bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Basin‐scale patterns in the abundance of SAR11 subclades, marine Actinobacteria (OM1), members of the Roseobacter clade and OCS116 in the South Atlantic
Authors: Morris Robert M. , Frazar Christian D. , Carlson Craig A.
Published: January 2012

Bacterioplankton are major biogeochemical agents responsible for mediating the flux of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and subsequent cycling of nutrients in the oceans. Most information about the composition of bacterioplankton communities has come from studies along well‐defined biogeochemical gradients in the northern hemisphere. This study extends observations of spatial and temporal dynamics for SAR11, Actinobacteria and OCS116 in the North Atlantic by demonstrating distinct spatial variability in the abundance and distribution of these and other lineages across the South Atlantic gyre and in the Benguela upwelling system. We identified shifts in SAR11, Actinobacteria, OCS116, SAR86, SAR116 and members of the Roseobacter clade along basin‐scale gradients in nutrients, chlorophyll and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Distinct SAR11 subclades dominated the western and eastern regions of the gyre, and Actinobacteria, OCS116 and members of the Roseobacter lineages were most abundant at the deep chlorophyll maxima. SAR86 and SAR116 accounted for a significant fraction of coastal and open ocean communities, respectively, and members of the gamma sulfur oxidizer (GSO) clade persisted in the Benguela upwelling system. These data suggest that distinct communities are partitioned along basin‐scale biogeochemical gradients, that SAR11 community structure varies across the gyre and that Actinobacteria, OCS116, and members of the Roseobacter clade are closely associated with phytoplankton in the gyre.
A resounding success or a disastrous failure: Re‐examining the interpretation of evidence on the Portuguese decriminalisation of illicit drugs
Authors: HUGHES CAITLIN ELIZABETH , STEVENS ALEX
Published: January 2012

In this Harm Reduction Digest two observers and scholars of the 2001 Portuguese drug policy reform consider divergent accounts of the reform which viewed it as a ‘resounding success’ or a ‘disastrous failure’. Acknowledging from their own experience the inherent difficulties in studying drug law reform, Caitlin Hughes and Alex Stevens take the central competing claims of the protagonists and consider them against the available data. They remind us of the way all sides of the drug policy debates call upon and alternatively use or misuse ‘evidence’ to feed into discussions of the worth, efficacy and desirability of different illicit drug policies. In doing so they provide pause for thought for those of us who operate as drug policy researchers and drug policy advocates.

Simon Lenton

Co‐editor, Harm Reduction Digest
Justice, Territory and Natural Resources
Authors: Kolers Avery
Published: January 2012

Territorial self-determination and global distributive justice seem to be at loggerheads. Cosmopolitans hold that institutions such as states can be justified only derivatively on global justice. But ‘self-determinists’ insist that territorial self-determination is independently significant. The current article hypothesizes that the core disagreement is not over the justification of global resource egalitarianism, but rather over the conception of resources per se. The article presents three conceptions of resources – the familiar ‘natural resources’ conception, Tim Hayward's ‘physical’ conception and Ronald Dworkin's ‘constructivist’ conception – and argues that, particularly when appended to egalitarian global distribution principles, each is importantly flawed. The article then presents and defends an ‘intentional’ conception of resources as fungible means. This account treats resources as intentional kinds rather than natural kinds. As such, they can be identified only after discerning whose intentional states are decisive in a given case. Discerning that is the role of a theory of territorial rights. A resource is such when the morally legitimate territorial right-holder treats it as a fungible means. The theory of territorial rights is universal, and the resource distribution principle is morally cosmopolitan; but the determination of what counts as a resource is claimant-relative, respecting self-determination. The article then works out implications for global justice, with special attention to the global environment and through comparisons with Hayward's eco-space egalitarianism. The result is a sketch of a unified theory of global resource justice, giving due weight to both cosmopolitan egalitarianism and to territorial self-determination.
Culture Shock and Higher Education Performance: Implications for Teaching
Authors: Kelly Philip , Moogan Yvonne
Published: January 2012

The globalisation of higher education brings together learners and teachers from differing systems, creating a heterogeneous and diverse environment. Yet many higher education institutions typically rely on foreign students themselves to adapt to their new higher education environments. An investigation was undertaken as to whether traditional approaches are effective and efficient in meeting the needs of the internationally mobile student. Using data from the last ten years (1999 to 2009) from a post‐1992 University in the North West of England an analysis of over 15,000 postgraduate assessments found a significant performance difference between home country students and international mobile students. Results found that home country students perform significantly better than international students, although the latter perform better in examinations than in coursework. However, there is a substantive improvement during the dissertation stage for both groups. Possible reasons for such variations in performance are explored.
The Community of Workers' University: A Pragmatic Institution for the Future?
Authors: Gibbs Paul , Costley Carol
Published: January 2012

The identity of the worker foregrounds the development of higher education rather than the other way around. It is developed in contrast to the lack of higher education innovation in the recent UK Government White Paper on Higher Education and in the educational philosophy of Tawney and the neo‐pragmaticism of Rorty. The proposal is that higher learning, after capabilities have been nurtured in compulsory schooling, may be developed through communities of workers acting as agent for improvement of their communities; not in universities at all. This is a radical approach to higher education and employment and one that might bring true diversity to the higher education sector.
Topical nitrogen mustard therapy in patients with mycosis fungoides or parapsoriasis
Authors: Lindahl L.M. , Fenger‐Gron M. , Iversen L.
Published: January 2012

Background  Topical nitrogen mustard is a chemotherapeutic agent used in treatment of mycosis fungoides (MF).

Objective  To evaluate the response and side effects in patients with MF and parapsoriasis treated with topical nitrogen mustard.

Methods  A retrospective study of treatment response in 116 patients diagnosed with MF and 71 patients with parapsoriasis and treated with topical nitrogen mustard from 1991 to 2009.

Results  Overall response rate and complete response (CR) rate was 91.4% and 53.4% in patients with MF and 90.1% and 40.8% in patients with parapsoriasis, respectively. Relapse following CR was observed in 67.7% in patients with MF and 62.1% in patients with parapsoriasis. Freedom‐from‐relapse was higher in patients with T1‐T2 than in T3 disease (P < 0.01). Progressive disease (PD) occurred in 25.0% and 26.8% in patients with MF and parapsoriasis, respectively. Progression‐free survival was similar in patients with T1‐T2 compared with T3 (P = 0.79) and T4 disease (P = 0.22) and lower in patients with parapsoriasis with <10% than >10% skin involvement (P = 0.05).

Conclusion  The present study confirms that topical nitrogen mustard is a safe and effective therapy. The treatment response in patients with parapsoriasis was not statistically different from the response in patients with MF. This supports, that parapsoriasis is not a distinct entity, but an early stage of MF. Nitrogen mustard should therefore still be considered as an important treatment modality in patients with early stages (parapsoriasis) and later stages of MF either as monotherapy or in combination with other topical or systemic therapies.
Reliability and responsiveness of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition Test in children with developmental coordination disorder
Authors: WUANG YEE‐PAY , SU JUI‐HSING , SU CHWEN‐YNG
Published: January 2012

Aim  To examine the internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and responsiveness of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition (MABC‐2) Test for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

Method  One hundred and forty‐four Taiwanese children with DCD aged 6 to 12 years (87 males, 57 females) were tested on three separate occasions: two baseline measurements with a 20‐day interval before the intervention, and a follow‐up measurement after 6 months of rehabilitation. The therapists rated the performance of children in school‐related physical tasks at baseline and after intervention.

Results  Internal consistency for the MABC‐2 Test was α = 0.90. Test–retest reliability for the total score was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97. A small to medium magnitude of treatment effect was captured by the MABC‐2 Test. The minimal detectable change (MDC) was 0.28 points whereas the minimal important difference (MID) values were from 2.36 to 2.50. All subscales except balance showed acceptable validity in differentiating groups of children whose physical performance had improved or remained stable.

Interpretation  The MABC‐2 Test is a reliable and valid measure to assess motor competence in children with DCD. The MID and MDC scores provide the reference point for clinical decision‐making in managing the individual child.
Reversal of age‐related oxidative stress prevents hippocampal synaptic plasticity deficits by protecting d‐serine‐dependent NMDA receptor activation
Authors: Haxaire Coline , Turpin Fabrice R , Potier Brigitte , Kervern Myriam , Sinet Pierre‐Marie , Barbanel Gérard , Mothet Jean‐Pierre , Dutar Patrick , Billard Jean‐Marie
Published: January 2012

Oxidative stress (OS) resulting from an imbalance between antioxidant defenses and the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to age‐related memory deficits. While impaired synaptic plasticity in neuronal networks is thought to underlie cognitive deficits during aging, whether this process is targeted by OS and what the mechanisms involved are still remain open questions. In this study, we investigated the age‐related effects of the reducing agent N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (L‐NAC) on the activation of the N‐methyl‐ d‐aspartate receptor (NMDA‐R) by its co‐agonist d‐serine, because alterations in this mechanism contribute greatly to synaptic plasticity deficits in aged animals. Long‐term dietary supplementation with L‐NAC prevented oxidative damage in the hippocampus of aged rats. Electrophysiological recordings in the CA1 of hippocampal slices indicated that NMDA‐R‐mediated synaptic potentials and theta‐burst‐induced long‐term potentiation (LTP) were depressed in aged animals, deficits that could be reversed by exogenous d‐serine. Chronic treatment with L‐NAC, but not acute application of the reducing agent, restored potent d‐serine‐dependent NMDA‐R activation and LTP induction in aged rats. In addition, it is also revealed that the age‐related decrease in d‐serine levels and in the expression of the synthesizing enzyme serine racemase, which underlies the decrease in NMDA‐R activation by the amino acid, was rescued by long‐term dietary treatment with L‐NAC.

 Our results indicate that protecting redox status in aged animals could prevent injury to the cellular mechanisms underlying cognitive aging, in part by maintaining potent NMDA‐R activation through the d‐serine‐dependent pathway.
D‐carnosine octylester attenuates atherosclerosis and renal disease in ApoE null mice fed a Western diet through reduction of carbonyl stress and inflammation
Authors: Menini Stefano , Iacobini Carla , Ricci Carlo , Scipioni Angela , Fantauzzi Claudia Blasetti , Giaccari Andrea , Salomone Enrica , Canevotti Renato , Lapolla Annunziata , Orioli Marica , Aldini Giancarlo , Pugliese Giuseppe
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lipoxidation‐derived reactive carbonyl species (RCS) such as 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (HNE) react with proteins to form advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs), which have been implicated in both atherosclerosis and renal disease. L‐carnosine acts as an endogenous HNE scavenger, but it is rapidly inactivated by carnosinase. This study aimed at assessing the effect of the carnosinase‐resistant, D‐carnosine, on HNE‐induced cellular injury and of its bioavailable prodrug D‐carnosine octylester on experimental atherosclerosis and renal disease.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were exposed to HNE or H2O2 plus D‐carnosine. ApoE null mice fed a Western, pro‐atherogenic diet were treated with D‐carnosine octylester for 12 weeks.

KEY RESULTS In vitro, D‐carnosine attenuated the effect of HNE, but not of H2O2, on VSMCs. In vivo, D‐carnosine octylester‐treated mice showed reduced lesion area and a more stable plaque phenotype compared with untreated animals, with reduced foam cell accumulation, inflammation and apoptosis and increased clearance of apoptotic bodies and collagen deposition, resulting in decreased necrotic core formation. Likewise, renal lesions were attenuated in D‐carnosine octylester‐treated versus untreated mice, with lower inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis. This was associated with increased urinary levels of HNE‐carnosine adducts and reduced protein carbonylation, circulating and tissue ALEs, expression of receptors for these products, and systemic and tissue oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data indicate RCS quenching with a D‐carnosine ester was highly effective in attenuating experimental atherosclerosis and renal disease by reducing carbonyl stress and inflammation and that this may represent a promising therapeutic strategy in humans.
Profiling of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, p38 and JAK inhibitors in the rat adjuvant‐induced arthritis model: a translational study
Authors: Balagué C , Pont M , Prats N , Godessart N
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Translational animal models are essential in the prediction of the efficacy and side effects of new chemical entities. We have carried out a thorough study of three distinct disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in an adjuvant‐induced arthritis (AIA) model in the rat and critically appraised the results in the context of the reported clinical experience in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Teriflunomide – a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor; AL8697 – a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor; and tofacitinib – a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor; were selected as representatives of their class and dose‐response studies carried out using a therapeutic 10‐day administration scheme in arthritic rats. Paw swelling and body weight were periodically monitored, and joint radiology and histology, lymph organ weight and haematological and biochemical parameters evaluated at study completion.

KEY RESULTS All three drugs demonstrated beneficial effects on paw swelling, bone lesions and splenomegalia, with p38 inhibition providing the best anti‐inflammatory effect and JAK inhibition the best DMARD effect. Leukopenia, body weight loss and gastrointestinal toxicity were dose‐dependently observed with teriflunomide treatment. p38 MAPK inhibition induced leukocytosis and increased total plasma cholesterol. JAK inhibition, normalized platelet, reticulocyte and neutrophil counts, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels while inducing lymphopenia and cholesterolemia.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This multiparametric approach can reveal specific drug properties and provide translational information. Whereas the complex profile for p38 inhibition in AIA is not observed in human RA, immunosuppressants such as DHODH and JAK inhibitors show DMARD properties and side effects seen in both AIA and RA.
A Qualitative Study of Postpartum Mothers’ Intention to Smoke
Authors: Von Kohorn Isabelle , Nguyen Stephanie N. , Schulman‐Green Dena , Colson Eve R.
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Background:  Many women stop smoking during pregnancy. Factors associated with relapse are known, but no intervention prevents the return to smoking among pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine why women return to smoking after prolonged abstinence during pregnancy by examining mothers’ intention to smoke at the time of delivery and the perceptions that shape their intention.

Methods:  We conducted in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews during their postpartum hospital stay with 24 women who stopped smoking while pregnant. We asked participants whether they intended to resume smoking after pregnancy and why. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory‐based qualitative methods to identify themes.

Results:  Participants ranged in age from 18 to 36 years, and 63 percent were white. Three themes emerged from the interviews with the mothers: 1) they did not intend to return to smoking but doubted whether they would be able to maintain abstinence; 2) they believed that it would be possible to protect their newborns from the harms of cigarette smoke; and 3) they felt that they had control over their smoking and did not need help to maintain abstinence after pregnancy.

Conclusions:  Although most participants did not intend to resume smoking, their intentions may be stymied by their perceptions about second‐hand smoke and by their overestimation of their control over smoking. Further study should quantify these barriers and determine their evolution over the first year after pregnancy with the goal of informing more successful, targeted interventions. (BIRTH 39:1 March 2012)
Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emission of Residential Building Designs in Beijing
Authors: Gong Xianzheng , Nie Zuoren , Wang Zhihong , Cui Suping , Gao Feng , Zuo Tieyong
Published: January 2012

This study is based on the three types of residential buildings with framework structures in Beijing: concrete framework construction (CFC), light‐gauge steel framework construction (SFC), and wood framework construction (WFC). The analysis of the environmental load across the life cycle of the three types of buildings is conducted using life cycle assessment (LCA) according to the protocols of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040/44. The functional unit is the three material building designs, which possess the same function and design plan, and are built in concrete, light‐gauge steel, and light frame wood, inclusive of their respective envelope materials. Throughout the investigation, the calculations of the environmental load data of materials, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are comprehensively assessed and compared. The study shows that over the life cycle, the energy consumption of CFC is almost the same as that of SFC, and each of them is approximately 30% higher than that of WFC. Building use, steel material production, cement production, gypsum board production, and material transport are the main construction activities related to the energy consumption; the net CO2 emission of CFC is 44% higher than that of SFC and 49% higher than that of WFC. The main source of CO2 emission is the use of electricity; its contributions to the net CO2 emissions of WFC, SFC, and CFC are 67%, 64%, and 44%, respectively. The net CO2 emissions in the transport category cannot be ignored, with proportions amounting to 8%, 12%, and 11% for WFC, SFC, and CFC, respectively.
Pyrosequencing reveals unique microbial signatures associated with healthy and failing dental implants
Authors: Kumar Purnima S. , Mason Matthew R. , Brooker Michael R. , O'Brien Kelly
Published: January 2012

Aim

Although it is established that peri‐implantitis is a bacterially induced disease, little is known about the bacterial profile of peri‐implant communities in health and disease. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the microbial signatures of the peri‐implant microbiome in health and disease.

Materials and methods

Subgingival and submucosal plaque samples were collected from forty subjects with periodontitis, peri‐implantitis, periodontal and peri‐implant health and analysed using 16S pyrosequencing.

Results

Peri‐implant biofilms demonstrated significantly lower diversity than subgingival biofilms in both health and disease, however, several species, including previously unsuspected and unknown organisms, were unique to this niche. The predominant species in peri‐implant communities belonged to the genera Butyrivibrio, Campylobacter, Eubacterium, Prevotella, Selenomonas, Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Leptotrichia, Propionibacterium, Peptococcus, Lactococcus and Treponema. Peri‐implant disease was associated with lower levels of Prevotella and Leptotrichia and higher levels of Actinomyces, Peptococcus, Campylobacter, non‐mutans Streptococcus, Butyrivibrio and Streptococcus mutans than healthy implants. These communities also demonstrated lower levels of Prevotella, non‐mutans Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Selenomonas, Leptotrichia, Actinomyces and higher levels of Peptococcus, Mycoplasma, Eubacterium, Campylobacter, Butyrivibrio, S. mutans and Treponema when compared to periodontitis‐associated biofilms.

Conclusion

The peri‐implant microbiome differs significantly from the periodontal community in both health and disease. Peri‐implantitis is a microbially heterogeneous infection with predominantly gram‐negative species, and is less complex than periodontitis.
Johann Christoph Rost – ein zu unrecht vergessener Dichter
Authors: Hentschel Uwe
Published: January 2012

Die Studie stellt mit Johann Christoph Rost (1717–1765) einen zu unrecht vergessenen Dichter der Frühaufklärung vor, der originär und wegweisend zugleich das Genre der Verserzählung bediente. Zu seinen Lebzeiten erlangte er kurzzeitig eine bemerkenswerte Berühmtheit. Gleim, Lessing, Hagedorn, Wieland u.a. kannten seine Veröffentlichungen und lobten sie. Es wird zu ergründen versucht, worin das Besondere seines Dichtungskonzepts besteht, und wie es kam, dass ein so beliebter Dichter dem Vergessen anheim fallen konnte.
International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 1. Fractures and luxations of permanent teeth
Authors: DiAngelis Anthony J. , Andreasen Jens O. , Ebeleseder Kurt A. , Kenny David J. , Trope Martin , Sigurdsson Asgeir , Andersson Lars , Bourguignon Cecilia , Flores Marie Therese , Hicks Morris Lamar , Lenzi Antonio R. , Malmgren Barbro , Moule Alex J. , Pohl Yango , Tsukiboshi Mitsuhiro
Published: January 2012

Abstract –  Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) of permanent teeth occur frequently in children and young adults. Crown fractures and luxations are the most commonly occurring of all dental injuries. Proper diagnosis, treatment planning and followup are important for improving a favorable outcome. Guidelines should assist dentists and patients in decision making and for providing the best care effectively and efficiently. The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) has developed a consensus statement after a review of the dental literature and group discussions. Experienced researchers and clinicians from various specialties were included in the group. In cases where the data did not appear conclusive, recommendations were based on the consensus opinion of the IADT board members. The guidelines represent the best current evidence based on literature search and professional opinion. The primary goal of these guidelines is to delineate an approach for the immediate or urgent care of TDIs. In this first article, the IADT Guidelines for management of fractures and luxations of permanent teeth will be presented.
Effect of the addition of silanated silica on the mechanical properties of microwave heat‐cured acrylic resin
Authors: da Silva Lucas H. , Feitosa Sabrina A. , Valera Marcia C. , de Araujo Maria A.M. , Tango Rubens N.
Published: January 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00604.x
 
Effect of the addition of silanated silica on the mechanical properties of microwave heat‐cured acrylic resin

Objectives:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate fthe flexural strength and Vickers hardness of a microwave energy heat‐cured acrylic resin by adding different concentrations of silane surface‐treated nanoparticle silica.

Methods:  Acrylic resin specimens with dimensions of 65 × 10 × 2.5 mm were formed and divided into five experimental groups (n = 10) according to the silica concentration added to the acrylic resin mass (weight %) prior to polymerisation : G1, without silica; G2, 0.1% silica; G3, 0.5% silica; G4, 1.0% silica; and G5, 5.0% silica. The specimens were submitted to a three‐point flexural strength test and to the Vickers hardness test (HVN). The data obtained were statistically analysed by anova and the Tukey test (α = 0.05).

Results:  Regarding flexural strength, G5 differed from the other experimental groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4) presenting the lowest mean, while G4 presented a significantly higher mean, with the exception of group G3. Regarding Vickers hardness, a decrease in values was observed, in which G1 presented the highest hardness compared with the other experimental groups.

Conclusion:  Incorporating surface‐treated silica resulted in direct benefits in the flexural strength of the acrylic resin activated by microwave energy; however, similar results were not achieved for hardness.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CHEMILUMINESCENT ELISA FOR DETERMINING OKADAIC ACID IN SHELLFISH
Authors: WANG QUAN , LIU YING‐CHUN , LI JIAN , JIANG WEI , CHEN YONG‐JUN , SONG NING‐NING
Published: January 2012

An indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with chemiluminescent (CL‐ELISA) detection for okadaic acid (OA) in mussel muscle was developed. A hybridoma cell line secreting monoclonal antibody against OA was established after immunization of BALB/c mice with artificially synthesized OA‐bovine serum albumin as antigen. Luminol solution was used as the substrate for horseradish peroxidase. The detection limit was 0.175 ng/g. The range of average fortified recovery was 91.8–102.6% when OA was spiked in mussel muscle at levels of 50, 160 and 800 µg/kg. The standard curve for OA showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.08125–20 ng/mL. The cross‐reactivity with dinophysistoxin1 and saxitoxin was 51.82 and 0%, respectively. In a residue study, the results obtained by CL‐ELISA correlated well within those obtained using the commercial ABRAXIS kit (ABRAXIS, Warminster, PA). The developed method is therefore suitable for detecting the residues of OA in shellfish.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning is a gastrointestinal syndrome that occurs in humans following the consumption of bivalve mollusks contaminated with OA with the main symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. OA widely exists at marine products and it is very important to develop a technique to monitor this toxin. In this study, a sensitive competitive indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with chemiluminescence for determination of OA in mussel soft tissues was investigated. Chemiluminescent ELISA (CL‐ELISA) is a good alternative method for screening samples. This technique has the potential to improve the sensitivity of the immunoassays by at least two to three orders of magnitude compared with conventional colorimetric detection.
A COMBINATION OF HEAT TREATMENT AND CHITOSAN COATING DELAYS RIPENING AND REDUCES DECAY IN “GALA” APPLE FRUIT
Authors: SHAO X.F. , TU K. , TU S. , TU J.
Published: January 2012

Apples (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Gala) were heat‐treated at 38C for 4 days (heat treatment [HT]) before or after coated with 1% chitosan (CTS). Following treatment, apples were stored at 0C for 8 weeks and 20C for 7 days as shelf life. The effectiveness of the combined treatments on the ripeness, quality and decay development caused by Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea was evaluated. Severe heat damage was observed on the fruits heat‐treated after CTS coating (CTS + HT), appeared as external decay and internal brown after treatment. However, no damage on fruits heated before CTS coating (HT + CTS) during the whole storage. Besides the completely control of blue mold and gray mold on artificially inoculated fruits during storage, the HT + CTS treated fruit showed the lowest respiration rate, ethylene evolution, malondialdehyde and membrane leakage, and the highest firmness and consumer acceptance among the treatments. At the same time, this combined treatment could inhibit the lost of green color, titratable acidity and weight loss compared with HT alone.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

“Gala” apple fruits become more popular in the world because of its high productivity and good quality. Hot air treatment alone has been used to delay ripening of Gala but caused the loss of peel green, titratable acidity and weight. This work investigated the effects of hot air treatment combined with chitosan (CTS) coating on the ripening, quality and decay development for Gala apple fruits. Compared with fruits heat‐treat alone, fruits heat‐treated before CTS coating (heat treatment + CTS) preserved original peel color, maintained titratable acidity and weight, completely control decay development and showed the highest consumer acceptance after storage. The information obtained from this study suggested that this combined treatment may be a suitable method for the commercial application on Gala apple fruits.
Lansoprazole‐based sequential and concomitant therapy for the first‐line Helicobacter pylori eradication
Authors: HUANG Yao‐Kang , WU Meng‐Chieh , WANG Sophie SW , KUO Chao‐Hung , LEE Yi‐Chern , CHANG Ling‐Li , WANG Tsung‐Hsi , CHEN Yen‐Hsu , WANG Wen‐Ming , WU Deng‐Chyang , KUO Fu‐Chen
Published: January 2012

OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this prospective study was to compare the efficacy of the first‐line lansoprazole‐based sequential therapy and concomitant therapy (lansoprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication.

METHODS:  A total of 169 patients with H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to either the sequential therapy group (n = 85) or the concomitant therapy group (n = 84). A follow‐up endoscopy or urea breath test was examined at least 12 weeks after eradication.

RESULTS:  Comparable H. pylori eradication rate was observed in both the sequential therapy and concomitant therapy groups by either intention‐to‐treat analysis [sequential 80.0% (68/85) vs concomitant 88.1% (74/84); P = 0.27] or per protocol analysis [sequential, 85.3% (64/75) vs concomitant, 94.6% (70/74); P = 0.60]. Adverse effects were reported and good compliance was observed in both groups (P = 0.72). Although dual antibiotics resistance affected the therapeutic efficacy of sequential therapy (P = 0.03), not concomitant therapy (P = 0.74), it was not an independent factor for predicting the treatment outcome.

CONCLUSION:  First‐line lansoprazole‐based sequential and concomitant therapy were well‐tolerated and comparable in terms of their H. pylori eradication rate.
Mean platelet volume: comparison of three analysers towards standardization of platelet morphological phenotype
Authors: LATGER‐CANNARD V. , HOARAU M. , SALIGNAC S. , BAUMGART D. , NURDEN P. , LECOMPTE T.
Published: January 2012

Introduction:  The aim of this study was to show variability in the measurement of the mean platelet volume (MPV) depending on the instrument used.

Methods:  This prospective analysis was carried out to measure MPV with three instruments, in 30 healthy controls and 113 hospital patients.

Results:  Firstly, for values in the normal range, the values obtained with the Siemens Advia® 2120 are lower than those given by the Beckman Coulter LH750® (−0.89), which are in turn lower than those obtained with the Sysmex XE‐2100D® (−1.11), which represents a 20–25% variation in the measurement. These results emphasize the lack of universal external calibration for MPV analysis and thus make any intercentre comparison of MPV impossible unless the automated haematology analyser used is indicated. Secondly, we stress the differences in behaviour of the instruments in the presence of abnormally large platelets, i.e. an underestimate of the platelet count and the MPV may be provided because instruments using impedance technology may fail to take into account these platelets, but they rightly flag them.

Conclusion:  To harmonize our procedures, we propose definitions of platelet size (normal size, macroplatelets and giant platelets) based on the coordinated interpretation of the MPV, the distribution of platelet volume and the morphological appearance.
Predictors of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With End‐Stage Heart Failure
Authors: Torres‐Macho Juan , Delgado‐Jiménez Juan F. , Sanz‐Salvo Javier , González‐Mansilla Ana , Sánchez‐Sánchez Violeta , Gámez‐Díez Sergio , Escribano‐Subías Pilar , Sáenz de la Calzada Carlos
Published: January 2012

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with a greater mortality rate in patients with heart failure (HF) and it is a risk factor for right ventricular failure after heart transplantation. This study was designed to explore risk factors for PH development in patients with advanced heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. In a retrospective observational study of 419 patients evaluated for heart transplantation due to end stage HF, different variables were analyzed to find predictors of PH (defined as a mean pulmonary pressure >25 mmHg), reactive PH (defined as a transpulmonary gradient >12 mmHg) and severe PH (defined as a mean pulmonary pressure >40 mmHg and/or pulmonary vascular ressistance >3 WU) using a multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of PH, out of proportion and severe PH was 62.2%, 23.8%, and 18.8% respectively. The presence of moderate‐severe mitral regurgitation [2.1 (1.2–3.7); P=0.006], moderate‐severe tricuspid regurgitation [OR 2.9 (1.3–6.4); P=0.005] and a duration of disease >3 years [OR 1.7 (1.1–2.7); P=0.03] were independent risk factors associated with PH. Moreover, the presence of a moderate‐severe mitral regurgitation and a duration of disease greater than 3 years, were independent predictors of out of proportion and severe PH.
Child and family health nurses' experiences of oral health of preschool children: a qualitative approach
Authors: Arora Amit , Bedros Dina , Bhole Sameer , Do Loc Giang , Scott Jane , Blinkhorn Anthony , Schwarz Eli
Published: January 2012

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore Child and Family Health Nurses' work‐related experiences of dental disease in young children.

Methods: Child and Family Health Nurses (n = 21) who recruited new mothers to an ongoing birth cohort study that began in South Western Sydney, Australia were invited to take part in a qualitative study. A semi‐structured, in‐depth interview technique was used to explore their experiences of preschool child oral health and how this affects their working lives. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic analysis.

Results: The nurses considered dental caries to be a significant health issue for young children and their families. They thought that the burden of dental disease in preschool children was underestimated in disadvantaged and multicultural populations. In addition, they reported that parents were often unaware of the disease process and were ignorant of the relationship between bottle feeding and dental caries. Once the parents were informed about their child's poor oral health, they had feelings of anger, despair, and guilt.

Conclusions: This study highlights that oral health problems are a significant segment of the child health problems identified by nurses in their daily work. The nurses perceived the problem of dental caries to be one of a lack of parental knowledge, and families should be educated not only on “what” but also on “how” to feed their children. The primary healthcare team should work collaboratively to educate families in a culturally appropriate way.
Museu da Maré: A Museum Full of Soul
Authors: dos Santos Paula Assunção
Published: January 2012

Abstract  This article examines new developments taking place in Brazil, which shed light on ways museums can contribute to solving social problems in the twenty‐first century. Museums bear the challenge of reinventing the logic of community engagement in increasingly unstable and unequal urban contexts. The Museu da Maré is the first museum to be established in a favela (slum) in Rio de Janeiro. It is a grassroots initiative that connects the memories of neighborhood participants with a philosophy of intense social activism. The article will explore how this museum seeks to organically adapt itself to the social demands of the favela inhabitants and other relevant stakeholders. Particularly interesting are the new ways in which the museum uses exhibitions and collections to foster a symbiotic relationship with the local community.
Deposition of Polypyrrole Onto Bucky Gel for Use in a Biomimetic Artificial Excitable Cell Membrane
Authors: Haden Christina V. , Jordan Donald A. , Norris Pamela M.
Published: January 2012

A novel and inexpensive bucky gel electrode was investigated for use as the electrode substrate for polypyrrole deposition. Potentiostatic deposition of polypyrrole onto gold and bucky gel electrodes was carried out at +1.2 V versus saturated calomel electrode for 1 h in a standard three-electrode electrochemical cell. The electroactive polypyrrole membrane was successfully deposited onto bucky gel, and its surface morphology studied using scanning electron microscopy. Given the bucky gel’s dual ability to both conduct electricity and ions, this work establishes the first step toward a semisolid ion-gating system to be used in further applications.
Pull-In Retarding in Nonlinear Nanoelectromechanical Resonators Under Superharmonic Excitation
Authors: Kacem Najib , Baguet Sébastien , Hentz Sébastien , Dufour Régis
Published: January 2012

In order to compensate for the loss of performance when scaling resonant sensors down to NEMS, a complete analytical model, including all main sources of nonlinearities, is presented as a predictive tool for the dynamic behavior of clamped-clamped nanoresonators electrostatically actuated. The nonlinear dynamics of such NEMS under superharmonic resonance of an order half their fundamental natural frequencies is investigated. It is shown that the critical amplitude has the same dependence on the quality factor Q and the thickness h as the case of the primary resonance. Finally, a way to retard the pull-in by decreasing the AC voltage is proposed in order to enhance the performance of NEMS resonators.
Myiasis
Authors: Francesconi Fabio , Lupi Omar
Published: January 2012

Myiasis is defined as the infestation of live vertebrates (humans and/or animals) with dipterous larvae. In mammals (including humans), dipterous larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food and cause a broad range of infestations depending on the body location and the relationship of the larvae with the host. In this review, we deeply discuss myiasis as a worldwide infestation with different agents and with its broad scenario of clinical manifestations as well as diagnosis techniques and treatment.
Feasible stock trajectories: a flexible and efficient sequential estimator for use in fisheries management procedures
Authors: Bentley Nokome , Langley Adam D.
Published: January 2012

We describe a sequential estimation approach designed to be used as part of a fisheries management procedure; it is computationally efficient and able to be applied to varying types, and extents, of data. The estimator maintains a pool of stock trajectories, each having a unique combination of model parameters (e.g., stock–recruitment steepness) sampled from prior probability distributions. Each year, for each trajectory, the values of variables (e.g., current biomass) are updated and tested against specified constraints. Constraints further determine the feasibility of the trajectories by defining likelihood functions for model variables, or combinations of variables, in particular years. Trajectories that fail to meet one or more of the constraints are discarded from the pool and replaced by new trajectories. Each year, stochastic forward projections of the trajectories in the pool are used to determine an optimal catch level. The flexibility and accuracy of the estimator is evaluated using the fishery for snapper, Pagrus auratus , off northern New Zealand as a case study. The sequential nature of the algorithm suggests alternative methods of presentation for understanding and explaining the fisheries estimation process. We provide recommendations for both the evaluation and operation of management procedures that employ the estimator.
MICRO BLACK HOLES IN THE LABORATORY AND OTHER EXPERIMENTAL SIGNATURES OF QUANTUM GRAVITY
Authors: BLEICHER MARCUS , SPRENGER MARTIN
Published: January 2012

We investigate the possibility of quantum gravity effects setting in at much lower energies than the Planck scale. In particular, we study the formation and detection of microscopic black holes at the LHC as well as precision measurements of the gyroscopic moment of the muon and neutrino oscillations. We find that quantum gravity effects lead to observable signatures both in high energy and high precision scenarios. Comparison with experimental data allows us to constrain the parameters of the models.
NON-SPHERICAL VOIDS: THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO DARK ENERGY?
Authors: SUSSMAN ROBERTO A
Published: January 2012

If our cosmic location lies within a large-scale under–dense region or "void", then current cosmological observations can be explained without resorting to a cosmological constant or to an exotic and elusive source like "dark energy". If we further assume this void region to be spherical (as almost all current void models do), then fitting observational data severely constrains our position to be very near the void center, which is a very special and unlikely observation point. We argue in this article that existing spherical void models must be regarded as gross approximations that arise by smoothing out more realistic non–spherical configurations that may fit observations without the limitations imposed by spherical symmetry. In particular, the class of quasi–spherical Szekeres models provides sufficient degrees of freedom to describe the evolution of non–spherical inhomogeneities, including a configuration consisting of several elongated supercluster–like overdense filaments with large underdense regions between them. We summarize a recently published example of such configuration, showing that it yields a reasonable coarse-grained description of realistic observed structures. While the density distribution is not spherically symmetric, its proper volume average yields a spherical density void profile of 250 Mpc that roughly agrees with observations. Also, once we consider our location to lie within a non-spherical void, the definition of a "center" location becomes more nuanced, and thus the constraints placed by the fitting of observations on our position with respect to this location become less restrictive.
NEUTRINO OPACITIES AND THE PASTA PHASE STRUCTURE
Authors: PERES MENEZES DÉBORA , DALLAGNOL ALLOY MARCELO
Published: January 2012

The diffusion coefficients that are related to the neutrino opacities are calculated in such a way that the formation of nuclear pasta and homogeneous matter at low densities are taken into account. Two methods are developed to build the pasta phase and their differences are outlined. One of them is chosen as part of a complete equation of state used in the calculation of the diffusion coefficients. Our results show that the mean free paths are significantly altered by the presence of nuclear pasta in stellar matter when compared with the results obtained with pure homogeneous matter. These differences in neutrino opacities will have consequences in the calculation of the Kelvin-Helmholtz phase of protoneutron stars.
COMBINING GRAPH-CUT TECHNIQUE AND ANATOMICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR AUTOMATIC SEGMENTATION OF LUNGS AFFECTED BY DIFFUSE PARENCHYMAL DISEASE IN HRCT IMAGES
Authors: MASSOPTIER LAURENT , MISRA AVISHKAR , SOWMYA ARCOT , CASCIARO SERGIO
Published: January 2012

Accurate and automated lung segmentation in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is highly challenged by the presence of pathologies affecting lung parenchyma appearance and borders.

The algorithm presented employs an anatomical model-driven approach and systematic incremental knowledge acquisition to produce coarse lung delineation, used as initialization for the graph-cut algorithm. The proposed method is evaluated on a 49 HRCT cases dataset including various lung disease patterns. The accuracy of the method is assessed using dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and shape differentiation metrics (d mean , d rms ), by comparing the outputs of automatic lung segmentations and manual ones.

The proposed automatic method demonstrates high segmentation accuracy ( DSC = 96.64%, d mean = 1.75 mm, d rms = 3.27 mm) with low variation that depends on the lung disease pattern. It also presents good improvement over the initial lung segmentation (Δ DSC = 4.74%, Δd mean = -3.67 mm, Δd rms = -6.25 mm), including impressive amelioration (maximum values of Δ DSC = 58.22% and Δd mean = -78.66 mm) when the anatomy-driven algorithm reaches its limit.

Segmentation evaluation shows that the method can accurately segment lungs even in the presence of disease patterns, with some limitations in the apices and bases of lungs. Therefore, the developed automatic segmentation method is a good candidate for the first stage of a computer-aided diagnosis system for diffuse lung diseases.
A NOVEL TEXTURE-BASED MULTI-LINEAR ANALYSIS ALGORITHM FOR FACE RECOGNITION
Authors: LU HUCHUAN , WANG DONG , CHEN YEN-WEI , CHEN HAO
Published: January 2012

In this paper, a multi-linear approach based on texture features for face recognition is proposed. First, we extract fragment-based texture features of the facial images using the local binary pattern (LBP) descriptors, which capture both shape and texture information and also are robust to illumination variations. Second, we propose high-order orthogonal iteration (HOOI) algorithm that obtains optimum truncated factor-specific modes, which are not guaranteed in the standard N-mode SVD algorithm, in an iterative manner. Finally, we apply HOOI to obtain a compact and effective representation of the facial images based on the texture features. Our representation yields improved facial recognition rates relative to standard eigenface, tensorface, and other popular algorithms, especially when the facial images are confronted by a variety of viewpoints and illuminations. To evaluate the validity of our approach, a series of experiments are performed on the CMU-PIE facial databases.