bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prolonged Bradycardia, Asystole and Outcome of High Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Authors: Shaikh Nissar , Raza Ali , Rahman Atur , Shabana Adel , Malstrome Faisal , Al-Sulaiti Ghaniem
Published: April 2015

High spinal cord injury (HSCI) is one of the devastating traumatic injuries. Majority of these patients are young male and 93% will have major neurological disabilities. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence, risk and precipitating factors for prolonged bradycardia in the HSCI patients.

Patients and methods

All patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of tertiary hospital, with spinal cord injury above level of dorsal (D4) were enrolled in this study prospectively. Patient's demographic data, mechanism, level and type of spinal injury, associated injuries, injury severity score (ISS), spinal shock, vasopressors used, time of occurrence of bradycardia; precipitating, risk factors and outcome were recorded.

Results

During the study period, total 138 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit with HSCI. Majority of patients were male. The most frequently associated injury was skeletal fractures (38.4%). Pneumonia in 56 (41%) was the most common complication. Forty-five (33%) patients had prolonged bradycardia; 53.4% had cardiac asystole, 29 (21%) patients had bradycardia during endotracheal suctioning, where, as 27 (20%) patients developed bradycardia at positioning. HSCI patients with prolonged bradycardia had significantly higher, ISS score, ICU and hospitals stay. Multivariate analysis revealed that hypotension on admission; pneumonia and tracheostomy were risk factors for the development of prolonged bradycardia.

Conclusion

Prolonged bradycardia was associated with significantly higher incidence of asystole. Endotracheal suctioning and positioning of HSCI patients were provocative factors for prolonged bradycardia. Hypotension on admission, pneumonia and tracheostomy were the risk factors for development of prolonged bradycardia.

How to cite this article

Shaikh N, Raza A, Rahman A, Shabana A, Malstrome F, Al-Sulaiti G. Prolonged Bradycardia, Asystole and Outcome of High Spinal Cord Injury Patients. Panam J Trauma Crit Care Emerg Surg 2014;3(3):87-92.
Modeling the feedback between aerosol and meteorological variables in the atmospheric boundary layer during a severe fog–haze event over the North China Plain
Authors: Gao Y. , Zhang M. , Liu Z. , Wang L. , Wang P. , Xia X. , Tao M. , Zhu L.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The feedback between aerosol and meteorological variables in the atmospheric boundary layer over the North China Plain (NCP) is analyzed by conducting numerical experiments with and without the aerosol direct and indirect effects via a coupled meteorology and aerosol/chemistry model (WRF-Chem). The numerical experiments are performed for the period of 2–26 January 2013, during which a severe fog–haze event (10–15 January 2013) occurred, with the simulated maximum hourly surface PM2.5 concentration of ~600 ug m−3, minimum atmospheric visibility of ~0.3 km, and 10–100 hours of simulated hourly surface PM2.5 concentration above 300 ug m−3 over NCP. A comparison of model results with aerosol feedback against observations indicates that the model can reproduce the spatial and temporal characteristics of temperature, relative humidity (RH), wind, surface PM2.5 concentration, atmospheric visibility, and aerosol optical depth reasonably well. Analysis of model results with and without aerosol feedback shows that during the fog–haze event aerosols lead to a significant negative radiative forcing of −20 to −140 W m−2 at the surface and a large positive radiative forcing of 20–120 W m−2 in the atmosphere and induce significant changes in meteorological variables with maximum changes during 09:00–18:00 local time (LT) over urban Beijing and Tianjin and south Hebei: the temperature decreases by 0.8–2.8 °C at the surface and increases by 0.1–0.5 °C at around 925 hPa, while RH increases by about 4–12% at the surface and decreases by 1–6% at around 925 hPa. As a result, the aerosol-induced equivalent potential temperature profile change shows that the atmosphere is much more stable and thus the surface wind speed decreases by up to 0.3 m s−1 (10%) and the atmosphere boundary layer height decreases by 40–200 m (5–30%) during the daytime of this severe fog–haze event. Owing to this more stable atmosphere during 09:00–18:00, 10–15~January, compared to the surface PM2.5 concentration from the model results without aerosol feedback, the average surface PM2.5 concentration increases by 10–50 μg m−3 (2–30%) over Beijing, Tianjin, and south Hebei and the maximum increase of hourly surface PM2.5 concentration is around 50 (70%), 90 (60%), and 80 μg m−3 (40%) over Beijing, Tianjin, and south Hebei, respectively. Although the aerosol concentration is maximum at nighttime, the mechanism of feedback, by which meteorological variables increase the aerosol concentration most, occurs during the daytime (around 10:00 and 16:00 LT). The results suggest that aerosol induces a more stable atmosphere, which is favorable for the accumulation of air pollutants, and thus contributes to the formation of fog–haze events.
A solar signal in lower stratospheric water vapour?
Authors: Schieferdecker T. , Lossow S. , Stiller G. P. , von Clarmann T.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. A merged time series of stratospheric water vapour built from HALOE and MIPAS data between 60° S and 60° N and 15 to 30 km and covering the years 1992 to 2012 was analyzed by multivariate linear regression including an 11 year solar cycle proxy. Lower stratospheric water vapour was found to reveal a phase-shifted anti-correlation with the solar cycle, with lowest water vapour after solar maximum. The phase shift is composed of an inherent constant time lag of about 2 years and a second component following the stratospheric age of air. The amplitudes of the water vapour response are largest close to the tropical tropopause (up to 0.35 ppmv) and decrease with altitude and latitude. Including the solar cycle proxy in the regression results in linear trends of water vapour being negative over the full altitude/latitude range, while without the solar proxy positive water wapour trends in the lowermost stratosphere were found. We conclude from these results that a solar signal generated at the tropical tropopause is imprinted on the stratospheric water vapour abundances and transported to higher altitudes and latitudes via the Brewer–Dobson circulation. Hence it is concluded that the tropical tropopause temperature at the final dehydration point of air is also governed to some degree by the solar cycle. The negative water vapour trends obtained when considering the solar cycle impact on water vapour abundances can solve the water vapour conundrum of increasing stratospheric water vapour abundances at constant or even decreasing tropopause temperatures.
Phytoplankton dynamics in contrasting early stage North Atlantic spring blooms: composition, succession, and potential drivers
Authors: Daniels C. J. , Poulton A. J. , Esposito M. , Paulsen M. L. , Bellerby R. , St John M. , Martin A. P.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The spring bloom is a key annual event in the phenology of pelagic ecosystems, making a major contribution to the oceanic biological carbon pump through the production and export of organic carbon. However, there is little consensus as to the main drivers of spring bloom formation, exacerbated by a lack of in situ observations of the phytoplankton community composition and its evolution during this critical period. We investigated the dynamics of the phytoplankton community structure at two contrasting sites in the Iceland and Norwegian basins during the early stage (25 March–25 April) of the 2012 North Atlantic spring bloom. The plankton composition and characteristics of the initial stages of the bloom were markedly different between the two basins. The Iceland Basin (ICB) appeared well mixed down to >400 m, yet surface chlorophyll a (0.27–2.2 mg m−3) and primary production (0.06–0.66 mmol C m−3 d−1) were elevated in the upper 100 m. Although the Norwegian Basin (NWB) had a persistently shallower mixed layer (<100 m), chlorophyll a (0.58–0.93 mg m−3) and primary production (0.08–0.15 mmol C m−3 d−1) remained lower than in the ICB, with picoplankton (<2 μm) dominating chlorophyll a biomass. The ICB phytoplankton composition appeared primarily driven by the physicochemical environment, with periodic events of increased mixing restricting further increases in biomass. In contrast, the NWB phytoplankton community was potentially limited by physicochemical and/or biological factors such as grazing. Diatoms dominated the ICB, with the genus Chaetoceros (1–166 cells mL−1) being succeeded by Pseudo-nitzschia (0.2–210 cells mL−1). However, large diatoms (>10 μm) were virtually absent (<0.5 cells mL−1) from the NWB, with only small nano-sized (<5 μm) diatoms (i.e. Minidiscus spp.) present (101–600 cells mL−1). We suggest microzooplankton grazing, potentially coupled with the lack of a seed population of bloom-forming diatoms, was restricting diatom growth in the NWB, and that large diatoms may be absent in NWB spring blooms. Despite both phytoplankton communities being in the early stages of bloom formation, different physicochemical and biological factors controlled bloom formation at the two sites. If these differences in phytoplankton composition persist, the subsequent spring blooms are likely to be significantly different in terms of biogeochemistry and trophic interactions throughout the growth season, with important implications for carbon cycling and organic matter export.
Agenesis of all third molars in two half siblings
Authors: Kaufer Jamie A
Published: April 2015

Tooth agenesis is one of the most common dental anomalies and is influenced by factors including patient genetics. Although there are several specific genes associated with certain patterns of agenesis, there does not seem to be a genetic pattern identified to date that is associated with isolated complete third molar agenesis. This report presents two half-siblings who both express complete agenesis of third molars despite the fact that their shared parent does not express the same phenotype. The case discussion focuses on addressing the potential genetic possibilities including autosomal dominant inheritance and variable expressivity of a mutation.  There remains an uncertainty to the exact gene involved. Potential options include WNT10A and PAX9. The affected individuals are not needing extractions or experiencing complications due to the presence of third molars.  However, the concern remains that there is the potential for more severe expression of the mutation in future generations.
Pre-Hospital Medications in Total Hip Arthroplasty: Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes
Authors: Dietrich Michael , Zingg Patrick O. , Egbring Marco , Kamath Atul F. , Dora Claudio
Published: April 2015

Introduction

The influence of co-morbidities on complication rates and length of hospitalisation after surgery is well recognised. Clinical instruments predicting this influence, are of increasing interest. We sought to determine whether a count of a patient's preoperative pharmaceuticals would be associated to postoperative outcomes.

Material and Methods

In this retrospective, consecutive case series, 668 patients undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) were analysed. Age, gender, BMI, ASA-classification, nicotine or alcohol abuse, and the number and type of medications were documented.

Results

Mean age was 63 years (18-94), 53% were females. A total of 60 (8.9%) local and 19 (2.8%) systemic complications occurred during hospital stay. A total of 11 (1.6%) patients died, while 49 (7.3%) local complications occurred during the first postoperative year. Length of hospital stay, blood transfusions, and morbidity were found to be significantly related to the quantity of medications (p<0.001). While the risk of an extended hospital stay (>7 days) increased by a factor of 1.15 (CI: 1.08-1.22) with each medication, the risk of experiencing a complication within the first postoperative year was 1.19 times (CI: 1.07-1.29) for each additional medication. Type of medication also influenced morbidity: the odds ratio was 1.89 (CI: 1.05-3.41) for platelet inhibiting agents and 4.07 (CI: 1.96-8.42) for oral anticoagulants in early morbidity, which increased to 6.05 (CI:2.92-12.53) in 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions

The investigation illustrated the significant influence of the number and/or type of medication on complications, morbidity and prolonged hospital stay. This predictive tool may be useful, for physicians and non-health professionals, in estimating particular outcomes after elective THA.
The Population Attributable Risk of Nutrition and Lifestyle on Hip Fractures
Authors: Pripp Are Hugo , Dahl Ola E.
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Norway is among the countries with the highest incidence of hip fractures, and how to reduce this incidence is a major public health concern.

Materials and Methods

The population attributable risk (PAR), which measures the portion of hip fracture incidences in the population that can be attributed to an exposure if there is a causal relationship, was assessed for the exposure to excessive alcohol consumption, being underweight, low calcium from dairy products, low physical activity and current tobacco smoking. The risk ratio (RR) of the exposures summarized from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as well as their prevalence from national statistics or Norwegian population-based studies, were used to estimate PARs.

Results

Low physical activity and current tobacco smoking had the highest RR for hip fractures, with 1.65 (95% CI 1.50-1.81) and 1.52 (95% CI 1.41-1.63). Low physical activity had the highest prevalence in the population (27.4%) and the highest PAR (0.151), followed by tobacco smoking (PAR = 0.081) and excessive alcohol consumption (PAR = 0.01). By comparison, being underweight and low calcium from dairy products had negligible PAR estimates.

Conclusions

From a public health perspective, increased daily physical activity is the most promising intervention to reduce the incidence of hip fractures. Reduced smoking and alcohol consumption are of relevance, but other health risks related to these exposures are of greater public health concern. Low body weight and nutritional calcium from dairy products seem to be of less importance.
Review of Transposed Basilic Vein Access for Hemodialysis
Authors: Akoh Jacob A. , Paraskeva Panoraia P.
Published: April 2015

Background

There is ongoing debate about the use of transposed basilic vein (TBV) fistula and the choice between it and prosthetic arteriovenous graft (AVG). This paper reviews the available literature relating to TBV fistula in terms of surgical technique, patency rates, complications, access survival and compares it with prosthetic AVG for hemodialysis (HD).

Methods

Review of English language publications on TBV during the last two decades.

Findings

The rate of fistula maturation was higher in the two-stage group, although the mean diameter of the basilic vein was smaller. Dialysis via central venous catheters at time of surgery was most prevalent in patients undergoing staged procedures—14% in one-stage TBV and 43% in two-stage TBV. Several authors report 1-year cumulative patency rate of 47% to 96% and 59% to 90% for TBV and AVG, respectively. TBV provides a more cost-effective option and should be considered the next choice when primary autogenous fistulae are not possible, whereas AVGs are easier to create, can be punctured earlier and have a greater reintervention rate if the access fails.

Conclusions

This analysis shows that TBV has several advantages over AVG and provides a valuable access for HD but raises the need for a comparative trial between TBV and the newer generation AVGs. There is no clear superiority of the one-stage over the two-stage procedure.
PIK3CA Mutations in Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Shenoy Santosh
Published: April 2015

Aims and Background

PIK3CA mutations involving exons 9 and 20 are among the most common aberrations seen in human malignancies. The identification of PIK3CA mutations in small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is sparse. There is some evidence that tumors with this mutation may be a good target for inhibitors of the PI3K pathway.

Case report

We report an exon 9 (G1624A: E542K) hot spot mutation in a 69-year-old man with sporadic jejunal cancer (T3, NI). A systemic search was made for other reports using Medline/Embase along with Sangers Institute Cancer Genome Project database. We analyzed and describe this mutation in these patients, including one of ours.

Results and Conclusion

A total of 8 tumor samples with confirmed somatic mutations out of a total of 86 samples were noted: rate 9.3% (95% confidence interval 4.5% to 17.5%). Overall, PIK3CA mutations were more common in duodenum (62.5%) and located most commonly on exon 9. The significance of PIK3CA mutation in SBA is unclear. Further studies on mutation analysis in larger cohorts with SBA are in order to identify and confirm relationships between these mutations and various clinical and pathologic variables such as age, lymph node status, distant metastasis, stage, and progression-free survival and association with other gene mutations.
Transformation to Small Cell Lung Cancer as an Acquired Resistance Mechanism in EGFR-mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report of Complete Response to Etoposide and Cisplatin
Authors: Hwang Ki-Eun , Jung Jae-Wan , Oh Su-Jin , Park Mi-Jeong , Shon Young-Jun , Choi Keum-Ha , Jeong Eun-Taik , Kim Hak-Ryul
Published: April 2015

First-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who were selected on the basis of EGFR mutations have improved the progression-free survival with acceptable toxicity compared to standard chemotherapy. However, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs has been identified as an important clinical problem. Transformation to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rare mechanism of resistance to EGFR-TKI therapy. We describe the case of a 61-year-old man who presented transformation from adenocarcinoma to SCLC as the manifestation of acquired resistance after EGFR-TKI treatment. He underwent chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin and achieved a complete response.
Statistical Tests in Medical Research: Traditional Methods vs. Multivariate Npc Permutation Tests
Authors: Arboretti Rosa , Bordignon Paolo , Corain Livio , Palermo Giuseppe , Pesarin Fortunato , Salmaso Luigi
Published: April 2015

Within medical research, a useful statistical tool is based on hypotheses testing in terms of the so-called null, that is the treatment has no effect, and alternative hypotheses, that is the treatment has some effects. By controlling the risks of wrong decisions, empirical data are used in order to possibly reject the null hypotheses in favour of the alternative, so that demonstrating the efficacy of a treatment of interest. The multivariate permutation tests, based on the nonparametric combination – NPC method, provide an innovative, robust and effective hypotheses testing solution to many real problems that are commonly encountered in medical research when multiple end-points are observed. This paper discusses the various approaches to hypothesis testing and the main advantages of NPC tests, which consist in the fact that they require much less stringent assumptions than traditional statistical tests. Moreover, the related results may be extended to the reference population even in case of selection-bias, that is non-random sampling. In this work, we review and discuss some basic testing procedures along with the theoretical and practical relevance of NPC tests showing their effectiveness in medical research. Within the non-parametric methods, NPC tests represent the current “frontier” of statistical research, but already widely available in the practice of analysis of clinical data.
Regulatory and Skills Requirements for Higher Education in the Philippines
Authors: Adeyemo Kolawole Samuel
Published: April 2015

The provision of public resources to manage the expansion of the higher education system in the Philippines has been inadequate, and this has given rise to many private providers entering the HE domain. The proper regulation of higher education in the country is important if the Philippines is to respond to the challenge of producing the skills it needs for economic development. A Commission on Higher Education document of 2012 reiterated the mandate given to all higher education institutions in the Philippines to build a quality nation and to contribute to its global competitiveness. This mandate includes the need for the higher education system to produce graduates with analytical and problem-solving skills, among others. Perhaps the best one can hope for is that policies of this kind can provide an overarching framework and a general context for the development and strengthening of higher education institutions in order to make them relevant to the needs of the society in which they are situated.
Europe of the Future and the Future of Europe: The Innovation/Austerity Choice
Authors: Etzkowitz Henry , Etzkowitz Alex
Published: April 2015

Although innovation policy usually follows the business cycle, it is both desirable and possible to reverse this trend. Perhaps the most telling commentary on contemporary Europe is the silence that met the presentation, at the recent European Parliament Innovation Conference, of the Chinese R&D spending curve passing the European Union curve in 2013. This intersection is a symptom of a deeper divergence in response to economic downturn between societies committed to innovation and those committed to austerity. One response to downturn is to double down on fiscal stimulus to increase spending in the short term and to create jobs, exemplified by the early Obama Administration's relatively modest stimulus package. Another response is to pull back, decrease government spending or, at best, hold it constant, as in the UK. The optimal response, as exemplified by China's continuing infusion of resources into higher education and advanced technology development, is for government to pursue fiscal expansion targeted at innovation, providing short-term economic stimulus while accelerating the transformation from a manufacturing-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.
On the Relationship between Length of Stay and Total Trip Expenditures: A Case Study of Instrumental Variable (IV) Regression Analysis
Authors: Thrane Christer
Published: April 2015

The relationship between length of stay (LOS) and total trip expenditures (TTE) has been scrutinized many times within a micro-econometric framework, usually by means of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. The author questions this practice because much evidence suggests that LOS is an ‘endogenous' independent variable. One of the basic assumptions of OLS regression is thus violated, and a new method — instrumental variable (IV) regression — is called for to produce a consistent, unbiased estimate of LOS. A non-technical case study on IV regression shows that the LOS—TTE relationship estimated by IV regression analysis is only about half the analogue OLS estimate. The study concludes with several important implications for the statistical modelling of micro-level tourism expenditures and for cross-sectional regression-based tourism studies in general.
Silva Rerum I, Silva Rerum II, and Silva Rerum III—Between Fact and Fiction Recreating the Early Modern Culture of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth in Contemporary Literature
Authors: Sabaliauskaitė Kristina
Published: April 2015

The author of a planned tetralogy of historical novels, set in seventeenth to eighteenth- century Poland- Lithuania and originally published in Lithuanian, discusses her project, of which the first three installments were published between 2008 and 2014. She begins with an overview of Lithuanian historical fiction and its conventions, from which her own departs in significant ways. The Silva Rerum series depicts the era of decline of the Polish- Lithuanian Commonwealth, told through the multigenerational story of a Lithuanian noble family of Samogitia and Vilnius. Care has been taken to reflect historical and linguistic accuracy. The forthcoming final volume will conclude with the end of the old Commonwealth.
Risk Analysis of Investments In-Milk Collection Centers
Authors: Ishag Kheiry Hassan M.
Published: April 2015

Milk marketing in rural area of Dhofar Region face a lot of difficulties and constrains by individual small scale farmers due to the lack of facilities and access to market. Therefore, farmers reduce their cow and camel milk production and group their animal into three or four groups to be milked in alternative days. Government Authorities decided to establish Milk Collection Centers to facilitate milk marketing and provide raw milk to Dairy industries. A risk analysis for the investment in milk collection centers on rural area of Dhofar Region was conducted in this study. The results showed that all MCC investments had a positive NPV except Shahbi Aseab Center. The study indicates there is a direct relationship between total milk collected, milk price, distant between MCC and Dairy plan and investment profitability. The study revealed an inverse relation between animal population at MCC zone and risk. The probability of achieving returns lower than the opportunity cost was highest for MCC located far from dairy plant which process and market dairy products. Risk premium for four MCC has been calculated relative to Salalah MCC (preferred location) and (Garoun Hirity MCC) was found as preferred MCC location and risk efficiency. In order to make the investment in MCC more attractive, the Government incentives need to be offered to farmers to increase milk production and improve raw milk quality. However, this approach might make investments in bulk milk collection centers feasible. Thus, a recommendable strategy for a successful modernization of the Oman dairy sectors inbound logistics would be to promote an increase in the volume of the milk produced per farm and improve marketing facilities through MCC.
Enhancing food engineering education with interactive web-based simulations
Authors: Koulouris Alexandros , Aroutidis Georgios , Vardalis Dimitris , Giannoulis Petros , Karakosta Paraskevi
Published: April 2015

In the traditional deductive approach in teaching any engineering topic, teachers would first expose students to the derivation of the equations that govern the behavior of a physical system and then demonstrate the use of equations through a limited number of textbook examples. This methodology, however, is rarely adequate to unmask the cause-effect and quantitative relationships between the system variables that the equations embody. Web-based simulation, which is the integration of simulation and internet technologies, has the potential to enhance the learning experience by offering an interactive and easily accessible platform for quick and effortless experimentation with physical phenomena. This paper presents the design and development of a web-based platform for teaching basic food engineering phenomena to food technology students. The platform contains a variety of modules (“virtual experiments”) covering the topics of mass and energy balances, fluid mechanics and heat transfer. In this paper, the design and development of three modules for mass balances and heat transfer is presented. Each webpage representing an educational module has the following features: visualization of the studied phenomenon through graphs, charts or videos, computation through a mathematical model and experimentation. The student is allowed to edit key parameters of the phenomenon and observe the effect of these changes on the outputs. Experimentation can be done in a free or guided fashion with a set of prefabricated examples that students can run and self-test their knowledge by answering multiple-choice questions.
Mechanical properties of cassava starch films as affected by different plasticizers and different relative humidity conditions
Authors: Bonilla Lagos Jeannine , M. Vicentini Nıvea , M.C. Dos Santos Rodolfo , Monica Q.B. Bittante Ana , J.A. Sobral Paulo
Published: April 2015

The influence of plasticizer type (glycerol and sorbitol), its content (starch:plasticizer ratio of 1:0.15; 1:0.20; 1:0.25 and 1:0.30) and the relative humidity conditions (43, 58, 75 and 85%) on the mechanical properties of cassava starch films was studied. Both plasticizers seemed to integrate homogeneously in the film matrix. The incorporation of different concentrations of plasticizers affected the mechanical properties of the cassava starch films. Plasticizer ratio directly influenced the force values of the films, they showed significant flexibility when the plasticizer proportion was increased in the formulation. Under conditions of low relative humidity, sorbitol produced films more resistant to puncture than glycerol. Qualitatively, all the films were less brittle when the plasticizers were incorporated.
Sensory evaluation of aromatic foods packed in developed starch based films using fuzzy logic
Authors: Chowdhury Tanima , Das Madhusweta
Published: April 2015

The last two decades have seen attempts to replace non biodegradable, synthetic food packaging films with alternatives made from biopolymers. The objective of the present work was to evaluate sensory quality of tea leaf and culinary tastemaker powder when sealed in pouches based on starch films. Films were developed from corn starch and a functional polysaccharide (FP) from amylose (AM), methylcellulose (MC), and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), using a casting technique. Pouches were stored inside a secondary package (plastic jar) under ambient condition for 90 days. Sensory attributes of the stored food samples were evaluated (tea in liquor form) and the scores analysed by fuzzy logic. Results were compared with similarly stored foods but using market available poly-pouches as packaging material.
For tea and tastemaker in general, the relative importance of the sensory attributes under consideration was assessed as: aroma (Highly important) > taste (Highly important) > colour (Highly important) > strength (Important) for tea, and taste (Highly important) > aroma (Highly important) > colour (Important) > appearance (Important) for tastemaker. Among the three films that were developed, the highly important sensory attributes of aroma and taste were maintained as ‘Very good’ when the foods were packed in starch–HPMC/AM film. When the products were packed in market-available polypouches they exhibited similar attributes. With the exception of ‘Very good’ maintenance of the colour of tastemaker by the commercial pouch, irrespective of film and food, the colour and strength/appearance were retained in the ‘Good’-‘Satisfactory’ range. The overall sensory score of tea was also maintained as ‘Very good’ in starch-HPMC film. 
Almond milk fermented with different potentially probiotic bacteria improves iron uptake by intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells
Authors: Bernat Neus , Chafer Maite , Chiralt Amparo , Moises Laparra Jose , Gonzalez-Martıne Chelo
Published: April 2015

New fermented almond milks were developed, using different potentially probiotic bacteria, in order to meet the current demand for healthy, versatile non-dairy products. An in vitro digestion/Caco2 cell model was used to evaluate the effect of both non-fermented and fermented almond milks on the mitochondrial enzymatic activities of enterocytes. Moreover, macrophages were challenged with the in-vitro digested samples and the production of pro-inflammatory biomarkers TNF-α and IL-6 was quantified. Enzymatic activities of cell cultures seemed to be stimulated by the exposure to both fermented and non-fermented almond milks. Both biomarkers decreased (p< 0.05) in fermented almond milks with either B. bifidum or B. longum. Results showed that fermented almond products favored the energetic metabolism of enterocytes and had a lower inflammatory response than non-fermented almond milk, suggesting its benefits for the management of allergies/intolerances. Moreover, the fermentation process enhanced the uptake of iron by Caco-2 cells, especially when using L. rhamnosus and either B. bifidum or B. longum as starters, thus improving the product bioactivity. Therefore, new nondairy fermented products with functional properties were developed, which might be positioned as alternatives to cow-milk products for sensitized groups of population (allergic and/or intolerant to cow milk or anemic population, among others).
Effect of incorporating alum in cane juice clarification efficiency and sucrose losses
Authors: M. Kimatu Benard , K. Faraj Abdul , M. Mahungu Symon
Published: April 2015

The effect of incorporating alum in the clarification stage of raw juice in sugarcane processing on the juice quality and sucrose loss was investigated. Alum was incorporated in both intermediate and hot liming clarification processes of cane juicing. One portion of the cane juice was used for With Pretreatment Treatment (WPT) while the other portion constituted No Pre-treatment (NPT) juice. Alum at levels of 0 mg L−1 , 50 mg L−1 , 100 mg L−1 and 150 mg L−1 was incorporated in both intermediate and hot liming clarification processes in each of the two cane juice portions. Sugar concentration (sucrose, glucose and fructose), ◦Brix, pH, colour, settling performance (initial settling rates (ISR), final mud volume (MV∞), and turbidity) and residual aluminium ion concentration were evaluated. Any significant variations (p < 0.05) in these parameters were assessed. The study found significantly lower (p < 0.05) sucrose losses in clarified juice from intermediate liming of WPT after alum treatment than in the rest of the clarified juices. Colour and turbidity in the pre-treated cane juice of intermediate liming was reduced by 36.9% and 98.1%, respectively at 150 mg L−1 alum level. An initial settling rate of 260 ml min−1 in WPT cane juice of intermediate liming at 150 mg L−1 alum level resulted in the most compact final mud volume of 10.3%. The residual aluminium concentration (0.025 to 0.048 mg L−1 ) in alum treated clarified juices was lower than the natural aluminium concentration (0.088 mg L−1 ) in untreated cane juice. This study showed the potential for the use of alum in cane juice clarification to improve on clarification efficiency and lower sucrose loss.
Applicability of Mixolab test with local wheat flours
Authors: Vazquez Daniel , C. Veira Marıa
Published: April 2015

Several types of equipment have been used to predict dough behaviour during breadmaking. The complexity of requirements means that no device is able to predict all the properties, and therefore, new tests are released continuously. The Chopin Mixolab mixes the dough at different temperatures, allowing the study of dough mixing properties, weakening, gelatinization, gel stability and retrogradation in one test. The objective of this work was to study the suitability of the Mixolab to predict rheological properties and breadmaking quality of local wheats. Flour was obtained from 29 wheat samples from different genotypes and environments. The correlation of results from traditional analyses (test weight, protein content, sedimentation volume, wet gluten, Falling Number, Alveograph and Farinograph) with Mixolab parameters was studied. The properties of two different bread types were compared with all these parameters. Stability and water absorption values from the Farinograph were highly correlated with the respective Mixolab parameters. It was concluded that wheat samples could be sorted by mixing properties in similar order independently of which method was used. Beyond that, gluten strength estimators obtained from these three rheological methods and the sedimentation volume test were highly correlated. Whilst the correlation of Mixolab parameters with pan loaf volume was not as high as traditional ones, Mixolab developing time, stability and C5 were the best correlated with the most important hearth bread characteristics. Studies performed by other researchers, using wheats from diverse origins, found different results. The need for empirical rheology evaluation with local wheat samples was proved.
A methodology to promote business development from research outcomes in food science and technology
Authors: Cardoso Eduardo
Published: April 2015

Valorization of knowledge produced in research units has been a major challenge for research universities in contemporary societies. The prevailing forces have led these institutions to develop a “third mission”, the facilitation of technology transfer and activity in an entrepreneurial paradigm. Effective management of challenges encountered in the development of academic entrepreneurship and the associated valorization of knowledge produced by universities are major factors to bridge the gap between research and innovation in Europe. The need to improve the existing institutional knowledge valorization processes, concerning entrepreneurship and business development and the processes required were discussed. A case study was designed to describe the institutional knowledge valorization process in a food science and technology research unit and a related incubator, during a five year evaluation period that ended in 2012. The knowledge valorization processes benefited from the adoption of a structured framework methodology that led to ideas and teams from a business model generation to client development, in parallel, when possible, with an agile product/service development. Although academic entrepreneurship engagement could be improved, this case study demonstrated that stronger skills development was needed to enable the researcher to be more aware of business development fundamentals and therefore contribute to research decisions and the valorisation of individual and institutional knowledge assets. It was noted that the timing for involvement of companies in the research projects or programs varied with the nature of the research.
Lipid composition of seed oils of different pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars from Spain
Authors: Fernandes Luana , A. Pereira Jose , Lopez-Cortes Isabel , M. Salazar Domingo , Ramalhosa Elsa , Casal Susana
Published: April 2015

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an ancient fruit tree traditionally cultivated in the Near and Middle East. Presently, its most important growing regions include Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, USA, Italy and Spain, the latter country the largest European exporter. The pomegranate fruit can be divided into several anatomical compartments: outside peel, inside peel, and arils (pulp and seeds), the last part being usually used for consumption as is or for juice, jams and jellies production. Even though pomegranate seeds are an industrial by-product, recent reports have highlighted their potential use as a source of oil with beneficial chemical attributes. Therefore, the main objective of the present work was to characterize the seed oil of nine European pomegranate varieties, collected in Spain, for their fatty acid and vitamin E compositions. All seed lipid fractions consisted mainly of punicic acid (c9,t11,c13 C-18:3), ranging between 77.3% and 83.6% of total fatty acids, followed by small amounts of linoleic acid (C18:2n6), oleic acid (C18:1n9) and palmitic acid (C16:0). Regarding vitamin E composition, α-, γ-, δ-tocopherols were found in all pomegranate seed oils, but mainly γ-tocopherol, with total tocopherols ranging from 174.5 to 627.3 mg/100g oil. The richness of these pomegranate varieties seed oils in punicic acid, a conjugated linolenic acid with interesting anti-carcinogenic activity, and the elevated amount of tocopherols on the extracted lipids, of technological and nutritional relevance, make this by-product interesting for further exploitation.
Evaluating the Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization (UHPH) and Pasteurization effects on the quality and shelf life of donkey milk
Authors: Nii Akwei Addo Cephas , Ferragut Victoria
Published: April 2015

Donkey milk has functional properties of great interest to human nutrition. The effects of ultra-high pressure homogenization (UHPH) at 100 MPa, 200 MPa and 300 MPa in comparison with different pasteurization treatments of 70 ◦C for 1 min and 85 ◦C for 1 min on the physicochemical quality and shelf-life of treated and raw (untreated) donkey milk were studied. Gross composition and pH, total mesophilic counts, lysozyme activity and physical stability were studied during storage at 4 ◦C for 28 days. The compositional profile showed resemblance to that of human milk characterized by high lactose, low fat and low protein content and was least affected by the treatments. UHPH treatments at 200 MPa, 300 MPa and 85 ◦C were able to maintain steady pH during storage whereas the low intensity treatments showed a significant decrease. The observed lysozyme activity in the samples was generally high and appeared to have been enhanced by the applied UHPH and pasteurization treatments with no significant change during storage. Although the raw milk showed good initial microbial quality, extensive growth of mesophilic microorganisms occurred after 7 days of storage, unlike the treated samples which were able to maintain significantly low counts throughout the storage period. The physical stability of milk was negatively influenced by the higher UHPH treatments of 200 MPa and 300 MPa which exhibited sedimentation phenomenon, while creaming was insignificant.
Whole genome comparison of a large collection of mycobacteriophages reveals a continuum of phage genetic diversity
Authors: Pope Welkin H , Bowman Charles A , Russell Daniel A , Jacobs-Sera Deborah , Asai David J , Cresawn Steven G , Jacobs William R , Hendrix Roger W , Lawrence Jeffrey G , Hatfull Graham F ,   Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science,   Phage Hunters Integrating Research and Education,   Mycobacterial Genetics Course
Published: April 2015

The bacteriophage population is large, dynamic, ancient, and genetically diverse. Limited genomic information shows that phage genomes are mosaic, and the genetic architecture of phage populations remains ill-defined. To understand the population structure of phages infecting a single host strain, we isolated, sequenced, and compared 627 phages of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Their genetic diversity is considerable, and there are 28 distinct genomic types (clusters) with related nucleotide sequences. However, amino acid sequence comparisons show pervasive genomic mosaicism, and quantification of inter-cluster and intra-cluster relatedness reveals a continuum of genetic diversity, albeit with uneven representation of different phages. Furthermore, rarefaction analysis shows that the mycobacteriophage population is not closed, and there is a constant influx of genes from other sources. Phage isolation and analysis was performed by a large consortium of academic institutions, illustrating the substantial benefits of a disseminated, structured program involving large numbers of freshman undergraduates in scientific discovery.
Age‐Related Differences in the Quantitative Echo Texture of the Median Nerve
Authors: Li Xiang , Li Jia W. , Ho Anthony M.-H. , Karmakar Manoj K.
Published: April 2015

Objectives

Currently, there are no quantitative data on the echo texture of a peripheral nerve. This study was designed to objectively compare the differences in the echo texture of the median nerve in the young and the elderly.

Methods

The median nerves of 10 healthy young volunteers (<30 years old; group Y) and 10 elderly patients undergoing lower limb surgery (>60 years old; group E) were scanned at the mid forearm by a standardized protocol. The echo texture of a normalized median nerve image was analyzed for the echo intensity and spatial distribution of pixels. Noise in the image was reduced by using a median filter, and thresholding was performed thereafter. In the resultant binary image, the cross‐sectional area, echo intensity, white area index, and black area index of the median nerve were determined by computerized texture analysis.

Results

The mean cross‐sectional area of the median nerve in group E was significantly smaller than that in group Y (P = .002). The mean echo intensity and white area index in group E were significantly higher than those in group Y (P= .002 and .012). The mean black area index in group E was correspondingly significantly lower than that in group Y (P = .012). In group Y, the mean white area index was significantly lower than the black area index (P = .006) but not in group E (P = .213).

Conclusions

There are significant differences in the echo texture of the median nerve between the young and the elderly. These differences may be due to age‐related changes in the relative proportion of neural fascicles and connective tissue within the nerve.
Differences in Liver Fibrosis Between Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B and C
Authors: Tai Dar-In , Tsay Pei-Kwei , Jeng Wen-Juei , Weng Chia-Chan , Huang Shiu-Feng , Huang Chien-Hao , Lin Shi-Ming , Chiu Cheng-Tang , Chen Wei-Ting , Wan Yung-Liang
Published: April 2015

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate liver fibrosis by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) measurements at 2 locations in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Methods

A total of 204 consecutive patients (146 male and 58 female) with chronic hepatitis B (n = 121) and C (n = 83) who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled. All patients received ARFI measurements at 2 locations in the right intercostal space on the same day as biopsy.

Results

There was no difference in median ARFI values between detection locations. However, a significant difference was found for low and high values between locations (median ± SD, 1.38 ± 0.43 versus 1.56 ± 0.55 m/s; P < .001). By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for a METAVIR fibrosis score of F4 (cirrhosis), the lower value of 2 measurements had the highest area under the ROC curve (0.750), followed by the mean value (0.744) and the higher value (0.730). Patients with hepatitis C had a higher area under the ROC curve than patients with hepatitis B (0.824 versus 0.707) for predicting liver cirrhosis. By logistic regression analysis, ARFI was the best modality for predicting liver cirrhosis in hepatitis C, and conventional sonography was the best modality in hepatitis B (P < .001). The ARFI value in patients with hepatitis B was significantly influenced by liver inflammation (P = .019).

Conclusions

Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is the modality of choice for predicting liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C, whereas conventional sonography is still the modality of choice in chronic hepatitis B.