Melon fruit value is highly influenced by aroma. A simple and robust method of trapping volatile organic compounds combined with detection via thermal desorption (TD)-GC–MS has been developed. ...Principal component analysis of aroma profiles permitted the characterisation of distinct and closely related melon cultivars according to aromatic quality and shelf life.
•The aroma of Cucumis melo fruit highly influences financial value.•A robust method of fruit aroma sampling followed by TD-GC–MS detection was developed.•Aroma was reduced in non-climacteric fruit, in climacteric melons shelf-life greatly affected aroma.•Comparisons to SPME-GC–MS has indicated the validity of the new method.•The new method is suited for rapid assessment of fruit aroma and quality.
Cucumis melo fruit is highly valued for its sweet and refreshing flesh, however the flavour and value are also highly influenced by aroma as dictated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A simple and robust method of sampling VOCs on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has been developed. Contrasting cultivars of C. melo subspecies melo were investigated at commercial maturity: three cultivars of var. Cantalupensis group Charentais (cv. Cézanne, Escrito, and Dalton) known to exhibit differences in ripening behaviour and shelf-life, as well as one cultivar of var. Cantalupensis group Ha’Ogan (cv. Noy Yisre’el) and one non-climacteric cultivar of var. Inodorus (cv. Tam Dew). The melon cultivar selection was based upon fruits exhibiting clear differences (cv. Noy Yisre’el and Tam Dew) and similarities (cv. Cézanne, Escrito, and Dalton) in flavour. In total, 58 VOCs were detected by thermal desorption (TD)-GC–MS which permitted the discrimination of each cultivar via Principal component analysis (PCA). PCA indicated a reduction in VOCs in the non-climacteric cv. Tam Dew compared to the four Cantalupensis cultivars. Within the group Charentais melons, the differences between the short, mid and long shelf-life cultivars were considerable. 1H NMR analysis led to the quantification of 12 core amino acids, their levels were 3–10-fold greater in the Charentais melons, although they were reduced in the highly fragrant cv. Cézanne, indicating their role as VOC precursors. This study along with comparisons to more traditional labour intensive solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) GC–MS VOC profiling data has indicated that the high-throughput PDMS method is of great potential for the assessment of melon aroma and quality.
Substernal Pacing in Humans
Introduction
The objective of this study was to assess feasibility of ventricular pacing and thresholds from within the substernal space to examine a new extravascular ICD ...configuration with pacing capabilities.
Methods
In patients undergoing midline sternotomy, a duodecapolar diagnostic pacing catheter was positioned in the substernal space anterior to the pericardium, and a cutaneous patch in left lateral position. Different unipolar and bipolar pacing configurations were assessed. Strength‐duration curves were performed to identify the optimal output, starting at 25 mA with a pulse width of 10 milliseconds.
Results
Eight patients with mean age 69 ± 9 years were included. In 5, ventricular capture was achieved in ≥1 configuration. The mean bipolar pacing thresholds at PW 10, 5, 3, 1 milliseconds were 12.4 ± 3.7 mA (5 patients), 13.3 ± 5.8 mA (3 patients), 18.3 ± 5.7 mA (3 patients), and 25 ± 0 mA (2 patients), respectively. The 60‐mm electrode spacing was the most successful bipolar configuration. Unipolar pacing was successful in 3 out of 4 patients with mean thresholds of 10 ± 0 mA at 10 milliseconds (3 patients), 15 ± 0 mA at 5 milliseconds (3 patients), 16.7 ± 2.9 mA at 3 milliseconds (3 patients), and 20 ± 7.1 mA at 1 milliseconds (2 patients).
Conclusion
Ventricular pacing from the substernal space in patients with midline sternotomy is feasible. Closed sternum studies are needed to determine pacing thresholds more accurately.
In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the autonomic nervous system is supposed to play an role in triggering AF; however, little is known of the effect on atrial conduction characteristics.
The ...purpose of this study was to study the effect of ganglionic plexus (GP) stimulation during sinus rhythm on atrial and pulmonary vein conduction in patients during thoracoscopic surgery for AF METHODS: In 25 patients, the anterior right ganglionic plexus (ARGP) was stimulated (16 Hz, at 1, 2, and 5 mA). Epicardial electrograms were recorded using a 48-electrode map from the right pulmonary vein (RPV) or right atrial (RA). Intra-atrial activation time (IAT), local activation time (LAT), and inhomogeneity of conduction (IIC) were determined. ECG parameters (P-P, P-R interval) were measured.
P-P interval was 956 ± 157 ms (range 768-1368 ms), and P-R interval was 203 ± 37 ms (range 136-280 ms). After ARGP stimulation, a short-lasting increase of P-P interval was observed, more prominent at higher output (1 mA = 82 ms, 2 mA = 180 ms, 5 mA = 268 ms, all P <.01 vs baseline). P-R interval remained unchanged. IAT was 34.4 ms (range 5.6-50.3 ms) at the RA and 105.8 ms (range 79.7-163.3 ms) at the RPV. After 1-mA stimulation IAT increased, in patients taking beta-blockers (P = .001), or it decreased, and this change persisted after subsequent stimulation at higher current (1 mA, P = .001; 2 mA, P = .401; 5 mA, P = .593). Similar changes were observed for LAT and IIC.
ARGP stimulation results in a short-lasting, output-dependent decrease in sinus node frequency due to a parasympathetic response. Stimulation of the ARGP induced a prolonged increase or decrease in conduction characteristics in patients with AF, consistent with a persistent differential parasympathetic and/or sympathetic response.
The goal of this study was to identify mutations in X-chromosomal genes associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in patients from Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland.
In addition to ...all coding exons of RP2, exons 1 through 15, 9a, ORF15, 15a and 15b of RPGR were screened for mutations. PCR products were amplified from genomic DNA extracted from blood samples and analyzed by direct sequencing. In one family with apparently dominant inheritance of RP, linkage analysis identified an interval on the X chromosome containing RPGR, and mutation screening revealed a pathogenic variant in this gene. Patients of this family were examined clinically and by X-inactivation studies.
This study included 141 RP families with possible X-chromosomal inheritance. In total, we identified 46 families with pathogenic sequence alterations in RPGR and RP2, of which 17 mutations have not been described previously. Two of the novel mutations represent the most 3'-terminal pathogenic sequence variants in RPGR and RP2 reported to date. In exon ORF15 of RPGR, we found eight novel and 14 known mutations. All lead to a disruption of open reading frame. Of the families with suggested X-chromosomal inheritance, 35% showed mutations in ORF15. In addition, we found five novel mutations in other exons of RPGR and four in RP2. Deletions in ORF15 of RPGR were identified in three families in which female carriers showed variable manifestation of the phenotype. Furthermore, an ORF15 mutation was found in an RP patient who additionally carries a 6.4 kbp deletion downstream of the coding region of exon ORF15. We did not identify mutations in 39 sporadic male cases from Switzerland.
RPGR mutations were confirmed to be the most frequent cause of RP in families with an X-chromosomal inheritance pattern. We propose a screening strategy to provide molecular diagnostics in these families.
What’s So Funny About That? Berger, Arthur A.
Society (New Brunswick),
2010/1, Letnik:
47, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This paper argues that it is impossible to know why we laugh. There are a number of theories that attempt to explain why we laugh but they all have limitations. It is possible, however, to know what ...makes us laugh and 45 techniques that inform humor are listed and used to analyze a number of humorous texts. These techniques can also be used to study the humor of different nations to determine which they favor and which they neglect, thus offering insights into national character.
Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) aims at eliminating symptomatic atrial fibrillation. In this regard, the most relevant indication for this procedure is the reduction of symptoms and improvement of ...quality of life (QoL) in patients who remain symptomatic despite antiarrhythmic drug treatment. We investigated the relation between documented atrial fibrillation recurrences and QoL in patients after PVI.
One hundred and six PVIs were performed in 99 patients. Follow-up was mainly performed at referring hospitals. Short Form 36 (SF-36) QoL questionnaires were completed before and 1 year after PVI. Electrocardiographic recordings from the first postprocedural year were retrospectively collected, 3 months blanking excluded. Atrial fibrillation recurrence was defined as any recurrence of atrial arrhythmia documented on ECG or 24-h-Holter.
Before PVI, patients had lower QoL than the general Dutch population in 7/8 SF-36 questionnaire subscales (sumQoL 419.4 ± 161 vs. 617.9, P < 0.001). Atrial fibrillation recurred in 52 (49%) patients. In these patients, four subscales increased following PVI (physical functioning P < 0.001, role physical P = 0.006, bodily pain P = 0.011 and social functioning P = 0.047). SumQoL remained lower than the general Dutch population (546.7 ± 157, P = 0.003). In patients without documented recurrences, QoL improved to a level similar to that of the general Dutch population (602.9 ± 148; P = 0.46). The number of electrocardiographic recordings was lower in the group without documented recurrences (2.5 ± 1.8 vs. 3.8 ± 1.7, P = 0.002).
In patients without documentation of atrial fibrillation, QoL increased up to the level of the general population after PVI, but it remained lower in patients with recurrences. In the latter group more ECGs were done, suggesting that QoL relates particularly to symptomatic episodes. Improvement of QoL is therefore an important attribute of PVI.
An introduction to genre analysis, this highly readable volume presents key concepts in an accessible manner for undergraduate courses in film, TV, media criticism and cultural studies. The texts are ...representative of horror, science fiction, spy, classic detective, and tough guy detective genres, and readers may make their own analyses of texts based on the methods explained and the examples offered.
`Solid and elegantly written introduction to its subject, up to speed with the current movements in the field, this is an excellent textbook for first-year students. The layout is well-conceived, and ...interspersed with Berger′s own whimsical cartoons′ - Sight and Sound.
`Narratives in Popular Culure, Media and Everyday life provdes a sweeping coverage of the multiple facets of narrative theroy... Berger must be commended for his attempt to put together a reader ...friendly report on the lives of many "rich and famous" narrative theories′ - Narrative Inquiry.
Cultural Criticism Berger, Arthur A
1994, 1995, 1994-11-01, Letnik:
4
eBook
In this guide to cultural criticism, Arthur Asa Berger presents complex concepts in jargon-free language, making the book an ideal introductory text. It covers the key theorists, concepts and subject ...areas, from literary, sociological and psychoanalytical theories of semiotics and Marxism.
PDF
