Inhibition of the Decrease of Linalool in Muscat Wine by Phenolic Acids

Two white wine extracts rich in phenolic acids, caffeic acid and gallic acid were tested as inhibitors of the decrease of linalool in Muscat wine. Each wine extract was added at 60 ppm and each phenolic acid at 40 ppm. Immediately after the addition of each wine extract or phenolic acid, no effect on the concentration of linalool was observed, but it decreased from the initial 470.9 to 223.3 μg/L after storage in open bottles at 20 °C for 4 days. Its decrease was significantly inhibited by each wine extract or phenolic acid

Developments in FINDbase worldwide database for clinically relevant genomic variation allele frequencies

FINDbase (http://www.findbase.org) aims to document frequencies of clinically relevant genomic variations, namely causative mutations and pharmacogenomic markers, worldwide. Each database record includes the population, ethnic group or geographical region, the disorder name and the related gene, accompanied by links to any related databases and the genetic variation together with its frequency in that population. Here, we report, in addition to the regular data content updates, significant developments in FINDbase, related to data visualization and querying, data submission, interrelation with other resources and a new module for genetic disease summaries. In particular, (i) we have developed new data visualization tools that facilitate data querying and comparison among different populations, (ii) we have generated a new FINDbase module, built around Microsoft’s PivotViewer (http://www.getpivot.com) software, based on Microsoft Silverlight technology (http://www.silverlight.net), that includes 259 genetic disease summaries from five populations, systematically collected from the literature representing the documented genetic makeup of these populations and (iii) the implementation of a generic data submission tool for every module currently available in FINDbase

A Protocol for Space Charge Measurements in Full-size HVDC Extruded Cables

This position paper, prepared by the IEEE DEIS HVDC Cable Systems Technical Committee, illustrates a protocol recommended for the measurement of space charges in full-size HVDC extruded cables during load cycle qualification tests (either prequalification load cycles or type test load cycles). The protocol accounts for the experimental practices of space charge measurements in the thick insulation of coaxial cables in terms of poling time, depolarization time, heating and cooling of specimens, as well as for the experience gained very recently from such kind of measurements performed in the framework of qualification tests relevant to ongoing HVDC cable system projects. The goal of the protocol is not checking the compliance with any maximum acceptable limit of either space charge or electric field. Rather, this protocol aims at assessing the variation of the electric field profile in the cable insulation wall during poling time at the beginning and at the end of load cycle qualification tests for full-size HVDC extruded cables. Indeed, in the design stage the electric field distributions are determined by the cable geometry and by temperature gradient in the insulation. Thus, the design is based on macroscopic parameters conductivity and permittivity and how they depend upon temperature. Any disturbance of the electric field due to space charge accumulation will only be revealed during space charge measurements either in as-manufactured state or in the aged state after load cycle qualification tests

The short-term impact of the 2020 pandemic lockdown on employment in Greece

This paper analyzes the short-term employment impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece during the first few months following the pandemic onset. During the initial lockdown period, aggregate employment was lower by almost 9 percentage points than it would have been expected based on pre-pandemic employment trends. However, due to a government intervention that prohibited layoffs, this was not due to higher separation rates. The overall short-term employment impact was due to lower hiring rates. To uncover the mechanism behind this, we use a difference-in-differences framework, and show that tourism-related activities, which are exposed to seasonal variation, had significantly lower employment entry rates in the months following the pandemic onset compared to non-tourism activities. Our results highlight the relevance of the timing of unanticipated shocks in economies with strong seasonal patterns, and the relative effectiveness of policy interventions to partly absorb the consequences of such shocks

Non-severe aortic regurgitation increases short-term mortality in acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Mild or moderate aortic regurgitation (AR) has only little effect on cardiovascular outcome in people with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (EF); therefore, it is not perceived as a major clinical problem. This study investigates whether mild or moderate AR is associated with increased short-term mortality in patients hospitalized for treatment of acute heart failure (AHF) and whether mild or moderate AR impacts differently on short-term mortality in AHF patients with reduced EF (AHFrEF), mid-range EF (AHFmrEF), or preserved EF (AHFpEF). This mono-centric study included 505 consecutive adult patients hospitalized for de novo or worsening chronic HF not related to acute ischaemia or severe valvular pathology in the echocardiogram at index hospitalization. Cox regression analysis studied the impact of AR on all-cause mortality (ACM) over the 150 days' study period. Mild or moderate AR was associated with increased ACM (HR 1.75 [95% CI: 1.1-2.7]; P = 0.009). The prevalence of mild or moderate AR in the study population was 42% and not significantly different between AHFpEF (n = 227), AHFmrEF (n = 86), and AHFrEF (n = 192) study participants (37.9% vs. 50.0% vs. 42.7%; P = 0.144). In AHFpEF patients, the age-adjusted hazard for ACM was increased in patients with AR compared with patients without AR (HR 2.17 [95% CI: 1.1-4.2]; P = 0.002). The age-adjusted hazard for ACM was increased by a trend in AHFmrEF with AR (HR 7.11, [95% CI: 0.9-57.8]; P = 0.067) and not different between the AHFrEF groups (HR 0.95 [95% CI: 0.5-1.8]; P = 0.875). Mild or moderate AR increased ACM only in AHFpEF patients, highlighting a distinct clinical relevance

ETHNOS: A versatile electronic tool for the development and curation of national genetic databases

National and ethnic mutation databases (NEMDBs) are emerging online repositories, recording extensive information about the described genetic heterogeneity of an ethnic group or population. These resources facilitate the provision of genetic services and provide a comprehensive list of genomic variations among different populations. As such, they enhance awareness of the various genetic disorders. Here, we describe the features of the ETHNOS software, a simple but versatile tool based on a flat-file database that is specifically designed for the development and curation of NEMDBs. ETHNOS is a freely available softw

Already low drug dose antagonism of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system decreases 1-year mortality and rehospitalization in old heart failure patients

Hospitalization for heart failure treatment (HHF) is an incisive event in the course of HF. Today, the large majority of HHF patients is ≥ 65 years and discharge HF drugs are most often not applied at dose levels acknowledged to provide prognostic benefit. This study therefore aims to investigate the treatment effect size of discharge HF drugs in old HHF patients. Drugs are analyzed according to pharmacological class. Individual discharge HF drug dose is reported as percentage of guidelines-recommended target dose. Primary endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality (ACM) after discharge; the secondary endpoint combined 1-year ACM and first cardiovascular hospitalization within 1 year after discharge. Comparison between 65-80 years and > 80 years old study participants tested the relative treatment effect size as a function of respective age group. The 875 consecutive HHF patients had a median age of 82 years [76-87 years]; 48.6 % were females. Betablocker and diuretic treatment did not change the incidence of endpoints. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RASi), when compared to no treatment, decreased the incidence of endpoints both at the 1-25 % and the > 25 % target dose level. Antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MRA), when compared to no treatment, decreased the secondary endpoint at the 1-25 % target dose level but not at the > 25 % target dose level. The relative treatment effect size of RASi or MRA corresponded between the age strata for both endpoints. Low-dose RASi and MRA had beneficial effects in these old HHF patients