bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Prefermentative Addition of Gallic Acid on the Phenolic Composition and Chromatic Characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon Wines
Authors: Liu Yue , Zhang Bo , He Fei , Duan Chang‐Qing , Shi Ying 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn this study, the prefermentative addition of gallic acid in Cabernet Sauvignon red winemaking was performed. The influence of gallic acid addition on wine phenolic composition, the ratio of copigmentation, and the color parameters were monitored throughout the winemaking process. The results showed that the prefermentative addition of gallic acid enhanced the extraction of total anthocyanins and the copigmentation effect, producing wines with more darkness, redness, yellowness, and saturation. Moreover, the addition of gallic acid contributed to the concentration of total phenolic acids. However, it had a negative effect on the concentrations of flavonols and flavan‐3‐ols in the final wines. Thus, the prefermentative addition of gallic acid at appropriate levels might be a promising enological technology to obtain wines with high color quality and aging potential.
Assessing the Potential Content of Ethyl Carbamate in White, Red, and Rosé Wines as a Key Factor for Pursuing Urea Degradation by Purified Acid Urease
Authors: Cerreti Martina , Fidaleo Marcello , Benucci Ilaria , Liburdi Katia , Tamborra Pasquale , Moresi Mauro 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe ethyl carbamate (EC) content of a wine after a given temperature‐time storage was theoretically predicted from the potential concentration of ethyl carbamate (PEC), as determined via an accelerated EC formation test. Such information was used to decide whether an enzymatic treatment was needed to reduce the wine urea level before bottling/aging. To this end, 6 white, red, and rosé wines, manufactured in Italy as such or enriched with urea, were tested for their PEC content either before or after enzymatic treatment using a purified acid urease preparation derived from Lactobacillus fermentum. The treatment was severely affected by the total phenolic content (TP) of the wine, the estimated pseudo‐first‐order kinetic rate constant for NH3 formation reducing by a factor of approximately 2000 as the TP increased from 0 to 1.64 g L‐1. Such a sensitivity to TP was by far greater than that pertaining to a killed cell‐based enzyme preparation used previously. Urea hydrolysis was successful at reducing EC concentration in wines with low levels of TP and other EC precursors.
Novel Synthesis of Phytosterol Ester from Soybean Sterol and Acetic Anhydride
Authors: Yang Fuming , Oyeyinka Samson A. , Ma Ying 
Published: May 2016

AbstractPhytosterols are important bioactive compounds which have several health benefits including reduction of serum cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular diseases. The most widely used method in the synthesis of its ester analogous form is the use of catalysts and solvents. These methods have been found to present some safety and health concern. In this paper, an alternative method of synthesizing phytosterol ester from soybean sterol and acetic anhydride was investigated. Process parameters such as mole ratio, temperature and time were optimized. The structure and physicochemical properties of phytosterol acetic ester were analyzed. By the use of gas chromatography, the mole ratio of soybean sterol and acetic anhydride needed for optimum esterification rate of 99.4% was 1:1 at 135 °C for 1.5 h. FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of phytosterol ester with strong absorption peaks at 1732 and 1250 cm–1, which corresponds to the stretching vibration of C=O and C—O—C, respectively. These peaks could be attributed to the formation of ester links which resulted from the reaction between the hydroxyl group of soybean sterol and the carbonyl group of acetic anhydride. This paper provides a better alternative to the synthesis of phytosterol ester without catalyst and solvent residues, which may have potential application in the food, health‐care food, and pharmaceutical industries.
A universal and reliable assay for molecular sex identification of three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Authors: Toli E.‐A. , Calboli F.C.F. , Shikano T. , Merilä J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn heterogametic species, biological differences between the two sexes are ubiquitous, and hence, errors in sex identification can be a significant source of noise and bias in studies where sex‐related sources of variation are of interest or need to be controlled for. We developed and validated a universal multimarker assay for reliable sex identification of three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The assay makes use of genotype scores from three sex‐linked loci and utilizes Bayesian probabilistic inference to identify sex of the genotyped individuals. The results, validated with 286 phenotypically sexed individuals from six populations of sticklebacks representing all major genetic lineages (cf. Pacific, Atlantic and Japan Sea), indicate that in contrast to commonly used single‐marker‐based sex identification assays, the developed multimarker assay should be 100% accurate. As the markers in the assay can be scored from agarose gels, it provides a quick and cost‐efficient tool for universal sex identification of three‐spined sticklebacks. The general principle of combining information from multiple markers to improve the reliability of sex identification is transferable and can be utilized to develop and validate similar assays for other species.
Assessing the cost‐efficiency of environmental DNA sampling
Authors: Smart Adam S. , Weeks Andrew R. , van Rooyen Anthony R. , Moore Alana , McCarthy Michael A. , Tingley Reid 
Published: May 2016

Summary

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling can be a highly sensitive method for detecting aquatic taxa; however, the cost‐efficiency of this technique relative to traditional methods has not been rigorously assessed.

We show how methods that account for imperfect and stochastic detection can be used to (i) determine the optimal allocation of survey effort with eDNA sampling for a fixed budget (i.e. identify the optimal combination of water samples vs. site visits), and (ii) assess the cost‐efficiency of eDNA sampling relative to traditional survey techniques. We illustrate this approach by comparing eDNA sampling and bottle‐trapping for an exotic newt species (Lissotriton v. vulgaris) recently detected in Melbourne, Australia.

Bottle traps produced much lower detection rates than eDNA sampling, but the cost‐efficiency of the two methods can be similar because bottle‐trapping is cheaper per sample. The relative cost‐efficiency of the two sampling methods was sensitive to the available survey budget, the costs of eDNA primer/probe development and sample processing and the number of positive quantitative PCR assays (qPCRs) used to designate a water sample as positive for newt DNA. Environmental DNA sampling was more cost‐efficient than bottle‐trapping for small to intermediate budgets when primer/probe development and sample processing costs were low, and 1/4 or 2/4 positive qPCRs were used to label a water sample as positive for newt eDNA. However, bottle traps were generally more cost‐efficient than eDNA sampling when primer/probe development and sample processing costs were high, regardless of qPCR threshold or survey budget.

Traditional sampling methods may achieve lower detection probabilities compared to eDNA sampling, but the totality of costs can make eDNA sampling less efficient than traditional techniques in some circumstances. Our approach provides a quantitative framework for determining how many water samples and site visits are required to maximize detection probabilities with eDNA sampling, and can calculate the cost‐efficiency of any sampling method.
Visual outcome in Sturge–Weber syndrome: a systematic review and Dutch multicentre cohort
Authors: Koenraads Yvonne , van Egmond‐Ebbeling Michelle B. , de Boer Joke H. , Imhof Saskia M. , Braun Kees P. J. , Porro Giorgio L. ,   the SWS study group
Published: May 2016

AbstractVisual functions in Sturge–Weber syndrome (SWS) may be impaired by glaucoma, diffuse choroidal haemangioma (DCH) or leptomeningeal angioma. The aim of this study was to gain better insight in the visual deficits of SWS patients. A systematic literature search using PubMed and Embase medical databases was performed to identify articles describing visual acuity (VA) and/or visual field (VF) findings in SWS patients. In addition, a Dutch multicentre cohort with 33 SWS patients was collected and the combined results of VA and VF findings are presented. Visual acuity results of 25 studies and VF results of 12 studies were suitable for data extraction. Description of the combination of both VA and VF findings was scarce. Homonymous hemianopia (HH) was present in 42% of SWS patients. Seventy per cent of eyes had a (near) normal vision, while VA of eyes with glaucoma or DCH was severely impaired in 28% and 67%, respectively. In the Dutch cohort, only 18% (6/33) of patients had (near) normal findings of both visual parameters. In addition, half of the patients with glaucoma suffered from a combination of a HH and VA impairment. In conclusion, although SWS patients are exposed to severe functional visual impairment due to the possible cumulative consequences of glaucoma, DCH and cerebral injury, description of the combination of both VA and VF results is scarce in the literature. Particularly, the combination of visual impairment due to glaucoma or DCH, and HH might be invalidating.
Degree of corneal anaesthesia after topical application of 0.4% oxybuprocaine hydrochloride and 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in clinically normal cattle
Authors: Little WB , Jean G St. , Sithole F , Little E , Jean K Yvorchuk‐St. 
Published: May 2016

ObjectivesThe use of corneal anaesthesia is necessary for a range of clinical purposes. Therefore, we assessed and compared the efficacy of corneal anaesthesia after application of 0.4% oxybuprocaine hydrochloride and 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution in clinically normal cattle.MethodsThe 24 clinically normal cows were allocated into two groups. Cows in group 1 (n = 12) received 0.2 mLof 0.4% oxybuprocaine hydrochloride with fluorescein ophthalmic solution in one eye and 0.2 mLof sterile saline (0.9%NaCl) with fluorescein in the contralateral eye (control). Group 2 (n = 12) received 0.2 mLof 0.4% oxybuprocaine hydrochloride with fluorescein ophthalmic solution in one eye and 0.2 mLof 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride with fluorescein in the contralateral eye (control). In each group, corneal touch threshold was determined by Cochet‐Bonnet aesthesiometer for both eyes immediately prior to topical administration of solutions, at 1 min and 5 min after administration of topical solutions and every 5 min thereafter for a total of 75 min.ResultsSignificant corneal anaesthesia was noted immediately following topical application of both oxybuprocaine and proparacaine as compared with controls, with maximal corneal anaesthesia noted 1 min after administration. Both oxybuprocaine and proparacaine produced significant corneal anaesthesia for the duration of the 75‐min study. Neither oxybuprocaine hydrochloride nor proparacaine hydrochloride treatment resulted in visible adverse effects.ConclusionThere are limited data available demonstrating the efficacy and duration of corneal anaesthetic agents in cattle. Both oxybuprocaine hydrochloride and proparacaine hydrochloride should be considered practical options for providing corneal anaesthesia in cattle in a clinical setting.
Ultrasonographically visible hepatic location in clinically normal horses
Authors: Johns IC , Miles A 
Published: May 2016

ObjectiveUltrasound is widely used for evaluating horses with suspected liver dysfunction. Although a change in size is considered suggestive of pathology, no clear guidelines exist to define the hepatic ultrasonographically visible locations (HUVL) in horses. The aim of the study was to describe theHUVLin normal horses and determine whether this is altered by signalment, height, weight and body condition score (BCS).DesignProspective observational study.ProcedureBilateral ultrasonographic evaluation was performed in 58 clinically normal horses with no history of hepatic disease. The most cranial/caudal intercostal spaces (ICS), total number ofICSin which the liver was visualised and the ventral extent of the liver were recorded.ResultsLiver was visualised on the right in 56/58 horses (97%), the left in 41/58 (71%) and on both sides in 39/58 (67%). The most cranialICSwas 5 (right) or 4 (left) and the most caudal was 16 (right) or 11 (left). Liver was visualised inICS0–11 (right) andICS0–5 (left). Liver was not visualised ventral to the costochondral junction. There was no significant effect of sex, breed, height, weight orBCSonHUVL. Liver was visible in significantly fewerICSon the right in horses aged 24 years and older (medianICS3.5) compared with younger horses (medianICS7; P = 0.016).ConclusionThese findings suggest that the liver should be consistently visualised on the right side, but absence of ultrasonographically visible liver on the left is unlikely to be clinically relevant. Liver dimensions may be decreased in older horses.
Influence of management practices on plant assemblages of road–field boundaries in an agricultural landscape
Authors: Chaudron Clémence , Perronne Rémi , Bonthoux Sébastien , Di Pietro Francesca 
Published: May 2016

AbstractQuestionsPlant communities of road verges adjoining arable fields are often managed for conservation purposes. How do the diversity and composition of plant communities differ within and between berms, embankments and field margins? What is the influence of management practices on the diversity and composition of plant communities within and between these elements? Considering species frequently occurring in these three elements (hereafter generalist species), do road–field management practices influence their abundance in field margins?LocationCentral‐western France.MethodsThree adjacent elements located between district roads and winter cereal fields – i.e. berm, embankment and field margin – were sampled in 40 road–field boundaries situated in an agricultural area. Management practices on each element were characterized (i.e. mowing frequency and/or mowing period, inputs of herbicide and nitrogen fertilizers). We compared species diversity and taxonomic composition within and between elements. We tested the influence of management practices on (i) species richness and species evenness in each element, (ii) abundance‐based compositional dissimilarity between pairs of elements using a model averaging procedure, and (iii) abundance of generalist species in field margins using generalized Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel tests.ResultsCompositional dissimilarity between elements was mainly due to changes of dominant species. An early mowing of the berm increased berm species richness, while late mowing increased species richness of adjacent elements. An increase in embankment mowing frequency decreased species evenness in the embankment while input of herbicide on the embankment decreased the substitution rate between embankment and field margin. Finally, late mowing of the berm and one cut of the embankment both increased abundance of some generalist weeds in field margins.ConclusionsIn our agricultural landscape, mowing berms once in early summer is appropriate to promote plant species richness, while late mowing may potentially conflict with integrated weed management in adjacent arable fields. We suggest that programmes managing road verges should take into account the effects on plant assemblages within road verge elements and adjacent arable fields, as well as the potential increase in weed risk.
Effect of flecainide derivatives on sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release suggests a lack of direct action on the cardiac ryanodine receptor
Authors: Bannister Mark L , Alvarez‐Laviada Anita , Thomas N Lowri , Mason Sammy A , Coleman Sharon , du Plessis Christo L , Moran Abbygail T , Neill‐Hall David , Osman Hasnah , Bagley Mark C , MacLeod Kenneth T , George Christopher H , Williams Alan J 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackground and PurposeFlecainide is a use‐dependent blocker of cardiac Na+ channels. Mechanistic analysis of this block showed that the cationic form of flecainide enters the cytosolic vestibule of the open Na+ channel. Flecainide is also effective in the treatment of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia but, in this condition, its mechanism of action is contentious. We investigated how flecainide derivatives influence Ca2+‐release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the ryanodine receptor channel (RyR2) and whether this correlates with their effectiveness as blockers of Na+ and/or RyR2 channels.Experimental ApproachWe compared the ability of fully charged (QX‐FL) and neutral (NU‐FL) derivatives of flecainide to block individual recombinant human RyR2 channels incorporated into planar phospholipid bilayers, and their effects on the properties of Ca2+ sparks in intact adult rat cardiac myocytes.Key ResultsBoth QX‐FL and NU‐FL were partial blockers of the non‐physiological cytosolic to luminal flux of cations through RyR2 channels but were significantly less effective than flecainide. None of the compounds influenced the physiologically relevant luminal to cytosol cation flux through RyR2 channels. Intracellular flecainide or QX‐FL, but not NU‐FL, reduced Ca2+ spark frequency.Conclusions and ImplicationsGiven its inability to block physiologically relevant cation flux through RyR2 channels, and its lack of efficacy in blocking the cytosolic‐to‐luminal current, the effect of QX‐FL on Ca2+ sparks is likely, by analogy with flecainide, to result from Na+ channel block. Our data reveal important differences in the interaction of flecainide with sites in the cytosolic vestibules of Na+ and RyR2 channels.
The actions of relaxin on the human cardiovascular system
Authors: Sarwar Mohsin , Du Xiao‐Jun , Dschietzig Thomas B , Summers Roger J 
Published: May 2016

The insulin‐like peptide relaxin, originally identified as a hormone of pregnancy, is now known to exert a range of pleiotropic effects including vasodilatory, anti‐fibrotic, angiogenic, anti‐apoptotic and anti‐inflammatory effects in both males and females. Relaxin produces these effects by binding to a cognate receptor RXFP1 and activating a variety of signalling pathways including cAMP, cGMP and MAPKs as well as by altering gene expression of TGF‐β, MMPs, angiogenic growth factors and endothelin receptors. The peptide has been shown to be effective in halting or reversing many of the adverse effects including fibrosis in animal models of cardiovascular disease including ischaemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Relaxin given to humans is safe and produces favourable haemodynamic changes. Serelaxin, the recombinant form of relaxin, is now in extended phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acute heart failure. Previous clinical studies indicated that a 48 h infusion of relaxin improved 180 day mortality, yet the mechanism underlying this effect is not clear. This article provides an overview of the cellular mechanism of effects of relaxin and summarizes its beneficial actions in animal models and in the clinic. We also hypothesize potential mechanisms for the clinical efficacy of relaxin, identify current knowledge gaps and suggest new ways in which relaxin could be useful therapeutically.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc
In permanent atrial fibrillation, PDE3 reduces force responses to 5‐HT, but PDE3 and PDE4 do not cause the blunting of atrial arrhythmias
Authors: Berk Emanuel , Christ Torsten , Schwarz Simon , Ravens Ursula , Knaut Michael , Kaumann Alberto J 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackground and Purpose5‐HT increases force and L‐type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) and causes arrhythmias through 5‐HT4 receptors in human atrium. In permanent atrial fibrillation (peAF), atrial force responses to 5‐HT are blunted, arrhythmias abolished but ICa,L responses only moderately attenuated. We investigated whether, in peAF, this could be due to an increased function of PDE3 and/or PDE4, using the inhibitors cilostamide (300 nM) and rolipram (1 μM) respectively.Experimental ApproachContractile force, arrhythmic contractions and ICa,L were assessed in right atrial trabeculae and myocytes, obtained from patients with sinus rhythm (SR), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) and peAF.Key ResultsMaximum force responses to 5‐HT were reduced to 15% in peAF, but not in pAF. Cilostamide, but not rolipram, increased both the blunted force responses to 5‐HT in peAF and the inotropic potency of 5‐HT fourfold to sevenfold in trabeculae of patients with SR, pAF and peAF. Lusitropic responses to 5‐HT were not decreased in peAF. Responses of ICa,L to 5‐HT did not differ and were unaffected by cilostamide or rolipram in myocytes from patients with SR or peAF. Concurrent cilostamide and rolipram increased 5‐HT's propensity to elicit arrhythmias in trabeculae from patients with SR, but not with peAF.Conclusions and ImplicationsPDE3, but not PDE4, reduced inotropic responses to 5‐HT in peAF, independently of lusitropy and ICa,L, but PDE3 activity was the same as that in patients with SR and pAF. Atrial remodelling in peAF abolished the facilitation of 5‐HT to induce arrhythmias by inhibition of PDE3 plus PDE4.
Effects of xanthine oxidase inhibition with febuxostat on the development of nephropathy in experimental type 2 diabetes
Authors: Komers Radko , Xu Bei , Schneider Jennifer , Oyama Terry T 
Published: May 2016

Background and PurposeElevated serum uric acid (UA) is a risk factor for the development of kidney disease. Inhibitors of xanthine oxidase (XOi), an enzyme involved in UA synthesis, have protective effects at early stages of experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, long‐term effects of XOi in models of DN remain to be determined.Experimental ApproachThe development of albuminuria, renal structure and molecular markers of DN were studied in type 2 diabetic Zucker obese (ZO) rats treated for 18 weeks with the XOi febuxostat and compared with vehicle‐treated ZO rats, ZO rats treated with enalapril or a combination of both agents, and lean Zucker rats without metabolic defects.ResultsFebuxostat normalized serum UA and attenuated the development of albuminuria, renal structural changes, with no significant effects on BP, metabolic control or systemic markers of oxidative stress (OS). Most of these actions were comparable with those of enalapril. Combination treatment induced marked decreases in BP and was more effective in ameliorating structural changes, expression of profibrotic genes and systemic OS than either monotherapy. Febuxostat attenuated renal protein expression of TGF‐ß, CTGF, collagen 4, mesenchymal markers (FSP1 and vimentin) and a tissue marker of OS nitrotyrosine. Moreover, febuxostat attenuated TGF‐ß‐ and S100B‐induced increased expression of fibrogenic molecules in renal tubular cells in vitro in UA‐free media in an Akt kinase‐dependent manner.Conclusions and ImplicationsFebuxostat is protective and enhances the actions of enalapril in experimental DN. Multiple mechanisms might be involved, such as a reduction of UA, renal OS and inhibition of profibrotic signalling.