bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Threshold Detection of Boar Taint Chemicals Using Parasitic Wasps
Authors: Olson Dawn , Wäckers Felix , Haugen John‐Erik 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:  Surgical castration has been long used to prevent consumers from experiencing taint in meat from male pigs, which is a large problem in the pig husbandry industry. Due to obvious animal welfare issues, the EU now wants an alternative for castration, suggesting an urgent need for novel methods of boar taint detection. As boar taint is only a problem when taint chemicals exceed a well‐defined threshold, detection methods should be concentration‐specific. The wasp, Microplitis croceipes’ ability to learn and respond to particular concentrations of the boar taint compounds, skatole, androstenone, and indole was tested. Also tested was the wasps’ ability to discriminate between known concentrations of indole, skatole, and androstenone in real boar fat samples at room temperature. Wasps were trained using associative learning by providing food‐deprived wasps with sucrose–water in the presence of specific odor concentrations. Trained wasps’ responses were tested to a range of concentrations of 3 compounds. Wasps showed unidirectional generalization of learned concentration responses, whereby the direction of concentration generalization was shown to be chemical‐dependent. Through both positive (sucrose) and negative feeding experiences (water only) with varying compound concentrations, the wasps can also be conditioned to respond to concentrations exceeding a defined threshold, and they were successful in reporting low, medium, and high concentrations of indole, skatole, and androstenone in boar fat at room temperature. The need for threshold detection rather than simple detection of absence/presence applies to many food quality issues, including the detection of spoilage or pest damage in crops or stored foods.Practical Application:  An inexpensive and reliable means of detecting boar tainted pork at slaughter to avoid tainted meat on the market and dissatisfied consumers.
The Sweetness Concentration‐Response of R,R‐Monatin, a Naturally Occurring High‐Potency Sweetener
Authors: Fry John C. , Yurttas Nese , Biermann Kari L. , Lindley Michael G. , Goulson Melanie J. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:  Monatin, known by the common and usual name arruva, is a zero‐calorie, high‐potency sweetener naturally occurring in the plant Sclerochiton ilicifolius A.Meeuse. The sweetness concentration‐response (C‐R) behavior of the most potent isomer (R,R‐) in room‐temperature (21 °C) water was determined using two‐alternative forced choice discrimination tests with a minimum of 69 tasters. Results were processed by a method previously published to obtain isosweet concentrations of sucrose for 8 monatin concentrations up to 240 mg/L. These were used to construct a C‐R plot. The equation for the resultant hyperbolic curve relating sucrose equivalent (SE,%) to monatin concentration ([monatin], mg/L) was SE = 26.7 ×[monatin]/(69.6 +[monatin]). R,R‐monatin has a potency above 3000 at 5% sucrose equivalent, making it one of the most potently sweet naturally occurring substances known.Practical Application:  Monatin is a naturally occurring, zero‐calorie, high‐potency sweetener. We have measured the sweetness of monatin over a range of concentrations. This information will help developers of zero‐, low‐ and reduced‐calorie products formulate with monatin.
Analysis of Phenolic Composition of Noble Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) by HPLC‐MS and the Relationship to Its Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: You Qi , Chen Feng , Wang Xi , Sharp Julia L. , You Yuru 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:  Phenolic compounds and anthocyanins in muscadines have attracted much attention due to their diverse biological activities. With bioassays of antioxidant activities in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), total procyanidin content (TPA), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of different parts of the Noble muscadine, the butanol (BuOH) extract of the muscadine skin showed the highest TPC (317.91 ± 1.83 mg GAE/100 g FW), which might be ascribed to its high TAC of 227.06 ± 1.29 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW). The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of the muscadine seed contained the highest TPA (55.30 ± 0.63 mg CE/100 g FW). Correlation analyses demonstrated a significant linear relationship of TPC and TAC compared to their ORAC and FRAP values within the range of R2 from 0.9283 to 0.9936, which suggested that phenolics and anthocyanins in the extracts contributed significantly to their antioxidant potential. Nineteen individual phenolics and 5 anthocyanins were identified by HPLC‐MS, which indicated different chemical profiles of anthocyanins and other phenolics in the muscadine extracts.Practical Application:  The paper has provided rich information of bioactive phytochemical profiles in different solvent extracts and their correlation with the antioxidant activity in the muscadine that is a very special regional fruit in U.S. Its high content of phenolic compounds demonstrates that muscadine could be beneficial to human health.
Rejection Thresholds in Solid Chocolate‐Flavored Compound Coating
Authors: Harwood Meriel L. , Ziegler Gregory R. , Hayes John E. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:  Classical detection thresholds do not predict liking, as they focus on the presence or absence of a sensation. Recently however, Prescott and colleagues described a new method, the rejection threshold, where a series of forced choice preference tasks are used to generate a dose‐response function to determine hedonically acceptable concentrations. That is, how much is too much? To date, this approach has been used exclusively in liquid foods. Here, we determined group rejection thresholds in solid chocolate‐flavored compound coating for bitterness. The influences of self‐identified preferences for milk or dark chocolate, as well as eating style (chewers compared to melters) on rejection thresholds were investigated. Stimuli included milk chocolate‐flavored compound coating spiked with increasing amounts of sucrose octaacetate, a bitter and generally recognized as safe additive. Paired preference tests (blank compared to spike) were used to determine the proportion of the group that preferred the blank. Across pairs, spiked samples were presented in ascending concentration. We were able to quantify and compare differences between 2 self‐identified market segments. The rejection threshold for the dark chocolate preferring group was significantly higher than the milk chocolate preferring group (P= 0.01). Conversely, eating style did not affect group rejection thresholds (P= 0.14), although this may reflect the amount of chocolate given to participants. Additionally, there was no association between chocolate preference and eating style (P= 0.36). Present work supports the contention that this method can be used to examine preferences within specific market segments and potentially individual differences as they relate to ingestive behavior.Practical Application:  This work makes use of the rejection threshold method to study market segmentation, extending its use to solid foods. We believe this method has broad applicability to the sensory specialist and product developer by providing a process to identify how much is too much when formulating products, even in the context of specific market segments. We illustrate this in solid chocolate‐flavored compound coating, identifying substantial differences in the amount of acceptable bitterness in those who prefer milk chocolate compared to dark chocolate. This method provides a direct means to answer the question of how much is too much.
Composition of Sugars, Organic Acids, and Total Phenolics in 25 Wild or Cultivated Berry Species
Authors: Mikulic‐Petkovsek Maja , Schmitzer Valentina , Slatnar Ana , Stampar Franci , Veberic Robert 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:  Sugars, organic acids, and total phenolic content in fruit of 25 wild and cultivated berry species were identified and quantified with high‐performance liquid chromatograph. The composition of sugars, organic acids, and total phenolic compounds in various species of Vaccinium, Rubus, Ribes, and Fragaria genus was evaluated. Additonally, total phenolics of less known berry species of the Morus, Amelanchier, Sorbus, Sambucus, Rosa, Lycium, Actinidia, and Aronia genus were determined in wild growing as well as in cultivated fruits. Significant differences in the concentration of sugars and organic acids were detected among the berry species. Glucose and fructose were the most abundant sugars in berry fruits and the major organic acids were malic and citric acid. However, in kiwi fruit, sucrose represented as much as 71.9% of total sugars. Sorbitol has been detected and quantified in chokeberry, rowanberry, and eastern shadbush fruit. The highest content of total analyzed sugars was determined in rowanberry fruit, followed by dog rose, eastern shadbush, hardy kiwifruit, American cranberry, chokeberry, and jostaberry fruit. Rowanberry stands out as the fruit with the highest content of total analyzed organic acids, followed by jostaberry, lingonberry, red gooseberry, hardy kiwifruit, and black currant. The berries of white gooseberry, black currant, red currant, and white currant had the lowest sugar/organic acid ratio and were thus perceptively the sourest species analyzed. On the other hand, the species with highest sugar/organic acid ratio were goji berry, eastern shadbush, black mulberry, and wild grown blackberry. The highest amounts of total phenols were quantified in chokeberry fruit. Wild strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry had 2‐ to 5‐fold more total phenolics compared to cultivated plants.Practical Application:  The fruit of analyzed berry species contained different levels of sugars, organic acids, and total phenolics. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that wild grown species generally contain more phenolics than cultivated ones. This information is interesting for nutritionists as well as berry growers and breeders who can promote the cultivation of species and new cultivars with higher phenolic content.
Photoisomerization of trans‐2‐[4′‐(Dimethylamino)styryl]benzothiazole
Authors: Mishra Anasuya , Thangamani Arumugam , Chatterjee Soumya , Chipem Francis A. S. , Krishnamoorthy Govindarajan 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPhotoreaction of trans‐2‐[4′‐(dimethylamino)styryl]benzothiazole (t‐DMASBT) under direct irradiation has been investigated in dioxane, chloroform, methanol and glycerol to understand the mechanism of photoisomerization. Contrary to an earlier report, isomerization takes place in all these solvents including glycerol. The results show that restriction on photoisomerization leads to the increase in fluorescence quantum yield in glycerol. The results are consistent with the theoretically simulated potential energy surface reported earlier using time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. DFT calculations on cis isomers under isolated condition have suggested that cis‐B conformer is more stable than cis‐A conformer due to hydrogen‐bonding interaction. In the ground state, cis‐DMASBT is predominantly present as cis‐B. The fluorescence spectra of the irradiated t‐DMASBT suggested that photoisomerization follows not the adiabatic path as proposed by Saha et al., but the nonadiabatic path.
Concentration Dependence of Vitamin C in Combinations with Vitamin E and Zeaxanthin on Light‐Induced Toxicity to Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Authors: Różanowska Małgorzata , Bakker Linda , Boulton Michael E. , Różanowski Bartosz 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the effects of increasing concentration of ascorbate alone and in combinations with α‐tocopherol and zeaxanthin on phototoxicity to the retinal pigment epithelium. ARPE‐19 cells were exposed to rose bengal and visible light in the presence and absence of antioxidants. Toxicity was quantified by an assay of cell‐reductive activity. A 20 min exposure to visible light and photosensitizer decreased cell viability to ca 42%. Lipophilic antioxidants increased viabilities to ca 70%, 61% and 75% for α‐tocopherol, zeaxanthin and their combination, respectively. Cell viabilities were ca 70%, 56% and 5% after exposures in the presence of 0.35, 0.7 and 1.4 mm ascorbate, respectively. A 45 min exposure increased cell death to ca 74% and >95% in the absence and presence of ascorbate, respectively. In the presence of ascorbate, zeaxanthin did not significantly affect phototoxicity. α‐Tocopherol and its combination with zeaxanthin enhanced protective effects of ascorbate, but did not prevent from ascorbate‐mediated deleterious effects. In conclusion, there is a narrow range of concentrations and exposure times where ascorbate exerts photoprotective effects, exceeding which leads to ascorbate‐mediated increase in photocytotoxicity. Vitamin E and its combination with zeaxanthin can enhance protective effects of ascorbate, but do not ameliorate its deleterious effects.
Photodynamic Effects of Zinc(II) Phthalocyanine‐Loaded Polymeric Micelles in Human Nasopharynx KB Carcinoma Cells
Authors: García Vior María C. , Marino Julieta , Roguin Leonor P. , Sosnik Alejandro , Awruch Josefina 
Published: August 2012

AbstractA major difficulty in photodynamic therapy is the poor solubility of the photosensitizer (PS) under physiological conditions which correlates with low bioavailability. PS aggregation leads to a decrease in the photodynamic efficiency and a more limited activity in vitro and in vivo. To improve the aqueous solubility and reduce the aggregation of 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)‐tetrakis[(2‐dimethylamino)ethylsulfanyl]phthal‐ocyaninatozinc(II) (Pc9), the encapsulation into four poloxamine polymeric micelles (T304, T904, T1107 and T1307) displaying a broad spectrum of molecular weight and hydrophilic–lipophilic balance was investigated. The aqueous solubility of Pc9 was increased up to 30 times. Morphological evaluation showed the formation of Pc9‐loaded spherical micelles in the nanosize range. UV/Vis and fluorescence studies indicated that Pc9 is less aggregated upon encapsulation in comparison with Pc9 in water–DMSO 2% and remained photostable. Pc9‐loaded micelles generated singlet molecular oxygen in high yields. Photocytotoxicity assays using human nasopharynx KB carcinoma cells confirmed that the encapsulation of Pc9 in T1107 and T1307 increases its photocytotoxicity by 10 times in comparison with the free form in water–DMSO. In addition, Pc9 incorporated into cells was mainly localized in lysosomes.
Severity of Peripheral Arterial Disease is Associated With Aortic Pressure Augmentation and Subendocardial Viability Ratio
Authors: Mosimann Kathrin , Jacomella Vincenzo , Thalhammer Christoph , Meier Thomas O. , Kohler Malcolm , Amann‐Vesti Beatrice , Husmann Marc 
Published: August 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:855–860. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality that correlates with peripheral perfusion impairment as assessed by the ankle‐brachial arterial pressure index (ABI). Furthermore, PAD is associated with arterial stiffness and elevated aortic augmentation index (AIx). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ABI impairment correlates with AIx and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), a measure of cardiac perfusion during diastole. AIx and SEVR were assessed by radial applanation tonometry in 65 patients with stable PAD (Rutherford stage I–III) at a tertiary referral center. AIx corrected for heart rate and SEVR were tested in a multivariate linear and logistic regression model to determine the association with ABI. Mean ABI was 0.8±0.2, AIx 31%±7%, and SEVR 141%±26%. Multiple linear regression with AIx as a dependent variable revealed that AIx was significantly negatively associated with ABI (β=−11.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], −18.6 to −4.5; P=.002). Other variables that were associated with AIx were diastolic blood pressure (β=0.2; 95% CI, 0.1–0.4; P<.001), height (β=−46.2; 95% CI, −62.9 to −29.4; P<.001), body mass index (β=−0.4; 95% CI, −0.8 to −0.1; P=.023), and smoking (β=3.6; 95% CI, 0.6–6.6; P=.019). Multiple regression with SEVR as a dependent variable showed a significant correlation with ABI (β=33.2; 95% CI, 2.3–64.1; P=.036). Severity of lower limb perfusion impairment is related to central aortic pressure augmentation and to subendocardial viability ratio. This may be a potential pathophysiologic link that impacts cardiac prognosis in patients with PAD.
Screening for bipolar disorder in adolescents with the Mood Disorder Questionnaire – Adolescent version (MDQ‐A) and the Child Bipolar Questionnaire (CBQ)
Authors: Miguez Melissa , Weber Béatrice , Debbané Martin , Balanzin Dario , Gex‐Fabry Marianne , Raiola Fulvia , Barbe Rémy P. , Vital Bennour Marylène , Ansermet François , Eliez Stephan , Aubry Jean‐Michel 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAimScreening instruments for bipolar disorders (BDs) in children and adolescents have been developed recently. The present study examined performances of the French versions of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire – Adolescent version (MDQ‐A) and Child Bipolar Questionnaire (CBQ) in a sample of in‐ and outpatients.MethodsSeventy‐six adolescents (age 13–18) and parents first completed the MDQ‐A (adolescent and parent versions) and CBQ screening instruments. About 3 weeks later, they had a diagnostic interview with the Kiddie‐Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia – Present and Lifetime (K‐SADS‐PL), and the adolescent MDQ‐A self‐report was completed a second time.ResultsEight of 76 patients (10.5%) met K‐SADS‐PL diagnostic criteria for BD. Test–retest reliability of the adolescent MDQ‐A self‐report was moderate (kappa = 0.66), whereas agreement between adolescent and parent reports was poor (kappa = 0.07). Sensitivity and specificity of the MDQ‐A with respect to K‐SADS‐PL were 75.0% and 57.4% for the adolescent version, and 87.5% and 63.2% for the parent version. Corresponding figures were 50.0% and 73.5% for the CBQ. All three screening instruments had low positive predictive values (17.1% for the MDQ‐A adolescent version; 21.9% for the MDQ‐A parent version; 18.2% for the CBQ), whereas negative predictive values were higher than 90%.ConclusionsThe present study points to modest performances of the MDQ‐A and CBQ to detect BDs in adolescents, with diagnostic criteria for BD being unmet for a majority of patients who screened positive.
Childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and normal control subjects
Authors: Tikka Maria , Luutonen Sinikka , Ilonen Tuula , Tuominen Lauri , Kotimäki Mika , Hankala Juha , Salokangas Raimo K.R. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAimTraumatic childhood experiences are associated with psychotic illness and are frequently reported in patients at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Moreover, deteriorating premorbid functioning from childhood, and through adolescence, is related to greater severity of overall symptomatology and poorer outcomes in patients with psychosis. We studied the prevalence of traumatic childhood experiences and premorbid adjustment and their association with each other in patients at CHR for psychosis and normal control subjects (NCSs).MethodsA total of 20 CHR patients for psychosis and 30 NCSs aged 14 to 35 participated in the present study. The CHR patients were identified as prodromal to psychosis using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes/Scale of Prodromal Symptoms. Premorbid adjustment was assessed by using the premorbid adjustment scale (PAS), and self‐reported childhood trauma was assessed with the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS).ResultsIn CHR patients, TADS and PAS scores were higher than in NCSs. In CHR patients, TADS correlated significantly with the PAS general section and observably, but not significantly, with adolescence and adulthood sections.ConclusionCHR patients reported more childhood trauma experiences and poorer premorbid adjustment than NCSs. In CHR patients, traumatic childhood experiences are associated with poor general premorbid adjustment.
AlleleRetain: a program to assess management options for conserving allelic diversity in small, isolated populations
Authors: Weiser E. L. , Grueber C. E. , Jamieson I. G. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPreserving genetic health is an important aspect of species conservation. Allelic diversity is particularly important to conserve, as it provides capacity for adaptation and thus enables long‐term population viability. Allele retention is difficult to predict beyond one generation for real populations with complex demography and life‐history traits, so we developed a computer model to simulate allele retention in small populations. AlleleRetain is an individual‐based model implemented in r and can be applied to assess management options for conserving allelic diversity in small populations of animals with overlapping generations. AlleleRetain remedies the limitations of similar existing software, and its source code is freely available for further modification. AlleleRetain and its supporting materials can be downloaded from https://sites.google.com/site/alleleretain/ or CRAN (http://cran.r-project.org).
Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Contained within a Polyetheretherketone Cage with and without Plating for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Mobbs Ralph Jasper , Chau Anthony MT , Durmush Deniz 
Published: August 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate the properties of a combination bone graft consisting of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage in one‐ and two‐level surgery.MethodsOver a 12‐month time period, a prospective single surgeon series of 75 patients were included in the study and 58 patients selected based on adequate data points. From these 58 patients, 32 were supplemented with anterior plate fixation and 26 patients without plating. Duration of clinical follow‐up was a mean of 12.4 months (range, 6–26 months) in the Plated Group and 10.5 months (range, 6–21 months) in the Non‐Plated Group.ResultsA 100% fusion rate with nil graft related complications was achieved in the Plated group compared with 96.2% fusion and 11.5% subsidence rates reported in the Non‐Plated group. Patients in both groups experienced statistically significant improvement in pain and functional outcomes compared to their pre‐operative status; however, there was no significant difference in outcome between the Plated and Non‐Plated Groups.ConclusionsBiphasic calcium phosphate ceramic contained within a PEEK cage is an effective implant for use in anterior cervical surgery with high fusion rates and good clinical outcome.