bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Pre‐Selected Autochthonous Starter Cultures on the Flavor Quality of Iberian Dry‐Fermented “Salchichón” Sausage with Different Ripening Processes
Authors: Casquete Rocío , Martín Alberto , Benito María José , Ruiz‐Moyano Santiago , Nevado Francisco Pérez , Córdoba María de Guía
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact on flavor quality of 2 autochthonous starter cultures in the manufacture of Iberian dry‐fermented “sálchichón.” A total of 2 strains of Pediococcus acidilactici (MS200 and MS198) were combined individually with a strain of Staphylococcus vitulus (RS34) to obtain 2 starter cultures: P200S34 and P198S34. The ability of both starter cultures to implant during 2 different manufacturing procedures of “salchichón” was evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Changes due to starter culture inoculations on volatile compounds were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and the impact on flavor quality evaluated by sensorial analysis. The implantation of starter cultures was adequate and did not significantly modify the flavor of the traditional Iberian dry‐fermented “salchichón,” while modulating the volatile compound profile with respect to that found in sausages with wild microbial populations. The influence of the starter cultures studied was more evident in the shorter sausage processing time. P198S34 was related with the increase in some volatile compounds deriving from lipid degradation. P200S34 contributed to the formation of several volatile compounds arising from lipid degradation, amino acid catabolism, and microbial esterase activity.

Practical Application:  P200S34 and P198S34 are autochthonous starter cultures for specific use in the processing of Iberian dry‐fermented sausages. The application of these starters allows obtaining Iberian dry‐fermented sausages with sensorial characteristics standardized. It is greatly interesting for processing and marketing industry of these high‐quality meat products.
Essential Oil of Curcuma longa Inhibits Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation
Authors: Lee Kwang‐Hee , Kim Beom‐Su , Keum Ki‐Suk , Yu Hyeon‐Hee , Kim Young‐Hoi , Chang Byoung‐Soo , Ra Ji‐Young , Moon Hae‐Dalma , Seo Bo‐Ra , Choi Na‐Young , You Yong‐Ouk
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  Curcuma longa (C. longa) has been used as a spice in foods and as an antimicrobial in Oriental medicine. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of an essential oil isolated from C. longa on the cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which is an important bacterium in dental plaque and dental caries formation. First, the inhibitory effects of C. longa essential oil on the growth and acid production of S. mutans were tested. Next, the effect of C. longa essential oil on adhesion to saliva‐coated hydroxyapatite beads (S‐HAs) was investigated. C. longa essential oil inhibited the growth and acid production of S. mutans at concentrations from 0.5 to 4 mg/mL. The essential oil also exhibited significant inhibition of S. mutans adherence to S‐HAs at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL. S. mutans biofilm formation was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and safranin staining. The essential oil of C. longa inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilms at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL. The components of C. longa essential oil were then analyzed by GC and GC‐MS, and the major components were α‐turmerone (35.59%), germacrone (19.02%), α‐zingiberene (8.74%), αr‐turmerone (6.31%), trans‐β‐elemenone (5.65%), curlone (5.45%), and β‐sesquiphellandrene (4.73%). These results suggest that C. longa may inhibit the cariogenic properties of S. mutans.
Soybean (Glycine max) Oil Bodies and Their Associated Phytochemicals
Authors: Fisk Ian D. , Gray David A.
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  Soybean oil bodies were isolated from 3 cultivars (Ustie, K98, and Elena) and the occurrence of 2 classes of phytochemicals (tocopherol isoforms and isoflavones) and strength of their association with isolated oil bodies was evaluated. Tocopherol is shown to be closely associated with soybean oil bodies; δ‐tocopherol demonstrated a significantly greater association with oil bodies over other tocopherol isoforms. Isoflavones do not show a significant physical association with oil bodies, although there is some indication of a passive association of the more hydrophobic aglycones during oil body isolation.

Practical Application:  Oil bodies are small droplets of oil that are stored as energy reserves in the seeds of oil seeds, and have the potential to be used as future food ingredients. If oil body suspensions are commercialized on a large scale, knowledge of the association of phytochemicals with oil bodies will be valuable in deciding species of preference and predicting shelf life and nutritional value.
Assessment of Some Australian Red Wines for Price, Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Vintage in Relation to Functional Food Prospects
Authors: Yoo Yung J. , Prenzler Paul D. , Saliba Anthony J. , Ryan Danielle
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  Twenty‐three Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the Mudgee region and thirty‐two Shiraz wines from the Hunter Valley region were analyzed for phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Concentrations of (+)‐catechin, quercetin, and transresveratrol, total phenolic content, and DPPH antioxidant activity varied considerably, both within and between varieties. Individual phenols, total phenols, and antioxidant activity were correlated with price and vintage. Shiraz wines showed positive and significant correlations for catechin and quercetin concentrations with total phenols, antioxidant activity, and vintage; and for total phenols and antioxidant activity with vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon wines showed positive and significant correlations for quercetin concentration with total phenols and antioxidant activity. There was a negative and significant correlation found between price and antioxidant activity for Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Results are discussed in terms of the potential for wine to be considered a functional food.

Practical Application:  We report on potential health benefits (antioxidant activity) of 55 wines typical of 2 geographically close, but distinct, wine regions of Australia. Our results highlight the variability in functional components as an issue that needs further research and consideration in relation to wine as a functional food. The price of studied wines is not reflective of their health functionality, based on antioxidant activities.
Survival of Salmonella Serovars Introduced as a Post‐Aging Contaminant during Storage of Low‐Salt Cheddar Cheese at 4, 10, and 21 °C
Authors: Shrestha Subash , Grieder James A. , McMahon Donald J. , Nummer Brian A.
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  The microbiological stability of low‐salt cheese has not been well documented. This study examined the survival of Salmonella in low‐salt compared to regular salt Cheddar cheese with 2 pH levels. Cheddar cheeses were formulated at 0.7% and 1.8% NaCl (wt/wt) with both low and high‐pH and aged for 12 wk resulting in four treatments: 0.7% NaCl and pH 5.1 (low‐salt and low‐pH); 0.7% NaCl and pH 5.5 (low‐salt and high‐pH); 1.8% NaCl and pH 5.7 (standard‐salt and high‐pH); and 1.8% NaCl and pH 5.3 (standard‐salt and low‐pH). Each treatment was comminuted and inoculated with a 5‐serovar cocktail of Salmonella at a target level of 4 log CFU/g, then divided and incubated at 4, 10 and 21 °C for up to 90, 90, and 30 d, respectively. Salmonella counts decreased by 2.8 to 3.9 log CFU/g in all treatments. In the initial period of survival study, standard‐salt treatments exhibited significantly lower Salmonella counts compared to low‐salt treatments. The pH levels did not exhibit obvious significant effect in the Salmonella survival in low‐salt treatments. Salmonella counts declined gradually regardless of a continuous increase in pH (end pH of 5.3 to 5.9) of low‐salt treatments at all study temperatures. Salmonella counts were reduced faster at 21 °C storage. Although there were significant reductions in Salmonella counts, the treatments demonstrated survival of Salmonella for up to 90 d when stored at 4 or 10 °C and for up to 30 d at 21 °C, the need for good sanitation practices to prevent postmanufacturing cross contamination remains.

Practical Application:  Low‐salt aged Cheddar cheese could not support the growth of inoculated Salmonella and in fact gradual reduction in Salmonella count occurred during storage. Besides being nutritionally better, low or reduced salt Cheddar are safe as their full salt counterparts and that salt may only be a minor food safety hurdle regarding the post‐aging contamination and growth of Salmonella. However, the treatments could not demonstrate complete destruction of Salmonella for up to 90 d when stored at 4 or 10 °C and for up to 30 d at 21 °C, the need for good sanitation practices to prevent postmanufacturing cross‐contamination remains.
Scanning electron microscopy analysis of erythrocytes in thromboembolic ischemic stroke
Authors: SWANEPOEL A. C. , PRETORIUS E.
Published: November 2011

Introduction:  Erythrocytes play an important role in hemostasis and disease conditions. During ischemic stroke, erythrocytes undergo oxidative and proteolytic changes resulting in a changed cellular rheology.

Methods:  Blood samples were obtained from controls and thromboembolic ischemic stroke patients (within 48 h of stroke). The ultrastructure of erythrocytes was compared, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Abnormal morphology included codocytes, knizocytes, stomatocytes, and echinocytes. Percentage of abnormal cells was calculated, and the analyses were performed using the statistical program NCSS with the level of significance set at 0.05. A t‐test was carried out to compare the data from the erythrocyte counts of stroke patients with that of the control subjects.

Results:  Ultrastructural SEM results showed that there are a large percentage of erythrocytes in healthy individuals that do not have a typical discoid shape, when studying the cells using a high magnification electron microscope. Furthermore, analysis showed that variation in shape is so subtle that it is not clearly visible using a typical light microscopy blood smear analysis. Thromboembolic ischemic stroke patients presented with a significant amount of erythrocytes with abnormal morphology.

Conclusion:  We suggest that in healthy individuals, a typical smear would contain several nondiscoid‐shaped erythrocytes, only clearly visible at high magnification. However, thromboembolic ischemic stroke does significantly impact erythorcyte shape, and this change in morphology may result in an impaired microcirculation, as well as impaired oxygen carrying capacity. This changed morphology may further complicate the restoring of homeostasis caused by acute thromboembolic stroke.
Association of Left Ventricular Geometry With Left Atrial Enlargement in Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Patel Dharmendrakumar A. , Lavie Carl J. , Milani Richard V. , Gilliland Yvonne , Shah Sangeeta , Ventura Hector O.
Published: November 2011

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) is a known independent determinant of left atrial (LA) size; however, there is controversy regarding whether the LV geometric patterns are associated with LA enlargement (LAE), a major indicator of diastolic heart failure. The authors evaluated 47,865 patients with preserved ejection fraction to determine the relationship of LV geometry on LAE as determined by LA volume index (LAVi) ≥29 mL/m2. Abnormal LV geometry was identified in 48% and LAE was indentified in 43% with associated higher prevalence of abnormal LV geometry (59% vs 41%, P<.0001). Both LV mass index and relative wall thickness (RWT) were independent determinants of LAE (P<.0001). LAVi and prevalence of LAE differ significantly by LV geometric patterns (P<.0001). In multivariate analysis, abnormal LV geometry patterns, especially eccentric and concentric LVH, were independently associated with LAE. In conclusion, LAE assessed as increased LAVi is strongly associated not only with LV mass index but also with RWT. Furthermore, LAE was independently associated with abnormalities in LV geometry. Congest Heart Fail. 2012;18:4–8. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Application of multiplex PCR approaches for shark molecular identification: feasibility and applications for fisheries management and conservation in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
Authors: CABALLERO S. , CARDEÑOSA D. , SOLER G. , HYDE J.
Published: November 2011

Here we describe the application of new and existing multiplex PCR methodologies for shark species molecular identification. Four multiplex systems (group ID, thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks and miscellaneous shark) were employed with primers previously described and some designed in this study, which allow for species identification after running PCR products through an agarose gel. This system was implemented for samples (bodies and fins) collected from unidentified sharks landed in the port of Buenaventura and from confiscated tissues obtained from illegal fishing around the Malpelo Island Marine Protected Area, Pacific Coast of Colombia. This method has allowed reliable identification, to date, of 407 samples to the genus and/or species levels, most of them (380) identified as the pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus). Another seven samples were identified as scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). This is an easy‐to‐implement and reliable identification method that could even be used locally to monitor shark captures in the main fishing ports of developed and developing countries.
Hegel nach Benjamin: Phänomenologie des Geistes als literarisches Werk1
Authors: Boldyrev Ivan A.
Published: November 2011

Hegel ist als Philosoph des Systems bekannt. Sein System aber unterscheidet sich von denen, die Walter Benjamin in seiner “Erkenntniskritischen Vorrede” zum “Ursprung des deutschen Trauerspiels” kritisierte. Was Hegel avisierte, war nicht ein Netz von Begriffen als neutralen Instrumenten der Weltbeziehung und Welterschließung. Das ist eher das Entfalten seines Systems selbst, das die Welt, die Geschichte, und die Weltgeschichte konstituiert. Dadurch sind wir berechtigt, seine Philosophie als ein performatives Projekt zu analysieren, das in dem Sinne auch zur Literatur gehören kann. Hegels Gedicht “Eleusis” vermittelt uns die immanenten Konflikte und Widersprüchlichkeit seines eigenen Diskurses (das Unaussprechliche auszusprechen) und sanktioniert sich performativ; Phänomenologie des Geistes ist nicht nur eine Galerie von Bildern/Gestalten und eine selbstbehauptende Konstruktion, sondern auch eine Verarbeitung von Hegels eigenen literarischen Erfahrungen, sei es in der Dichtung (“Eleusis”), Tragödie (Antigone‐Übersetzung), oder Formen des Essays/Fragments (“Wer denkt abstrakt?”).
The Racial Ruse: On Blackness and Blackface Comedy in fin‐de‐siècle Germany
Authors: Wipplinger Jonathan
Published: November 2011

This article explores the role of blackface minstrelsy within German culture at the turn of the twentieth century. I argue that blackface's presence in the colonial and global world of the fin de siècle had the effect of forcing a reevaluation and reinterpretation of the very notion of what it meant to be German in modernity. I trace the construction of blackface as a racial ruse within a discursive nexus of psychology, comic theory, and mass culture. After developing a theoretical model for the German reception of blackface, I discuss the function of blackness and blackface within comic theory, in particular the writings of Theodor Lipps and Emile Kraepelin. I then look at how blackness and blackface “comedy” were taken up in the literary realm by Oskar Panizza, whose texts of the 1890s elevate race and racial masquerade to essential components of modern culture. Finally, I conclude by suggesting some ways in which my reading of blackface remains relevant for thinking about race and blackness in Germany today.
Single‐seeded InDel fingerprints in rice: An effective tool for indica–japonica rice classification and evolutionary studies
Authors: LIU Ping , CAI Xing‐Xing , LU Bao‐Rong
Published: November 2011

Abstract  Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), an important cereal crop worldwide, was domesticated from its wild ancestor 8000 years ago. During its long‐term cultivation and evolution under diverse agroecological conditions, Asian cultivated rice has differentiated into indica and japonica subspecies. An effective method is required to identify rice germplasm for its indica and japonica features, which is essential in rice genetic improvements. We developed a protocol that combined DNA extraction from a single rice seed and the insertion/deletion (InDel) molecular fingerprint to determine the indica and japonica features of rice germplasm. We analyzed a set of rice germplasm, including 166 Asian rice varieties, two African rice varieties, 30 accessions of wild rice species, and 42 weedy rice accessions, using the single‐seeded InDel fingerprints (SSIF). The results show that the SSIF method can efficiently determine the indica and japonica features of the rice germplasm. Further analyses revealed significant indica and japonica differentiation in most Asian rice varieties and weedy rice accessions. In contrast, African rice varieties and nearly all the wild rice accessions did not exhibit such differentiation. The pattern of cultivated and wild rice samples illustrated by the SSIF supports our previous hypothesis that indica and japonica differentiation occurred after rice domestication under different agroecological conditions. In addition, the divergent pattern of rice cultivars and weedy rice accessions suggests the possibility of an endoferal origin (from crop) of the weedy rice included in the present study.
Thermodilatometry of Laminated Glass
Authors: Roose Patrice , Van den Bergen Hugues
Published: November 2011

In this report, we describe the application of standard thermodilatometry (TD) as a tool to evaluate the thermal behavior of laminated glass assemblies where two glass layers are bonded together by a polymer interlayer. The measurement of the displacement perpendicular to the plane of the glass multilayer enables to follow the thermal expansion up to the point where interfacial debonding, thermal degradation, or another thermal event takes place. The effect of heating rate has been investigated and a procedure is eventually proposed to estimate the onset temperature at interfacial failure from the TD data. It is also shown that TD measurements of the interlayer along the side of the glass laminate give a sharp signal at interfacial failure. Finally, following the sandwich seal model where it is assumed that, during heating, the constrained interlayer is in compression due to the mismatch in thermal expansivity between the outer glass and the inner polymer layer, we establish the stress–strain behavior of the interlayer up to the debonding temperature. Viscoelastic and structural relaxation of the interlayer are taken into account empirically from modulus and thermal expansion data collected along similar thermal paths.
A topological index theorem for manifolds with corners
Authors: Monthubert Bertrand , Nistor Victor
Published: November 2011

We define an analytic index and prove a topological index theorem for a non-compact manifoldM0with poly-cylindrical ends. Our topological index theorem depends only on the principal symbol, and establishes the equality of the topological and analytical index in the groupK0(C*(M)), whereC*(M) is a canonicalC*-algebra associated to the canonical compactificationMofM0. Our topological index is thus, in general, not an integer, unlike the usual Fredholm index appearing in the Atiyah–Singer theorem, which is an integer. This will lead, as an application in a subsequent paper, to the determination of theK-theory groupsK0(C*(M)) of the groupoidC*-algebra of the manifolds with cornersM. We also prove that an elliptic operatorPonM0has an invertible perturbationP+Rby a lower-order operator if and only if its analytic index vanishes.
Contact homology of good toric contact manifolds
Authors: Abreu Miguel , Macarini Leonardo
Published: November 2011

In this paper we show that any good toric contact manifold has a well-defined cylindrical contact homology, and describe how it can be combinatorially computed from the associated moment cone. As an application, we compute the cylindrical contact homology of a particularly nice family of examples that appear in the work of Gauntlett et al. on Sasaki–Einstein metrics. We show in particular that these give rise to a new infinite family of non-equivalent contact structures on S2×S3 in the unique homotopy class of almost contact structures with vanishing first Chern class.
Robust automatic segmentation of multiple implanted cylindrical gold fiducial markers in cone‐beam CT projections
Authors: Fledelius Walther , Worm Esben , Elstrøm Ulrik V. , Petersen Jørgen B. , Grau Cai , Høyer Morten , Poulsen Per R.
Published: November 2011

Purpose:

Implanted fiducial markers, which are used to correct for day‐to‐day variations, may potentially also be used to correct for intrafraction motion measurements. However, before any treatment can make use of, and react to, the position of the inserted markers they have to be segmented, either manually through expert user intervention or automatically from an imaging system. In the current study, we aimed to establish a robust and autonomous segmentation method for implanted cylindrical gold markers in a single set of projections from a cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods:

Multiple cylindrical gold markers were segmented in the projection images of CBCT scans by five sequential steps. Initially, marker candidates were identified in all projections with a blob detection routine, and then traced in subsequent projections. Traces inconsistent with a 3D marker position were rejected, and the best remaining traces were identified and used for the construction of a 3D marker constellation model, consisting of the size, position and orientation of the markers. Finally, projections of the model were used to generate templates for the final template‐based marker segmentation. Hereby, challenging situations such as overlap of markers and low contrast regions were taken into account. The segmentation method was tested in 63 CBCT scans from 11 patients with 2–4 cylindrical gold markers implanted in the prostate and for 62 CBCT scans from six patients each with 2–3 cylindrical gold markers implanted in the liver and up to two cylindrical markers placed externally on the abdomen. After segmentation all projections of the 125 scans were manually inspected, and a successful segmentation was registered if the segmented position was within the projection of the marker.

Results:

For prostate markers, the segmentation was successful in 99.8% of the projections. For the liver patients, liver markers and external markers were segmented successfully in 99.9 and 99.8% of the projections, respectively. All markers were identified in the 3D marker constellation model. The most common source of segmentation error was low contrast and motion of markers relative to each other, which resulted in a discrepancy between the template and actual projection appearance during marker overlap. Markers were overlapping in 20, 2.7, and 0.1% of the projections for prostate, liver, and external, respectively.

Conclusions:

We have successfully implemented a new method that, without prior knowledge on marker size, position, orientation, and number, autonomously segments cylindrical gold markers from CBCT projections with a high success rate, despite overlap, motion, and low contrast.
An improved model for describing the contrast bolus in perfusion MRI
Authors: Patil Vishal , Johnson Glyn
Published: November 2011

Purpose:

Quantification of perfusion measurements using dynamic, susceptibility‐weighted contrast‐enhanced (DSC) MRI depends on estimating the size and shape of the tracer bolus. Typically, the bolus is described as a gamma variate function (GV) fitted to the bolus portion of tracer concentration time curve (CTC). However, the last point to fit is arbitrary which can lead to considerable variation in the fitted curve in the presence of noise. In this technical note, we present a model which takes into account recirculation explicitly and fits robustly to the entire CTC in the presence of noise.

Methods:

Signal data measurements from ten DSC MRI patients were fitted with our new model and a GV function using four different methods of estimating the end of the bolus. Estimates of the area under the curves (AUC) and first moments (FMs) of the bolus were compared at different noise levels.

Results:

The new model gave errors similar to or smaller than those of the most effective methods for fitting a GV.

Conclusions:

The single compartment recirculation (SCR) model is the most robust fitting technique with respect to noise both for bias and variability.
Four‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4D‐MRI) using image‐based respiratory surrogate: A feasibility study
Authors: Cai Jing , Chang Zheng , Wang Zhiheng , Paul Segars William , Yin Fang‐Fang
Published: November 2011

Purpose:

Four‐dimensional computed tomography (4D‐CT) has been widely used in radiation therapy to assess patient‐specific breathing motion for determining individual safety margins. However, it has two major drawbacks: low soft‐tissue contrast and an excessive imaging dose to the patient. This research aimed to develop a clinically feasible four‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4D‐MRI) technique to overcome these limitations.

Methods:

The proposed 4D‐MRI technique was achieved by continuously acquiring axial images throughout the breathing cycle using fast 2D cine‐MR imaging, and then retrospectively sorting the images by respiratory phase. The key component of the technique was the use of body area (BA) of the axial MR images as an internal respiratory surrogate to extract the breathing signal. The validation of the BA surrogate was performed using 4D‐CT images of 12 cancer patients by comparing the respiratory phases determined using the BA method to those determined clinically using the Real‐time position management (RPM) system. The feasibility of the 4D‐MRI technique was tested on a dynamic motion phantom, the 4D extended Cardiac Torso (XCAT) digital phantom, and two healthy human subjects.

Results:

Respiratory phases determined from the BA matched closely to those determined from the RPM: mean (±SD) difference in phase: −3.9% (±6.4%); mean (±SD) absolute difference in phase: 10.40% (±3.3%); mean (±SD) correlation coefficient: 0.93 (±0.04). In the motion phantom study, 4D‐MRI clearly showed the sinusoidal motion of the phantom; image artifacts observed were minimal to none. Motion trajectories measured from 4D‐MRI and 2D cine‐MRI (used as a reference) matched excellently: the mean (±SD) absolute difference in motion amplitude: −0.3 (±0.5) mm. In the 4D‐XCAT phantom study, the simulated “4D‐MRI” images showed good consistency with the original 4D‐XCAT phantom images. The motion trajectory of the hypothesized “tumor” matched excellently between the two, with a mean (±SD) absolute difference in motion amplitude of 0.5 (±0.4) mm. 4D‐MRI was able to reveal the respiratory motion of internal organs in both human subjects; superior–inferior (SI) maximum motion of the left kidney of Subject #1 and the diaphragm of Subject #2 measured from 4D‐MRI was 0.88 and 1.32 cm, respectively.

Conclusions:

Preliminary results of our study demonstrated the feasibility of a novel retrospective 4D‐MRI technique that uses body area as a respiratory surrogate.
Systematic Analysis of Breast Cancer Morphology Uncovers Stromal Features Associated with Survival
Authors: Beck Andrew H. , Sangoi Ankur R. , Leung Samuel , Marinelli Robert J. , Nielsen Torsten O. , van de Vijver Marc J. , West Robert B. , van de Rijn Matt , Koller Daphne
Published: November 2011

Automated quantification of thousands of morphologic features in microscopic images of breast cancer allows the construction of a robust prognostic model.
Harmonization of Immune Biomarker Assays for Clinical Studies
Authors: van der Burg Sjoerd H. , Kalos Michael , Gouttefangeas Cécile , Janetzki Sylvia , Ottensmeier Christian , Welters Marij J. P. , Romero Pedro , Britten Cedrik M. , Hoos Axel
Published: November 2011

Harmonizing immune assay use in clinical trials could reduce data variability and support immune biomarker development.
C-Path: A Watson-Like Visit to the Pathology Lab
Authors: Rimm David L.
Published: November 2011

Computer-based quantification of tumor morphology has arguably solved the problem of standardized tumor grading.
Genetic Markers of In-Stent Thrombosis
Authors: Lin Richard J.
Published: November 2011

Variants of genes involved in drug metabolism and coagulation can predict the risk of in-stent thrombosis after coronary angiography.
Engineering Connections
Authors: Skelly Christopher
Published: November 2011

Bioengineered blood vessels can connect with host blood vessels after transplantation.
A Monomorphic Haplotype of Chromosome Ia Is Associated with Widespread Success in Clonal and Nonclonal Populations of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Khan Asis , Miller Natalie , Roos David S. , Dubey J. P. , Ajzenberg Daniel , Dardé Marie Laure , Ajioka James W. , Rosenthal Benjamin , Sibley L. David
Published: November 2011

Toxoplasma gondii
is a common parasite of animals that also causes a zoonotic infection in humans. Previous studies have revealed a strongly clonal population structure that is shared between North America and Europe, while South American strains show greater genetic diversity and evidence of sexual recombination. The common inheritance of a monomorphic version of chromosome Ia (referred to as ChrIa*) among three clonal lineages from North America and Europe suggests that inheritance of this chromosome might underlie their recent clonal expansion. To further examine the diversity and distribution of ChrIa, we have analyzed additional strains with greater geographic diversity. Our findings reveal that the same haplotype of ChrIa* is found in the clonal lineages from North America and Europe and in older lineages in South America, where sexual recombination is more common. Although lineages from all three continents harbor the same conserved ChrIa* haplotype, strains from North America and Europe are genetically separate from those in South America, and these respective geographic regions show limited evidence of recent mixing. Genome-wide, array-based profiling of polymorphisms provided evidence for an ancestral flow from particular older southern lineages that gave rise to the clonal lineages now dominant in the north. Collectively, these data indicate that ChrIa* is widespread among nonclonal strains in South America and has more recently been associated with clonal expansion of specific lineages in North America and Europe. These findings have significant implications for the spread of genetic loci influencing transmission and virulence in pathogen populations.

IMPORTANCE
Understanding parasite population structure is important for evaluating the potential spread of pathogenicity determinants between different geographic regions. Examining the genetic makeup of different isolates of
Toxoplasma gondii
from around the world revealed that chromosome Ia is highly homogeneous among lineages that predominate on different continents and within genomes that were otherwise quite divergent. This pattern of recent shared ancestry is highly unusual and suggests that some gene(s) found on this chromosome imparts an unusual fitness advantage that has resulted in its recent spread. Although the basis for the conservation of this particularly homogeneous chromosome is unknown, it may have implications for the transmission of infection and spread of human disease.
The Escherichia coli Protein YfeX Functions as a Porphyrinogen Oxidase, Not a Heme Dechelatase
Authors: Dailey Harry A. , Septer Alecia N. , Daugherty Lauren , Thames Daniel , Gerdes Svetlana , Stabb Eric V. , Dunn Anne K. , Dailey Tamara A. , Phillips John D.
Published: November 2011

The protein YfeX from
Escherichia coli
has been proposed to be essential for the process of iron removal from heme by carrying out a dechelation of heme without cleavage of the porphyrin macrocycle. Since this proposed reaction is unique and would represent the first instance of the biological dechelation of heme, we undertook to characterize YfeX. Our data reveal that YfeX effectively decolorizes the dyes alizarin red and Cibacron blue F3GA and has peroxidase activity with pyrogallal but not guiacol. YfeX oxidizes protoporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin
in vitro
. However, we were unable to detect any dechelation of heme to free porphyrin with purified YfeX or in cellular extracts of
E. coli
overexpressing YfeX. Additionally,
Vibrio fischeri
, an organism that can utilize heme as an iron source when grown under iron limitation, is able to grow with heme as the sole source of iron when its YfeX homolog is absent. Plasmid-driven expression of YfeX in
V. fischeri
grown with heme did not result in accumulation of protoporphyrin. We propose that YfeX is a typical dye-decolorizing peroxidase (or DyP) and not a dechelatase. The protoporphyrin reported to accumulate when YfeX is overexpressed in
E. coli
likely arises from the intracellular oxidation of endogenously synthesized protoporphyrinogen and not from dechelation of exogenously supplied heme. Bioinformatic analysis of bacterial YfeX homologs does not identify any connection with iron acquisition but does suggest links to anaerobic-growth-related respiratory pathways. Additionally, some genes encoding homologs of YfeX have tight association with genes encoding a bacterial cytoplasmic encapsulating protein.

IMPORTANCE
Acquisition of iron from the host during infection is a limiting factor for growth and survival of pathogens. Host heme is the major source of iron in infections, and pathogenic bacteria have evolved complex mechanisms to acquire heme and abstract the iron from heme. Recently Létoffé et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 106:11719–11724, 2009) reported that the protein YfeX from
E. coli
is able to dechelate heme to remove iron and leave an intact tetrapyrrole. This is totally unlike any other described biological system for iron removal from heme and, thus, would represent a dramatically new feature with potentially profound implications for our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis. Given that this reaction has no precedent in biological systems, we characterized YfeX and a related protein. Our data clearly demonstrate that YfeX is not a dechelatase as reported but is a peroxidase that oxidizes endogenous porphyrinogens to porphyrins.
External exercise information provides no immediate additional performance benefit to untrained individuals in time trial cycling
Authors: Williams C A , Bailey S D , Mauger A R
Published: November 2011

Objective

To determine the importance of the provision of external exercise information to the setting of the pacing strategy, in subjects unfamiliar with a cycling task.

Design

Twenty-two healthy, untrained cyclists (VO2max, 50±9 mL−1·kg−1·min−1) were randomly assigned to a control (CON) group or an experimental (EXP) group and two successive 4 km time trials (TT) were performed, separated by a 17 min recovery. The CON group received distance knowledge and distance feedback; the EXP group received neither, but knew that each TT was to be of the same distance

Results

No significant difference in completion time (p>0.05) was observed between the groups for either time to complete TT one (TT1) (CON=443±33 s versus EXP=471±63 s) or time to complete TT two (time trial 2) (CON=461 ±37 s versus EXP=501±94 s). No significant difference in the final RPE was observed between groups. However, a significant interaction for RPE (rating of perceived exertion)×TT in the CON was observed (F7,70=5.32, p<0.05), with significantly higher RPE values in the final kilometre of TT2 (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The lack of any performance improvement in either group, despite the differences in exercise information received, indicates both a reliance on the afferent feedback for setting a pacing strategy and slow learning effect from practice in subjects unfamiliar with the task. The modification in RPE profile observed in the CON, despite no performance improvement, suggests exercise perception based changes may pre-empt work rate based changes and thus not immediately translate to improved performance.
Effects of a multicentre teamwork and communication programme on patient outcomes: results from the Triad for Optimal Patient Safety (TOPS) project
Authors: Auerbach Andrew D , Sehgal Niraj L , Blegen Mary A , Maselli Judith , Alldredge Brian K , Vittinghoff Eric , Wachter Robert M
Published: November 2011

Background

Improving communication between caregivers is an important approach to improving safety.

Objective

To implement teamwork and communication interventions and evaluate their impact on patient outcomes.

Design

A prospective, interrupted time series of a three-phase intervention: a run-in period (phase 1), during which a training programme was given to providers and staff on each unit; phase 2, which focused on unit-based safety teams to identify and address care problems using skills from phase 1; and phase 3, which focused on engaging patients in communication efforts.

Setting

General medical inpatient units at three northern California hospitals.

Patients

Administrative data were collected from all adults admitted to the target units, and a convenience sample of patients interviewed during and after hospitalisation.

Measurements

Readmission, length of stay and patient reports of teamwork, problems with care, and overall satisfaction.

Results

10 977 patients were admitted; 581 patients (5.3% of total sample) were interviewed in hospital, and 313 (2.9% overall, 53.8% of interviewed patients) completed 1-month surveys. No phase of the study was associated with adjusted differences in readmission or length of stay. The phase 2 intervention appeared to be associated with improvement in reports of whether physicians treated them with respect, whether nurses treated them with respect or understood their needs (p<0.05 for all). Interestingly, patients were more likely to perceive that an error took place with their care and agreed less that their caregivers worked well together as a team. No phase had a consistent impact on patient reports of care processes or overall satisfaction.

Limitations

The study lacks direct measures of patient safety.

Conclusions

Efforts to simultaneously improve caregivers' ability to troubleshoot care and enhance communication may improve patients' perception of team functions, but may also increase patients' perception of safety gaps.
Radiographic identification of the equine ventral conchal bulla
Authors: Finnegan C. M. , Townsend N. B. , Barnett T. P. , Barakzai S. Z.
Published: November 2011

Involvement of the ventral conchal sinus (VCS) is an important diagnostic and prognostic feature in cases of the equine sinus disease. The authors aimed to ascertain if the caudo‐dorsal extension of the VCS, the ventral conchal bulla (VCB) is identifiable on plain radiographs of cadaver skulls without sinus disease. Bilateral frontonasal sinus flaps were made in 10 equine cadaver skulls. Plain lateral, lateral oblique and dorso‐ventral radiographs were then obtained followed by the same views taken with stainless steel wire outlining the caudal border of the VCB. Plain radiographs were randomised and blindly evaluated by two observers who marked where they believed the VCB to be positioned. This was then correlated with the true position of the VCB using radiographs with wires in place. The ease of identification of the VCB was classified as ‘easy’ or ‘difficult’. The VCB was correctly identified in 70 per cent of lateral radiographs, but only 45 per cent of lateral oblique radiographs and 17 per cent of dorso‐ventral radiographs. If a clinician was confident that he or she could identify the VCB, they were usually correct. Conversely if the clinician judged VCB identification as ‘difficult’, they usually identified it incorrectly. In the authors' clinical experience, the VCB of horses with sinusitis involving this compartment is more radiologically evident than in clinically normal horses. Knowledge of the normal radiographic anatomy of this structure should aid clinicians in identifying horses with sinusitis affecting the VCS.
Gestational-neonatal iron deficiency suppresses and iron treatment reactivates IGF signaling in developing rat hippocampus
Authors: Tran Phu V. , Fretham Stephanie J. B. , Wobken Jane , Miller Bradley S. , Georgieff Michael K.
Published: November 2011

Gestational-neonatal iron deficiency, a common micronutrient deficiency affecting the offspring of more than 30% of pregnancies worldwide, leads to long-term cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. Preclinical models of gestational-neonatal iron deficiency result in reduced energy metabolism and expression of genes critical for neuronal plasticity and cognitive function, which are associated with a smaller hippocampal volume and abnormal neuronal dendrite growth. Because insulin-like growth factor (IGF) modulates early postnatal cellular growth, differentiation, and survival, we used a dietary-induced rat model to assess the effects of gestational iron deficiency on activity of the IGF system. We hypothesized that gestational iron deficiency attenuates postnatal hippocampal IGF signaling and results in downstream effects that contribute to hippocampal anatomic and functional deficits. At postnatal day (P) 15 untreated gestational-neonatal iron deficiency markedly suppressed hippocampal IGF activation and protein kinase B signaling, and reduced neurogenesis, while elevating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression. Iron treatment beginning at P7 restored IGF signaling, increased neurogenesis, and normalized all parameters by the end of rapid hippocampal differentiation (P30). Expression of the neuron-specific synaptogenesis marker, disc-large homolog 4 ( PSD95), increased more rapidly than the glia-specific myelination marker, myelin basic protein, following iron treatment, suggesting a more robust response to iron therapy in IGF-I-dependent neurons than IGF-II-dependent glia. Collectively, our findings suggest that IGF dysfunction is in part responsible for hippocampal abnormalities in untreated iron deficiency. Early postnatal iron treatment of gestational iron deficiency reactivates the IGF system and promotes neurogenesis and differentiation in the hippocampus during a critical developmental period.
Ghrelin-mediated sympathoinhibition and suppression of inflammation in sepsis
Authors: Cheyuo Cletus , Jacob Asha , Wang Ping
Published: November 2011

Sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to infection, continues to carry a high mortality despite advances in critical care medicine. Elevated sympathetic nerve activity in sepsis has been shown to contribute to early hepatocellular dysfunction and subsequently multiple organ failure, resulting in a poor prognosis, especially in the elderly. Thus, suppression of sympathetic nerve activity represents a novel therapeutic option for sepsis. Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide shown to inhibit sympathetic nerve activity and inflammation in animal models of tissue injury. Age-related ghrelin hyporesponsiveness has also been shown to exacerbate sepsis. However, the mechanistic relationship between ghrelin-mediated sympathoinhibition and suppression of inflammation remains poorly understood. This review assesses the therapeutic potential of ghrelin in sepsis in the context of the neuroanatomical and molecular basis of ghrelin-mediated suppression of inflammation through inhibition of central sympathetic outflow.
Rifaximin Is Effective for the Treatment ofClostridium difficile—Associated Diarrhea: Results of an Open-Label Pilot Study
Authors: Rubin David T. , Sohi Sunana , Glathar Matthew , Thomas Tojo , Yadron Nicole , Surma Bonnie L.
Published: November 2011

Objectives. This open-label trial assessed the efficacy and safety of rifaximin as first-line therapy in hospitalized patients withClostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD).Methods. We enrolled thirteen patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of CDAD characterized by ≥3 unformed stools/day and positiveC. difficiletoxin assay. Those patients received rifaximin 400 mg three times daily for 10 days. Resolution of symptoms, repeat assay 10 days after treatment, and followup for recurrence were assessed.Results. Eight patients completed the study, and all reported symptom resolution during treatment. Mean time to last unformed stool was 132 h ± 42.5 h. Seven patients had no relapse by week 2 and in longer followup (median 162 days). One patient had recurrent CDAD during a repeat hospitalization.Conclusions. Rifaximin was effective and safe as first-line treatment for CDAD and did not result in recurrence in most patients.
What Role for Angiogenesis in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia?
Authors: Schneider P. , Dubus I. , Gouel F. , Legrand E. , Vannier J. P. , Vasse M.
Published: November 2011

The role of angiogenesis in acute leukaemia has been discussed since the cloning of the gene ofvascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) from the acute myelogenous leukemia cell line (HL60) and, thereafter, when the first studies reported increased bone marrow vascularity and elevation of angiogenic cytokines in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). VEGF andbasic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) are the major proangiogenic cytokines that have been studied, and evaluation of their prognostic impact in childhood ALL has been reported in several studies, though with controversial results. The antiangiogenic response, contributing to the angiogenic balance, has scarcely been reported. The origin of the factors, their prognostic value, and their relevance as good markers of what really happens in the bone marrow are discussed in this paper. The place of antiangiogenic drugs in ALL has to be defined in the global treatment strategy.
Effect of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy on Somatostatin Receptor Status and Glucose Metabolism in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Intraindividual Comparison of Ga-68 DOTANOC PET/CT and F-18 FDG PET/CT
Authors: Oh Sowon , Prasad Vikas , Lee Dong Soo , Baum R. P.
Published: November 2011

The heterogeneous nature of the neuroendocrine tumors (NET) makes it challenging to find one uniformly applicable management protocol which is especially true for diagnosis. The discovery of the overexpression of somatostatin receptors (SMS-R) on neuroendocrine tumor cells lead to the generalized and rapid acceptance of radiolabeled somatostatin receptor analogs for staging and restaging of NET as well as for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRNT) using Y-90 and Lu-177 DOTATATE/DOTATOC. In this present work we tried to look in to the effect of PRRNT on the glucose metabolism assessed by F-18 FDG PET/CT and SMS-R density assessed by Ga-68 DOTANOC PET/CT. We observed a complex relationship between the somatostatin receptor expression and glucose metabolism with only 56% (77/138) of the lesions showing match, while the others show mismatch between the receptor status and metabolism. The match between receptor expression and glucose metabolism increases with the grade of NET. In grade 3 NET, there is a concurrence between the changes in glucose metabolism and somatostatin receptor expression. PRRNT was found to be more effective in lesions with higher receptor expression.
Constancy of ϕ¯‐Holomorphic Sectional Curvature for an Indefinite Generalized g · f · f‐Space Form
Authors: Lee Jae Won
Published: November 2011

Bonome et al., 1997, provided an algebraic characterization for an indefinite Sasakian manifold to reduce to a space of constant ϕ‐holomorphic sectional curvature. In this present paper, we generalize the same characterization for indefinite g · f · f‐space forms.