bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of cold storage on total phenolics content, antioxidant activity and vitamin C level of selected potato clones
Authors: Külen Oktay , Stushnoff Cecil , Holm David G 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDTwelve Colorado‐grown specialty potato clones were evaluated for total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content at harvest and after 2, 4, 6 and 7 months cold storage at 4 °C. Potato clones were categorized as pigmented ('CO97226‐2R/R', 'CO99364‐3R/R', 'CO97215‐2P/P', 'CO97216‐3P/P', 'CO97227‐2P/P', 'CO97222‐1R/R', 'Purple Majesty', 'Mountain Rose' and 'All Blue'), yellow ('Yukon Gold') and white fleshed ('Russet Nugget', 'Russet Burbank'). Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was used to estimate total phenolic content, and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS•+) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging assays were used to estimate antioxidant capacity.RESULTSPigmented potato genotypes had significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity at all data points than yellow‐ and white‐fleshed cultivars. Vitamin C content was higher in 'Yukon Gold' than in the other clones. The highest level of vitamin C in all clones was at harvest and after 2 months in cold storage. Vitamin C content in all potato clones dropped rapidly with longer intervals of cold storage. Although total phenolic content and antioxidant activity fluctuated during cold storage, after 7 months of cold storage their levels were slightly higher than at harvest. Total phenolic content was better correlated with Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)/ABTS•+ than the TEAC/DPPH• radical scavenging assay.CONCLUSIONPigmented potato clones had significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, while the yellow‐fleshed potato cultivar 'Yukon Gold' had significantly higher vitamin C content. Vitamin C content decreased in all potato clones during cold storage, while total phenolics increased in pigmented clones. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
A Prototype of Multicomponent Brand Personality Structure: A Consumption Synmbolism Approach
Authors: Lee Eun‐Jung 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTBrand personality (BP) in the postmodern marketplace encompasses a variety of anthropomorphized attributes associated with a brand, reflecting on a wide spectrum of social, cultural, and psychological associations capturing various aspects in everyday life stories of consumers. Most prior research onBP, however, has employed a psychology‐based approach, and has not yet fully demonstrated the concept's market‐driven scope in the contemporary brand schema. To bridge the gap between the practitioner and scholar, this study employed a consumption symbolism approach to develop a multicomponent structure ofBP. A qualitative study was conducted with 36 brands of six product/service categories (fashion/luxury, beverage, automotive, personal computer, cosmetics, and retailer) within a specific context (South Korea). The results yielded a prototype of multicomponent BP structure consisting of one psychological component (traits) and three sociocultural components (narratives of socioeconomic/life scene/physical variability). The findings of the study broaden the current understanding of BP by suggesting a multidisciplinary perspective embracing its sociocultural aspects, and by empirically demonstrating the prototype reflecting on a wide spectrum of consumer narratives.
Nutrigenomic effects of germinated brown rice and its bioactives on hepatic gluconeogenic genes in type 2 diabetic rats and HEPG2 cells
Authors: Imam Mustapha Umar , Ismail Maznah 
Published: January 2013

ScopeChronic sustained hyperglycemia underlies the symptomatology and complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dietary components contribute to it. Germinated brown rice (GBR) improves glycemic control but the mechanisms involved are still the subject of debate. We now show one mechanism by which GBR lowers blood glucose.Methods and resultsEffects of GBR, brown rice, and white rice (WR) on fasting plasma glucose and selected genes were studied in type 2 diabetic rats. GBR reduced plasma glucose and weight more than metformin, while WR worsened glycemia over 4 weeks of intervention. Through nutrigenomic suppression, GBR downregulated gluconeogenic genes (Fbp1 and Pck1) in a manner similar to, but more potently than, metformin, while WR upregulated the same genes. Bioactives (gamma‐amino butyric acid, acylated steryl glycoside, oryzanol, and phenolics) were involved in GBR's downregulation of both genes. Plasma glucose, Fbp1 and Pck1 changes significantly affected the weight of rats (p = 0.0001).ConclusionThe fact that GBR downregulates gluconeogenic genes similar to metformin, but produces better glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats, suggests other mechanisms are involved in GBR's antihyperglycemic properties. GBR as a staple could potentially provide enhanced glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus better than metformin.
Nuts and bolts of chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI
Authors: Liu Guanshu , Song Xiaolei , Chan Kannie W. Y. , McMahon Michael T. 
Published: January 2013

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) has emerged as a novel MRI contrast mechanism that is well suited for molecular imaging studies. This new mechanism can be used to detect small amounts of contrast agent through the saturation of rapidly exchanging protons on these agents, allowing a wide range of applications. CEST technology has a number of indispensable features, such as the possibility of simultaneous detection of multiple ‘colors’ of agents and of changes in their environment (e.g. pH, metabolites, etc.) through MR contrast. Currently, a large number of new imaging schemes and techniques are being developed to improve the temporal resolution and specificity and to correct for the influence of B0 and B1 inhomogeneities. In this review, the techniques developed over the last decade are summarized with the different imaging strategies and post‐processing methods discussed from a practical point of view, including the description of their relative merits for the detection of CEST agents. The goal of the present work is to provide the reader with a fundamental understanding of the techniques developed, and to provide guidance to help refine future applications of this technology.This review is organized into three main sections (‘Basics of CEST contrast’, ‘Implementation’ and ‘Post‐processing’), and also includes a brief Introduction and Summary. The ‘Basics of CEST contrast’ section contains a description of the relevant background theory for saturation transfer and frequency‐labeled transfer, and a brief discussion of methods to determine exchange rates. The ‘Implementation’ section contains a description of the practical considerations in conducting CEST MRI studies, including the choice of magnetic field, pulse sequence, saturation pulse, imaging scheme, and strategies to separate magnetization transfer and CEST. The ‘Post‐processing’ section contains a description of the typical image processing employed for B0/B1 correction, Z‐spectral interpolation, frequency‐selective detection and improvement of CEST contrast maps. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instability of styrene/polystyrene/polybutadiene/polystyrene‐b‐polybutadiene emulsions that emulate styrene polymerization in the presence of polybutadiene
Authors: Velásquez Eliezer , Oliva Haydée , Müller Alejandro J. , López Juan V. , Vega Jorge , Meira Gregorio R. , Wambach Mona 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThis article investigates the room temperature demixing of oil‐in‐oil emulsions containing styrene (St), polybutadiene (PB), a St‐butadiene star block copolymer (BC), and two polystyrene (PS) samples of different molecular weights and is a contribution toward a better understanding of the stability/instability of the reaction mixture in a bulk high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) process close to the phase inversion. Twelve bulk prepolymerizations of St in the presence of PB were emulated, at 10%, 15%, and 20% conversion; and with constant grafting efficiencies. All the blends contained 6% in weight of butadiene units. After stirring the blends for 24 h, the decantation demixing process was monitored along 30 days, with daily measurement of the interface levels after appearance of a clear interface. For some of the isolated phases, their unswollen morphologies were observed by transmission electron microscopy. All the isolated phases exhibited macrophase separation into homopolymer‐ and copolymer‐rich macrodomains with lamellar microdomains. The BC showed a greater affinity toward the PS‐rich phase. The separation of an independent BC‐rich phase in the blends containing the high molar mass PS and at high grafting efficiencies, modifies the idea of the graft‐ or BC molecules located at the interface of large PS‐rich and PB‐rich phases. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Sublingual Tacrolimus: A Pharmacokinetic Evaluation Pilot Study
Authors: Tsapepas Demetra , Saal Stuart , Benkert Steven , Levine Daniel , Delfin Merdie , Cremers Serge , Amann Shawn , Dadhania Darshana , Kapur Sandip , Aull Meredith 
Published: January 2013

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of sublingual and oral tacrolimus in the presence and absence of a drug that interacts with tacrolimus at the intestinal level.DesignProspective, randomized, open‐label, parallel‐group pilot study.SettingLarge, urban, academic medical center.PatientsSix adults with end‐stage renal disease who were awaiting kidney transplantation; five completed the study.InterventionPatients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive tacrolimus plus a clotrimazole troche (a drug that interacts with tacrolimus at the intestinal level) or tacrolimus plus nystatin suspension. For the tacrolimus route of administration, patients first received sublingual tacrolimus for five doses; after a 2‐day washout period, they received oral tacrolimus for five doses.Measurements and Main ResultsDemographic characteristics, concomitant medications, tacrolimus dosing information, and steady‐state venous whole blood specimen values after tacrolimus administration were collected. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetics were calculated from the tacrolimus blood concentrations in samples collected at multiple time points after drug administration. The area under the concentration‐time curve from 0–6 hours for sublingual and oral tacrolimus ranged from 27.2–66 and 32.4–76 mg·hour/L, respectively, in the tacrolimus plus clotrimazole group and from 9.3–63 and 4.9–23.2 mg·hour/L, respectively, in the tacrolimus plus nystatin group. The average maximum concentration was higher during sublingual administration than during oral administration: 16.7 versus 12.9 ng/ml in the tacrolimus plus clotrimazole group and 9.5 versus 6 ng/ml in the tacrolimus plus nystatin group.ConclusionAn oral‐to‐sublingual tacrolimus dose conversion should be evaluated on an individual basis. A 1:1 dose conversion may be appropriate in the presence of clotrimazole, whereas a 2:1 oral‐to‐sublingual conversion may be appropriate when there are no concomitantly interacting drugs. These findings should be investigated further in pharmacokinetic studies conducted in solid organ transplant recipients.
Randomized Response Estimates for the 12‐Month Prevalence of Cognitive‐Enhancing Drug Use in University Students
Authors: Dietz Pavel , Striegel Heiko , Franke Andreas G. , Lieb Klaus , Simon Perikles , Ulrich Rolf 
Published: January 2013

Study ObjectiveTo estimate the 12‐month prevalence of cognitive‐enhancing drug use.DesignPaper‐and‐pencil questionnaire that used the randomized response technique.SettingUniversity in Mainz, Germany.ParticipantsA total of 2569 university students who completed the questionnaire.Measurements and Main ResultsAn anonymous, specialized questionnaire that used the randomized response technique was distributed to students at the beginning of classes and was collected afterward. From the responses, we calculated the prevalence of students taking drugs only to improve their cognitive performance and not to treat underlying mental disorders such as attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder, depression, and sleep disorders. The estimated 12‐month prevalence of using cognitive‐enhancing drugs was 20%. Prevalence varied by sex (male 23.7%, female 17.0%), field of study (highest in students studying sports‐related fields, 25.4%), and semester (first semester 24.3%, beyond first semester 16.7%). To our knowledge, this is the first time that the randomized response technique has been used to survey students about cognitive‐enhancing drug use.ConclusionUsing the randomized response technique, our questionnaire provided data that showed a high 12‐month prevalence of cognitive‐enhancing drug use in German university students. Our study suggests that other direct survey techniques have underestimated the use of these drugs. Drug prevention programs need to be established at universities to address this issue.
Heterogeneity of laser‐irradiated films of polyvinyl alcohol/starch blends: effect of glycerol content
Authors: Sreekumar P. A. , Al‐Harthi Mamdouh A. , Gondal M. A. , De S. K. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTThe present paper reports the results of studies on the effect of laser irradiation on the morphology and thermal properties of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend, with varying glycerol concentration. Differential scanning calorimeter results showed that laser irradiation increased the heat of fusion (ΔHfus), heat of crystallization (ΔHcry), temperature of melting (Tm), temperature of crystallization (Tcry) and percentage crystallinity as a function of the amount of glycerol. It is believed that breakdown of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the starch and PVA causes an increase in the blend heterogeneity. These results are corroborated with the findings from thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope images. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Congenital rubella with agenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis and total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
Authors: Cluver C. , Meyer R. , Odendaal H. , Geerts L. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTCongenital rubella infection has been associated with a number of abnormalities including cardiac, central nervous system and placental complications. We present a case with multiple fetal abnormalities detected on prenatal ultrasound, and confirmed postnatally, that included a single umbilical artery, severe tricuspid regurgitation, micrognathia and agenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis. Postnatal echocardiography additionally revealed unobstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) into the coronary sinus. Placental examination showed signs of placentitis, and polymerase chain reaction on neonatal serum was positive for rubella. Following a multidisciplinary team review, it was decided to provide only supportive care, and the infant died at 6 months of age owing to a respiratory tract infection. To our knowledge, TAPVD and agenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis have not been reported previously in association with congenital rubella infection. This case illustrates how congenital infection may present in atypical ways and stresses the importance of considering congenital infection in the differential diagnosis of fetal anomalies when multiple features are present. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Efficacy and safety of a clinical protocol for expectant management of selected women diagnosed with a tubal ectopic pregnancy
Authors: Mavrelos D. , Nicks H. , Jamil A. , Hoo W. , Jauniaux E. , Jurkovic D. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo validate the efficacy and safety of our clinical protocol for expectant management of selected women diagnosed with tubal ectopic pregnancy.MethodsThis was a prospective observational study carried out in the early pregnancy unit of a London inner‐city university teaching hospital from 1st January 2008 to 31st May 2011. All women presenting with suspected early pregnancy complications were assessed clinically and by transvaginal ultrasound. Those with a conclusive ultrasound diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy were selected for either surgical or expectant management. Selection criteria for expectant management were clinical stability with no or minimal abdominal pain, no evidence of significant hemoperitoneum on ultrasound scan, ectopic pregnancy measuring < 30 mm in mean diameter with no evidence of embryonic cardiac activity, serum β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) < 1500 IU/L and the woman's consent. All women selected for expectant management were followed up as outpatients until the ectopic pregnancy regressed spontaneously (resolution of clinical symptoms, serum β‐hCG < 20 IU/L/negative urine pregnancy test) or surgical intervention was required. We recorded the rate of interventions, complications and length of follow‐up.ResultsDuring the study period 339/11 520 (2.9% (95% CI, 2.59–3.21%)) women were diagnosed with tubal ectopic pregnancy. Six women opted to participate in an ongoing randomized controlled trial and were excluded from further analysis. One hundred and sixty‐five (49.5% (95% CI, 44.2–55.0%)) of the 333 remaining women met the criteria for expectant management; 146/333 (43.8% (95% CI, 38.5–49.1%)) of them opted for expectant management and 104/333 (31.2% (95% CI, 26.2–36.2%)) of all tubal ectopics resolved without requiring any intervention. All women with failed expectant management were treated by laparoscopic salpingectomy/salpingotomy and none of them required a blood transfusion.ConclusionOur clinical protocol for expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancies eliminates the need for medical or surgical treatment in more than a third of women diagnosed with tubal ectopic pregnancy with a minimum risk of adverse outcome. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Postnatal maternal deprivation and pubertal stress have additive effects on dopamine D2 receptor and CaMKII beta expression in the striatum
Authors: Novak Gabriela , Fan Theresa , O'Dowd Brian F. , George Susan R. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe goal of this study was to determine whether two stressors commonly used to model aspects of neuropsychiatric disease in rats have an additive effect on striatal dopamine type 2 receptor (D2R) expression, a key player in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disease.Animals subjected to early postnatal stress show alterations in function of the dopaminergic system thought to be mediated by stress‐induced glucocorticoid release. Subsequent stress during puberty is known to further impact the dopaminergic system and result in dopaminergic hyperactivity analogous to schizophrenia.We exposed rats to maternal deprivation (MD) during the second postnatal week, a time of active striatal development. A subset of these animals were then subjected to pubertal stress induced by immobilization. Both procedures are know to induce glucocorticoid release.At the conclusion of the MD protocol, we observed upregulation in the expression of D2R and of dopamine‐ and cAMP‐regulated phosphoprotein 32‐KD (DARPP‐32; PPP1R1B), but not of D1R, calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II beta (CaMKIIβ), CaMKIIα or neurokinin B (NKB).Animals exposed to pubertal stress showed upregulation in expression of both D2R and CaMKIIβ. Furthermore, rats previously exposed to MD showed a much greater upregulation in CaMKIIβ expression, than animals only exposed to pubertal stress. These results support the two‐hit hypothesis, indicating that such stressors have an additive effect. The main targets appear to be the D2R and the CaMKIIβ, the latter being an important member of the DR signalling pathway, both of which are associated with schizophrenia.
Social structure, social coalitions and party choice in Hungary
Authors: Knutsen Oddbjørn 
Published: January 2013

This article examines the relationship between social structure and party choice in Hungary on the basis of a survey from 2009 (N = 2980). The following structural variables are examined: ascriptive variables (age and gender), territorial variables (region and urban-rural residence), social class variables (education, social class and household income), sector employment and religious variables (religious denomination, church attendance and self-declared religiosity).
The analysis shows that age and territorial variables are the most important sociostructural variables for explaining party support in Hungary. The role of religious and class variables is considerably smaller in this respect.
The two largest parties, Fidesz and the Socialist Party, are first and foremost anchored in different generations and in territorial variables although different degrees of religiosity also has significant effect on support for these parties. The impact of the religious variables is, however, low. The class variables have the opposite impact on the two largest parties from what we should expect according to traditional class voting. Fidesz gets strongest support from the working class and the lower educated strata while the Socialist Party gets strongest support from the service class. The two largest parties are foremost social coalitions of very different social groups. The explanatory power of social structure on party choice is low in Hungary. This is also confirmed from comparative studies.
Numerical analysis of monoenergetic electrons energy effect on dynamic potential profile of plasma sheath
Authors: SHARIFIAN M. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe dynamic behavior of the electric potential distribution of a plasma sheath region in the presence of monoenergetic electrons with two different values of energy, larger (fast electrons) and smaller (slow electrons) than the cathode potential energy, is examined numerically by the finite difference method. Exploring and comparing the plots of numerical computation results shows that the time evolution of the non-monotonic potential distribution heavily depends on the energy of monoenergetic electrons.
Financial Crises In Spain: Lessons From The Last 150 Years
Authors: Betrán Concha , Martín-Aceña Pablo , Pons María A. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractFinancial crises are not unique to current financial systems. Are crises alike? Have they become more frequent, longer lasting and more severe since the 20thcentury? What does history tell us? The objective of this paper is to study the financial crises that have occurred in Spain over the last 150 years. We consider different types of crises (banking, currency and stock market crises), together with all their possible combinations, estimate their frequency by period and measure their length and depth. The main conclusion we obtain is that Spanish crises have been more frequent than in the rest of the world and have been more severe and more complex since 1973, as the 2007 crisis is confirming.