bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tomato peel drying and carotenoids stability of the extracts
Authors: Albanese Donatella , Adiletta Giuseppina , D′Acunto Mariantonietta , Cinquanta Luciano , Di Matteo Marisa 
Published: July 2014

SummaryTomato peels were firstly dried by different methods (hot air, freeze‐drying, and fluidized bed drying) to evaluate the recovery of lycopene, β‐carotene and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Comparison of the results showed that hot air drying at 50 °C was a suitable method and alternative to freeze‐drying to preserve carotenoids compounds and antioxidant activity in tomato peels. Then, ethanol/ethyl acetate (1:1) extracts from tomato peel, previously dried at 50 °C by hot air, were submitted to heat (100 °C) and light treatment (1000 lumen) to evaluate their stability as natural food dyes. Heating of the extracts caused a progressive reduction of total carotenoids, up to about 30% after 250 min of treatment, whereas the colour at the end of heat treatment showed small changes, with an overall colour difference (∆E) equal to 7. Fluorescent lighting treatment showed an almost total degradation of carotenoids in the extracts after 48 h combined with a fading colour.
Chemical residues, food additives and natural toxicants in food – the cocktail effect
Authors: Shaw Ian C. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryFood might contain residues of agricultural chemicals (e.g. pesticides), additives (e.g. colourants) and/or natural toxins (e.g. solanine in potatoes) which present health risks to consumers. The risks of such residues, additives and natural toxins are generally low (i.e. acceptable) when considered in isolation. However, an average meal is likely to contain a cocktail of residues, additives and/or natural toxins that might have additive or synergistic effects. This review explores potential cocktail effects with reference to two case examples, organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and xenoestrogens, and concludes that we should extend our thinking to encompass interactions between residues, additives and natural toxins when assessing food risk.
The THRIVE Score Predicts Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage after Intravenous tPA Administration in SITS-MOST
Authors: Flint Alexander C. , Gupta Rishi , Smith Wade S. , Kamel Hooman , Faigeles Bonnie S. , Cullen Sean P. , Rao Vivek A. , Bath Philip M. , Wahlgren Nils , Ahmed Niaz , Donnan Geoff A. 
Published: July 2014

Background The Totaled Health Risks in Vascular Events (THRIVE) score is a clinical prediction score that predicts ischemic stroke outcomes in patients receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, endovascular stroke treatment, or no acute therapy. We have previously found an association between THRIVE and risk of post-tissue plasminogen activator symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) tissue plasminogen activator trial and risk of radiographic hemorrhage in Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive. Aims The study aims to validate the relationship between THRIVE and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage among tissue plasminogen activator-treated patients in the large Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke – Monitoring Study (SITS-MOST). Methods This is a retrospective analysis of the prospective SITS-MOST to examine the relationship between THRIVE and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after tissue plasminogen activator treatment. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after tissue plasminogen activator was defined according to each of three standard definitions: the NINDS, European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS), and Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke (SITS) criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was used to confirm the relationship of THRIVE and individual THRIVE components with the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and to examine the relationship of THRIVE, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and functional outcome. Results The odds ratio for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at each increased level of THRIVE score is 1·34 (95% CI 1·27 to 1·41, P < 0·001) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage by NINDS criteria, 1·36 (95% CI 1·27 to 1·46, P < 0·001) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage by ECASS criteria, and 1·21 (95% CI 1·09 to 1·36, P < 0·001) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage by SITS criteria. In receiver-operator characteristics analysis, the C-statistic for THRIVE prediction of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 0·65 (95% CI 0·62 to 0·67) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage by NINDS criteria, 0·66 (95% CI 0·63 to 0·69) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage by ECASS criteria, and 0·61 (95% CI 0·56 to 0·66) for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage by SITS criteria. Each component of the THRIVE score predicts the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, with independent impact of each component in multivariable analysis. Conclusions The THRIVE score predicts the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration. This external validation of the relationship between THRIVE and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in a prospective study further strengthens the role of the THRIVE score in the prediction of poststroke outcomes.
Analysis of patient and technical factors associated with midurethral sling mesh exposure and perforation
Authors: Osborn David J , Dmochowski Roger R , Harris Catherine J , Danford Jill J , Kaufman Melissa R , Mock Stephen , Kit Laura Chang , McCormick Benjamin , Reynolds W Stuart 
Published: July 2014

ObjectivesTo evaluate the technical and patient characteristics associated with the development of mesh perforation and exposure in patients after midurethral sling surgeries.MethodsAfter a retrospective review of referred patients, the risk of mesh perforation of the urinary tract over exposure in the vagina was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for the possible predictors of age, body mass index, smoking status at the time of mesh placement, presence of diabetes, type of sling placed, type of surgeon and trocar injury at the time of mesh placement.ResultsA total of 77 women were identified, 27 with mesh perforation and 50 with mesh exposure. The patients' average body mass index was 29.2, and 13% were diabetic. Nine (33%) patients in the perforation group and two (4%) patients in the exposure group had evidence of trocar injury to the bladder or urethra at the time of mesh placement (P < 0.001). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, trocar injury (odds ratio 25.90, 95% confidence interval 2.84–236.58, P = 0.004) and diabetes (odds ratio 9.90, 95% confidence interval 1.1.25–78.64, P = 0.03) were associated with an increased risk of mesh perforation. Increased body mass index (odds ratio 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.77–0.99, P = 0.05) was associated with a decreased risk of mesh perforation. Finally, postoperative hematomas and blood transfusions occurred more commonly in the mesh perforation group (15% vs 0%, P = 0.01).ConclusionsTrocar injury, diabetes and bleeding complications at the time of surgery are associated with higher risk of mesh perforation in patients undergoing midurethral sling placement.
Thulium laser (RevoLix) vaporesection versus vapoenucleation with morcellator (Piranha) for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction: A propensity‐matched multicenter analysis
Authors: Chung Jae Seung , Kang Pil Moon , Seo Won Ik , Oh Cheol Kyu , Kim Seong Cheol , Park Sang Hyun , Choi Jun Ho , Yoon Jang Ho , Kang Dong Il , Chung Jae Il 
Published: July 2014

ObjectivesTo compare the efficacy and safety of vaporesection without a morcellator, and vapoenucleation with a morcellator in thulium laser prostatectomy for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction.MethodsBetween March 2010 and January 2013, 405 patients underwent thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy. Among these patients, 150 patients who underwent thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy without a morcellator (n = 75) or with a morcellator (n = 75) were analyzed in a propensity matching study. Outcome measures included International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life score, maximum flow rate, postvoid residual, total operating time, laser time and resected tissue weight.ResultsNo significant differences were noted between the thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy without a morcellator and thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy with a morcellator groups, including the prostate volume (50.3 vs 51.9 mL) and postoperative prostate volume (22.4 vs 18.7 mL). However, there were differences between the groups in total operating time (72.8 vs 61.0 min, P = 0.023) and laser activating time (24.5 vs 19.9 min, P = 0.037). Thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy with a morcellator showed greater resected tissue volume than thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy without a morcellator (9.0 vs 18.2 g, P = 0.029). There were also significant differences in total retrieval efficiency (1.14 vs 1.67 g/min, P = 0.031). There were no significant differences in improvement of International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life scores and urodynamic findings between the two groups, except for the International Prostate Symptom Score (11.2 vs 7.3, P = 0.028) at 6 weeks after surgery.ConclusionThulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy with a morcellator provides superior reduction of prostate volume and better short‐term clinical outcomes than thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy without a morcellator in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic obstruction. Furthermore, thulium:yttrium‐aluminium‐garnet laser prostatectomy with a morcellator can offer a shorter operative time.
Does the multidisciplinary approach improve oncological outcomes in men undergoing surgical treatment for prostate cancer?
Authors: Stewart Suzanne B , Moul Judd W , Polascik Thomas J , Koontz Bridget F , Robertson Cary N , Freedland Stephen J , George Daniel J , Lee W Robert , Armstrong Andrew J , Bañez Lionel L 
Published: July 2014

ObjectivesTo determine whether oncological outcomes are improved in prostate cancer patients by using a multidisciplinary strategy as compared with a standard clinic paradigm, and whether time to treatment is delayed when using a multidisciplinary approach.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients who were evaluated and pursued radical prostatectomy as primary treatment, by the same surgeons, in the prostate cancer multidisciplinary clinic (n = 194) and standard urology clinic (n = 741) at Duke University Medical Center from 2005 to 2009. Comparisons of baseline characteristics were examined using rank sum and χ2‐tests. Differences in time to radical prostatectomy and oncological outcomes were evaluated using multivariate linear and Cox regression, respectively.ResultsA greater proportion of high‐risk patients (D'Amico criteria) were evaluated at the multidisciplinary clinic compared with the urology clinic (23.2% vs 15.6%, P = 0.014). Mean‐adjusted time from biopsy to radical prostatectomy was shorter for multidisciplinary clinic patients (85.6 vs 96.8 days, P = 0.006). After a median follow up of 21 months, no significant difference was found between the multidisciplinary clinic and urology clinic in the risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, whether controlling for clinical (hazard ratio 0.71, P = 0.249) or pathological variables (hazard ratio 0.75, P = 0.349).ConclusionsDespite higher‐risk disease, men evaluated using the multidisciplinary approach have similar oncological outcomes compared with men undergoing standard evaluation. Furthermore, time to radical prostatectomy is not delayed by the multidisciplinary management of these patients.
Transcriptome comparison between inactivated and activated ovaries of the honey bee Apis mellifera L
Authors: Niu D. , Zheng H. , Corona M. , Lu Y. , Chen X. , Cao L. , Sohr A. , Hu F. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractOvarian activity not only influences fertility, but is also involved with the regulation of division of labour between reproductive and behavioural castes of female honey bees. In order to identify candidate genes associated with ovarian activity, we compared the gene expression patterns between inactivated and activated ovaries of queens and workers by means of high‐throughput RNA‐sequencing technology. A total of 1615 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was detected between ovaries of virgin and mated queens, and more than 5300 DEGs were detected between inactivated and activated worker ovaries. Intersection analysis of DEGs amongst five libraries revealed that a similar set of genes (824) participated in the ovary activation of both queens and workers. A large number of these DEGs were predominantly related to cellular, cell and cell part, binding, biological regulation and metabolic processes. In addition, over 1000 DEGs were linked to more than 230 components of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, including 25 signalling pathways. The reliability of the RNA‐sequencing results was confirmed by means of quantitative real‐time PCR. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in ovary activation and reproductive division of labour.
Cloning and characterization of microbial activated Aedes aegypti MEK4 (AaMEK4): influences of noncatalytic domains on enzymatic activity
Authors: Wu R. C‐C. , Cho W‐L. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractProtein kinases are known to be involved in a number of signal transduction cascades. Both the stress‐activated Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 pathways have been shown to correlate with the insect immune response to microbial infection. MAP kinase kinase 4 (MEK4) is an upstream kinase of JNK and p38 kinase. The cDNA of AaMEK4 was cloned and characterized. AaMEK4 was activated by microbial lysates of Gram‐positive, Gram‐negative bacteria and yeast. The conserved lysine (K112) and the putative phosphorylation sites (S238 and T242) were shown to be important for kinase activity by site‐directed mutagenesis. A common MAPK docking site (MAPK_dsA) was found and in addition, a new nearby docking site, MAPK_dsB, was identified in the N‐terminal noncatalytic domain of AaMEK4. MAPK_dsB was shown to be a unique element in the MEK4 family. In this study, both MAPK_dsA and _dsB were demonstrated to be important to AaMEK4 enzymatic activity for the downstream protein kinase, Aap38.
Does Property Rights Reform Improve the Efficiency of China's State‐owned Banks?
Authors: Wang Qian , Feng Xiaochu 
Published: July 2014

AbstractChina's state‐owned banks have undergone radical changes over the past two decades, including partial privatization and listing in both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. This paper evaluates the effects of these changes by analyzing the efficiency of Chinese banks over the period 1998–2012 using two frontier techniques and comparative analysis. The findings suggest that the performance and technical efficiency of the Big Four banks improved considerably after property rights reform, but this improvement is not sufficient to keep the banks at the production frontier. Tobit regressions confirm that static ownership effects are negative but that the property rights reform has had significant and positive effects on the technical efficiency of state‐owned commercial banks. GDP growth and the financial crisis have had positive effects on the efficiency of Chinese banks, which is more significant for joint stock commercial banks than state‐owned commercial banks. The results indicate the value of ownership reforms of state‐owned asset management companies and insurance companies and the establishment of a countercyclical capital buffer.
Interest Rate Pass‐through in a Dual‐track System: Evidence from China
Authors: Jin Xuejun , Song Frank M. , Wang Yizhong , Zhong Yi 
Published: July 2014

AbstractUsing the Phillips–Loretan approach, this paper verifies the degree and speed of pass‐through and rigidity of different interest rates in China, as well as the response of private loan interest rates to other interest rates during 2002–2012. The results indicate that the long‐term pass‐through from the interbank offered rates and deposit and loan interest rates to the treasury bond rate is incomplete, but that the long‐term pass‐through to private loan interest rates is overshooting. The long‐term pass‐through from the deposit and loan interest rates to the overnight interbank offered rate is incomplete, while that to the interbank offered rates of other maturities is complete. The short‐term pass‐through and adjustment speed of interest rates exhibit asymmetry. Therefore, before considering a full liberalization of interest rates, it is important to further enhance the competition of the financial system and the function of different interest rate systems, such as the interbank market and bond market.
Microwave Dielectric Properties and Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Currents Study of (1−x)Ba0.6Sr0.4La4Ti4O15–xTiO2 Ceramics
Authors: Zhang Xiaohua , Zhang Yao , Zhang Jie , Peng Bin , Xie Zhenkun , Yuan Lixin , Yue Zhenxing , Li Longtu 
Published: July 2014

Microwave dielectric properties and thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) of (1−x)Ba0.6Sr0.4La4Ti4O15–xTiO2 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1) ceramics were studied. X‐ray diffraction analysis indicates that the specimens show a hexagonal perovskite structure; however, with an increase of x to 0.1, TiO2−δ as a secondary phase can be detected in the ceramics. The variation of TiO2 content has a significant effect on the dielectric properties of (1−x)Ba0.6Sr0.4La4Ti4O15–xTiO2 at microwave frequency. The dielectric permittivity of ceramics increases from 44 to 49 with the increase of TiO2 content. The Qf value is in the range of 39 300–53 400 GHz. However, the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) changes from −7.5 to–9.4 ppm/°C, and then turns to +3.9 ppm/°C. A near zero τf value can be obtained by tuning the content of TiO2 addition. TSDC was also employed to analysis the extrinsic loss mechanism. Utilizing a fixed polarization condition, the TSDC relaxation peaks are present, which are generated by oxygen vacancies. And the concentration of oxygen vacancies increases with the increase of TiO2 content. It can be concluded that the extrinsic dielectric loss is dominated by microstructure and oxygen vacancy defects.
Differences between genomic‐based and pedigree‐based relationships in a chicken population, as a function of quality control and pedigree links among individuals
Authors: Wang H. , Misztal I. , Legarra A. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryThis work studied differences between expected (calculated from pedigree) and realized (genomic, from markers) relationships in a real population, the influence of quality control on these differences, and their fit to current theory. Data included 4940 pure line chickens across five generations genotyped for 57 636 SNP. Pedigrees (5762 animals) were available for the five generations, pedigree starting on the first one. Three levels of quality control were used. With no quality control, mean difference between realized and expected relationships for different type of relationships was ≤ 0.04 with standard deviation ≤ 0.10. With strong quality control (call rate ≥ 0.9, parent‐progeny conflicts, minor allele frequency and use of only autosomal chromosomes), these numbers reduced to ≤ 0.02 and ≤ 0.04, respectively. While the maximum difference was 1.02 with the complete data, it was only 0.18 with the latest three generations of genotypes (but including all pedigrees). Variation of expected minus realized relationships agreed with theoretical developments and suggests an effective number of loci of 70 for this population. When the pedigree is complete and as deep as the genotypes, the standard deviation of difference between the expected and realized relationships is around 0.04, all categories confounded. Standard deviation of differences larger than 0.10 suggests bad quality control, mistakes in pedigree recording or genotype labelling, or insufficient depth of pedigree.
The Gravity of Foreign News Coverage in the EU: Does the Euro Matter?
Authors: Fracasso Andrea , Grassano Nicola , Vittucci Marzetti Giuseppe 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThis article investigates the systemic factors behind cross‐country variability in transnational media coverage of foreign news in the EU in 2010. Using a large data set on the transnational coverage of news by 148 EU national media, the article maps the network of EU transnational citations and performs a quantitative assessment of their systemic determinants via the estimation of a gravity model of news. Nine empirical hypotheses are tested. Size and economic development of the target (source) country are positively (negatively) associated with the probability of coverage. Historical, linguistic and economic ties increase this probability. The evidence on the effect of the countries' participation in the currency union is weak: once the historical levels of trade integration and the effects of the sovereign debt crisis are accounted for, there is no robust evidence of a higher integration of the media spheres within the eurozone.
Diabetic cardiomyopathy and its mechanisms: Role of oxidative stress and damage
Authors: Liu Quan , Wang Shudong , Cai Lu 
Published: July 2014

AbstractDiabetic cardiomyopathy as an important threat to health occurs with or without coexistence of vascular diseases. The exact mechanisms underlying the disease remain incompletely clear. Although several pathological mechanisms responsible for diabetic cardiomyopathy have been proposed, oxidative stress is widely considered as one of the major causes for the pathogenesis of the disease. Hyperglycemia‐, hyperlipidemia‐, hypertension‐ and inflammation‐induced oxidative stress are major risk factors for the development of microvascular pathogenesis in the diabetic myocardium, which results in abnormal gene expression, altered signal transduction and the activation of pathways leading to programmed myocardial cell deaths. In the present article, we aim to provide an extensive review of the role of oxidative stress and anti‐oxidants in diabetic cardiomyopathy based on our own works and literature information available.
Experimental evolution for generalists and specialists reveals multivariate genetic constraints on thermal reaction norms
Authors: Berger D. , Walters R. J. , Blanckenhorn W. U. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractTheory predicts the emergence of generalists in variable environments and antagonistic pleiotropy to favour specialists in constant environments, but empirical data seldom support such generalist–specialist trade‐offs. We selected for generalists and specialists in the dung flySepsis punctum(Diptera: Sepsidae) under conditions that we predicted would reveal antagonistic pleiotropy and multivariate trade‐offs underlying thermal reaction norms for juvenile development. We performed replicated laboratory evolution using four treatments: adaptation at a hot (31 °C) or a cold (15 °C) temperature, or under regimes fluctuating between these temperatures, either within or between generations. After 20 generations, we assessed parental effects and genetic responses of thermal reaction norms for three correlated life‐history traits: size at maturity, juvenile growth rate and juvenile survival. We find evidence for antagonistic pleiotropy for performance at hot and cold temperatures, and a temperature‐mediated trade‐off between juvenile survival and size at maturity, suggesting that trade‐offs associated with environmental tolerance can arise via intensified evolutionary compromises between genetically correlated traits. However, despite this antagonistic pleiotropy, we found no support for the evolution of increased thermal tolerance breadth at the expense of reduced maximal performance, suggesting low genetic variance in the generalist–specialist dimension.