bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of psoralen plus ultraviolet A in vitro in HUT‐78 enhances by 5‐aminolevulinic acid
Authors: Akita Yoichi , Watanabe Daisuke , Yanagishita Takeshi , Kuhara Tomoe , Kawamura Chiharu , Masuda Yuko , Kawada Morihiro , Nakaseko Hirono , Tamada Yasuhiko , Matsumoto Yoshinari 
Published: May 2007

Background: Sezary syndrome and mycosis fungoides are forms of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, and in the early stage of these diseases psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) is one of the treatments of choice. Photodynamic therapy using 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA‐PDT) is an effective, non‐invasive, and safe treatment for most superficial skin cancers. In order to obtain greater efficacy of PUVA, we investigated the synergistic anti‐tumor effects of ALA‐PDT and PUVA using 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP) and a UVA lamp.Methods: The in vitro effects of PUVA and ALA‐PDT and their combination in HUT‐78 cell line from human SS were determined by MTT assay.Results: In our results, cell proliferation compared with controls was inhibited to 53.2% with UVA alone, 52.3% with 1 μM 8‐MOP, 43.8% with 100 μM ALA, and 19.2% with combined 8‐MOP and ALA.Conclusion: Combined use of ALA and PUVA using 8‐MOP and UVA lamps, which are widespread in Japan, had a strong anti‐tumor effect in vitro. Combined treatment with ALA‐PDT and PUVA using a UVA lamp appears to have a strong treatment effect.
MELTING AND SOLIDIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SWISS RACLETTE CHEESE MEASURED BY SMALL AMPLITUDE OSCILLATORY SHEAR MEASUREMENTS
Authors: GUGGISBERG DOMINIK , BÜTIKOFER UELI , ALBRECHT BRUNO 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT Three successive seasonal products of Swiss Raclette cheese were characterized and compared to each other using small amplitude oscillatory shear experiment (SAOS). Melting and solidification transitions were observed during a “time‐sweep” experiment from 20 to 80C and back to 20C in 60 min. The G′‐G″(transition temperature) crossover was considered a good indicator of the Raclette cheese melting quality. Typical values were also established for elastic (or storage) modulus (G′), viscous (or loss) modulus (G″), loss tangent (tan δ) and the complex viscosity at predetermined temperatures, to distinguish between good or poor melting quality. Significant differences were found between the three series of cheese for water and nitrogen content, sensory testing, G′ and G″ at 20 and 80C. Highly significant correlations were found between the SAOS method and the softening and dropping point method as well as with the sensory evaluation and the compositional analysis. The main advantage of this method was that in addition to the melting process of Raclette cheese, the solidification process was readily accessible. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSEvery year, cheese producers of Swiss Raclette participate in a quality testing program in Switzerland organized by Agroscope Liebefeld‐Posieux. Meltability and sensory criteria are, among others, important functional properties of Raclette cheese. Basic knowledge on fabrication and/or new trends of Swiss Raclette cheese can so be followed up. For many years, the softening (EP) and dropping point (TP) method was adopted together with sensory testing. A new method for the melting and solidification transitions of Raclette cheese from three successive seasonal productions (summer production 2003 and summer and winter production 2004) were tested using a rotation and oscillation rheometer. By comparing sensory evaluation of the Raclette cheese to the dynamic oscillatory method, a list of typical rheological values was established that may serve as guideline to differentiate between good and poor melting qualities of Raclette cheese. The main advantage of this new method is that in addition to the meltability of Raclette cheese, the solidification process is readily accessible.
PSYCHOPHYSICAL MARKERS FOR CRISPNESS AND INFLUENCE OF PHASE BEHAVIOR AND STRUCTURE
Authors: DOGAN HULYA , KOKINI JOZEF L. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT This article focuses on developing a psychophysical model for sensory crispness and understanding the role of structure and phase behavior of the food polymer matrix in terms of affecting crispness. The core hypothesis of the article is that the number peaks during brittle fracture of food foams is the stimulus for crispness. Accurate mechanical methods were developed to count the peaks and then relate them to sensory crispness scores utilizing magnitude estimation. An excellent correlation was obtained with data that was generated in three independent sets of measurements. Finally, models describing the relationship between structure, mechanical signatures and sensory crispness of extruded cellular foods were developed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSTexture is one of the most important quality attributes of food products. The fracture properties of the foods have to be clearly understood, because they are one the most important manifestations of texture. Understanding the fracture process in‐depth can help increase consumer acceptability by generating structures leading a particular breakdown behavior, because the sensory attributes like crispness are directly related to how the fracture occurs in solid food foams. The psychophysical model developed in this study will serve as a very useful tool for assessing the effects of changes in formulation and processing that result in a wide range of structural features leading to the desired crisp sensation in the final product.
TEXTURE PROFILE ANALYSIS APPLIED TO POUNDED YAM
Authors: OTEGBAYO BOLANLE , AINA JOHNSON , ABBEY LAWRENCE , SAKYI‐DAWSON ESTHER , BOKANGA MPOKO , ASIEDU ROBERT 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT Textural quality of pounded yam made from tubers of Dioscorea rotundata Poir. and Dioscorea alata L. that were freshly harvested or stored for 4 months were evaluated using texture profile analysis. Significant correlations were obtained between the values for texture attributes evaluated using sensory texture profile analysis and those from instrumental texture profile analysis (ITPA). This implies that ITPA had the ability to measure the textural quality of pounded yam in a way similar to a trained sensory panel and could be used as an objective method to evaluate the textural quality of pounded yam.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSBecause texture profile analysis (TPA) has been successfully used to study the textural quality of pounded yam, a glutinous dough, it can be used in the food industry to study the texture attributes of pounded yam or similar doughlike products. It can also be used to screen yam varieties for textural quality for subsequent utilization.
Nutrition‐related knowledge, beliefs and practices of Australian nursing staff
Authors: NOWAK Madeleine , HARRISON Simone , HUTTON Lesley 
Published: May 2007

AbstractObjective:  The purpose of the study was to examine the general food and nutrition‐related beliefs and knowledge of nursing professionals attending post‐partum women.Design:  Data were collected by self‐administered questionnaire.Subjects:  Three hundred and sixty‐two hospital‐based nursing staff responsible for the care of post‐parturient women.Setting:  Eight metropolitan and regional hospitals in Queensland and three maternity hospitals in Canberra.Main outcome measures:  Beliefs, opinions and intentions relating to food, nutrition and weight; knowledge of requirements of core foods; and sources of nutrition information.Statistical analysis:  Standard statistical tests were used to measure frequencies and assess bivariate relationships.Results:  Almost all participants (97.8%) were confident they could give good advice to their patients about a healthy balanced diet. The majority (65.5%) reported providing such advice at least weekly, 27.9% daily, and 19.5% rarely or never gave nutritional advice. The food‐related beliefs of most participants (>85%) were in line with current knowledge for 78% of questions. However, their knowledge of core food requirements for adults was inadequate; only 0.6% gave correct answers to all four food intake questions, 16.8% gave three correct answers, 62% two and 20.7% one correct answer. The most commonly cited sources of nutrition information were professional training (51.4%), reading (38.7%), media (14.9%), self‐education and work‐related experience (10.8%), dietitian (10.5%), school (7.5%), family (6.4%) and dieting (5.0%).Conclusion:  Nursing staff frequently provide nutritional advice to post‐partum women. There is a need to ensure such information is accurate. Further research should explore ways in which this can be achieved.
Very‐low‐calorie diets: Downsizing the hospitalised obese patient
Authors: CHAPMAN Brooke , LONGTON Helen 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe rising prevalence of obesity and its associated morbidity and mortality are placing significant strain on Australia's health‐care system. The present case study examines the weight loss attempts of a 60‐year‐old male patient weighing 218 kg (body mass index 69 kg/m2) in the setting of an acute hospital ward. The patient was confined to bed, secondary to a previous above knee amputation, and was unable to be transferred or fit safely into a wheelchair because of his weight. He was also unable to return home alone because of his current size. Because of the need for rapid weight reduction, a novel inpatient approach to weight loss was adopted, using a very‐low‐calorie diet (VLCD) and multidisciplinary team management. The VLCD intervention was prescribed in conjunction with medical management, regular physical therapy, behaviour therapy and dietary counselling. Serial anthropometric and biochemical measurements were obtained throughout the treatment period. The patient achieved an 80‐kg weight loss (37% initial body weight) over a six‐month hospitalisation. Improvements in obesity‐related comorbidities and the patient's functional and independence level were also observed, enabling discharge from hospital to residential care. Total weight loss at 24 months post hospital discharge was 103 kg (47% initial body weight). The use of a VLCD in a motivated individual in a controlled hospital environment, along with input from the multidisciplinary team, resulted in substantial and sustained weight loss with improved health outcomes.
Preliminary Investigation into the Use of a High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometer with Laser Ablation for Bulk Analysis of Geological Materials Fused with Li2B4O7
Authors: Ødegård Magne , Hamester Meike 
Published: May 2007

The paper presents preliminary results of the use of a high resolution double‐focussing, magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer (HR‐ICP‐MS) with ultraviolet laser ablation (LA) for the bulk analysis of geological materials fused with Li2B4O7. Detection limits are based on data from precision measurements of a fused SiO2 sample of high purity, and sensitivity data (cps/μg g‐1) obtained on the Reference Material (RM) Syenite SY‐2. For many trace elements, the detection limits are better than 0.05 μg g‐1 using a sample to flux weight ratio of 1:7.Calibration curves, which are based entirely on RMs, are established for Hf, Ta, Tb, Tm and Lu. They indicate that, even at this early stage in the development of the technique, data accurate to ˜ 25% can be collected. It is concluded that the method may prove to be a valuable supplement to XRF for low level element concentration measurements; it is also very practical, as the same sample discs can be used for both XRF and LA‐ICP‐MS analyses.
Pressure‐Dependence of Rare Earth Element Distribution in Amphibolite‐ and Granulite‐ Grade Garnets. A LA‐ICP‐MS Study
Authors: Bea Fernando , Montero Pilar , Garuti Giorgio , Zacharini Federica 
Published: May 2007

Using an excimer (KrF) laser ablation ICP‐MS system, we studied the distribution of REE in garnets from metapelites and metabasites from Ivrea‐Verbano (Western Alps, Italy) and from the Peña Negra Anatectic Complex (Central Iberia), finding systematic variations that correlate well with the metamorphic grade. Chondrite‐normalized REE patterns of garnets from amphibolite‐grade metapelites have lower‐than‐chondrite levels from La to Sm, a very small or no Eu anomaly, and a steep rise in the abundance of heavy REE as the atomic number increases. Metapelitic garnets from the amphibolite‐granulite transition have a marked Eu negative anomaly and are enriched in MREE such that Sm is 10‐15 times chondrite and the pattern is almost flat from Dy to Yb‐Lu. In garnets from granulite‐grade metapelites, the intensity of the Eu anomaly and the relative concentration of Nd, Sm, Gd and Tb increase, with almost flat chondrite‐normalized patterns from Sm to Lu. Garnets from mafic granulites are remarkably similar to those of metapelitic garnets equilibrated at the same pressure, except for the Eu anomaly. The apparent paradox of enhanced uptake of larger REE ions with increasing pressure is attributed to the 3M2+ 2REE3++ vacancy substitution, which produces a net decrease in the dimensions of the unit‐cell of garnet. Variations in REE patterns depend essentially on the pressure and have little dependence on either temperature, bulk‐composition of garnet, or REE whole‐rock composition, so they could represent a new approach for geobarometric studies. The best numerical parameter to express pressure‐related variations of REE distribution in garnets is the Gd/Dy ratio which does not seem perceptibly affected by disequilibrium partitioning. The regression equation between GASP pressure and the average Gd/Dygarnet is P = 3.6 + 5.6 Gd/Dy.This equation seems to be reliable for garnets: (1)equilibrated within a pressure range of 4‐9 kbar, (2) coexisting with modal monazite; and (3) with unit‐cell dimensions under 11.46 Å.
Compositional Heterogeneity in NIST SRM 610‐617 Glasses
Authors: Eggins Stephen M. , Shelley J. Michael G. 
Published: May 2007

Extensive compositional heterogeneity is shown to affect at least twenty four of the doped trace elements in the NIST SRM 610‐617 glasses.Compositional profiling and mapping using laser ablation ICP‐MS reveals that all NIST SRM 610‐617 wafers examined here contain domains that are significantly depleted in Ag, As, Au, B, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cs, Mo, Pb, Re, (Rh), Sb, Se, Te, Tl and W, and antithetically enriched in Cu (and Pt), with large enrichments in Cd, Fe and Mn also being encountered in some cases. These domains are visible in doubly polished wafers by unaided visual inspection and by transmitted light and schlieren microscopy. They occur in close proximity to the wafer perimeters and also as stretched and complexly folded forms within wafer interiors. The chemical and optical properties of these heterogeneous domains are consistent with those of compositional cords, a phenomenon of glass manufacture where glass bulk composition and physical properties are modified by loss of volatile components from the molten glass surface. The NIST SRM 610‐617 glasses may be considered reliable reference materials for microanalysis of only between one half and two thirds of the trace elements with which they were doped, including Be, Mg, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, REE, V, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Th, U, Ga, In, Sn, Co, Ni and Zn. These elements show no evidence of significant heterogeneity, indicating that the original glass constituents and possible residues remaining in the furnace from preceding glass batch fusions were well homogenised during manufacture.
Effect of a late evening snack on outpatients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Aoyama Koji , Tsuchiya Masako , Mori Kenji , Kubo Yoshitsugu , Shiraishi Kei , Sakaguchi Eiki , Yamashita Satoyoshi , Sakaida Isao 
Published: May 2007

Aims:  We have reported that one‐week administration of a late evening snack (LES) improved not only malnutrition but also glucose intolerance in hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis. Thus, we investigated whether long‐term LES administration to outpatients for 3 months could reproduce the results obtained from hospitalized patients, especially improved glucose intolerance. If this treatment aggravated glucose intolerance, we tried to find any marker predicting this aggravation before the treatment.Methods:  Outpatients were prescribed one pack of oral supplementation of a branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA)‐enriched nutrient, Aminoleban EN (210 kCal) as a LES without dietician supervision. Both before LES administration and after 3 months, glucose tolerance and liver function were examined using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), biochemical parameters in blood and the relationship between glucose tolerance (area under the curve (AUC)) and the following serum markers.Results:  Branched‐chain amino acid/tyrosine ratio (BTR), the number of red blood cells (RBC), and hematocrit (Ht) significantly increased, with significant reduction of blood NH3 level in patients with a blood glucose level less than 200 mg/dL 2 h after 75 g OGTT. However, the increase of AUC was seen after 3 months of LES administration in patients who had blood glucose higher than 200 mg/dL 2 h after 75 g OGTT. AUC weakly correlated positively with serum 7S collagen and negatively with choline esterase (ChE) and albumin (Alb).Conclusion:  75 g OGTT is a useful marker to predict the worst outcome and avoid the adverse effect of LES treatment in liver cirrhosis patients if performed without adequate nutrient conduct by a dietician.
Protective effect of interferon‐α on the DNA‐ and RNA‐degrading pathway in anti‐Fas‐antibody induced apoptosis
Authors: Kocic Gordana , Bjelakovic Gordana , Pavlovic Dusica , Jevtovic Tatjana , Pavlovic Voja , Sokolovic Dusan , Basic Jelena , Cekic Snezana , Cvetkovic Tatjana , Kocic Radivoj , Stojanovic Svetlana 
Published: May 2007

Aim:  Fas membrane‐associated polypeptide antigen is a receptor molecule responsible for apoptosis‐mediated signals. In animal models of acute viral hepatitis, apoptosis of hepatocytes is mediated by Fas‐death receptors; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interferon (IFN)‐α on apoptotic markers and nuclease activity against different coding and non‐coding single and double stranded RNAs during Fas‐induced liver apoptosis.Methods:  An in vivo experiment was performed with simultaneous administration of anti‐Fas (CD95) antibodies and IFN‐α, and an in vitro experiment was performed in hepatocyte cultures treated with anti‐Fas antibodies and IFN‐α.Results:  Detection of apoptosis using Annexin V‐FITC/propidium iodide, Bcl‐2 and Bax expression in hepatocyte cultures confirmed the appearance of early apoptotic events and progression toward late apoptosis after anti‐Fas antibody treatment. IFN‐α had a tendency to retard the apoptosis process in Fas‐induced apoptosis by increasing the number of viable cells and decreasing the number of cells in late apoptosis, by increasing the percentage of Bcl‐2 positive cells, by decreasing the percentage of Bax positive cells, and by decreasing the nuclease activity compared to the anti‐Fas antibody treated group. Total DNA and RNA concentration was much reduced in the Fas group and DNA fragmentation assay provided evidence for increased DNA degradation. Enhanced nuclease activity against DNA, rRNA, poly(A), poly(C), poly(U), poly(I:C), and poly(A:U) was manifested in the anti‐Fas antibody treated group, except for the inhibitory‐bound alkaline RNase.Conclusions:  The results demonstrate that the RNA‐degrading pathway in Fas‐induced apoptosis can accelerate the liberation of the latent enzyme from the inhibitor complex. IFN‐α prevented enormous, Fas‐ligand induced degradation of all the substrates used in this experimental study, most probably due to similarities in the signal transduction pathways. Investigations of death receptor‐induced apoptosis may lead to novel treatment combinations for patients with acute or chronic liver diseases.
Downregulated expression of metallothionein and its clinicopathological significance in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tao Xia , Zheng Jian‐Ming , Xu Ai‐Min , Chen Xin‐Fang , Zhang Shu‐Hui 
Published: May 2007

Aim:  Metallothionein (MT) protein is related to different stages of development and progression of various tumors in humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate expression and localization of MT and their association with clinicopathological characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:  Histological specimens of 400 HCC with corresponding non‐cancerous liver tissues were stained for MT (E9), P53 and Ki‐67 by immunohistochemical staining using tissue microarrays. RNA expression of MT‐1X and MT‐2A isoforms was determined by real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in a set of independent samples of 161 HCC.Results:  Downregulated expression of MT at both mRNA and protein levels was detected in HCC, compared with non‐cancerous liver tissues. The frequencies of MT positivity were significantly lower in cases with positive hepatitis B surface antigen than in those with negative hepatitis B surfaceantigen (P = 0.042). The positive rate of MT expression was more frequent in tumors ≤2 cm than in tumors >2 cm in diameter (P = 0.007). There was a tendency for MT expression to decrease with the progression of histological grade. Mainly nuclear expression of MT correlated with poorly differentiated HCC. No statistical correlation was found between P53, Ki‐67 and MT expression.Conclusions:  Downregulated expression of MT in HCC may play a role in hepatocarcinogenesis and be a marker of hepatocellular differentiation. Hepatitis B virus infection may be correlated to downregulated expression of MT. The mainly nuclear MT immunostaining may reflect an aggressive behavior in poorly differentiated HCC.
Model-Generated Predictions of Dry Thunderstorm Potential
Authors: Rorig Miriam L. , McKay Steven J. , Ferguson Sue A. , Werth Paul 
Published: May 2007

Abstract
Dry thunderstorms (those that occur without significant rainfall at the ground) are common in the interior western United States. Moisture drawn into the area from the Gulfs of Mexico and California is sufficient to form high-based thunderstorms. Rain often evaporates before reaching the ground, and cloud-to-ground lightning generated by these storms strikes dry fuels. Fire weather forecasters at the National Weather Service and the National Interagency Coordination Center try to anticipate days with widespread dry thunderstorms because they result in multiple fire ignitions, often in remote areas. The probability of the occurrence of dry thunderstorms that produce fire-igniting lightning strikes was found to be greater on days with high instability and a deficit of moisture at low levels of the atmosphere. Based on these upper-air variables, an algorithm was developed to estimate the potential of dry lightning (lightning that strikes the ground with little or no rainfall at the surface) when convective storms are expected. In the current study, this algorithm has been applied throughout the western United States, with modeled meteorological variables rather than the observed soundings that have previously been used, to develop a predictive scheme for estimating the risk of dry thunderstorms. Predictions of the risk of dry thunderstorms were generated from real-time forecasts using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5) for the summers of 2004 and 2005. During that period, 240 large lightning-caused fires were ignited in the model domain. Of those fires, 40% occurred where the probability of dry lightning was predicted to be equal to or greater than 90% and 58% occurred where the probability was 75% or greater.