bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Willingness to pay and quality of life in patients with rosacea
Authors: Beikert F.C. , Langenbruch A.K. , Radtke M.A. , Augustin M.
Published: May 2012

Background  Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis affecting >2% of the population. Willingness to pay (WTP) is a well established method which reflects the individual burden of disease.

Objectives  Evaluation of WTP and quality of life (QoL) in patients with rosacea.

Methods  Nationwide postal survey on adult patients with rosacea affiliated with the German rosacea patient advocacy group. WTP was evaluated by three standardized items and compared to historical data on vitiligo (n = 1023). QoL was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

Results  Data from n = 475 rosacea patients (79.9% women, mean age 56.3, range 26–90) were analysed. On average, patients were willing to pay € 2880 (median € 500) for complete healing compared with € 7360 (median € 3000) in vitiligo. Relative WTP was higher in women; the highest sums were registered for the age group 21–30 years. The extent of facial involvement predicted a higher relative WTP, whereas WTP decreased with the duration of symptoms and age. Mean DLQI total score was 4.3 compared to 7.0 in vitiligo. In rosacea, the highest values were observed in patients <30 years. Severe QoL reductions (DLQI>10) were less frequent (11%) than in vitiligo (24.6%). The correlation between WTP and DLQI was significant (e.g. r = 0.249, P = 0.000 for relative WTP).

Conclusion  Rosacea patients show a moderate WTP and average QoL reduction is mild. WTP proved to be a valid tool to assess patients’ burden of disease. Patient education and the development of effective treatment options might still improve patients’ satisfaction.
Thickness and tension of the gluteal aponeurosis and the implications for subfascial gluteal augmentation
Authors: Hwang Se Won , Nam Yong Seok , Hwang Kun , Han Seung Ho
Published: May 2012

The aim of this study is to elucidate the thickness and tension of the gluteal aponeurosis (GA) as related to subfascial gluteal augmentation. Twenty buttocks from 10 Korean fresh cadavers (age range: 69–92 years, five men and five women) were dissected. Five radial lines were made from the greater trochanter (GT) to the highest point of origin of the gluteus maximus muscle (GM), the posterior inferior iliac spine (PSIS), the piriformis line (P), the coccyx (Co) and the ischial tuberosity (IT). The upper four lines were intersected by three curvilinear lines that divided them by a quarter, half and three‐quarters ratios, and the lowest line was divided by a third ratio and a two‐thirds ratio. At the 14 intersecting points, the force needed to break the 6 mm width of the GA was measured. The thickness of the GA was also measured with a digital caliper. The GA was widest at the GT–Co line (161.7 ± 15.8 mm), and it was narrowest at the GT–IT line (106.5 ± 21.2 mm). At most of the points (12 among the 14 points), the breaking strength of the GA was greater than 20 Newtons (N). The breaking strength of the GA did not vary significantly according to the locations (P = 0.568, anova). The breaking strength of the males (22.8 ± 6.6 N) was significantly greater than that of the females (20.3 ± 7.5 N, P = 0.003, t‐test). The thickness of the GA varied according to the locations (0.4 ± 0.2 mm to 0.7 ± 0.3 mm). The thickness of the GA of the upper part (GT–GM line: 0.64 ± 0.24 mm; GT–PSIS line: 0.66 ± 0.23 mm; GT–P line: 0.66 ± 0.24 mm) was significantly greater (P = 0.040, 0.017, 0.018, respectively) than that of the lower part (GT–IT line: 0.49 ± 0.18 mm). The GA of the males (0.70 ± 0.23 mm) was significantly thicker than that of the females (0.53 ± 0.21 mm, P < 0.001, t‐test). We conclude that the GA is capable of holding gluteal implants in the proper position, as the average force to break up the 6 mm width of the GA in females was greater than 20 N.
Doctor–patient communication and cancer patients’ choice of alternative therapies as supplement or alternative to conventional care
Authors: Salamonsen Anita
Published: May 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 70–76

Doctor–patient communication and cancer patients’ choice of alternative therapies as supplement or alternative to conventional care

Cancer patients’ use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread, despite the fact that clinical studies validating the efficacy of CAM remain sparse in the Nordic countries. The purpose of this study was to explore possible connections between cancer patients’ communication experiences with doctors and the decision to use CAM as either supplement or alternative to conventional treatment (CT). The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics and the Norwegian Data Inspectorate approved the study. From a group of 52 cancer patients with self‐reported positive experiences from use of CAM, 13 were selected for qualitative interviews. Six used CAM as supplement, and seven as alternative to CT, periodically or permanently. Communication experiences with 46 doctors were described. The analysis revealed three connections between doctor–patient communication and patients’ treatment decisions: (i) negative communication experiences because of the use of CAM; (ii) negative communication experiences resulted in the decision to use CAM, and in some cases to decline CT; and (iii) positive communication experiences led to the decision to use CAM as supplement, not alternative to CT. The patients, including the decliners of CT, wanted to discuss treatment decisions in well‐functioning interpersonal processes with supportive doctors. In doctors’ practices and education of doctors, a greater awareness of potential positive and negative outcomes of doctor–patient communication that concern CAM issues could be of importance. More research is needed to safeguard CAM users’ treatment decisions and their relationship to conventional health care.
Does social capital increase public support for economic globalisation?
Authors: SPILKER GABRIELE , SCHAFFER LENA MARIA , BERNAUER THOMAS
Published: May 2012

The dominant explanation of public attitudes vis‐à‐vis economic globalisation focuses on re‐distributional implications, with an emphasis on factor endowments and government‐sponsored safety nets (the compensation hypothesis). The empirical implication of these theoretical arguments is that in advanced economies, on which this article focuses, individuals endowed with less human and financial capital will be more likely to experience income losses. Hence they will oppose economic openness unless they are compensated by the government. It is argued here that including social capital in the analysis can fill two gaps in explanations relying on factor endowments and the compensation hypothesis. First, generalised trust – one key aspect of social capital – constitutes a personal endowment alongside human and financial capital. Second, structural social capital – another key aspect of social capital – can be regarded as a nongovernmental social safety net that can compensate for endowment‐related disadvantages of individuals. Both aspects of social capital are expected to contribute, for distinct reasons, to more positive views on economic openness. The empirical testing relies on survey data for two countries: Switzerland and the United States. For both countries, the results indicate that generalised trust has a strong, positive effect on public opinion of economic globalisation, whereas structural social capital has no effect.
What really matters is which camp goes dirty: Differential effects of negative campaigning on turnout during Swiss federal ballots
Authors: NAI ALESSANDRO
Published: May 2012

Using individual data on Swiss federal ballots (VOX data) and an original dataset on the evolution and content of political campaigns, this article elucidates how negative campaigning influences individual turnout during Swiss federal ballots. It hypothesises that the effect of negativism on turnout depends on ‘which camp goes dirty’ and, specifically, on the direction of the political campaign (‘status quo’ versus ‘policy change’ campaigns). A series of multilevel models provide strong support for the hypotheses, by showing that high negativism in ‘status quo campaigns’ decreases individual turnout, whereas high negativism for ‘policy change campaigns’ increases it. It is argued here that this could depend on the emotional responses triggered by negativism in political campaigns.
Development of Three‐Dimensional Completion of Complex Objects
Authors: Soska Kasey C. , Johnson Scott P.
Published: May 2012

Three‐dimensional (3D) object completion, the ability to perceive the backs of objects seen from a single viewpoint, emerges at around 6 months of age. Yet, only relatively simple 3D objects have been used in assessing its development. This study examined infants’ 3D object completion when presented with more complex stimuli. Infants (N = 48) were habituated to an “L”‐shaped object shown from a limited viewpoint; then they were tested with volumetrically complete (solid) and incomplete (hollow) versions of the object. Four‐month‐olds and 6‐month‐old girls had no preference for either display. Six‐month‐old boys and both sexes at 9.5 months of age showed a novelty preference for the incomplete object. A control group (N = 48), only shown the test displays, had no spontaneous preference. Perceptual completion of complex 3D objects requires infants to integrate multiple, local object features and thus may tax their nascent attentional skills. Infants might use mental rotation to supplement performance, giving an advantage to young boys. Examining the development of perceptual completion of more complex 3D objects reveals distinct mechanisms for the acquisition and refinement of 3D object completion in infancy.
Winning the Dialect Popularity Contest: Mass‐mediated Language Ideologies and Local Responses in Rural Valdres, Norway
Authors: Strand Thea R.
Published: May 2012

In 2005, Norway's largest national radio network held a first‐of‐its‐kind dialect popularity contest as part of its highly rated summer morning show. Listeners called in to vote for their favorite Norwegian dialect, and after eight weeks of voting and elimination rounds the rural Valdres valley was crowned national dialect champion. Winning the dialect popularity contest has contributed to a renewed sense of pride in using the distinctive local variety, particularly among young people, despite long‐term convergence toward an urban regional norm. Taking the dialect contest as a point of departure, this paper presents theoretical insights into 1) the role of mass media in the reproduction of historically contingent national language ideologies, 2) the local effects and varied uptakes of mass‐mediated ideologies, particularly along generational lines, and 3) the role of sociolinguistic aesthetics in mediating potential language‐ideological contradictions. [dialect, language ideologies, Norwegian, mass media]
Recognition of Early Myocardial Infarction by Immunohistochemical Staining with Cardiac Troponin‐I and Complement C9*
Authors: Jasra Shashi Kiran , Badian Cherryl , Macri Iain , Ra Paul
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  The diagnosis of early myocardial infarction (MI) after death, especially in the first few hours (c. 6 h) after the onset of MI, poses a challenge to the forensic pathologists. During this time, the damaged myocardium does not show grossly identifiable morphological changes and may not be recognized even with routine histological microscopic examination. However, the infarcted cardiac tissue releases certain chemicals that can be detected microscopically, two of these being cardiac troponin‐I (CT‐I) and complement C9 (C9). This study utilizes the importance of these two biomarkers immunohistochemically in an attempt to identify this early phase of MI. This study reveals that the early phase of MI of <6 h duration may be detected through immunohistochemical staining with CT‐I and C9. The ischemic/infarcted cardiac myofibers in the <6 h group display reduced/absent CT‐I staining as well as positive C9 staining.
Patterns of Trauma Induced by Motorboat and Ferry Propellers as Illustrated by Three Known Cases from Rhode Island*
Authors: Semeraro Dominique , Passalacqua Nicholas V. , Symes Steven , Gilson Thomas
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Understanding patterns of trauma is important to determining cause and manner of death. A thorough evaluation of taphonomy, trauma, and bone fracture mechanisms is necessary to reconstruct the circumstances of the death. This study examines the skeletal trauma caused by boat propeller strikes in terms of wound characteristics and location based on three cases from Rhode Island. These case studies review the traumatic characteristics caused by propeller injuries and highlight the anatomic regions most likely to sustain skeletal trauma. With this information, investigators may be able to identify propeller trauma even in severely decomposed remains. The discussion of boat propeller trauma also raises issues regarding how forensic anthropologists and forensic pathologists classify trauma (specifically blunt force vs. sharp) and highlights semantic issues arising in trauma classification. The study also discusses why these propeller cases should be classified as blunt trauma rather than sharp or chop/hack trauma. Ultimately, the authors urge consistency and communication between pathologist and forensic anthropologists performing trauma analyses.
Influenza A/H1N1 (2009) Infection as a Cause of Unexpected Out‐of‐Hospital Death in the Young*
Authors: Boulagnon Camille , Leveque Nicolas , Renois Fanny , Andreoletti Laurent , Fornes Paul
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  In March 2009, a new strain of influenza A/H1N1 virus was identified in Mexico, responsible for a pandemic. Worldwide, more than 13,500 patients died, most often from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Because sudden death cases were rare, involving mostly young apparently healthy persons, influenza A/H1N1 (2009)‐related deaths may be misdiagnosed, which can raise medico‐legal issues. Case history: we report on an unexpected out‐of‐hospital death involving a young male with no past medical history and no vaccination. Fever was his only symptom. Laboratory tests: histology showed patchy necrotic foci with mononuclear inflammation in the lungs. The heart was histologically normal, but virological analyses using molecular biology on frozen myocardial samples showed high virus load. In conclusion, this case report shows that influenza A/H1N1 (2009) virus can be a cause of sudden cardiac death in the young and demonstrates the importance of quantitative virological analyses for the diagnosis of myocarditis.
Different Mechanisms of Decapitation: Three Classic and One Unique Case History
Authors: Morild Inge , Lilleng Peer K.
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Three classic cases and one exceptional case are reported. The unique case of decapitation took place in a traffic accident, while the others were seen after homicide, vehicle‐assisted suicide, and after long‐jump hanging. Thorough scene examinations were performed, and photographs from the scene were available in all cases. Through the autopsy of each case, the mechanism for the decapitation in each case was revealed. The severance lines were through the neck and the cervical vertebral column, except for in the motor vehicle accident case, where the base of skull was fractured. This case was also unusual as the mechanism was blunt force. In the homicide case, the mechanism was the use of a knife combined with a saw, while in the two last cases, a ligature made the cut through the neck. The different mechanisms in these decapitations are suggested.
Stark Style Solidarity. Reader Identification and Emotional Immersion in Rebecca Brown’s Literary Minimalism
Authors: Xhonneux Lies
Published: May 2012

The work of the contemporary lesbian author Rebecca Brown (born 1956) can be read in the light of Richard Rorty’s claim that literature is the primary medium for an exploration and expansion of our notion of the human. Brown seizes upon the convention of literary minimalism to place lesbianism at the heart of a canon traditionally embodied by Ernest Hemingway and Raymond Carver. Through typical minimalist methods pertaining to character and narrator, her writing arguably encourages the reader’s emotional immersion as well as a heightened reader identification. This makes her mainly lesbian protagonists vital actors in literature’s stimulation of empathy via role‐taking opportunities. Almost forcing readers into imaginatively identifying with frequently abjected “others” by means of minimal and consequential characterization, anti‐sentimentalism, and narratorial neutrality, Brown’s work strives to evoke solidarity in mainstream readers – they are pushed into seeing subjects who are as yet largely excluded from a general idea of “the human” as “one of us.”
Foucault’s Laughter. Enumeration, Rewriting, and the Construction of the Essayist in Borges’s “The analytical language of John Wilkins”
Authors: Duszat Michael
Published: May 2012

A curious list from one of Borges’s essays, the “Chinese encyclopedia” section, has become, beginning with Foucault’s reading, an independent, typically postmodern text that subverts rationalist concepts of order. While many critics are content with quoting the passage from Foucault to make their point, I ask how the list functions in its immediate context. I take into account the fact that in the same essay there are several other lists that display similar signs of heterogeneity, and explore in what way these lists function similarly or differently. I assume that certain genre conventions of the essay have an impact on the reading of such lists, and ask in what way a quoted list can serve to do a crucial part of the work of the essay: to construct an “essayistic I,” a textual representation of the essayist. Based on the observation that not all of the lists are fictive, I also retrace the process of artistic adaptation of non‐fictional source material, in order to gain insights into Borges’s method as a writer of essays.
Post‐9/11 Literary Masculinities in Kalfus, DeLillo, and Hamid
Authors: Bjerre Thomas Ærvold
Published: May 2012

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, much of mainstream media constructed triumphant masculinist narrative of 9/11, a reductive conflation of history, politics, and masculinity, that quickly rubbed off on popular culture. This essay discusses three 9/11 novels that go against the triumphant narrative: Ken Kalfus’s A Disorder Peculiar to the Country (2006), Don DeLillo’s Falling Man (2007), and Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2008). The novels are analyzed in terms of their depiction of masculinities and heroic narrative. In various ways, the three novelists debunk the idealized male hero by presenting male protagonists who constantly fail to live up to the impossible standards expected by a wounded society that has retreated into the safety of a nostalgic past. The novels feature variations on mythic American manhood but also counter‐narratives that suggest another, more complex story, one that deconstructs and reinvents the notion of masculinity in the wake of 9/11.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF VASCULAR INVASION BY ADRENAL TUMORS IN DOGS
Authors: Davis Mary K. , Schochet Rachel A. , Wrigley Robert
Published: May 2012

Adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice for adrenal tumors that are producing adverse clinical signs. Surgical planning prior to adrenalectomy is aided by identifying tumors with invasion into adjacent vessels or the presence of a tumor thrombus extending into the caudal vena cava. In this paper, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in determining if vascular invasion or tumor thrombus is present. Thirty‐four dogs with 36 adrenal tumors were reviewed retrospectively. Overall, 36% of tumors had vascular invasion. Abdominal ultrasound was 100% sensitive and 96% specific in identifying the presence of a tumor thrombus in the caudal vena cava. The sensitivity and specificity was 76% and 96%, respectively, when all forms of vascular invasion were evaluated and included patients with vascular wall invasion without concurrent thrombus. Abdominal ultrasound is a good screening tool for identifying vascular invasion or tumor thrombus associated with adrenal tumors in dogs.
N‐terminal phosphorylation of protein phosphatase 2A/Bβ2 regulates translocation to mitochondria, dynamin‐related protein 1 dephosphorylation, and neuronal survival
Authors: Merrill Ronald A. , Slupe Andrew M. , Strack Stefan
Published: May 2012

The neuron‐specific Bβ2 regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a product of the spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 disease gene PPP2R2B, recruits heterotrimeric PP2A to the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) through its N‐terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence. OMM‐localized PP2A/Bβ2 induces mitochondrial fragmentation, thereby increasing susceptibility to neuronal insults. Here, we report that PP2A/Bβ2 activates the mitochondrial fission enzyme dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1) by dephosphorylating Ser656, a highly conserved inhibitory phosphorylation site targeted by the neuroprotective protein kinase A–A kinase anchoring protein 1 complex. We further show that translocation of PP2A/Bβ2 to mitochondria is regulated by phosphorylation of Bβ2 at three N‐terminal serines. Phosphomimetic substitution of Ser20, Ser21, and Ser22 renders Bβ2 cytosolic, blocks Drp1 dephosphorylation and mitochondrial fragmentation, and abolishes the ability of Bβ2 overexpression to induce apoptosis in cultured hippocampal neurons. Alanine substitution of Ser20–Ser22 to prevent phosphorylation has the opposite effect, promoting association of Bβ2 with mitochondria, Drp1 dephosphorylation, mitochondrial fission, and neuronal death. OMM translocation of Bβ2 can be attenuated by mutation of residues in close proximity to the catalytic site, but only if Ser20–Ser22 are available for phosphorylation, suggesting that PP2A/Bβ2 autodephosphorylation is necessary for OMM association, probably by uncovering the net positive charge of the mitochondrial targeting sequence. These results reveal another layer of complexity in the regulation of the mitochondrial fission–fusion equilibrium and its physiological and pathophysiological consequences in the nervous system.
Edaphic Factors are a More Important Control on Surface Fine Roots than Stand Age in Secondary Tropical Dry Forests
Authors: Powers Jennifer S. , Peréz‐Aviles Daniel
Published: May 2012

Although there are generalized conceptual models that predict how above and belowground biomass increase during secondary succession after abandonment from agriculture, there are few data to test these models for fine roots (defined as ≤2 mm diameter) in tropical forests. We measured live and dead fine roots (0–10 cm depth) in 18 plots of regenerating tropical dry forest in Costa Rica that varied in age from 5 to 60 yrs, as well as in soil properties. We predicted that both stand age and soil fertility would affect fine roots, with greater values in older forests on low fertility soils. Across two sampling dates and locations, live fine roots varied from 0.35 to 3.53 Mg/ha and dead roots varied from 0.15 to 0.93 Mg/ha. Surprisingly, there was little evidence that surface fine roots varied between sampling dates or in relation to stand age. By contrast, total, live, and dead fine roots averaged across sampling dates within plots were negatively correlated with a multivariate index of soil fertility (Pearson correlations coefficients were −0.64, −0.58, and −0.68, respectively; P < 0.01) and other individual edaphic variables including pH, silt, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These results suggest that soil fertility is a more important determinant of fine roots than forest age in tropical dry forests in Costa Rica, and that one‐way these plant communities respond to low soil fertility is by increasing fine roots. Thus, simple conceptual models of forest responses to abandonment from agriculture may not be appropriate for surface fine roots.
The Genetic Architecture of Flowering Time and Photoperiod Sensitivity in Maize as Revealed by QTL Review and Meta Analysis
Authors: Xu Jie , Liu Yaxi , Liu Jian , Cao Moju , Wang Jing , Lan Hai , Xu Yunbi , Lu Yanli , Pan Guangtang , Rong Tingzhao
Published: May 2012

The control of flowering is not only important for reproduction, but also plays a key role in the processes of domestication and adaptation. To reveal the genetic architecture for flowering time and photoperiod sensitivity, a comprehensive evaluation of the relevant literature was performed and followed by meta analysis. A total of 25 synthetic consensus quantitative trait loci (QTL) and four hot‐spot genomic regions were identified for photoperiod sensitivity including 11 genes related to photoperiod response or flower morphogenesis and development. Besides, a comparative analysis of the QTL for flowering time and photoperiod sensitivity highlighted the regions containing shared and unique QTL for the two traits. Candidate genes associated with maize flowering were identified through integrated analysis of the homologous genes for flowering time in plants and the consensus QTL regions for photoperiod sensitivity in maize (Zea mays L.). Our results suggest that the combination of literature review, meta‐analysis and homologous blast is an efficient approach to identify new candidate genes and create a global view of the genetic architecture for maize photoperiodic flowering. Sequences of candidate genes can be used to develop molecular markers for various models of marker‐assisted selection, such as marker‐assisted recurrent selection and genomic selection that can contribute significantly to crop environmental adaptation.

image

[ Yanli Lu (Corresponding author)]
Ectopic Expression of a Bacterium NhaD‐type Na+/H+ Antiporter Leads to Increased Tolerance to Combined Salt/Alkali Stresses
Authors: Zhong Nai‐Qin , Han Li‐Bo , Wu Xiao‐Min , Wang Li‐Li , Wang Fang , Ma Yan‐He , Xia Gui‐Xian
Published: May 2012

AaNhaD, a gene isolated from the soda lake alkaliphile Alkalimonas amylolytica, encodes a Na+/H+ antiporter crucial for the bacterium's resistance to salt/alkali stresses. However, it remains unknown whether this type of bacterial gene may be able to increase the tolerance of flowering plants to salt/alkali stresses. To investigate the use of extremophile genetic resources in higher plants, transgenic tobacco BY‐2 cells and plants harboring AaNhaD were generated and their stress tolerance was evaluated. Ectopic expression of AaNhaD enhanced the salt tolerance of the transgenic BY‐2 cells in a pH‐dependent manner. Compared to wild‐type controls, the transgenic cells exhibited increased Na+ concentrations and pH levels in the vacuoles. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that AaNhaD‐GFP fusion proteins were primarily localized in the tonoplasts. Similar to the transgenic BY‐2 cells, AaNhaD‐overexpressing tobacco plants displayed enhanced stress tolerance when grown in saline‐alkali soil. These results indicate that AaNhaD functions as a pH‐dependent tonoplast Na+/H+ antiporter in plant cells, thus presenting a new avenue for the genetic improvement of salinity/alkalinity tolerance.
Interaction of Barley β‐Glucan and Tea Polyphenols on Glucose Metabolism in Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Gao Ruiping , Wang Yu , Wu Zhen , Ming Jian , Zhao Guohua
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Soluble dietary fiber and antioxidants have received much attention as most important components of functional foods. However, few data are available on the effects of the combination of tea polyphenols (TP) and β‐glucan (BG) on blood glucose in a diabetic rat. The effects of administration of barley BG and TP or their combination (TP + BG) on blood glucose, lipid profiles, and antioxidant parameters on streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats were investigated. Significant improvements on the blood glucose level, serum lipid parameters (decreases in triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL‐C, and increase in HDL‐C), lipid peroxidation (decrease in malondiadehyde content), and serum antioxidant status (increases in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity) resulted in diabetic rats after administering TP + BG. This study, therefore, demonstrated that the intake of TP + BG has beneficial effects on glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism, and serum antioxidant status. It also revealed that TP + BG is better than TP or BG alone in improving glucose metabolism and antioxidant status in diabetic rats. Practically, the present study suggested that polyphenols‐rich cereal foods are help for type 2 diabetes.

Practical Application:  Although TP or BG was definitely helpful in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus, synthetic anti‐hyperglycemic effects were found between TP and BG. The fortification of a BG‐rich cereal diet with TP could be used as a strategy to maintain health of diabetic subjects.
Inhibition of Beef Isolates of E. coli O157:H7 by Orange Oil at Various Temperatures
Authors: Pendleton Sean J. , Crandall Philip G. , Ricke Steven C. , Goodridge Lawrence , O’Bryan Corliss A.
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Plant essential oils have previously been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activities against various microorganisms. In this study, cold pressed terpeneless Valencia orange oil (CPTVO) was examined at various temperatures (37, 10, and 4 °C) to determine its antimicrobial activity against 3 strains of E. coli O157:H7 recovered from beef products. A micro broth dilution method using 96 well microtiter plates was used with trypticase soy broth with 0.15% agar and 2,3,5 tetrazolium chloride as a growth indicator as the medium. Serial dilutions of CPTVO were made, resulting in final concentrations of oil ranging from 0.2% to 25% or 0.1% to 10%. Plates were incubated statically at 4, 10, or 37 °C, and sampled hourly. After 6 h at 37 °C, all strains were inhibited at concentrations ranging from 0.2% to 0.6%, with a mean of 0.4 ± 0.01%. At 10 °C, all strains were inhibited at concentrations ranging from 0.8% to 6.3%, with a mean of 1.1%± 0.2%, after 6 h. At 4 °C, all strains were inhibited after 6 h at concentrations ranging from 2.3% to 4.6%, with a mean of 3.5%± 2.1%. After 24 h at 4 °C the strains were inhibited at concentrations ranging from 0.7% to 1% with a mean of 0.8%± 0.3%. The ranges appear to be the result of effects from the variable nature of a complex media and an antimicrobial that presents potential multiple mechanisms for inhibition. It appears CPTVO is a viable option to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 growth at refrigeration temperatures.

Practical Application:  Beef products are often the source of foodborne illness from the organism E. coli O157:H7. Orange essential oils have been in the human diet for centuries, and the research reported here indicates that some of these oils may be used as surface applications during cold temperatures to inhibit the foodborne pathogen E. coli O157:H7.
Quality Parameters and RAPD‐PCR Differentiation of Commercial Baker's Yeast and Hybrid Strains
Authors: EL‐Fiky Zaki A. , Hassan Gamal M. , Emam Ahmed M.
Published: May 2012

Abstract: Baker's yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a key component in bread baking. Total of 12 commercial baker's yeast and 2 hybrid strains were compared using traditional quality parameters. Total of 5 strains with high leavening power and the 2 hybrid strains were selected and evaluated for their alpha‐amylase, maltase, glucoamylase enzymes, and compared using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The results revealed that all selected yeast strains have a low level of alpha‐amylase and a high level of maltase and glucoamylase enzymes. Meanwhile, the Egyptian yeast strain (EY) had the highest content of alpha‐amylase and maltase enzymes followed by the hybrid YH strain. The EY and YH strains have the highest content of glucoamylase enzyme almost with the same level. The RAPD banding patterns showed a wide variation among commercial yeast and hybrid strains. The closely related Egyptian yeast strains (EY and AL) demonstrated close similarity of their genotypes. The 2 hybrid strains were clustered to Turkish and European strains in 1 group. The authors conclude that the identification of strains and hybrids using RAPD technique was useful in determining their genetic relationship. These results can be useful not only for the basic research, but also for the quality control in baking factories.
In vitro Activity on Human Gut Bacteria of Murta Leaf Extracts (Ugni molinae turcz.), a Native Plant from Southern Chile
Authors: Shene Carolina , Canquil Nelly , Jorquera Milko , Pinelo Manuel , Rubilar Mónica , Acevedo Francisca , Vergara Carola , von Baer Dietrich , Mardones Claudia
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Despite the fact that murta infusions have been used to treat gut/urinary infections by native Chileans for centuries, the mechanisms promoting such effects still remain unclear. As a first attempt to unravel these mechanisms, human fecal samples were incubated in a medium containing water extract of murta leaves (ML) and the growth of different bacterial groups was evaluated. Control incubations were made in media containing fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and glucose as a carbon source. Phenolic compounds in the ML extract, likely promoters of bioactivity, were identified by HPLC–DAD–MSn. Concentrations (log10 CFU/mL) of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in media containing the extract and FOS were 7.33 ± 0.05/4.95 ± 0.20 and 6.44 ± 0.22/6.05 ± 0.06, respectively. Clostridia, anaerobes and Enterobacteriaceae grew to a similar extent in media containing murta extract and FOS. In vitro tests (disk diffusion) showed that Gram‐positive (Bacillus and Paenibacillaceae) and Gram‐negative (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria isolated from fecal samples were sensitive to both water and 50/50 ethanol/water extracts of ML (28.4 μg gallic acid equivalents). At this concentration, the antimicrobial activity of ML extracts was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of penicillin (10 U), whereas the difference between activity of ML extracts and gentamicine (10 μg) was no significant (P > 0.05). No evidence of dependency between the antimicrobial activity of ML extracts and the enzymatic capability of the sensitive strains was found.
Application of EPR Spectroscopy to Identify Irradiated Indian Medicinal Plant Products
Authors: Sanyal Bhaskar , Chatterjee S. , Variyar Prasad S. , Sharma Arun
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  A study of gamma‐irradiated Indian medicinal plant products was carried out using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Improved approaches like high‐power measurement, microwave saturation, and thermal behavior of the radicals were explored for detection of irradiation. Aswagandha (Withania somnifera), vairi (Salacia reticulata), amla (Emblica officinalis), haldi (Curcumin longa), and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) exhibited a weak singlet at g= 2.005 before irradiation. Aswagandha, immediately after radiation treatment, revealed a complex EPR spectrum characterized by EPR spectrum simulation technique as superposition of 3 paramagnetic centers. One group of signal with organic origin was carbohydrate and cellulose radical and the other was isotropic signal of inorganic origin (g⊥= 2.0044 and g∥= 1.9980). However, other products did not exhibit any radiation‐specific signal after irradiation. Power saturation and thermal behavior techniques were not suitable for these products. However, amongst all the 3 approaches, high‐power measurement of EPR spectra emerged as a suitable technique in identification of the irradiated aswagandha.

Practical Application:  Gamma‐irradiation confirms hygienic quality and improves shelf life of food and other products. However, there is a lack of international consensus over considering this as a general application and different regulations are being enforced. EPR is one of the most promising techniques to identify irradiated foodstuffs for regulatory requirements but it has many limitations. Improved approaches based on the EPR technique explained in this study may be useful to identify irradiated products and become beneficial to food regulators and food irradiation enterprises to enhance confidence in irradiation technology.
Hydrothermal Treatment of Water Yam Starch in a Non‐granular State: Slowly Digestible Starch Content and Structural Characteristics
Authors: Son Trinh Khanh , Joo Lee Chang , Jun Choi Seung , Wha Moon Tae
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Gelatinized water yam starch was subjected to hydrothermal treatment (25, 30, and 35% moisture content for 1, 8, 16, and 24 h at 100 °C) and characterized by X‐ray diffractometry, solid‐state 13C cross‐polarization and magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, and digestibility analysis. The slowly digestible starch (SDS) content of the starch treated at 30% moisture content for 24 h reached 49.1%, 31.9% higher than that of the control starch. The B‐type pattern of native starch was re‐crystallized to the A‐type by hydrothermal treatment. The SDS content showed negative correlations with To, Tp, Tc, and Tr, but showed a positive correlation with melting enthalpy. Furthermore, SDS was positively correlated with hydrothermal reaction time, moisture content, relative crystallinity, and the double‐helix proportion. The structural changes in hydrothermally treated water yam starches resulted in the enhancement of SDS.

Practical Application:  The hydrothermally treated water yam starch could be used as a food ingredient for slow‐energy supply or dietary fiber.
California Almond Shelf Life: Lipid Deterioration During Storage
Authors: Lin Xiangyang , Wu Jia , Zhu Rongbi , Chen Paul , Huang Guangwei , Li Yun , Ye Nanhui , Huang Binhong , Lai Yiping , Zhang Hui , Lin Wanyu , Lin Jingjing , Wang Zhibin , Zhang Hong , Ruan Roger
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  The effects of storage conditions on the lipid deterioration in California almond nuts and sliced were studied. Natural whole almonds with or without polyethylene (PE) packaging and blanched whole almonds and sliced with PE packaging were stored in 10 different storage conditions which were combinations of different temperatures and relative humidity levels. The peroxide values (PVs), iodine values (IVs), and free fatty acids (FFAs) were monitored during the storage. The PVs in the natural samples did not change noticeably whereas the blanched samples changed greatly, indicating that skins may have played a significant role. The IVs decreased slightly in the 1st 150 d of storage and then leveled off. The slightly faster changes in IVs in the blanched samples coincided with the greater changes in PVs in the blanched samples. The natural samples exhibited much higher FFA levels than the blanched samples after storage. In general, FFA increased with increasing storage time, temperature, and humidity. Highest levels of FFA were observed in the samples stored at high temperature and high humidity.

Practical Application:  The results reported in this article provide useful information that almond producers and processors could use to develop their storage and transport processes.
Evaluation of the Nutraceutical, Physiochemical and Sensory Properties of Raisin Jam
Authors: Rababah Taha M. , Al‐u’datt Muhammad , Almajwal Ali , Brewer Susan , Feng Hao , Al‐Mahasneh Majdi , Ereifej Khalil , Yang Wade
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  This objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of jam processing of grape and raisin on the nutraceutical, physiochemical, and sensory properties. The results showed that fresh grape had the highest antioxidant activity, and total phenolic and anthocyanin content followed by grape jam, raisin, and raisin jam, respectively. No significant differences existed in soluble solids, pH, or firmness between grape and raisin jams. No significant differences in color parameters, ΔE, and chroma existed between grape and raisin jam. Descriptive sensory results showed minor differences in some sensory attributes between grape and raisin jams. In terms of consumer evaluation (9‐point verbal hedonic scale and a 5‐point just‐about‐right scale) the jams made from local raisins were parity with those from grape, despite small differences especially in whole raisin jam. Although raisin and other dried products are not traditionally considered as a raw material for jam processing, they have the same potential as fresh fruits.
Isolation, Fractionation and Characterization of Melanin‐like Pigments from Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) Shells
Authors: Yao Zengyu , Qi Jianhua , Wang Lihua
Published: May 2012

Abstract:  Melanins are known as versatile biopolymers, but the utilizations are restricted by their poor solubilities. Therefore, well soluble ones or their analogs are much desired. In this article, a new procedure was developed for fractionation of the pigments isolated from chestnut (Castanea mollissima) shells, and 3 fractions (Fr. 1, Fr. 2, and Fr. 3) were obtained. The solubilities of all the fractions in waters of different pH and in common organic solvents were studied. The physicochemical properties of the fractions were characterized for the first time on the basis of combined chemical analyses and spectroscopic methods including ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), electron spin resonance (ESR), and solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C‐NMR). All the fractions could be bleached by NaOCl and H2O2 and give a positive reaction for polyphenols, which are usually used as typical tests for allomelanins. Their UV–Vis, FT‐IR, and ESR spectra resembled those of synthetic and some natural melanins. Elemental data and quantitative analyses of 13C‐NMR spectra revealed that pigment‐bound proteins and polysaccharides were the most abundant in Fr. 1, while Fr. 2 was presented with the highest aromaticity.

Practical Application:  We provided a new, simple, and inexpensive method to fractionate the melanin‐like pigments from chestnut shells. This technique can be used to produce natural melanin‐like food colorants with different solubilities from chestnut shells.
High‐Intensity 405 nm Light Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Endarko Endarko , Maclean Michelle , Timoshkin Igor V. , MacGregor Scott J. , Anderson John G.
Published: May 2012

The antimicrobial properties of light is an area of increasing interest. This study investigates the sensitivity of the significant foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes to selected wavelengths of visible light. Results demonstrate that exposure to wavelength region 400–450 nm, at sufficiently high dose levels (750 J cm−2), induced complete inactivation of a 5 log10 population. Exposure to wavelengths longer than 450 nm did not cause significant inactivation. Analysis of 10 nm bandwidths between 400 and 450 nm confirmed 405(±5) nm light to be most effective for the inactivation of L. monocytogenes, with a lesser bactericidal effect also evident at other wavelengths between 400 and 440 nm. Identification of the optimum bactericidal wavelength enabled the comparison of inactivation using 405(±5) nm filtered light and a 405 nm light‐emitting diode (LED) array (14 nm FWHM). Results demonstrate similar inactivation kinetics, indicating that the applied dose of 405 nm light is the important factor. Use of the 405 nm LED array for the inactivation of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species resulted in similar kinetics, with up to 5 log10 reductions with a dose of 185 J cm−2. Comparative data for the 405 nm light inactivation of L. monocytogenes and other important foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis and Shigella sonnei, are also presented, with L. monocytogenes showing higher susceptibility to inactivation through 405 nm light exposure.
Prognostic Impact of Baseline Low Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease of Daily Clinical Practice
Authors: Ortiz Martín Ruiz , Romo Elías , Mesa Dolores , Delgado Mónica , Ogayar Cristina , Anguita Manuel , Castillo Juan C. , Arizón José M. , de Lezo José Suárez
Published: May 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012;00:00–00 ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The authors’ aim was to investigate the prognostic value of first‐visit systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) in hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) in conditions of contemporary daily clinical practice. From February 1, 2000, to January 31, 2004, 690 consecutive hypertensive patients with sCAD (mean age 68±10 years, 65% male) were prospectively followed in the outpatient cardiology clinic for major events (acute coronary syndrome, revascularization, stroke, heart failure, or death) and associations with baseline SBP/DBP were investigated. At first visit, median SBP/SDP were 130/75 mm Hg (interquartile range, 25–75; 120–140/70–80 mm Hg). After 25 months of follow‐up (median), 19 patients died (2.8%); 10 from cardiovascular causes (1.5%), 87 patients experienced a coronary event (13%), and 130 patients (19%) a major event. After adjusting for baseline variables, DBP <75 mm Hg or SBP <130 mm Hg resulted in independent predictors of major events (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–2.16, P=.02; HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.18–2.40, P=.004, respectively), coronary events (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.15–2.75, P=.009; HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.20–2.83, P=.005, respectively), and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 7.02; 95% CI, 1.26–39.04, P=.03; HR, 9.26; 95% CI, 1.33–64.32, P=.02, respectively). In this study, a low first‐visit SBP or DBP was associated with an adverse prognosis in hypertensive patients with sCAD of contemporary daily clinical practice.
Dietary Supplements and Hypertension: Potential Benefits and Precautions
Authors: Rasmussen Carly B. , Glisson James K. , Minor Deborah S.
Published: May 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:467–471. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dietary supplements (DSs) are used extensively in the general population and many are promoted for the natural treatment and management of hypertension. Patients with hypertension often choose to use these products either in addition to or instead of pharmacologic antihypertensive agents. Because of the frequent use of DS, both consumers and health care providers should be aware of the considerable issues surrounding these products and factors influencing both efficacy and safety. In this review of the many DSs promoted for the management of hypertension, 4 products with evidence of possible benefits (coenzyme Q10, fish oil, garlic, vitamin C) and 4 that were consistently associated with increasing blood pressure were found (ephedra, Siberian ginseng, bitter orange, licorice). The goals and objectives of this review are to discuss the regulation of DS, evaluate the efficacy of particular DS in the treatment of hypertension, and highlight DS that may potentially increase blood pressure.
Trying to Comfort the Parent: A Qualitative Study of Children Dealing With Parental Depression
Authors: Van Parys Hanna , Rober Peter
Published: May 2012

In this article, we look at children’s experiences of parentification in families in which one of the parents is hospitalized for depression. Children (7–14 years old) and their parents were invited for a family interview. Using thematic analysis, we constructed a general framework of 14 children’s experiences, guided by the explorative research question: How do children experience parental depression and how do they experience their own caregiving in the family? The thematic analysis revealed eight themes. One of these themes (trying to comfort the parent) was selected for a microanalysis in one family interview. Our study illustrates the process of overt negotiating of caretaking between parent and child with an underlying moral dilemma and related emotions. The dynamic of children hiding their worry can be seen as an answer to the parent’s expressed wish to not burden her children. These dynamics are situated in ongoing debates in family therapy literature, and some suggestions for therapeutic practice are formulated.