bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid Discrimination and Characterization of Vanilla Bean Extracts by Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy and Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Sharp Michael D. , Kocaoglu‐Vurma Nurdan A. , Langford Vaughan , Rodriguez‐Saona Luis E. , Harper W. James 
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  Vanilla beans have been shown to contain over 200 compounds, which can vary in concentration depending on the region where the beans are harvested. Several compounds including vanillin, p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, guaiacol, and anise alcohol have been found to be important for the aroma profile of vanilla. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS) and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for rapid discrimination and characterization of vanilla bean extracts. Vanilla extracts were obtained from different countries including Uganda, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, and India. Multivariate data analysis (soft independent modeling of class analogy, SIMCA) was utilized to determine the clustering patterns between samples. Both methods provided differentiation between samples for all vanilla bean extracts. FTIR differentiated on the basis of functional groups, whereas the SIFT‐MS method provided more specific information about the chemical basis of the differentiation. SIMCA's discriminating power showed that the most important compounds responsible for the differentiation between samples by SIFT‐MS were vanillin, anise alcohol, 4‐methylguaiacol, p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde/trimethylpyrazine, p‐cresol/anisole, guaiacol, isovaleric acid, and acetic acid. ATR‐IR spectroscopy analysis showed that the classification of samples was related to major bands at 1523, 1573, 1516, 1292, 1774, 1670, 1608, and 1431 cm−1, associated with vanillin and vanillin derivatives.Practical Application:  Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance and selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry have shown to be quick and reliable methods for analyzing vanilla extracts which could be utilized as a quality assurance tool in the fragrance, flavoring, and food industries.
Physical and Chemical Stability of Tagatose Powder
Authors: Grant Lenese D. , Bell Leonard N. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  Tagatose is a reduced‐calorie monosaccharide that displays prebiotic properties. Water can interact with powdered tagatose to varying extents, depending upon the storage environment. Adsorbed water can impact the stability of tagatose, altering its functionality and usability as an ingredient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of bulk tagatose powder as a function of relative humidity (RH) and temperature. Powdered tagatose was stored in desiccators at 20, 30, and 40 °C and 33% to 85% RH. Moisture contents (MC), physical characteristics, tagatose degradation profiles, and browning kinetics were monitored for 12 mo. The critical RH associated with deliquescence (RH0) was approximately 85% at 20 °C. MC values below RH0 were all less than 2% (wb). The MC at 85% RH ranged from 55% to 80% (wb), increasing as temperature decreased. At 33% RH and 20 °C tagatose remained a free flowing powder. As either temperature or RH increased, varying degrees of physical caking occurred. At 85% RH, tagatose deliquesced at all temperatures. Browning occurred in all samples at 40 °C. Despite physical caking and browning, measurable tagatose degradation was only observed in the deliquesced sample at 85% RH and 40 °C, where 20% loss occurred in 6 mo. Although extreme RHs and temperatures are required for tagatose degradation to occur, intermediate RHs and temperatures promote physical caking and deliquescence, which create handling problems during product formulation. The exposure of tagatose to elevated relative humidities and temperatures should be avoided to maintain its physical and chemical quality.Practical Application:  Tagatose powder is susceptible to chemical and physical deterioration during storage. To prevent undesirable changes to this healthful prebiotic ingredient, bulk tagatose powder should be stored in cool, dry environments.
Assessment of the Validity of Maturity Metrics for Predicting the Volatile Composition of Concord Grape Juice
Authors: Iyer Meera M. , Sacks Gavin L. , Padilla‐Zakour Olga I. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  Total soluble solids (TSS) are typically used as the sole metric for maturity of Concord grapes. However, the reliability of TSS in predicting the aroma composition of finished juice for grapes sourced from multiple sites has not been investigated. This study sought to determine the validity of TSS in predicting the aroma composition of the juice while also investigating other potentially useful indicators, including pH, titratable acidity (TA), and TSS:TA ratio. Grapes were harvested from 9 sites in the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt and stratified from north to south and east to west. The key aroma compounds methyl anthranilate (“grapey”) and trans‐2‐hexenal (“herbaceous”) were quantified along with several other odorants. It was observed that while TSS was a robust predictor of monomeric anthocyanin content across sites, it was a poor predictor of aroma compounds in the finished juice. Conversely, pH, TA, and TSS:TA ratio were all significantly correlated with methyl anthranilate and trans‐2‐hexenal concentrations (P < 0.05) in samples equal to or exceeding 15 Brix, the industry minimum for grape maturity. These results indicate that parameters related to acidity are better predictors of aroma composition than TSS, which may aid in efforts to minimize herbaceous off‐aromas and optimize the aroma composition of the finished juice.Practical Application:  It is critical for the juice industry to have readily measurable parameters in Concord grapes upon harvesting that can predict the aroma composition of the finished juice. To date, total soluble solids (TSS) has been the industry standard for evaluating harvest maturity. Our results indicate that parameters that account for acidity (that is, titratable acidity, pH, and TSS:titratable acidity ratio) are superior in predicting the final juice aroma composition. The implementation of a more reliable predictive index at harvest can reduce the incidence of herbaceous off‐aromas in Concord grape juice, a common consumer complaint for this product.
Prevalence, clinical manifestations and endoscopic features of eosinophilic esophagitis: A pathological review in China
Authors: SHI Yi Nan , SUN Shi Jun , XIONG Li Shou , CAO Qing Hua , CUI Yi , CHEN Min Hu 
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE:  We aimed to determine the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and define its clinical and endoscopic characteristics in Chinese patients.METHODS:  Esophageal specimens obtained from January 2006 to December 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University were reviewed, and the data on clinical characteristics and endoscopic findings of patients were obtained. Patients with eosinophils ≥15 per high power field (HPF) were identified as having EoE.RESULTS:  A total of 12 patients met the criteria for EoE, establishing a prevalence of 0.34%. These patients presented with dysphagia (4/12, 33.3%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)‐like symptoms (3/12, 25.0%), abdominal pain (3/12, 25.0%) and others (2/12, 16.7%). The most common endoscopic finding was plaques (5/12, 41.7%), and other findings were irregular Z‐line (2/12, 16.7%), erosive esophagitis (2/12, 16.7%), white exudates (1/12, 8.3%), linear furrows (1/12, 8.3%), Schatzki ring (1/12, 8.3%), ulcers (1/12, 8.3%) and erythema (1/12, 8.3%).CONCLUSIONS:  The prevalence of EoE was 0.34% in our patients. Clinicians should pay attention to patients manifested with dysphagia and GERD‐like symptomes with endosopic findings of white exudates, plaques, Schatzki ring and linear furrows.
Toward a Computational Psycholinguistics of Reference Production
Authors: van Deemter Kees , Gatt Albert , van Gompel Roger P.G. , Krahmer Emiel 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis article introduces the topic ‘‘Production of Referring Expressions: Bridging the Gap between Computational and Empirical Approaches to Reference’’ of the journal Topics in Cognitive Science. We argue that computational and psycholinguistic approaches to reference production can benefit from closer interaction, and that this is likely to result in the construction of algorithms that differ markedly from the ones currently known in the computational literature. We focus particularly on determinism, the feature of existing algorithms that is perhaps most clearly at odds with psycholinguistic results, discussing how future algorithms might include non‐determinism, and how new psycholinguistic experiments could inform the development of such algorithms.
Housekeeping Gene Sequencing and Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis To Identify Subpopulations within Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato That Correlate with Host Specificity
Authors: Gironde S. , Manceau C. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas syringae
pv. maculicola causes bacterial spot on
Brassicaceae
worldwide, and for the last 10 years severe outbreaks have been reported in the Loire Valley, France.
P. syringae
pv. maculicola resembles
P. syringae
pv. tomato in that it is also pathogenic for tomato and causes the same types of symptoms. We used a collection of 106 strains of
P. syringae
to characterize the relationships between
P. syringae
pv. maculicola and related pathovars, paying special attention to
P. syringae
pv. tomato. Phylogenetic analysis of
gyrB
and
rpoD
gene sequences showed that
P. syringae
pv. maculicola, which causes diseases in
Brassicaceae
, forms six genetic lineages within genomospecies 3 of
P. syringae
strains as defined by L. Gardan et al. (Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 49[Pt 2]:469–478, 1999), whereas
P. syringae
pv. tomato forms two distinct genetic lineages. A multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) conducted with eight minisatellite loci confirmed the genetic structure obtained with
rpoD
and
gyrB
sequence analyses. These results provide promising tools for fine-scale epidemiological studies on diseases caused by
P. syringae
pv. maculicola and
P. syringae
pv. tomato. The two pathovars had distinct host ranges; only
P. syringae
pv. maculicola strains were pathogenic for
Brassicaceae
. A subpopulation of
P. syringae
pv. maculicola strains that are pathogenic for Pto-expressing tomato plants were shown to lack
avrPto1
and
avrPtoB
or to contain a disrupted
avrPtoB
homolog. Taking phylogenetic and pathological features into account, our data suggest that the DC3000 strain belongs to
P. syringae
pv. maculicola. This study shows that
P. syringae
pv. maculicola and
P. syringae
pv. tomato appear multiclonal, as they did not diverge from a single common ancestral group within the ancestral
P. syringae
genomospecies 3, and suggests that pathovar specificity within
P. syringae
may be due to independent genetic events.
Detection of a Common and Persistent
tet
(L)-Carrying Plasmid in Chicken-Waste-Impacted Farm Soil
Authors: You Yaqi , Hilpert Markus , Ward Mandy J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

The connection between farm-generated animal waste and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in soil microbial communities, via mobile genetic elements, remains obscure. In this study, electromagnetic induction (EMI) surveying of a broiler chicken farm assisted soil sampling from a chicken-waste-impacted site and a marginally affected site. Consistent with the EMI survey, a disparity existed between the two sites with regard to soil pH, tetracycline resistance (Tc
r
) levels among culturable soil bacteria, and the incidence and prevalence of several
tet
and
erm
genes in the soils. No significant difference was observed in these aspects between the marginally affected site and several sites in a relatively pristine regional forest. When the farm was in operation,
tet
(L),
tet
(M),
tet
(O),
erm
(A),
erm
(B), and
erm
(C) genes were detected in the waste-affected soil. Two years after all waste was removed from the farm,
tet
(L),
tet
(M),
tet
(O), and
erm
(C) genes were still detected. The abundances of
tet
(L),
tet
(O), and
erm
(B) were measured using quantitative PCR, and the copy numbers of each were normalized to eubacterial 16S rRNA gene copy numbers.
tet
(L) was the most prevalent gene, whereas
tet
(O) was the most persistent, although all declined over the 2-year period. A mobilizable plasmid carrying
tet
(L) was identified in seven of 14 Tc
r
soil isolates. The plasmid's hosts were identified as species of
Bhargavaea
,
Sporosarcina
, and
Bacillus
. The plasmid's mobilization (
mob
) gene was quantified to estimate its prevalence in the soil, and the ratio of
tet
(L) to
mob
was shown to have changed from 34:1 to 1:1 over the 2-year sampling period.
A Surface Glycoprotein Indispensable for Gamete Fusion in the Social Amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum
Authors: Araki Yoshinori , Shimizu Hideki D. , Saeki Kentaro , Okamoto Marina , Yamada Lixy , Ishida Kentaro , Sawada Hitoshi , Urushihara Hideko 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Sexual reproduction is essential for the maintenance of species in a wide variety of multicellular organisms, and even unicellular organisms that normally proliferate asexually possess a sexual cycle because of its contribution to increased genetic diversity. Information concerning the molecules involved in fertilization is accumulating for many species of the metazoan, plant, and fungal lineages, and the evolutionary consideration of sexual reproduction systems is now an interesting issue. Macrocyst formation in the social amoeba
Dictyostelium discoideum
is a sexual process in which cells become sexually mature under dark and submerged conditions and fuse with complementary mating-type cells. In the present study, we isolated
D. discoideum
insertional mutants defective in sexual cell fusion and identified the relevant gene,
macA
, which encodes a highly glycosylated, 2,041-amino-acid membrane protein (MacA). Although its overall similarity is restricted to proteins of unknown function within dictyostelids, it contains LamGL and discoidin domains, which are implicated in cell adhesion. The growth and development of
macA
-null mutants were indistinguishable from those of the parental strain. The overexpression of
macA
using the V18 promoter in a
macA
-null mutant completely restored its sexual defects. Although the
macA
gene encoded exactly the same protein in a complementary mating-type strain, it was expressed at a much lower level. These results suggest that MacA is indispensable for gamete interactions in
D. discoideum
, probably via cell adhesion. There is a possibility that it is controlled in a mating-type-dependent manner.
RNA-Seq and RNA Immunoprecipitation Analyses of the Transcriptome of Streptomyces coelicolor Identify Substrates for RNase III
Authors: Gatewood Marcha L. , Bralley Patricia , Weil M. Ryan , Jones George H. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

RNase III is a key enzyme in the pathways of RNA degradation and processing in bacteria and has been suggested as a global regulator of antibiotic production in
Streptomyces coelicolor
. Using RNA-Seq, we have examined the transcriptomes of
S. coelicolor
M145 and an RNase III (
rnc
)-null mutant of that strain. RNA preparations with reduced levels of structural RNAs were prepared by subtractive hybridization prior to RNA-Seq analysis. We initially identified 7,800 transcripts of known and putative protein-coding genes in M145 and the null mutant, JSE1880, along with transcripts of 21 rRNA genes and 65 tRNA genes. Approximately 3,100 of the protein-coding transcripts were categorized as low-abundance transcripts. For further analysis, we selected those transcripts of known and putative protein-coding genes whose levels changed by ≥2-fold between the two
S. coelicolor
strains and organized those transcripts into 16 functional categories. We refined our analysis by performing RNA immunoprecipitation of the mRNA preparation from JSE1880 using a mutant RNase III protein that binds to transcripts but does not cleave them. This analysis identified ca. 800 transcripts that were enriched in the RNA immunoprecipitates, including 28 transcripts whose levels also changed by ≥2-fold in the RNA-Seq analysis. We compare our results with those obtained by microarray analysis of the
S. coelicolor
transcriptome and with studies describing the characterization of small noncoding RNAs. We have also used the RNA immunoprecipitation results to identify new substrates for RNase III cleavage.
Association of National Hospital Quality Measure adherence with long-term mortality and readmissions
Authors: Shahian David M , Meyer Gregg S , Mort Elizabeth , Atamian Susan , Liu Xiu , Karson Andrew S , Ramunno Lawrence D , Zheng Hui 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundIn existing studies, the association between adherence with recommended hospital care processes and subsequent outcomes has been inconsistent. This has substantial implications because process measure scores are used for accountability, quality improvement and reimbursement. Our investigation addresses methodological concerns with previous studies to better clarify the process–outcomes association for three common conditions.MethodsThe study included all patients discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital between 1 July 2004 and 31 December 2007 with a principle diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF) or pneumonia (PN) who were eligible for at least one National Hospital Quality Measure. The number of patients analysed varied by measure (374 to 3020) depending on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services eligibility criteria. Hospital data were linked with state administrative data to determine mortality and readmissions. For patients with multiple admissions, the time-weighted impact of measure failures on mortality was estimated using exponential decay functions. All patients had follow-up for at least 1 year or until death or readmission. Cox models were used to estimate HRs adjusted for transfer status, age, gender, race, census block-group socioeconomic status, number of Elixhauser comorbidities, and do not resuscitate orders.ResultsAdjusted survival and freedom from readmission for AMI and PN showed superior results for 100% and 50–99% adherence compared with 0–49% adherence. For HF, the results were inconsistent and sometimes paradoxical, although several individual measures (eg, ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blockade) were associated with improved outcomes.ConclusionAdherence with recommended AMI and PN care processes is associated with improved long-term outcomes, whereas the results for HF measures are inconsistent. The evidence base for all process measures must be critically evaluated, including the strength of association between these care processes and outcomes in real-world populations. Some currently recommended processes may not be suitable as accountability measures.
Evaluating acute medical admissions through emergency departments in Hong Kong: can one adjust for case-mix variation?
Authors: Rainer T H , Sollich P , Piotrowski T , Coolen A C C , Cheng B , Graham C A 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundHealthcare systems are under pressure to efficiently and safely reduce acute care admissions to hospital. There is a need to develop a standardised system for assessing emergency department performance which takes into account case-mix variation. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a standardised tool for assessing variations in medical admissions through emergency departments in Hong Kong.MethodsRetrospective study of patients attending emergency departments of 14 acute hospitals in Hong Kong. Data were retrieved from a centralised administrative database.ResultsOf 2 531 225 patients who attended emergency departments between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2003, 780 444 (30.8%) were admitted to medical wards. A model derived from 2001 data shows well-calibrated admission probabilities, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for probability of admission of 90.3 (95% CI ±0.11). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for 2002 and 2003 validation sets were 89.9 (95% CI ±0.11) and 89.0 (95% CI ±0.12), respectively. With an averaged benchmark, reductions in medical admissions of up to 19% could be achieved, while under the most optimistic assumption, reductions of up 36% could be achieved.ConclusionsA tool for benchmarking hospital medical admissions and minimising case-mix variation has been derived and validated in Hong Kong, but it requires further validation in other healthcare systems given the wide variations in admission thresholds internationally. This may be used as one potential method to evaluate the performance of emergency departments against a common standard.
The enduring effects of marital status on subsequent depressive symptoms among women: investigating the roles of psychological, social and financial resources
Authors: LaPierre Tracey A 
Published: March 2012

ObjectivesTo investigate the mechanisms through which marital status exerts long-term effects on depressive symptoms among women and to evaluate the relative importance of psychological, social and financial resources in mediating this relationship.MethodsData came from 6107 female respondents to a nationally representative longitudinal data set from the USA (National Survey of Families and Households 1987–1988/1992–1994). Mediation was investigated using semi-longitudinal structural equation modelling and bias-corrected bootstrapped CIs. Latent constructs with multiple indicators were used to measure depressive symptoms, primary and secondary social integration and self-esteem.ResultsThe total effect of marital status on subsequent depressive symptoms was statistically significant for all marital statuses relative to those in first marriages controlling for age, education, race, number of children younger than 5 in the household, T1 depressive symptoms and marital status transitions between waves; all groups experienced higher levels of depressive symptoms than those in first marriages. These effects were completely mediated for never-married women and partially mediated for separated/divorced, widowed and cohabiting women. Adjusted household income was the largest mediator for the separated/divorced, widowed and never-married, but primary social integration also played a role. Self-esteem was the only significant mediator for the remarried and cohabiting and was also important in explaining differences between the first-married and separated/divorced.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the reasons why marital status has an influence on subsequent depressive symptoms varies depending on the specific marital status being compared with the married.