bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Polytomous Item Responses Using Simultaneously Estimated Multinomial Logistic Regression Models
Authors: Anderson Carolyn J. , Verkuilen Jay , Peyton Buddy L.
Published: September 2010

Survey items with multiple response categories and multiple-choice test questions are ubiquitous in psychological and educational research. We illustrate the use of log-multiplicative association (LMA) models that are extensions of the well-known multinomial logistic regression model for multiple dependent outcome variables to reanalyze a set of items from a large political psychology survey. In particular, LMA models are shown to provide a useful analysis of items when the proper scoring rule for them is unclear. They also clearly reveal the performance of the items when instructions were altered to suppress “Don’t know” responses. LMA models can be fit rapidly using commonly available software.
Multivariate Effect Size Estimation: Confidence Interval Construction via Latent Variable Modeling
Authors: Raykov Tenko , Marcoulides George A.
Published: September 2010

A latent variable modeling method is outlined for constructing a confidence interval (CI) of a popular multivariate effect size measure. The procedure uses the conventional multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) setup and is applicable with large samples. The approach provides a population range of plausible values for the proportion of generalized variance associated with group membership and permits at the same time testing of the underlying assumption of covariance matrix homogeneity. The method is generally applicable, is most readily used in empirical research with up to three simultaneously analyzed response variables, and is illustrated with an empirical example.
The Role of Foreign Policy in the 2009 Campaign and the Black-Yellow Future
Authors: Techau Jan
Published: September 2010

Foreign policy issues did not play a decisive role in the German general election campaign of 2009. While Chancellor Angela Merkel conducted a decidedly presidential campaign, her main rival, SPD Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, found it difficult to break out of his role as Merkel's partner in the Grand Coalition the two had led for four years. This was especially true with respect to issues on foreign policy, where both candidates had cooperated rather smoothly. Neither the issue of Afghanistan (despite the hotly debated Kunduz airstrike), nor the unresolved issues of the future of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty could antagonize the main political protagonists in Germany. The overwhelming foreign policy consensus among the mainstream political forces remained intact. Nevertheless, the changing international landscape and increased German responsibilities abroad will turn foreign policy into a relevant campaign issue, probably as early as 2013, when, presumably, the next Bundestag elections will be held.
Influence of Solvent upon Rates of Ion Pair Reactions: Studies on the Aquation of Bromopentamminecobalt(Iii) Perchlorate in Binary/Water-Ethan-1,2-Diol Mixtures
Authors: Amira Mohamed F. , Ismail Amel M. , Seliem Seliem M.
Published: September 2010

The kinetics of the aquation of bromopentamminecobalt(III) ion have been investigated in malonate media containing different percentages of ethan-1,2-diol (up to 50%). The ion pair rate constant kip, has been determined over a wide range of malonate buffer compositions using the Wyat and Davies treatment. The thermodynamic and extrathemodynamic correlations existing between those of the association reaction (Δ G°ass, Δ H°ass, Δ S°ass) and of the ion pair aquation reaction (Δ G≠ip Δ H≠ip, Δ S≠ip) have been investigated. The kinetic solvent effects are examined in terms of the dielectric constant and water concentration effects on the ion pair rate constant. Also, the solvent effects are analysed in terms of Kamlet–Taft solvatochromic parameters and are applied successfully in mixed aqueous – ethan 1,2-diol mixtures. However, the extrema found in the change of Δ H≠ip and Δ S≠ip with the mole fraction of the co-solvent have been correlated well with that found in the change of the physical properties of the solvent–water mixtures with the solvent structure. Small changes of Δ G≠ip with the mole fraction of the solvent are attributed to a quasi-mirror image compensation between Δ H≠ip and Δ S≠ip.
Solvent Effect on the Kinetics of Ring Opening of Isatin in Water–Ethanol Mixtures
Authors: Ismail Amel M. , Radman Ramyah F. , Al-Jallal Nada A.
Published: September 2010

The kinetics of amide bond cleavage of isatin and N-methylisatin in the presence of ethanol was followed spectrophotometrically in the ranges of solvent composition (0-70%v/v) and temperature (40-60°C) using piperidine as a nucleophile. The reaction proceeds according to pseudo first-order kinetics. The rate of reaction strongly decreased with increasing organic solvent content. The thermodynamic activation parameters were calculated and discussed in terms of solvation. No linearity was observed between log (rate constant) and reciprocal dielectric constant for the solvent used, suggesting that there is selective solvation by the more polar water. The reactivity was analysed in the light of various simple and multiple regression equations using Kamlet–Taft solvatochromic parameters which were applied successfully to the mixed aqueous - ethanol mixtures. Finally, a mechanism for the ring opening is proposed
Spectral and Mechanistic Investigations of the Oxidative Transformation of 5,5-Dimethylc Yclohexane-1,3 -Dione (Dimedone) by Quinolinium Dichromate in Perchloric Acid Medium
Authors: Farokhi Sairabanu A. , Kulkarni Manohar V. , Nandibewoor Sharanappa T.
Published: September 2010

The kinetics of oxidation of dimedone in perchloric acid medium were studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction showed first order kinetics in quinolinium dichromate (QDC) concentration and an order of less than unity in 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione [dimedone, (DM)] and acid concentrations. Increasing ionic strength had no effect on the rate, but decreasing dielectric constant of the medium decreased the rate. The oxidation reaction proceeds via a protonated chromium(VI) species, which forms a complex with dimedone. The latter decomposes in a slow step to give a free radical derived from dimedone and chromium(V), which is followed, by subsequent fast steps to give the products. The reaction constants involved in the mechanism have been evaluated. There is good agreement between the observed and calculated rate constants under different experimental conditions. Investigations at different temperatures allowed the determination of the activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the proposed mechanism.
Kinetic Study of the Esterification of Acetic Acid with 1-Butanol Catalysed by Alumina-Supported Tungstophosphoric Acid
Authors: Sert Emine , Atalay Ferhan Sami
Published: September 2010

The kinetics of the esterification of acetic acid with 1-butanol in the presence of alumina-supported tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) was studied. The uncatalysed reaction was shown to proceed by a second-order mechanism. In the presence of the catalyst, the reaction was found to occur between an adsorbed alcohol molecule and a molecule of acid in the bulk fluid (Eley–Rideal mechanism). It was found that alumina-supported TPA is suitable for this reaction because the activation energy was reduced from 58.0 to 37.3 kJ mol−1. The catalyst was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, nitrogen adsorption study and IR spectroscopy.
Pyridinium based amphiphilic hydrogelators as potential antibacterial agents
Authors: Brahmachari Sayanti , Debnath Sisir , Dutta Sounak , Das Prasanta Kumar
Published: September 2010

The numerous applications of hydrogelators have led to rapid expansion of this field. In the present work we report the facile synthesis of amphiphilic hydrogelators having a quaternary pyridinium unit coupled to a hydrophobic long alkyl chain through an amide bond. Different amphiphiles with various hydrophobic chain length and polar head groups were rationally designed and synthesized to develop a structure-property relation. A judicious combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments led to the development of pyridinium based amphiphilic hydrogelators having a minimum gelation concentration of 1.7%, w/v. Field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), photoluminescence, FTIR studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 2D NOESY experiments were carried out to elucidate the different non-covalent interactions responsible for the self-assembled gelation. The formation of three-dimensional supramolecular aggregates originates from the interdigitated bilayer packing of the amphiphile leading to the development of an efficient hydrogel. Interestingly, the presence of the pyridinium scaffold along with the long alkyl chain render these amphiphiles inherently antibacterial. The amphiphilic hydrogelators exhibited high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 0.4 μg/mL. Cytotoxicity tests using MTT assay showed 50% NIH3T3 cell viability with hydrogelating amphiphile 2 up to 100 μg/mL.
Chain stopper engineering for hydrogen bonded supramolecular polymers
Authors: Pinault Thomas , Andrioletti Bruno , Bouteiller Laurent
Published: September 2010

Supramolecular polymers are linear chains of low molar mass monomers held together by reversible and directional non-covalent interactions, which can form gels or highly viscous solutions if the self-assembled chains are sufficiently long and rigid. The viscosity of these solutions can be controlled by adding monofunctional compounds, which interact with the chain extremities: chain stoppers. We have synthesized new substituted ureas and thioureas and tested them as chain stoppers for a bis-urea based supramolecular polymer. In particular, the bis-thiourea analogue of the bis-urea monomer is shown not to form a supramolecular polymer, but a good chain stopper, because it is a strong hydrogen bond donor and a weak acceptor. Moreover, all substituted ureas tested reduce the viscosity of the supramolecular polymer solutions, but the best chain stopper is obtained when two hydrogen bond acceptors are placed in the same relative position as for the monomer and when no hydrogen bond donor is present.
Précarité et vulnérabilité identitaires à l'adolescence
Authors: Roussillon René
Published: September 2010

Résumé L’auteur propose une théorie de l’adolescence fondée sur la nécessaire révolution subjective introduite par l’émergence de la potentialité orgasmique liée à la maturation biologique de la puberté. Mais celle-ci est d’abord vécue passivement car « imposée » à l’adolescent par la biologie. c’est dans le travail de réappropriation subjective auquel l’adolescent est alors conduit qu’il faut situer le rapport de l’adolescent à la mort et aux différentes formes que la rencontre avec celle-ci produit. confronté à la question de la mort, l’adolescent va mobiliser les potentialités de l’agir pour tenter de différencier les registres psychiques menacés de confusion par les aléas de cette rencontre et tenter d’introduire des limites en s’étayant sur celles du corps.
« Je voudrais pas crever avant d'avoir goûté la saveur de la mort… »
Authors: Di Rocco Vincent
Published: September 2010

Résumé À partir d’une clinique un peu particulière, faite de fragments et de rencontres improbables, avec un adolescent vivant une période marquée par des conduites à risque dans un contexte de violence avant de devenir un professionnel du ski « extrême », je propose d’aborder la question de la mort à l’adolescence, non à partir d’une réflexion sur la perte et le deuil, mais comme une figure essentielle de l’irreprésentable organisant des conduites et des pratiques à risque à l’adolescence. dans cette approche, la mort réunit les figures de l’inéluctable et de l’aléatoire en confrontant à l’irreprésentable de sa propre mort. d’où une relecture de l’approche classique du risque à travers la notion de conduite ordalique, à valeur d’épreuve narcissique, au profit d’une approche où la prise de risque est considérée comme une tentative de mise en scène d’un rapport intime avec la mort, l’irreprésentable de sa propre mort. cette dynamique prend corps dans une « clinique de l’instant » où ce qui se vit dans l’acte ne trouve pas son issue dans la réalisation de cet acte. il s’agit alors d’une tentative confuse d’exprimer, en l’éprouvant, un vécu resté en errance.
Un travail de l'adolescence impossible : entre mort, délire et création
Authors: Flémal Simon , Lefebvre Alex
Published: September 2010

Résumé À travers les remaniements psychiques qu’elle préside, l’adolescence convoque le sujet pubertaire dans la double tâche de s’extraire des passions infantiles ainsi que de faire l’expérience de nouvelles modalités d’accomplissement pulsionnel. afin de rendre compte de cette implication subjective spécifique au processus adolescentaire, les auteurs proposent le concept de « travail de l’adolescence ». En se basant sur une vignette clinique, le présent texte développe les principales propriétés de ce travail de l’adolescence. et ce, dans les circonstances d’une adolescence impossible en raison de l’enkystement d’une problématique archaïque au sein du fonctionnement psychique du sujet. par le biais des opérations défensives mises en œuvre, telles que l’émergence délirante et la production artistique, le travail de l’adolescence est ainsi investigué dans le cas d’un envahissement maternel traumatique venant perturber la dynamique des enjeux identitaires.
Mort du père et impasse de l'élaboration des vœux parricides à l'adolescence
Authors: Houssier Florian
Published: September 2010

Résumé À la différence des vœux incestueux, les vœux de mort envers le parent de même sexe restent dans la sphère fantasmatique et ne sont pas destinés à trouver une voie de réalisation. Comment élaborer le meurtre symbolique d’un père décédé accidentellement, investi d’une intense ambivalence avant sa disparition ? C’est la problématique rencontrée par Paul, jeune homme de dix-neuf ans ; les extraits de sa psychothérapie montrent notamment comment le maintien de l’idéalisation d’un père devenu une icône contribue à l’impossibilité d’élaborer cette perte.
Les blogueuses pro-ana. Des idéologues de la maigreur sur internet
Authors: Windels Marie
Published: September 2010

Résumé Les blogueuses pro-ana , communauté de jeunes femmes, échangent leurs méthodes d’amaigrissement et partagent leur combat contre la nourriture via Internet. Leurs blogs ont déclenché l’émoi de l’opinion publique, provoquant la promulgation d’une loi en avril 2008. Nous verrons que ces blogs, bien qu’incitant à la maigreur, ne sont pas tant créés par des jeunes femmes cachexiques que par des personnes installées dans l’anorexie/boulimie. En produisant un blog pro-ana, elles demandent d’une part, à être soutenues pour repousser leurs accès boulimiques et d’autre part, à être reconnues pour leur appartenance à une communauté.
Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Alter the Antitumor Activity of CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotides in a Mouse Model of Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Sorrentino Rosalinda , Morello Silvana , Luciano Antonio , Crother Timothy R. , Maiolino Piera , Bonavita Eduardo , Arra Claudio , Adcock Ian M. , Arditi Moshe , Pinto Aldo
Published: September 2010

The effect of CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG) has been studied on a number of tumors. Although CpG may facilitate tumor regression in mouse models of melanoma, its activity in lung cancer is unclear. The aim of our study was to elucidate the effect of CpG (0.5–50 μg/mouse) in a mouse model of Lewis lung carcinoma cell-induced lung cancer. Lung tumor growth increased at 3 and 7 d after a single administration of CpG. This was associated with a greater influx of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), immature myeloid dendritic cells, and greater recruitment of regulatory T cells. Depletion of pDCs using a specific Ab (m927) reversed the immune-suppressive environment and resulted in a decreased lung tumor burden, accompanied by a greater influx of active myeloid dendritic cells and CD8+ T cells, and a higher production of Th1- and Th17-like cytokines. Furthermore, the rate of apoptosis in the lungs of mice treated with CpG increased following the depletion of pDCs. CpG treatment alone does not lead to tumor regression in the lung. However, ablation of pDCs renders CpG a good adjuvant for lung cancer chemotherapy in this experimental model.
Antigen Receptor Allelic Exclusion: An Update and Reappraisal
Authors: Brady Brenna L. , Steinel Natalie C. , Bassing Craig H.
Published: September 2010

Most lymphocytes express cell surface Ag receptor chains from single alleles of distinct Ig or TCR loci. Since the identification of Ag receptor allelic exclusion, the importance of this process and the precise molecular mechanisms by which it is achieved have remained enigmatic. This brief review summarizes current knowledge of the extent to which Ig and TCR loci are subject to allelic exclusion. Recent progress in studying and defining mechanistic steps and molecules that may control the monoallelic initiation and subsequent inhibition of V-to-(D)-J recombination is outlined using the mouse TCRβ locus as a model with frequent comparisons to the mouse IgH and Igκ loci. Potential consequences of defects in mechanisms that control Ag receptor allelic exclusion and a reappraisal of the physiologic relevance of this immunologic process also are discussed.
Hallmark Features of Immunosenescence Are Absent in Familial Longevity
Authors: Derhovanessian Evelyna , Maier Andrea B. , Beck Robert , Jahn Gerhard , Hähnel Karin , Slagboom P. Eline , de Craen Anton J. M. , Westendorp Rudi G. J. , Pawelec Graham
Published: September 2010

Seropositivity for CMV is one of the parameters of the “immune risk profile” associated with mortality in longitudinal studies of the very elderly and may accelerate immunosenescence. Thus, any genetic factors influencing human longevity may be associated with susceptibility to CMV and CMV-accelerated immunosenescence. To test this, we analyzed long-lived families in the Leiden Longevity Study (LLS) in which offspring enjoy a 30% reduced standardized mortality rate, possibly owing to genetic enrichment. Serum C-reactive protein levels and the frequency of different T cell subsets were compared between 97 LLS offspring and 97 controls (their partners, representing the normal population). We also determined the capacity of T cells to respond against immunodominant Ags from CMV in a smaller group of LLS subjects and controls. CMV infection was strongly associated with an age-related reduction in the frequency of naive T cells and an accumulation of CD45RA–re-expressing and late-differentiated effector memory T cells in the general population, but not in members of long-lived families. The latter also had significantly lower C-reactive protein levels, indicating a lower proinflammatory status compared with CMV-infected controls. Finally, T cells from a higher proportion of offspring mounted a proliferative response against CMV Ags, which was also of greater magnitude and broader specificity than controls. Our data suggest that these rare individuals genetically enriched for longevity are less susceptible to the characteristic CMV-associated age-driven immune alterations commonly considered to be hallmarks of immunosenescence, which might reflect better immunological control of the virus and contribute to their decreased mortality rate.
Fungal Laccases: Production, Function, and Applications in Food Processing
Authors: Brijwani Khushal , Rigdon Anne , Vadlani Praveen V.
Published: September 2010

Laccases are increasingly being used in food industry for production of cost-effective and healthy foods. To sustain this trend widespread availability of laccase and efficient production systems have to be developed. The present paper delineate the recent developments that have taken place in understanding the role of laccase action, efforts in overexpression of laccase in heterologous systems, and various cultivation techniques that have been developed to efficiently produce laccase at the industrial scale. The role of laccase in different food industries, particularly the recent developments in laccase application for food processing, is discussed.
Cryopreservation of Mammalian Oocyte for Conservation of Animal Genetics
Authors: Prentice Jennifer R. , Anzar Muhammad
Published: September 2010

The preservation of the female portion of livestock genetics has become an international priority; however,in situconservation strategies are extremely expensive. Therefore, efforts are increasingly focusing on the development of a reliable cryopreservation method for oocytes, in order to establish ova banks. Slow freezing, a common method for cryopreservation of oocytes, causes osmotic shock (solution effect) and intracellular ice crystallization leading to cell damage. Vitrification is an alternative method for cryopreservation in which cells are exposed to a higher concentration of cryoprotectants and frozen with an ultra rapid freezing velocity, resulting in an ice crystal free, solid glass-like structure. Presently, vitrification is a popular method for cryopreservation of embryos. However, vitrification of oocytes is still challenging due to their complex structure and sensitivity to chilling.
Serum NGAL to Clinically Distinguish Cholangiocarcinoma from Benign Biliary Tract Diseases
Authors: Leelawat Kawin , Narong Siriluck , Wannaprasert Jerasak , Leelawat Surang
Published: September 2010

Aim. To determine whether the serum level of NGAL can discriminate cholangiocarcinoma from benign biliary tract disease in patients.Methods. This study was performed according to a prospective-specimen-collection, retrospective-blinded-evaluation (PRoBE) design. A total of 50 cholangiocarcinoma and 50 benign biliary tract disease cases were randomly selected from a cohort of consecutive cases of biliary tract diseases. Their sera were measured for the levels of NGAL and the widely used serum cholangiocarcinoma marker, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9).Results. The serum CA19-9 and NGAL levels were significantly elevated in cholangiocarcinoma patients (CA19-9: , NGAL: ). The area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma of CA19-9 and NGAL was 0.81 and 0.79, respectively.Conclusion. The diagnostic accuracy of serum NGAL and CA19-9 makes them good candidates for use as biomarkers to discriminate cholangiocarcinoma patients from benign biliary tract disease patients.
Inservice Needs of Utah Agriculture Teachers
Authors: Sorensen Tyson J. , Tarpley Rudy S. , Warnick Brian K.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize the inservice needs of agriculture teachers in the state of Utah. A list of 31 modified competencies from previous research and from the Utah State Office of Education was developed to assess the needs of Utah agriculture teachers. The Borich needs assessment model was used to determine the perceived level of importance and ability of agricultural instructors regarding the 31 competencies. All inservice needs were analyzed and ranked using mean weighted discrepancy scores (MWDS). The top five competencies in which agriculture teachers were most in need of inservice were: (a) utilizing the community in providing opportunities for students i.e. advisory committees, agricultural organizations, etc.; (b) developing supervised agricultural experience (SAE) opportunities for all students; (c) identifying and preparing FFA proficiency award applications; (d) planning and implementing student recruitment activities; and (e) teaching learning disabled students. In contrast, the five competencies in which agriculture teachers required the least amount of inservice were: (a) describing how to set up the meeting room; (b) conducting parent/teacher conferences; (c) explaining the history and organization of the FFA; (d) explaining FFA degree areas; and (e) explaining proper dress and characteristics of a good FFA leader.
The Application of Supervisory Options for Instructional Leaders Framework Within the Fields of Agriculture, Science, Math and English Education
Authors: Stephens Carrie Ann , Little David
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine specific types of supervisory methods used in diverse academic subjects to fulfill personal and professional growth in student teachers and interns. The study sought to compare agriculture, science, math and English teacher educator characteristics and the extent to which the three levels of the Supervisory Options for Instructional Leaders (SOIL) Framework— structured, moderately structured, and relatively unstructured—were used. Surveys were collected from 196 student teacher and intern supervisors throughout the United States. The study revealed that demographic associations appeared to have no bearing on the type of supervisory methods used. Supervisors were most likely to always use moderately structured levels of supervision with student teachers and interns who taught English, science, and agricultural education. Supervisors of math instruction reported using moderately structured levels of supervision often as opposed to always. The relatively unstructured level of supervision was virtually never utilized by supervisors of any subject areas.
Towards a Competency–based Extension Education Curriculum: A Delphi Study
Authors: Harder Amy , Place Nick T. , Scheer Scott D.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the competencies entry–level Extension professionals will need in 2015. A Delphi panel of nationally recognized Cooperative Extension experts was developed to collect data. The 12 panelists reached consensus on 19 competencies. There were two key groupings among the competencies: extension program development process and core interpersonal skills. Cooperative Extension should examine ways to align its efforts with the competencies identified from this study in order to pro–actively plan for a successful future.
Defining Agricultural Education Instructional Quality
Authors: Jenkins Charles Cordell , Kitchel Tracy , Hains Bryan
Published: September 2010

Current legislation, theory and concepts build the framework for this study in understanding how quality instruction is defined in education in general. In particular, the Fenstermacher and Richardson (2005) definitions of good, quality and successful teaching were used as the lens to interpret the findings. The study takes an exploratory approach at answering “what are specific indicators of quality instruction in a school based agricultural education program?” by using the consensus–building Delphi technique. The study found that experts in the field of agricultural education agreed upon 37 quality indicators. These indicators fell within a range of teaching aspects as defined by Fenstermacher and Richardson. Approximately 50 items from the open–ended round of the Delphi did not reach consensus among the expert panel.
Leadership Courses Required in Agricultural Teacher Education Programs
Authors: Simonsen Jon C. , Birkenholz Robert J.
Published: September 2010

Leadership development has been an important component of secondary agricultural education programs since the FFA was first organized in 1928. Student leadership development continues to occur through the FFA; however, leadership has also become an element of the agricultural education instructional program. There was a need to examine how agriculture teachers are being prepared to teach about leadership. This study was conducted to describe leadership courses required in agricultural teacher education programs throughout the United States. Most agricultural teacher education programs did not require courses in leadership. Furthermore, for programs that required leadership coursework, the content topics, grading components, and required textbooks varied widely. Required leadership courses were typically taught in the same department that administered the agricultural teacher preparation program. Based on findings of this study, agricultural teacher educators need to identify a core of leadership content topics that should be taught in secondary agricultural education programs in order to ensure that agricultural teacher education candidates are adequately prepared to teach leadership. Programs that do not require leadership courses should examine their curriculum to determine if their teacher candidates are adequately prepared to teach leadership content in a secondary agricultural education program.
CO2 and its correlation with CO at a rural site near Beijing: implications for combustion efficiency in China
Authors: Wang Y. , Munger J. W. , Xu S. , McElroy M. B. , Hao J. , Nielsen C. P. , Ma H.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. Although China has surpassed the United States as the world's largest carbon dioxide emitter, in situ measurements of atmospheric CO2 have been sparse in China. This paper analyzes hourly CO2 and its correlation with CO at Miyun, a rural site near Beijing, over a period of 51 months (Dec 2004 through Feb 2009). The CO2-CO correlation analysis evaluated separately for each hour of the day provides useful information with statistical significance even in the growing season. We found that the intercept, representing the initial condition imposed by global distribution of CO2 with influence of photosynthesis and respiration, exhibits diurnal cycles differing by season. The background CO2 (CO2,b) derived from Miyun observations is comparable to CO2 observed at a Mongolian background station to the northwest. Annual growth of overall mean CO2 at Miyun is estimated at 2.7 ppm yr−1 while that of CO2,b is only 1.7 ppm yr−1 similar to the mean growth rate at northern mid-latitude background stations. This suggests a relatively faster increase in the regional CO2 sources in China than the global average, consistent with bottom-up studies of CO2 emissions. For air masses with trajectories through the northern China boundary layer, mean winter CO2/CO correlation slopes (dCO2/dCO) increased by 2.8 ± 0.9 ppmv/ppmv or 11% from 2005–2006 to 2007–2008, with CO2 increasing by 1.8 ppmv. The increase in dCO2/dCO indicates improvement in overall combustion efficiency over northern China after winter 2007, attributed to pollution reduction measures associated with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The observed CO2/CO ratio at Miyun is 25% higher than the bottom-up CO2/CO emission ratio, suggesting a contribution of respired CO2 from urban residents as well as agricultural soils and livestock in the observations and uncertainty in the emission estimates.
Validation of cloud property retrievals with simulated satellite radiances: a case study for SEVIRI
Authors: Bugliaro L. , Zinner T. , Keil C. , Mayer B. , Hollmann R. , Reuter M. , Thomas W.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. Validation of cloud properties retrieved from passive spaceborne imagers is essential for cloud and climate applications but complicated due to the large differences in scale and observation geometry between the satellite footprint and the independent ground based or airborne observations. Here we illustrate and demonstrate an alternative approach: starting from the output of the COSMO-EU weather model of the German Weather Service realistic three-dimensional cloud structures at a spatial scale of 2.33 km are produced by statistical downscaling and microphysical properties are associated to them. The resulting data sets are used as input to the one-dimensional radiative transfer model libRadtran to simulate radiance observations for all eleven low resolution channels of MET-8/SEVIRI. At this point, both cloud properties and satellite radiances are known such that cloud property retrieval results can be tested and tuned against the objective input "truth". As an example, we validate a cloud property retrieval of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of DLR and that of EUMETSAT's Climate Monitoring Science Application Facility CMSAF. Cloud detection and cloud phase assignment perform well. By both retrievals 88% of the pixels are correctly classified as clear or cloudy. The DLR algorithm assigns the correct thermodynamic phase to 95% of the cloudy pixels and the CMSAF retrieval to 79%. Cloud top temperature is slightly overestimated by the DLR code (+3.1 K mean difference with a standard deviation of 10.6 K) and underestimated by the CMSAF code (−16.4 K with a standard deviation of 37.3 K). Both retrievals account reasonably well for the distribution of optical thickness for both water and ice clouds, with a tendency to underestimation for the DLR and to overestimation for the CMSAF algorithm. Cloud effective radii are most difficult to evaluate and not always the algorithms are able to produce realistic values. The CMSAF cloud water path, which is a combination of the last two quantities, is particularly accurate for ice clouds, while water clouds are overestimated, mainly because of the effective radius overestimation for water clouds.
Chemical composition of volatile and extractive compounds of pine and spruce leaf litter in the initial stages of decomposition
Authors: Isidorov V. A. , Smolewska M. , Purzyńska-Pugacewicz A. , Tyszkiewicz Z.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. A litter bag experiment was conducted to analyze changes in chemical composition in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) needle litter in the first stages of decomposition in natural conditions. The emission rates of monoterpenes and concentration of extractive secondary metabolites were determined five times over a 16-month period. It has been shown that pine and spruce needle litter in the first stages of decomposition (up to 165 days) emits monoterpene hydrocarbons into the gas phase with the rates comparable to those in emissions from live needles of these trees. This suggests that leaf litter is an important source of atmospheric terpenes. It has also been proved that the litter contains considerable amounts of non-volatile substances that can be precursors of oxidized volatile compounds formed as a result of enzymatic reactions. Non-volatile but water soluble secondary metabolites of the leaf litter may be involved in nutrient cycling and have an influence on soil community.
Intensive Farming of Animals in 2020
Authors: Gregory N.G.
Published: September 2010

Several factors will be important in determining the future of the intensive livestock industry. One is the way in which world population changes. Today, there are about 5.9 billion people in the world, 800 million of whom are hungry. In the future, the world population is expected to stabilize somewhere between 8 and 11 billion. Food production will have to increase by at least 40%, and maybe as much as 80%, to meet this increase. The demand for meat from feedlot cattle and intensively reared pigs and poultry is likely to rise. A second influence is the way investments are made in new technologies. Today's investments will yield tomorrow's technologies, and we should be able to identify some imminent changes by examining present venture capital investment portfolios. Another factor is the attitude that the large corporate meat and livestock companies have towards their industry. These large companies control and own a large part of the industry, and their attitudes and business structure help to determine the behaviour of the rest of the industry. Their behaviour is being affected by public attitudes towards big business and modern technologies. This paper focuses on some of the up-and-coming technologies within the context of that social and business structure. The technologies and potential changes described in this paper are new animal feed technologies, growth hormone transgenics, livestock breeding, nutraceuticals, livestock pharmaceuticals, segregated early weaning, legislation on biotechnology, the structure of the intensive livestock industry, and public attitudes towards biotechnology and the intensive livestock industry.
Protecting and Promoting Regional Speciality Food and Drink Products in the European Union
Authors: Ilbery Brian , Kneafsey Moya , Bamford Mike
Published: September 2010

Despite the increasingly globalized nature of food production and consumption patterns, the demand for regional speciality food and drink products is also increasing. Yet little research exists that examines the link between specific products and particular places. This paper reports on an EU regulation aimed at ‘protecting’ and ‘promoting’ food and drink products with a recognizable geographical origin. Results indicate quite marked national and regional variations in patterns of uptake, reflecting differences in both the cultural significance of regional foods in Europe and the importance of producer cooperatives. There is a real danger that the regulation will benefit larger producers and retailers, rather than genuine small-scale businesses.
Understanding and Using Yield Maps — An Analytical Tool for Their Interpretation
Authors: Lark R. Murray , Wheeler Helen C.
Published: September 2010

Yield mapping is increasingly used on combinable crops, but the agronomic questions about how the variability that it reveals should be managed remain largely unanswered. Yield maps are complex and often reveal patterns of variability that change markedly from season to season. This raises questions as to how useful they really are. An approach to analysing sequences of yield maps is described, which aims to simplify their complexity by identifying broad regions within which the season-to-season variation in yield is similar. Such regions are likely to reflect the effects of similar limiting factors, and so may provide a basis for cost-effective investigations of the causes of variable yields and identification of an appropriate response.
Investigation into the Prospects of Five Novel Oilseed Crops within Europe
Authors: Marvin Hans J.P. , Mastebroek H. Dick , Becu Dorothée M.S. , Janssens Rob J.J.
Published: September 2010

The economic potential in Europe of five novel oilseed crops for applications within the chemical industry, particularly in paints and lubricants, was investigated within a multidisciplinary integrated research and development project. The entire production chain was subjected to a study. The following five oilseed crops were evaluated: Lunaria annua, Calendula officinalis, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Lesquerella grandiflora and Euphorbia lagascae. It was concluded that Calendula was nearest to commercialization, and that Calendula oil showed excellent behaviour in several paint formulations. Lunaria and Euphorbia oils showed good lubricating performance, but feasible commercial production of these oils does not seem realistic in the near future.
The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Agro- and Natural Ecosystems
Authors: Dodd J.C.
Published: September 2010

Symbionts called ‘mycorrhizal fungi’ occur in most biomes on earth, and are a fundamental reason for plant growth and development on the planet. The most common group of mycorrhizal fungi is that of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which colonize the roots of over 80% of land plant families, but they cannot as yet be cultured away from the host plant. AMF are primarily responsible for nutrient transfer from soil to plant, but have other roles such as soil aggregation, protection of plants against drought stress and soil pathogens, and increasing plant diversity. This is achieved by the growth of their fungal mycelium within a host root and out into the soil beyond. There is an urgent need to study the below-ground microbiology of soils in agro-and natural ecosystems, as AMF are pivotal in closing nutrient cycles and have a proven multifunctional role in soil–plant interactions. More information is also needed on the biodiversity and functional diversity of these microbes and their interactions with crops and plants.
Agroforestry: An Ecofriendly Land-Use System for Insect Management
Authors: Shanker Chitra , Solanki K.R.
Published: September 2010

Agroforestry is an ecofriendly land-use system that is favourable for the management of insect pests and beneficial insects. The biodiversity found under agroforestry is a close mimic of the natural ecosystem and is amenable to integrated pest management principles, especially biopesticides and biological control. These techniques in turn provide an ecofriendly basis for economic ventures such as apiculture, sericulture and lac culture. The profitability of these practices under agroforestry is discussed in this paper.
Domestication of Yams (Dioscorea Cayenensis-Rotundata) within the Bariba Ethnic Group in Benin
Authors: Dumont R. , Vernier P.
Published: September 2010

The domestication of yams ( Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is still an active process in west Africa, but so far no specific research has been conducted to collect the knowledge held by traditional societies in which the yam is an important part of civilization. Personal observations made in the zone from Guinea to northern Cameroon, however, long ago convinced the authors that rural populations often have very detailed knowledge concerning the domestication of yams. This is the case in particular with the Bariba ethnic group in Benin. Nearly half of the yam growers questioned were familiar with the domestication process, which, moreover, is practised today by nearly 5% of the farmers in the study group. There are two stages to the domestication of yams. First, the tubers of wild yams collected in the bush, locally called ‘dika’, are improved to give an appropriate morphology for agriculture. The cultivation techniques used to do this have never before been described. The second stage in domestication is a clonal selection from the germplasm with the improved tubers. This generally produces cultivars very similar to those already used in agriculture, but it can also produce new varieties. In the short term, it can be described as intravarietal adaptive diversification. In the long term, it probably contributes towards the evolution of the species.
Identifying the Audience and the Media of Communication: Targeting Technology Transfer in the UK Cereals Industry
Authors: Wilson Paul , Hadley David , Asby Carol
Published: September 2010

In this paper the authors present an analysis of UK cereal growers' use and perceptions of different methods of technology transfer, together with their preferences for methods of receiving technical information in the future. Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews with 79 cereal growers. Using the variables, farm size, age and education, growers have been classified into eight homogeneous groups. Each group's preference for means of receiving information about new developments in crop husbandry in the near future is identified. Younger growers who have undertaken further or higher education and who have large farms would prefer to receive information from a variety of sources including independent advisers, Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) literature, conferences, roadshows and local agronomy groups. By contrast, older growers who have small farms and have not undertaken further or higher education have a preference for receiving information from the farming press, other growers and merchants' representatives.
Pests and Poverty: The Continuing Need for Crop Protection Research
Authors: Lenné Jill
Published: September 2010

The UK Department for International Development's White Paper and Strategies for Achieving the International Development Targets recognize that knowledge and technology underpin development and that the elimination of poverty, improved economic growth and protection of the environment can be achieved through support for research and development that enhances the sustainable livelihoods of poor people. This philosophy is also the foundation of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) future strategy, A New Vision for 2010. The DFID Crop Protection Programme (CPP) is committed to the development and promotion of socially and environmentally acceptable management technologies to reduce crop losses from pests in developing countries. Improved pest management is an essential part of a holistic approach to crop improvement, substantially contributing to poverty elimination, enhanced livelihood security and reduced environmental degradation. This article reports the progress being made in the development, application and promotion of a broad range of pest management technologies that farmers are adopting, especially in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, home to most of the world's poorest people. Without the advances made by agricultural research, including crop protection technologies, during the past 30–40 years, the effects of poverty would have been far worse. Further support is essential to meet the challenges of producing even more food from even less land using technologies that have minimal adverse environmental impacts and that contribute to poverty elimination. Technologies such as host plant resistance, judicious use of pesticides, biological control and integrated pest management will have an increasingly important role to play in the future.
Consumer Concerns about Food
Authors: Gregory N.G.
Published: September 2010

This paper examines some of the food scares that have occurred during the past forty years. It looks at why food scares have become increasingly common, and why some countries are particularly affected. It then considers food buyers' attitudes towards food safety, environmental issues, animal welfare, organic foods and genetically modified foods, and the impact that those attitudes have had on food choice. It finishes with some thoughts on how food labelling and WTO measures could change in the future.
Selection and Breeding of Olive Cultivars
Authors: Guerin Jenny , Collins Graham , Sedgley Margaret
Published: September 2010

Although the Australian olive industry is at least 150 years old, it has not prospered until the last five years and the majority of olive products that are consumed are imported from Europe. Wild progeny, or ferals, have spread from abandoned orchards and now grow across large areas of southern Australia. The selection of superior olive varieties from this gene pool will help to sustain the renaissance of an Australian industry that is developing rapidly. The Olive Improvement Program at Adelaide University is focusing on several important areas: DNA fingerprinting for cultivar identification, olive oil tasting, selection and breeding of superior types, the biology of pollination, and genotype adaptation. The major objective of this programme is to enable Australian olive growers to produce world-class oils that are in demand both locally and for export.
Low-Cost Storage of Fresh Sweet Potatoes in Uganda: Lessons from Participatory and On-Station Approaches to Technology Choice and Adaptive Testing
Authors: Hall Andy J. , Devereau Andrew D.
Published: September 2010

Studies were undertaken to identify and test low-cost storage technology for fresh sweet potatoes and subsequently to apply this technology in the northern region of Uganda. In this region the emergence of cassava mosaic disease has made the technology relevant to the rural food system due to the need to extend the availability of sweet potatoes. The studies used a combination of on-station and on-farm trials to test the technical feasibility and social compatibility of low-cost storage technologies. The performance of the storage methods and the process by which technical options were chosen, developed and tested are discussed. It was found that, although the on-station trials provided broad guidelines for technology development, specific requirements needed to be devised in conjunction with farmers. The use of parallel on-station and on-farm trials, although partially contradictory, saved much time and hastened the technology-validation process.