bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tribology of soot suspension in hexadecane as distinguished by the physical structure and chemistry of soot particles
Authors: Bhowmick Hiralal , Majumdar S K , Biswas S K 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Ethylene gas is burnt to generate soot which is collected thermophoretically from different locations of the flame. Tribological performance of the collected soot in hexadecane suspension is compared with that of carbon black and diesel soot. The soots are analysed to yield a range of mechanical properties, physical structures and chemistry. The paper correlates these property variations with the corresponding variations in friction and wear when the soot suspended in hexadecane is used to lubricate a steel on steel sliding interaction. The particles are dispersed in hexadecane by a non-ionic surfactant, poly-isobutylene succinimide (PIBS), which is mono-functional with no free amine group. The grafting of the surfactant on the soot particles is found to have a profound effect on the dispersion of the soot, in general, while, between the different soot types, the tribology is differentiated by the physical structure and chemistry.
Effective Pediatric Clinical Trials in Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Disease and Nutrition
Authors: Heubi James E. , Guthery Stephen 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe proceedings of a single‐topic symposium held before the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition annual meeting in New Orleans on October 20, 2010 are presented for use by participants and other interested investigators. The program was developed with the following goals: to discuss collaborative networks, their implementation, and function; to discuss potential funding sources for clinical trials; to discuss the science of determining robust endpoints and biomarkers of disease used for clinical trials; and to discuss practical aspects of developing and completing clinical trials in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition.
Immunoglobulin G4‐positive multi‐organ lymphoproliferative syndrome with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
Authors: KAWAKAMI Nobuyo , KAWAI Kazuhiro , BABA Naoko , OHSHIMA Kouichi , KANEKURA Takuro 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe report immunoglobulin (Ig)G4‐positive multi‐organ lymphoproliferative syndrome (IgG4+‐MOLPS) with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) in a 56‐year‐old Japanese man presenting with purpuric patches on his legs. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Laboratory tests demonstrated high levels of serum IgG and IgG4, hypocomplementemia and anticardiolipin antibody. Echography of the lower limbs and pulmonary scintigraphy showed a thrombus in the left soleal vein and multiple emboli in the basal part of both inferior pulmonary arteries. Computed tomography revealed systemic lymphadenopathy. Histologically, there was reactive paracortical hyperplasia with proliferation of histiocytes and infiltration of IgG4‐positive plasma cells. We made a diagnosis of IgG4+‐MOLPS with APS. To our knowledge, this complication has not been reported previously.
Buruli ulcer and current situation in Japan: A new emerging cutaneous Mycobacterium infection
Authors: YOTSU Rie R. , NAKANAGA Kazue , HOSHINO Yoshihiko , SUZUKI Koichi , ISHII Norihisa 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBuruli ulcer (BU) is a new emerging disease and the third most common chronic mycobacterial infection in humans, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Approximately 5000 cases are reported annually from at least 33 countries around the globe, but more from the tropical nations. A total of 32 cases have been reported from Japan sporadically since 1980. None of the cases were related to international travel. Of the total reported, M. ulcerans ssp. shinshuense, a subspecies speculated to be domestic to Japan or in Asia, has been isolated from 23 cases. The mode of transmission and its incubation period remain unclear, despite several proposed hypotheses, including several vectors and cutaneous wound as port of entry for the pathogen. M. ulcerans invades the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia and eventually forms extensive ulceration. Smear, culture, histopathology and polymerase chain reaction are established diagnostic tools to identify M. ulcerans. Multiple antimicrobial therapy is a commonly used therapeutic method, but patients often need extensive debridement and, at times, skin grafting, especially when diagnosis is delayed. Thus, expanding a system for improved awareness and diagnosis in Japan and Asia is important, together with elucidating the candidate vector and the mode of transmission. Here, to establish a base for future progress in better understanding of this infectious disease, we reviewed the characteristics of the disease together with an update of reported cases in Japan.
Examination of mortality rates in a retrospective cohort of patients treated with oral or implant naltrexone for problematic opiate use
Authors: Kelty Erin , Hulse Gary 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAims  To examine and compare mortality rates in patients treated with oral and implant naltrexone.Design  A retrospective cohort study.Setting  A community not‐for‐profit drug treatment clinic.Participants  Patients treated with oral naltrexone (n = 2155, 17 207 patient‐years) and implant naltrexone (n = 2389, 11 678 patient‐years) for problematic opiate use between August 1997 and December 2009.Measurements  Crude gender, age, treatment period and cause‐specific mortality rates were calculated using data obtained from the National Death Index.Findings  Crude mortality rates for patients treated with oral naltrexone [8.78 deaths per 1000 patient‐years (ptpy), 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.38–10.17] were significantly different to those treated with implant naltrexone (6.59 ptpy, 95% CI: 5.13–8.06) (P = 0.0339). During the first 4 months following treatment, differences in the two groups were particularly apparent, with a mortality rate of 26.28 ptpy in patients treated with oral naltrexone compared to 7.34 ptpy in patients treated with implant naltrexone (P = 0.0003). Differences in initial mortality rates following treatment were associated predominantly with high rates of opiate overdoses in oral naltrexone patients during the first 4 months following treatment (17.22 ptpy compared with 0.67 ptpy in implant naltrexone patients) (P < 0.0001).Conclusions  The use of implant naltrexone can reduce all‐cause mortality and opiate overdose during the first 4 months following treatment compared with patients treated with oral naltrexone.
Does forest restoration using taungya foster tree species diversity? The case of Afram Headwaters Forest Reserve in Ghana
Authors: Boakye Emmanuel A. , van Gils Hein , Osei Edward M. , Asare Veronica N. A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe taungya agro‐forestry system is an under‐researched means of forest restoration that may result in high tree diversity. Within a forest reserve in Ghana, the forest core and its surrounding Teak‐ and Cedrela‐taungya on logged, cropped and burned land were mapped with ALOS satellite imagery. Native trees, seedlings and saplings were enumerated in 70 random, nested plots, equally divided between forest and taungya. The native tree regeneration was assessed by species richness (SR), Shannon‐Wiener Index (SWI), Shannon Evenness Index (SEI) and species density (SeD) for seedlings, saplings and trees separately and combined and subsequently correlated with canopy covers (CC) in taungya. As anticipated, the taungya diversity was lower than the forest diversity but higher than reported from nontaungya exotic plantations. In the forest, the diversity of native trees increased from seedlings through saplings to trees. The reverse was found in the taungya. Taungya seedling diversity was not significantly different from the forest, while the sapling and tree diversity were significantly lower. Weak correlations of CC with SR, SWI, SEI and SeD were found. Our results suggest the need for treatment to maintain the tree diversity beyond the seedling stage in the taungya.
High TPMT enzyme activity does not explain drug resistance due to preferential 6‐methylmercaptopurine production in patients on thiopurine treatment
Authors: van Egmond R. , Chin P. , Zhang M. , Sies C. W. , Barclay M. L. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryBackgroundUp to 20% of patients on thiopurine therapy fail to achieve adequate drug response. Many of these patients preferentially produce the toxic 6‐methylmercaptopurine metabolites (6‐MMP) rather than the active 6‐thioguanine nucleotides (6‐TGN) resulting in a high 6‐MMP/6‐TGN ratio (>20) and increased risk of hepatotoxicity.AimTo determine the prevalence of preferential 6‐MMP producers and define the relationships between 6‐TGN, 6‐MMP and thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT).MethodsThe database of 6‐TGN, 6‐MMP and TPMT measurements from patients throughout New Zealand was used to calculate patients’ 6‐MMP/6‐TGN ratios and identify those with high (>20) or normal ratio (≤20).The TPMT enzyme activity was compared amongst the groups.ResultsOf 1879 patients with TPMT, 6‐TGN and 6‐MMP results, 349 (19%) had a 6‐MMP/6‐TGN ratio >20. The mean TPMT enzyme activity was slightly lower for those with a 6‐MMP/6‐TGN ratio ≤20 vs. >20, which achieved statistical significance (12.2 vs. 13.2; P < 0.001). However, the distributions of TPMT enzyme activity were similar, with 97% of TPMT results falling between 5.0 and 17.6 IU/mL for both groups. In all, 17% of those with 6‐MMP/6‐TGN ratio ≤20 were intermediate TPMT metabolisers (TPMT 5.0–9.2 IU/mL) vs. 7% in those with a ratio >20.ConclusionsIn this patient population with measured 6‐MMP/6‐TGN ratios, 19% of patients were preferential 6‐MMP producers. The results show that high TPMT enzyme activity is not the major reason for preferential 6‐MMP production in most patients with a high metabolite ratio. This suggests that there are one or more important alternative mechanisms for preferentially producing 6‐MMP.
Comparison of enzyme‐assisted and ultrasound‐assisted extraction of vitamin C and phenolic compounds from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruit
Authors: Le Hong Van , Le Van Viet Man 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThis article describes a comparative study of enzyme and ultrasound techniques for the simultaneous extraction of vitamin C and phenolic compounds from acerola fruit. Ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) took only 6 min to achieve the highest level of vitamin C and phenolic compounds as well as antioxidant activity of acerola juice, while enzyme‐assisted extraction (EAE) took up to 120 min to obtain the maximal values. On the basis of kinetic model of second‐order extraction, the extraction rate constant of vitamin C and phenolics in UAE increased approximately 3.1 and 2.7 times, respectively, in comparison with that in EAE. In addition, the maximal level of vitamin C, phenolics and the antioxidant activity evaluated by 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) methods in UAE was 4.6%, 3.5%, 4.6% and 3.3%, respectively, higher than those in EAE. Obviously, UAE is a useful method for the extraction of antioxidants from plant materials.
Production of total polyphenol from fermented soybean curd residue by Lentinus edodes
Authors: Shi Min , Yang Yingnan , Wang Qinghong , Zhang Ying , Wang Yuepeng , Zhang Zhenya 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe effects of fermented conditions on the production of total polyphenol from Lentinus edodes using soybean curd residue (SCR) were investigated in solid‐state cultures. Based on the results of single factor, inoculum size, moisture content and fermented time were optimised using central composite design in response surface methodology. As a result, the optimal fermented condition of total polyphenol production was determined as following: 12.13% inoculum size, 76.96% moisture content for 24 days incubation. Compared with unfermented SCR, the total polyphenol yield increased from 3.12 ± 0.02 to 22.93 ± 0.41 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram, and polysaccharides, protein and various amino acid of fermented SCR were increased significantly. Therefore, a nutritious functional food or food additives could be produced using fermented SCR.
Cereal‐based fermented foods in developing countries: ancient foods for modern research
Authors: Guyot Jean‐Pierre 
Published: April 2012

SummaryCereal‐based fermented foods are major contributors to energy intake in developing countries (DC). Their microbiota is dominated by lactic acid bacteria and has been extensively investigated. Diversity studies have been facilitated by molecular methods enabling genotyping of isolates; the rapid development of ‘omics’ approaches should facilitate more comprehensive studies to describe the relation between microbial diversity, cell physiology and product characteristics. Also, the link between the food microbiota and health benefits, in particular in nutrition, should be investigated. There is a need to encourage researches in the field of DC cereal‐based foods in direction of more mechanistic approaches.
Unsound kernel identification using linear colour charge‐coupled device
Authors: Chen Fengnong , Luo Yan , Cheng Fang 
Published: April 2012

SummaryWheat is one of the most consumed grains in the world. The identification of wheat based on surface characteristics is important for the market. This study is aimed at identifying unsound kernels (Triticum durum Desf), including 710 black germ kernels, 627 broken kernels and 1169 sound kernels from several seed distributors in China. The system is mainly composed of a liner charge‐coupled device for image capture and a software package for extracting various morphological, colour and texture features. The models built by partial least squares discriminate analysis, support vector machine discrimination analysis (SVMDA) and principal component analysis‐artificial neural networks for identifying the unsound kernels have been explored. After comparisons of these three methods, it has been found that SVMDA got the best accuracy: 95.1%, 96.0% and 98.3% (black germ kernels, broken kernels and sound kernels). Obviously, the experimental results have shown that SVMDA is the most feasible and effective choice for the identification.
Characteristics of fibre‐rich powder and antioxidant activity of pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) peels
Authors: Zhuang Yongliang , Zhang Yufeng , Sun Liping 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe contents of total dietary fibre (TDF), soluble dietary fibre (SDF), insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) and functional properties of fibre‐rich powders (FRP) from pitaya peels with different particle size (FRP80, FRP140 and FRP250) were determined. Results showed that FRP140 had higher TDF (79.37%) and SDF (33.07%) with a balanced ratio of SDF/IDF (1:1.32) and higher water‐holding capacity (54.20 g g−1), swelling capacity (50.63 mL g−1), oil‐holding capacity (2.65 g g−1) and glucose dialysis retardation index (62.83% at 60 min), compared with FRP80 and FRP250. Therefore, physiochemical properties of FRP140 were further investigated. SDF of FRP140 mainly contained rhamnose (4.95%) and galactose (1.98%), with 9.45% galacturonic acid, while IDF dominantly contained xylose (4.76%) and galactose (3.42%), with 18.54% klason lignin. Total phenolic content was 7.75 mg g−1 and mainly composed of salicylic acid (0.98 mg g−1) and protocatechuic acid (0.45 mg g−1). Furthermore, FRP140 showed significant reducing power, DPPH‐scavenging activity and nitrite‐scavenging ability.
Classification of moroccan olive cultivars by linear discriminant analysis applied to ATR–FTIR spectra of endocarps
Authors: De Luca Michele , Terouzi Wafa , Kzaiber Fouzia , Ioele Giuseppina , Oussama Abdelkhalek , Ragno Gaetano 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe potential of FTIR combined with chemometrics was studied to classify five Moroccan varieties of olives by analysis on the endocarps. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) enabled the samples to be examined directly in the solid state. The spectral data were subjected to a preliminary derivative elaboration based on the Norris gap algorithm to reduce the noise and extract larger analytical information. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was adopted as classification method, and Principle component analysis (PCA) was employed to compress the original data set into a reduced new set of variables before LDA. The calibration set was built by using the IR data from seventy‐five samples scanned in reflectance mode, and the ranges 3000–2400 and 2300–600 cm−1 were selected because furnishing the most useful analytical information. PCA allowed clustering the samples in five classes by using the first two principal components with an explained variance of 98.16%. Application of LDA on an external test set of twenty‐five samples enabled to classify them into five variety groups with a correct classification of 92.0%.
Chemical and sensory changes of different dairy products during storage in packages containing nanocrystallised TiO2
Authors: Peter Anca , Nicula Camelia , Mihaly‐Cozmuta Anca , Mihaly‐Cozmuta Leonard , Indrea Emil 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe chemical changes of three types of cheese, yoghurt and kefir were evaluated during storage in packages containing TiO2 with two different compositions of the mixed anatase–rutile phase. The influence of TiO2 packaging during storage on titratable acidity and fat content and on the external aspect was investigated. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were performed to establish whether the TiO2 penetrated the food during storage. The results showed that the TiO2 nanoparticles deposited on polyethylene surface significantly decreased acidity and fat content of the investigated cheese and yoghurt types. During storage in TiO2 nanopackages, the change in chemical parameters is accentuated as the content of rutile grows from 2.8% to 6.9%. The sensory evaluation revealed that the dairy products stored for 11 days in TiO2 nanopackages present similar colour, texture and flavour with that of the references; the samples stored in polyethylene film were found to be unacceptable.
Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur crystalline free acid after single and multiple subcutaneous administrations in healthy alpacas (Vicugna pacos)
Authors: DECHANT J. E. , ROWE J. D. , BYRNE B. A. , WETZLICH S. E. , KIEU H. T. , TELL L. A. 
Published: April 2012

Dechant, J. E., Rowe, J. D., Byrne, B. A., Wetzlich, S. E., Kieu, H. T., Tell, L. A. Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur crystalline free acid after single and multiple subcutaneous administrations in healthy alpacas (Vicugna pacos). J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 36, 122–129.Six adult male alpacas received one subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) at a dosage of 6.6 mg/kg. After a washout period, the same alpacas received three subcutaneous doses of 6.6 mg/kg CCFA at 5‐day intervals. Blood samples collected from the jugular vein before and at multiple time points after each CCFA administration were assayed for ceftiofur‐ and desfuroylceftiofur‐related metabolite concentrations using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic disposition of CCFA was analyzed by a noncompartmental approach. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters (±SD) following single‐dose administration of CCFA were Cmax (2.7 ± 0.9 μg/mL); Tmax (36 ± 0 h); area under the curve AUC0→∞ (199.2 ± 42.1 μg·h/mL); terminal phase rate constant λz (0.02 ± 0.003/h); and terminal phase rate constant half‐life t1/2λz (44.7 h; harmonic). Mean terminal pharmacokinetic parameters (±SD) following three administrations of CCFA were Cmax (2.0 ± 0.4 μg/mL); Tmax (17.3 ± 16.3 h); AUC0→∞ (216.8 ± 84.5 μg·h/mL); λz (0.01 ± 0.003/h); and t1/2λz (65.9 h; harmonic). The terminal phase rate constant and the Tmax were significantly different between single and multiple administrations. Local reactions were noted in two alpacas following multiple CCFA administrations.
Early HIV viral load determination after initiating first‐line antiretroviral therapy for indentifying patients with high risk of developing virological failure: data from a cohort study in a resource‐limited setting
Authors: Alvarez‐Uria Gerardo , Naik Praveen Kumar , Pakam Rhagavakalyan , Midde Manoranjan 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectives  To evaluate the performance of a single determination of HIV viral load (VL) 6–12 months after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) for identifying patients who will subsequently develop virological failure.Methods  We selected HIV‐infected patients with at least two VL determinations after 6 months of ART from an HIV cohort study in India. Patients were divided in two groups depending on whether the first VL was below (Group 1) or above (Group 2) 1000 copies/ml. Cut‐off for virological failure was defined according to World Health Organization recommendation (>5000 copies/ml).Results  The study included 584 patients and 560.1 person‐years of follow‐up. Of all virological failures, 83% were diagnosed at the first VL determination. The cumulative incidence of virological failure after 1 and 2 years since the first VL was 0.9% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.3–2.7] and 1.7% (95% CI, 0.6–5), respectively, for Group 1, and 58.2% (95% CI, 47–69.7) and 63.1% (95% CI, 49.8–76.4), respectively, for Group 2. Compared with Group 1, patients from Group 2 had a hazard ratio for virological failure of 78.3 (95% CI, 27.8–220.2).Conclusions  A single VL determination after 6 months of ART was able to identify patients with high risk of virological failure.
Patterns of male fitness conform to predictions of evolutionary models of late life
Authors: SHAHRESTANI P. , TRAN X. , MUELLER L. D. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe studied lifetime male virility, a male fitness component, in five populations of Drosophila melanogaster. Virility was measured as the number of females, of eight total, that a male could fertilize in 24 h. Individual males were measured at weekly intervals until they died. Virility declined in an approximately linear fashion for the first 3 weeks of adult life. It then stayed low but relatively constant for another 3 weeks, exhibiting a clear plateau. These observations are consistent with the evolutionary theories of late life. The results were not consistent with a simple heterogeneity theory of late life. This is the first demonstration of a late‐life plateau for a male fitness component. We also found that the virility of males that were within 7 days of death was significantly lower than that of similarly aged males that were not about to die. This rapid deterioration of virility prior to death, or death spiral, is similar to a decline in fecundity that we had previously documented.
Group adaptation, formal darwinism and contextual analysis
Authors: OKASHA S. , PATERNOTTE C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe consider the question: under what circumstances can the concept of adaptation be applied to groups, rather than individuals? Gardner and Grafen (2009, J. Evol. Biol.22: 659–671) develop a novel approach to this question, building on Grafen's ‘formal Darwinism’ project, which defines adaptation in terms of links between evolutionary dynamics and optimization. They conclude that only clonal groups, and to a lesser extent groups in which reproductive competition is repressed, can be considered as adaptive units. We re‐examine the conditions under which the selection–optimization links hold at the group level. We focus on an important distinction between two ways of understanding the links, which have different implications regarding group adaptationism. We show how the formal Darwinism approach can be reconciled with G.C. Williams’ famous analysis of group adaptation, and we consider the relationships between group adaptation, the Price equation approach to multi‐level selection, and the alternative approach based on contextual analysis.