bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins mitigate cholesterol and cholic acid diet–induced hepatic dysfunction in male Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Sankar Jamuna , Rathinavel Ashokkumar , Mohammed Sadullah Sakeena Sadullah , Devaraj Sivasitamparam Niranjali 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDysregulated synthesis of hepatic cholesterol is a critical determinant of atherosclerosis. The combination of cholesterol and cholic acid (CC) diet supplementation to animal models is associated with hepatic dysfunction‐mediated atherosclerosis. The current study was designed to investigate the hepatic cholesterol–lowering effects of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) in CC diet fed rats. CC diet–induced group exhibited significant increase in the hepatic lipid profile, activities of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase (HMGR), PON‐1, LCAT, LPL, and LPO levels, and messenger RNA expression of HMGR, low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr), and HNF‐4α. Administration of OPC (100 mg/kg/bwt) resulted in the significant reduction of lipid profile and HMGR levels, with concomitant increase in the levels of cholesterol‐regulating enzymes and upregulated expression of LDLr and HNF‐4α, which was similar to atorvastatin. Molecular docking studies also revealed that proanthocyanidins had a strong binding affinity to HMGR, similar to atorvastatin. Our findings suggest that OPC regulate the impaired cholesterol metabolism–associated atherosclerosis through hepatic cholesterol–lowering effect.
The patterns of homicide offence characteristics and their associations with offender psychopathology
Authors: Abreu Minero Valeria , Dickson Hannah , Barker Edward , Flynn Sandra , Ibrahim Saied , Shaw Jennifer 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPrevious research suggests different crime scene patterns reflect differences in the background characteristics of the offender. However, whether differences in crime scene patterns are related to offender psychopathology remains unclear. We hypothesise that schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depressive illness will each associate to a specific homicide crime scene pattern. Homicide data were obtained from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. Our sample comprised 759 homicides committed by offenders in contact with mental health services in the year preceding the offence and with an available psychiatric report. We used joint correspondence analysis to examine patterns between different methods of homicide, circumstances of homicide, victim gender, and victim age groups. Three homicide patterns were identified: male conflict homicide, intimate female homicide, and child homicide. Additionally, each homicide pattern was associated with one or more mental illnesses. Results are discussed in terms of the possible role of psychopathology in “offender profiling” research.
Translation of morphological and functional musculoskeletal imaging
Authors: Pedoia Valentina , Majumdar Sharmila 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTIn an effort to develop quantitative biomarkers for degenerative joint disease and fill the void that exists for diagnosing, monitoring, and assessing the extent of whole joint degeneration, the past decade has been marked by a greatly increased role of noninvasive imaging. This coupled with recent advances in image processing and deep learning opens new possibilities for promising quantitative techniques. The clinical translation of quantitative imaging was previously hampered by tedious non‐scalable and subjective image analysis. Osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis using X‐rays can be automated by the use of deep learning models and pilot studies showed feasibility of using similar techniques to reliably segment multiple musculoskeletal tissues and detect and stage the severity of morphological abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Automation and more advanced feature extraction techniques have applications on larger more heterogeneous samples. Analyses based on voxel based relaxometry have shown local patterns in relaxation time elevations and local correlations with outcome variables. Bone cartilage interactions are also enhanced by the analysis of three‐dimensional bone morphology and the potential for the assessment of metabolic activity with simultaneous Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/MR systems. Novel techniques in image processing and deep learning are augmenting imaging to be a source of quantitative and reliable data and new multidimensional analytics allow us to exploit the interactions of data from various sources. In this review, we aim to summarize recent advances in quantitative imaging, the application of image processing and deep learning techniques to study knee and hip OA. ©2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res XX:XX–XX, 2018.
Preclinical induced membrane model to evaluate synthetic implants for healing critical bone defects without autograft
Authors: DeBaun Malcolm R. , Stahl Alexander M. , Daoud Adam I. , Pan Chi‐Chun , Bishop Julius A. , Gardner Michael J. , Yang Yunzhi P. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTCritical bone defects pose a formidable orthopaedic problem in patients with bone loss. We developed a preclinical model based on the induced membrane technique using a synthetic graft to replace autograft for healing critical bone defects. Additionally, we used a novel osteoconductive scaffold coupled with a synthetic membrane to evaluate the potential for single‐stage bone regeneration. Three experimental conditions were investigated in critical femoral defects in rats. Group A underwent a two‐stage procedure with insertion of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer followed by replacement with a 3D printed polycaprolactone(PCL)/β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) osteoconductive scaffold after 4 weeks. Group B received a single‐stage PCL/β‐TCP scaffold wrapped in a PCL‐based microporous polymer film creating a synthetic membrane. Group C received a single‐stage bare PCL/β‐TCP scaffold. All groups were examined by serial radiographs for callus formation. After 12 weeks, the femurs were explanted and analyzed with micro‐CT and histology. Mean callus scores tended to be higher in Group A. Group A showed statistically significant greater bone formation on micro‐CT compared with other groups, although bone volume fraction was similar between groups. Histology results suggested extensive bone ingrowth and new bone formation within the macroporous scaffolds in all groups and cell infiltration into the microporous synthetic membrane. This study supports the use of a critical size femoral defect in rats as a suitable model for investigating modifications to the induced membrane technique without autograft harvest. Future investigations should focus on bioactive synthetic membranes coupled with growth factors for single‐stage bone healing. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
High mobility group box‐1 induces pro‐inflammatory signaling in human nucleus pulposus cells via toll‐like receptor 4‐dependent pathway
Authors: Shah Bhranti S. , Burt Kevin G. , Jacobsen Timothy , Fernandes Tiago D. , Alipui Didier Olivier , Weber Kathryn T. , Levine Mitchell , Chavan Sangeeta S. , Yang Huan , Tracey Kevin J. , Chahine Nadeen O. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTIntervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (DD) is associated with low back pain, the leading cause of disability worldwide. Damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that contribute to inflammation and trigger DD have not been well characterized. Extracellular high mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1) protein has been implicated as a potent DAMP and pro‐inflammatory stimulus in the immune system. In this study, we show that HMGB1 and IL‐6 levels increase in patients with advanced DD in comparison to early DD. This study further tested the hypothesis that HMGB1 promotes inflammatory signaling driving DD in human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and tissue. Immunofluorescence and western blot analysis confirmed the expression of HMGB1 and its extracellular release by NP cells under cell stress. Gene expression and protein quantification indicate that HMGB1 stimulates the expression IL‐6 and MMP‐1 in a dose‐dependent manner. The contributions of toll‐like receptor (TLR) −2, −4 and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) as receptors mediating HMGB1 signaling was examined using small molecule inhibitors. Inhibition of TLR‐4 signaling, with TAK‐242, completely abrogated HMGB1 induced IL‐6 and MMP‐1 expression, whereas inhibition of TLR‐2, with O‐vanillin, or RAGE, with FPS‐ZM1, had mild inhibitory effects. HMGB1 stimulation activated NF‐ĸB signaling while TAK‐242 co‐treatment abrogated it. Lastly, effects of HMGB1 on matrix deposition was evaluated in a 3D culture system of human NP cells. These results implicate HMGB1 as a potent DAMP that promotes inflammation in NP cells and degradation of NP tissues. TLR4‐HMGB1 axis is a potential major pathway to alleviate disc inflammation and mitigate DD. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
A New Series of Double‐Chain Single‐Head Sulfobetaine Surfactants Derived from 1,3‐Dialkyl Glyceryl Ether for Reducing Crude Oil/Water Interfacial Tension
Authors: Yan Limin , Ma Ji , Cui Zhenggang , Jiang Jianzhong , Song Binglei , Pei Xiaomei 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA new series of sulfobetaine surfactants with double‐chain single‐head structure were derived from 1,3‐dialkyl glyceryl ethers and their performances in reducing Daqing crude oil/connate water interfacial tension (IFT) in the absence of alkali were studied. With a large hydrophilic head group and double hydrophobic chains, these surfactants are efficient at reducing crude oil/connate water IFT. Those with didecyl and dioctyl are good hydrophobic surfactants that can reduce Daqing crude oil/connate water to ultra‐low IFT by mixing with a small molar fraction of various conventional single‐chain hydrophilic surfactants, such as α‐olefin sulfonates, dodecyl polyoxyethylene (10) ether, and cetyl dimethyl hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine. The asymmetric double‐chain sulfobetaine derived from 1‐decyl‐3‐hexyl glyceryl ether can reduce Daqing crude oil/connate water IFT to ultra‐low solely over a wide concentration range (0.03–10 mM or 0.0017–0.58 wt.%), which allows for use of an individual surfactant instead of mixed surfactants to avoid chromatographic separation in the reservoir. In addition, formulations rich in sulfobetaine surfactants show low adsorption on sandstone, keeping the negatively charged solid surface water‐wet, and forming crude oil‐in‐water emulsions. These new sulfobetaine surfactants are, therefore, good candidates for surfactant‐polymer flooding free of alkali.
Carcass and meat quality characteristics from Iberian wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) hunted at different ages
Authors: Maggiolino Aristide , Pateiro Mirian , Serrano Martina P , Landete‐Castillejos Tomás , Domínguez Rubén , García Andrés , Gallego Laureano , De Palo Pasquale , Lorenzo José Manuel 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDDeer‐meat consumption is increasing in several countries based on claims that it is a healthy red meat. This study assessed the effect of slaughter age (low – 26 months and younger; medium – from 27 months to younger than 42 months; and high – 42 months and older) on carcass characteristics and meat physicochemical properties of 150 Iberian wild red deer.RESULTSWhole carcass yields of neck, backbone and flank increased (P < 0.001) with age, while yields of shoulder, tenderloin and leg decreased (P < 0.05) with age. The pH measured at 48 h post mortem at 9th rib level was not affected by age, while pH measured at 72 h post mortem at the longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle decreased (P < 0.05) with age. Meat chemical composition was not affected by slaughter age, except for intramuscular fat (IMF), which increased (P < 0.05) with slaughter age. Finally, cooking loss and shear force were higher (P < 0.05) in meat from older deer.CONCLUSIONMost characteristics of meat from wild red deer depend on age at slaughter. The greater IMF of meat from older animals may render it more palatable. However, meat shear force also increased with age. Additional studies testing palatability seem to be necessary to evaluate the effects of slaughter age on the sensorial quality of meat from Iberian wild red deer. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Fourier transform near‐infrared and mid‐infrared spectroscopy as efficient tools for rapid screening of deoxynivalenol contamination in wheat bran
Authors: De Girolamo Annalisa , Cervellieri Salvatore , Cortese Marina , Porricelli Anna Chiara Raffaella , Pascale Michelangelo , Longobardi Francesco , von Holst Christoph , Ciaccheri Leonardo , Lippolis Vincenzo 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDDeoxynivalenol (DON) is the most common Fusarium mycotoxin occurring in wheat and wheat‐derived products, with several adverse and toxic effects in animals and humans. Although bran fractions produced by milling wheat have numerous health benefits, cereal bran is the part of the grain with the highest concentration of DON, thus representing a risk for consumers. Increased efforts have been made to develop analytical methods suitable for rapid DON screening.RESULTSThe applicability of Fourier transform near‐infrared (FTNIR), or mid‐infrared (FTMIR) spectroscopy, and their combination for rapid analysis of DON in wheat bran, was investigated for the classification of samples into compliant and non‐compliant groups regarding the EU legal limit of 750 µg kg−1. Partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) and principal component‐linear discriminant analysis (PC‐LDA) were employed as classification techniques using a cutoff value of 400 µg kg−1 DON to distinguish the two classes. Depending on the classification model, overall discrimination rates were from 87% to 91% for FTNIR and from 86% to 87% for the FTMIR spectral range. The FTNIR spectroscopy gave the highest overall classification rate of wheat bran samples, with no false compliant samples and 18% false noncompliant samples when the PC‐LDA classification model was applied. The combination of the two spectral ranges did not provide a substantial improvement in classification results in comparison with FTNIR.CONCLUSIONSFourier transform near‐infrared spectroscopy in combination with classification models was an efficient tool to screen many DON‐contaminated wheat bran samples and assess their compliance with EU regulations. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Examining the interplay between Streptococcus agalactiae, the biopolymer chitin and its derivative
Authors: Yildirim‐Aksoy Mediha , Beck Benjamin H. , Zhang Dunhua 
Published: October 2018

AbstractStreptococcus agalactiae is a highly pathogenic bacterium of aquatic species and terrestrial animals worldwide, whereas chitin and its derivative chitosan are among the most abundant biopolymers found in nature, including the aquatic milieu. The present investigation focused on the capability of S. agalactiae to degrade and utilize these polymers. Growth of S. agalactiae in the presence of colloid chitin, chitosan, or N‐acetyl‐glucosamine (GlcNAc) was evaluated. Chitosanase production was measured daily over 7 days of growth period and degraded products were evaluated with thin later chorography. Chitin had no effect on the growth of S. agalactiae. Degraded chitin, however, stimulated the growth of S. agalactiae. S. agalactiae cells did not produce chitinase to degrade chitin; however, they readily utilize GlcNAc (product of degraded chitin) as sole source of carbon and nitrogen for growth. Chitosan at high concentrations had antibacterial activities against S. agalactiae, while in the presence of lower than the inhibitory level of chitosan in the medium, S. agalactiae secrets chitosanase to degrade chitosan, and utilizes it to a limited extent to benefit growth. The interaction of S. agalactiae with chitin hydrolytes and chitosan could play a role in the diverse habitat distribution and pathogenicity of S. agalactiae worldwide.
High‐precision noise power spectrum measurements in digital radiography imaging
Authors: Kim Dong Sik 
Published: October 2018

PurposeAccurately and precisely estimating the noise power spectrum (NPS) is important for characterizing the performance of a radiography detector and helpful for improving the performance when developing radiography detectors. In order to produce an accurate estimate, the frequency resolution should be sufficiently high, and for a precise estimate, the sample size for the sample mean should also be large enough. However, there is a trade‐off between the frequency resolution and the sample size if the available samples are limited. To improve the precision of the estimate, a radial averaging technique is employed in the IEC standard without sacrificing the frequency resolution or the estimate accuracy. In the radial averaging technique, directional NPS curves of a range are averaged from the two‐dimensional NPS, and thus, directional error and poor precision problems occur, especially at low frequencies. This problem also leads to uncertainties in calculating the detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop algorithms that can improve the precisions in estimating NPS to replace the radial averaging technique or to add additional precision.MethodsThe horizontal or vertical NPS curve can be estimated using the sample mean of the summation of directional cross periodograms with various distances from the two‐dimensional NPS. In practical x‐ray imaging, the amplitude response of the cross periodograms decreases rapidly as the distance increases. Hence, a partial summation of the cross periodograms can provide an accurate estimate of the NPS. This partial summation can increase the sample size and thus improve the estimate precision for the entire frequency range without causing directional errors. This paper proposes two estimate algorithms under the notion of the partial use of cross periodograms.ResultsIn order to evaluate the precisions from the proposed algorithms, a relative precision, which is defined as the standard deviation of the estimate divided by its average, was employed. The relative precisions were calculated using 100 x‐ray images acquired from a general radiography detector. For the detector, we were able to achieve a better precision compared to using the radial averaging technique. For an image of 900 × 900 pixels and the region of interest size 256 in a direction with a half overlap, the conventional approach of the IEC standard yielded an average relative precision of 6.96% with the worst precision of 36.1% at the zero frequency. However, the proposed algorithms could yield an average relative precision of 4.14% with the zero‐frequency precision of 5.79%.ConclusionsWithout using the radial averaging technique, the proposed algorithms in this paper could improve the estimate precisions for the entire frequency range under the notion of a partial summation of the cross periodograms. Especially for low frequencies including the zero frequency, the proposed algorithms could achieve a high‐precision to estimate the NPS.
Evaluation of human observer performance on lesion detectability in single‐slice and multislice dedicated breast cone beam CT images with breast anatomical background
Authors: Han Minah , Jang Hanjoo , Baek Jongduk 
Published: October 2018

PurposeWe evaluate the lesion detectability using human and model observer studies in single‐slice and multislice cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with a breast anatomical background. The purposes of this work are (a) to compare human observer detectability between single‐slice and multislice images for different signal sizes and noise structures, (b) to investigate the effect of different multislice viewing modes (i.e., sequential and simultaneous) on the detectability by a human observer, and (c) to predict the detectability by a human observer in single‐slice and multislice images using single‐slice channelized Hotelling observer (ssCHO) and multislice CHO (msCHO), respectively.MethodsBreast anatomical background is modeled using a power law spectrum of mammograms and the lesion is modeled with a spherical signal. We conduct signal‐known‐exactly and background‐known‐statistically detection tasks on transverse and longitudinal images reconstructed using the Feldkamp–Davis–Kress algorithm with Hanning and Ram‐Lak weighted ramp filters. The human observer study is conducted on three different viewing modes: single‐slice, and sequential and simultaneous multislice. To predict the detectability by a human observer, we use ssCHO and msCHO with anthropomorphic channels (i.e., dense difference‐of‐Gaussian (D‐DOG) and Gabor channels) and internal noise.ResultsThe detectability by a human observer increases for multislice images compared to single‐slice images. For multislice images, the sequential viewing mode yields higher detectability than the simultaneous viewing mode. However, the relative rank of detectability by a human observer for different signal sizes, image planes, and reconstruction filters is not much different between the viewing modes. Detectability by CHO with internal noise shows good correlation with that of the human observer for all viewing modes.ConclusionsDetectability by a human observer in CBCT images with breast anatomical background is affected by the image viewing mode, and the effect of the viewing mode depends on the signal size and noise structure. D‐DOG and Gabor CHO with internal noise predict the detectability by a human observer well for both the single‐slice and multislice image viewing modes.
Über die Chemie der Schokoladenherstellung
Authors: Kuhnert Nikolai , d‘Souza Roy 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDer botanische Name des Kakaobaums, Theobroma cacao, bedeutet Nahrung der Götter, und manche sagen, Schokolade essen mache glücklich. Für den Chemiker ist sie allerdings eine Herausforderung: Die Zusammensetzung der Kakaobohne verändert sich bei der Schokoladenherstellung drastisch; kein anderes Lebensmittel enthält mehr Stoffe, und davon ist nur ein Bruchteil bekannt.
Wärmepflaster, im Chemieunterricht nachgebaut
Authors: Richter Miriam , Homeyer Marc Sören , Duvinage Brigitte 
Published: October 2018

AbstractSchüler kennen Wärmeauflagen vor allem aus der Werbung: Sie sollen gegen Gelenk‐ und Muskelschmerzen helfen. Die freigesetzte Wärme basiert bei einigen dieser Medizinprodukte auf der Redoxreaktion zwischen Eisen, Wasser und Sauerstoff. Ein Modellexperiment veranschaulicht die Funktionsweise.
Contra Glyphosat: Entscheidungen nach dem Vorsorgeprinzip sind gefordert
Authors: Zaller Johann 
Published: October 2018

AbstractHerbizideinsatz rechnet sich nur, wenn man Nebenwirkungen und Folgekosten ignoriert. Rein landwirtschaftlich betrachtet gibt es keinen Grund, Glyphosat zu verwenden, entgegnet Johann Zaller.