, case-control study, the risk for cardiovascular events was higher in patients with a previous first MI compared with their matched controls, while mortality did not differ. The access to high quality of care and cardiac rehabilitation might partly explain the low rates of adverse outcomes.

Nanoencapsulation of 4-Propylguaiacol in β-Cyclodextrin, Ethyl Cellulose, and Polyvinylpyrrolidone

We previously identified 4-propylguaiacol to be a highly potent repellent against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, which transmits East Coast Fever in cattle. So far, the major method that has been employed for tick control is the use of acaricides, which so far has posed a number of challenges. Encapsulation technology may offer a long-term solution to the existing problems by dispensing the repellent at a controlled rate. 4-Propylguaiacol was encapsulated in various nanoparticles, which included β-cyclodextrin, ethyl cellulose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The inclusion of 4-propyl guaiacol in the resulting complexes was confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, and SEM analysis. All the sharp peaks belonging to each of the encapsulating polymers were observed. However, some of the characteristic peaks of 4-propylguaiacol disappeared in the complex formed. The rates and duration of release of 4-propylguaiacol from 0.2 g of each inclusion complex were then compared at 38–40°C every 3 hours for 24 hrs. The observed rates of release for 4-propylguaiacol were 0.396 mg/hr., 0.632 mg/hr., and 0.648 mg/hr. Rate from β-cyclodextrin, ethyl cellulose, and PVP inclusion complexes, respectively. The release rate of 4-propylguaiacol in the β-cyclodextrin complex was more controlled than it was in ethyl cellulose and PVP complexes. This controlled release rate exhibited by the β-cyclodextrin complex in small doses for a relatively long time provides a potential tool for dispensing repellents on cattle to protect them from tick bites.

Environmental, social and governance ratings and firm performance: The moderating role of internal control quality

AbstractDespite the burgeoning interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings, current results regarding ESG rating‐performance relationship are inconclusive. Since what affects this disagreement is ambiguous, we examine how internal control weaknesses (ICW) may affect the relationship between ESG rating and a firm's performance. In fact, employing a sample of French listed firms during the period between 2012 and 2018, we predicted and found that both ICW and ESG ratings have a positive and significant influence on a firm's performance. In addition, the results indicate that ICW negatively and significantly moderates the relationship between ESG ratings and corporate performance. Moreover, the robustness of the results is checked through the generalized method of moments regression. We also offer theoretical and practical implications to drive policymakers and businesses to assure sustainable development. We expect that our study can help managers to strengthen their internal resources, such as the internal control (IC) and ESG ratings to improve a firm's performance.

Charging processes of Na4Mn9O18 electrode in aqueous electrolyte

Recent trends in electrochemical energy storage –the renewed interest in aqueous electrolytes, the development of nanostructured and/or hybridized materials, the advent of unconventional systems– call for detailed analyses of charging processes. We address this issue in studying a sodium manganese oxide (Na4Mn9O18, NMO) electrode in aqueous environment. Charge storage is examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a wide range of sweep rate (ν) and by equivalent circuit modelling of the electrode impedance response. Voltammetry shows that, with increasing ν, the insertion process evolves from a quasi-equilibrium behavior (ν ≤ 0.1 mV s–1) towards a diffusion controlled regime overlapping with capacitive charging (ν ≥ 0.2 mV s–1), and culminates at even higher rate (ν > 2 mV s–1) in mixed mass transport ohmic control. Impedance analysis permits to discriminate the varying character of charge storage, revealing the low frequency dominance of faradaic insertion and the rising contribution of pseudocapacitive and double layer charging at higher frequency. We show that the frequency decomposition of charging mechanisms obtained by this analysis can be reconciled with the CV analysis. For further clarification of the above analysis in particular, and as a relevant aspect of the NMO behavior in general, we evaluate the chemical diffusion coefficient of Na-ion as a function of potential.

Short-Coupled Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: A Literature Review With ExtendedFollow-Up.

Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation is responsible for approximately 5%-7% of cases of aborted cardiac arrest. Recent studies have shown that short-coupled ventricular premature complexes are present at the onset of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation in 6.6%-17% of patients. The present review provided information on 86 patients with short-coupled malignant ventricular arrhythmias that were reported as case reports or small patient series during the last 70 years. In 75% of the 81 cases published during the last 40 years, extended information and follow-up (from 2.63 ± 4.5 years to 10.67±7.8 years; P< 0.001, between the original publication to the latest update) could be obtained from the authors. The review shows that short-coupled malignant ventricular arrhythmias occurred almost equally in males and females, at the mean age of 40 years. A tendency for later occurrence of the arrhythmia by 4 years was observed in females. A prior history of syncope was noted in 45.3% of the patients, whereas arrhythmic storm occurred in 42% at presentation. The most common mode of revelation of short-coupled malignant ventricular arrhythmias was syncope (53.5%), followed by aborted cardiac arrest (26.7%) and recurrent arrhythmic event after prior implantable-cardioverter defibrillator implantation for idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (17.4%). For the first time, short-coupled malignant arrhythmias exhibiting "not-so-short" coupling intervals (≥350milliseconds) were found in a significant proportion of patients (17.4%). Duringlong-term follow-up, quinidine yielded a slightly higher success rate in arrhythmia control than ablation. Largerstudies are necessary to assess the best strategy for the management of this potentially lethal arrhythmia.

The backfire effect after correcting misinformation is strongly associated with reliability.

The backfire effect is when a correction increases belief in the very misconception it is attempting to correct, and it is often used as a reason not to correct misinformation. The current study aimed to test whether correcting misinformation increases belief more than a no-correction control. Furthermore, we aimed to examine whether item-level differences in backfire rates were associated with test-retest reliability or theoretically meaningful factors. These factors included worldview-related attributes, including perceived importance and strength of precorrection belief, and familiarity-related attributes, including perceived novelty and the illusory truth effect. In 2 nearly identical experiments, we conducted a longitudinal pre/post design with N = 388 and 532 participants. Participants rated 21 misinformation items and were assigned to a correction condition or test-retest control. We found that no items backfired more in the correction condition compared to test-retest control or initial belief ratings. Item backfire rates were strongly negatively correlated with item reliability (ρ = -.61/-.73) and did not correlate with worldview-related attributes. Familiarity-related attributes were significantly correlated with backfire rate, though they did not consistently account for unique variance beyond reliability. While there have been previous papers highlighting the nonreplicable nature of backfire effects, the current findings provide a potential mechanism for this poor replicability. It is crucial for future research into backfire effects to use reliable measures, report the reliability of their measures, and take reliability into account in analyses. Furthermore, fact-checkers and communicators should not avoid giving corrective information due to backfire concerns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Paraventricular Nucleus V1a Receptor Knockdown Blunts Neurocardiovascular Responses to Acute Stress in Male Rats after Chronic Mild Unpredictable Stress

Chronic stress and depression impart increased risk for adverse cardiovascular events. Autonomic dysregulation, particularly sympathoexcitation, has long been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Vasopressin (AVP) receptors with the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), known as an integrating locus for hemodynamic and autonomic function, have been implicated in behavior and stress. The present studies were designed to test the hypothesis that knockdown of vasopressin V1aR within the PVN in male Sprague Dawley rats subjected to chronic mild unpredictable stress (CMS) would result in lower resting hemodynamics and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and mitigate the responses to acute stressors. Male rats underwent CMS for 4 weeks; controls were housed in standard caging. Twenty days into the paradigm, the PVN was injected with either small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against V1aR or scrambled RNA (scrRNA). Arterial pressure, heart rate and RSNA were ascertained by telemetry with the animals in their home cages. Pretreatment with siRNA to V1aR prevented the increase in arterial pressure to PVN microinjection with exogenous AVP. Basal mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly higher in scrRNA-treated but not in siRNA-treated CMS rats vs control rats. Paradoxically, basal RSNA was approximately two-fold higher in siRNA-treated CMS rats. Acute emotional stress delivered as 15-sec air-jet resulted in greater peak and duration of the MAP and RSNA responses in scrRNA-treated CMS rats vs control; siRNA treatment inhibited the responses. The 15-sec exposure to ammonia to test the nasopharyngeal reflex, whose circuitry does not include the PVN, produced similar increases in arterial pressure, heart rate, and RSNA in controls and both groups of CMS rats. Thus, CMS increases arterial pressure and predisposes to greater hemodynamic and RSNA responses to acute emotional stress. The higher basal RSNA in siRNA-treated rats may be due to functional and/or anatomical neuroplasticity occurring during more protracted inhibition of V1aR PVN signaling. Vasopressinergic signaling via V1aR in PVN modulates the cardiovascular and sympathetic responses to both the chronic and acute stress.

CAN IMPARED SYSTOLIC FUNCTION BE DETECTED FROM PRESSURE WAVEFORMS?

Objective: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a significant health problem. Early diagnosis, using widely available, cheap methods, remains an important goal. Therefore, we investigated whether individuals with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) can be discriminated from patients with reduced EF with contemporary, automated analysis of pressure pulse waveforms. Design and method: Left ventricular EF was measured prospectively in 78 patients with HFrEF (15 females) with echocardiography (apical 4 chamber view, Simpson`s method, on a Philips EPIQ system). The control group was matched for age, sex, height, weight, and brachial blood pressure. Pressure waveforms were acquired from the radial artery (SphygmoCor system, AtCor medical) and processed with ARCSolver algorithms to derive Wave Intensity Analysis (WIA) parameters S and D and their ratio (SDR). Additionally, left ventricular ejection time index (iLVET) was calculated using a method based on numerical derivatives. Clinical characteristics between patients and controls were compared, using t-tests or Mann Whitney U test, as appropriate. Receiver-operating-curves (ROC) analysis was performed to investigate the discriminative ability of the pulse waveform parameters. Results: Patients with HFrEF (mean EF░=░28%) and controls (mean EF░=░66%) were well matched, according to age (56 vs. 56░years, p░=░0.597), sex, height (1.74 vs. 1.73 m, p░=░0.576), weight (86 vs. 83░kg, p░=░0.590), brachial systolic (127 vs. 129░mmHg, p░=░0.359) and diastolic (79 vs.79░mmHg, p░=░0.763) blood pressure, and the presence of hypertension (51 vs. 51%) respectively. Mean heart rate of patients and controls differed slightly (65 vs. 61 BPM, p░=░0.040). Diabetes, coronary artery disease, and the use of ACE-inhibitors/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers/Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitors were more prevalent in patients, as compared to controls. SDR (2.4 vs. 5.7 %, p░&lt;░0.001) and iLVET (0.39 vs. 0.42, p░&lt;░0.001) were significantly lower in HFrEF patients, as compared to controls. Moreover, SDR (AUC░=░0.93, 95% CI░=░[0.96, 0.88]) and iLVET (AUC░=░0.90, 95% CI░=░[0.94, 0.83]) were highly discriminative between HFrEF patients and controls – fx30. Conclusions: Parameters derived from pressure pulse waveforms, obtained non-invasively and processed automatically, may be suitable for early diagnosis of severely impaired EF.