bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Search for Coordination: The Case of the Central Policy Review Staff and Social Policy Planning, 1971–77
Authors: Lewis Jane
Published: July 2011

The Central Policy Review Staff (CPRS) attempted to create an ambitious strategy for the horizontal coordination of social policy in the UK during the early 1970s. The attempt – inspired largely by planning, programming and budgeting systems – was a failure, and gave way to a much modified ‘joint framework for social policies’ in 1975. Recent research has compared the CPRS's joint framework approach to the Labour government's promotion of ‘joined‐up government’ (JUG) in the 2000s. This article provides a case study of the CPRS's work on social policy planning, using archival sources. The case study addresses themes that remain significant, particularly approaches to and the politics of horizontal coordination. Finally, the article makes a modest attempt to signal the differences between the 1970s' approach and ‘JUG’.
Root and Branch Restructuring to Achieve Major Cuts: The Social Policy Programme of the 2010 UK Coalition Government
Authors: Taylor‐Gooby Peter
Published: July 2011

The 2010 Coalition has set itself the challenge of combining an unprecedentedly rapid and profound retrenchment with a fundamental restructuring of the public sector, both to be accomplished within five years. The immediate justification is a presumed need to reduce national indebtedness. The longer‐term goal is to shrink the state, free up the market and set British political economy on a new course.

The programme has encountered a number of set‐backs and some elements appear more likely to be realized than others. This article considers the objectives of the Coalition programme and the likely outcomes, using evidence from a number of sources including comparisons with the experience of retrenchment elsewhere and analysis of previous rounds of public spending cut‐backs.
PAYG PENSIONS AND HUMAN CAPITAL ACCUMULATION: SOME UNPLEASANT ARITHMETIC*
Authors: CIPRIANI GIAM PIETRO , MAKRIS MILTIADIS
Published: July 2011

A large literature has studied the effects of Pay‐As‐You‐Go (PAYG) systems on fertility, human capital and growth. We argue that the social security system may also interact with longevity when the latter is endogenously determined. We show that in such an environment, in a dynamically efficient economy PAYG pensions must be sufficiently low in order to ensure positive economic growth. Moreover, a transition to a funded social security system will promote growth, and can thereby take place by fully compensating the losers.
Combining classifiers under probabilistic models: experimental comparative analysis of methods
Authors: Kurzynski Marek , Wozniak Michal
Published: July 2011

This work will present a review of the concept of classifier combination based on the combined discriminant function. We will present a Bayesian approach, in which the discriminant function assumes the role of the posterior probability. We will propose a probabilistic interpretation of expert rules and conditions of knowledge consistency for expert rules and learning sets. We will suggest how to measure the quality of learning materials and we will use the measure mentioned above for an algorithm that eliminates contradictions in the rule set. In this work several recognition algorithms will be described, based on either: (i) pure rules, or; (ii) rules together with learning sets. Furthermore, the original concept of information unification, which enables the formation of rules on the basis of learning set or learning set on the basis of rules will be proposed. The obtained conclusions will serve as a spring‐board for the formulation of new project guidelines for this type of decision‐making system. At the end, experimental results of the proposed algorithms will be presented, both from computer generated data and for a real problem from the medical diagnostics field.
Changes in the diet of coastal otters after the Prestige oil spill (Galicia, north‐west Spain)
Authors: Romero R. , Guitián J. , Ruiz‐Olmo J.
Published: July 2011

In November 2002 the Prestige tanker spilled 59 000 tonnes of oil off Galicia (north‐west Spain) and contaminated a vast coastal area extending from northern Portugal to Brittany (France). Two study areas, a coastal lagoon (1 sample point) and a stretch of rocky coast (includes 5 sample points), were selected to examine changes on the diet of ottersLutra lutraL. before and after the oil spill. Diet was assessed from 1103 spraints, 553 collected in 2000, before the spill and 550 in 2003, after the spill. In the coastal lagoon, after spill, spraints contained more shrimp (Palaemonsp.), more prey of marine origin, and fewer gobies (Pomatoschistussp.) and eelsAnguilla anguilla. A decline of the eel population in the coastal lagoon may have caused otters to make more frequent visits to the sea. On the rocky coast, spraints contained more blennids in 1 of the 5 sampling points, however, the seasonal patterns of the principal prey species (Blennidae, Gadidae and Labridae) were similar across the 2 years of study. The differences may be attributed to common interannual variations in the diet of marine otters, but the design of this study cannot assess the degree of natural variation in the diet of coastal otters before the oil spill.
Location of the placenta or the umbilical cord insertion site in the lowest uterine segment is associated with low maternal blood pressure
Authors: Hasegawa J , Sekizawa A , Farina A , Nakamura M , Matsuoka R , Ichizuka K , Okai T
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as: Hasegawa J, Sekizawa A, Farina A, Nakamura M, Matsuoka R, Ichizuka K, Okai T. Location of the placenta or the umbilical cord insertion site in the lowest uterine segment is associated with low maternal blood pressure. BJOG 2011;118:1464–1469.

Objective  To evaluate whether placental abnormalities and umbilical cord insertion site affect the occurrence of pre‐eclampsia and maternal blood pressure.

Design  Case–control study.

Setting  Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Population  A total of 5722 consecutive women who delivered singleton infants were included in the study.

Methods  The associations of placental abnormalities, the location of the placenta, the location of the cord insertion site, and maternal background with the occurrence of pre‐eclampsia and maternal blood pressure at the term of pregnancy were analysed.

Main outcome measure  Pre‐eclampsia and maternal blood pressure at the term of pregnancy.

Results  Pre‐eclampsia was observed in 236 women (4.1%). Pre‐eclampsia was frequently observed in women with placental form abnormalities (odds ratio 3.0) and infarction of the placenta (odds ratio 5.3). Pre‐eclampsia was observed in 0 and 4.1% of women with and without placenta praevia, respectively (P = 0.004), and in 0 and 2.5% of women with and without low cord insertion during the first trimester, respectively (P = 0.018). After adjustment for confounding variables, the multivariate regression analyses revealed reductions of 8.4 and 5.0 mmHg in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, in women with placenta praevia compared with women without placenta praevia, and reductions of 4.3 and 3.1 mmHg in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, in women with low cord insertion during the first trimester compared with women without low cord insertion.

Conclusion  Not only placenta praevia but also low cord insertion are associated with low frequencies of pre‐eclampsia and low maternal blood pressure.
The association of maternal age with placental weight: a population‐based study of 536 954 pregnancies
Authors: Haavaldsen C , Samuelsen SO , Eskild A
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as: Haavaldsen C, Samuelsen S, Eskild A. The association of maternal age with placental weight: a population‐based study of 536 954 pregnancies. BJOG 2011;118:1470–1476.

Objective  To study the association of maternal age with placental weight, birthweight and placental weight/birthweight ratio.

Design  Population‐based study.

Setting  Medical Birth Registry of Norway.

Population  All singleton births in Norway in the period 1999–2008 (n = 536 954).

Methods  Z‐scores of placental weight and birthweight were calculated and divided into deciles. The proportions with a small or a large placenta were calculated within each maternal age group. Also, the odds ratios of having a small (lowest decile) and a large (highest decile) placenta, according to maternal age, were estimated, with and without adjustment for birthweight in grams, parity, smoking, pre‐eclampsia and diabetes.

Main outcome measures  Placental weight, birthweight and placental weight/birthweight ratio.

Results  The mean placental weight increased with maternal age: 647.1 g in women below the age of 20 years and 691.3 g in women aged 45 years or older. Among the oldest group of women (≥45 years) 15.8% of placentas were in the highest decile of placental weight z‐score, whereas this was true for just 7.0% of women below the age of 20 years (Wald test, P < 0.001). Using women younger than 20 years of age as a reference, the odds ratio for having a placenta in the highest decile of placental weight z‐score was 2.50 (95% CI 1.92–3.26) for women aged 45 years or older, after adjustment for offspring birthweight, parity, maternal smoking, pre‐eclampsia and diabetes.

Conclusion  We found an association between increased placental weight and maternal age, and this finding may be important in understanding the causes of adverse events associated with high maternal age.
The Rieske oxygenase DAF‐36 functions as a cholesterol 7‐desaturase in steroidogenic pathways governing longevity
Authors: Wollam Joshua , Magomedova Lilia , Magner Daniel B. , Shen Yidong , Rottiers Veerle , Motola Daniel L. , Mangelsdorf David J. , Cummins Carolyn L. , Antebi Adam
Published: July 2011

Bile acids are cholesterol‐derived signaling molecules that regulate mammalian metabolism through sterol‐sensing nuclear receptor transcription factors. In C. elegans, bile acid‐like steroids called dafachronic acids (DAs) control developmental timing and longevity by activating the nuclear receptor DAF‐12. However, little is known about the biosynthesis of these molecules. Here, we show that the DAF‐36/Rieske oxygenase works at the first committed step, converting cholesterol to 7‐dehydrocholesterol. Its elucidation as a cholesterol 7‐desaturase provides crucial biochemical evidence that such oxygenases are key steroidogenic enzymes. By controlling DA production, DAF‐36 regulates DAF‐12 activities for reproductive development and longevity and may illuminate related pathways in metazoans.
Distant feelings: telepathy and the problem of affect transfer over distance
Authors: Pile Steve
Published: July 2011

This paper addresses the problem of affect transfer at a distance. Geographers have been creative in importing concepts that seek to account for the transmission of affect. These include terms such as suggestion and contagion, and indeed transmission itself. In this paper, I explore the problem through the concept of telepathy. Telepathy, understood as ‘distant feeling’ or ‘feeling at a distance’, is directed at the problem of the transfer of affect as well as thought over distance. Using telepathy to throw into sharp relief the problem of affect transfer, this paper explores examples drawn from late nineteenth century psychology, late twentieth century psychic spying (remote viewing) and Freud’s interpretation of occult phenomena. The paper concludes on the implications of telepathic unconscious communication for understanding affect transfer at a distance.
Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid entourage effects
Authors: Russo Ethan B
Published: July 2011

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been the primary focus of cannabis research since 1964, when Raphael Mechoulam isolated and synthesized it. More recently, the synergistic contributions of cannabidiol to cannabis pharmacology and analgesia have been scientifically demonstrated. Other phytocannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabivarin, cannabigerol and cannabichromene, exert additional effects of therapeutic interest. Innovative conventional plant breeding has yielded cannabis chemotypes expressing high titres of each component for future study. This review will explore another echelon of phytotherapeutic agents, the cannabis terpenoids: limonene, myrcene, α‐pinene, linalool, β‐caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, nerolidol and phytol. Terpenoids share a precursor with phytocannabinoids, and are all flavour and fragrance components common to human diets that have been designated Generally Recognized as Safe by the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies. Terpenoids are quite potent, and affect animal and even human behaviour when inhaled from ambient air at serum levels in the single digits ng·mL−1. They display unique therapeutic effects that may contribute meaningfully to the entourage effects of cannabis‐based medicinal extracts. Particular focus will be placed on phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid interactions that could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections (including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Scientific evidence is presented for non‐cannabinoid plant components as putative antidotes to intoxicating effects of THC that could increase its therapeutic index. Methods for investigating entourage effects in future experiments will be proposed. Phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid synergy, if proven, increases the likelihood that an extensive pipeline of new therapeutic products is possible from this venerable plant.

LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed issue on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue‐7
Product Quality and New Product Performance: The Role of Network Externalities and Switching Costs*
Authors: Molina‐Castillo Francisco‐Jose , Munuera‐Alemán José‐Luis , Calantone Roger J.
Published: July 2011

Research about the critical drivers of new product success is perhaps one of the thorniest issues confronting academic research in the field. Among them, product quality is considered a crucial element to obtain a competitive advantage. However, empirical evidence suggests low returns on product quality investments in new products, and consequent manager claims for an explanation of whether quality investments are fruitful for the firm. Recently, a new research stream has suggested that the role of other complementary products (indirect network externalities) and the critical mass of adopters (direct network externalities) lead to higher market returns than quality itself. Moreover, researchers disagree about the perverse or positive effects that the switching costs associated with the product have on the short‐ and long‐term performance of the firm. In this paper, we propose that, as products and technologies become more interconnected, the associated network effects and switching costs will play an important role with regard to new product performance, both independently and in conjunction with its quality. We empirically test a model that relates product quality, network effects, and switching costs to short‐term/long‐term new product performance, using data collected from 255 innovative products. The data analysis indicates that network effects, and consumers' switching costs, can modify previous findings with regard to the isolated product quality consequences concerning new product performance. Overall, the results of this study may help firms manage the relationship between quality, network externalities, and switching costs more efficiently, both in the short term and in the long term.
A Special Configuration of Lead Zirconate Titanate Multilayer Stack with Superior Electrical and Optical Properties
Authors: Zhang Ting , Hu Gu‐Jin , Bu Hai‐Jun , Cong Rui , Chen Xin , Yu Guo‐Lin , Meng Xiang‐Jian , Chu Jun‐Hao , Dai Ning
Published: July 2011

A unique configuration of PbZr0.4Ti0.6O3 multilayer stack was designed and grown on F‐doped tin oxide thin film by spin casting and annealing process. The multilayer system exhibits a broad reflection band with peak reflectivity over 95% and band width no < 40 nm, a dielectric constant of 520 and dielectric tunability of ~49% at 1 MHz, a remanent polarization of 46.8 μC/cm2, and a polarization loss of < 5% after 109 polarization switching cycles, rendering excellent performance as 1D photonic crystals and as ferroelectric and dielectric media. This material structure may find application in photonic band‐gap engineering, microwave tunable devices, and integrated optoelectronics.
The Self, the Novel and History. On the Limits of Bakhtin's Historical Poetics
Authors: Biti Vladimir
Published: July 2011

This article considers Bakhtin's historical poetics as a particularly enthusiastic representative of the European evolutionary paradigm with a series of disquieting (post‐)colonial implications. It starts with a genealogy of several basic modernist categories like the self, the novel, history and historical poetics. In order to lay bare the underlying novelistic pattern of the modernist conception of history, it continues with a comparison between the philosophical and sociological theories of the novel of Bakhtin and Luhmann respectively. Both of them connect the advancement of the self with a devaluation of the other, which is a typically colonial pattern according to the argument in the conclusion of the paper.
Glutamine and α‐ketoglutarate as glutamate sources for glutathione synthesis in human erythrocytes
Authors: Whillier Stephney , Garcia Barbara , Chapman Bogdan E. , Kuchel Philip W. , Raftos Julia E.
Published: July 2011

Glutathione (GSH) is an intracellular antioxidant synthesized from glutamate, cysteine and glycine. The human erythrocyte (red blood cell, RBC) requires a continuous supply of glutamate to prevent the limitation of GSH synthesis in the presence of sufficient cysteine, but the RBC membrane is almost impermeable to glutamate. As optimal GSH synthesis is important in diseases associated with oxidative stress, we compared the rate of synthesis using two potential glutamate substrates, α‐ketoglutarate and glutamine. Both substrates traverse the RBC membrane rapidly relative to many other metabolites. In whole RBCs partially depleted of intracellular GSH and glutamate, 10 mm extracellular α‐ketoglutarate, but not 10 mm glutamine, significantly increased the rate of GSH synthesis (0.85 ± 0.09 and 0.61 ± 0.18 μmol·(L RBC)−1·min−1, respectively) compared with 0.52 ± 0.09 μmol·(L RBC)−1·min−1 for RBCs without an external glutamate source. Mathematical modelling of the situation with 0.8 mm extracellular glutamine returned a rate of glutamate production of 0.36 μmol·(L RBC)−1·min−1, while the initial rate for 0.8 mmα‐ketoglutarate was 0.97 μmol·(L RBC)−1·min−1. However, with normal plasma concentrations, the calculated rate of GSH synthesis was higher with glutamine than with α‐ketoglutarate (0.31 and 0.25 μmol·(L RBC)−1·min−1, respectively), due to the substantially higher plasma concentration of glutamine. Thus, a potential protocol to maximize the rate of GSH synthesis would be to administer a cysteine precursor plus a source of α‐ketoglutarate and/or glutamine.

Database
 The mathematical models described here have been submitted to the Online Cellular Systems Modelling Database and can be accessed at http://jjj.biochem.sun.ac.za/database/Whillier/index.html free of charge.
AFRICAN BREADFRUIT (TRECULIA AFRICANA) SEED PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS CONSIDERABLE FOR KERNEL CLEANING AND SEED TYPE SELECTION
Authors: NWABUEZE T.U.
Published: July 2011

The traditional practice of using sharp sand grains as abrasives to de‐slime African breadfruit (Treculia africana) seeds leaves their kernels with traces of these contaminants. Some physical dimensions of the seed, its kernel and hull were determined using two major varieties: var. africana and var. inversa. The fruit head of var. africana was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) heavier and bulkier but contained less number of edible seeds in the pulp than var. inversa. It showed a fractional porosity of 0.309 compared to significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher porosity (0.697) shown in var. inversa. The seed and kernel of var. africana were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) shorter, thicker and wider by 6.54 and 9.42; 2.00 and 2.04; and 10.38 and 16.55%, respectively, than var. inversa. Seed, kernel and hull densities of var. africana were 1.076, 0.984 and 0.072 (g/cm3) while those of var. inversa were 0.883, 0.834 and 0.032 (g/cm3), respectively. The hull contributed 0.19–8.12% to the difference between the seed and kernel shape in var. africana and 2.09–12.26% in var. inversa. The aspect ratio of var. africana seed (59–60) showed that it will behave more closely like a sphere on oscillating surface than var. inversa (44–59).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Three varieties of African breadfruit with characteristic physical dimensions relevant for seed type selection and kernel cleaning are known. Unfortunately, they are sold as mixed varieties, with the first two the most widely cultivated and consumed. Apart from contaminants that incidentally mix with the seeds during their extraction in the field, the deliberate use of sharp sand as abrasives to enhance de‐sliming leaves the seeds with such contaminants. It is expected that the information obtained from this research might be useful in designing and fabricating mechanical cleaners for the kernel and other crops with similar physical dimensions with the attendant benefits of reducing the dangers and risks of exposing the teeth of the cleaners to stone damage. Seed type selection will be of interest to both breeders and consumers by eliminating nonuniformity in doneness during cooking due to varietal differences in mixed batches.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON NATURAL CONVECTIVE HEATING OF MILK
Authors: KUMAR M. , PRAKASH O. , KASANA K.S.
Published: July 2011

In this article, the behavior of heat and mass transfer relation during khoa making has been investigated. Various indoor experiments have been performed for simulation of developed thermal model for maximum evaporation during heating of milk. The data obtained from experimentation have been used to determine values of constant “C” and exponent “n” by simple regression analysis. Based on the values of “C” and “n,” convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients for milk were determined. It was observed that the convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients decrease with the increase in rate of heating (varying voltage). It was also observed that convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients increase with the increase in operating temperature. The rate of increment of evaporative heat transfer coefficient is higher than the convective heat transfer coefficient. The experimental error in terms of percent uncertainty was also calculated.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The traditional method of khoa making (i.e., open pan evaporation process) requires a large quantity of energy and in the present era, energy saving is needed to pay sufficient attention. In rural India, generally, wood, cattle dung, coal, kerosene, etc. are used in open chulah as fuel for khoa making which is hardly 8–10% thermally efficient. A number of research articles are available in the literature explaining the mechanization of khoa making process. But even today, the khoa making technology in rural India much remains the same. Thus, by keeping energy saving aspect in mind, the traditional method of khoa making has been further explored.
INFLUENCE OF CULTIVAR AND PROCESS CONDITIONS ON CRISPNESS OF OSMO‐AIR‐DRIED APPLE CHIPS
Authors: GOBBI SERENA , FARRIS STEFANO , LIMBO SARA , TORREGGIANI DANILA
Published: July 2011

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different variables on osmo‐air‐dried apple chips processing, in order to identify the most influencing factors on final product crispness. A 23 full factorial design was selected; cultivar (Golden Delicious and Pink Lady®), osmosis time (30, 60 and 90 min) and air drying temperature (70, 80 and 90C), were independent variables; crispness coefficient (E, kNmm−2), relative relaxation stress, water activity, color attribute L*, moisture content (gH2O/100 g solids) and panel score (crispness intensity) were dependent variables. Apple rings were immersed in sucrose, maltose or a mixture of fructose, glucose and sucrose (Aw = 0.90), and air dried to constant weight. Crispness and physico‐chemical properties were affected mostly by drying temperature, and less by cultivar and osmosis time. The screening test discriminated pretreated apples from not pretreated ones, the former being evaluated as crispier. Results indicate that the interaction between drying temperature and fruit tissue structure is the key factor optimizing the osmo‐air‐drying process, aimed at high‐level crispy apple chips.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A new interest has recently arisen in the field of dried crispy fruits. For snack foods, more than taste, crispness is the sensory attribute that most strongly influence quality evaluation by the consumers. For this reason, it is important to quantify the effects of different variables (apple cultivar, osmosis time and air‐drying temperature) on osmo‐air‐dried apple rings characteristics, especially in terms of crispness. The major interest deals with the possibility to exploit these findings for a more rational manufacturing of such snack product.
NIXTAMALIZATION IN TWO STEPS WITH DIFFERENT CALCIUM SALTS AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHEMICAL, TEXTURE AND THERMAL PROPERTIES IN MASA AND TORTILLA
Authors: RUIZ‐GUTIÉRREZ M. G. , QUINTERO‐RAMOS A. , MELÉNDEZ‐PIZARRO C. O. , TALAMÁS‐ABBUD R. , BARNARD J. , MÁRQUEZ‐MELÉNDEZ R. , LARDIZÁBAL‐GUTIÉRREZ D.
Published: July 2011

The present investigation evaluated the chemical and thermal properties using lime and alternative calcium salts, and their effect on the characteristics of masa and tortilla obtained in a two‐step nixtamalization process. White dent corn was cooked in calcium hydroxide solution (1.2% [w/v]; 1:3 maize : water ratio) at 80C (30 min), and the calcium hydroxide was replaced either by calcium chloride or lactate at calcium equilibrated concentration (30 min), and steeped in a cooking solution for 2,400 min. Grains were analyzed for water and calcium absorption, and apparent diffusion coefficients were calculated. Thermal properties of flour made from these grains were also determined. Additionally, the masa and tortilla made with nixtamalized corn flours were analyzed for texture and color, and an acceptability test was performed on the tortilla. Water absorption showed a notable increase during cooking, approaching an asymptotic maximum absorption after 8 h of steeping for all treatments. The maximum calcium absorption was obtained in stepwise nixtamalization with solutes of CaCl2 and C6H10O6Ca. The water apparent diffusion coefficients were adequately described by Fick's model and it was found that C6H10O6Ca showed the highest value (5.5901 × 10−10 m2/s), while that for calcium diffusion the model gave low fits. The thermal analysis showed that gelatinization temperatures were affected significantly (P < 0.05) by the cooking and steeping times, while the gelatinization range and enthalpy were affected significantly (P < 0.05) by salt type. The masas and tortillas obtained from all treatments presented good texture and color characteristics in comparison with the commercial flour. Sensory analysis showed that the tortilla nixtamalized with C6H10O6Ca was the most acceptable to consumers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The main contribution of the present study is the utilization of different salts as an alternative to calcium during cooking and steeping in a two‐phase nixtamalization process. The different calcium salts provide an option to avoid undesirable changes in the products' quality characteristics present in the typical nixtamalization process produced by high lime concentration. At the same time, these alternatives could contribute to reduced environmental pollution, specifically in the waste water (decreased pH and the solids). A prediction model for water and calcium absorption during the nixtamalization process is proposed for the different calcium salts. The physical, chemical and thermal changes that occur in the nixtamalization in the different treatments for the different calcium salts were related to color and texture characteristics of masa and tortilla as well as tortilla acceptability.
MIXING CHARACTERISTICS OF RICE BY TRACER TECHNIQUE IN AN AGITATED CYLINDRICAL PRECONDITIONER DEVELOPED FOR PUFFED RICE PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Authors: MOHAPATRA MINATI , KUMAR ASHOK , DAS S K.
Published: July 2011

Uniform heating and drying of salt‐solution diffused rice grain (preconditioning) is an essential prerequisite for obtaining good puffing quality of rice when roasted on hot sand bed or in hot air. Possibility of uniform heating of rice grains inside an externally heated agitated cylindrical vessel (developed mechanized rice preconditioner) has been concluded by estimating the mixing indices using tracer grain technique. Effects of initial positions (top, middle and bottom layers in the bed moisture contents [15.59 ± 0.88, 20.34 ± 0.68, 25.30 ± 0.77, 29.78 ± 0.27% wet basis] and mass [50, 100 and 200 g] of the tracer grains) on mixing indices have been studied while agitation continued up to 90 min at 12 ± 2 rpm. The mixing indices with the designed agitated system attained the maximum value of about 1.0 (i.e., uniform distribution of tracer particles throughout the bed) within 5 min and remained almost unaltered thereafter up to 90 min of mixing. Sample size of the tracer or its initial position on the bed showed no significant change on the mixing trends, and uniform distribution of tracer grains at different locations along vertical and lateral directions in the bed have been observed for the entire period of mixing. Moisture contents did not show any effect on the mixing behavior of the grains in the bed.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Importance of preconditioning of rice before puffing is fully recognized by various authors to produce good quality puffed rice. This is a slow and uniform heating process of the grains. But, this is usually practiced traditionally by soaking the parboiled milled rice with water, adding 2.5–5.0% common salt, tempering for about 6–8 h for diffusion of salt and moisture into the kernel, and following it by slow heating (70–90C). Uniform heating of the grains are a major prerequisite as nonuniform heating of grain at this stage severely impairs the quality of product with less expansion ratio in addition to rough and blistered surface. Besides, traditional method of production of puffed rice is a tedious and laborious process which can easily be replaced by a mechanical system to increase the quantum of production, decrease the cost and improve the quality of the product through uniform heat and mass transfer in the grain. The uniform heat and mass transfer in the grains can be ensured by providing continuous agitating system to constantly turn the grains and expose each grain to the contact of the heated surface. Therefore, conducting mixing study of the rice grains inside an agitated cylindrical vessel will be very much useful in order to ascertain whether conditioning of grain is proper by uniform and thorough mixing of grains and uniform exposure to heat. This study will have further practical implications in designing and development of a proper mixing system for commercial production of good quality puffed rice.
CFD MODELING OF INFRARED THERMAL TREATMENT OF FIGS (Ficus carica L.)
Authors: TANAKA FUMIHIKO , CHATANI MOTOYUKI , KAWASHIMA HIRONORI , HAMANAKA DAISUKE , UCHINO TOSHITAKA
Published: July 2011

Heat treatment plays an important role in the reduction of postharvest decay of some species of fresh fruit. In this study, we focused on the modeling of infrared (IR) heating of fresh figs (Ficus carica L.) by the computational fluid dynamics approach. Three configuration models were proposed to investigate the progress of surface temperature distribution during IR heating. According to our results, a single fig array model with one IR heater well predicted the actual temperature profile at the ostiole point with a mean error of 1.9C. As a result of the six fig array model simulation, uniform heating could be achieved as for the single fig array model. Simultaneous heating contributes to improved heat treatment performance in a fruit packing house. Uneven heating affecting fig shape was also identified clearly using the developed model. The thermal deactivation of microorganisms was also investigated during the IR heating process.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Postharvest heat treatment is a very important to extend shelf life of some species of fresh fruit. In particular, infrared (IR) heating method is useful for surface decontamination of products because it is regarded as a highly efficient method for surface heating. In this study, a transient three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics model was developed to investigate the heat treatment performance of IR heating. The proposed model is very useful for design and fine adjusting of surface decontamination process in a fruit packing house.
The mucosal and systemic immune responses elicited by a chitosan‐adjuvanted intranasal influenza H5N1 vaccine
Authors: Svindland Signe C. , Jul‐Larsen Åsne , Pathirana Rishi , Andersen Solveig , Madhun Abdullah , Montomoli Emanuele , Jabbal‐Gill Inderjit , Cox Rebecca J.
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as:Svindlandet al.The mucosal and systemic immune responses elicited by a chitosan‐adjuvanted intranasal influenza H5N1 vaccine. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI:10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2011.00271.x.

Background Development of influenza vaccines that induce mucosal immunity has been highlighted by the World Health Organisation as a priority (Vaccine 2005;23:1529). Dose‐sparing strategies and an efficient mass‐vaccination regime will be paramount to reduce the morbidity and mortality of a future H5N1 pandemic.

Objectives This study has investigated the immune response and the dose‐sparing potential of a chitosan‐adjuvanted intranasal H5N1 (RG‐14) subunit (SU) vaccine in a mouse model.

Methods Groups of mice were intranasally immunised once or twice with a chitosan (5 mg/ml)‐adjuvanted SU vaccine [7·5, 15 or 30 μg haemagglutinin (HA)] or with a non‐adjuvanted SU vaccine (30 μg HA). For comparison, another group of mice were intranasally immunised with a whole H5N1 (RG‐14) virus (WV) vaccine (15 μg HA), and the control group consisted of unimmunised mice.

Results The chitosan‐adjuvanted SU vaccine induced an immune response superior to that of the non‐adjuvanted SU vaccine. Compared with the non‐adjuvanted SU group, the chitosan‐adjuvanted SU vaccine elicited higher numbers of influenza‐specific antibody‐secreting cells (ASCs), higher concentrations of local and systemic antibodies and correspondingly an improved haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and single radial haemolysis (SRH) response against both the homologous vaccine strain and drifted H5 strains. We measured a mixed T‐helper 1/T‐helper 2 cytokine response in the chitosan‐adjuvanted SU groups, and these groups had an increased percentage of virus‐specific CD4+T cells producing two Thelper 1 (Th1) cytokines simultaneously compared with the non‐adjuvanted SU group. Overall, the WV vaccine induced higher antibody concentrations in sera and an HI and SRH response similar to that of the chitosan‐adjuvanted SU vaccine. Furthermore, the WV vaccine formulation showed a stronger bias towards a T‐helper 1 profile than the SU vaccine and elicited the highest frequencies of CD4+Th1 cells simultaneously secreting three different cytokines (INFγ+, IL2+and INFα+). As expected, two immunisations gave a better immune response than one in all groups. The control group had very low or not detectable results in the performed immunoassays.

Conclusion The cross‐clade serum reactivity, improved B‐ and T‐cell responses and dose‐sparing potential of chitosan show that a chitosan‐adjuvanted intranasal influenza vaccine is a promising candidate vaccine for further preclinical development.
Estimating immigration in neutral communities: theoretical and practical insights into the sampling properties
Authors: Munoz François , Couteron Pierre
Published: July 2011

1. Widening applications of neutral models of communities necessitates mastering the process of inferring parameters from species composition data. In a previous paper, we introduced the novel conditional GST(k) statistic based on community composition. We showed that it is a reliable basis for assessing migrant fluxes into local communities under a generalized version of the spatially implicit neutral model of SP Hubbell, which can accommodate non‐neutral patterns at scales broader than the communities.

2. We provide here new insights into the sampling properties of the GST(k) statistic and on the derived immigration number, I(k). The analytical formulas for bias and variance are useful to assess estimation accuracy and investigate the variation of I(k) across communities.

3. Immigration estimation is asymptotically unbiased as sample size increases. We confirm the validity of our analytical results on the basis of simulated neutral communities.

4. We also underline the potential of using I(k) as a descriptive index of community isolation, without reference to any model of community dynamics.

5. We further propose a practical application of the bias and variance analysis for defining sampling designs for immigration quantification by efficiently balancing the number and size of community samples.
Perceptual‐Motor Disorders in Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: ROBERTSON J. P. S.
Published: July 2011

An assessment of chronic schizophrenics suggested that some showed marked perceptual‐motor disturbances and others did not. Two extreme groups of twelve each were taken from those assessed and investigated experimentally in a series of every‐day perceptual‐motor tasks. Performance was analysed in terms of nineteen basic disorders which are listed. The two groups differed strongly in the extent to which they manifested these and the difference was stable over a short period. The contrast is unrelated to general neuropsychiatric status, social variables and differential aptitudes. The resemblance of the disorders to perceptual‐motor disorders produced by certain drugs and by anoxia is noted and it is suggested that the basis of the contrast is biochemical and related to the fundamental aetiology of the schizophrenic illnesses.
Personality Characteristics of Volunteers for Psychological Studies
Authors: BELL C. R.
Published: July 2011

The problem of volunteer bias is seen in terms of the unrepresentativeness or atypicality of the subjects who participate in psychological studies. Findings from investigations of the personality characteristics of volunteers are examined under the headings of: (i) unconventionality, (ii) adjustment, (iii) anxiety, (iv) social extraversion, and (v) need achievement. The percentage volunteering response in the invitation situation may be raised or lowered by incentive or restraint factors. The mean percentage volunteering response in the studies reviewed was 37 per cent. Though studies relating volunteer characteristics specifically to particular distortions in experimental data are few, emphasis has frequently been placed on the potential danger of bias from volunteer subjects. A distinction may possibly be made between volunteering as an expressed willingness to participate, and volunteering as actual participation in the experimental situation. Most volunteer bias studies have, in fact, centred on expressed‐willingness volunteering. It is not yet possible to provide adequate experimental controls based on the prediction of direction and magnitude of sources of volunteer bias in specific laboratory studies.
Two Origins of Achievement Motivation*
Authors: ARGYLE MICHAEL , ROBINSON PETER
Published: July 2011

A review of previous investigations shows that achievement motivation can be produced by rewards and punishment in childhood only under special conditions not usually encountered. It is postulated that two other types of learning may also occur (a) the introjection of parental exhortation and standards, (b) identification with achievement‐oriented parents and others. These hypotheses were tested in a correlational study of five hundred grammar school and other children. Achievement motivation was measured both by the content analysis of imaginative stories and by a questionnaire; relations with parents were obtained from a modified version of the semantic differential. Both hypotheses were confirmed, though both processes were found to work only when there was sufficient identification with parents. An additional finding was that achievement motivation was found to be correlated with various measures of self‐aggression and guilt.
Reminiscence, Drive and Personality—Revision and Extension of a Theory
Authors: EYSENCK H. J.
Published: July 2011

Some twenty studies have been examined which have purported to test the hypothesis that reminiscence effects are stronger in extraverts than in introverts, or related hypotheses involving the postulation of greater inhibition effects in certain criterion groups. It has been demonstrated that the results on the whole lend support to the original hypothesis. Little support is forthcoming for the additional hypothesis that neuroticism or emotionality, having drive properties, should also correlate positively with reminiscence.

The original theory linking reminiscence with extraversion was based on three hypotheses, according to which extraverts (1) generate reactive inhibition more quickly, (2) dissipate it more slowly, and (3) develop greater amounts of reactive inhibition. The third hypothesis has been found to run foul of work done on the relation of drive to reminiscence, according to which the amount of reminiscence developed is a direct function of drive. A reformulation of the theory is therefore offered, using only differences in rates of development and dissipation of IR to account for the observed differences between extraverts and introverts in reminiscence.
Delinquency and Cultural Stress
Authors: STOTT D. H.
Published: July 2011

The families of Glasgow boys put on probation were classified into four culture‐groups. The boys belonging to the two regarded as socially ‘inadequate’ showed significantly more indications of behaviour‐disturbance as recorded on the Bristol Social Adjustment Guides.

It was argued that this was unlikely to be due to teacher‐prejudice, but probably reflected the greater instability and more stressful life of the lower‐culture families.

Reasons for the existence of endemic delinquency in the large group of culturally intact working‐class families were discussed.

Besides the higher incidence of postnatal stresses in the low‐culture families, it was suggested that under‐privileged children are more liable to congenital impairment which makes them more vulnerable to stress.
Intellectual Ability of Disturbed Children in a Working‐class Area
Authors: RAVENETTE A. T. , KAHN J. H.
Published: July 2011

This paper presents analyses of cognitive data from a child guidance clinic in a working‐class area. Firstly, it was found that in this area the verbal ability of older boys is significantly lower than performance ability, but the difference for girls was less clear‐cut. Secondly, the variability of scores on sub‐tests of the WISC were shown to be significantly less than the variability obtained when children from a predominantly middle‐class population were tested elsewhere.

These results are related to previous work on the connection of such data with personality structure, cultural and class differences.
An Object Classification Test as a Measure of Overinclusive Thinking in Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: PAYNE R. W.
Published: July 2011

The Object Classification test consists of twelve small objects which can be sorted in ten different ways. It was originally intended as a test of ‘concreteness’, but it was later predicted that patients suffering from overinclusive thought disorder would produce a large number of additional unusual sortings.

Results are quoted, both for usual (‘A’) and unusual (‘ Non‐A’) sortings for a standardization group of 120 normals, as well as 34 neurotic patients, 20 endogenous depressives, 35 acute schizophrenics and 37 chronic schizophrenics.

It was found that only acute schizophrenics give evidence of overinclusive thinking on this test, and that, of these, only half give an abnormally large number of ‘Non‐A’ responses.

Chronic schizophrenics on the other hand are no more overinclusive than normal or non‐schizophrenic subjects, although they give significantly fewer ‘A’ responses than normals.

It is possible that overinclusive thinking in a schizophrenic patient is therefore a relatively good prognostic sign, although a confirmatory long term follow‐up study is needed.
An Experimental Investigation of Disordered Motor Expression in a Catatonic Schizophrenic Patient
Authors: BEECH H. R. , PARBOOSINGH P. C.
Published: July 2011

Five experiments were conducted in an attempt to explain the mechanisms underlying disordered motor expression in a catatonic schizophrenic patient. Two main conclusions were suggested by the experimental findings. First, that the motor symptoms were subject to disinhibition by an extraneous stimulus, and secondly that the lack of verbal responsiveness was related to defective verbal‐motor output rather than to disordered sensory input.
Forming Impressions of Personality: Two Experiments
Authors: VENESS THELMA , BRIERLEY DOROTHY W.
Published: July 2011

Asch's experiment on forming impressions of personality on the basis of lists of traits, one trait being different for the two experimental groups, is reduplicated with certain variations. In the first experiment, the traits are embodied in a descriptive passage reproduced on tape, the variable trait being represented by changes in tone of voice. The second experiment makes only a slight modification on Asch's original experiment, and confirms his main findings: however, the data are, in part, differently analysed. The results of the two experiments are discussed in relation to theoretical points raised by Asch, some of which have been recently disputed by Wishner.
The Measurement of Religious Attitudes in a University Population
Authors: POPPLETON PAMELA K. , PILKINGTON G. W.
Published: July 2011

A scale was constructed for measuring the religious attitudes of students at a British University. Scores obtained from administration of the scale to a representative sample of 500 students show that there is a significant decline in religious belief among students in the Faculties of Arts and Pure Science during early years at the University, but that this decline continues only for the Science students, especially those who later engage in research. Medical students in their final years and students training for the teaching profession, especially the arts graduates, have the highest scores of all. Between denominations it was found that Catholics and members of small evangelical sects scored higher than adherents of other denominations, and between sexes the familiar finding that women tend to be more religious than men was replicated. Some implications of these findings are discussed.