bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of starch granules melting to control the properties of bio‐flour filled polypropylene and poly(butylene succinate) composites: Physico‐chemical properties
Authors: Tran Thierry , Lee Byoung‐Ho , Yang Han‐Seung , Chotineeranat Sunee , Sriroth Klanarong , Kim Hyun‐Joong 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBio‐composites made from polypropylene (PP) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) compounded with pineapple skin (P) bio‐flour, non‐destarched (CS), and destarched (C) cassava root bio‐flours were prepared by twin‐screw extrusion. In CS composites, different degrees of starch granules melting were achieved by adjusting extrusion temperature, thus enabling control of the morphological and mechanical properties. FTIR analysis indicated the formation of ester bonds between bio‐flours and compatibilizers during extrusion, which confirmed the effectiveness of these compatibilizers for improving interfacial interactions between PP and bio‐flours. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the composites had reduced thermal stability compared to pure PBS and PP materials, due to the lower degradation temperature of the bio‐flours (261–351°C). DSC data indicated that bio‐flours improved nucleation and crystallinity, whereas, compatibilizers reduced molecular mobility and hence propagation and crystallinity.
Isolation and optimisation of the oleaginous yeast Sporobolomyces roseus for biosynthesis of 13C isotopically labelled 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids and trans 18:1 and 18:2 derivatives through synthesis
Authors: Cui Yi , Fraser Catharine , Gardner Graeme , Huang Ching-jang , Reith Michael , Windust Anthony J 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
An oleaginous and psychrotrophic strain (F38-3) of Sporobolomyces roseus Kluyver & van Niel was isolated from a salt marsh environment in Nova Scotia, Canada following a screening program to select for high producers of 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acid production was characterised as a function of temperature at 20 g glucose L−1, and optimal yields were obtained at 14°C, achieving 5.7 g dw biomass and 39.2% total fatty acids by dry weight, with 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 all-cis fatty acids accounting for 49.4%, 14.3% and 6.7% of total fatty acids (TFA), respectively—the highest reported for this species. Production of 18:3 was inversely correlated to growth temperature, rising from 2% of TFA at 30°C to 8.9% at 6°C. Cultivation of isolate F38-3 on universally 13C (U-13C) labelled glucose and subsequent transesterification and isolation of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by preparative chromatography yielded pure, highly 13C-enriched (&gt;90%) 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 all-cis FAMEs. The U-13C 18:1 FAME was catalytically converted to U-13C 18:1 trans-9 and purified to &gt;99.5% purity. The U-13C 18:2 was converted by alkaline isomerisation into a 50/50 mixture of 18:2 cis-9, trans-11 and 18:2 trans-10, cis-12 isomers and purified to &gt;95.0% purity. Overall, 10%, by weight, of labelled glucose fed to isolate F38-3 was recovered as fatty acid methyl esters and 7.5% as 18-carbon unsaturated fats, and the final isomerisation reactions resulted in yields of 80% or greater. The ultimate goal of the work is to develop methodologies to produce 13C-labelled metabolic tracers as tools to study the metabolism of trans fats.
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine Through Phosphatidylethanolamine N‐Methylation in Tissues of the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Athamena Ahmed , Trajkovic‐Bodennec Selena , Brichon Gérard , Zwingelstein Georges , Bodennec Jacques 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe previously demonstrated the importance of upregulation of phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methylation pathway in euryhaline fish and crustaceans facing hyperosmotic conditions. In marine molluscs phosphatidylcholine synthesis through N‐methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine has not been described until now. In vivo labeling of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis with [1‐3H]‐ethanolamine showed that the digestive gland is the tissue expressing the highest incorporation into lipids. A sustained increase in lipid labeling was observed up to 72 h following label injection with 79–92% of radioactivity concentrated into phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. A direct correlation (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) between the specific radioactivities of phosphatidylcholine in plasma and the digestive gland was observed. Moreover, the phosphatidylcholine fatty acid compositions of plasma and the digestive gland were similar but differed from those of phosphatidylcholine purified from other tissues. In vitro incubation of tissues with [1‐3H]‐ethanolamine or L‐[3‐3H]‐serine showed that a significant labeling of the choline moiety of phosphatidylcholine was observed in the digestive gland and hemocytes. Pulse‐chase experiments with [1‐3H]‐ethanolamine also demonstrated that hemocytes are exchanging the newly formed phospholipids with plasma. Finally, phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase assays demonstrated salinity‐dependent activities in the digestive gland and hemocytes. We conclude that in M. galloprovincialis an active phosphatidylcholine synthesis through N‐methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine occurs in the digestive gland and hemocytes and that this newly formed phosphatidylcholine is partly exchanged with plasma.
Rumen protozoa and methanogenesis: not a simple cause–effect relationship
Authors: Morgavi Diego P. , Martin Cécile , Jouany Jean-Pierre , Ranilla Maria José 
Published: July 2011

Understanding the interactions between hydrogen producers and consumers in the rumen ecosystem is important for ruminant production and methane mitigation. The present study explored the relationships between rumen protozoa, methanogens and fermentation characteristics. A total of six donor sheep harbouring (F, faunated) or not (D, defaunated) protozoa in their rumens (D animals were kept without protozoa for a period of a few months (D − ) or for more than 2 years (D+)) were used inin vitroandin vivoexperiments.In vitrothe absence of protozoa decreased NH3and butyrate production and had no effect on methane. In contrast, the liquid-associated bacterial and methanogens fraction of D+ inocula produced more methane than D − and F inoculum (P < 0·05).In vivofermentation parameters of donor animals showed the same trend on NH3and butyrate and showed that D+ animals were high methane emitters, while D − were the lowest ( − 35 %). The concentration of dissolved dihydrogen measured after feeding followed the opposite trend. Methane emissions did not correlate with the relative abundance of methanogens in the rumen measured by quantitative PCR, but there was a trend for higher methanogens concentration in the solid-associated population of D+ animals compared with D − animals. In contrast, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of methanogens' methyl coenzyme-M reductase A gene showed a clear clustering in liquid-associated fractions for all three groups of donors but fewer differences in solid-associated fractions. These results show that the absence of protozoa may affect differently the methanogen community and methane emissions in wethers.
Maternal seafood consumption and infant birth weight, length and head circumference in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study
Authors: Brantsæter Anne Lise , Birgisdottir Bryndis Eva , Meltzer Helle Margrete , Kvalem Helen Engelstad , Alexander Jan , Magnus Per , Haugen Margareta 
Published: July 2011

Results from previous studies on associations between maternal fish and seafood intakes and fetal growth are inconclusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate how maternal intakes of seafood, subtypes of seafood and supplementary n-3 fatty acids were associated with infant birth weight, length and head circumference in a prospective study in Norway. The study population included 62 099 participants in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. The mothers answered an FFQ in mid pregnancy. The FFQ comprised detailed questions about intake of various seafood items and n-3 supplements. Data on infant birth weight, length and head circumference were obtained from the Medical Birth Registry. We used multivariable regression to examine how total seafood, various seafood subtypes and supplementary n-3 intakes were associated with birth size measures. Total seafood intake was positively associated with birth weight and head circumference. Lean fish was positively associated with all birth size measures; shellfish was positively associated with birth weight, while fatty fish was not associated with any birth size measures. Intake of supplementary n-3 was negatively associated with head circumference. The relative risk of giving birth to a small baby ( < 2500 g) in full-term pregnancies was significantly lower in women who consumed >60 g/d of seafood than in women who consumed ≤ 5 g/d (OR = 0·56 (95 % CI 0·35, 0·88). In conclusion, maternal seafood consumption was positively associated with birth size, driven by lean fish intake, while supplementary n-3 intake was negatively associated with infant head circumference.
Conjugated linoleic acid induces hepatic expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 through PPAR-α
Authors: Yu Jie , Yu Bing , Jiang Honglin , Chen Daiwen 
Published: July 2011

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a PPAR-α-regulated metabolic regulator that plays critical roles in glucose homoeostasis, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and obesity. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), especiallytrans-10 (t-10),cis-12 (c-12), have shown anti-obesity properties. In addition, CLA is reported as a high-affinity ligand and activator of PPAR-α. This raises the possibility that FGF21 might be involved in the anti-obesity effect of CLA. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that FGF21 expression in the liver could be induced byt-10,c-12-CLA through PPAR-α. HepG2 cells were treated with 100 μm-bovine serum albumin, 10 μm-t-10,c-12-CLA or 100 μm-t-10,c-12-CLA for 8 h. A total of ten adult C57BL/6J mice were fed with the diets containing 1 % soya oil ort-10,c-12-CLA for 5 d.t-10,c-12-CLA stimulated hepatic FGF21 mRNA abundance as determined by real-time RT-PCR.t-10,c-12-CLA also increased serum FGF21 concentrations as measured by an ELISA. Co-transfection analysis indicated that reporter gene expression from the mouse FGF21 promoter was induced byt-10,c-12-CLA in a PPAR-α-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest thatt-10,c-12-CLA induces hepatic FGF21 expression through PPAR-α. This FGF21 and PPAR-α linkage may provide another potential explanation for the anti-obesity effect oft-10,c-12-CLA.
Retinal risks of high-dose ornithine supplements: a review
Authors: Hayasaka Seiji , Kodama Tatsuo , Ohira Akihiro 
Published: July 2011

We reviewed the literature on ornithine supplementation and related topics. Nutritionists and physicians have reported that ornithine supplementation is useful. Paediatricians and biochemists have reported that ornithine is supplemented for NH3detoxification in the hyperornithinaemia–hyperammonaemia–homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome. In contrast, ophthalmic researchers have reported retinotoxicity associated with high-dose ornithine.In vivoandin vitroexperiments have shown that high concentrations of ornithine or its metabolites are toxic to the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Long-term (exceeding a few years) and high concentrations (exceeding 600 μmol/l) of ornithine in the blood induce retinal toxicity in gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina (GA). Intermittent high levels of ornithine do not lead to retinal lesions. Constant blood ornithine levels between 250 and 600 μmol/l do not induce retinal lesions or cause a very slowly progressive retinal degeneration. Blood ornithine levels below 250 μmol/l do not produce retinal alteration. We concluded that short-term, low-dose or transient high-dose ornithine intake is safe for the retina; its nutritional usefulness and effect on NH3detoxification are supported by many researchers, but the effect may be limited; and long-term, high-dose ornithine intake may be risky for the retina. Patients with GA should avoid taking ornithine; amino acid supplementation should be administered carefully for patients with the HHH syndrome, relatives of patients with GA (heterozygotes) and subjects with RPE lesions; and blood ornithine levels and retinal conditions should be evaluated in individuals taking long-term, high-dose ornithine.
How to deal with genotype uncertainty in variance component quantitative trait loci analyses
Authors: SHEN XIA , RÖNNEGÅRD LARS , CARLBORG ÖRJAN 
Published: July 2011

SummaryDealing with genotype uncertainty is an ongoing issue in genetic analyses of complex traits. Here we consider genotype uncertainty in quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses for large crosses in variance component models, where the genetic information is included in identity-by-descent (IBD) matrices. An IBD matrix is one realization from a distribution of potential IBD matrices given available marker information. In QTL analyses, its expectation is normally used resulting in potentially reduced accuracy and loss of power. Previously, IBD distributions have been included in models for small human full-sib families. We develop an Expectation–Maximization (EM) algorithm for estimating a full model based on Monte Carlo imputation for applications in large animal pedigrees. Our simulations show that the bias of variance component estimates using traditional expected IBD matrix can be adjusted by accounting for the distribution and that the calculations are computationally feasible for large pedigrees.
Genetic analysis of complex traits via Bayesian variable selection: the utility of a mixture of uniform priors
Authors: KNÜRR TIMO , LÄÄRÄ ESA , SILLANPÄÄ MIKKO J. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryA new estimation-based Bayesian variable selection approach is presented for genetic analysis of complex traits based on linear or logistic regression. By assigning a mixture of uniform priors (MU) to genetic effects, the approach provides an intuitive way of specifying hyperparameters controlling the selection of multiple influential loci. It aims at avoiding the difficulty of interpreting assumptions made in the specifications of priors. The method is compared in two real datasets with two other approaches, stochastic search variable selection (SSVS) and a re-formulation of Bayes B utilizing indicator variables and adaptive Student'st-distributions (IAt). The Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling performance of the three methods is evaluated using the publicly available software OpenBUGS (model scripts are provided in the Supplementary material). The sensitivity of MU to the specification of hyperparameters is assessed in one of the data examples.
Uniculm and conventional tillering barley accessions under northern growing conditions
Authors: MÄKELÄ P. , MUURINEN S. 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYAt high northern latitudes, growing seasons are short with long days. In these conditions, tillering is an unwanted trait in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), because the grains on tillers develop later than those on the main stem and are often harvested before they are fully mature, leading to reductions in overall quality. Hence, the uniculm growth habit has been considered an interesting option for boreal barley production. The aim of the present study was to determine the differences in the yield formation of conventional tillering and uniculm barley, using two pairs of near-isogenic lines and two controls. Uniculm and conventional tillering barley were grown in three experiments conducted at Suitia Experimental Farm, University Helsinki, Finland during 1999–2001. Samples were collected frequently to monitor the biomass and leaf area accumulation. Water-soluble carbohydrate content was analysed at anthesis and at maturity in different plant parts. At maturity, the numbers of spikes/plant and grains/spike were calculated and grain yield weighed. The grain yield of the uniculm barleys was stable over these growing seasons, but it was only half that of the conventional barley cultivars due to the absence of spike-bearing tillers, lower spike grain number and spike weight. In addition, the ability to transport photosynthesized carbohydrates to grains may have been reduced. Thus, it seems that uniculm barleys do not provide further improvement in barley yield.
Bronchogenic cysts as a cause of infantile stridor: case report and literature review
Authors: Goswamy J , de Kruijf S , Humphrey G , Rothera M P , Bruce I A 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIntroduction:Cystic lesions related to the upper airway are an unusual cause of infantile stridor. Such a lesion may exert a mass effect, with subsequent airway compromise.Case report:A six-month-old boy was transferred to our unit with a right-sided, level IV neck lump and a three-month history of chronic cough and, latterly, inspiratory stridor. Computed tomography revealed a large, unilocular, cystic, cervicothoracic lesion causing marked compression of the trachea. Airway endoscopy subsequently revealed the larynx to be displaced to the left, with severe external compression of the trachea from just below the subglottic level to immediately above the carina. The mediastinal lesion was excised via an external approach. The histological diagnosis was a bronchogenic cyst.Conclusion:Bronchogenic cysts are a rare cause of infantile stridor, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic cervical and mediastinal masses. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice.
The effect of host age on feeding performance of fleas
Authors: LIBERMAN VICTORIA , KHOKHLOVA IRINA S. , DEGEN A. ALLAN , KRASNOV BORIS R. 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYWe asked whether the age of a rodent host affects the feeding performance of fleas. We predicted that fleas would perform better on young and old than on adult rodents. To test this prediction, we determined bloodmeal size, rate of digestion and time of survival after a single bloodmeal inXenopsylla ramesisfeeding onMeriones crassusof different ages. Fleas took less blood from subadult and adult than from juvenile and old animals. Fleas digested blood of old hosts at the highest rate and blood of juvenile hosts most slowly. After a bloodmeal, fleas survived the longest if fed on a juvenile host. The effect of host gender on bloodmeal size and survival after a bloodmeal was manifested only in (a) subadult and adult hosts and (b) subadult hosts, respectively. Host gender affected the rate of digestion differently among digestion stages and host age cohorts. We explain the observed patterns in flea performance in terms of changes in the host's immune defences and nutritional quality of blood during the host's individual life. Our observations suggested that a host of a particular age could not be unequivocally predicted to be more or less beneficial for a parasite than a younger or an older host.
Head lice prevalence among households in Norway: importance of spatial variables and individual and household characteristics
Authors: RUKKE BJØRN ARNE , BIRKEMOE TONE , SOLENG ARNULF , LINDSTEDT HEIDI HEGGEN , OTTESEN PREBEN 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYHead lice prevalence varies greatly between and within countries, and more knowledge is needed to approach causes of this variation. In the present study, we investigated head lice prevalence among elementary school students and their households in relation to individual and household characteristics as well as spatial variables. The investigation included households from 5 geographically separated municipalities. Present infestations among household members as well as previous infestations in the household were reported in a questionnaire. In elementary school students prevalence was low (1·63%), but more than one-third of the households (36·43%) had previously experienced pediculosis. Prevalence was higher in elementary school students than in other household members, and highest in third-grade children. Prevalence was also influenced by the school attended, which suggested that interactions between children in the same school are important for head lice transmission. Previous occurrence of head lice in homes also increased the risk of present infestation. Prevalence of previous infestations was higher in households with more children and in more densely populated municipalities, indicating that the density of hosts or groups of hosts influences transmission rates. These results demonstrate that information of hosts’ spatial distribution as well as household and individual characteristics is needed to better understand head lice population dynamics.
Predicting self- and other-directed violence among discharged psychiatric patients: the roles of anger and psychopathic traits
Authors: Swogger M. T. , Walsh Z. , Homaifar B. Y. , Caine E. D. , Conner K. R. 
Published: July 2011

BackgroundWe examined the extent to which trait anger and psychopathic traits predicted post-discharge self-directed violence (SDV) and other-directed violence (ODV) among psychiatric patients.MethodParticipants were 851 psychiatric patients sampled from in-patient hospitals for the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study (MVRAS). Participants were administered baseline interviews at the hospital and five follow-up interviews in the community at approximately 10-week intervals. Psychopathy and trait anger were assessed with the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PSC:SV) and the Novaco Anger Scale (NAS) respectively. SDV was assessed during follow-ups with participants and ODV was assessed during interviews with participants and collateral informants. Psychopathy facets and anger were entered in logistic regression models to predict membership in one of four groups indicating violence status during follow-up: (1) SDV, (2) ODV, (3) co-occurring violence (COV), and (4) no violence.ResultsAnger predicted membership in all three violence groups relative to a non-violent reference group. In unadjusted models, all psychopathy facets predicted ODV and COV during follow-up. In adjusted models, interpersonal and antisocial traits of psychopathy predicted membership in the ODV group whereas only antisocial traits predicted membership in the COV group.ConclusionsAlthough our results provide evidence for a broad role for trait anger in predicting SDV and ODV among discharged psychiatric patients, they suggest that unique patterns of psychopathic traits differentially predict violence toward self and others. The measurement of anger and facets of psychopathy during discharge planning for psychiatric patients may provide clinicians with information regarding risk for specific types of violence.
Automorphic properties of generating functions for generalized odd rank moments and odd Durfee symbols
Authors: ALFES CLAUDIA , BRINGMANN KATHRIN , LOVEJOY JEREMY 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe define two-parameter generalizations of Andrews' (k+1)-marked odd Durfee symbols and 2kth symmetrized odd rank moments, and study the automorphic properties of some of their generating functions. When k = 0 we obtain families of modular forms and mock modular forms. When k ≥ 1, we find quasimodular forms and quasimock modular forms.
On moduli spaces of Hitchin pairs
Authors: BISWAS INDRANIL , GOTHEN PETER B. , LOGARES MARINA 
Published: July 2011

AbstractLetXbe a compact Riemann surfaceXof genus at–least two. Fix a holomorphic line bundleLoverX. Letbe the moduli space of Hitchin pairs (E, φ ∈H0(End0(E) ⊗L)) overXof rankrand fixed determinant of degreed. The following conditions are imposed:(i)deg(L) ≥ 2g−2,r≥ 2, andL⊗rKX⊗r;(ii)(r, d) = 1; and(iii)ifg= 2 thenr≥ 6, and ifg= 3 thenr≥ 4.We prove that that the isomorphism class of the varietyuniquely determines the isomorphism class of the Riemann surfaceX. Moreover, our analysis shows thatis irreducible (this result holds without the additional hypothesis on the rank for low genus).