bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Pectin, Starch, and Locust Bean Gum on the Interfacial Activity of Monostearin and β‐Lactoglobulin
Authors: López‐Castejón Maria Luisa , Fuente Julia de la , Ruiz Manuela , Muñoz José
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  The behavior of some hydrocolloids widely used as stabilizers of low‐oil‐content water emulsions (starch, pectins, and a locust bean gum–pectin blend) at the air–water and model oil–water interface is analyzed. Their influence on the surface and interface activity of typical food emulsifiers, such as β‐lactoglobulin and monostearin, is also considered. It is demonstrated that the greatest interfacial activity is provided by one of the commercial pectins studied. It is capable of modifying the characteristics of monostearin and β‐lactoglobulin interfacial films in a different way depending on both the nature of the oil phase and the type of surfactant used.

Practical Application:  This research may contribute not only to enhance the final‐consumer life quality by optimizing low‐oil‐content food emulsion formulations which contain “natural” stabilizers, but also to increase the added value of by‐products of some fruit juices as well as of sugar factories since pectin can be manufactured not only from citrus and apple peels but also from sugar beet pulps.
The Occurrence and Bioactivity of Polyphenols in Tunisian Olive Products and by‐Products: A Review
Authors: Taamalli Amani , Arráez‐Román David , Zarrouk Mokhtar , Segura‐Carretero Antonio , Fernández‐Gutiérrez Alberto
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  Polyphenols have become a subject of intense research because of their perceived beneficial effects on health due to their anticarcinogenic, antiatherogenic, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. It is well known that olives and their derivatives are rich in phenolic substances with pharmaceutical properties, some of which exert important antioxidant effects. The characterization and quantification of their polyphenol composition is one of the first steps to be taken in any evaluation of the putative contribution of the olive to human health. This review is concerned with polyphenols in Tunisian olive (Olea europaea L.) products (fruit and oil) and some by‐products (leaves and olive‐mill wastewater) with an emphasis on the analytical methods used, as well as the biological activities described in recent years.
Early Sales of Seasonal Products with Weather‐Conditional Rebates
Authors: Gao Fei , Demirag Ozgun Caliskan , Chen Frank Y.
Published: February 2012

Some retailers of seasonal products adopt weather‐conditional rebate programs to induce early sales and increase profits. In such promotions, customers who buy the product in an advance preselling period are offered rebates if a pre‐specified weather condition is realized during the later normal selling season. We investigate the potential benefits of these programs for retailers. We show that the weather‐conditional rebate program can increase sales by price discriminating among a customer's post‐purchase states. Taking advantage of the early sales, it can also reduce the inventory holding cost and ordering cost, and hence can increase the retailer's expected profits. In addition, we numerically investigate the sensitivity of the rebate program's effectiveness to the model parameters and illustrate its advantages over an advance‐discount policy.
mvabund– an R package for model‐based analysis of multivariate abundance data
Authors: Wang Yi , Naumann Ulrike , Wright Stephen T. , Warton David I.
Published: February 2012

1. The mvabund package for R provides tools for model‐based analysis of multivariate abundance data in ecology.

2. This includes methods for visualising data, fitting predictive models, checking model assumptions, as well as testing hypotheses about the community–environment association.

3. This paper briefly introduces the package and demonstrates its functionality by example.
PPARγ agonist pioglitazone improves scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice
Authors: Xiang Guo Qing , Tang Su Su , Jiang Li Ying , Hong Hao , Li Qing , Wang Chao , Wang Xiao Yun , Zhang Ting Ting , Yin Lei
Published: February 2012

Objectives

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist, on cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, in mice.

Methods

Pioglitazone (9 mg/kg, 18 mg/kg) was orally administered for 9 days at 30 min before intraperitoneal injection with scopolamine (0.8 mg/kg, i.p.). Cognitive function was evaluated by the passive avoidance test and the Morris water maze test on the 10th day after treatment. Changes in cholinergic system reactivity were also examined by measuring the acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase in the hippocampus and cortex.

Key findings

Scopolamine injection induced impaired performance in the passive avoidance test and the water maze test and severe decrease of cholinergic system reactivity, as indicated by reduced acetylcholine levels, decreased choline acetyltransferase activity and increased acetylcholinesterase activity. Daily administration of pioglitazone significantly increased step-through latency in passive avoidance test, and significantly decreased the escape latency, and increased the time spent in the platform quadrant in the Morris water maze test. Pioglitazone also protected against scopolamine-induced cholinergic system deficit, including reduced acetylcholine levels, decreased choline acetyltransferase activity and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus or cortex.

Conclusions

Pioglitazone demonstrates a significant neuroprotective effect against scopolamine-induced cholinergic system deficit and cognitive impairment.
Synthesis, characterization and in-vitro antitubercular activity of isoniazid-gelatin conjugate
Authors: Cassano Roberta , Trombino Sonia , Ferrarelli Teresa , Cavalcanti Paolina , Giraldi Cristina , Lai Francesco , Loy Giuseppe , Picci Nevio
Published: February 2012

Objectives

A novel and simple method to synthesize antitubercular-protein conjugate by solid phase synthesis was developed employing a carboxypolystyrene resin. The aim was to covalently bind a drug with antitubercular activity, isoniazid, to a biomacromolecule, gelatin, widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry.

Methods

Calorimetric and 1H NMR analyses were performed to verify the bond formation between the antitubercular drug and gelatin. After absorption isoniazid delivers toxic metabolites and so an oxidation test with tert-butyl hydroperoxide was performed to assess the amount of toxic metabolites released from the prodrug (gelatin linked to isoniazid), compared with isoniazid itself.

Key findings

Spectrophotometric analysis revealed that the protein derivative was an excellent isoniazid prodrug since there was a 40% reduction in release of toxic metabolites (isonicotinic acid) by the prodrug. The results clearly showed that antitubercular moieties, covalently linked to a natural polymer, allowed the introduction of peculiar features for specific pharmaceutical applications into the macromolecule. In addition, antitubercular activity of the new polymer was determined by Middlebrook 7H11 medium against Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

Conclusions

The new isoniazid-gelatin conjugate showed significant antitubercular activity and for this reason should be useful as an efficacious tool in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Novel actions of progesterone: what we know today and what will be the scenario in the future?
Authors: Kaore Shilpa N , Langade Deepak Kumar , Yadav Vijay Kumar , Sharma Parag , Thawani Vijay R , Sharma Raj
Published: February 2012

Objectives

This article is aimed to review the novel actions of progesterone, which otherwise is considered as a female reproductive hormone. The article focuses on its important physiological actions in males too and gives an overview of its novel perspectives in disorders of central and peripheral nervous system.

Key findings

Progesterone may have a potential benefit in treatment of traumatic brain injury, various neurological disorders and male related diseases like benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostate cancer and osteoporosis. Norethisterone (NETA), a progesterone derivative, decreases bone mineral loss in male castrated mice suggesting its role in osteoporosis. In the future, progesterone may find use as a male contraceptive too, but still needs confirmatory trials for safety, tolerability and acceptability. Megestrol acetate, a progesterone derivative is preferred in prostatic cancer. Further, it may find utility in nicotine addiction, traumatic brain injury (recently entered Phase III trial) and Alzheimer's disease, diabetic neuropathy and crush injuries. Studies also suggest role of progesterone in stroke, for which further clinical trials are needed. The non genomic actions of progesterone may be in part responsible for these novel actions.

Although progesterone has shown promising role in various non-hormonal benefits, further clinical studies are needed to prove its usefulness in conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, neuropathy and crush injury. In male related illnesses like BPH and prostatic Ca, it may prove a boon in near future. New era of hormonal male contraception may be initiated by use of progesterone along with testosterone.
Tyrosine-like condensed derivatives as tyrosinase inhibitors
Authors: Matos Maria João , Santana Lourdes , Uriarte Eugenio , Serra Silvia , Corda Marcella , Fadda Maria Benedetta , Era Benedetta , Fais Antonella
Published: February 2012

Objectives

We report the pharmacological evaluation of a new series of 3-aminocoumarins differently substituted with hydroxyl groups, which have been synthesized because they include in their structures the tyrosine fragment (tyrosine-like compounds), with the aim of discovering structural features necessary for tyrosinase inhibitory activity.

Methods

The synthesized compounds 4 and 7–9 were evaluated in vitro as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors.

Key findings

Two of the described compounds showed lower IC50 (concentration giving 50% inhibition of tyrosinase activity) than umbelliferone, used as a reference compound.

Conclusions

Compound 7 (IC50 = 53 µm) was the best tyrosinase inhibitor of this small series, having an IC50 value 10-fold lower than umbelliferone. Compound 7 (3-amino-7-hydroxycoumarin) had amino and hydroxyl groups precisely mimicking the same positions that both groups occupy on the tyrosine molecule.
Condensational growth of combination drug-excipient submicrometer particles for targeted high-efficiency pulmonary delivery: evaluation of formulation and delivery device
Authors: Hindle Michael , Longest P Worth
Published: February 2012

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the in-vitro particle-size growth of combination drug and excipient submicrometer aerosols generated from a series of formulations and two aerosol delivery devices.

Methods

Submicrometer combination drug and excipient particles were generated experimentally using both the capillary aerosol generator and the Respimat inhaler. Budesonide and albuterol sulfate were used as model drugs and were formulated with sodium chloride, citric acid and mannitol as excipients in various ratios. Aerosol growth was evaluated in-vitro in a coiled-tube geometry designed to provide residence times and thermodynamic conditions consistent with the airways.

Key findings

Submicrometer combination drug : excipient aerosols when exposed to simulated respiratory conditions increased to micrometer size suitable for pulmonary deposition. It was possible to control the aerosol growth ratio by altering: (1) the hygroscopic excipient, (2) the drug : excipient ratio and (3) the drug. The applicability of this approach was demonstrated using the capillary aerosol generator and the Respimat inhaler.

Conclusions

The enhanced excipient growth approach may enable the delivery of submicrometer aerosol particles that increase in size within the airways and result in high percentages of pulmonary deposition.
Hepatoprotective activity of Feronia limonia root
Authors: Jain Mahendra , Kapadia Rakhee , Jadeja Ravirajsinh N , Thounaojam Menaka C , Devkar Ranjitsinh V , Mishra Shri H
Published: February 2012

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of a methanolic extract and of marmesin isolated from the root bark of Feronia limonia.

Methods

Activity levels of aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), cell viability and cell death were evaluated in HepG2 cells (human liver hepatoma cells) treated with CCl4 in the presence or absence of F. limonia extract or marmesin. Plasma activity levels of AST, ALT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, protein, hepatic antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and histopathological evaluations were carried out in rats treated with CCl4 alone or co-supplemented with F. limonia extract or marmesin in a dose-dependent manner.

Key findings

In-vitro co-supplementation of F. limonia methanolic extract or marmesin significantly minimized alteration in levels of AST and ALT and improved cell viability. Oral administration of F. limonia methanolic extract or marmesin significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevation in the plasma markers of hepatic damage and hepatic lipid peroxidation and a decrease in hepatic antioxidants. In-vivo hepatoprotective potential of F. limonia methanolic extract and marmesin was evident from the minimal alterations in the histoarchitecture of liver.

Conclusions

This has been the first scientific report on the hepatoprotective potential of F. limonia root bark methanolic extract and marmesin.
The role of repeated interviewing in children's responses to cross‐examination‐style questioning
Authors: O’Neill Sarah , Zajac Rachel
Published: February 2012

The negative effect of cross‐examination‐style questioning on children's accuracy is likely to be due to the complex and credibility‐challenging questions that characterize the interview. Given that cross‐examination occurs after at least one prior interview, however, it is equally possible that repeated interviewing per se impairs children's accuracy, and that the questions asked have little bearing on children's responses. To examine this issue, 5‐ and 6‐year‐old children (n= 82) and 9‐ and 10‐year‐old children (n= 103) took part in a surprise event and were then interviewed using an analogue of direct examination. Either 1 week or 6 months later, half of the children were re‐interviewed with an analogue of cross‐examination designed to challenge their direct examination responses. Remaining children were re‐interviewed with the same questions that were asked during direct examination. Children's accuracy decreased following their second interview, irrespective of age or delay; however, delay particularly impacted younger children's second interview performance. Children's accuracy was most impaired following a cross‐examination‐style interview. Overall, cross‐examination‐style questioning appears to be particularly detrimental to obtaining accurate event reports from children.
Occupational status differences in attributions of uniquely human emotions
Authors: Iatridis Tilemachos
Published: February 2012

Infrahumanization theory has claimed that groups tend to infrahumanize, and thus denigrate, each other irrespective of group status. However, research on infrahumanization has mainly addressed status in the context of national, ethnic, and regional divisions. The present studies tested the effect of group status in infrahumanization by employing occupational groups of varied status, both in abstract (blue‐collar vs. white‐collar workers) and specific terms (lawyers vs. shopkeepers, and high school teachers vs. university faculty members and primary school teachers). The results showed that only relatively higher status groups always attributed uniquely human emotions more to their in‐group than to lower status out‐groups. In contrast, lower status groups showed no bias in attributions of uniquely human emotions, or were biased in favour of the higher status out‐group. The discussion of these results points to the role of consensus in the distribution of social value amongst groups of asymmetric status.
Physical activity does not attenuate the obesity risk of TV viewing in youth
Authors: Rey‐López J. P. , Ruiz J. R. , Vicente‐Rodríguez G. , Gracia‐Marco L. , Manios Y. , Sjöström M. , De Bourdeaudhuij I. , Moreno L. A. ,   HELENA Study Group
Published: February 2012

Objective

This study aimed to examine the association of television (TV) time, the frequency of meals while watching TV and the presence of TV set in the bedroom with total and abdominal obesity and to assess whether physical activity (PA) attenuates the obesity risk of TV viewing.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data were obtained from 2200 adolescents (46% boys) from 10 European cities, The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study, between 2006 and 2007. TV viewing, PA (by accelerometry) and body composition were measured. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Even adjusting by vigorous PA, TV in the bedroom (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.74) and >4 h d−1 TV during week days (OR: 1.30, 95% CI, 1.02–1.67) (in boys) and eating every day with TV (OR: 1.18, 95% CI, 1.07–1.30) and >2 h d−1 TV during weekend days (OR: 1.68, 95% CI, 1.25–2.26) (in girls) were significantly associated with total obesity. Likewise, in both sexes, having a TV set at bedroom was significantly associated with abdominal obesity.

Conclusions

Adolescents spending excessive TV time are prone to obesity independently of their PA levels. Families should put TV sets out of adolescents’ bedroom and keep TV sets off during meal times.
The upright posture improves plantar stepping and alters responses to serotonergic drugs in spinal rats
Authors: Sławińska Urszula , Majczyński Henryk , Dai Yue , Jordan Larry M.
Published: February 2012

Key points 

Locomotor training of rats held in an upright posture has been used recently to restore locomotion after spinal cord injury. Our results show that the upright posture alone improves locomotor recovery in spinal rats.

This improvement is reversed by the removal of cutaneous afferent feedback from the paw, showing that sensory feedback from the foot facilitates the spinal central pattern generator (CPG) for locomotion.

5‐HT2 and 5‐HT1A/7 agonists improve locomotion in the horizontal posture but can impair locomotion in the upright posture, suggesting that a proper balance of afferent feedback from the foot and 5‐HT receptor activation is necessary for optimal locomotor recovery.

Our results provide new insights into the organization of the CPG for locomotion and the evolution of hominid bipedalism. The potent effects of cutaneous afferents from the paw revealed here must be taken into account in the design of strategies to restore locomotion after spinal cord injury.
Contrarily to whey and high protein diets, dietary free leucine supplementation cannot reverse the lack of recovery of muscle mass after prolonged immobilization during ageing
Authors: Magne Hugues , Savary‐Auzeloux Isabelle , Migné Carole , Peyron Marie‐Agnès , Combaret Lydie , Rémond Didier , Dardevet Dominique
Published: February 2012

Key points 

During ageing, there is a lack of recovery of muscle mass following immobilization.

We showed, in old rats, an ‘anabolic resistance’ of muscle protein synthesis to food intake during immobilization and only a slight increase of protein synthesis during the recovery, which explain a poor muscle nitrogen balance that is insufficient to induce a muscle mass gain.

A supplementation with free leucine, an essential amino acid known to stimulate muscle protein metabolism, was efficient in inducing a greater anabolism but failed to induce muscle mass recovery.

This discrepancy was explained by a ‘desynchronization’ between the leucine signal and amino acids coming from dietary protein digestion.

An induction of a larger increase and a longer availability of amino acids in the postprandial state with rich‐protein leucine (i.e. whey) and high protein diets were efficient in inducing a muscle mass recovery after immobilization.
Mechanical Characterization of Porcine Corneas
Authors: Boschetti F. , Triacca V. , Spinelli L. , Pandolfi A.
Published: February 2012

An experimental program has been carried out in order to investigate the mechanical behavior of porcine corneas. We report the results of inflation tests on the whole cornea and uniaxial tests on excised corneal strips, performed on 51 fresh porcine eyes. Uniaxial tests have been performed on specimens cut from previously inflated corneas. The cornea behavior is characterized by means of elastic stiffness, measured on both average pressure-apex displacement and average uniaxial stress-strain curves; and by means of transversal contraction coefficient, peak stress, and failure stress measured on uniaxial stress-strain curves. Uniaxial tests performed on excised strips allowed to measure the anisotropy in the corneal stiffness and to compare the stiffness of the cornea with the one of the sclera. Viscous properties of the cornea have been obtained through uniaxial relaxation curves on excised corneal strips. The relevant geometrical parameters have been measured and, with the aid of the elastic thin shell theory, a stress-strain curve has been derived from the average inflation test data and compared with similar data available in the literature. The experimental system has been developed in view of future applications to the mechanical testing of both porcine and human corneas.
Multiscale Design and Multiobjective Optimization of Orthopedic Hip Implants with Functionally Graded Cellular Material
Authors: Arabnejad Khanoki Sajad , Pasini Damiano
Published: February 2012

Revision surgeries of total hip arthroplasty are often caused by a deficient structural compatibility of the implant. Two main culprits, among others, are bone-implant interface instability and bone resorption. To address these issues, in this paper we propose a novel type of implant, which, in contrast to current hip replacement implants made of either a fully solid or a foam material, consists of a lattice microstructure with nonhomogeneous distribution of material properties. A methodology based on multiscale mechanics and design optimization is introduced to synthesize a graded cellular implant that can minimize concurrently bone resorption and implant interface failure. The procedure is applied to the design of a 2D left implanted femur with optimized gradients of relative density. To assess the manufacturability of the graded cellular microstructure, a proof-of-concept is fabricated by using rapid prototyping. The results from the analysis are used to compare the optimized cellular implant with a fully dense titanium implant and a homogeneous foam implant with a relative density of 50%. The bone resorption and the maximum value of interface stress of the cellular implant are found to be over 70% and 50% less than the titanium implant while being 53% and 65% less than the foam implant.
Inhibition of Autophagy Ameliorates Acute Lung Injury Caused by Avian Influenza A H5N1 Infection
Authors: Sun Yang , Li Chenggang , Shu Yuelong , Ju Xiangwu , Zou Zhen , Wang Hongliang , Rao Shuan , Guo Feng , Liu Haolin , Nan Wenlong , Zhao Yan , Yan Yiwu , Tang Jun , Zhao Chen , Yang Peng , Liu Kangtai , Wang Shunxin , Lu Huijun , Li Xiao , Tan Lei , Gao Rongbao , Song Jingdong , Gao Xiang , Tian Xinlun , Qin Yingzhi , Xu Kai-Feng , Li Dangsheng , Jin Ningyi , Jiang Chengyu
Published: February 2012

Blocking autophagy reduces the extent of lung damage and decreases mortality in mice infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.
RGS Proteins Maintain Robustness of GPCR-GIRK Coupling by Selective Stimulation of the G Protein Subunit Gα
o
Authors: Chuang Huai-hu , Chuang Alexander Y.
Published: February 2012

Opposing actions of RGS proteins both stimulate and inhibit G proteins to modulate the amplitude and kinetics of the downstream response.
Semaphorin Signaling Meets Rap
Authors: Bos Johannes L. , Pannekoek Willem-Jan
Published: February 2012

Semaphorin binding stimulates the ability of plexin receptors to inhibit the GTPase Rap1, thereby enabling neurite retraction.
Sweet Signals
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2012

The exposure of host sugar molecules from damaged intracellular vesicles containing bacteria stimulates an autophagic response to combat infection.
The PKA Swarm
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: February 2012

Inhibiting protein kinase A in locusts attenuates the acquisition of gregarious behavior, which is required for swarming.
LRP2 Gives Patched a Hand
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: February 2012

The receptor LRP2 appears to deliver the morphogen Sonic hedgehog to its receptor Patched to enable proper specification of the ventral forebrain.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Flavivirus, Duck Tembusu Virus, Isolated from Ducks and Geese in China
Authors: Yun Tao , Zhang Dabing , Ma Xuejun , Cao Zhenzhen , Chen Liu , Ni Zheng , Ye Weicheng , Yu Bin , Hua Jionggang , Zhang Yan , Zhang Cun
Published: February 2012

Duck tembusu virus (DTMUV) is an emerging agent that causes a severe disease in ducks. We report herein the first complete genome sequences of duck tembusu virus strains YY5, ZJ-407, and GH-2, isolated from Shaoxing ducks, breeder ducks, and geese, respectively, in China. The genomes of YY5, ZJ-407, and GH-2 are all 10,990 nucleotides (nt) in length and encode a putative polyprotein of 3,426 amino acids. It is flanked by a 5′ and a 3′ noncoding region (NCR) of 94 and 618 nt, respectively. Knowledge of the whole sequence of DTMUV will be useful for further studies of the mechanisms of virus replication and pathogenesis.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Variant
Authors: Chen Jianfei , Liu Xiaozhen , Shi Da , Shi Hongyan , Zhang Xin , Feng Li
Published: February 2012

In 2011, outbreaks of viral diarrhea were observed on most swine-breeding farms in most of the provinces of China. The disease is characterized by vomiting, severe diarrhea, and a high mortality rate (82.3%) in newborn piglets. The clinical appearance was similar to that of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection. PEDVs were detected in samples (feces or small intestines) from most farms. In order to investigate whether there is a PEDV variant circulating in China, we sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of the recently identified field strain, CH/FJND-3/2011. The sequence data indicate that this PEDV variant prevails in China.
Complete Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lytic Bacteriophage PA1Ø Which Resembles Temperate Bacteriophage D3112
Authors: Kim Shukho , Rahman Marzia , Kim Jungmin
Published: February 2012

A novel
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
lytic bacteriophage (phage), PA1Ø, was isolated, and its genome was sequenced completely. This phage is able to lyse not only
P. aeruginosa
but also
Staphylococcus aureus
. Genome analysis of PA1Ø showed that it is similar to a
P. aeruginosa
temperate phage, D3112, with the exception of the absence of a
c
repressor-encoding gene, which is known to play a critical role in the maintenance of the lysogenic state of D3112 in
P. aeruginosa
.
Über die Kondensation von Desylbromid mit 4-Alkylthiosemicarbaziden
Authors: Bulka E. , Pfeiffer W. D. , Tröltsch C. , Dilk E. , Gärtner H. , Daniel D.
Published: February 2012

Aus 2-Brom-1,2-diphenyl-ethan-1-on (Desylbromid) und 4-Alkylthiosemicarbaziden erhält man in ethanolischer Lösung über S-Desal-Verbindungen in Abhängigkeit von den Substituenten 2-Alkylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazine, 3-Amino-thiazolon-(2)-alkylimide bzw. 3-Alkylthiazolon-(2)-hydrazone. Die Konstitution der Verbindungen konnte durch spektroskopische Untersuchungen und unabhängige Synthesen gesichert werden.
Comparing media and family predictors of alcohol use: a cohort study of US adolescents
Authors: Stoolmiller Mike , Wills Thomas A , McClure Auden C , Tanski Susanne E , Worth Keilah A , Gerrard Meg , Sargent James D
Published: February 2012

Objective

To compare media/marketing exposures and family factors in predicting adolescent alcohol use.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Confidential telephone survey of adolescents in their homes.

Participants

Representative sample of 6522 US adolescents, aged 10–14 years at baseline and surveyed four times over 2 years.

Primary outcome measure

Time to alcohol onset and progression to binge drinking were assessed with two survival models. Predictors were movie alcohol exposure (MAE), ownership of alcohol-branded merchandise and characteristics of the family (parental alcohol use, home availability of alcohol and parenting). Covariates included sociodemographics, peer drinking and personality factors.

Results

Over the study period, the prevalence of adolescent ever use and binge drinking increased from 11% to 25% and from 4% to 13%, respectively. At baseline, the median estimated MAE from a population of 532 movies was 4.5 h and 11% owned alcohol-branded merchandise at time 2. Parental alcohol use (greater than or equal to weekly) was reported by 23% and 29% of adolescents could obtain alcohol from home. Peer drinking, MAE, alcohol-branded merchandise, age and rebelliousness were associated with both alcohol onset and progression to binge drinking. The adjusted hazard ratios for alcohol onset and binge drinking transition for high versus low MAE exposure were 2.13 (95% CI 1.76 to 2.57) and 1.63 (1.20 to 2.21), respectively, and MAE accounted for 28% and 20% of these transitions, respectively. Characteristics of the family were associated with alcohol onset but not with progression.

Conclusion

The results suggest that family focused interventions would have a larger impact on alcohol onset while limiting media and marketing exposure could help prevent both onset and progression.
Coxiella burnetii in bulk tank milk samples from dairy goat and dairy sheep farms in The Netherlands in 2008
Authors: van den Brom R. , van Engelen E. , Luttikholt S. , Moll L. , van Maanen K. , Vellema P.
Published: February 2012

In 2007, a human Q fever epidemic started, mainly in the south eastern part of The Netherlands with a suspected indirect relation to dairy goats, and, to a lesser degree, to dairy sheep. This article describes the Q fever prevalences in Dutch dairy goat and dairy sheep bulk tank milk (BTM) samples, using a real‐time (RT) PCR and ELISA. Results of BTM PCR and ELISA were compared with the serological status of individual animals, and correlations with a history of Q fever abortion were determined. When compared with ELISA results, the optimal cut‐off value for the RT‐PCR was 100 bacteria/ml. In 2008, there were 392 farms with more than 200 dairy goats, of which 292 submitted a BTM sample. Of these samples, 96 (32.9 per cent) were PCR positive and 87 (29.8 per cent) were ELISA positive. All farms with a history of Q fever abortion (n=17) were ELISA positive, 16 out of 17 were also PCR positive. BTM PCR or ELISA positive farms had significantly higher within‐herd seroprevalences than BTM negative farms. In the south eastern provinces, the area where the human Q fever outbreak started in 2007, a significantly larger proportion of the BTM samples was PCR and ELISA positive compared to the rest of The Netherlands. None of the BTM samples from dairy sheep farms (n=16) were PCR positive but three of these farms were ELISA positive. The higher percentage of BTM positive farms in the area where the human Q fever outbreak started, supports the suspected relation between human cases and infected dairy goat farms.
BLACK-HOLE BOMBS AT THE LHC
Authors: LEE JONG-PHIL
Published: February 2012

A particle scattered off by a rotating black hole can be amplified when the system is in the superradiant regime. If the system is surrounded by a mirror which reflects the particle back to the black hole the whole system forms a black-hole bomb, amplifying the original field exponentially. We show in this paper that higher-dimensional black holes can also form black-hole bombs at the LHC. For a pion the e-folding time for the field amplification is tc ~ 10-23–10-24 sec . If the lifetime of the black hole is long enough compared with tc, we can observe severely amplified fields.
CLASSIFICATION OF TOTALLY REAL ELLIPTIC LEFSCHETZ FIBRATIONS VIA NECKLACE DIAGRAMS
Authors: SALEPCİ NERMİN
Published: February 2012

We show that totally real elliptic Lefschetz fibrations admitting a real section are classified by their "real loci" which can be encoded in terms of a combinatorial object that we call a necklace diagram. By means of necklace diagrams, we obtain an explicit list of certain classes of totally real elliptic Lefschetz fibrations.
PARACONSISTENT INFERENCE FROM DATA USING EXISTENTIAL Ω-ENTAILMENT
Authors: KASSOFF MICHAEL , GENESERETH MICHAEL R.
Published: February 2012

Existential Ω-entailment is a paraconsistent entailment relation designed to show the consequences of data which is inconsistent with a set of integrity constraints Ω. In this paper, we prove semantic properties of existential Ω-entailment and give an algorithm for computing it.
Overweight and Obesity among Palestinian Adults: Analyses of the Anthropometric Data from the First National Health and Nutrition Survey (1999-2000)
Authors: Abdeen Ziad , Jildeh Christine , Dkeideek Sahar , Qasrawi Radwan , Ghannam Ibrahim , Al Sabbah Haleama
Published: February 2012

Background. A cross-sectional survey was designed to provide a baseline data on the prevalence and distribution of overweight and obesity and their associations among adults in Palestine.Methods. A random representative sample of 3617 adults aged 18–64 years was collected between October 1999 and October 2000.Results. The prevalence of overweight was 35.5% in women and 40.3% in men, obesity was 31.5% in women and 17.5% in men. Adults aged 45–54 years old were significantly more likely to be obese (29.2% in men and 50.2% in women) or overweight (48.1% in men and 37.2% in women). When compared with women, men showed significantly more normal BMI level (40.5% versus 31.6%;P<0.05). Cut-off points for a high waist circumference and high waist-to-hip ratio identified 57.8% and 47.2% of the population, respectively, to be at an increased and high risk for cardiovascular disease. Sociodemographic factors (age, sex, educational level, and marital status) were also found to be significantly related to BMI.Conclusion. Obesity and overweight are enormous public health problems in Palestine. Population-based research at the national level to investigate the social and cultural factors associated with high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Palestinian adults should be implemented.
The Mechanical Impact of Aerodynamic Stall on Tunnel Ventilation Fans
Authors: Sheard A. G. , Corsini A.
Published: February 2012

This paper describes work aimed at establishing the ability of a tunnel ventilation fan to operate without risk of mechanical failure in the event of aerodynamic stall. The research establishes the aerodynamic characteristics of a typical tunnel ventilation fan when operated in both stable and stalled aerodynamic conditions, with and without an anti-stall stabilisation ring, with and without a “nonstalling” blade angle and at full, half, and one quarter design speed. It also measures the fan’s peak stress, thus facilitating an analysis of the implications of the experimental results for mechanical design methodology. The paper concludes by presenting three different strategies for tunnel ventilation fan selection in applications where the selected fan will most likely stall. The first strategy selects a fan with a low-blade angle that is nonstalling. The second strategy selects a fan with a high-pressure developing capability. The third strategy selects a fan with a fitted stabilisation ring. Tunnel ventilation system designers each have their favoured fan selection strategy. However, all three strategies can produce system designs within which a tunnel ventilation fan performs reliably in-service. The paper considers the advantages and disadvantages of each selection strategy and considered the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Atmospheric Corrosion of Painted Galvanized and 55%Al-Zn Steel Sheets: Results of 12 Years of Exposure
Authors: Elsner C. I. , Seré P. R. , Di Sarli A. R.
Published: February 2012

Zinc or 55%Al-Zn alloy-coated steel sheets, either bare or covered by different painting systems, have been exposed for 12 years to the action of the urban atmosphere at the CIDEPINT station located in La Plata (34° 50′ South, 57° 53′, West), province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The samples exposed surface was evaluated through periodical visual inspections, standardized adhesion tests, and electrochemical impedance measurements. The ambient variables monitored were average annual rains and temperatures, time of wetness, sulphur and chloride concentration, relative humidity, and speed and direction of the winds. It was found that in this atmosphere, the corrosion resistance of the bare 55% Al-Zn/steel sheets was higher than of the galvanized steel, and the polyurethane painting system was more protective than the alkyd and epoxy ones, which degraded after 6-7 years of exposure.
Properties of Biobased Rigid Polyurethane Foams Reinforced with Fillers: Microspheres and Nanoclay
Authors: Fan Hongyu , Tekeei Ali , Suppes Galen J. , Hsieh Fu-Hung
Published: February 2012

The effect of incorporating 1–7% microsphere and nanoclay fillers on the physical properties of polyurethane (PU) foams containing 15% soybean oil-based polyol was investigated. Increasing filler percentage reduced the PU foam density. The compressive strength of PU foams decreased slightly when increasing the microsphere content from 1 to 3% and then increased. At 7% microsphere content, the foams displayed the same compressive strength as the control foams made from 100% petroleum polyol. For PU foams reinforced with nanoclay, their compressive strength changed little from 1 to 5%, but decreased at 7% due to a lower density and weaker matrix structure. Foams containing 5 to 7% microspheres or 3 to 7% nanoclay had density-compressive strength comparable or superior to the control. Foams reinforced with fillers had more cells and smaller cell size than foams made from 15% soy-polyol but without fillers. During the foaming process, the maximal temperatures reached by PU foams were not affected by the presence of 1 to 7% of microspheres or nanoclay, but slightly lower than the control. In addition, foams with fillers displayed roughly the same thermal conductivity as soy-polyol based foams without fillers.
Influence of Doping Concentration on Dielectric, Optical, and Morphological Properties of PMMA Thin Films
Authors: Ismail Lyly Nyl , Zulkefle Habibah , Herman Sukreen Hana , Rusop Mahmood Mohamad
Published: February 2012

PMMA thin films were deposited by sol gel spin coating method on ITO substrates. Toluene was used as the solvent to dissolve the PMMA powder. The PMMA concentration was varied from 30 ~ 120 mg. The dielectric properties were measured at frequency of 0 ~ 100 kHz. The dielectric permittivity was in the range of 7.3 to 7.5 which decreased as the PMMA concentration increased. The dielectric loss is in the range of 0.01 ~ –0.01. All samples show dielectric characteristics which have dielectric loss is less than 0.05. The optical properties for thin films were measured at room temperature across 200 ~ 1000 nm wavelength region. All samples are highly transparent. The energy band gaps are in the range of 3.6 eV to 3.9 eV when the PMMA concentration increased. The morphologies of the samples show that all samples are uniform and the surface roughness increased as the concentration increased. From this study, it is known that, the dielectric, optical, and morphology properties were influenced by the amount of PMMA concentration in the solution.
The Dehiscent Facial Nerve Canal
Authors: Yetiser Sertac
Published: February 2012

Accidental injury to the facial nerve where the bony canal defects are present may result with facial nerve dysfunction during otological surgery. Therefore, it is critical to know the incidence and the type of facial nerve dehiscences in the presence of normal development of the facial canal. The aim of this study is to review the site and the type of such bony defects in 144 patients operated for facial paralysis, myringoplasty, stapedotomy, middle ear exploration for sudden hearing loss, and so forth, other than chronic suppurative otitis media with or without cholesteatoma, middle ear tumors, and anomaly. Correlation of intraoperative findings with preoperative computerized tomography was also analyzed in 35 patients. Conclusively, one out of every 10 surgical cases may have dehiscence of the facial canal which has to be always borne in mind during surgical manipulation of the middle ear. Computerized tomography has some limitations to evaluate the dehiscent facial canal due to high false negative and positive rates.
Flash Atomization: A New Concept to Control Combustion Instability in Water-Injected Gas Turbines
Authors: Iyengar Vishwas , Simmons Harold , Ransom David
Published: February 2012

The objective of this work is to explore methods to reduce combustor rumble in a water-injected gas turbine. Attempts to use water injection as a means to reduce NOXemissions in gas turbines have been largely unsuccessful because of increased combustion instability levels. This pulsation causes chronic fretting, wear, and fatigue that damages combustor components. Of greater concern is that liberated fragments could cause extensive damage to the turbine section. Combustion instability can be tied to the insufficient atomization of injected water; large water droplets evaporate non-uniformly that lead to energy absorption in chaotic pulses. Added pulsation is amplified by the combustion process and acoustic resonance. Effervescent atomization, where gas bubbles are injected, is beneficial by producing finely atomized droplets; the gas bubbles burst as they exit the nozzles creating additional energy to disperse the liquid. A new concept for effervescent atomization dubbed “flash atomization” is presented where water is heated to just below its boiling point in the supply line so that some of it will flash to steam as it leaves the nozzle. An advantage of flash atomization is that available heat energy can be used rather than mechanical energy to compress injection gas for conventional effervescent atomization.
Protective Effects of Green Tea Extract against Hepatic Tissue Injury in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Abolfathi Ali Akbar , Mohajeri Daryoush , Rezaie Ali , Nazeri Mehrdad
Published: February 2012

Although diabetic hepatopathy is potentially less common, it may be appropriate for addition to the list of target organ conditions related to diabetes. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective properties of green tea extract (GTE) in STZ-induced diabetes in rats. Wistar rats were made diabetic through single injection of STZ (75 mg/kg i.p.). The rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals each: Group 1, healthy control; Group 2, nondiabetics treated with GTE administered orally (1.5%, w/v); Group 3, diabetics; Group 4, diabetics treated with GTE (1.5%, w/v) for 8 weeks. Serum biomarkers were assessed to determine hepatic injury. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were measured to assess free radical activity in the liver tissue. Hepatic antioxidant activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were also determined. The biochemical findings were matched with histopathological verifications. Liver MDA content and serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin in Group 3 significantly increased compared to Group 1 (P<0.05) and significantly decreased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (P<0.05). Serum albumin level and GSH, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px contents of the liver in Group 3 were significantly decreased compared to Group 1 (P<0.05) and were significantly increased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (P<0.05). Histopathologically, the changes were in the same direction with biochemical findings. This study proved the hepatoprotective activity of GTE in experimentally induced diabetic rats.
Interaction between Pheromone and Its Receptor of the Fission YeastSchizosaccharomyces pombeExamined by a Force Spectroscopy Study
Authors: Sasuga Shintaro , Abe Ryohei , Nikaido Osamu , Kiyosaki Shoichi , Sekiguchi Hiroshi , Ikai Atsushi , Osada Toshiya
Published: February 2012

Interaction between P-factor, a peptide pheromone composed of 23 amino acid residues, and its pheromone receptor, Mam2, on the cell surface of the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombewas examined by an atomic force microscope (AFM). An AFM tip was modified with P-factor derivatives to perform force curve measurements. The specific interaction force between P-factor and Mam2 was calculated to be around 120 pN at a probe speed of 1.74 μm/s. When the AFM tip was modified with truncated P-factor derivative lacking C-terminal Leu, the specific interaction between the tip and the cell surface was not observed. These results were also confirmed with an assay system using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene to monitor the activation level of signal transduction following the interaction of Mam2 with P-factor.
On Maximal and Minimal Solutions for Set‐Valued Differential Equations with Feedback Control
Authors: Hoa Ngo Van , Phu Nguyen Dinh
Published: February 2012

In this paper, we present the existence of extremal solutions of set‐valued differential equations with feedback control on semilinear Hausdorff space under Hukuhara derivative which is developed under the form DHX(t) = F(t, X(t), H(t, X(t))), X(0) = X0,  for all t ∈ [0, T] with the monotone iterative technique and we will verify that monotone sequence of approximate solutions converging uniformly to the solution of the problem, that is useful for optimization problems.
Anti-Inflammatory and Anticoagulative Effects of Paeonol on LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats
Authors: Fu Pin-Kuei , Wu Chieh-Liang , Tsai Tung-Hu , Hsieh Ching-Liang
Published: February 2012

Paeonol is an active component of Moutan Cortex Radicis and is widely used as an analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory agent in traditional Chinese medicine. We wanted to determine the role of paeonol in treating adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We established an acute lung injury (ALI) model in Sprague-Dawley rats, which was similar to ARDS in humans, using intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The intraperitoneal administration of paeonol successfully reduced histopathological scores and attenuated myeloperoxidase-reactive cells as an index of polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration and also reduces inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the lung tissue, at 16 h after LPS administration. In addition, paeonol reduced proinflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, including tumor-necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and plasminogen-activated inhibition factor-1. These results indicated that paeonol successfully attenuates inflammatory and coagulation reactions to protect against ALI.