Wednesday 26 March 2014

Effect of Beer Marinades on Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Charcoal-Grilled Pork

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2014, 62 (12), pp 2638–2643
DOI: 10.1021/jf404966w
Published In Issue March 26, 2014

Olga Viegas †‡, Iria Yebra-Pimentel §, Elena Martínez-Carballo §, Jesus Simal-Gandara §, and Isabel M. P. L. V. O. Ferreira *†

† REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Hidrologia, Departamento de Ciências Quı́micas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal
‡ Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
§ Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Analytical and Food Chemistry Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain

Abstract

The effect of marinating meat with Pilsner beer, nonalcoholic Pilsner beer, and Black beer (coded respectively PB, P0B, and BB) on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in charcoal-grilled pork was evaluated and compared with the formation of these compounds in unmarinated meat. Antiradical activity of marinades (DPPH assay) was assayed. BB exhibited the strongest scavenging activity (68.0%), followed by P0B (36.5%) and PB (29.5%). Control and marinated meat samples contained the eight PAHs named PAH8 by the EFSA and classified as suitable indicators for carcinogenic potency of PAHs in food. BB showed the highest inhibitory effect in the formation of PAH8 (53%), followed by P0B (25%) and PB (13%). The inhibitory effect of beer marinades on PAH8 increased with the increase of their radical-scavenging activity. BB marinade was the most efficient on reduction of PAH formation, providing a proper mitigation strategy.

Keywords:

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; meat; beer marinades; antiradical activity; food chemistry

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf404966w

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Wednesday 19 March 2014

Verification of the anatomy and newly discovered histology of the G-spot complex

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2014;121
Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)
Article first published online: 19 MAR 2014
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12707

A Ostrzenski [1], P Krajewski [2], P Ganjei-Azar [3], AJ Wasiutynski [4], MN Scheinberg [5], S Tarka [2] and M Fudalej [2]

1 Institute of Gynecology Inc., 7001 Central Avenue, St Petersburg, FL 33710, USA
2 The Department of Forensic Medicine, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
3 The Department of Pathology, University of Miami, FL, USA
4 The Department of Pathomorphology, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
5 Center for Cosmetic & Reconstructive Gynecology, Deerfield Beach, FL, USA

Objectives

To expand the anatomical investigations of the G-spot and to assess the G-spot's characteristic histological and immunohistochemical features.

Design

An observational study.

Setting

International multicentre.

Population

Eight consecutive fresh human female cadavers.

Methods

Anterior vaginal wall dissections were executed and G-spot microdissections were performed. All specimens were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The tissues of two women were selected at random for immunohistochemical staining.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was to document the anatomy of the G-spot. The secondary outcome measures were to identify the histology of the G-spot and to determine whether histological samples stained with H&E are sufficient to identify the G-spot.

Results

The anatomical existence of the G-spot was identified in all women and was in a diagonal plane. In seven (87.5%) and one (12.5%) of the women the G-spot complex was found on the left or right side, respectively. The G-spot was intimately fused with vessels, creating a complex. A large tangled vein-like vascular structure resembled an arteriovenous malformation and there were a few smaller feeding arteries. A band-like structure protruded from the tail of the G-spot. The size of the G-spot varied. Histologically, the G-spot was determined as a neurovascular complex structure. The neural component contained abundant peripheral nerve bundles and a nerve ganglion. The vascular component comprised large vein-like vessels and smaller feeding arteries. Circular and longitudinal muscles covered the G-complex.

Conclusion

The anatomy of the G-spot complex was confirmed. The histology of the G-spot presents as neurovascular tissues with a nerve ganglion. H&E staining is sufficient for the identification of the G-spot complex.

This study was presented during the plenary session at the XX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rome, Italy, October 2012

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.12707/abstract

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Monday 17 March 2014

Ear Recognition Based on Gabor Features and KFDA

The Scientific World Journal
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 702076, 12 pages
Published 17 March 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/702076

Li Yuan [1,2] and Zhichun Mu [1]

[1] School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
[2] Visualization and Intelligent Systems Laboratory, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92507, USA

Abstract

We propose an ear recognition system based on 2D ear images which includes three stages: ear enrollment, feature extraction, and ear recognition. Ear enrollment includes ear detection and ear normalization. The ear detection approach based on improved Adaboost algorithm detects the ear part under complex background using two steps: offline cascaded classifier training and online ear detection. Then Active Shape Model is applied to segment the ear part and normalize all the ear images to the same size. For its eminent characteristics in spatial local feature extraction and orientation selection, Gabor filter based ear feature extraction is presented in this paper. Kernel Fisher Discriminant Analysis (KFDA) is then applied for dimension reduction of the high-dimensional Gabor features. Finally distance based classifier is applied for ear recognition. Experimental results of ear recognition on two datasets (USTB and UND datasets) and the performance of the ear authentication system show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Introduction

The research on ear recognition has been drawing more and more attention in recent five years [1–4]. Based on the research of the “Iannarelli system” [5], the structure of the ear is fairly stable and robust to changes in facial expressions or aging. Ear biometrics is noncontacting and so it can be applied for human identification at a distance, making it a helpful supplement to facial recognition. An ear recognition system based on 2D images is composed of the following stages: ear enrollment, feature extraction, and ear recognition/authentication. The stage of ear enrollment includes automatic ear detection and ear normalization.

[...]

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant no. 61300075 and Fundamental Research Funds for China Central Universities under Grant no. FRF-SD-12-017A.

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2014/702076/

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Tuesday 4 March 2014

From Van Gogh to Lady Gaga: Artist eccentricity increases perceived artistic skill and art appreciation

European Journal of Social Psychology
Volume 44, Issue 2, pages 93–103, March 2014
Issue published online: 4 MAR 2014
DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.1999

Wijnand Adriaan Pieter Van Tilburg [1], and Eric Raymond Igou [2]

1 School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
2 Psychology, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Ireland

Abstract

We examined the impact of eccentricity on the evaluation of artistic skills and the quality of artworks. Based on the notion that artists are typically perceived as eccentric, creative and skilled, we tested the hypothesis that eccentricity increases perceptions of artistic quality. In Study 1, Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting was evaluated more positively when he was said to have cut off his left ear lobe than when this information was not presented. In Study 2, participants liked art more when the artist was eccentric. In Study 3, the evaluation of fictitious art increased because of the artist's eccentric appearance. Study 4 established that the eccentricity effect was specific to unconventional as opposed to conventional art. In Study 5, Lady Gaga's music was more appreciated when she was displayed as highly eccentric; however, the eccentricity effect emerged only when the display seemed authentic. These novel findings indicate that art evaluations are partly rooted in perceptions of artists' eccentricity and evidence the importance of perceived authenticity and skills for these attributions.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.1999/abstract

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Saturday 1 March 2014

Misrepresentation of UK homicide characteristics in popular culture

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 23, March 2014, Pages 62–64

J. Brown, MA, MRCPsych [a], (Specialty Registrar in Forensic Psychiatry),
N.S. Hughes, MA (Cantab), MRCPsych [b] (Specialty Registrar in Forensic Psychiatry),
M.C. McGlen, MBChB, MRCPsych [a] (Specialty Registrar in Forensic Psychiatry),
J.H.M. Crichton, PhD, FRCPsych [c] (Honorary Fellow)

[a] Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Place, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK
[b] Rohallion Clinic, Murray Royal Hospital, Perth, UK
[c] School of Law, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, UK

Abstract

The homicide statistics of a popular UK television fictional crime series and the former Lothian & Borders police force region, Scotland were compared. This comparison was used to consider the implications for public attitudes which may influence the adoption of public health interventions to reduce homicide.

217 homicides were identified by 105 perpetrators in the television series 'Midsomer Murders' between 1997 and 2011; these were compared to 55 homicides by 53 perpetrators in the regional sample between 2006 and 2011. The numbers of serial killings (p < 0.0001), planned homicides, female perpetrators (p < 0.0001), shootings (p = 0.0456) and poisonings (p = 0.0289) were higher in the fictional sample. Lothian & Borders cases were almost all single killings, mostly unplanned, with a far greater rate of homicide by kitchen knives (p < 0.0001) and hitting/kicking (p = 0.0005) by intoxicated perpetrators.

Control of access to pointed kitchen knives by members of certain groups may reduce homicide rates. If the popular perception of UK homicides is influenced by popular culture, the importance of such a public health intervention may not be apparent.

Keywords

Homicide; Media; Forensic; Psychiatry

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X14000110

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Sexual Activity After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Motion Capture Study

The Journal of Arthroplasty
Volume 29, Issue 3, Pages 640-647, March 2014
doi:10.1016/j.arth.2013.07.043

Caecilia Charbonnier, PhD [a], Sylvain Chagué, MS [a], Matteo Ponzoni, MS [b], Massimiliano Bernardoni, MS [b], Pierre Hoffmeyer, MD [c], Panayiotis Christofilopoulos, MD [c]

[a] Medical Research Department, Artanim Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland
[b] Medacta International SA, Lugano, Switzerland
[c] Department of Surgery, Orthopedics and Trauma Service, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Relative risk of impingement and joint instability during sexual activities after total hip arthroplasty (THA) has never been objectively investigated. Hip range of motion necessary to perform sexual positions is unknown. A motion capture study with two volunteers was performed. 12 common sexual positions were captured and relevant hip joint kinematics calculated. The recorded data were applied to prosthetic hip 3D models to evaluate impingement and joint instability during motion. To explore the effect of acetabular component positioning, nine acetabular cup positions were tested. Four sexual positions for women requiring intensive flexion (> 95°) caused prosthetic impingements (associated with posterior instability) at 6 cup positions. Bony impingements (associated with anterior instability) occurred during one sexual position for men requiring high degree of external rotation (> 40°) combined with extension and adduction at all cup positions. This study hence indicates that some sexual positions could be potentially at risk after THA, particularly for women.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883540313005615

http://www.arthroplastyjournal.org/article/S0883-5403%2813%2900561-5/abstract

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Coins falling in water

Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume 742 / March 2014, pp 243-253
Cambridge University Press
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2014.6

Luke Heisinger, Paul Newton and Eva Kanso

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

Abstract

When a coin falls in water, its trajectory is one of four types, determined by its dimensionless moment of inertia I∗ and Reynolds number Re: (A) steady; (B) fluttering; (C) chaotic; or (D) tumbling. The dynamics induced by the interaction of the water with the surface of the coin, however, makes the exact landing site difficult to predict a priori. Here, we describe a carefully designed experiment in which a coin is dropped repeatedly in water to determine the probability density functions (p.d.f.s) associated with the landing positions for each of the four trajectory types, all of which are radially symmetric about the centre drop-line. In the case of the steady mode, the p.d.f. is approximately Gaussian distributed with small variances, indicating that the coin is most likely to land at the centre, right below the point from which it is dropped. For the other falling modes, the centre is one of the least likely landing sites. Indeed, the p.d.f.s of the fluttering, chaotic and tumbling modes are characterized by a ‘dip’ around the centre. In the tumbling mode, the p.d.f. is a ring configuration about the centreline whereas in the chaotic mode, the p.d.f. is generally a broadband distribution spread out radially symmetrically about the centreline. For the steady and fluttering modes, the coin never flips, so the coin lands with the same side up as when it was dropped. The probability of heads or tails is close to 0.5 for the chaotic mode and, in the case of the tumbling mode, the probability of heads or tails is based on the height of the drop which determines whether the coin flips an even or odd number of times during descent.

The original version of this article was published with the incorrect order of authors. A notice detailing this has been published and the error rectified in the online and print PDF and HTML copies.

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9179743

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