bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality parameters and antioxidant properties in organic and conventionally grown broccoli after pre‐storage hot water treatment
Authors: Zapata Pedro Javier , Tucker Gregory A , Valero Daniel , Serrano María 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Demand for broccoli has increased due to its high content of bioactive compounds. However, broccoli is a perishable commodity with a short shelf life mainly due to dehydration, yellowing and losses of bioactive compounds. Thus, efficient treatments to preserve broccoli quality are needed.RESULTS: The effect of heat treatment on senescence and antioxidant compounds evolution during storage at 20 °C was evaluated in organic and conventionally grown broccoli. Senescence evolved quickly as manifested by floral head yellowing, which was higher in conventional than in organic broccolis, but senescence was significantly delayed by heat treatment. All organic acids, including ascorbic acid, were found at higher concentrations in organic than in conventional broccoli at harvest but decreased during storage in all broccolis. Phenolic concentration and antioxidant activity (in both hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions) also decreased during storage, although these decreases were higher in conventional than in organic broccolis, and no differences were found attributable to heat treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Heat treatment was effective in delaying broccoli senescence, manifested by chlorophyll retention. In addition, organic broccoli maintained higher concentrations of bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid and phenolics) and antioxidant potential during storage than conventional broccoli, with higher potential health beneficial effects. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Exploiting Web 2.0 for New Service Development: Findings and Implications from the Greek Tourism Industry
Authors: Sigala Marianna 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTAs research into customer involvement and Web 2.0 in new service development (NSD) is limited, this study investigated the exploitation and the implications of Web 2.0 for enhancing customer involvement in NSD in tourism. Studies analysing the following fields were reviewed: the concept, the benefits and the risks of as well as the empowering role of Web 2.0 for customer participation in NSD. The review is organized around a framework summarizing the following issues that need to be considered for Web 2.0 exploitation: the drivers, the degree, the management issues and risks, and the benefits of customer involvement. A model measuring the use of Web 2.0 was also developed and used for surveying the level of Web 2.0 exploitation for NSD purposes by Greek tourism firms. The survey findings were also complemented with a qualitative study exploring the perceptions of professionals regarding the benefits, the management issues and risks that they face when exploiting Web 2.0. Finally, the practical and the theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoparticle‐mediated photothermal therapy: A comparative study of heating for different particle types
Authors: Pattani Varun P. , Tunnell James W. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIntroductionNear‐infrared (NIR) absorbing plasmonic nanoparticles enhance photothermal therapy of tumors. In this procedure, systemically delivered gold nanoparticles preferentially accumulate at the tumor site and when irradiated using laser light, produce localized heat sufficient to damage tumor cells. Gold nanoshells and nanorods have been widely studied for this purpose, and while both exhibit strong NIR absorption, their overall absorption and scattering properties differ widely due to their geometry. In this paper, we compared the photothermal response of both nanoparticle types including the heat generation and photothermal efficiency.MethodsTissue simulating phantoms, with varying concentrations of gold nanoparticles, were irradiated with a near‐infrared diode laser while concurrently monitoring the surface temperature with an infrared camera. We calculated nanoshell and nanorod optical properties using the Mie solution and the discrete dipole approximation, respectively. In addition, we measured the heat generation of nanoshells and nanorods at the same optical density to determine the photothermal transduction efficiency for both nanoparticle types.ResultsWe found that the gold nanoshells produced more heat than gold nanorods at equivalent number densities (# of nanoparticles/ml), whereas the nanorods generated more heat than nanoshells at equivalent extinction values at the irradiance wavelength. To reach an equivalent heat generation, we found that it was necessary to have ∼36× more nanorods than nanoshells. However, the gold nanorods were found to have two times the photothermal transduction efficiency than the gold nanoshells.ConclusionFor the nanoparticles tested, the nanoshells generated more heat, per nanoparticle, than nanorods, primarily due to their overall larger geometric cross‐section. Conversely, we found that the gold nanorods had a higher photothermal efficiency than the gold nanoshells. In conclusion, the ideal choice of plasmonic nanoparticle requires not only per particle efficiency, but also the in vivo particle targeting ability under study. Lasers Surg. Med. 44: 675–684, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Curcuminoids exert glucose‐lowering effect in type 2 diabetes by decreasing serum free fatty acids: a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Na Li‐Xin , Li Ying , Pan Hong‐Zhi , Zhou Xian‐Li , Sun Dian‐Jun , Meng Man , Li Xiao‐Xia , Sun Chang‐Hao 
Published: August 2012

ScopeWe previously found that curcuminoids decreased blood glucose and improved insulin resistance by reducing serum free fatty acids (FFAs) and increasing fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats. This study was to investigate whether curcuminoids have beneficial effects on type 2 diabetic patients, and its possible mechanisms.Methods and resultsOverweight/obese type 2 diabetic patients (BMI ≥ 24.0; fasting blood glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L or postprandial blood glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L) were randomly assigned to curcuminoids (300 mg/day) or placebo for 3 months. Bodyweight, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c,%), serum fasting glucose, FFAs, lipids, and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were determined. A total of 100 patients (curcuminoids, n = 50; placebo, n = 50) completed the trial. Curcuminoids supplementation significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (p < 0.01), HbA1c (p = 0.031), and insulin resistance index (HOMA‐IR) (p < 0.01) in type 2 diabetic patients. Curcuminoids also led to a significant decrease in serum total FFAs (p < 0.01), triglycerides (P = 0.018), an increase in LPL activity (p < 0.01).ConclusionThese findings suggest a glucose‐lowering effect of curcuminoids in type 2 diabetes, which is partially due to decrease in serum FFAs, which may result from promoting fatty acid oxidation and utilization.
Optimal pricing for a short life‐cycle product when customer price‐sensitivity varies over time
Authors: Li Hongmin , Huh Woonghee Tim 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTechnology products often experience a life‐cycle demand pattern that resembles a diffusion process, with weak demand in the beginning and the end of the life cycle and high demand intensity in between. The customer price‐sensitivity also changes over the life cycle of the product. We study the prespecified pricing decision for a product that exhibits such demand characteristics. In particular, we determine the optimal set of discrete prices and the times to switch from one price to another, when a limited number of price changes are allowed. Our study shows that the optimal prices and switching times show interesting patterns that depend on the product's demand pattern and the change in the customers' price sensitivity over the life cycle of the product. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012
Research progress on the preparation and application of monodisperse cationic polymer latex particles
Authors: Liu Qingquan , Li Yanlu , Duan Yinxiang , Zhou Hu 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis review is focused on the features, preparation and applications of uniform cationic polymer latex particles, as well as on the formation mechanism of uniform latex particles. Substantial progress in the size and shape control of polymer latex particles has been made using several methods such as dispersion polymerization, conventional emulsion polymerization, surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization and seeded emulsion polymerization. Uniform cationic polymer latex particles have wide applications such as drug carriers, diagnostics, templates and additives. However, two major problems are the inhomogeneous size and low surface charge density, which limit further functionalization and the application of cationic polymer latex particles. Finally, the future trends and perspectives are described. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
High‐resolution ultra‐high mass spectrometry: Increasing the m/z range of protein analysis
Authors: Chen Huijuan , Lee Jeonghoon , Reilly Peter T. A. 
Published: August 2012

The proof of principle for high‐resolution TOF mass analysis spanning the entire range of intact singly charged proteins has recently been demonstrated. The centers of the isotope distributions of individual proteins in a complex distribution can be defined to within 0.5 Da or better up to 200 kDa with internal calibration. This achievement will have an enormous effect on the process of routine protein analysis over the next few years as the technology mainstreams. The greatest obstacle to high‐resolution in the ultra‐high mass range (m/z > 20 000) is the expansion‐induced kinetic energy (KE) and its spread. The solution to this problem is to trap the ions in a buffer gas so that the motion of the ions can be completely defined by the applied fields. If this can accomplished without mass dependence, then any ion, regardless of size, can be mass analyzed with high resolution. This article discusses the methodology that we used to capture atmosphere sampled singly charged proteins in vacuum at a point just before they enter the mass analyzer to completely eliminate the expansion‐induced KE. We then used digitally created quadrupole waveforms to inject the ions into the mass analyzer in a well‐collimated plug with a controlled amount of KE. Trapping the ions to remove the expansion‐induced KE and then electrodynamically manipulating the ions are the key steps to high‐resolution mass analysis at any value of m/z. The impact of this technology will be discussed.
Hetero‐difunctional dimers as building blocks for the synthesis of poly(amidoamine)s with hetero‐difunctional chain terminals and their derivatives
Authors: Ferruti Paolo , Mauro Nicolò , Manfredi Amedea , Ranucci Elisabetta 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis article reports on a simple and straightforward preparation method of poly(amidoamine)s (PAAs) with hetero‐difunctional chain ends as well as of several up to now hardly obtainable PAA derivatives of biotechnological interest, such as for instance PAAs of controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity mono‐functionalized at one end with an acrylamide group, PAAs with star‐like molecular architecture, graft‐PAA‐protein conjugates, “tadpole‐like” PAA conjugates with hydrophobic moieties able to self assemble into nanoparticles in aqueous media. The key step was to design suitable building blocks consisting of hetero‐difunctional dimers (HDDs). In particular, the HDDs considered were the mono‐addition products of bis‐sec‐amines and bisacrylamides expected to give PAAs of proven biomedical potential and were obtained as hydrochlorides or trifluoroacetates. In this form, they could be indefinitely kept dormant at 0–5 °C in the dry state, whereas at room temperature and in aqueous media, they polymerized at pH > 7.5. The preparation of the above‐cited PAA derivatives did not necessarily involve the preliminary synthesis of hetero‐difunctional PAAs but was directly achieved by one‐pot polymerization of HDDs in the presence of the substrates of interest. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Synthesis of polyarylacetylenes by γ‐ray‐induced polymerization of terminal alkynes. Nanostructures of ortho‐substituted derivatives
Authors: Bassetti Mauro , Fratoddi Ilaria , Lilla Laura , Pasquini Chiara , Vittoria Russo Maria , Ursini Ornella 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTerminal aryl alkynes RC6H4CCH with substituents of different electronic properties and ring position (R = H, 4‐CF3, 4‐OMe, 2‐CF3, 2‐OMe, 2‐Me) were exposed to γ‐radiation (50–400 kGy) in organic solvents (hexane, 1,4‐dioxane, ethylacetate, methanol, tetrahydrofuran), at room temperature. The effects arising from substituent, solvent, dilution, and radiation dose allowed to define the conditions suitable for polymerization, which was favored in methanol at increasing dilution of the alkyne. Ortho‐substitution represented the key structural element in the substrate, and the derived polyarylacetylenes were characterized in detail, including gel permeation chromatography, thermal analysis, infrared, NMR, UV–vis, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscope spectroscopy. The results are consistent with the formation of irregular polymers mainly composed of trans‐transoid chains. Controlled aggregation of the polymers by means of an osmosis‐based procedure in solvent/non‐solvent mixtures allowed the formation of nanostructured materials, in particular of hollow nanospheres from THF/water. The methodology sets the basis for the development of γ‐rays‐induced polymerization of alkynes, in a transition metal catalyst‐free environment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Aqueous solution behavior of comb‐shaped poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)
Authors: Weber Christine , Rogers Sarah , Vollrath Antje , Hoeppener Stephanie , Rudolph Tobias , Fritz Nicole , Hoogenboom Richard , Schubert Ulrich S. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractA series of comb polymers consisting of a methacrylate backbone and poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) side chains was synthesized by a combination of cationic ring‐opening polymerization and reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies revealed a transition from an ellipsoidal to a cylindrical conformation in D2O around a backbone degree of polymerization of 30. Comb‐shaped PEtOx has lowered Tg values but a similar elution behavior in liquid chromatography under critical conditions in comparison to its linear analog was observed. The lower critical solution temperature behavior of the polymers was investigated by turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and SANS revealing decreasing Tcp in aqueous solution with increasing molar mass, the presence of very few aggregated structures below Tcp, a contraction of the macromolecules at temperatures 5 °C above Tcp but no severe conformational change of the cylindrical structure. In addition, the phase diagram including cloud point and coexistence curve was developed showing an LCST of 75 °C of the binary mixture poly[oligo(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)methacrylate]/water. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Relationships between perceived diagnostic disclosure, patient characteristics, psychological distress and illness perceptions in Indian cancer patients
Authors: Chittem Mahati , Norman Paul , Harris Peter R. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectiveNon‐disclosure of a cancer diagnosis is a common practice in many Asian cultures where family‐based medical decision making is the norm. The present study sought to compare Indian cancer patients who were aware versus unaware of their cancer diagnosis on a range of patient characteristics, levels of psychological distress and illness perceptions.MethodsA sample of 329 Indian cancer patients were interviewed about their understanding of their illness (to assess awareness of a cancer diagnosis) and administered the following measures: the modified Rotterdam Symptom Checklist, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire. Demographic and medical details were also obtained.ResultsOver half of the sample (54.1%) was unaware of their cancer diagnosis. A logistic regression analysis predicting perceived diagnostic disclosure indicated that awareness of a cancer diagnosis was associated with being involved in medical decisions, receiving multiple treatments, longer treatment durations, greater perceived understanding of one's illness (illness coherence) and citing a cause for one's illness.ConclusionsThe results highlight the importance of the context in which decisions about the patient's illness are made (e.g. by whom) as well as illness perceptions relating to patients' understanding of their illness. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calorimetric and spectroscopic investigation of the interaction between the C‐terminal domain of Enzyme I and its ligands
Authors: Yun Young‐Joo , Suh Jeong‐Yong 
Published: August 2012

AbstractEnzyme I initiates a series of phosphotransfer reactions during sugar uptake in the bacterial phosphotransferase system. Here, we have isolated a stable recombinant C‐terminal domain of Enzyme I (EIC) of Escherichia coli and characterized its interaction with the N‐terminal domain of Enzyme I (EIN) and also with various ligands. EIC can phosphorylate EIN, but their binding is transient regardless of the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Circular dichroism and NMR indicate that ligand binding to EIC induces changes near aromatic groups but not in the secondary structure of EIC. Binding of PEP to EIC is an endothermic reaction with the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 0.28 mM, whereas binding of the inhibitor oxalate is an exothermic reaction with KD of 0.66 mM from calorimetry. The binding thermodynamics of EIC and PEP compared to that of Enzyme I (EI) and PEP reveals that domain–domain motion in EI can contribute as large as ∼−3.2 kcal/mol toward PEP binding.
ALS herbicide resistance mutations in Raphanus raphanistrum: evaluation of pleiotropic effects on vegetative growth and ALS activity
Authors: Li Mei , Yu Qin , Han Heping , Vila‐Aiub Martin , Powles Stephen B 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundGene mutations that endow herbicide resistance may cause pleiotropic effects on plant ecology and physiology. This paper reports on the effect of a number of known and novel target‐site resistance mutations of theALSgene (Ala‐122‐Tyr, Pro‐197‐Ser, Asp‐376‐Glu or Trp‐574‐Leu) on vegetative growth traits of the weedRaphanus raphanistrum.ResultsThe results from a series of experiments have indicated that none of theseALSresistance mutations imposes negative pleiotropic effects on relative growth rate (RGR), photosynthesis and resource‐competitive ability inR. raphanistrumplants. The absence of pleiotropic effects on plant growth occurs in spite of increased (Ala‐122‐Tyr, Pro‐197‐Ser, Asp‐376‐Glu) and decreased (Trp‐574‐Leu) extractable ALSactivity.ConclusionThe absence of detrimental pleiotropic effects on plant growth associated with theALStarget‐site resistance mutations reported here is a contributing factor in resistance alleles being at relatively high frequencies inALS‐herbicide‐unselectedR. raphanistrumpopulations.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Laparoscopic and robotic distal gastrectomy for gastrointestinal stromal tumour: case report
Authors: Ortiz‐Oshiro Elena , Exposito Patricia Benito , Sierra Jesus Moreno , Gonzalez Jesus Diaz , Barbosa Diego Sierra , Fernandez‐Represa Jesus Alvarez 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundGastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the digestive tract. The most frequent site of occurrence is the stomach. Due to the high potential for malignancy of GIST, resection should be the first‐line treatment. Minimally invasive surgery may be used for surgical resection of GISTs.MethodsWe describe a case of laparoscopic and robotic distal gastrectomy in a patient with diagnosis of GIST in the gastric antrum. Laparoscopy was useful for dissection and a da Vinci robot was used for Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction.ResultsThe postoperative course was uneventful.ConclusionsMinimally invasive surgery offers benefits compared to open surgery, and laparoscopic and robot‐assisted gastrectomy for the treatment of GIST could be technically feasible and safe because of the advantageous movements provided by the robotic arms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of maximum elevation angle probability density function to macroscopic selection diversity in low earth orbiting satellite constellation systems
Authors: Li Sheng‐Yi , Wang Kai‐Yuan 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYIn a low earth orbiting satellite constellation of communication satellites, the so‐called macroscopic selection‐diversity (SD) scheme selects the satellite with the maximum elevation angle among the visible satellites as being capable of providing the best quality link for signal propagation. To evaluate the performance of this scheme, we developed a model based on macroscopic SD to describe the probability density function of the maximum elevation angles from an earth station to each visible satellite. The model has the advantage of not involving orbital simulations for data collection, thus avoiding statistical processing as well as curve fitting. We evaluated the model by using it to simulate the bit‐error‐rate performance of binary‐phase‐shift‐keying modulation in the Globalstart‐like Walker 48/8/1 satellite constellation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microfluidics for Manipulating Cells
Authors: Mu Xuan , Zheng Wenfu , Sun Jiashu , Zhang Wei , Jiang Xingyu 
Published: August 2012

AbstractMicrofluidics, a toolbox comprising methods for precise manipulation of fluids at small length scales (micrometers to millimeters), has become useful for manipulating cells. Its uses range from dynamic management of cellular interactions to high‐throughput screening of cells, and to precise analysis of chemical contents in single cells. Microfluidics demonstrates a completely new perspective and an excellent practical way to manipulate cells for solving various needs in biology and medicine. This review introduces and comments on recent achievements and challenges of using microfluidics to manipulate and analyze cells. It is believed that microfluidics will assume an even greater role in the mechanistic understanding of cell biology and, eventually, in clinical applications.
Governance Matters and Entrepreneurial Activities
Authors: Fereidouni Hassan Gholipour , Masron Tajul Ariffin 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis study uses Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and World Bank Group Entrepreneurship Survey data from 40 countries from 2002 to 2008 to examine the linkage between governance matters and entrepreneurial activities. Based on the conceptual model of GEM and by using fixed‐effects panel analysis, the results show that political stability and absence of violence, rule of law, and control of corruption are highly significant determinants of entrepreneurial activities. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.