bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Nonvolatile Fraction on the Sensory Perception of 40% (v/v) Ethanol‐Containing French Grape Brandies
Authors: Fiches G. , Deleris I. , Saint‐Eve A. , Passot S. , Brunerie P. , Souchon I. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractSeveral studies performed on wines have shown that nonvolatile and matrix components can have an impact on sensory perception through physicochemical and/or sensory interactions. In distilled spirits and as for many other food products, relationships between these components and the sensory perception are still misunderstood. In the present study, we investigated the impact of nonvolatile components on the sensory perception of two 40% (v/v) ethanol‐containing French grape brandies with different compositions and sensory qualities. For this purpose, a reconstitution strategy involving freeze‐drying was developed to test the contributions of nonvolatile components to the sensory perception of brandies. The studied products contained different levels of nonvolatile components, and corresponding to extremes values of the nonvolatile components concentration range usually found in French grape brandies. Sensory results highlighted no significant sensory difference between the two reconstituted brandies. To validate results, sensory evaluations were also performed on model beverages and revealed that sugar and phenols at contents of between 5–25 g/L and 200–1,000 mg/L, respectively, did not have an impact on sensory perception. It could therefore be hypothesized that physicochemical and sensory mechanisms involving ethanol, which is present in very large amounts in distilled beverages, can influence physicochemical interactions and sensory perception, and reduce the impact of nonvolatile components on final sensory perception.Practical ApplicationsThis study reaffirmed the importance of aromatic perception to the global sensory image of brandies: perception differences between French grape brandies seemed to be mainly due to differences in their volatile composition. This composition depends on aroma compound formation and selection steps in the global production process of the product, such as fermentation and distillation. Product characteristics, especially their 40% v/v ethanol content, can modify sensory perception and possibly hide the effects of some nonvolatile components. The latter are known to highly contribute to the sensory profile of alcoholic drinks with lower ethanol content such as wine. This study also highlighted an interesting strategy to test the role of each sensory component on overall sensory perception and to draw conclusions about the perception complexity of beverages such as brandies.
Detection Thresholds of 10 Odor‐active Compounds Naturally Occurring in Food Using a Replicated Forced‐Choice Ascending Method of Limits
Authors: Jaeger Sara R. , de Silva H. Nihal , Lawless Harry T. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractA series of threshold measurements for aroma detection of 10 compounds naturally occurring in foods were collected on 113 individuals in quadruplicate, using a 3‐alternative forced‐choice ascending method of limits. Mixed‐model analyses examined differences among compounds, subgroups of individuals tested as cohorts, order effects and several covariates such as age, gender, propylthiouracil sensitivity and body mass index. Differences among compounds were observed, as expected. Women had lower thresholds (higher sensitivity) than men for three of the 10 compounds, cis‐3‐hexenol, isovaleric acid and 4‐methyl octanoic acid. A consistent warm‐up effect was noted for the second compound tested on any given day. The overall panel was tested in cohorts of approximately 10 panelists each, and significant residual variation was noted for β‐ionone and isobutyraldehyde, for which bimodal threshold distributions were observed. The latter result suggests that testing small groups of panelists (e.g. n = 10), as suggested by the ASTM E‐679 procedure, may not accurately capture the population threshold variability, nor provide an accurate estimate of the mean detection threshold. The research contributes to guidelines regarding good practice for odor detection testing.Practical ApplicationsThis research reports on odor detection thresholds for 10 compounds. The data were obtained using a 3‐alternative forced‐choice ascending method of limits which was executed in accordance with the specifications in ASTM E‐679. Mean and standard deviation ratio values obtained from 113 individuals are reported for each odorant. For researchers studying foods, beverages and personal/household care products where these odorants are odor‐active, the data have practical significance. Further, the research has implications for others measuring odor thresholds. Specifically, we find that odor threshold testing is prone to warm‐up effects and we caution that threshold testing using small groups may be prone to misestimation of population thresholds.
Improved oral bioavailability of breviscapine via a Pluronic P85-modified liposomal delivery system
Authors: Zhou Yue , Ning Qing , Yu Dan-ni , Li Wei-guang , Deng Jin 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Breviscapine, a hydrophobic drug used for treating cardiovascular disease, was encapsulated in liposomes to improve its pharmaceutical characteristics. This study describes a novel liposome composition approach to specifically inhibit the P-glycoprotein efflux system.

Methods
Breviscapine-loaded Pluronic P85-coated liposomes were prepared by the thin film hydration technique. The particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of the formulations were characterized. In-vitro drug release and permeability of Caco-2 cells were investigated. In-vitro characteristics and pharmacokinetics of the liposomes were evaluated in rat studies.

Key findings
The Pluronic P85-modified liposomes dispersed individually and had an approximate diameter of 118.8 ± 4.9 nm and a zeta potential of −35.4 ± 1.5 mV. Encapsulation efficiency was more than 90%. The use of the P85-coated liposomes resulted in significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increased absorption of breviscapine in Caco-2 cells and in 5.6-fold enhancement in its oral bioavailability in rats.

Conclusion
The P85-modified liposomes for the oral delivery of breviscapine were prepared using l-α-phosphatidylcholine (soy-hydrogenated) and cholesterol with a narrow size distribution. This method seems to effectively enhance the bioavailability of breviscapine in rats.
Habitat modification in tidepools by bioeroding sea urchins and implications for fine‐scale community structure
Authors: Davidson Timothy M. , Grupe Benjamin M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBy creating novel habitats, habitat‐modifying species can alter patterns of diversity and abundance in marine communities. Many sea urchins are important habitat modifiers in tropical and temperate systems. By eroding rocky substrata, urchins can create a mosaic of urchin‐sized cavities or pits separated by exposed, often flat surfaces. These microhabitats appear to harbor distinct assemblages of species. We investigated how a temperate rocky intertidal community uses three small‐scale (<100 cm2) microhabitats created by or adjacent to populations of the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus): pits occupied by urchins, unoccupied pits, and adjacent flat spaces. In tidepools, flat spaces harbored the highest percent cover of algae and sessile fauna, followed by empty pits and then occupied pits. The Shannon diversity and richness of these sessile taxa were significantly higher in flat spaces and empty pits than in occupied pits. The composition of these primary space holders in the microhabitats also varied. Unlike primary space holders, mobile fauna exhibited higher diversity and richness in empty pits than in flat spaces and occupied pits, although results were not significant. The protective empty pit microhabitat harbored the highest densities of most trophic functional groups. Herbivores, however, were densest in flat spaces, concordant with high algal coverage. These results suggest the habitats created by S. purpuratus in addition to its biological activities alter community structure at spatial scales finer than those typically considered for sea urchins.
Genetic seascape of the threatened Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, on the Puerto Rico Shelf
Authors: Mège Pascal , Schizas Nikolaos V. , Garcia Reyes Joselyd , Hrbek Tomas 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIt has been proposed that the elkhorn coral Acropora palmata is genetically separated into two distinct provinces in the Caribbean, an eastern and a western population admixing in Western Puerto Rico and around the Mona Passage. In this study, the genetic structure of A. palmata sampled at 11 Puerto Rican localities and localities from Curaçao, the Bahamas and Guadeloupe were examined. Analyses using five microsatellite markers showed that 75% of sampled colonies had unique genotypes, the rest being clone mates. Genetic diversity among genets was high (HE = 0.761) and consistent across localities (0.685–0.844). FST ranged from −0.011 to 0.047, supporting low but significant genetic differentiation between localities within the previously reported eastern and western genetic provinces. Plots of genetic per geographic distances and significant Mantel tests supported isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) within Puerto Rico. Analysis with the software STRUCTURE favored a scenario with weak differentiation between two populations, assigning Eastern Puerto Rican locations (Fajardo and Culebra), Guadeloupe and Curaçao to the Caribbean eastern population and Western Puerto Rican locations (west of Vega Baja and Ponce), Mona and the Bahamas to the Caribbean western population. Vieques and San Juan area harbored admixed profiles. Standardized FST per 1000 km unit further supported higher differentiation between localities belonging to different STRUCTURE populations, with IBD being stronger within Puerto Rico than on larger regional scales. This stronger genetic transition seems to separate localities between putative eastern and western provinces in the Eastern Puerto Rican region, but not around the Mona Passage.
Diel activity and short‐distance movement pattern of the European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas, acoustically tracked
Authors: Giacalone Vincenzo M. , Barausse Alberto , Gristina Michele , Pipitone Carlo , Visconti Valerio , Badalamenti Fabio , D'Anna Giovanni 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis paper presents the results of the application of an ultrasonic telemetry system to the investigation of short‐term movements in the European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas, in a coastal area of NW Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea). Ten lobsters were tagged with miniaturized transmitters and released over a favourable habitat and their movements then recorded by means of nine automated receivers with the objective of investigating post‐release displacement, home‐range extension, movement patterns, activity rhythm and the influence of lunar light intensity on lobster activity. Acoustic detection data were used to assess activity and home range using estimates of horizontal and vertical movements and minimum convex polygons, respectively. Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) analysis was applied to time series of position data. Acoustic data from five of 10 lobsters were successfully recorded across a 78‐day study period between April and June 2008. All of them displayed an activity pattern characterized by diurnal sheltering and nocturnal foraging, with higher activity (i.e., longer distances travelled) at night. Their home range measured between 1629 and 8641 m2, and all lobsters relocated every 4.6 days on average, probably in search of unexploited feeding grounds. For this reason we hypothesize a nomadic movement pattern for our tagged lobsters. CWT analyses highlighted a 24‐h periodicity in lobster activity, with higher activity from sunset to sunrise. No clear influence of moon phase on lobster activity was detected.
Sex and age‐biased nematode prevalence in reptiles
Authors: Brown David S. , Symondson William O. C. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractPrevalence and intensity of parasitic infections are often higher in male than in female vertebrates. This bias may represent either differences between host sex in exposure or susceptibility to parasites. The former may be due to sex‐specific behaviour of the host, including differential habitat use or diet. Differences in susceptibility are often regarded as a negative effect of male sex steroid hormones on the immune system. Host–parasite dynamics are of great interest in terms of reptile survival, ecology and conservation. We used, for the first time, molecular diagnostics to track nematode parasitism in wild populations of reptiles noninvasively. Using slow worms (Anguis fragilis) as a model species, we investigated the interacting effects of time of year, sex, length, weight and climatic variables on the prevalence of the gastroenterological parasitic nematodeNeoxysomatium brevicaudatum. Faeces were collected from three sites over 2 years. There was an interaction between sex and time of year, with lower nematode prevalence in males than in females inJuly orAugust (different between years) but a high prevalence in males in April. As the latter is during the slow worm breeding season, this may be the result of testosterone‐induced immunosuppression. A second‐order interaction between slow worm length and weight was found to be significant, with a positive association between prevalence and body condition in young slow worms and a negative association in older slow worms. The convex pattern of nematode prevalence with age that emerged suggests an increase with age‐related exposure and a decrease with age‐related acquired immunity.
Ancient mitochondrial DNA and the genetic history of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Europe
Authors: Horn Susanne , Prost Stefan , Stiller Mathias , Makowiecki Daniel , Kuznetsova Tatiana , Benecke Norbert , Pucher Erich , Hufthammer Anne K. , Schouwenburg Charles , Shapiro Beth , Hofreiter Michael 
Published: February 2014

AbstractAfter centuries of human hunting, the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber had disappeared from most of its original range by the end of the 19th century. The surviving relict populations are characterized by both low genetic diversity and strong phylogeographical structure. However, it remains unclear whether these attributes are the result of a human‐induced, late Holocene bottleneck or already existed prior to this reduction in range. To investigate genetic diversity in Eurasian beaver populations during the Holocene, we obtained mitochondrial control region DNA sequences from 48 ancient beaver samples and added 152 modern sequences from GenBank. Phylogeographical analyses of the data indicate a differentiation of European beaver populations into three mitochondrial clades. The two main clades occur in western and eastern Europe, respectively, with an early Holocene contact zone in eastern Europe near a present‐day contact zone. A divergent and previously unknown clade of beavers from the Danube Basin survived until at least 6000 years ago, but went extinct during the transition to modern times. Finally, we identify a recent decline in effective population size of Eurasian beavers, with a stronger bottleneck signal in the western than in the eastern clade. Our results suggest that the low genetic diversity and the strong phylogeographical structure in recent beavers are artefacts of human hunting‐associated population reductions. While beaver populations have been growing rapidly since the late 19th century, genetic diversity within modern beaver populations remains considerably reduced compared to what was present prior to the period of human hunting and habitat reduction.
OmpA and OmpC are critical host factors for bacteriophage Sf6 entry in Shigella
Authors: Parent Kristin N. , Erb Marcella L. , Cardone Giovanni , Nguyen Katrina , Gilcrease Eddie B. , Porcek Natalia B. , Pogliano Joe , Baker Timothy S. , Casjens Sherwood R. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryDespite being essential for successful infection, the molecular cues involved in host recognition and genome transfer of viruses are not completely understood. Bacterial outer membrane proteins A and C co‐purify in lipid vesicles with bacteriophage Sf6, implicating both outer membrane proteins as potential host receptors. We determined that outer membrane proteins A and C mediate Sf6 infection by dramatically increasing its rate and efficiency. We performed a combination of in vivo studies with three omp null mutants of Shigella flexneri, including classic phage plaque assays and time‐lapse fluorescence microscopy to monitor genome ejection at the single virion level. Cryo‐electron tomography of phage ‘infecting’ outer membrane vesicles shows the tail needle contacting and indenting the outer membrane. Lastly, in vitro ejection studies reveal that lipopolysaccharide and outer membrane proteins are both required for Sf6 genome release. We conclude that Sf6 phage entry utilizes either outer membrane proteins A or C, with outer membrane protein A being the preferred receptor.
Vascular calcification in patients undergoing kidney and simultaneous pancreas‐kidney transplantation
Authors: Chau Katrina , Martinez Gabriela , Elder Grahame J 
Published: February 2014

AbstractAimVascular calcification (VC) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis, and an inverse relationship of VC to bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported. Because elderly patients are prone to atherosclerosis and BMD artefact, we examined the prevalence and epidemiology of VC in younger patients undergoing transplantation, and its relationship to BMD.MethodsLaboratory testing was performed immediately before kidney or simultaneous pancreas–kidney (SPK) transplantation. Within 4 weeks patients underwent BMD evaluation and lateral abdominal X‐ray. Aortic calcification was scored using a validated 24‐point scale.ResultsOf 650 consecutive patients X‐rays were available for 531 (82%). Their median age was 41 years (16−71), 58% were male, dialysis vintage was 20 months (0–402) and 69% had kidney and 31% SPK transplants. VC scores were ≥1 in 47%, with the median score 6 (1–24) and was associated with age, dialysis vintage and presence of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease. In a multivariate analysis of patients with and without VC, those with VC were older and of longer dialysis vintage (OR 1.07 and 1.17 per 12 months respectively; P < 0.001 for both). In that analysis, VC was not significantly associated with gender, transplant type, presence of diabetes, current or former smoking or calcium or calcitriol therapy, and was not inversely related to hip, spine or forearm BMD Z‐scores.ConclusionVC is common in younger patients undergoing transplantation and, similar to older patients, is associated with age, dialysis vintage and cardiovascular pathology. However, in this younger patient group, there was no significant inverse association of VC to BMD.
Toward more accurate measurements of anorectal motor and sensory function in routine clinical practice: Validation of High‐Resolution Anorectal Manometry and Rapid Barostat Bag measurements of rectal function
Authors: Sauter M. , Heinrich H. , Fox M. , Misselwitz B. , Halama M. , Schwizer W. , Fried M. , Fruehauf H. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundMeasurements of anorectal function using high‐resolution anorectal manometry (HR‐ARM) and rectal barostat technology provide more reliable results than standard ARM with an elastic balloon; however, HR‐ARM results have not been compared to ARM and standard barostat protocols are impractical in routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to validate HR‐ARM against standard ARM and standard barostat against a novel Rapid Barostat Bag (RBB) measurement and elastic balloon measurements of rectal function.MethodsTwenty‐six healthy volunteers (15 female, 11 male, 19–52 years) were studied. Measurements of anal function and simulated defecation were compared for 12‐sensor HR‐ARM and 6‐sensor standard ARM using line plots from the same recording. Rectal capacity, compliance, and sensation (volume threshold) were measured by elastic balloon, standard barostat, and RBB methods using stepwise inflation of a 700‐mL polyethylene bag to 40 mmHg distension by electronic barostat and handheld syringe monitored by sphygmo‐manometer, respectively. Results are reported as mean ± SD. Bland–Altman plots and correlation coefficients (r) for measurements were calculated.Key ResultsThere was excellent agreement between HR‐ and standard ARM measurements (r > 0.86, <25 mmHg difference) and between standard barostat and RBB measurements of rectal capacity (r = 0.97, <25 mL difference). Correlation coefficients of threshold volumes for initial perception, urgency and discomfort were 0.37, 0.71, and 0.95, respectively. No significant correlation was present with elastic balloon measurements. Time to complete studies was shorter for HR‐ARM than standard ARM and for RBB than standard barostat in historical controls.Conclusions & InferencesHR‐ARM with RBB measurements of anorectal function provides quick and reasonably accurate measurements of continence function suitable for use in routine clinical practice (ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01456442).
Beyond nursing nihilism, a Nietzschean transvaluation of neoliberal values
Authors: Krol Pawel J. , Lavoie Mireille 
Published: February 2014

AbstractLike most goods‐producing sectors in the West, modern health‐care systems have been profoundly changed by globalization and the neoliberal policies that attend it. Since the 1970s, the role of the welfare state has been considerably reduced; funding and management of health systems have been subjected to wave upon wave of reorganization and assimilated to the private sector. At the same time, neoliberal policy has imposed the notion of patient empowerment, thus turning patients into consumers of health. The literature on nursing has accordingly reported on the significant repercussions on all aspects of the profession, from delivery of care and treatment, through training for new nurses, to legislated policy reforms regarding the role and responsibilities of modern nurses. In light of these developments, this paper analyses and theorizes about the way the injection of neoliberal policy is linked to and affects the practice of nursing. Drawing on a number of Nietzschean arguments, we begin with an exploration of the complex effects of neoliberalism, bureaucratization, and technocratization on the health system and the practice of nursing. Our main theoretical point here is that neoliberal policy engenders and promotes a neoliberal tide, which results in the conversion of the values that drive modern nursing practice. We then examine this tide in the light of Nietzsche's concepts. Starting with an analysis based on the ontology of the will to power, we show that nurses are dominated by neoliberal values embedded in technocratic and bureaucratic ideologies. Finally, we argue that the application of neoliberal policy constitutes a form of domestication from which one might potentially be freed through the Nietzschean concept of transvaluation of values. This transvaluation, as its freeing from some of the neoliberal tide, may be accomplished in accordance with a hierarchy of specific life‐affirming values for nursing culture and practice.