bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of extraction solvents, cooking procedures and storage conditions on the contents of ergothioneine and phenolic compounds and antioxidative capacity of the cultivated mushroom Flammulina velutipes
Authors: Nguyen The Han , Nagasaka Reiko , Ohshima Toshiaki
Published: April 2012

Edible mushrooms contain considerable amounts of the potent natural antioxidant 2‐thiol‐l‐histidine‐betaine (l‐ergothioneine, ESH). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of extraction solvents, common cooking methods and storage conditions on the ESH content, total phenols (TPs) and antioxidant capacity of the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes fruiting body and its hot water extract that had been stored at different temperatures. Regarding cooking procedures, boiling in water resulted in the highest losses of antioxidant activity of both ESH and TPs. Most of the losses of ESH and TPs were detected in the cooking water. The ESH contents in the raw mushroom fruiting bodies significantly decreased after 8 days of refrigerated storage under both dark and fluorescent lighting conditions. However, the TP content in the raw mushroom stored under fluorescent lighting significantly increased during 10 days of refrigeration. In contrast, the ESH and TP contents as well as DPPH radical scavenging ability of the fruiting bodies remained unchanged for up to 15 days of frozen storage at −18 °C. The same behaviour was obtained with the mushroom extract packed in plastic tubes. The correlation between DPPH radical scavenging activity and ESH contents was higher than that for TP compounds.
Comparison of physicochemical and sensory quality of Lentinus edodes granular condiment prepared by different prilling and drying methods
Authors: Wang Hui‐dang , Zhang Min , Zhai Guanghua , Jiang Hao
Published: April 2012

Three different prilling methods, namely rotary prilling (RP), extrusion moulding prilling (EMP), sieving prilling (SP), and two drying methods, namely fluidised‐bed drying (FBD) and hot air drying (AD), were used to produce granular mushroom seasonings. There was significant difference both between the control group and SP as well as between RP and SP (P < 0.05) on moisture absorption percentage. The values of control group and SP and RP were 9.14, 9.16 and 9.58 respectively. RP and EMP which were dried with FBD showed no statistically significant difference on critical relative humidity (CRH), while there was significant difference between AD and FBD samples. In the sequences of control group, RP, EMP and SP, the repose of angle reflecting flowability was 24.9, 25.5, 26.2 and 27.1. The dissolution time was 180, 120, 160 and 130 s. The L values were 83.20, 70.00, 56.88 and 57.64. The total sensory assessment scores were 8.5, 8.4, 6.5 and 6.0. Obviously, RP had the best flowability, dissolubility and sensory assessment results among the test samples except that the L value was lower than the control one. In the comprehensive view, RP and FBD were an alternative way to make the granule seasoning.
Different lying positions and their effects on tissue blood flow and skin temperature in older adult patients
Authors: Källman Ulrika , Bergstrand Sara , Ek Anna‐Christina , Engström Maria , Lindberg Lars‐Göran , Lindgren Margareta
Published: April 2012

Aim.  To report a study to compare the effects of different lying positions on tissue blood flow and skin temperature in older adult patients. This article reports the evaluation of study design and procedures.

Background.  To reduce risk of pressure ulcers, repositioning of immobile patients is a standard nursing practice; however, research into how different lying positions effect tissue microcirculation is limited.

Design.  Descriptive comparative design.

Methods.  From March–October 2010, 20 inpatients, aged 65 years or older, were included in the study. Tissue blood flow and skin temperature were measured over bony prominences and in gluteus muscle in four supine and two lateral positions.

Results.  The blood flow over the bony prominence areas was most influenced in the superficial skin and especially in the 30° lateral position, where the blood flow decreased significantly in comparison with the supine positions. There were significant individual differences in blood flow responses, but no common trend was identified among the patients considered at risk for pressure ulcer development. The study procedure worked well and was feasible to perform in an inpatient population.

Conclusion.  The lying positions seem to influence the tissue blood flow over the bony prominences in different ways in older adult inpatients, but further study is needed to confirm the results and to make recommendations to clinical practice. The study procedure worked well, although some minor adjustments with regard to heat accumulation will be made in future studies.
Aggression in a high secure hospital: staff and patient attitudes
Authors: PULSFORD D. , CRUMPTON A. , BAKER A. , WILKINS T. , WRIGHT K. , DUXBURY J.
Published: April 2012

Accessible summary

A key role of nursing staff in high secure hospitals is responding to patients' aggressive behaviour.

Attitudes of staff in high secure hospitals may influence how they respond to patient aggression.

Patients will have their own attitudes towards aggression and how it should be managed.

In our study, the views of staff and patients regarding aggression were overall similar, with both groups espousing controlling means of aggression management (medication, restraint, seclusion) in addition to interpersonal strategies.

Responding to aggressive behaviour is a key activity for nurses and other care staff in high secure hospitals. The attitudes and beliefs of staff regarding patient aggression will influence the management strategies they adopt. Patients will also hold attitudes regarding the causes of and best ways to respond to aggressive behaviour. This study measured the attitudes towards aggression of staff (n= 109) and patients (n= 27) in a high secure hospital in the UK using the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale (MAVAS). There was considerable concordance of views, staff and patients disagreeing on only two items on the MAVAS. Aggression was felt to have a range of causes, embracing factors internal to the person, factors in the external environment and situational or interactional factors. Interpersonal means of managing aggression were supported, but both staff and patients also advocated the use of controlling management strategies such as medication, seclusion and restraint. The implications of these findings for aggression management in high secure settings are discussed in the light of best practice guidelines that promote interpersonal approaches over controlling strategies.
Metabolic, mental health, behavioural and socioeconomic characteristics of migrants with Chagas disease in a non‐endemic country
Authors: Jackson Yves , Castillo Sara , Hammond Perle , Besson Marius , Brawand‐Bron Anne , Urzola Diana , Gaspoz Jean‐Michel , Chappuis François
Published: April 2012

Objectives  Chronic Chagas disease causes cardiopathy in 20–40% of the 8–10 million people affected. The prevalence of atherogenic factors increases rapidly in Latin America. Somatic, mental, behavioural and social characteristics of the 80 000 Latino migrants with Chagas disease in Europe are not known. We postulate that they may accumulate these factors for poor health – notably cardiovascular‐outcomes.

Methods  This study took place at the Geneva University Hospitals in 2011. Latin American migrants with Chagas disease diagnosed in Geneva since 2008 were contacted. Interviews and blood tests assessed behavioural, socioeconomic, metabolic and cardiovascular factors.

Results  One hundred and thirty‐seven patients (women: 84.7%; median age: 43 years) with chronic Chagas disease were included in the study. The majority were Bolivians (94.2%), undocumented (83.3%), uninsured (72.3%) and living below the Swiss poverty line (89.1%). Prevalence of obesity was 25.5%, of hypertension 17.5%, of hypercholesterolemia 16.1%, of impaired fasting glucose 23.4%, of diabetes 2.9%, of metabolic syndrome 16.8%, of anxiety 58.4%, of depression 28.5%, of current smoking 15.4% and of sedentary lifestyle 62.8%. High (>10%) 10‐year cardiovascular risk affected 12.4%.

Conclusions  Latin American migrants with Chagas disease accumulate pathogenic chronic conditions of infectious, non‐transmissible, socioeconomic and behavioural origin, putting them at high risk of poor health, notably cardiovascular, outcomes. This highlights the importance of screening for these factors and providing interventions to tackle reversible disorders; facilitating access to care for this hard‐to‐reach population to prevent delays in medical interventions and poorer health outcomes; and launching prospective studies to evaluate the long‐term impact of these combined factors on the natural course of Chagas disease.
Robustness of the outcome of adult bumblebee infection with a trypanosome parasite after varied parasite exposures during larval development
Authors: CISAROVSKY G. , SCHMID‐HEMPEL P. , SADD B. M.
Published: April 2012

The outcome of defence by the invertebrate immunity has recently been shown to be more complex than previously thought. In particular, the outcome is affected by biotic and abiotic environmental variation, host genotype, parasite genotype and their interaction. Knowledge of conditions under which environmental variation affects the outcome of an infection is one important question that relates to this complexity. We here use the model system of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, infected by the trypanosome, Crithidia bombi, combined with a split‐colony design to test the influence of the parasite environment during larval rearing on adult resistance. We find that genotype‐specific interactions are maintained and adult resistance is not influenced. This demonstrates that environmental dependence of bumblebee–trypanosome interactions is not ubiquitous, and yet unknown constraints will maintain standard coevolutionary dynamics under such environmental deviations.
Effect of Nickel on Membrane Integrity, Lipid Peroxidation and Fatty Acid Composition in Wheat Seedlings
Authors: Gajewska E. , Bernat P. , Długoński J. , Skłodowska M.
Published: April 2012

The influence of 50 and 100 μm Ni on membrane integrity, hydrogen peroxide content, lipid peroxidation as well as total fatty acid composition was studied in shoots and roots of wheat seedlings. In both organs, treatment with Ni led to significant increase in electrolyte leakage reflecting the metal‐induced enhancement of membrane permeability. In the shoots, it was accompanied by significant increase in lipid peroxidation. Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, more pronounced in the shoots, was also found in Ni‐treated wheat. Exposure of wheat seedlings to Ni altered the total fatty acid composition, leading to decrease in their unsaturation, which was indicated by reduction in double bond index. In both organs, a significant decrease in linolenic acid (C18 : 3) content was observed. It was accompanied by increased linoleic (C18 : 2) and oleic (C18 : 1) acid contents in shoots and roots, respectively. In the shoots, parallel increase in palmitic acid (C16 : 0) and decrease in palmitoleic acid (C16 : 1) were found at the end of the experiment. Our results suggest that modification of fatty acid profile in Ni‐treated wheat seedlings is partly related to lipid peroxidation and increased electrolyte leakage and may reflect damage of cells caused by the metal.
The Age‐dependence of atrial arrhythmogenicity in Scn5a+/−murine hearts reflects alterations in action potential propagation and recovery
Authors: Guzadhur Laila , Jiang Wenhui , Pearcey Sarah M , Jeevaratnam Kamalan , Duehmke Rudy M , Grace Andrew A , Lei Ming , Huang Christopher L‐H
Published: April 2012

In the present study, we investigated the effect of age on atrial electrophysiological properties in
Scn5a

+/− hearts used to model corresponding increases in atrial arrhythmic tendency in human Brugada syndrome.

Atrial action potential initiation, propagation and recovery were compared in young (3 month old) and aged (12 month old), wild‐type (WT) and
Scn5a

+/− hearts. Multielectrode array recordings assessed the spatial propagation of intrinsic electrical activity in superfused atrial preparations, whereas bipolar electrogram recordings measured basic cycle lengths (BCL) in Langendorff preparations. The duration of electrogram activity (EGD) during regular and extrasystolic stimulation with programmed electrical stimulation provided EGD ratios and atrial effective refractory periods (AERP). Monophasic recordings measured action potential durations (APD).

Systematic statistical explorations for independent and interacting effects of age and the
Scn5a

+/− condition demonstrated that both young and aged
Scn5a

+/− mice exhibited slowed propagation of atrial excitation relative to corresponding WT mice, with the greatest effects in aged
Scn5a

+/− mice, which additionally exhibited increased intrinsic BCL.

Young
Scn5a

+/− mice exhibited greater EGD and EGD ratios, as well as APD/AERP ratios, suggesting increased arrhythmic tendency compared with WT mice.

Aged
Scn5a

+/− mice exhibited normal EGD, EGD ratios and APD compared to aged WT and young Scn5a
+/−, and increased AERP and smaller APD/AERP ratios compared with young Scn5a
+/−.

These electrophysiological findings indicate increased atrial arrhythmogenicity with maximal effects on both conduction and repolarization characteristics in young compared with aged
Scn5a

+/− mice.
Pathway‐specific plasticity in the human spinal cord
Authors: Leukel Christian , Taube Wolfgang , Beck Sandra , Schubert Martin
Published: April 2012

The aim of the present study was to artificially induce plasticity in the human spinal cord and evaluate whether this plasticity is pathway specific. For this purpose, a technique called paired associative stimulation (PAS) was applied. Volleys evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex and peripheral nerve stimulation of the nervus tibialis in the popliteal fossa were timed to coincide at the spinal level. The transmission of different corticospinal projections was assessed before and after PAS using conditioned H‐reflexes. Different groups of healthy volunteers (28 ± 5 years) were tested; intervention groups 1 (n = 9) and 2 (n = 8) received spinal PAS (360 paired stimuli) and the induced effects were evaluated using cortical (group 1) or cervicomedullary (group 2) conditioning of musculus soleus H‐reflexes. After spinal PAS, the conditioned H‐reflexes were significantly facilitated when tested with cortical and cervicomedullary stimulation. The effect of the latter technique is independent of changes in the excitability of cortical neurons. Therefore, the finding that conditioned H‐reflexes were increased after spinal PAS when tested with both cortical and cervicomedullary stimulation suggests that neural plasticity was induced within the spinal cord. The facilitation could only be observed for specific inter‐stimulus intervals between volleys induced by peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation. As the specific inter‐stimulus intervals were assumed to relate to transmission within specific motor pathways, it is argued that changes in the corticospinal transmission were pathway‐specific. These findings may be helpful in inducing and assessing neural plasticity in pathological conditions like spinal cord injuries.
CHEYNE'S PARADOX – AND HOW TO SOLVE IT
Authors: Musgrave Alan
Published: April 2012

Colin Cheyne's ‘paradox of reasonable believing’ poses a problem for both internalist and externalist theories of rationality. Cheyne suggests that externalists will more easily solve it. I argue the opposite.
Opioid analgesics in experimental sepsis: effects on physiological, biochemical, and haemodynamic parameters
Authors: Nardi Geisson Marcos , Bet Angela Cristina , Sordi Regina , Fernandes Daniel , Assreuy Jamil
Published: April 2012

Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is the sepsis model that more closely resembles the human pathology, but it is likely to cause suffering to experimental animals. However, it is not clear whether the use of analgesia may affect some parameters evaluated in experimental sepsis research. Therefore, we investigated the effects of fentanyl and tramadol in experimental sepsis in the rat. The following parameters were evaluated: body temperature, body weight, water and food ingestion, mortality, analgesia, blood leukocytes, mean arterial blood pressure, vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, lung myeloperoxidase activity, and plasma levels of IL1‐β, glutamic‐oxaloacetic, glutamic‐pyruvic, lactate, creatinine and urea. While producing significant analgesia, the opioids modify minimally the parameters, with the exception of sepsis‐induced hypotension and mortality. Although fentanyl and tramadol can minimize pain and the general suffering of animals submitted to CLP surgery, their effects on cardiovascular parameters as well as in the mortality indicate that their use in experimental sepsis must be done with caution and with all the proper control groups.
Cardiovascular and perceptual responses to blood‐flow‐restricted resistance exercise with differing restrictive cuffs
Authors: Rossow Lindy M. , Fahs Christopher A. , Loenneke Jeremy P. , Thiebaud Robert S. , Sherk Vanessa D. , Abe Takashi , Bemben Michael G.
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine (i) the cardiovascular responses to acute blood‐flow‐restricted (BFR) resistance exercise and (ii) the influence of applied BFR cuff type on the cardiovascular and perceptual responses.

Methods

In a randomized, crossover design, 27 participants wore either a 5·0 cm wide elastic cuff or a 13·5 cm wide non‐elastic cuff around the thigh while performing four sets of knee extension exercise using 20% of 1‐RM. Brachial and central blood pressure (BP) and aortic augmentation index (AIx) were measured before and after the restrictive cuffs were applied and inflated, after the 2nd and 4th set of resistance exercise, and 5 and 15 min following the 4th set of exercise. Ratings of perceived exertion and pain were obtained before exercise and after the 2nd and 4th set of exercise.

Results

Both brachial and central BPs increased and AIx decreased during BFR exercise but returned to baseline levels within 15 min following exercise. The wide cuffs caused a greater elevation in heart rate, brachial and central BPs, perceived effort and pain and a greater decrease in AIx during the BFR exercise.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that low‐intensity BFR resistance exercise does not appear to acutely negatively affect the vasculature. Also, cuff type will greatly affect cardiovascular and perceptual responses to BFR resistance exercise and thus is an important consideration in study design.
The Impact of Interferon Beta and Natalizumab on Comorbid Migraine in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Villani Veronica , Prosperini Luca , De Giglio Laura , Pozzilli Carlo , Salvetti Marco , Sette Giuliano
Published: April 2012

Background.— Some multiple sclerosis (MS)‐specific therapies may exacerbate a comorbid migraine. Whereas data regarding the impact of interferon beta (IFNB) on this comorbidity have been reported, studies on the role of natalizumab (NTZ) are still lacking.

Purpose.— Our aim was to compare the impact of IFNB and NTZ on the frequency and disability of comorbid migraine in MS patients.

Methods.— We performed a longitudinal evaluation on MS patients with comorbid migraine previously assessed at our center and retested for the present study, by comparing data from 33 patients originally treated with IFNB and thereafter switched to NTZ vs 30 patients continued currently to receive IFNB.

Results.— Longitudinal analysis showed a significant reduction of migraine frequency (from a mean value of 8.4 to 5.1 days per month; P = .034) and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) score (from a mean value of 14.2 to 10.5; P = .045) in the subgroup patients switched from IFNB to NTZ but not in those remaining in the IFNB recipient, irrespective of level of fatigue, trait anxiety, depression, alexithymia, or other clinical variables.

Conclusions.— Our findings suggest that NTZ did not exacerbate comorbid migraine in MS patients and support the hypothesis that IFNB might represent an important trigger for migraine worsening.
Hazardous Drinking and Dimensions of Impulsivity, Behavioral Approach, and Inhibition in Adult Men and Women
Authors: Hamilton Kristen R. , Sinha Rajita , Potenza Marc N.
Published: April 2012

Introduction

Hazardous drinking is characterized by decisions to engage in excessive or risky patterns of alcohol consumption. Levels of impulsivity and behavioral approach and inhibition may differ in hazardous drinkers and nonhazardous drinkers. A comparison of the relative levels of dimensions of impulsivity and behavioral inhibition and approach in adult men and women hazardous and nonhazardous drinkers may inform treatment and prevention efforts.

Methods

In the present research, 466 men and women from a community sample were administered the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Approach System (BIS/BAS) scale, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, version 11 (BIS‐11). Relations among the dimensions of these constructs were examined using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), with age and race as covariates.

Results

There were main effects of hazardous drinking on all 3 dimensions of impulsivity, the behavioral inhibition system, and the behavioral activation system Reward Responsiveness, and Fun‐Seeking components, with hazardous drinkers scoring higher than nonhazardous drinkers.

Conclusions

This research provides a better understanding of the manner in which impulsivity and behavioral inhibition and approach tendencies relate to hazardous alcohol use in men and women. The present results have implications for alcohol‐related prevention and treatment strategies for adult men and women.
Environmental Assessment of Refuse‐Derived Fuel Co‐Combustion in a Coal‐Fired Power Plant
Authors: Rigamonti Lucia , Grosso Mario , Biganzoli Laura
Published: April 2012

Municipal residual waste (RW) produced in the Venice area undergoes mechanical‐biological treatment (MBT) in the Fusina plant to produce refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) that is then co‐combusted in a nearby coal‐fired power station. Being the first significant project for RDF co‐firing in power plants in Italy, a number of different testing phases were performed starting in 2003, aimed at evaluating differences between so‐called blank operation (i.e., with only coal feeding) and RDF co‐firing at different feeding rates.

The analysis of data gathered during the industrial experimentation shows a savings of 0.7 tonnes (t) of coal per each tonne of co‐fired RDF; stack concentrations of some pollutants (hydrochloric acid [HCl], ammonia [NH3], carbon monoxide [CO], chromium [Cr], and lead [Pb]) appear slightly higher during co‐combustion compared with blank operation, whereas concentrations of dust, sulfur oxides (SOx), and some metals (manganese [Mn], nickel [Ni], vanadium [V]) are lower.

To assess the overall environmental performance of this practice, a life cycle assessment (LCA) study was then performed, where different strategies of energy recovery from RW were compared: production of RDF and its co‐combustion in the Fusina power plant, RW combustion without any pretreatment in a mass‐burn waste‐to‐energy (WTE) plant, and production of RDF and its combustion in a dedicated WTE plant.

The LCA results show that co‐combustion of RDF performs better than the other strategies for all impact categories evaluated. The only exception is when the WTE plant operates in combined heat and power mode, with very high overall conversion efficiencies.
Pacemaker Optimization in Nonresponders to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Left Ventricular Pacing as an Available Option
Authors: GAGE RYAN M. , BURNS KEVIN V. , VATTEROTT DANIEL B. , KUBO SPENCER H. , BANK ALAN J.
Published: April 2012

Background:

Echocardiographic (ECHO)‐guided pacemaker optimization (PMO) in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) nonresponders acutely improves left ventricular (LV) function. However, the chronic results of LV pacing in this group are less understood.

Methods:

We retrospectively studied 28 CRT nonresponders optimized based on ECHO to LV pacing and compared them to 28 age‐ and gender‐matched patients optimized to biventricular (BiV) pacing. ECHOs with tissue Doppler imaging assessed LV hemodynamics before, immediately after, and 29 ± 16 months after PMO. Also, 56 age‐ and gender‐matched CRT responders were included for comparison of clinical outcomes.

Results:

PMO resulted in acute improvements in longitudinal LV systolic function and several measures of dyssynchrony, with greater improvements in the LV paced group. Chronic improvements in ejection fraction (EF) (3.2 ± 7.7%), and left ventricle end‐systolic volume (LVESV) (−11 ± 36 mL) and one dyssynchrony measure were seen in the combined group. Chronically, both LV and BiV paced patients improved some measures of systolic function and dyssynchrony although response varied between the groups. Survival at 3.5 years was similar (P = 0.973) between the PMO (58%) and nonoptimized groups (58%) but survival free of cardiovascular hospitalization was significantly (P = 0.037) better in the nonoptimized group.

Conclusions
: CRT nonresponders undergoing PMO to either LV or BiV pacing have acute improvements in longitudinal systolic function and some measures of dyssynchrony. Some benefits are sustained chronically, with improvements in EF, LVESV, and dyssynchrony. A strategy of ECHO‐guided PMO results in survival for CRT nonresponders similar to that of CRT patients not referred for PMO. (PACE 2012; 35:685–694))
Ablation of a Resistant Right Atrial Appendage Tachycardia Using a Magnetic Navigation System
Authors: KHAN MOHSIN K. , ELMOUCHI DARRYL
Published: April 2012

The right atrial appendage is an uncommon site of origin for ectopic atrial tachycardia. Right atrial appendage tachycardia (RAAT) has been noted to be prevalent in young males and responds well to radiofrequency ablation. We report a case of RAAT resistant to multiple attempts of ablation that responded to ablation using Stereotaxis Niobe™ Magnetic Navigation System (RMN, Stereotaxis, St. Louis, MO, USA).

(PACE 2013; 36:e15–e18)
An Experimental Comparison of Two Different Clinically Used Implant Designs and Surfaces
Authors: Gottlow Jan , Barkarmo Sargon , Sennerby Lars
Published: April 2012

Background:Various designs of dental implants representing different geometries and surface technologies are commercially available and clinically used in patients. However, data with regard to bone tissue responses and stability for comparison of their biologic performances are rare.

Purpose:The aim of the present experimental investigation was to compare the bone tissue responses and implant stability between two commonly used dental implants representing different geometries and surface characteristics.

Materials and Methods:A total of 90 dental implants (4.3 mm in diameter, 10 mm long) with an oxidized surface (Replace Select Tapered, TiUnite, Nobel Biocare AB, Gothenburg, Sweden) (OX) and 90 implants (4.1 mm in diameter, 10 mm total length) with a hydrophilic sand‐blasted and acid etched surface (Standard Plus, SLActive, Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) (HSBA) were placed in the distal femur (n = 1) and tibia (n = 2) of 30 rabbits. The implants were analyzed with implant stability quotient (ISQ) measurements, removal torque (RTQ) and histomorphometry (bone–implant contact, BIC) after 10 days, 3, and 6 weeks. Moreover, RTQ values were corrected for differences in surface area by calculating the shear strength for each implant.

Results:RTQ and ISQ measurements showed an increase with time for both implant types. A significantly higher RTQ value was observed for the HSBA implant at 3 weeks (p = .05). A lower ISQ value was seen for HSBA than for OX implants at placement in the tibia (p < 0.001). HSBA implants showed higher shear strength values than OX implants after 3 weeks (p < .001), and 6 weeks (p < .01). The morphometric measurements showed significantly higher BIC for HSBA implants after 10 days (p < .01), similar values after 3 weeks and significantly higher BIC for OX implants after 6 weeks (p < .001).

Conclusions:Both HSBA and OX implants were well integrated in bone and showed firm and increased stability from placement to after 6 weeks of healing. The HSBA implant showed more BIC after 10 days and the OX implant more BIC after 6 weeks of healing. The HSBA implant showed significantly higher shear strength after 3 and 6 weeks and higher RTQ values after 3 weeks than the OX implant. The results may be due to differences in surface roughness and hydrophilic properties.
Development and Application of a Database of Food Ingredient Fraud and Economically Motivated Adulteration from 1980 to 2010
Authors: Moore Jeffrey C. , Spink John , Lipp Markus
Published: April 2012

Food ingredient fraud and economically motivated adulteration are emerging risks, but a comprehensive compilation of information about known problematic ingredients and detection methods does not currently exist. The objectives of this research were to collect such information from publicly available articles in scholarly journals and general media, organize into a database, and review and analyze the data to identify trends. The results summarized are a database that will be published in the US Pharmacopeial Convention's Food Chemicals Codex, 8th edition, and includes 1305 records, including 1000 records with analytical methods collected from 677 references. Olive oil, milk, honey, and saffron were the most common targets for adulteration reported in scholarly journals, and potentially harmful issues identified include spices diluted with lead chromate and lead tetraoxide, substitution of Chinese star anise with toxic Japanese star anise, and melamine adulteration of high protein content foods. High‐performance liquid chromatography and infrared spectroscopy were the most common analytical detection procedures, and chemometrics data analysis was used in a large number of reports. Future expansion of this database will include additional publically available articles published before 1980 and in other languages, as well as data outside the public domain. The authors recommend in‐depth analyses of individual incidents.

Practical Application:  This report describes the development and application of a database of food ingredient fraud issues from publicly available references. The database provides baseline information and data useful to governments, agencies, and individual companies assessing the risks of specific products produced in specific regions as well as products distributed and sold in other regions. In addition, the report describes current analytical technologies for detecting food fraud and identifies trends and developments.
Effect of the parvovirus H‐1 non‐structural protein NS1 on the tumorigenicity of human gastric cancer cells
Authors: WANG Yuan Yuan , LIU Jiong , ZHENG Qing , RAN Zhi Hua , SALOMÉ Nathalie , VOGEL Michèle , ROMMELAERE Jean , XIAO Shu Dong , WANG Zheng
Published: April 2012

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate the in vivo oncosuppressive effect of the non‐structural protein NS1 of parvovirus H‐1 on human gastric cancer cell lines.

METHODS:  Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1‐NS1 containing the complete NS1 gene of parvovirus H‐1 was constructed and characterized by restriction enzyme digestion and sequence analysis. The human gastric cancer cell lines MKN28, SGC7901 and MKN45 were stably transfected with empty or recombinant plasmids. NS1 gene transcription and protein expression in the latter transfectants were verified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The oncosuppressive effect of the parvoviral protein NS1 on the gastric cancer cell lines was tested by comparing the tumorigenicity of empty and recombinant vector‐transfected cells in nude mice.

RESULTS:  Well differentiated gastric cancer cells (MKN28) transfected with either empty plasmid or pcDNA3.1‐NS1 were tumorigenic in nude mice. Moderately (SGC7901) and poorly (MKN45) differentiated gastric cancer cells transfected with empty plasmid were also tumorigenic, but no tumor resulted from the injection when they were transfected with pcDNA3.1‐NS1. This NS1‐associated suppression of SGC7901 and MKN45 tumors correlated with the decreased percentage of CD44 positive cells.

CONCLUSIONS:  NS1 expression in poorly differentiated gastric cancer cells prevents them from forming tumors, perhaps by impairing the stem‐like phenotype. The parvoviral NS1 protein warrants further investigation for its therapeutic potential against cancer.
Discrimination of hybrid classes using cross‐species amplification of microsatellite loci: methodological challenges and solutions inDaphnia
Authors: THIELSCH A. , VÖLKER E. , KRAUS R. H. S. , SCHWENK K.
Published: April 2012

Microsatellite markers are important tools in population, conservation and forensic studies and are frequently used for species delineation, the detection of hybridization and introgression. Therefore, marker sets that amplify variable DNA regions in two species are required; however, cross‐species amplification is often difficult, as genotyping errors such as null alleles may occur. To estimate the level of potential misidentifications based on genotyping errors, we compared the occurrence of parental alleles in laboratory and naturalDaphniahybrids (Daphnia longispinagroup). We tested a set of 12 microsatellite loci with regard to their suitability for unambiguous species and hybrid class identification using F1hybrids bred in the laboratory. Further, a large set of 44 natural populations ofD. cucullata,D. galeataandD. longispina(1715 individuals) as well as their interspecific hybrids were genotyped to validate the discriminatory power of different marker combinations. Species delineation using microsatellite multilocus genotypes produced reliable results for all three studied species using assignment tests.Daphnia galeata × cucullatahybrid detection was limited due to three loci exhibitingD. cucullata‐specific null alleles, which most likely are caused by differences in primer‐binding sites of parental species. Overall, discriminatory power in hybrid detection was improved when a subset of markers was identified that amplifies equally well in both species.
Board Governance in Canadian Universities
Authors: Lilian Chan Y. , William Richardson A.
Published: April 2012

In response to increasing fiscal pressure, Canadian universities have turned towards managerialism, that is, applying managerial tools of business with the objectives of improving operating efficiency, raising the institution's marketability, and generating commercial revenue. In addition to employing the services of professional administrators to enhance the institution's economic performance, universities appear to be switching from a collegial model of shared governance to a corporate model of governance. An objective of this exploratory study is to examine the current state of board governance in Canadian universities. Results of a survey from 133 board members of 28 universities indicate, by and large, that board members seem to have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The boards are involved in setting strategic directions, goals, and objectives, and are making operating and capital resource allocation decisions. They are also monitoring the performance of the university and the president, and are involved in recruiting, succession planning, and determining the president's compensation package. The respondents report that the board committee structure and the support provided to board members allow them to discharge their responsibilities as board members properly. There is, however, room for improvement, especially in the board's participation in defining and reviewing the institution's strategic directions, plans, goals, and objectives, as well as monitoring the performance of the university and senior administrators. Other areas for possible improvement include continuing education on matters within the board's purview as well as providing better information for decision making to board members.
Evaluating Constructive Lease Capitalization and Off‐Balance‐Sheet Financing: An Instructional Case with FedEx and UPS
Authors: Duke Joanne C. , Franz David , Hsieh Su‐Jane
Published: April 2012

This case illustrates the effects of the proposed new lease standard by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board on existing outstanding operating leases. Specifically, the case examines the effects of the proposal that all firms report existing operating leases as capital leases upon the initial adoption of the proposed standard. By applying a constructive capitalization model to two firms who rely on operating leases for financing, FedEx and UPS, we found that both companies would have to record billions of dollars of liabilities that had only appeared in the footnotes of their financial statements under the current lease standards. In addition, the firms would experience a decline in retained earnings and key financial ratios, such as the debt‐to‐equity, return‐on‐assets, and interest coverage ratios, by reporting operating leases as capital leases under the new proposed standard. Furthermore, the magnitude of the lease capitalization impact is much smaller for UPS than for FedEx.
On the Advantage of Quantity Leadership When Outsourcing Production to a Competitive Contract Manufacturer
Authors: Wang Yulan , Niu Baozhuang , Guo Pengfei
Published: April 2012

This study investigates a supply chain comprising an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a contract manufacturer (CM), in which the CM acts as both upstream partner and downstream competitor to the OEM. The two parties can engage in one of three Cournot competition games: a simultaneous game, a sequential game with the OEM as the Stackelberg leader, and a sequential game with the CM as the Stackelberg leader. On the basis of these three basic games, this study investigates the two parties' Stackelberg leadership/followership decisions. When the outsourcing quantity and wholesale price are exogenously given, either party may prefer Stackelberg leadership or followership. For example, when the wholesale price or the proportion of production outsourced to the CM is lower than a threshold value, both parties prefer Stackelberg leadership and, consequently, play a simultaneous game in the consumer market. When the outsourcing quantity and wholesale price are decision variables, the competitive CM sets a wholesale price sufficiently low to allow both parties to coexist in the market, and the OEM outsources its entire production to this CM. This study also examines the impact of the supply chain parties' bargaining power on contract outcomes by considering a wholesale price that is determined via the generalized Nash bargaining scheme, finding a Stackelberg equilibrium to be sustained when the CM's degree of bargaining power is great and the non‐competitive CM's wholesale price is high.
Composite Circular Plates With Residual Tensile Stress Undergoing Large Deflections
Authors: Homeijer Brian , Griffin Benjamin A. , Williams Matthew D. , Sankar Bhavani V. , Sheplak Mark
Published: April 2012

Many micromachined electroacoustic devices use thin plates in conjunction with electrical components to measure acoustic signals. Composite layers are needed for electrical passivation, moisture barriers, etc. The layers often contain residual stresses introduced during the fabrication process. Accurate models of the composite plate mechanics are crucial for predicting and optimizing device performance. In this paper, the von Kármán plate theory is implemented for a transversely isotropic, axisymmetric plate with in-plane tensile stress and uniform transverse pressure loading. A numerical solution of the coupled force-displacement nonlinear differential equations is found using an iterative technique. The results are verified using finite element analysis. This paper contains a study of the effects of tensile residual stresses on the displacement field and examines the transition between linear and nonlinear behavior. The results demonstrate that stress stiffening in the composite plate delays the onset of nonlinear deflections and decreases the mechanical sensitivity. In addition, under high stress the plate behavior transitions to that of a membrane and becomes insensitive to the composite nature of the plate. The results suggest a tradeoff between mechanical sensitivity and linearity.
General Representations of Polynomial Elastic Fields
Authors: Wang Min-Zhong , Xu Bai-Xiang , Zhao Ying-Tao
Published: April 2012

For hybrid finite elements based, for example, on complementary energy functional, polynomial trial functions of stress fields are required. Systematic schemes are given for the 2D and 3D elasticity, respectively. For 2D problems, the paper shows that there are maximal four independent polynomials for the nth order homogeneous polynomial Airy stress functions: two for the first order, three for the second order, and four for the nth order (n not less than 3). For 3D problems, there are 3(2n + 1) independent polynomials for the nth order homogeneous polynomial displacement. The corresponding stress field can be given directly. As examples, explicit expressions of the corresponding independent polynomials are listed: up to the tenth order for the 2D case and up to the third order for the 3D case.
The Role and Implications of Bassanite as a Stable Precursor Phase to Gypsum Precipitation
Authors: Van Driessche A. E. S. , Benning L. G. , Rodriguez-Blanco J. D. , Ossorio M. , Bots P. , García-Ruiz J. M.
Published: April 2012

Roundabout Gypsum

Calcium sulfates are a common but perhaps underappreciated group of minerals used in a number of natural and industrial processes. In many ways, these crystals precipitate from solution in the same way that most other aqueous minerals form; however, mounting evidence suggests that different, unexplored mechanisms may be at work.

Van Driessche
et al.

(p.
69
; see the cover) performed high-resolution microscopy of the most common calcium sulfate mineral, gypsum, at various points along time-resolved, fast-quenching growth experiments. The images reveal that gypsum particles actually start out as crystalline nanoparticles of another mineral, bassanite, which then self-assemble into well-ordered nanorods. Finally, the nanorods transform into gypsum following a hydration reaction. The observation that the reaction pathway occurs below the solubility limit of the intermediate phase has wide-ranging implications for biomineralization processes and may provide ways to prevent fouling on the surfaces of desalination membranes.
U.S. Agencies to Start Screening Biomedical Proposals for Dual Use
Authors: Malakoff David
Published: April 2012

A government-wide committee last week quietly released new rules that require federal agencies to systematically screen funding proposals for "dual use research of concern."
Updated Review Finds Little U.S. Military Risk in Nuclear Test Ban
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: April 2012

According to the U.S. National Academies, there is no technical reason why the United States should not sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
A Week in Stockholm
Authors: Bhattacharjee Yudhijit
Published: April 2012

For the rival teams whose discovery of dark energy had transformed scientists' picture of the universe, the 2011 Nobel festivities were a flurry of jubilation, disappointment, and one-upmanship.
Multicenter Evaluation of the Staphylococcus QuickFISH Method for Simultaneous Identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Directly from Blood Culture Bottles in Less than 30 Minutes
Authors: Deck Melissa K. , Anderson Erica S. , Buckner Rebecca J. , Colasante Georgia , Coull James M. , Crystal Benjamin , Latta Phyllis Della , Fuchs Martin , Fuller Deanna , Harris Will , Hazen Kevin , Klimas Lisa L. , Lindao Daniel , Meltzer Michelle C. , Morgan Margie , Shepard Janeen , Stevens Sharon , Wu Fann , Fiandaca Mark J.
Published: April 2012

A novel rapid peptide nucleic acid fluorescence
in situ
hybridization (FISH) method,
Staphylococcus Quick
FISH, for the direct detection of
Staphylococcus
species from positive blood culture bottles was evaluated in a multicenter clinical study. The method utilizes a microscope slide with predeposited positive- and negative-control organisms and a self-reporting 15-min hybridization step, which eliminates the need for a wash step. Five clinical laboratories tested 722 positive blood culture bottles containing Gram-positive cocci in clusters. The sensitivities for detection of
Staphylococcus aureus
and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were 99.5% (217/218) and 98.8% (487/493), respectively, and the combined specificity of the assay was 89.5% (17/19). The combined positive and negative predictive values of the assay were 99.7% (696/698) and 70.8% (17/24), respectively. Studies were also performed on spiked cultures to establish the specificity and performance sensitivity of the method.
Staphylococcus Quick
FISH has a turnaround time (TAT) of <30 min and a hands-on time (HOT) of <5 min. The ease and speed of the method have the potential to improve the accuracy of therapeutic intervention by providing
S. aureus
/CoNS identification simultaneously with Gram stain results.
Impact of Results of a Rapid Staphylococcus aureus Diagnostic Test on Prescribing of Antibiotics for Patients with Clustered Gram-Positive Cocci in Blood Cultures
Authors: Davies Jane , Gordon Claire L. , Tong Steven Y. C. , Baird Robert W. , Davis Joshua S.
Published: April 2012

In tropical northern Australia, approximately 20% of
Staphylococcus aureus
bacteremia is caused by methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). We prospectively evaluated the impact on clinician antibiotic prescribing of the results obtained from performing the GeneXpert MRSA/SA test on 151 positive blood cultures with clustered Gram-positive cocci. The GeneXpert result led to earlier appropriate prescription of vancomycin for 54% of patients with MRSA; 25% of patients avoided vancomycin, and 16% of patients had all antibiotics ceased.
A NUMERICAL STUDY ON PREMIXED MICROCOMBUSTION BY LATTICE BOLTZMANN METHOD
Authors: TIAN ZHIWEI , TAN YUNLIANG , CHEN SHENG
Published: April 2012

Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has made great progress in the last decade, and its application became wider and wider. In this paper, based on our former combustion LBM model on the macroscale, we attempt to extend it into premixed microcombustion simulation. Considering the external heat losses in microcombustion, the second-order implicit scheme for boundary condition treatment was adopted in our LBM model. Numerical tests have proved that its accuracy and stability were suitable. Furthermore, planar microcombustion with backward-facing step was also studied in order to show its different performances and improvement, which are compared with microcombustor without back step.
HAMILTONIAN BF THEORY AND PROJECTED BORROMEAN RINGS
Authors: CONTRERAS ERNESTO , DÍAZ ADALBERTO , LEAL LORENZO
Published: April 2012

It is shown that the canonical formulation of the Abelian BF theory in D = 3 allows to obtain topological invariants associated to curves and points in the plane. The method consists on finding the Hamiltonian on-shell of the theory coupled to external sources with support on curves and points in the spatial plane. We explicitly calculate a nontrivial invariant that could be seen as a "projection" of the Milnor's link invariant [Formula: see text], and as such, it measures the entanglement of generalized (or projected) Borromeans Rings in the Euclidean plane.