bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality, Textural, and Sensory Properties of Yellow Alkaline Noodles Formulated with Salted Duck Egg White
Authors: Tan Thuan‐Chew , Phatthanawiboon Tanyong , Mat Easa Azhar 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe objective of this study was to utilize salted duck egg white as an alternative source of salt for yellow alkaline noodles (YAN). YAN with salted duck egg white (YAN‐EW) was formulated by incorporating 15.21 g of salted duck egg white to replace the 1 g of salt. The effects of this substitution on the proximate compositions, physicochemical properties, cooking properties, textural properties and organoleptic properties of YAN were determined. YAN‐EW showed to have significantly higher (P < 0.05) protein content, lighter and more yellowish compared to control YAN‐C. No significant difference between YAN‐EW and YAN‐C in terms of pH and cooking properties. YAN‐EW exhibited similar hardness and springiness as YAN‐C, but have significantly higher (P < 0.05) cohesiveness and chewiness. YAN‐EW received scores on a par with YAN‐C in all sensory attributes. All the sensory attributes scored higher than 5, indicating good acceptance of YAN‐EW by the sensory panelists.Practical ApplicationsHigh demand on traditional Chinese foods, such as mooncakes and glutinous rice dumplings, generated a large amount of waste, i.e., salted duck egg white. Potential use of salted duck egg white as a food ingredient is of great interest to the industry. The present work describes the use of salted duck egg white in yellow alkaline noodle. The main finding is that salted duck egg white showed potential to be utilized as an alternative source to table salt in noodle formulation. This information can be useful to noodle producers in utilizing “waste” as a natural source of salt.
Extended‐Spectrum Β‐Lactamase and Plasmid‐Mediated AMPC Genes in Swine and Ground Pork
Authors: Sabia Carla , Stefani Sara , Messi Patrizia , de Niederhäusern Simona , Bondi Moreno , Condò Carla , Iseppi Ramona , Anacarso Immacolata 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe investigated the presence of ESBL and AmpC‐producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from 200 rectal swabs of healthy swine and 200 samples of ground pork. Phenotypic testing by using the double synergy differential test (DSDT) for ESBL/AmpC‐positive strains was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequence analysis. The localization of beta‐lactamase genes was established by conjugation experiments. ESBL and/or AmpC‐producing Enterobacteriaceae was found in 52.2% (95/182) of the isolates collected from rectal swabs and 3% (3/100) of isolates obtained from ground pork samples. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing confirmed the presence of blaTEM‐20, blaTEM‐34, blaTEM‐52, blaCTX‐M‐1, blaSHV‐12, blaTEM‐1+SHV‐12, blaTEM‐20+SHV‐12, blaCMY‐2, blaTEM‐1+ CMY‐2, blaACC‐1 and blaACC‐2. The conjugation assays yielded positive results, denoting a plasmid localization of the genes.Practical ApplicationsIn this study, the prevalence of ESBL and AmpC‐producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from rectal swabs of healthy swine and samples of ground pork were determined. ESBL/AmpC‐positive strains were confirmed by PCR and DNA sequence analysis. The most frequently isolated species was E.coli, among the most common variants detected TEM‐type ESBL, TEM‐52 was showed. These findings provide new information about the presence of ESBL/AmpC at the farm level and have important implications for assessments of risks of meat contamination during slaughter.
Long‐term pain relief with optimized medical treatment including antioxidants and step‐up interventional therapy in patients with chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Shalimar  , Midha Shallu , Hasan Ajmal , Dhingra Rajan , Garg Pramod Kumar 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackground and aimAbdominal pain is difficult to treat in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Medical therapy including antioxidants has been shown to relieve pain of CP in the short‐term. Our aim was to study the long‐term results of optimized medical and interventional therapy for pain relief in patients with CP with a step‐up approach.MethodsAll consecutive patients with CP were included prospectively in the study. They were treated medically with a well‐balanced diet, pancreatic enzymes, and antioxidants (9000 IU beta‐carotene, 0.54 g vitamin C, 270 IU vitamin E, 600 µg organic selenium, and 2 g methionine). Endoscopic therapy and/or surgery were offered if medical therapy failed. Pain relief was the primary outcome measure.ResultsA total of 313 patients (mean age 26.16 ± 12.17; 244 males) with CP were included; 288 (92%) patients had abdominal pain. The etiology of CP was idiopathic in 224 (71.6%) and alcohol in 82 (26.2%). At 1‐year follow‐up, significant pain relief was achieved in 84.7% of patients: 52.1% with medical therapy, 16.7% with endoscopic therapy, 7.6% with surgery, and 8.3% spontaneously. The mean pain score decreased from 6.36 ± 1.92 to 1.62 ± 2.10 (P < 0.001). Of the 288 patients, 261, 218, 112, and 51 patients were followed up for 3, 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively; 54.0%, 57.3%, 60.7%, and 68.8% of them became pain free at those follow‐up periods.ConclusionSignificant pain relief is achieved in the majority of patients with optimized medical and interventional treatment.
Exosome in intestinal mucosal immunity
Authors: Xu An Tao , Lu Jun Tao , Ran Zhi Hua , Zheng Qing 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIntercellular communication of immune cells is critical to elicit efficient inflammatory responses. In intestinal mucosa, imbalance in pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory mediators, especially cytokines and chemokines, characterizes the underlying immune mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease. Exosomes, small membrane vesicles secreted into the extracellular environment, are emerging as another important intercellular messenger in immune responses. A major recent breakthrough in this field unveils the capacity of exosomes to mediate the functional transfer of genetic materials (mRNAs and miRNAs) between immune cells. RAB27A and RAB27B are two small GTPases involved in exosome secretion. With respect to intestinal mucosal immunity, increased number of RAB27A‐positive immune cells and RAB27B‐positive immune cells are demonstrated in the colonic mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis as compared with that of healthy controls. This indicates the important role of exosome‐mediated immune responses in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we will discuss the immune properties of exosomes and recent advances in their function with a special focus on intestinal mucosal immunity.
Geriatric Syndromes in Hospitalized Older Adults Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities
Authors: Bell Susan P. , Vasilevskis Eduard E. , Saraf Avantika A. , Jacobsen J. M. L. , Kripalani Sunil , Mixon Amanda S. , Schnelle John F. , Simmons Sandra F. 
Published: April 2016

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence, recognition, co‐occurrence, and recent onset of geriatric syndromes in individuals transferred from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility (SNF).DesignQuality improvement project.SettingAcute care academic medical center and 23 regional partner SNFs.ParticipantsMedicare beneficiaries hospitalized between January 2013 and April 2014 and referred to SNFs (N = 686).MeasurementsProject staff measured nine geriatric syndromes: weight loss, lack of appetite, incontinence, and pain (standardized interview); depression (Geriatric Depression Scale); delirium (Brief Confusion Assessment Method); cognitive impairment (Brief Interview for Mental Status); and falls and pressure ulcers (hospital medical record using hospital‐implemented screening tools). Estimated prevalence, new‐onset prevalence, and common coexisting clusters were determined. The extent to which treating physicians commonly recognized syndromes and communicated them to SNFs in hospital discharge documentation was evaluated.ResultsGeriatric syndromes were prevalent in more than 90% of hospitalized adults referred to SNFs; 55% met criteria for three or more coexisting syndromes. The most‐prevalent syndromes were falls (39%), incontinence (39%), loss of appetite (37%), and weight loss (33%). In individuals who met criteria for three or more syndromes, the most common triad clusters were nutritional syndromes (weight loss, loss of appetite), incontinence, and depression. Treating hospital physicians commonly did not recognize and document geriatric syndromes in discharge summaries, missing 33% to 95% of syndromes present according to research personnel.ConclusionGeriatric syndromes in hospitalized older adults transferred to SNFs are prevalent and commonly coexist, with the most frequent clusters including nutritional syndromes, depression, and incontinence. Despite the high prevalence, this clinical information is rarely communicated to SNFs on discharge.
Effects of Self‐Management Groups for People with Dementia and Their Spouses—Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Laakkonen Marja‐Liisa , Kautiainen Hannu , Hölttä Eeva , Savikko Niina , Tilvis Reijo S. , Strandberg Timo E. , Pitkälä Kaisu H. 
Published: April 2016

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of self‐management group rehabilitation for persons with dementia (PwD) and their spouses on their health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), the cognition of the PwD, and the costs of health and social services.DesignA randomized controlled trial.SettingPrimary care and memory clinics in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland.ParticipantsPwD (N = 136) and their spouses (N = 136).InterventionCouples were randomized to usual care or eight‐session self‐management groups for PwD and concurrently for their spouses. Sessions aim to enhance self‐efficacy and problem‐solving skills and to provide peer support.MeasurementsThe primary outcome measures were the HRQoL of PwD (measured using a generic, comprehensive (15‐dimensional), self‐administered instrument (15D)) and spouses (measured using the RAND‐36) and the spousal Sense of Competence Questionnaire (SCQ). Secondary outcome measures were PwD cognition (Verbal Fluency (VF), Clock Drawing Test (CDT)) and costs of health and social services during 24 months.ResultsAt 3 months, the spouse physical component of the RAND‐36 improved (mean change 1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.5 to 2.4) for those undergoing the intervention and worsened for controls (mean change −2.0, 95% CI = −3.5 to −0.4) (P = .006 adjusted for age, sex, baseline value of the physical component of the RAND‐36). There were no differences between the groups on the mental component of the RAND‐36, the SCQ, or the 15D. At 9 months, PwD change in VF was −0.38 (95% CI = −1.03 to 0.27) in intervention group and −1.60 (95% CI = −2.26 to −0.94) for controls (P = .011 adjusted for age, sex, baseline MMSE score). CDT changes were similar to VF changes. Differences in incremental costs between the groups was −436 € per person per year (95% CI = −4,986 to 4,115) for PwD (P = .35 adjusted for age, CDR) and −896 € per person per year (95% CI = −3,657 to 1,864) for spouses (P = .51 adjusted for PwD age, CDR).ConclusionsThe intervention had beneficial effects on the HRQoL of spouses and the cognitive function of PwD without increasing total costs. Trial registration: anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12611001173987.
Effect of Hospice Use on Costs of Care for Long‐Stay Nursing Home Decedents
Authors: Unroe Kathleen T. , Sachs Greg A. , Dennis M. E. , Hickman Susan E. , Stump Timothy E. , Tu Wanzhu , Callahan Christopher M. 
Published: April 2016

ObjectivesTo analyze the costs for long‐stay (>90 days) nursing home (NH) decedents with and without hospice care.DesignRetrospective cohort study using a 1999–2009 data set of linked Medicare and Medicaid claims and minimum data set (MDS) assessments.SettingIndianaNHs.ParticipantsLong‐stayNHdecedents (N = 2,510).MeasurementsMedicare costs were calculated for 2, 7, 14, 30, 90, and 180 days before death; Medicaid costs were calculated for dual‐eligible beneficiaries. Total costs and costs for hospice,NH, and inpatient care are reported.ResultsOf 2,510 long‐stayNHdecedents, 35% received hospice. Mean length of hospice was 103 days (median 34 days). Hospice users were more likely to have cancer (P< .001), a do‐not‐resuscitate order in place (P< .001), greater cognitive impairment (P< .001), and worse activity of daily living (ADL) function (P< .001) and less likely to have had a hospitalization in the year before death (P< .001). In propensity score analyses, hospice users had lower total Medicare costs for all time periods up to and including 90 days before death. For dually eligible beneficiaries, overall costs and Medicare costs were significantly lower for hospice users up to 30 days before death. Medicaid costs were not different between the groups except for the 2‐day time period.ConclusionIn this analysis of costs to Medicare and Medicaid for long‐stayNHdecedents, use of hospice did not increase costs in the last 6 months of life. Evidence supporting cost savings is sensitive to analyses that vary the time period before death.
Vitamin E supplementation inhibits muscle damage and inflammation after moderate exercise in hypoxia
Authors: Santos S. A. , Silva E. T. , Caris A. V. , Lira F. S. , Tufik S. , dos Santos R. V. T. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundExercise under hypoxic conditions represents an additional stress in relation to exercise in normoxia. Hypoxia induces oxidative stress and inflammation as mediated through tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α release that might be exacerbated through exercise. In addition, vitamin E supplementation might attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation resulting from hypoxia during exercise. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation (250 mg) on inflammatory parameters and cellular damage after exercise under hypoxia simulating an altitude of 4200 m.MethodsNine volunteers performed three sessions of 60 min of exercise (70% maximal oxygen uptake) interspersed for 1 week under normoxia, hypoxia and hypoxia after vitamin E supplementation 1 h before exercise. Blood was collected before, immediately after and at 1 h after exercise to measure inflammatory parameters and cell damage.ResultsPercentage oxygen saturation of haemoglobin decreased after exercise and recovered 1 h later in the hypoxia + vitamin condition (P < 0.05). Supplementation decreased creatine kinase (CK)‐TOTAL, CK‐MB and lactate dehydrogenase 1 h after exercise (P < 0.05). The exercise in hypoxia increased interleukin (IL)‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐1ra and IL‐10 immediately after exercise (P < 0.05). Supplementation reversed the changes observed after exercise in hypoxia without supplementation (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe conclude that 250 mg of vitamin E supplementation at 1 h before exercise reduces cell damage markers after exercise in hypoxia and changes the concentration of cytokines, suggesting a possible protective effect against inflammation induced by hypoxia during exercise.
Financial Distress Prediction in an International Context: A Review and Empirical Analysis of Altman's Z‐Score Model
Authors: Altman Edward I. , Iwanicz‐Drozdowska Małgorzata , Laitinen Erkki K. , Suvas Arto 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis paper assesses the classification performance of the Z‐Score model in predicting bankruptcy and other types of firm distress, with the goal of examining the model's usefulness for all parties, especially banks that operate internationally and need to assess the failure risk of firms. We analyze the performance of the Z‐Score model for firms from 31 European and three non‐European countries using different modifications of the original model. This study is the first to offer such a comprehensive international analysis. Except for the United States and China, the firms in the sample are primarily private, and include non‐financial companies across all industrial sectors. We use the original Z′′‐Score model developed by Altman, Corporate Financial Distress: A Complete Guide to Predicting, Avoiding, and Dealing with Bankruptcy (1983) for private and public manufacturing and non‐manufacturing firms. While there is some evidence that Z‐Score models of bankruptcy prediction have been outperformed by competing market‐based or hazard models, in other studies, Z‐Score models perform very well. Without a comprehensive international comparison, however, the results of competing models are difficult to generalize. This study offers evidence that the general Z‐Score model works reasonably well for most countries (the prediction accuracy is approximately 0.75) and classification accuracy can be improved further (above 0.90) by using country‐specific estimation that incorporates additional variables.
Evolution of the microstructure of unmodified and polymer modified asphalt binders with aging in an accelerated weathering tester
Authors: MENAPACE ILARIA , MASAD EYAD 
Published: April 2016

SummaryThis paper presents findings on the evolution of the surface microstructure of two asphalt binders, one unmodified and one polymer modified, directly exposed to aging agents with increasing durations. The aging is performed using an accelerated weathering tester, where ultraviolet radiation, oxygen and an increased temperature are applied to the asphalt binder surface. Ultraviolet and dark cycles, which simulated the succession of day and night, alternated during the aging process, and also the temperature varied, which corresponded to typical summer day and night temperatures registered in the state of Qatar. Direct aging of an exposed binder surface is more effective in showing microstructural modifications than previously applied protocols, which involved the heat treatment of binders previously aged with standardized methods. With the new protocol, any molecular rearrangements in the binder surface after aging induced by the heat treatment is prevented. Optical photos show the rippling and degradation of the binder surface due to aging. Microstructure images obtained by means of atomic force microscopy show gradual alteration of the surface due to aging. The original relatively flat microstructure was substituted with a profoundly different microstructure, which significantly protrudes from the surface, and is characterized by various shapes, such as rods, round structures and finally ‘flower’ or ‘leaf’ structures.
Immunomodulation – a disease‐modifying avenue for treatment of Huntington's disease?
Authors: Björkqvist Maria 
Published: April 2016

image
This Editorial highlights a study published in the current issue of Journal of Neurochemistry by Dobson et al. (), investigating whether the immunomodulatory agent, laquinimod exerts an immunomodulatory effect on isolated Huntington's disease monocytes. In Huntington's disease (HD) a central immune activation is mirrored in the periphery by a low‐grade immune response and monocytes isolated from HD gene carriers have been shown pathologically hyperreactive in response to stimulation. This hyperreactive immune system has become recognized as an important feature of HD pathogenesis and the employment of a strategy to affect this hyperreactivity could be a potential disease‐modifying avenue in HD.Read the highlighted article ‘Laquinimod dampens hyperactive cytokine production in Huntington's disease patient myeloid cells’ on page 782.
Richard Hudson Quarles (1939–2015)
Authors: Johnson David , Boullerne Anne , DeVries George 
Published: April 2016

imageThis is an obituary for Richard Hudson Quarles, an internationally renowned neuroscientist, who retired in 2007 after 39 years at the National Institutes of Health, and who died August 9, 2015 in Sandy Spring, Maryland, USA. Richard Hudson Quarles, circa 1984, courtesy of The NIH Record newsletter.
Myosin light chain kinase facilitates endocytosis of synaptic vesicles at hippocampal boutons
Authors: Li Lin , Wu Xiaomei , Yue Hai‐Yuan , Zhu Yong‐Chuan , Xu Jianhua 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAt nerve terminals, endocytosis efficiently recycles vesicle membrane to maintain synaptic transmission under different levels of neuronal activity. Ca2+ and its downstream signal pathways are critical for the activity‐dependent regulation of endocytosis. An activity‐ and Ca2+‐dependent kinase, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) has been reported to regulate vesicle mobilization, vesicle cycling, and motility in different synapses, but whether it has a general contribution to regulation of endocytosis at nerve terminals remains unknown. We investigated this issue at rat hippocampal boutons by imaging vesicle endocytosis as the real‐time retrieval of vesicular synaptophysin tagged with a pH‐sensitive green fluorescence protein. We found that endocytosis induced by 200 action potentials (5–40 Hz) was slowed by acute inhibition of MLCK and down‐regulation of MLCK with RNA interference, while the total amount of vesicle exocytosis and somatic Ca2+ channel current did not change with MLCK down‐regulation. Acute inhibition of myosin II similarly impaired endocytosis. Furthermore, down‐regulation of MLCK prevented depolarization‐induced phosphorylation of myosin light chain, an effect shared by blockers of Ca2+ channels and calmodulin. These results suggest that MLCK facilitates vesicle endocytosis through activity‐dependent phosphorylation of myosin downstream of Ca2+/calmodulin, probably as a widely existing mechanism among synapses. Our study suggests that MLCK is an important activity‐dependent regulator of vesicle recycling in hippocampal neurons, which are critical for learning and memory.
image
The kinetics of vesicle membrane endocytosis at nerve terminals has long been known to depend on activity and Ca2+. This study provides evidence suggesting that myosin light chain kinase increases endocytosis efficiency at hippocampal neurons by mediating Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent phosphorylation of myosin. The authors propose that this signal cascade may serve as a common pathway contributing to the activity‐dependent regulation of vesicle endocytosis at synapses.