bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Listeria growth under diffusional limitations in synthetic meats
Authors: Noriega Estefanía , Laca Adriana , Díaz Mario 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPhysicochemical properties of meat products make them susceptible to contamination by several pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. As reference of L. monocytogenes behaviour, the evolution of Listeria innocua growth was monitored at different positions within a κ‐carrageenan synthetic meat and visualised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microbial growth was also determined in a liquid medium, prepared with the same nutrients as the solid phase, and the effect of oxygen concentration, a fundamental parameter in meat preservation, was studied. To simulate microbial behaviour in the solid, results of kinetics in broth were incorporated to a diffusion‐reaction model that considers growth kinetics as a function of the local oxygen concentration. Data from the model have been then discussed, taking into account experimental data and SEM observations. This model, useful for food safety purposes, has been shown to provide a reasonably good simulation of experimental data in the structured synthetic meat.
Storage stability of a high dietary fibre powder from orange by‐products
Authors: Fernández‐López Juana , Sendra‐Nadal Esther , Navarro Casilda , Sayas Estrella , Viuda‐Martos Manuel , Alvarez José Angel Pérez 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe goal of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of storage time and conditions on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of a high dietary fibre powder (HDFP). HDFP for this study was manufactured from orange juice industry by‐products. The storage period was 11 months and samples were stored under vacuum or air exposure and under dark or light exposure. The HDFP is a stable product (based on chemical, microbiological and physicochemical properties) with large amounts of dietary fibre (71.62 ± 0.24 g 100 g−1dry sample) and polyphenols content (40.67 ± 0.45 mg g−1dry sample). Hesperidin is the major compound identified in HDFP (higher than 50% of total phenolic compounds). The packaging material used protects the HDFP only up to 6 months. After this time, the increase in moisture content decreases the quality of the product. The best storage conditions are packaging under vacuum and darkness. Both conditions preserve the colour of the fibres probably by means of avoiding pigment degradation.
Egg yolk protein modification by controlled enzymatic hydrolysis for improved functionalities
Authors: Wang Guang , Wang Tong 
Published: March 2009

SummaryDelipidated egg yolk protein (EYP) is produced as a co‐product of egg yolk lecithin extraction. This EYP is expected to have poor functionality because of protein denaturation caused by ethanol treatment during lecithin extraction. Two food grade endo‐proteases were used to produce EYP hydrolysates (EYPh) with two degrees of hydrolysis (DH), 3% and 6%. Protein solubility was improved as DH increased. Solubility profiles for both EYP and EYPh were relatively less pH‐dependent compared with soy protein. Except for foaming capacity, EYPh showed improvement in foam stability, foaming speed, and foam density. Emulsion stability was improved for all EYPhs. Treatments at DH of 6% showed significant increase in emulsification capacity. We have shown quantitatively how controlled enzymatic hydrolysis can be applied to ethanol‐treated lipid‐free EYP to increase protein solubility, and thus to improve foaming and emulsification properties.
Screening of cereal varieties for antioxidant and radical scavenging properties applying various spectroscopic and thermoanalytical methods
Authors: Brindzová Lucia , Zalibera Michal , Šimon Peter , Čertík Milan , Takácsová Mária , Mikulajová Anna , Mikušová Lucia , Rapta Peter 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwenty varieties of four representative cereals, and sixteen varieties of six pseudocereals were investigated by different assays and analyses, covering the quantitative analysis of antioxidants, radical scavenging capacity (RSC) as well as total antioxidant capacity of cereals. The inter‐variety variability in antioxidant capacity was determined by four independent methods for evaluation of antioxidant activity including 2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline)‐6‐sulphonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrasyl (DPPH) tests, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/spin‐trapping assay and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The antioxidant capacity of studied samples determined in ABTS test ranged from 0.70 to 7.33 mg Trolox g−1, in DPPH test from 1.31 to 54.79 mg Trolox g−1and RSC values from EPR/spin‐trapping assay varied from 0.27 to 13.52 mg Trolox g−1 dry matter. The best antioxidant capacity was found for buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.), where also the highest contents of total phenolics and exceptional thermal stability were observed.
Effect of fermentation time on the antioxidant activities of tempeh prepared from fermented soybean using Rhizopus oligosporus
Authors: Chang Chen‐Tien , Hsu Cheng‐Kuang , Chou Su‐Tze , Chen Ya‐Chen , Huang Feng‐Sheng , Chung Yun‐Chin 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fermentation time on the antioxidant activity of tempeh, a fermented product from soybean. Rhizopus oligosporus was used to ferment soybean for 0, 1, 2, 5 and 10 days. Lyophilised tempeh powder was extracted with hexane followed by petroleum ether, ether, 95% ethanol and water. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated with various models including α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐pricryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide‐scavenging activities, reducing power and inhibitory activity towards lipid peroxidation. The results revealed that tempeh showed greater antioxidant activities than unfermented soybean. On behalf of a DPPH scavenger, water extracts were as good as 95% ethanol extracts. In comparison of superoxide anion‐scavenging activity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and reducing power, 95% ethanol extracts were superior to water extracts. Tempeh fermented with R. oligosporus for 10 days exhibited the highest antioxidant activities than the others.
Phenolic compound composition and antioxidant activity of fruits ofRubusandPrunusspecies from Croatia
Authors: Jakobek Lidija , Šeruga Marijan , Šeruga Bernarda , Novak Ivana , Medvidović‐Kosanović Martina 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTwo fraction, one containing flavonols, flavan‐3‐ols, phenolic acids and the other containing anthocyanins, were isolated fromRubus(red raspberry, blackberry) andPrunus(sweet cherry, sour cherry) fruits to study their phenol content by HPLC and antioxidant activity using the DPPH test. Raspberries and blackberries were characterised by catechins and ellagic acid derivatives; sour and sweet cherries by phenolic acids. All fruits had relatively high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins contributed more to the antioxidant activity of all fruits (∼90%) than flavonols, flavan‐3‐ols and phenolic acids (∼10%). A biphasic reaction was observed between DPPH•radicals and phenols, with ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ scavenging rates which might be important in the biological activity of these fruits. Sour cherries and blackberries which stand out with the highest total phenol content (1416 and 1040 mg kg−1) had also the strongest antioxidant activity (EC50 = 807 and 672 g of fruit per gram of DPPH) and can be considered as good source of dietary phenols.
A model of geographical, environmental and regional variation in vegetation composition of pyrogenic grasslands of Florida
Authors: Carr Susan C. , Robertson Kevin M. , Platt William J. , Peet Robert K. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAim  To develop a landscape‐level model that partitions variance in plant community composition among local environmental, regional environmental, and purely spatial predictive variables for pyrogenic grasslands (prairies, savannas and woodlands) throughout northern and central Florida.Location  North and central Florida, USA.Methods  We measured plant species composition and cover in 271 plots throughout the study region. A variation‐partitioning model was used to quantify components of variation in species composition associated with the main and interaction effects of soil and topographic variables, climate variables and spatial coordinates. Partial correlations of environmental variables with community variation were identified using direct gradient analysis (redundancy analysis and partial redundancy analysis) and Monte Carlo tests of significance.Results  Community composition was most strongly related to edaphic variables at local scales in association with topographic gradients, although geographically structured edaphic, climatic and pure spatial effects were also evident. Edaphic variables explained the largest portion of total variation explained (TVE) as a main effect (48%) compared with the main effects of climate (9%) and pure spatial factors (9%). The remaining TVE was explained by the interaction effect of climate and spatial factors (13%) and the three‐way interaction (22%). Correlation analyses revealed that the primary compositional gradient was related to soil fertility and topographic position corresponding to soil moisture. A second gradient represented distinct geographical separation between the Florida panhandle and peninsular regions, concurrent with differences in soil characteristics. Gradients in composition corresponded to species richness, which was lower in the Florida peninsula.Main conclusions  Environmental variables have the strongest influence on the species composition of Florida pyrogenic grasslands at both local and regional scales. However, the limited distributions of many plant taxa suggest historical constraints on species distributions from one physiographical region to the other (Florida panhandle and peninsula), although this pattern is partially confounded by regionally spatially structured environmental variables. Our model provides insight into the relative importance of local‐ and regional‐scale environmental effects as well as possible historical constraints on floristic variation in pine‐dominated pyrogenic grasslands of the south‐eastern USA.
Altered brain activation during response inhibition in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: AYALON LIAT , ANCOLI‐ISRAEL SONIA , DRUMMOND SEAN PA 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThis study examined response inhibition during a Go–NoGo task in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Fourteen OSA patients and 14 controls were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Compared to controls, the OSA group showed more false positives (error of commission) during the NoGo trials with decreased brain activation in the left postcentral gyrus, cingulate gyrus and inferior parietal lobe, as well as right insula and putamen. This is consistent with previous findings of impaired performance and decreased brain activation in OSA patients during a working memory task, suggesting that compromised brain function in response to cognitive challenges may underlie some of the cognitive deficits seen in patients with OSA.
Women sleep objectively better than men and the sleep of young women is more resilient to external stressors: effects of age and menopause
Authors: BIXLER EDWARD O. , PAPALIAGA MARIA N. , VGONTZAS ALEXANDROS N. , LIN HUNG‐MO , PEJOVIC SLOBODANKA , KARATARAKI MARIA , VELA‐BUENO ANTONIO , CHROUSOS GEORGE P. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe aims of this study were to: (i) assess gender differences of objective sleep patterns in a general population sample; (ii) evaluate the effects of menopause and hormone treatment (HT) on the sleep of the same cohort; and (iii) examine gender differences in sleep resilience towards external stressors. The participants were (i) 1324 subjects without sleep complaints, recruited from the general population of Central Pennsylvania that spent one night in the sleep laboratory and (ii) 66 young, healthy volunteers whose sleep was disturbed during night four by an external stressor, i.e. 24‐h blood drawing (average of nights 2 and 3 versus night 4). Women compared with men in the general population sample had significantly higher percentage of sleep time, lower percentage of stage 1, and higher percentage of slow wave sleep. Also, menopause, in the absence of HT, was associated with prolonged sleep latency and decreased deep sleep. Finally, young, healthy women compared with men experienced less sleep disturbance because of blood draws as indicated by a significantly smaller change in per cent sleep time, and percentage of stage 1 sleep. These findings suggest that women without sleep complaints sleep objectively better across age than men and the sleep of young women is more resistant to external stressors. Also, gonadal hormones exert a beneficial effect on women’s sleep. This gender dimorphism in sleep regulation may have been to protect women from the demands of infant and child care, and in part, might contribute to women’s lower cardiovascular risks and greater longevity.
Stratigraphy and tectonics of an Internal Unit of the southern Apennines: implications for the geodynamic evolution of the peri‐Tyrrhenian mountain belt
Authors: Ciarcia S. , Vitale S. , Di Staso A. , Iannace A. , Mazzoli S. , Torre M. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe Parasicilide succession is a key element of the southern Apennine orogen, being originally located in the distal portion of the Apulian palaeomargin, at the Neotethys ocean‐continent transition. The succession, presently included in the upper nappe complex of the thrust belt, has been described elsewhere as a `broken formation'. However, detailed investigations carried out in the Sele Valley point out that there the Parasicilide Unit is characterized by a coherent stratigraphy. Therefore, in the study area, these rocks form a coherent sheet of distal continental margin/oceanic sedimentary cover material included within the peri‐Tyrrhenian mountain belt. Stratigraphic and structural constraints obtained from both pre‐and syn‐orogenic deposits – the latter including both foredeep and thrust‐top basin sediments – suggest that the pre‐orogenic part of the Parasicilide succession subsided into the Apennine foredeep in the first part of the Burdigalian. The studied rocks were then involved in thrusting prior to late Burdigalian/early Langhian times.
Petroleum surface oil seeps from a Palaeoproterozoic petrified giant oilfield
Authors: Melezhik Victor A. , Fallick Anthony E. , Filippov Michail M. , Lepland Aivo , Rychanchik Dmitry V. , Deines Yuliya E. , Medvedev Pavel V. , Romashkin Alexander E. , Strauss Harald 
Published: March 2009

AbstractEarly Palaeoproterozoic rocks from the Onega Basin in Russian Fennoscandia contain evidence for substantial accumulation and preservation of organic matter (up to 75 wt% total organic carbon) with an estimated original petroleum potential comparable to a modern supergiant oilfield. The basin contains a uniquely preserved petrified oilfield including evidence of oil traps and oil migration pathways. Here, we report the discovery of the surface expression of a migration pathway, along which petroleum was flowing from the sub‐surface. This surface oil seep, the first occurrence ever reported from the Palaeoproterozoic, appears as original bitumen clasts redeposited in Palaeoproterozoic lacustrine turbidites. The δ13Corg of clastic pyrobitumen ranges between −35.4 and −36.0‰ (n = 14), which is within the range of interbed‐ and vein‐trapped fossil oil (−46 and −24‰), suggesting similar source. Biogenic organic matter, whose isotopic composition was modified during thermal maturation, is the likely source for the migrated hydrocarbon.
Association of MIF promoter polymorphisms with childhood asthma in a northeastern Chinese population
Authors: Wu J. , Fu S. , Ren X. , Jin Y. , Huang X. , Zhang X. , Bai J. , Fu S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractMacrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in pathogenesis of asthma. A high level of MIF has been detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum and sputum in asthma. Polymorphisms associated with inflammatory diseases exist in the promoter region of MIF, which alter its expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship between functional polymorphisms of MIF and childhood asthma in a northeastern Chinese population. The study consisted of a set of 41 trios and an independent sample set of 189 childhood asthma patients and 261 healthy controls. We genotyped MIF‐173G/C using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP). Additionally, MIF‐794CATT5–8 microsatellite polymorphism was genotyped by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). A statistically significant difference in the distribution of the MIF‐173C allele between patients and controls [P = 0.01, odds ratio (OR) = 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13–2.18] was observed. In addition, the frequency of the MIF‐173CC genotype was higher in asthmatic children (P < 0.01, OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.27–8.93). No difference in the distribution of CATT5–8 was found between patients and healthy controls. Haplotype analysis showed that only the MIFCATT7–173C haplotype was associated with greater susceptibility to childhood asthma (P = 0.03, OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.03–2.28). However, the transmission disequilibrium test confirmed a positive association between MIF‐173G/C and childhood asthma (P = 0.005), and the absence of an association between the MIF‐794CATT5–8 and the disease. These preliminary results suggest an association between the MIF‐173C allele and childhood asthma.
Single nucleotide polymorphism of interleukin‐1β associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Satoh T. , Pandey J. P. , Okazaki Y. , Asahi A. , Kawakami Y. , Ikeda Y. , Kuwana M. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTo examine the role of genetic factors in development of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in association with Helicobacter pylori infection, gene polymorphisms within the loci for human leukocyte antigen class II, interleukin (IL)‐1β (−511), tumor necrosis factor‐β (+252), immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 heavy chain (+643), and Igκ light chain (+573) were determined in 164 adults with ITP and 75 healthy controls. Of these gene polymorphisms, the IL‐1β (−511) T allele was less frequently detected in H. pylori‐infected than in H. pylori‐uninfected (58% vs 81%, P = 0.01, odds ratio = 0.31) ITP patients diagnosed before age 50. These findings suggest that a single nucleotide polymorphism within the IL‐1β (−511) may affect susceptibility to early‐onset ITP associated with H. pylori infection.
Interleukin‐23 receptor gene polymorphisms is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in Chinese Han population
Authors: Chen Y. , Zhou B. , Peng Y. , Wang Y. , Li C. , Ding X. , He X. , Xu J. , Huang L. , Rao L. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIdiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by ventricular chamber enlargement and systolic dysfunction with normal left ventricular wall thickness. The pathogenesis of DCM has been extensively investigated for many years, but it remains uncertain. Recently, many studies indicated that autoimmune mechanisms are likely to participate in the pathogenesis of DCM. Interleukin‐23 receptor (IL‐23R) gene polymorphisms have been previously found to be associated with autoimmune diseases. To assess the role of IL‐23R in DCM, we examined three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL‐23R gene, namely, rs1884444, rs11465817 and rs10889677. A total of 176 DCM patients and 216 controls were included in the study, and all SNPs were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our results showed that SNP rs10889677, but not rs1884444 and rs11465817, had association with DCM in Chinese Han population. The results suggest that IL‐23R polymorphisms appear to play an important role in the susceptibility of DCM in Chinese Han population.
Genetic determinants of HIV‐1 infection and progression to AIDS: susceptibility to HIV infection
Authors: Kaur G. , Mehra N. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractInterindividual variability in susceptibility to HIV‐1 infection, its transmission, disease progression, and response to antiviral therapy has been attributed to host determinants and variability in multiple genes. Although most people exposed to the virus go on to develop full‐blown disease at variable intervals, a proportion of them, labeled as long‐term nonprogressors or exposed uninfected, possess ‘natural resistance’ to infection. A better understanding of genetic and immunologic basis of such a natural resistance to infection would bear important implications in designing therapeutic vaccine designs. The genetic variants that could influence susceptibility to HIV‐1 and limit AIDS vary in different populations and among individuals. Meta‐analyses of large cohort studies have identified numerous ‘AIDS restriction genes’ that regulate HIV cell entry (particularly chemokine coreceptors and their ligands), acquired and innate immunity (major histocompatibility complex, killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor, and cytokines), and others [tripartite interaction motif 5 α (TRIM5α) and apolipoprotein B mRNA‐editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide‐like 3G] that influence outcome of HIV infection. Studies carried out in the Indian population with regard to genetic polymorphisms in chemokine receptors have shown that (i) the protective CCR5 Δ32 variant is rare, (ii) CCR5HHE carrying *59402A is associated with increased likelihood of infection and development of AIDS, and (iii) the Indian population generally has low CCL3L1 copy numbers (∼2.3). These data have implications in developing screening tests that could identify people at higher or lower risk of infection and rate of disease progression, predict vaccine responsiveness in clinical trials and understand the pathogenic mechanisms.
Altered collagen II 263–272 peptide immunization induces inhibition of collagen‐induced arthritis through a shift toward Th2‐type response
Authors: Li R. , Li X. , Li Z. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTo investigate the effects of altered collagen II (CII) peptide ligands in collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA), CIA rats were subcutaneously injected with an altered CII263–272 peptide ligand (APL, 100, 10, and 1 μg/dose, six dose each, twice a week), which had been identified by us as an inhibitory effect on CII‐specific T‐cell activation in vitro in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Clinical, radiographic, and histologic scores were evaluated. Serum level of interferon (IFN)‐γ was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and the numbers of interleukin (IL)‐4‐producing cells in vitro in memory responses to the APL were determined by enzyme‐linked immunospot. The results showed significantly reduced arthritis scores in CIA rats treated with 100 μg/dose of APL compared with those treated with phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and control peptide. The mean radiographic and histologic scores were also markedly lower in APL‐treated CIA rats. On day 35 after immunization, a significantly lower level of IFN‐γ in serum was found in APL‐treated rats, accompanied by increased numbers of IL‐4‐producing cells, indicating that APL treatment skewed the T helper (Th)1/Th2 balance toward Th2‐type response in vivo. Altered CII263–272 peptide ligand immunization induces inhibition of CIA through a shift toward Th2‐type response, suggesting that altered CII peptide might be a potential therapeutic target for RA.