cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027408
title: Effect of Lavandula dentata extract on Ovalbumin-induced Asthma in Male Guinea Pigs

description: Abstract Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs, and it causes oxidative stress. Lavandula dentata is an aromatic herb with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. This study examined the activity of L. dentata extract on a guinea pig model of asthma. Adult males were divided into five groups: First group was control, second was asthma model induced by OVA, third was treated with L. dentata extract orally (300 mg/kg) for 21 days; the fourth was an asthma model with L. dentata extract (300 mg/kg) and fifth was treated with Tween 80 for 21 days. OVA treatment increased IgE, triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose levels in serum, WBC count in blood and MDA in lungs. Also, OVA reduced SOD activity, GSH content in lungs, and GGT activity in serum (p&lt;0.05). L. dentata extract treatment in asthma model reduced elevated IgE, triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose levels in serum, and MDA in lungs (p&lt;0.05), while it increased GSH content in lungs (p&lt;0.05). These results suggest the possibility that L . dentata extract can exert suppressive effects on asthma, and may provide evidence that it is a useful agent for the treatment of allergic airway disease, it also limits oxidative stress induced by OVA. L. dentata extract appears to have hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027405.v1
title: Infra-Abdominal Muscles Activation Brings Benefits to the Pulmonary Function of Patients with Sternal Instability after Cardiac Surgery

description: Abstract Objective: To compare physical therapy strategies involving abdominal muscle stabilization, with and without upper limb movement, in patients with sternal instability after heart surgery and during in-hospital care. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal, randomized, and comparative clinical study included 20 patients, which were divided into two groups: ARM, the arm group (n=10), and LEG, the leg group (n=10). The study involved the evaluation of scores of visual analog scales for sternal instability, pain, discomfort, functional impairment, lung function, and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) before and after the interventions. Two protocols consisting of abdominal exercises in both groups with upper limb movements (ARM) and just abdominal activation with leg movements (LEG) were used for three weeks. Results: There were statistically significant (P≤0.01) improvements in pain, discomfort, and functional impairment scores, and in MIP (P=0.04) and MEP (P≤0.01) after intervention in both groups and just LEG showed improvement in forced vital capacity (P=0.043) and forced expiratory volume in one second (P=0.011). Conclusion: Both strategies promoted improvement in pain, discomfort, and functional impairment scores and in the values of inspiratory and expiratory pressures. Perhaps they were influenced by the time and resolution of the infection process, although exercises with upper limb movements seem to be safe in this population. The activation of the infra-abdominal muscles through leg movements seems to bring more benefits to lung function.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027396
title: A proposed predictive methodology for the evaluation of caking effect on different types of commercial sugars

description: Abstract This paper presents preliminary results of an alternative experimental methodology under development to predict the caking effect often observed in bulk solids after time storage. This methodology is based on 1) the principle that the particle is sheared after the shear stress overcome a maximum value; 2) the maximum shear stress depends on the particles physical properties and their chemical nature; 3) Prorating is a well-known and often used empirical procedure to minimize the scatter at shear tests; and 4) that the static friction coefficient depends on particle-particle contact time and could be described by the phenomenological state-and-rate model formulated by Dieterich, Rice, and Ruina. The proposed methodology aims to evaluate the increasing of the static coefficient of friction with rest time, through “stop-and-go” shear experiments and according to Dieterich, Rice and Ruina model. Finally, the increase in shear stress with time is used to extrapolate the instantaneous yield locus into a predicted time yield locus, using the prorating technique We tested four types of commercial sugar and the results of time yield locus, obtained from experiments, have seemed similar to those predicted using the proposed methodology. We obtained satisfactory results for the short rest times tested in this preliminary study, which could be extended to long periods.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027408.v1
title: Effect of Lavandula dentata extract on Ovalbumin-induced Asthma in Male Guinea Pigs

description: Abstract Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs, and it causes oxidative stress. Lavandula dentata is an aromatic herb with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. This study examined the activity of L. dentata extract on a guinea pig model of asthma. Adult males were divided into five groups: First group was control, second was asthma model induced by OVA, third was treated with L. dentata extract orally (300 mg/kg) for 21 days; the fourth was an asthma model with L. dentata extract (300 mg/kg) and fifth was treated with Tween 80 for 21 days. OVA treatment increased IgE, triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose levels in serum, WBC count in blood and MDA in lungs. Also, OVA reduced SOD activity, GSH content in lungs, and GGT activity in serum (p&lt;0.05). L. dentata extract treatment in asthma model reduced elevated IgE, triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose levels in serum, and MDA in lungs (p&lt;0.05), while it increased GSH content in lungs (p&lt;0.05). These results suggest the possibility that L . dentata extract can exert suppressive effects on asthma, and may provide evidence that it is a useful agent for the treatment of allergic airway disease, it also limits oxidative stress induced by OVA. L. dentata extract appears to have hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027396.v1
title: A proposed predictive methodology for the evaluation of caking effect on different types of commercial sugars

description: Abstract This paper presents preliminary results of an alternative experimental methodology under development to predict the caking effect often observed in bulk solids after time storage. This methodology is based on 1) the principle that the particle is sheared after the shear stress overcome a maximum value; 2) the maximum shear stress depends on the particles physical properties and their chemical nature; 3) Prorating is a well-known and often used empirical procedure to minimize the scatter at shear tests; and 4) that the static friction coefficient depends on particle-particle contact time and could be described by the phenomenological state-and-rate model formulated by Dieterich, Rice, and Ruina. The proposed methodology aims to evaluate the increasing of the static coefficient of friction with rest time, through “stop-and-go” shear experiments and according to Dieterich, Rice and Ruina model. Finally, the increase in shear stress with time is used to extrapolate the instantaneous yield locus into a predicted time yield locus, using the prorating technique We tested four types of commercial sugar and the results of time yield locus, obtained from experiments, have seemed similar to those predicted using the proposed methodology. We obtained satisfactory results for the short rest times tested in this preliminary study, which could be extended to long periods.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027375
title: In silico prediction of the functional and structural consequences of the non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism A122V in bovine CXC chemokine receptor type 1

description: Abstract The current study aimed to assess whether the A122V causal polymorphism promotes alterations in the functional and structural proprieties of the CXC chemokine receptor type 1 protein (CXCR1) of cattle Bos taurus by in silico analyses. Two amino acid sequences of bovine CXCR1 was selected from database UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: a) non-polymorphic sequence (A7KWG0) with alanine (A) at position 122, and b) polymorphic sequence harboring the A122V polymorphism, substituting alanine by valine (V) at same position. CXCR1 sequences were submitted as input to different Bioinformatics’ tools to examine the effects of this polymorphism on functional and structural stabilities, to predict eventual alterations in the 3-D structural modeling, and to estimate the quality and accuracy of the predictive models. The A122V polymorphism exerted tolerable and non-deleterious effects on the polymorphic CXCR1, and the predictive structural model for polymorphic CXCR1 revealed an alpha helix spatial structure typical of a receptor transmembrane polypeptide. Although higher variations in the distances between pairs of amino acid residues at target-positions are detected in the polymorphic CXCR1 protein, more than 97% of the amino acid residues in both models were located in favored and allowed conformational regions in Ramachandran plots. Evidences has supported that the A122V polymorphism in the CXCR1 protein is associated with increased clinical mastitis incidence in dairy cows. Thus, the findings described herein prove that the replacement of the alanine by valine amino acids provokes local conformational changes in the A122V-harboring CXCR1 protein, which could directly affect its post-translational folding mechanisms and biological functionality.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027375.v1
title: In silico prediction of the functional and structural consequences of the non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism A122V in bovine CXC chemokine receptor type 1

description: Abstract The current study aimed to assess whether the A122V causal polymorphism promotes alterations in the functional and structural proprieties of the CXC chemokine receptor type 1 protein (CXCR1) of cattle Bos taurus by in silico analyses. Two amino acid sequences of bovine CXCR1 was selected from database UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: a) non-polymorphic sequence (A7KWG0) with alanine (A) at position 122, and b) polymorphic sequence harboring the A122V polymorphism, substituting alanine by valine (V) at same position. CXCR1 sequences were submitted as input to different Bioinformatics’ tools to examine the effects of this polymorphism on functional and structural stabilities, to predict eventual alterations in the 3-D structural modeling, and to estimate the quality and accuracy of the predictive models. The A122V polymorphism exerted tolerable and non-deleterious effects on the polymorphic CXCR1, and the predictive structural model for polymorphic CXCR1 revealed an alpha helix spatial structure typical of a receptor transmembrane polypeptide. Although higher variations in the distances between pairs of amino acid residues at target-positions are detected in the polymorphic CXCR1 protein, more than 97% of the amino acid residues in both models were located in favored and allowed conformational regions in Ramachandran plots. Evidences has supported that the A122V polymorphism in the CXCR1 protein is associated with increased clinical mastitis incidence in dairy cows. Thus, the findings described herein prove that the replacement of the alanine by valine amino acids provokes local conformational changes in the A122V-harboring CXCR1 protein, which could directly affect its post-translational folding mechanisms and biological functionality.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027360
title: Influence of temperament-related genes on live weight traits of Charolais cows

description: Abstract We investigated whether a panel of molecular markers previously associated with temperament has an effect on live growth traits. Phenotypic data from 412 Charolais cows categorized according to their age in adult and young cows were used to determine Pearson's correlations between birth (BW), weaning (WW), and yearling live (YW) weight and temperament traits (measured as exit velocity [EV] and temperament score [TS]). For association analysis, selective genotyping of a group of 80 cows identified as the most docile and temperamental were genotyped with a 151-SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) panel of molecular markers previously associated with temperament. Significant Pearson's correlations between birth weight and weaning weight and the two temperament measurements (EV and TS) were observed only in the young cow group. Significant effects of ten SNP on BW and WW were observed. Four markers located on candidate genes for temperament traits also had an effect on birth weight and weaning weight in Charolais cows, which indicates that both traits could be influenced by the same genes.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027357
title: Twenty-Five Years of No-Touch Saphenous Vein Harvesting for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Structural Observations and Impact on Graft Performance

description: Abstract The saphenous vein is the most common conduit used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) yet its failure rate is higher compared to arterial grafts. An improvement in saphenous vein graft performance is therefore a major priority in CABG. No-touch harvesting of the saphenous vein is one of the few interventions that has shown improved patency rates, comparable to that of the left internal thoracic artery. After more than two decades of no-touch research, this technique is now recognized as a Class IIa recommendation in the 2018 European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery guidelines on myocardial revascularization. In this review, we describe the structural alterations that occur in conventional versus no-touch saphenous vein grafts and how these changes affect graft patency. In addition, we discuss various strategies aimed at repairing saphenous vein grafts prepared at conventional CABG.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027354
title: Fructooligosaccharides: nutritional, technological and sensory aspects

description: Abstract This work aimed to present the fundamentals on fructooligosaccharides (FOS), their methods of production, stability in processed foods and nutritional aspects. FOS are natural carbohydrates present in several species of plants, composed by 2 to 10 monomers of saccharides. In addition to the natural obtaining, which occurs through extraction in vegetable sources, these carbohydrates can be obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin, carried out by inulinases, or further synthesized from sucrose residues. The FOS are stable in the majority of food processes, undergoing major degradation in thermal processes involving high temperature and/or extreme pH. This characteristic favors the industrialization of products rich in FOS and the addition of these compounds as ingredients. These groups of carbohydrates have gained more and more prominence in the last years due to the capacity to perform various functions beneficial to the organism, since they are considered as prebiotics and soluble fibers. The intake of FOS is associated with reduced risk of colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and increased absorption of some minerals. In addition, they are characterized by good sensory acceptance, solubility and water retention capacity. However, consumption should be moderate, because in large portions can cause some discomfort to the individual, such as flatulence.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027357.v1
title: Twenty-Five Years of No-Touch Saphenous Vein Harvesting for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Structural Observations and Impact on Graft Performance

description: Abstract The saphenous vein is the most common conduit used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) yet its failure rate is higher compared to arterial grafts. An improvement in saphenous vein graft performance is therefore a major priority in CABG. No-touch harvesting of the saphenous vein is one of the few interventions that has shown improved patency rates, comparable to that of the left internal thoracic artery. After more than two decades of no-touch research, this technique is now recognized as a Class IIa recommendation in the 2018 European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery guidelines on myocardial revascularization. In this review, we describe the structural alterations that occur in conventional versus no-touch saphenous vein grafts and how these changes affect graft patency. In addition, we discuss various strategies aimed at repairing saphenous vein grafts prepared at conventional CABG.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027360.v1
title: Influence of temperament-related genes on live weight traits of Charolais cows

description: Abstract We investigated whether a panel of molecular markers previously associated with temperament has an effect on live growth traits. Phenotypic data from 412 Charolais cows categorized according to their age in adult and young cows were used to determine Pearson's correlations between birth (BW), weaning (WW), and yearling live (YW) weight and temperament traits (measured as exit velocity [EV] and temperament score [TS]). For association analysis, selective genotyping of a group of 80 cows identified as the most docile and temperamental were genotyped with a 151-SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) panel of molecular markers previously associated with temperament. Significant Pearson's correlations between birth weight and weaning weight and the two temperament measurements (EV and TS) were observed only in the young cow group. Significant effects of ten SNP on BW and WW were observed. Four markers located on candidate genes for temperament traits also had an effect on birth weight and weaning weight in Charolais cows, which indicates that both traits could be influenced by the same genes.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027351
title: Drum drying process of jabuticaba pulp using corn starch as an additive

description: Abstract Jabuticaba is a fruit native to Brazil, appreciated for its flavor and is also very nutritious, but it is a seasonal fruit and highly perishable. Therefore, drying is a good alternative for its conservation. The purpose of this work was to use drum drying to obtain jabuticaba flakes using corn starch as the main carrier agent. The sorption isotherm of the flakes at 25 °C was also studied, as well as the determination of the critical storage condition and the estimation of product shelf life through the permeability of different packages to the water vapor using mathematical models. The drum drying conditions were: temperature of 144 °C; residence time of 18 seconds; addition of 20% (dry basis) of corn starch and 0.5% (d.b.) of glyceryl monostearate. The final product was analyzed with respect to its physicochemical and technological properties. The sorption isotherm of the flakes was determined at 25 °C, using the gravimetric method with saturated solutions (0.11 ≤ aw ≤ 0.84). After the process, the flakes presented good retention of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds, besides a high antioxidant activity. The water solubility of the product was around 70% and the hygroscopicity was approximately 24%. The equilibrium experimental points of the isotherm were better adjusted by the GAB model, with a monolayer moisture value of 12.74% (w.b) and a critical aw of 0.432.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027351.v1
title: Drum drying process of jabuticaba pulp using corn starch as an additive

description: Abstract Jabuticaba is a fruit native to Brazil, appreciated for its flavor and is also very nutritious, but it is a seasonal fruit and highly perishable. Therefore, drying is a good alternative for its conservation. The purpose of this work was to use drum drying to obtain jabuticaba flakes using corn starch as the main carrier agent. The sorption isotherm of the flakes at 25 °C was also studied, as well as the determination of the critical storage condition and the estimation of product shelf life through the permeability of different packages to the water vapor using mathematical models. The drum drying conditions were: temperature of 144 °C; residence time of 18 seconds; addition of 20% (dry basis) of corn starch and 0.5% (d.b.) of glyceryl monostearate. The final product was analyzed with respect to its physicochemical and technological properties. The sorption isotherm of the flakes was determined at 25 °C, using the gravimetric method with saturated solutions (0.11 ≤ aw ≤ 0.84). After the process, the flakes presented good retention of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds, besides a high antioxidant activity. The water solubility of the product was around 70% and the hygroscopicity was approximately 24%. The equilibrium experimental points of the isotherm were better adjusted by the GAB model, with a monolayer moisture value of 12.74% (w.b) and a critical aw of 0.432.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027354.v1
title: Fructooligosaccharides: nutritional, technological and sensory aspects

description: Abstract This work aimed to present the fundamentals on fructooligosaccharides (FOS), their methods of production, stability in processed foods and nutritional aspects. FOS are natural carbohydrates present in several species of plants, composed by 2 to 10 monomers of saccharides. In addition to the natural obtaining, which occurs through extraction in vegetable sources, these carbohydrates can be obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin, carried out by inulinases, or further synthesized from sucrose residues. The FOS are stable in the majority of food processes, undergoing major degradation in thermal processes involving high temperature and/or extreme pH. This characteristic favors the industrialization of products rich in FOS and the addition of these compounds as ingredients. These groups of carbohydrates have gained more and more prominence in the last years due to the capacity to perform various functions beneficial to the organism, since they are considered as prebiotics and soluble fibers. The intake of FOS is associated with reduced risk of colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and increased absorption of some minerals. In addition, they are characterized by good sensory acceptance, solubility and water retention capacity. However, consumption should be moderate, because in large portions can cause some discomfort to the individual, such as flatulence.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12027336
title: Geochemical Investigation of Tar Balls Collected in a Brazilian Beach Using Biomarkers, Ni/V, δ13C Ratios and Ultra-High Resolution FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry

description: Representative tar balls collected in two distinct years (2012 and 2014) in a beach along the State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, were geochemically characterized in order to identify correlations between them and investigate potential sources. Terpanes and steranes biomarkers (detected by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, GC-MS), carbon stable isotope ratio (δ13C), Ni and V ratios and polar compounds by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization in negative mode (ESI(-) FT-ICR MS) were evaluated. Three Brazilian oil samples from distinct sources were assessed as possible spill sources, comparing their results with the tar ball samples. Using chemometric techniques, it was verified correlation between the two set of tar ball samples, suggesting same source. However, no correlation with the oil samples was observed, with different geochemical profile among them. The heteroatom class distribution displayed severe degradation levels for tar balls and its seems that photo-oxidation and biodegradation processes were further relevant. Tar ball samples show multiple classes, most oxygenated, and with one sample showing considerable relative abundance of N1 class, suggesting it is from a more recent oil spill. In brief, our results suggest that the region, with very sensitive ecosystem, is possibly subjected to frequent spills from the same source.