280 research outputs found
Influence of Enterococci and Thermophilic Starter Bacteria on Cheddar Cheese Flavour
End of Project ReportThis project set out to identify suitable enterococci and thermophilic starter strains which could be added to the cheese during manufacture (as starter adjuncts) with the specific aims of enhancing flavour during ripening as well as facilitating flavour diversity - a trait sought by many commercial Cheddar companies. This project confirmed the potential of thermophilic lactic acid strains to affect flavour when used as starter adjuncts in Cheddar cheese manufacture. Their use can also lead to the development of novel flavours. Many adjunct cultures proposed to-date to enhance Cheddar flavour are composed of strains of lactococcal starter, selected for their flavouring capacity. However, application of such strains in industry would lead to increased probability of phage attack on the primary starter. On the other hand, thermophilic lactic acid strains are phage unrelated to conventional starter and thus would not lead to the introduction of starter specific phage into the cheese plant.
A thermophilic strain from the Moorepark collection (DPC 4571) was shown to have major commercial potential as a flavour enhancer.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin
Parents' Perspectives on the School Experiences of Children with Cancer
Interviews with 59 parents of school age children with cancer indicate problems children encountered in returning to school: missing significant amounts of school due to illness and treatments, teasing by classmates and peers, and strained relations with teachers. Most parents report that despite missing much school their child was caught up with schoolwork, suggesting that academic difficulties are not paramount. Most parents also report receiving substantial help from sympathetic and competent educators. However, parents also indicate that some teachers were insensitive to their child's condition, while others were overprotective, suggesting the need for a delicate balance in defining appropriate teacher behavior. A responsive yet normalizing school environment can be facilitated by vigorous and proactive partnerships among the medical staff, family, and school system.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68682/2/10.1177_027112148600500405.pd
The long-period Galactic Cepheid RS Puppis - II. 3D structure and mass of the nebula from VLT/FORS polarimetry
The long-period Cepheid RS Pup is surrounded by a large dusty nebula
reflecting the light from the central star. Due to the changing luminosity of
the central source, light echoes propagate into the nebula. This remarkable
phenomenon was the subject of Paper I.The origin and physical properties of the
nebula are however uncertain: it may have been created through mass loss from
the star itself, or it could be the remnant of a pre-existing interstellar
cloud. Our goal is to determine the 3D structure of the nebula, and estimate
its mass. Knowing the geometrical shape of the nebula will also allow us to
retrieve the distance of RS Pup in an unambiguous manner using a model of its
light echoes (in a forthcoming work). The scattering angle of the Cepheid light
in the circumstellar nebula can be recovered from its degree of linear
polarization. We thus observed the nebula surrounding RS Pup using the
polarimetric imaging mode of the VLT/FORS instrument, and obtained a map of the
degree and position angle of linear polarization. From our FORS observations,
we derive a 3D map of the distribution of the dust, whose overall geometry is
an irregular and thin layer. The nebula does not present a well-defined
symmetry. Using a simple model, we derive a total dust mass of M(dust) = 2.9
+/- 0.9 Msun for the dust within 1.8 arcmin of the Cepheid. This translates
into a total mass of M(gas+dust) = 290 +/- 120 Msun, assuming a dust-to-gas
ratio of 1.0 +/- 0.3 %. The high mass of the dusty nebula excludes that it was
created by mass-loss from the star. However, the thinness nebula is an
indication that the Cepheid participated to its shaping, e.g. through its
radiation pressure or stellar wind. RS Pup therefore appears as a regular
long-period Cepheid located in an exceptionally dense interstellar environment.Comment: 14 pages, 21 figures. Accepted for publication in A&
On the evolutionary and pulsation mass of Classical Cepheids: III. the case of the eclipsing binary Cepheid CEP0227 in the Large Magellanic Cloud
We present a new Bayesian approach to constrain the intrinsic parameters
(stellar mass, age) of the eclipsing binary system CEP0227 in the LMC. We
computed evolutionary models covering a broad range in chemical compositions
and in stellar mass. Independent sets of models were constructed either by
neglecting or by including a moderate convective core overshooting (beta=0.2)
during central H-burning phases. Models were also constructed either by
neglecting or by assuming a canonical (eta=0.4,0.8) or an enhanced (eta=4) mass
loss rate. The solutions were computed in three different planes:
luminosity-temperature, mass-radius and gravity-temperature. By using the Bayes
Factor, we found that the most probable solutions were obtained in the
gravity-temperature plane with a Gaussian mass prior distribution. The
evolutionary models constructed by assuming a moderate convective core
overshooting (beta=0.2) and a canonical mass loss rate (eta=0.4) give stellar
masses for the primary Cepheid M=4.14^{+0.04}_{-0.05} M_sun and for the
secondary M=4.15^{+0.04}_{-0.05} M_sun that agree at the 1% level with
dynamical measurements. Moreover, we found ages for the two components and for
the combined system t=151^{+4}_{-3} Myr that agree at the 5% level. The
solutions based on evolutionary models that neglect the mass loss attain
similar parameters, while those ones based on models that either account for an
enhanced mass loss or neglect convective core overshooting have lower Bayes
Factors and larger confidence intervals. The dependence on the mass loss rate
might be the consequence of the crude approximation we use to mimic this
phenomenon. By using the isochrone of the most probable solution and a Gaussian
prior on the LMC distance, we found a distance modulus 18.53^{+0.02}_{-0.02}
mag and a reddening value E(B-V)= 0.142^{+0.005}_{-0.010} mag that agree well
with literature estimates.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 17 pages, 9 figure
IsoBED: a tool for automatic calculation of biologically equivalent fractionation schedules in radiotherapy using IMRT with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An advantage of the Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) technique is the feasibility to deliver different therapeutic dose levels to PTVs in a single treatment session using the Simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB) technique. The paper aims to describe an automated tool to calculate the dose to be delivered with the SIB-IMRT technique in different anatomical regions that have the same Biological Equivalent Dose (BED), i.e. IsoBED, compared to the standard fractionation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Based on the Linear Quadratic Model (LQM), we developed software that allows treatment schedules, biologically equivalent to standard fractionations, to be calculated. The main radiobiological parameters from literature are included in a database inside the software, which can be updated according to the clinical experience of each Institute. In particular, the BED to each target volume will be computed based on the alpha/beta ratio, total dose and the dose per fraction (generally 2 Gy for a standard fractionation). Then, after selecting the reference target, i.e. the PTV that controls the fractionation, a new total dose and dose per fraction providing the same isoBED will be calculated for each target volume.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The IsoBED Software developed allows: 1) the calculation of new IsoBED treatment schedules derived from standard prescriptions and based on LQM, 2) the conversion of the dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for each Target and OAR to a nominal standard dose at 2Gy per fraction in order to be shown together with the DV-constraints from literature, based on the LQM and radiobiological parameters, and 3) the calculation of Tumor Control Probability (TCP) and Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) curve versus the prescribed dose to the reference target.</p
Discovery of a peculiar Cepheid-like star towards the northern edge of the Small Magellanic Cloud
For seven years, the EROS-2 project obtained a mass of photometric data on
variable stars. We present a peculiar Cepheid-like star, in the direction of
the Small Magellanic Cloud, which demonstrates unusual photometric behaviour
over a short time interval. We report on data of the photometry acquired by the
MARLY telescope and spectroscopy from the EFOSC instrument for this star,
called EROS2 J005135-714459(sm0060n13842), which resembles the unusual Cepheid
HR 7308. The light curve of our target is analysed using the Analysis of
Variance method to determine a pulsational period of 5.5675 days. A fit of
time-dependent Fourier coefficients is performed and a search for proper motion
is conducted. The light curve exhibits a previously unobserved and spectacular
change in both mean magnitude and amplitude, which has no clear theoretical
explanation. Our analysis of the spectrum implies a radial velocity of 104 km
s and a metallicity of -0.40.2 dex. In the direction of right
ascension, we measure a proper motion of 17.46.0 mas yr using EROS
astrometry, which is compatible with data from the NOMAD catalogue. The nature
of EROS2 J005135-714459(sm0060n13842) remains unclear. For this star, we may
have detected a non-zero proper motion for this star, which would imply that it
is a foreground object. Its radial velocity, pulsational characteristics, and
photometric data, however, suggest that it is instead a Cepheid-like object
located in the SMC. In such a case, it would present a challenge to
conventional Cepheid models.Comment: Correction of typos in the abstrac
Intermediate-mass star models with different helium and metal contents
We present a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the evolutionary
properties of intermediate-mass stars. The evolutionary sequences were computed
from the Zero Age Main Sequence up to the central He exhaustion and often up to
the phases which precede the carbon ignition or to the reignition of the
H-shell which marks the beginning of the thermal pulse phase. The evolutionary
tracks were constructed by adopting a wide range of stellar masses
(\msun) and chemical compositions. In order to account for
current uncertainties on the He to heavy elements enrichment ratio, the stellar
models were computed by adopting at Z=0.02 two different He contents (Y=0.27,
0.289) and at Z=0.04 three different He contents (Y=0.29, 0.34, and 0.37). To
supply a homogeneous evolutionary scenario which accounts for young Magellanic
stellar systems the calculations were also extended toward lower metallicities
(Z=0.004, Z=0.01), by adopting different initial He abundances. We evaluated
for both solar (Z=0.02) and super-metal-rich (SMR, Z=0.04) models the
transition mass between the stellar structures igniting carbon and
those which develop a full electron degeneracy inside the CO core. This
evolutionary scenario allows us to investigate in detail the properties of
classical Cepheids. In particular, we find that the range of stellar masses
which perform the blue loop during the central He-burning phase narrows when
moving toward metal-rich and SMR structures.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures (4 postscript + 6 gif files), 7 postscript
tables. accepted for publication on ApJ (November 2000
Theoretical methods for the calculation of Bragg curves and 3D distributions of proton beams
The well-known Bragg-Kleeman rule RCSDA = A dot E0p has become a pioneer work
in radiation physics of charged particles and is still a useful tool to
estimate the range RCSDA of approximately monoenergetic protons with initial
energy E0 in a homogeneous medium. The rule is based on the
continuous-slowing-down-approximation (CSDA). It results from a generalized
(nonrelativistic) Langevin equation and a modification of the phenomenological
friction term. The complete integration of this equation provides information
about the residual energy E(z) and dE(z)/dz at each position z (0 <= z <=
RCSDA). A relativistic extension of the generalized Langevin equation yields
the formula RCSDA = A dot (E0 +E02/2M dot c2)p. The initial energy of
therapeutic protons satisfies E0 << 2M dot c2 (M dot c2 = 938.276 MeV), which
enables us to consider the relativistic contributions as correction terms.
Besides this phenomenological starting-point, a complete integration of the
Bethe-Bloch equation (BBE) is developed, which also provides the determination
of RCSDA, E(z) and dE(z)/dz and uses only those parameters given by the BBE
itself (i.e., without further empirical parameters like modification of
friction). The results obtained in the context of the aforementioned methods
are compared with Monte-Carlo calculations (GEANT4); this Monte-Carlo code is
also used with regard to further topics such as lateral scatter, nuclear
interactions, and buildup effects. In the framework of the CSDA, the energy
transfer from protons to environmental atomic electrons does not account for
local fluctuations.Comment: 97 pages review pape
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation as a Method to Maximize the Beneficial Effects of Muscle Stem Cells Transplanted into Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle
Cellular therapy is a potential approach to improve the regenerative capacity of damaged or diseased skeletal muscle. However, its clinical use has often been limited by impaired donor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation following transplantation. Additionally, functional improvements after transplantation are all-too-often negligible. Because the host microenvironment plays an important role in the fate of transplanted cells, methods to modulate the microenvironment and guide donor cell behavior are warranted. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for 1 or 4 weeks following muscle-derived stem cell (MDSC) transplantation into dystrophic skeletal muscle can modulate the fate of donor cells and enhance their contribution to muscle regeneration and functional improvements. Animals submitted to 4 weeks of NMES after transplantation demonstrated a 2-fold increase in the number of dystrophin+ myofibers as compared to control transplanted muscles. These findings were concomitant with an increased vascularity in the MDSC+NMES group when compared to non-stimulated counterparts. Additionally, animals subjected to NMES (with or without MDSC transplantation) presented an increased maximal specific tetanic force when compared to controls. Although cell transplantation and/or the use of NMES resulted in no changes in fatigue resistance, the combination of both MDSC transplantation and NMES resulted in a faster recovery from fatigue, when compared to non-injected and non-stimulated counterparts. We conclude that NMES is a viable method to improve MDSC engraftment, enhance dystrophic muscle strength, and, in combination with MDSC transplantation, improve recovery from fatigue. These findings suggest that NMES may be a clinically-relevant adjunct approach for cell transplantation into skeletal muscle. © 2013 Distefano et al
Platelet-Rich Plasma Promotes the Proliferation of Human Muscle Derived Progenitor Cells and Maintains Their Stemness
Human muscle-derived progenitor cells (hMDPCs) offer great promise for muscle cell-based regenerative medicine; however, prolonged ex-vivo expansion using animal sera is necessary to acquire sufficient cells for transplantation. Due to the risks associated with the use of animal sera, the development of a strategy for the ex vivo expansion of hMDPCs is required. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the ex-vivo expansion of hMDPCs. Pre-plated MDPCs, myoendothelial cells, and pericytes are three populations of hMDPCs that we isolated by the modified pre-plate technique and Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), respectively. Pooled allogeneic human PRP was obtained from a local blood bank, and the effect that thrombin-activated PRP-releasate supplemented media had on the ex-vivo expansion of the hMDPCs was tested against FBS supplemented media, both in vitro and in vivo. PRP significantly enhanced short and long-term cell proliferation, with or without FBS supplementation. Antibody-neutralization of PDGF significantly blocked the mitogenic/proliferative effects that PRP had on the hMDPCs. A more stable and sustained expression of markers associated with stemness, and a decreased expression of lineage specific markers was observed in the PRP-expanded cells when compared with the FBS-expanded cells. The in vitro osteogenic, chondrogenic, and myogenic differentiation capacities of the hMDPCs were not altered when expanded in media supplemented with PRP. All populations of hMDPCs that were expanded in PRP supplemented media retained their ability to regenerate myofibers in vivo. Our data demonstrated that PRP promoted the proliferation and maintained the multi-differentiation capacities of the hMDPCs during ex-vivo expansion by maintaining the cells in an undifferentiated state. Moreover, PDGF appears to be a key contributing factor to the beneficial effect that PRP has on the proliferation of hMDPCs. © 2013 Li et al
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