bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nonthermal pretreatments enhances drying kinetics and quality properties of dried ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) slices
Authors: Osae Richard , Zhou Cunshan , Xu Baoguo , Tchabo William , Bonah Ernest , Alenyorege Evans A. , Ma Haile 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe objective of this present work was to investigate the effect of ultrasound (US), osmotic dehydration (OD), and osmosonication (OS) pretreatment on microstructure, weight loss, texture, mass transfer, chromatic properties and drying kinetics of ginger slices under relative humidity convective drying. The results revealed that OS pretreatment yielded higher weight loss (16.5%) and lower firmness (12.11 N) than US (9.8%, 20.33 N) and OD (6.5%, 15.30 N). Microstructure analysis showed that OS, US, and OD pretreatments altered cell structure and resulted in the observable formation of several microchannels and collapsed the cell structure. Mass transfer data showed that the OS pretreated sample led to higher solid gain (3.2%) and water loss (5.1%) than the US (2.36%, 4.2%) and OD (1.7%, 2.53%) pretreatments. The chromatic property analysis revealed that the chroma value and hue angle was higher for OS treated sample (29.74, 88.77°) compared the US (26.95, 85.76°) and OD (22.96, 82.24°) treated sample. Among the three pretreatments, OS was found to enhance the drying kinetics comparative to the US and OD pretreated sample. Weibull model fitted well to the experimental results (R2 > .99) than the first order.Practical applicationsUltrasound, osmotic dehydration, and osmosonication are unique pretreatment techniques that are widely used prior to drying of various agricultural products due to its numerous advantages over conventional methods. Its application in the drying of foods could help shorten the drying time, reduce processing costs, improve energy consumption and efficiency and preserve the physical and nutritional properties of the dried product. The outcomes of the present study will provide a better understanding of different nonthermal pretreatment methods and also make available more information for selecting pretreatment techniques for ginger drying.
Multi‐frequency ultrasound and sequential infrared drying on drying kinetics, thermodynamic properties, and quality assessment of sweet potatoes
Authors: Rashid Muhammad T. , Ma Haile , Jatoi Mushtaque A. , Safdar Bushra , El‐Mesery Hany S. , Sarpong Frederick , Ali Zeshan , Wali Asif 
Published: June 2019

AbstractDifferent ultrasound frequencies as pretreatments with different infrared drying temperatures were tested for drying of sweet potatoes to study the drying kinetics, mathematical modeling, energy activation, and thermodynamic properties of dried sweet potatoes. The treated samples showed a significant reduction in drying time by 110 to 60 min as compared to the control ones. Hii model, Page model, and Silva models found satisfactorily described the drying kinetics among 13 different tested mathematical models. The effective diffusion varied from 1.01 × 10−06 to 9.21 × 10−06, while the lowest activation energy recorded as 24.69 kJ/mol in samples pretreated with 40 kHz. The enthalpy and Gibbs free energy decreased with the increase in drying temperature while entropy decreased and obtained as negative during drying. In addition, the moderate ultrasound frequency of 40 kHz positively and significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the surface color, enzyme inactivation, enzymatic browning, and microstructure of dried sweet potatoes.Practical applicationsThis study investigated the impact of sequential ultrasound (US) frequencies and infrared (IR) temperatures. The study provides significant evidence that the US in combination with IR not only reduces drying time but also improve the quality of the dry product on moderate US frequency. Higher US frequency (60 kHz) at higher temperature did not significantly improve the drying time but also showed big pores in SEM analysis.
Supernumerary scutes verify a segment‐dependent model of the horny shell development in turtles
Authors: Cherepanov Gennady , Malashichev Yegor , Danilov Igor 
Published: June 2019

AbstractTurtle horny shell has a scute pattern, which is conservative through evolution and across species. The discovery of epidermal placodes as the scute primordia and their strict topographical association to the somites of the turtle embryo suggested a new interpretation of the developmental mechanism of the scute pattern. Here, we tested the hypothesis that horny scutes develop from a mosaic of placodes corresponding exactly to the paths of myoseptae, with vertebral and pleural scutes developing staggered in adjacent segments, and marginal scutes developing in every segment. This scheme predicts little variation in marginals and suggests intercalary supernumerary scutes as potential variations for the vertebral and pleural rows. We examined spatial and numerical variations of the horny shell in 655 newly hatched olive ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, which is known to have a highly variable horny shell. In total, 120 patterns of carapacial scutes and 10 patterns of scutes on plastron, differing in the number and position of scutes were found. The number of vertebral scutes varied from 4 to 10. Variations with five, six and seven vertebrals occurred with the greatest and nearly equally frequency (31.5% on average). Pleural scutes were from 5 to 10 at one or both sides, and the typical symmetric pattern for sea turtles with five pairs of pleurals was only seen in ca. 12% of specimens. In contrast, the majority of the specimens (92.7%) had just 13 pairs of marginals, showing a stable normal pattern. Similarly, on plastron the horny scutes were conservative, too; about 85% of specimens standardly had six pairs of plastral scutes and all specimens had four pairs of inframarginals. Despite a high level of variation of vertebral and pleural scutes in olive ridley turtle, all patterns fall into the theoretical spectrum of possible variants predicted by the segment‐dependent model of development of the turtle horny shell. Therefore, the results of our analysis support the existence of direct morphogenetic correlation between the number and distribution of normal and supernumerary scutes and metamere organization of the turtle embryo.
The effect of high‐fat diet on the morphological properties of the forelimb musculature in hypertrophic myostatin null mice
Authors: Elashry Mohamed I. , Eldaey Asmaa , Glenske Kristina , Matsakas Antonios , Wenisch Sabine , Arnhold Stefan , Patel Ketan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractObesity is a worldwide nutritional disorder affecting body performance, including skeletal muscle. Inhibition of myostatin not only increases the muscle mass but also it reduces body fat accumulation. We examined the effect of high‐fat diet on the phenotypic properties of forelimb muscles from myostatin null mice. Male wild‐type and myostatin null mice were fed on either a normal diet or a high‐fat diet (45% fat) for 10 weeks. Musculus triceps brachii Caput longum; M. triceps brachii Caput laterale; M. triceps brachii Caput mediale; M. extensor carpi ulnaris and M. flexor carpi ulnaris were processed for fiber type composition using immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis. Although the muscle mass revealed no change under a high‐fat diet, there were morphometric alterations in the absence of myostatin. We show that high‐fat diet reduces the cross‐sectional area of the fast (IIB and IIX) fibers in M. triceps brachii Caput longum and M. triceps brachii Caput laterale of both genotypes. In contrast, increases of fast fiber areas were observed in both M. extensor carpi ulnaris of wild‐type and M. flexor carpi ulnaris of myostatin null mice. Meanwhile, a high‐fat diet increased the area of the fast IIA fibers in wild‐type mice; myostatin null mice display a muscle‐dependent alteration in the area of the same fiber type. The combined high‐fat diet and myostatin deletion shows no effect on the area of slow type I fibers. Although a high‐fat diet causes a reduction in the area of the peripheral IIB fibers in both genotypes, only myostatin null mice show an increase in the area of the central IIB fibers. We provide evidence that a high‐fat diet induces a muscle‐dependent fast to slow myofiber shift in the absence of myostatin. The data suggest that the morphological alterations of muscle fibers under a combined high‐fat diet and myostatin deletion reflect a functional adaptation of the muscle to utilize the high energy intake.
Multicenter Volumetric Assessment of Artifactual Hypoperfusion Patterns using Automated CT Perfusion Imaging
Authors: Siegler James E. , Olsen Andrew , Pulst‐Korenberg Johannes , Cristancho Daniel , Rosenberg Jon , Raab Lindsay , Cucchiara Brett , Messé Steven R. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEAutomated computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is recommended to inform selection of stroke patients for thrombectomy >6 hours from last known normal (LKN). However, artifacts on automated perfusion output may overestimate the tissue at risk leading to misclassification of thrombectomy eligibility in some patients.METHODSWe conducted a retrospective multisite study of consecutive patients with anterior large vessel occlusion (LVO) undergoing CTP (6/2017‐12/2017). The primary outcome was the RAPID automated Tmax > 6 seconds volume that was discordant with clinical symptoms and vessel imaging, manually assessed by two independent readers. The discordant penumbral volume was compared to the automated output and corrected mismatch ratios were generated.RESULTSOf 410 consecutive patients who underwent CTP for suspected stroke, 60 (15%) had acute anterior circulation LVO. Of these, 26 (43%) had Tmax > 6 seconds abnormalities discordant with clinical symptoms and vessel imaging. There was strong interrater agreement on artifact volume (r2 = 0.927). Among patients with discordant Tmax imaging, the median artifactual volume was 12cc (IQR 3‐21cc), accounting for a median of 8% of the automated Tmax > 6 seconds volume (IQR 3‐16%, range 1‐64%). Recalculation of the Tmax > 6 seconds volume resulted in 1 patient being reclassified as having an “unfavorable” mismatch ratio (2.04‐1.40).CONCLUSIONNearly half of patients had evidence of artifactual penumbral imaging on automated CTP, which rarely lead to misclassification of thrombectomy eligibility. Although artifactual findings are reliably identified by trained raters, our results emphasize the need to evaluate CTP results with knowledge of the patient's clinical symptoms and vascular imaging.
Pharmacokinetics of transdermal flunixin in sows
Authors: Cramer Mary C. , Pairis‐Garcia Monique D. , Bowman Andrew S. , Moeller Steven J. , Zhang Yuntao , Sidhu Pritam K. , Magnin Geraldine , Coetzee Johann F. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe objective of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of flunixin in 12 nonlactating sows following transdermal (TD) flunixin (3.33 mg/kg) and intravenous (IV; 2.20 mg/kg) flunixin meglumine (FM) administration using a crossover design with a 10‐day washout period. Blood samples were collected postadministration from sows receiving IV FM (3, 6, 10, 20, 40 min and 1, 3, 6, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48 hr) and from sows receiving TD flunixin (10, 20, 40 min and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hr). Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to determine plasma flunixin concentrations, and noncompartmental methods were used for PK analysis. The geometric mean ± SDarea under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) following IV injection was 26,820.59 ± 9,033.88 and 511.83 ± 213.98 hr ng/ml for TD route. Mean initial plasma concentration (C0) was 26,279.70 ± 3,610.00 ng/ml, and peak concentration (Cmax) was 14.61 ± 7.85 ng/ml for IV and TD administration, respectively. The percent mean bioavailability of TD flunixin was 1.55 ± 1.00. Our results demonstrate that topical administration is not an efficient route for delivering flunixin in mature sows.
Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefquinome and ceftriaxone in premature calves
Authors: Corum Orhan , Yildiz Ramazan , Ider Merve , Altan Feray , Ok Mahmut , Uney Kamil 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefquinome (CFQ) and ceftriaxone (CTX) following intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administrations in premature calves. Using a parallel design, 24 premature calves were randomly divided into the two antibiotic groups. Each of the six animals in the first group received CFQ (2 mg/kg) through IV or IM administration. The second group received CTX (20 mg/kg) via the same administration route. Plasma concentrations of the drugs were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography and noncompartmental methods. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters of CFQ and CTX following IV administration were as follows: elimination half‐life (t1/2λz) 1.85 and 3.31 hr, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC0–∞) 15.74 and 174 hr * μg/ml, volume of distribution at steady‐state 0.37 and 0.45 L/kg, and total body clearance 0.13 and 0.12 L hr−1 kg−1, respectively. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters of CFQ and CTX after IM injection were as follows: peak concentration 4.56 and 25.04 μg/ml, time to reach peak concentration 1 and 1.5 hr, t1/2λz 4.74 and 3.62 hr, and AUC0–∞ 22.75 and 147 hr * μg/ml, respectively. The bioavailability of CFQ and CTX after IM injection was 141% and 79%, respectively. IM administration of CFQ (2 mg/kg) and CTX (20 mg/kg) can be recommended at 12‐hr interval for treating infections caused by susceptible bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of ≤0.5 and ≤4 μg/ml, respectively, in premature calves. However, further research is indicated to assess the pharmacokinetic parameters following multiple doses of the drug in premature calves.
Macrofaunal spatial distribution and community structure in a lagoon without a river discharge (the Oualidia lagoon, NW Morocco)
Authors: Chaouti Abdellatif , Azirar Asmae , Bayed Abdellatif 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe assemblage structure and spatial distribution patterns of macrobenthic communities according to environmental conditions were analysed through five samplings carried out at 14 intertidal soft sediment stations in the Oualidia lagoon (NW Morocco). A total of 89 macrobenthic taxa were collected, amounting to 55.188 specimens. Molluscs, polychaetes and arthropods were the most species‐rich groups. The snail Peringia ulvae was the most dominant species, especially abundant in the mid‐ and upper lagoon sections (nearly 64% of the total specimens gathered), followed by the mollusc Scrobicularia plana (10%). Diversity values were generally low (<3 bit) pointing out the high dominance by few species. Multivariate analyses clearly distinguished three distinct macrobenthic assemblages, successively distributed from lagoon inlets towards inner parts. Nevertheless, each assemblage was found in particular habitat types and had a specific species composition in response to different environmental characteristics. (a) The Scolelepis fuliginosa community occupied sandy substrates at the lower section of the lagoon with stronger marine influence and, (b) the P. ulvae community lived in sandy‐muddy substrates, including two sub‐communities dominated, respectively, by Cerastoderma edule, S. plana and Tritia pfeffeiri inhabiting the middle section and S. plana the upper section. The combination of salinity, temperature, pH and silt content was identified as the major environmental variable subset with the highest correlation with the observed macrofaunal patterns and silt fraction as the single best correlated variable. The results demonstrated significant spatial differences in macrobenthic assemblage structure and composition along environmental gradients in spite of the absence of direct freshwater river inflow.
Eating well in care homes: Testing the feasibility of a staff training programme aimed at improving social interaction and choice at mealtimes
Authors: Watkins Ross , Goodwin Victoria A. , Abbott Rebecca A. , Tarrant Mark 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe health and well‐being of care home residents are influenced by their experience of mealtimes, which provide an opportunity for residents to socialise and exercise control over their lives, as well as providing essential sustenance. Care home staff are pivotal to this experience, responsible for the provision of meals and eating assistance, but also for establishing a positive mealtime culture valued by residents. Despite this, mealtimes can be task‐focussed, as the pressure on staff to perform multiple duties in limited time, or a lack of knowledge and awareness, means that resident needs and preferences risk being neglected.MethodsA staff‐focussed training programme aimed at improving social interaction, and resident choice was developed and delivered in a workshop. Intervention feasibility was assessed using a qualitative survey and workshop observations. A combination of descriptive and content analyses was conducted on the data.ResultsThirteen women and one man took part in the workshops, representing multiple roles within two homes in the South West UK. The workshops were found to be deliverable and practicable. Participants responded positively to the workshops, anticipating that improvements to the mealtime experience would result from their workshop outputs.ConclusionThis study suggests that staff training workshops based on improving the mealtime experience are feasible to deliver within the day‐to‐day running of a care home and are acceptable to staff. Positive changes resulting from these workshops could improve the health and well‐being of residents.Implications for practiceMealtimes in care homes may be improved by increasing social interaction and by providing residents with greater choice. Management‐faciltated staff training may be a useful tool to encourage staff to reflect on current practice and develop their own strategies to improve the mealtime experience for residents.
Assessing the safety of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator reuse—A retrospective case‐control study
Authors: Enache Bogdan , Șoșdean Raluca , Macarie Răzvan , Dodinot Bernard , Pescariu Sorin 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAimsThe safety of pacemaker reuse has been proven by numerous studies in the last two decades. With the exception of one research paper, the safety of reuse of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators has not been properly investigated. Our aim was to establish whether resterilized implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators are as safe as new devices in relation to functionality and infection rates.MethodsAll the patients (n = 271) implanted with a new or a donated, used implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) at the Institute of Cardiovascular Disease Timisoara Romania between January 2001 and December 2012 were included in the study. The patients had class I indication for ICD implantation. One hundred fifty‐seven patients received reused ICDs and 114 patients received new ICDs. Complications were defined as infections that required reintervention, device malfunction, and replacements due to untimely or unexpected battery depletion.ResultsComplications occurred in 4.38% of the patients in the new ICD group and in 1.91% of the reused ICD group. The difference was not considered statistically significant (odds ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.04‐1.82, P = .18).ConclusionAccording to our data, properly verified and resterilized ICDs are as safe as new devices, when risk of infection or malfunction rates are assessed. Due to the high costs of new ICDs, their safe reuse has profound humanitarian and financial implications.
Multiplex restriction amplicon sequencing: a novel next‐generation sequencing‐based marker platform for high‐throughput genotyping
Authors: Bernardo Amy , St. Amand Paul , Le Ha Quang , Su Zhenqi , Bai Guihua 
Published: June 2019

SummaryTo enable rapid selection of traits in marker‐assisted breeding, markers must be technically simple, low‐cost, high‐throughput and randomly distributed in a genome. We developed such a technology, designated as Multiplex Restriction Amplicon Sequencing (MRASeq), which reduces genome complexity by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of amplicons flanked by restriction sites. The first PCR primers contain restriction site sequences at 3’‐ends, preceded by 6‐10 bases of specific or degenerate nucleotide sequences and then by a unique M13‐tail sequence which serves as a binding site for a second PCR that adds sequencing primers and barcodes to allow sample multiplexing for sequencing. The sequences of restriction sites and adjacent nucleotides can be altered to suit different species. Physical mapping of MRASeq SNPs from a biparental population of allohexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) showed a random distribution of SNPs across the genome. MRASeq generated thousands of SNPs from a wheat biparental population and natural populations of wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). This novel, next‐generation sequencing‐based genotyping platform can be used for linkage mapping to screen quantitative trait loci (QTL), background selection in breeding and many other genetics and breeding applications of various species.
Therapy for anogenital verrucae in preadolescent children with topical and systemic treatment
Authors: Chamseddin Bahir H. , Agim Nnenna G. , Jarin Jason , Wilson Ellen E. , Mir Adnan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesAnogenital verrucae (AV) are benign, human papillomavirus (HPV)–induced tumors of the anogenital skin and mucosa. Medical therapy for AV in preadolescents has not been well studied. We explore the efficacy and safety profile of sinecatechins 15% ointment and imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of AV, alone and in combination therapy with other commonly used medications.MethodsA single‐institution, retrospective review of children under 12 years of age with AV treated with imiquimod 5% cream and sinecatechins 15% ointment was performed. Demographic data, side effects, and outcomes of therapy were recorded for each patient, and overall efficacy was determined.ResultsA total of 37 patients met inclusion criteria. Responses were seen in 8 out of 9 patients treated with sinecatechins 15% ointment (5 full, 3 partial, and 1 no response) and 9 out of 17 patients treated with imiquimod 5% cream (4 full, 5 partial, and 8 no response). Combination therapy with one or more of the following treatments (podophyllin, cimetidine, candida antigen injection, and HPV vaccine) were evaluated, but no combination was objectively superior to the others. No significant difference was found in overall efficacy between sinecatechins and imiquimod. Side effects were mild and limited to irritation and erythema.ConclusionsBoth imiquimod 5% cream and sinecatechins 15% ointment are moderately effective in the treatment of AV in preadolescent children, with a trend toward greater effectiveness of sinecatechins. Combination therapy with other treatments did not significantly increase the effectiveness of topical therapies. Each modality has a tolerable side effect profile with a low risk of serious complications.