bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation Methods for Monodispersed Garlic Oil Microspheres in Water Using the Microemulsion Technique and Their Potential as Antimicrobials
Authors: Zheng Hua Ming , Li Hou Bin , Wang Da Wei , Liu Dun 
Published: August 2013

AbstractGarlic oil is considered as a natural broad‐spectrum antibiotic because of its well‐known antimicrobial activity. However, the characteristics of easy volatility and poor aqueous solubility limit the application of garlic oil in industry. The purpose of the present work is to develop and evaluate an oil‐free microemulsion by loading garlic oil in microemulsion system. Microemulsions were prepared with ethoxylated hydrogenated castor (Cremophor RH40) as surfactant, n‐butanol (or ethanol) as cosurfactant, oleic acid‐containing garlic oil as oil phase, and ultrapure water as water phase. The effects of the ratio of surfactant to cosurfactant and different oil concentration on the area of oil‐in‐water (O/W) microemulsion region in pseudoternary phase diagrams were investigated. The particle size and garlic oil encapsulation efficiency of the formed microemulsions with different formulations were also investigated. In addition, the antimicrobial activity in vitro against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed. The experimental results show that a stable microemulsion region can be obtained when the mass ratio of surfactant to cosurfactant is, respectively, 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1. Especially, when the mixture surfactants of RH40/n‐butanol 2/1 (w/w) is used in the microemulsion formulation, the area of O/W microemulsion region is 0.089 with the particle size 13.29 to 13.85 nm and garlic oil encapsulation efficiency 99.5%. The prepared microemulsion solution exhibits remarkable antibacterial activity against S. aureus.
Sensory Properties of Under‐Roasted Coffee Beverages
Authors: Masi Camilla , Dinnella Caterina , Barnabà Massimo , Navarini Luciano , Monteleone Erminio 
Published: August 2013

AbstractConditions milder than standard roasting (under‐roasting: 140 to 170 °C for 20 to 12 min) have been proposed to reduce the formation of potentially harmful compounds developing during standard coffee roasting. In the present study, sensory properties of brews prepared with under‐roasted coffees (140 to 165 °C for 20 min) were described by descriptive analysis. Two meta‐attributes were defined: “coffee” consisting of attributes positively related to the increasing of process temperature and “no‐coffee” consisting of those negatively related to temperature. The progressive lowering of “no‐coffee” and the corresponding increasing of “coffee” mean values were induced by temperature increasing in under‐roasting conditions. The processing temperature of 150 °C seems to represent the changing point between the 2 meta‐attributes with “no‐coffee” prevailing at lower and “coffee” at higher temperatures. Consumer responses indicate the positive effect of both product processing temperature and “coffee” attribute intensity on liking. Brews from coffee treated at temperature lower than 150 °C showed a sensory profile characterized by “no‐coffee” attributes and resulted the less preferred by regular coffee consumers.
Combined Effect of Dimethyl Dicarbonate (DMDC) and Nisin on Indigenous Microorganisms of Litchi Juice and its Microbial shelf life
Authors: Yu Yuanshan , Wu Jijun , Xiao Gengsheng , Xu Yujuan , Tang Daobang , Chen Yulong , Zhang Yousheng 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe individual and combined influences of dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) and nisin (200 IU/mL) at mild heat on the inactivation of indigenous microorganisms in litchi juice, including bacteria, molds and yeasts (M&Y), were investigated. The fresh litchi juice with or without nisin were exposed to 250 mg/L DMDC at 30, 40, or 45 °C for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 h. A complete inactivation of M&Y in the litchi juice with or without nisin was achieved as exposed to 250 mg/L DMDC at 30, 40, or 45 °C for 0.5 h. The bacteria, especially Bacillus sp. and Leuconstoc mesenteroides showed higher resistance than M&Y in the litchi juice. Bacillus sp. and Leuconstoc mesenteroides in the litchi juice was not completely inactivated by 250 mg/L DMDC at 30, 40, or 45 °C. However, nisin addition can enhanced the inactivation of these bacteria by DMDC, and nisin and DMDC also showed a synergistic effect on the inactivation of bacteria. M&Y and bacteria were not detected in the litchi juice added with 200 IU/mL nisin as exposed to 250 mg/L DMDC at 45 °C for 3 h. In addition, microbial shelf life of the litchi juice during storage at 4 °C also was evaluated as treated by 250 mg/L DMDC or combination with nisin at 45 °C for 3 h.
Bacterial and Fungal Communities in Pu'er Tea Samples of Different Ages
Authors: Tian Jianqing , Zhu Zixiang , Wu Bing , Wang Lin , Liu Xingzhong 
Published: August 2013

AbstractPu'er is a major kind of postfermented tea and is made with a “large leaf” variety of Camellia sinensis (C. sinensis assamica), whose distribution is limited to the mountains of southern Yunnan, China. The quality of Pu'er tea is believed to increase with storage (aging, maturing) because of postfermentation by microbes. The effect of storage period (from < 1 to 192 mo) on the bacteria and fungi in Pu'er tea was investigated by a culture‐dependent and a PCR‐DGGE method. The individual numbers of fungi and bacteria decreased with increasing storage time and were significantly greater in ripened tea than in raw Pu'er tea. Both methods indicated that yeast, Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp. were the dominant fungi in almost all the samples. However, the common bacteria detected by the culture‐dependent method were species of Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, and Bacillus, whereas those detected by PCR‐DGGE were species of Staphylococcus, Arthrobacter, and Streptomyces. According to ordination analysis, bacterial community structure differed between ripened and raw Pu'er tea. Bacterial diversity was positively correlated with aging time, while fungal diversity in both raw and ripened tea increased during the first 60 mo of aging and then decreased. Changes in polyphenol content were correlated with the changes in fungal diversity. These results suggest that the relationship between storage time and the quality of Pu'er tea is complex and involves changes in polyphenol content and microbial abundance and diversity.
Gross Anatomy of the Brachial Plexus in the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
Authors: Souza P. R. , Cardoso J. R. , Araujo L. B. M. , Moreira P. C. , Cruz V. S. , Araujo E. G. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryTen forelimbs of five Myrmecophaga tridactyla were examined to study the anatomy of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexuses of the M. tridactyla observed in the present study were formed by the ventral rami of the last four cervical spinal nerves, C5 through C8, and the first thoracic spinal nerve, T1. These primary roots joined to form two trunks: a cranial trunk comprising ventral rami from C5‐C7 and a caudal trunk receiving ventral rami from C8‐T1. The nerves originated from these trunks and their most constant arrangement were as follows: suprascapular (C5‐C7), subscapular (C5‐C7), cranial pectoral (C5‐C8), caudal pectoral (C8‐T1), axillary (C5‐C7), musculocutaneous (C5‐C7), radial (C5‐T1), median (C5‐T1), ulnar (C5‐T1), thoracodorsal (C5‐C8), lateral thoracic (C7‐T1) and long thoracic (C6‐C7). In general, the brachial plexus in the M. tridactyla is similar to the plexuses in mammals, but the number of rami contributing to the formation of each nerve in the M. tridactyla was found to be larger than those of most mammals. This feature may be related to the very distinctive anatomical specializations of the forelimb of the anteaters.
Anticancer Activity of New Synthetic α‐Methylene‐δ‐Lactones on Two Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Wyrębska Anna , Gach Katarzyna , Lewandowska Urszula , Szewczyk Karolina , Hrabec Elżbieta , Modranka Jakub , Jakubowski Rafał , Janecki Tomasz , Szymański Jacek , Janecka Anna 
Published: August 2013

AbstractNatural products are important leads in drug discovery. The search for effective plant‐derived anticancer agents or their synthetic analogues has continued to be of interest to biologists and chemists for a long time. In this report, cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of new synthetic α‐methylene‐δ‐lactones was tested against two breast cancer cell lines, invasive, hormone‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 and hormone‐dependent MCF‐7. Cytotoxicity was examined using MTT assay. The ability to induce apoptosis and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential was studied by flow cytometry. The expression levels of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic genes were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. Cancer cell migration and invasion were assessed by wound healing and Matrigel assays. Additionally, secretion of proteins associated with invasiveness, metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) was investigated using commercial ELISA kits and MMP‐9 activity by gelatin zymography. A natural sesquiterpene lactone, parthenolide, was used as a positive control. Screening results showed all four analogues to be highly cytotoxic. The most potent compound of the series, 1‐isopropyl‐2‐methylene‐1,2‐dihydrobenzochromen‐3‐one, designated DL‐3, which reduced the number of viable MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF‐7 cells with the IC50 values of 5.3 μM and 3.54 μM, respectively, was selected for further research. DL‐3 activated the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, associated with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio. DL‐3 also inhibited the movement of both types of breast cancer cells. Suppression of cell migration and invasion was the result of the decreased secretion of enzymes responsible for the degradation of the extracellular matrix, MMP‐9 and uPA. These findings show that the synthetic α‐methylene‐δ‐lactone, DL‐3, displays potential to be further explored in the development of new anticancer agents.
Acute thrombocytopenia in patients treated with amiodarone is caused by antibodies specific for platelet membrane glycoproteins
Authors: Sahud Mervyn A. , Caulfield Michael , Clarke Nigel , Koch Robert , Bougie Daniel , Aster Richard 
Published: August 2013

SummaryAmiodarone has been implicated as a cause of thrombocytopenia but the responsible mechanism is unknown. We performed studies in three patients to characterize the pathogenesis of this complication. No amiodarone‐dependent, platelet‐reactive antibodies were identified using conventional serological techniques. However, water‐insoluble amiodarone solubilized in methanol and diluted to 1·0 mg/ml in aqueous buffer reproducibly promoted binding of IgG antibodies in patient serum to platelets. Solid phase assays identified drug‐dependent antibodies specific for platelet glycoproteins (GP)Ia/IIa (integrin α2β1) in each patient and a second antibody specific for GPIIb/IIIa (αIIbβ3 integrin) in one patient. When studied by ion mobility analysis and transmission electron microscopy, the serologically active amiodarone preparation, a milky suspension, was found to consist of particles 2–30 nm in diameter, typical of a coacervate, a state characteristic of amiodarone in aqueous medium. The findings provide evidence that thrombocytopenia in the three patients studied was caused by drug‐dependent antibodies specific for platelet glycoproteins GPIa/IIa and/or GPIIb/IIIa. We postulate that, in vivo, amiodarone may become incorporated into occult lipophilic domains in platelet glycoproteins, producing structural modifications that are immunogenic in some individuals, and that the resulting antibodies can cause platelet destruction in a person taking this drug.
Works Councils and Labour Productivity: Looking beyond the Mean
Authors: Mueller Steffen 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAfter more than 25 years of empirical investigation, the analysis of works council effects on establishment productivity is still an active field of economic research. I present first evidence for works council regression coefficients along the unconditional log labour productivity distribution in Germany. The highest (lowest) coefficients were found at the bottom (top) of the distribution, which suggests that works councils have the most beneficial effects at low levels of productivity. Importantly, coefficients are positive at each productivity level. The results shed light on a classical theoretical argument concerning moderating factors for the productivity effect of employee participation.
Young children with cerebral palsy: families self‐reported equipment needs and out‐of‐pocket expenditure
Authors: Bourke‐Taylor H. , Cotter C. , Stephan R. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundCosts to families raising a child with cerebral palsy and complex needs are direct and indirect. This study investigated the self‐reported real‐life costs, equipment needs, and associated characteristics of children who had the highest equipment and care needs.MethodThe purposive sample (n= 29) were families with a child with cerebral palsy: gross motor function levels 5 (n= 20), level 4 (n= 5), level 3 (n= 4); complex communication needs (n= 21); medical needs (n= 14); hearing impairment (n= 5) and visual impairment (n= 9). Participants completed a specifically designed survey that included theAssistance toParticipateScale. Equipment and technology purchases were recorded in the areas of positioning, mobility, transport, home modifications, communication, splinting and orthoses, self‐care, technology, communication devices, medical, adapted toys/leisure items and privately hired babysitters/carers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.ResultsFamilies had purchased up to 25 items within the areas described. The highest median number of items were recorded for positioning (15 items), mobility devices (9 items) and adapted toys/leisure items (9 items). Median costs were highest for home modifications (AUD$23 000), transport (AUD$15 000), splints and orthoses (AUD$3145), paid carers (AUD$3080), equipment for toileting/dressing/bathing (AUD$2900) and technical/medical items ($2380). Children who needed more parental assistance to participate in play and recreation also required significantly more equipment overall for positioning, communication, self‐care and toys/leisure.ConclusionsThe equipment needs of young children with complex disability are extensive and out‐of‐pocket expenses and parental time to support participation in play/recreation excessive. Substantial financial support to offset costs are crucial to better support families in this life situation.
Shape Matching via Quotient Spaces
Authors: Ovsjanikov Maks , Mérigot Quentin , Pătrăucean Viorica , Guibas Leonidas 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe introduce a novel method for non‐rigid shape matching, designed to address the symmetric ambiguity problem present when matching shapes with intrinsic symmetries. Unlike the majority of existing methods which try to overcome this ambiguity by sampling a set of landmark correspondences, we address this problem directly by performing shape matching in an appropriate quotient space, where the symmetry has been identified and factored out. This allows us to both simplify the shape matching problem by matching between subspaces, and to return multiple solutions with equally good dense correspondences. Remarkably, both symmetry detection and shape matching are done without establishing any landmark correspondences between either points or parts of the shapes. This allows us to avoid an expensive combinatorial search present in most intrinsic symmetry detection and shape matching methods. We compare our technique with state‐of‐the‐art methods and show that superior performance can be achieved both when the symmetry on each shape is known and when it needs to be estimated.
Connectivity Editing for Quad‐Dominant Meshes
Authors: Peng Chi‐Han , Wonka Peter 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe propose a connectivity editing framework for quad‐dominant meshes. In our framework, the user can edit the mesh connectivity to control the location, type, and number of irregular vertices (with more or fewer than four neighbors) and irregular faces (non‐quads). We provide a theoretical analysis of the problem, discuss what edits are possible and impossible, and describe how to implement an editing framework that realizes all possible editing operations. In the results, we show example edits and illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies for quad‐dominant mesh design.
Discrete Line Congruences for Shading and Lighting
Authors: Wang J. , Jiang C. , Bompas P. , Wallner J. , Pottmann H. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractTwo‐parameter families of straight lines (line congruences) are implicitly present in graphics and geometry processing in several important ways including lighting and shape analysis. In this paper we make them accessible to optimization and geometric computing, by introducing a general discrete version of congruences based on piecewise‐linear correspondences between triangle meshes. Our applications of congruences are based on the extraction of a so‐called torsion‐free support structure, which is a procedure analogous to remeshing a surface along its principal curvature lines. A particular application of such structures are freeform shading and lighting systems for architecture. We combine interactive design of such systems with global optimization in order to satisfy geometric constraints. In this way we explore a new area where architecture can greatly benefit from graphics.
Approximating Functions on a Mesh with Restricted Voronoï Diagrams
Authors: Nivoliers V. , Lévy B. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe propose a method that computes a piecewise constant approximation of a function defined on a mesh. The approximation is associated with the cells of a restricted Voronoï diagram. Our method optimizes an objective function measuring the quality of the approximation. This objective function depends on the placement of the samples that define the restricted Voronoï diagram and their associated function values. We study the continuity of the objective function, derive the closed‐form expression of its derivatives and use them to design a numerical solution mechanism. The method can be applied to a function that has discontinuities, and the result aligns the boundaries of the Voronoï cells with the discontinuities. Some examples are shown, suggesting potential applications in image vectorization and compact representation of lighting.
Fast and Robust Approximation of Smallest Enclosing Balls in Arbitrary Dimensions
Authors: Larsson Thomas , Källberg Linus 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn this paper, an algorithm is introduced that computes an arbitrarily fine approximation of the smallest enclosing ball of a point set in any dimension. This operation is important in, for example, classification, clustering, and data mining. The algorithm is very simple to implement, gives reliable results, and gracefully handles large problem instances in low and high dimensions, as confirmed by both theoretical arguments and empirical evaluation. For example, using a CPU with eight cores, it takes less than two seconds to compute a 1.001‐approximation of the smallest enclosing ball of one million points uniformly distributed in a hypercube in dimension 200. Furthermore, the presented approach extends to a more general class of input objects, such as ball sets.
An algorithm for triangulating multiple 3D polygons
Authors: Zou Ming , Ju Tao , Carr Nathan 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe present an algorithm for obtaining a triangulation of multiple, non‐planar 3D polygons. The output minimizes additive weights, such as the total triangle areas or the total dihedral angles between adjacent triangles. Our algorithm generalizes a classical method for optimally triangulating a single polygon. The key novelty is a mechanism for avoiding non‐manifold outputs for two and more input polygons without compromising optimality. For better performance on real‐world data, we also propose an approximate solution by feeding the algorithm with a reduced set of triangles. In particular, we demonstrate experimentally that the triangles in the Delaunay tetrahedralization of the polygon vertices offer a reasonable trade off between performance and optimality.
Relationships between total and regional adiposity and epicardial fat in obese women: how can dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry be associated with echocardiographic epicardial fat measurements?
Authors: Bazzocchi A. , Diano D. , Vicennati V. , Pizzi C. , De Filippo M. , Pasquali R. , Rossi C. , Battista G. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject
Obesity is an increasingly prevalent metabolic disorder and it is associated with a large number of comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases.
Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ and its ectopic depots and distribution have different metabolic meanings on risks for health; as a matter of fact, epicardial fat seems to play a specific role in cardiovascular diseases.
The use of dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) to evaluate and follow‐up patients affected by obesity is becoming a very important point in the management of the disease.
What this study adds
An investigation of the association between epicardial fat and regional adiposity by DXA in female obese patients.
The total amount of central (trunk) fat mass is more strongly correlated than android visceral fat mass to epicardial thickness in obese women.
In the interpretation of whole‐body DXA data, physician should consider trunk fat mass for good and independent predictivity on epicardial fat depots.
Our aim was to analyse in a population of obese women the relationship between the amount of epicardial fat as measured by transthoracic echocardiography (US) and the parameters of regional adiposity by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), with particular reference to a new software for visceral fat assessment and to a new ‘heart‐suited’ regions of interests (ROIs). Sixty patients who satisfied technical inclusion criteria underwent whole‐body DXA scan and US on the same day. Total and android fat mass (FM) and FM percentage (FM%) were considered as well as visceral fat (VAT) subcompartment in the android region; moreover, six new ROIs were designed on whole‐body DXA images for the investigation of adiposity parameters at heart level. US provided epicardial fat thickness (EPI‐thickness) and area (EPI‐area), as measured following previously validated methods. Body mass index (BMI), gynoid and lower limbs (FM and FM%) were found not statistically correlated with EPI‐thickness. The highest correlation was achieved by trunk FM (and FM%, with r = 0.544 and 0.480 respectively, P < 0.001), followed by ROI‐1 FM (ROI‐1 was drawn following thoroughly the cardiac profile), and android FM. Multivariate analysis including age, weight, BMI, trunk FM and the new ROIs (added one by one), retained in the final model trunk FM. Correlations of DXA with EPI‐area were superimposable. In obese women, VAT or other new‐designed ROIs are not better correlated than traditional ROIs (i.e. trunk) with epicardial fat amount.