bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Induction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) mRNA in bladders and spleens of mice after intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin
Authors: SHIN J S , PARK J H , KIM J D , LEE J M , KIM S J
Published: July 2010

Intravesical bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) therapy is highly effective in the therapy of carcinoma in situ of the bladder, but the mechanism of BCG immunotherapy is not clearly understood. We studied the production of TNF-n in spleens and bladders of mice after intravesical BCG or BCG/interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) instillation. Significant change of TNF-a mRNA expression of spleens and bladders of C3H/He mice was observed after intravesical BCG instillation, although intravesical IFN-γ therapy 3 days after BCG instillation to maintain the activated state of monocyte/ macrophage lineage cells did not show a significant change of TNF-α mRNA, compared with that of BCG therapy alone. Maximal production of TNF-α mRNA in spleens of mice was seen after the first or second intravesical BCG instillation, and production of TNF-α mRNA in bladders was also increased after intravesical BCG instillation. The increment of TNF-α production by BCG stimulation in HL-60, a promyelocytic leukaemic cell line, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro may support the in vivo effect of BCG therapy on the bladder. These data show that local production of TNF-a as well as systemic production by intravesical BCG treatment may correlate with one of the mechanisms of BCG immunotherapy of superficial bladder cancer.
Presence of mRNA for interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in blood mononuclear cells is associated with an active stage I sarcoidosis
Authors: SWIDER C , LABA A , MONIEWSKA A , GERDES J , FLAD H-D , LANGE A
Published: July 2010

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells obtained from sarcoidosis patients were investigated for the presence of mRNA for IFN-γ. RNA was extracted from freshly obtained cells. In 12 cases PBMC were studied and in seven cases BAL cells were also available for concomitant investigation. In eight patients mRNA for IFN-γ was present in blood and was significantly associated with stage I disease (P=0.030). By comparison, BAL cells were less frequently positive for IFN-γ transcripts (P=0.039). Only one patient had simultaneous expression of IFN-γ gene in blood and BAL cells. All other patients including four positive in blood were negative in BAL. The presence of IFN-γ transcripts in PBMC was significantly associated with the capacity of these cells to generate IFN-γ in unstimulated cultures. FBMC from patients showing IFN-γ mRNA in blood were frequently high IFN-γ producers in anti-CD3 MoAb-stimulated cultures.
Serological distinction of integral plasma membrane proteins as a class of mycobacterial antigens and their relevance for human T cell activation
Authors: Mehrotra J , Bisht D , Tiwari V D , Sinha S
Published: July 2010

This study pertains to classification and antigenic analysis of mycobacterial plasma membrane proteins in relation to human T cell proliferative responses, using a ‘fast grower’ Mycobacterium fortuitum as model. Membrane vesicles, prepared by sonication and differential centrifugation, were subjected to biphasic Triton X-1 14 extraction for isolation of integral (detergent phase) and peripheral (aqueous phase) proteins. Neither protein pool showed any appreciable overlap serologically. SDS-PAGE showed five prominent bands in peripheral and three in the integral protein pool, whereas immunoblotting with rabbit antisera identified only two major antigens (60 and 67kD) in the former and five (24, 34, 42, 51 and 54kD) in the latter, ELISA with a panel of anti-mycobacterial MoAbs revealed that nine out of 12 previously known antigens were present in the peripheral protein pool. Only two of them (33 and 40 kD) were additionally detected amongst integral proteins. The membrane-associated immunosuppressive moiety lipoarabinomannan was semiquantitatively located in aqueous phase. In bulk T cell proliferation assays, seven out of 10 subjects belonging to a ‘responder’ background (BT-BB leprosy patients and healthy contacts) showed high responses for Myco. fortuitum antigens. Proliferative response with integral proteins was comparable to that with whole membrane, hut it was significantly higher (P < 0.0005) than t he response with peripheral proteins. The distinction and relevance of integral membrane proteins as a class of mycobacterial antigens make them worthy of consideration in a subunit vaccine design.
Human T cell responses to peptide epitopes of the 16-kD antigen in tuberculosis
Authors: Friscia G , Vordermeier H M , Pasvol G , Harris D P , Moreno C , Ivanyi J
Published: July 2010

The 16-kD protein constituent of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex has been known mainly for its prominent serological immunogenicity and species specificity in tuberculous infection. In this study, we evaluated the T cell Immune repertoire in 27 sensitized healthy subjects and 46 patients with active tuberculosis using 14 overlapping 20mer peptides spanning the entire sequence of this protein. Four of the tested peptides individually stimulated proliferation of blood mono-nuclear cells from more than 50% of healthy controls. Tuberculosis patients reacted to a narrower peptide range and with a 17-27% lower rate of responses to the four most immunogenic peptides but these differences do not distinguish in any simple way between the T cell repertoire of patients and sensitized healthy subjects. The most immunogenic peptide (91-110) was recognized by 67% of healthy subjects and by 50% of tuberculosis patients. Importantly, several non-responders to this peptide were stimulated with the other three most permissive peptides with sequences of 111 - 130,71-91 and 21-40. resulting in an overall response rate to at least one of these four peptides of 93% in healthy controls and 74% in tuberculosis patients. In view of this additive effect between the most immunogenic peptides, their combined use may achieve sufficient sensitivity in a test aimed at the specific discrimination between infected and non-infected healthy subjects. The major interest in testing with these peptides rests in their species specificity, which is not achieved using purified protein derivative (PPD).
Anti-M4 antibodies measured by a sulphite oxidase ELISA in patients with both anti-centromere and anti-M2 antibodies
Authors: Bunn CC , Mcmorrow M
Published: July 2010

In this study the clinical features of patients with a serological overlap between scleroderma and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) were analysed. The entity was defined by the presence of both anti-centromere antibody (ACA) and anti-mitochrondrial antibodies to the M2 antigen, pyruvate dehydrogenase. In addition the sera were assayed for anti-mitochondrial antibodies to the M4 antigen measured by an ELISA to sulphite oxidase (SO). First, anti-M2 was detected, not only in 58 out of 60 patients with PBC but also in eight out 01 61 patients with ACA. These sera, together with sera from 53 normals and 99 from patients with various connective tissue diseases were then evaluated for anti-SO. which has been proposed by Klein and Berg to be a marker of progressive liver disease. Again, a high proportion (62%) of sera from patients with PBC were positive for anti-SO. and three of the eight patients who had ACA and anti-M2 also reacted with SO. We subsequently identified and included for study a further 10 patients positive for ACA and anti-M2, making a total of 18 patients with this profile. Features of limited cutaneous scleroderma were present in 94% and evidence of liver disease in 56%. Eight out of the 18 patients had anti-SO, and of these four had PBC. two had abnormal biochemical liver function tests but two had no evidence of liver disease. These data confirm that detection of anti-SO is limited to an anti-M2 sub-population, and may be a marker for liver involvement with prognostic significance in scleroderma patients with ACA.
Expression of Fcγ and complement receptors in monocytes of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia and common variable immunodeficiency patients
Authors: Amoras A L B , Da Silva M T N , Zollner R L , Kanegane H , Miyawaki T , Vilela M M S
Published: July 2010

Recently we reported that monocyte phagocytosis and chemotaxis are impaired in X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) and common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) patients. Few data exist on the in vivo expression of receptors for the constant region of immunoglobulin (IgG) (FcγR) and complement receptors (CR) in these patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of FcγR and CR on monocytes from XLA and CVI patients and compare it to that of healthy controls. Whole blood samples were obtained from 10 patients with XLA, 12 with CVI and 18 healthy controls. Monocyte phenotype was determined by flow cytometry with gating on CD14+ cells. Surface expression of FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32) and FcγRIII (CD16), CR1 (CD35) and CR3 (CD11b and CD18) was measured by determination of the proportion of CD14+ cells positive for each receptor and by receptor density. Compared to controls, a significantly higher percentage of CD16 and CD35+ monocytes from XLA (P = 0·002 and P = 0·007, respectively) were observed. The relative fluorescence intensity (RFI) expression of FcyRII (CD32) and FcyRIII (CD16) were significantly lower on CVI monocytes compared to controls (P = 0·001 and P = 0·035, respectively). XLA patients, who have a reduction of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), showed normal or increased percentages of monocytes expressing Fcy and complement receptors. CVI patients, who have normal expression of Btk, showed reduced expression of CD16 and CD32 on monocytes. Inefficient chemotaxis and phagocytosis, reported previously in XLA patients, could be due to defects of cytoplasmatic transduction mechanisms.
Lactobacillus casei prevents the development of dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in Toll-like receptor 4 mutant mice
Authors: Chung Y W , Choi J H , Oh T-Y , Eun C S , Han D S
Published: July 2010

Probiotics, defined as live or attenuated bacteria or bacterial products, confer a significant health benefit to the host. Recently, they have been shown to be useful in the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease and infectious colitis. In this study, we investigated the effect of probiotics on the development of experimental colitis using Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) mutant (lps–/lps–) mice. TLR-4lps–/lps– and wild-type (WT) mice were given 2·5% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) in drinking water to induce colitis with or without Lactobacillus casei pretreatment. Clinical and histological activity of DSS-colitis was attenuated markedly both in TLR-4lps–/lps– and WT mice pretreated with L. casei. Interestingly, histological activity was less severe in TLR-4lps–/lps– mice than in WT mice. The levels of myeloperoxidase activity and interleukin (IL)-12p40 were attenuated in pretreated TLR-4lps–/lps– mice after DSS administration. By contrast, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 mRNA and protein expressions were increased markedly in pretreated TLR-4lps–/lps– mice. The current results suggest that L. casei has a preventive effect in the development of acute DSS-induced colitis and its action depends largely upon TLR-4 status. L. casei modulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines and down-regulates neutrophilic infiltration in the case of incomplete TLR-4 complex signalling.
Restoration of anti-tetanus toxoid responses in patients initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy with or without a boost immunization: an INITIO substudy
Authors:   the INITIO Trial International Co-ordinating Committee, Burton C T , Goodall R L , Samri A , Autran B , Kelleher A D , Poli G , Pantaleo G , Gotch F M , Imami N
Published: July 2010

INITIO is an open-labelled randomized trial evaluating first-line therapeutic strategies for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. In an immunology substudy a tetanus toxoid booster (TTB) immunization was planned for 24 weeks after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). All patients had received tetanus toxoid immunization in childhood. Generation of proliferative responses to tetanus toxoid was compared in two groups of patients, those receiving a protease inhibitor (PI)-sparing regimen (n = 21) and those receiving a PI-containing (n = 54) regimen. Fifty-two participants received a TTB immunization [PI-sparing (n = 15), PI-containing (n = 37)] and 23 participants did not [PI-sparing (n = 6) or PI-containing (n = 17)]. Cellular responses to tetanus antigen were monitored by lymphoproliferation at time of immunization and every 24 weeks to week 156. Proportions with a positive response (defined as stimulation index ≥ 3 and Δ counts per minute ≥ 3000) were compared at weeks 96 and 156. All analyses were intent-to-treat. Fifty-two participants had a TTB immunization at median 25 weeks; 23 patients did not. At weeks 96 and 156 there was no evidence of a difference in tetanus-specific responses, between those with or without TTB immunization (P = 0·2, P = 0·4). There was no difference in the proportion with response between those with PI-sparing or PI-containing regimens at both time-points (P = 0·8, P = 0·7). The proliferative response to tetanus toxoid was unaffected by initial HAART regimen. Anti-tetanus responses appear to reconstitute eventually in most patients over 156 weeks when treated successfully with HAART, irrespective of whether or not a TTB immunization has been administered.
Clinical Immunology Review Series: An approach to the patient with recurrent infections in childhood
Authors: Slatter M A , Gennery A R
Published: July 2010

Recurrent or persistent infection is the major manifestation of primary immunodeficiency, which also results in atypical infection with opportunistic organisms. Young children are also vulnerable to infection and recurrent infection is common. While most children with recurrent infection have a normal immunity, it is important to recognize the child with an underlying primary immunodeficiency and investigate and treat appropriately and yet not over investigate normal children. Prompt, accurate diagnosis directs the most appropriate treatment, and early and judicious use of prophylactic antibiotics and replacement immunoglobulin can prevent significant end organ damage and improve long-term outlook and quality of life. This paper describes important presenting features of primary immunodeficiency and indicates when further investigation is warranted.
Long-term anti-arthritic and anti-osteoporotic effects of raloxifene in established experimental postmenopausal polyarthritis
Authors: Jochems C , Lagerquist M , Håkansson C , Ohlsson C , Carlsten H
Published: July 2010

Both oestrogen deficiency and the inflammatory disease contribute to the generalized bone loss seen in postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Oestradiol and the selective oestrogen receptor modulator raloxifene have been shown to ameliorate the disease in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a well-established animal model for human RA. The aim of this study was to investigate whether raloxifene-treatment would be beneficial in long-term treatment of established CIA, both regarding anti-arthritic and anti-osteoporotic properties. Female dilute brown agouti mice were ovariectomized and CIA was induced. Raloxifene or vehicle treatment was administered 5 days per week, and the clinical arthritis score was evaluated continuously. At termination, bone mineral density was analysed, paws were collected for histological examination and sera were analysed for markers of bone and cartilage turnover, as well as antibodies to type II collagen and levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Treatment with raloxifene is beneficial in long-term treatment of established CIA. It hampers the disease severity and frequency, protects the joints from destruction and protects against the development of osteoporosis. The proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 was down-regulated in raloxifene-treated mice compared with controls. The serum levels of antibodies to collagen were not affected by raloxifene-treatment. Long-term treatment with raloxifene has both anti-arthritic and anti-osteoporotic effects in established experimental postmenopausal polyarthritis.
Local floral composition and the behaviour of pollinators: attraction to and foraging within experimental patches
Authors: LÁZARO AMPARO , TOTLAND ØRJAN
Published: July 2010

1. Understanding how foraging decisions take place at the local scale is relevant because they may directly affect the fitness of individual plants. However, little is known about how local diversity and density affect the foraging behaviour of most pollinator groups.

2. By introducing two potted plant species (Salvia farinacae and Tagetes bonanza) into two populations of Taraxacum officinale, we investigated how plant identity, the mixtures of these plant species, and total plant density affected the attraction to and the foraging within a patch for six pollinator groups.

3. The foraging behaviour was mainly driven by the availability of the preferred plant species, and secondly by patch diversity and density. In general, dense patches and those containing the three‐species mixture were preferred by all insect groups for arrival, although muscoid and hover flies responded less to local floral composition than bees. Local diversity and density had, however, a weaker effect on foraging behaviour within patches. Site dependence in response to floral treatments could be attributable to differences between sites in pollinator assemblage and Taraxacum density.

4. Studies like ours will help to understand how foraging decisions occur at the local scale and how foraging patterns may differ between pollinators and sites.
Responses of terrestrial ecosystems to temperature and precipitation change: a meta‐analysis of experimental manipulation
Authors: WU ZHUOTING , DIJKSTRA PAUL , KOCH GEORGE W. , PEÑUELAS JOSEP , HUNGATE BRUCE A.
Published: July 2010

Global mean temperature is predicted to increase by 2–7 °C and precipitation to change across the globe by the end of this century. To quantify climate effects on ecosystem processes, a number of climate change experiments have been established around the world in various ecosystems. Despite these efforts, general responses of terrestrial ecosystems to changes in temperature and precipitation, and especially to their combined effects, remain unclear. We used meta‐analysis to synthesize ecosystem‐level responses to warming, altered precipitation, and their combination. We focused on plant growth and ecosystem carbon (C) balance, including biomass, net primary production (NPP), respiration, net ecosystem exchange (NEE), and ecosystem photosynthesis, synthesizing results from 85 studies. We found that experimental warming and increased precipitation generally stimulated plant growth and ecosystem C fluxes, whereas decreased precipitation had the opposite effects. For example, warming significantly stimulated total NPP, increased ecosystem photosynthesis, and ecosystem respiration. Experimentally reduced precipitation suppressed aboveground NPP (ANPP) and NEE, whereas supplemental precipitation enhanced ANPP and NEE. Plant productivity and ecosystem C fluxes generally showed higher sensitivities to increased precipitation than to decreased precipitation. Interactive effects of warming and altered precipitation tended to be smaller than expected from additive, single‐factor effects, though low statistical power limits the strength of these conclusions. New experiments with combined temperature and precipitation manipulations are needed to conclusively determine the importance of temperature–precipitation interactions on the C balance of terrestrial ecosystems under future climate conditions.
Factor V deficiency: a concise review
Authors: HUANG J. N. , KOERPER M. A.
Published: July 2010

Summary.  Factor V (FV; proaccelerin or labile factor) is the plasma cofactor for the prothrombinase complex that activates prothrombin to thrombin. FV deficiency can be caused by mutations in the FV gene or in genes encoding components of a putative cargo receptor that transports FV (and factor VIII) from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. Because FV is present in platelet α‐granules as well as in plasma, low FV levels are also seen in disorders of platelet granules. Additionally, acquired FV deficiencies can occur in the setting of rheumatologic disorders, malignancies, and antibiotic use and, most frequently, with the use of topical bovine thrombin. FV levels have limited correlation with the risk of bleeding, but overall, FV‐deficient patients appear to have a less severe phenotype than patients with haemophilia A or B. The most commonly reported symptoms are bleeding from mucosal surfaces and postoperative haemorrhage. However, haemarthroses and intramuscular and intracranial haemorrhages can also occur. Because no FV‐specific concentrate is available, fresh frozen plasma remains the mainstay of treatment. Antifibrinolytics can also provide benefit, especially for mucosal bleeding. In refractory cases, or for patients with inhibitors, prothrombin complex concentrates, recombinant activated FVIIa, and platelet transfusions have been successfully used. Some patients with inhibitors may also require immunosuppression.
The measurement and character of caramel colour
Authors: GROVER D. W.
Published: July 2010

Summary. The colour of commercial caramels has been studied by measuring the extinction of monochromatic light (λ 0.4 to 0.7 μ) by solutions in water over a concentration range of 0.02‐2.5 g/100 ml. the Lambert‐Beer ‘law’is proved to apply within the accuracy of measurement, and a straight line relationship between log E and λ is established. Similar observations are made for beverages containing caramel.

Based on these measurements, the colour characteristics of the materials are derived in terms of the Comité Internationale de l'Eclairage (C.I.E.) system, providing explanations for the differences and similarities between caramels, the difficulty of visual matching, and the changes in colour which occur on dilution.

A proposal is made for the assessment of the colouring power of caramel by measurement of extinction at wavelengths of 0.5 and 0.6 μ.
Differential thermal analysis of frozen food systems. I. The determination of unfreezable water
Authors: DUCKWORTH R. B.
Published: July 2010

A method is described for the determination of the amounts of unfreezable water in food materials by the use of differential thermal analysis (D.T.A.). Results for a range of different food materials and food constituents are summarized and compared with a smaller number of values obtained by other workers using a variety of other techniques. The method described is simple and direct and is free from the uncertainties which attend the procedures involved in most of the methods previously employed.
A simple, enzymic test for monitoring the efficient thermal pasteurization of chicken egg‐white
Authors: MONSEY J. B. , JONES J. B.
Published: July 2010

A simple, rapid test has been developed to monitor the efficient thermal pasteurization of a single sample of egg‐white. The starch‐degrading enzyme activity of seventy‐two individual raw egg‐whites and eighteen samples of commercial bulked raw egg‐white has been determined. The enzyme was found in all samples and the variation between bulked samples was small. The enzyme was virtually completely destroyed when egg‐white was pasteurized at 57.2°C (135°F) for 2.5 min which are the conditions currently in use commercially in the United Kingdom. A sample of egg‐white, pasteurized for 2.5 min failed the test if (a) the temperature fell below 56°C or (b) the sample contained more than 0.15% w/w yolk, or (c) the sample was contaminated after pasteurization with more than 2% w/w of raw egg‐white. Storage of raw or pasteurized samples up to 9 months at ‐20°C or of eggs‐in‐shell up to 20 days at 20°C did not alter the enzyme activity.

The test can be completed in 75 min and several tests can be run simultaneously.
Influence of heat and sulphur dioxide treatments on some quality characteristics of intermediate‐moisture banana
Authors: LEVI A. , RAMIREZ‐MARTINEZ J. R. , PADUA H.
Published: July 2010

The effect of duration of heat treatment (blanching) on the firmness, dehydration rate, colour, and pectin esterase (PE) activity, was investigated in sulphited, unsulphited, blanched and non heat‐treated intermediate‐moisture banana (IMB). The product was significantly firmer if the bananas had been blanched, and in either event, firmness as measured with a texturometer, also increased with increasing SO2 concentration. The average rate of water removal (dehydration) increased, with increasing blanching time, up to about 4 min, and increased also with increasing SO2 concentration. There was a decrease in PE activity in both blanched and non‐heat‐treated IMB, with increasing SO2 content. The effect of sulphiting on pectolytic enzyme activities does not appear to have been reported previously.
Solubilization of wheat gluten with sodium hydroxide
Authors: BATEY I. L. , GRAS P. W.
Published: July 2010

The solubility of wheat gluten may be increased greatly by treatment with 0.25 M sodium hydroxide. At temperatures of 40°C and above, the solubility of the protein exceeds 100 mg/ml in a reaction time of 6 hr or less. The products from the reaction of 60°C and 80°C were darker than the original gluten and had an unpleasant odour of H2S on dissolution in water. They also contained traces of lysinoalanine. The 40°C reaction product was about the same colour as gluten, and its solutions in water did not smell of H2S. Reaction of gluten at 20°C also caused a large increase in solubility, but after 24 hr the solubility was only 77 mg/ml. This product was also of the same colour as gluten, and did not smell of H2S in solution. Neither the 20°C nor the 40°C products contained detectable traces of lysinoalanine. For reasons of flavour, colour, lysinoalanine content and economy of time, the optimum reaction conditions are 6 hr at 40°C.
The application of technology to the processing of dry‐salted fish in peninsular Malaysia: comparison of sun‐dried and oven‐dried fish
Authors: YU S.Y. , SIAW C.L. , IDRUS A.Z.
Published: July 2010

Investigation of processing of dry‐salted fish is described. The use of a satisfactory ratio of salt to fish, optimization of salting time and the use of mechanical driers to reduce drying time, insect infestation and microbial spoilage were investigated. Results indicated that oven‐dried fish salted at 10% and 20% levels were most acceptable. The corresponding sun‐dried samples had an undesirable odour, flavour and texture due to their higher moisture contents. At the 30% and 40% salt levels for both processes, the differences were less pronounced, but the samples that were sun‐dried were more acceptable mainly as a result of a better appearance.
Optimization of yield and properties of silken tofu from soybeans.
Authors: BEDDOWS C. G. , WONG J.
Published: July 2010

The coagulation and post‐coagulation treatment of tofu preparation was examined with respect to bulk yield, protein and solid recovery, and texture. The optimum calcium sulphate concentration is 9–10 mM for protein yield and texture. The stirring speed during coagulant addition was found to be critical and the optimum for protein conversion, net yield and texture is 240–280 rpm. The optimum filtration pressure is 4–6 g/cm2.
Effect of soyflour supplementation on the quality of cooked noodles
Authors: SINGH N. , CHAUHAN G. S. , BAINS G. S.
Published: July 2010

Noodles were prepared from semolina of durum and aestivum wheats and flour of aestivum with or without 10% of different types of full fat soyflour (i.e. enzyme active, conventional and roasted soyflour) and defatted soyflour. Cooked weight and water absorption of noodles increased with the increase in cooking time but decreased with addition of soy solids. The latter also increased losses of total solids and deceased losses of nitrogen into the cooking water. Sensory evaluation of noodles indicated that the product made from durum semolina containing 10% of defatted soyflour was as good as that from durum semolina alone.
Properties of extruded blends of wheat dried distiller grain flour with other flours
Authors: KIM C. H. , MAGA J. A. , MARTIN J. T.
Published: July 2010

Zero, 10, 20 and 40% dried distiller grain (DDG) from wheat was blended with corn, potato, rice, and wheat flours at total moisture levels of 15 and 22% and extruded in a Brabender laboratory single screw extruder at three sets of barrel temperatures of 80, 130, 160°C; 100, 160, 210°C and 120, 190, 250°C at a constant screw speed (100 r.p.m.), screw configuration (3:1 compression ratio) and die size (3.175 mm). Resulting torque, yield, radial expansion (RA), longitudinal expansion index (LEI), density, water absorption index and colour were measured.

All the blends were successfully extruded over a wide temperature range. As the amount of DDG increased, in general torque, yield and RE decreased, and colour darkened while density and LEI increased. Wheat flour was the base material found to vary most from the above trends.
Stability and opacity of orange oil cloudy emulsions based on gum elemi and gum arabic
Authors: JACOME‐GUTH O. , ASERIN A. , GARTI N.
Published: July 2010

Orange oil cloudy emulsions based on naturally occurring oil‐soluble gum elemi and naturally occurring water‐soluble gum arabic have been prepared and evaluated. Cloud and emulsion stability, as well as the opacity of each emulsion, were recorded and compared. It was demonstrated that the emulsion stability is determined by the gum elemi/orange oil ratio, the orange oil content, and the gum arabic/orange oil ratio. The opacity is a function of the orange oil content and to a lesser extent also depends on the gum elemi/orange oil ratio. Since the gum elemi/orange oil ratio is a critical parameter affecting both opacity and stability it should be carefully chosen and controlled.

Gum arabic is not the sole emulsifier, as gum elemi also adsorbs on the oil droplets and plays a role in emulsion stability.
Automated fluorimetry in quality control of pasteurized and ultra‐high temperature‐treated starch soup
Authors: MATTILA‐SANDHOLM T. , ALI‐VEHMAS T. , WIRTANEN G. , RÖNNER U. , SANDHOLM M.
Published: July 2010

Automated monitoring of the microbiological quality of heat‐processed foods by the resazurin reduction test was applied to microtitration plate incubator‐fluorimeter technology. The appearance and disappearance of the fluorescing peak of resorufin was monitored on microtitration trays. Pasteurized or ultra‐high temperature‐treated starch‐based soup was used as the model food system. Bacillus subtilis spores (ultra‐high temperature treatment) and vegetative cells of Enterococcus faecalis (pasteurization) were inoculated into the soup before the heat treatment at levels which resulted in some survival. The timing of appearance of maximum fluorescence correlated with the number of bacteria in pre‐incubated samples. Automated resazurin‐reduction fluorimetry was compared with conventional plating, turbidometry and microcolony count by the direct epifluorescent filter technique. The results of the resazurin test correlated well with those of all the other methods tested. Fluorimetry had the advantage that the results could be read within 1–5h and the reproducibility was superior to the other methods.
Gas exchange in modified atmosphere packaging. 1: A new theoretical approach for micro‐perforated packs
Authors: RENAULT PIERRE , SOUTY MICHEL , CHAMBROY YVES
Published: July 2010

Gas transport and exchange through the perforations in micro‐perforated packs used in modified atmosphere packaging were numerically modelled by using Stephan‐Maxwell laws, and, outside these perforations, by Fick's law. the model accounts simultaneously for oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon and water vapour. Fruit and vegetable respiration was approximated by Michaelis‐Menten kinetics depending on oxygen concentration with an uncompetitive inhibition due to carbon dioxide. Concentration equilibrium was reached after 2 to 3 days, depending on the void volume and on the diffusion properties of the packs. the equilibrium concentrations were dependent on the number of perforations, their diameter, the thickness of the film and the temperature. However, a pack which makes 10% oxygen possible within the pack at 10°C might induce anaerobiosis at 20°C.
Biogeographical kinetics on mainland and island volcanoes
Authors: Fattorini Simone
Published: July 2010

Aim  To compare post‐eruption biotic recolonization times on mainland and island volcanoes.

Location  The research involved the study of the recolonization kinetics of Mt Vesuvius (a mainland volcano in southern Italy) and the Island of Vulcano (southern Italy). Comparisons were also made with Jorullo Volcano (Mexico) and Mount St Helens (USA) (two mainland volcanoes) and with Krakatau (Indonesia) (an island volcano).

Methods  Island volcanoes are expected to possess inherently impoverished faunas and floras, and recolonization after eruption is expected to occur to a low level. In comparison, the recolonization kinetics for a mainland volcano should be characterized by a higher plateau of species, and by species with low dispersal ability. To test this model, recolonization times after the small‐scale Plinian eruption of 1631 were calculated for various insect groups of Mt Vesuvius and compared with recolonization times calculated for the Island of Vulcano, which erupted dramatically in 1888. For this purpose, thorough insect checklists, based on exhaustive samplings, were extracted from the literature. Results obtained from Mt Vesuvius and Vulcano were also compared with recolonization times calculated for biotas of other mainland and island volcanoes.

Results  Insect recolonization times from the 1631 Vesuvius eruption varied according to the ecology of the animal group considered and appeared very long when compared with those obtained for the island volcano of Vulcano. Results obtained from Vulcano also suggest the possibility that this island hosts more species than expected at equilibrium, a state of affairs also found for the butterflies of Krakatau.

Main conclusions  In keeping with the predictions of multi‐phase models developed in island biogeography theory, island volcanoes have a lower species richness at equilibrium than do mainland volcanoes, but might host, in a first phase of recolonization, more species than expected at equilibrium, because ecological space is unsaturated and inter‐specific interactions are limited. The lower isolation of mainland volcanoes (allowing higher immigration rates) leads to higher rates and longer periods of recolonization and hence to higher species richness at equilibrium.
From Nose to Brain: Development of Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone ‐1 Neurones
Authors: Wray S.
Published: July 2010

Gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone‐1 (GnRH‐1) is essential for mammalian reproduction, controlling release of gonadotrophins from the anterior pituitary. GnRH‐1 neurones migrate from the nasal placode into the forebrain during development. Although first located within the nasal placode, the embryonic origin/lineage of GnRH‐1 neurones is still unclear. The migration of GnRH‐1 cells is the best characterised example of neurophilic/axophilic migration, with the cells using a subset of olfactory‐derived vomeronasal axons as their pathway and numerous molecules to guide their movement into the forebrain. Exciting work in this area is beginning to identify intersecting pathways that orchestrate the movement of these critical neuroendocrine cells into the central nervous system, both spatially and temporally, through a diverse and changing terrain. Once within the forebrain, little is known about how the axons target the median eminence and ultimately secrete GnRH‐1 in a pulsatile fashion.
Serological Studies on Lymphocytotoxic Antibodies in Primiparous Women
Authors: TONGIO M. M. , BERREBI A. , PFEIFFER B. , MAYER S.
Published: July 2010

24 sera from primiparous women were studied. The HL—A phenotypes of both husbands and wives were determined in 21 cases out of 24. A comparative study was performed between the specificity of the antibodies detected and that of the antibodies expected from the husband's HL—A phenotype. In 4 cases, the specificity of the antisera could not be defined. In 8 cases, the antisera contained a single antibody directed against a single HL—A antigen. In 12 cases, the specificities of the antibodies were broader than expected. In 3 cases, antibodies were detected against an antigen of a given cross‐reacting group (CREG) in women already carrying an antigen belonging to the same CREG. They concerned two anti‐HL—A2 antibodies detected in woman carrying Da15 (W28) antigen and an anti‐FJH antibody in a woman carrying an HL—A7 antigen.

The strength of the sera from primiparous women was compared with that of sera from multiparous women. No significant difference was observed between the two groups of sera. The persistence of antibodies is variable: some antibodies disappear within less than 17 weeks after delivery; some others remain present for over 4 years.
Data Reduction in HLA‐D Typing with the Primed Lymphocyte Typing (PLT) Technique. The Normalized Median Response (NMR)
Authors: Morling N. , Platz P. , Ryder L.P. , Svejgaard A. , Thomsen M.
Published: July 2010

We describe here a simple non‐parametric method for the evaluation of data obtained from primed lymphocyte typing (PLT) experiments. The method is designed to compensate for both differences in the PLT responsiveness and stimulatory capacity by a double normalization procedure based on a representative negative reaction (the median) for each PLT‐cell and for each secondary stimulator. The index of response is called the Normalized Median Response (NMR). The NMR‐method was developed from data from one of a series of PLT experiments aimed at HLA‐D typing. The NMR‐method was applied to eight other PLT experiments and was compared to two other calculation methods based on the maximal response of each PLT‐cell: (i) a method without compensation for stimulator variation, and(ii) a method including non‐parametric compensation for stimulator variation. The eight experiments involved 37 different PLT cells tested against 74 different stimulating cells yielding a total of 1,334 secondary combinations. The NMR‐method descriminated significantly better than the other methods when the results were compared to the HLA‐D types obtained with homozygous typing cell technique. In particular, the number of extra positive reactions was diminished by the NMR‐method.

The reproducibility and the sources of variation were studied in the eight experiments and in five additional experiments. The NMR‐method reduced the combined priming‐to‐priming variation and day‐to‐day variation to a level comparable to the variation between duplicate testings of the same PLT cell tested towards the same set of secondary stimulators in the same secondary PLT experiment.
Anthropometric growth and utilization of enteral feeding support in pediatric heart transplant recipients
Authors: Bannister Louise , Manlhiot Cedric , Pollock‐BarZiv Stacey , Stone Tanya , McCrindle Brian W. , Dipchand Anne I.
Published: July 2010

Bannister L, Manlhiot C, Pollock‐BarZiv S, Stone T, McCrindle BW, Dipchand AI. Anthropometric growth and utilization of enteral feeding support in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:879–886. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  We sought to outline trends in anthropometric growth before and after cardiac transplantation and to document our experience with the use of EFS in this population. A total of 130 patients (59% male) were enrolled and followed for a median of 4.4 yr after transplantation. Negative changes over time in weight z‐score (EST: −0.256 [0.160] z/yr, p = 0.01), height z‐score (EST: −0.214 [0.096] z/yr, p = 0.03), and BMI z‐score (EST: −0.287 [0.161] z/yr, p = 0.07) were observed prior to transplantation. Significant increases in weight z‐score (EST: +0.342 [0.143] z/yr, p < 0.001) and BMI z‐score (EST: +0.396 [0.140] z/yr, p = 0.005) were seen in the first 18 months following transplantation. No further increases in height, weight, or BMI z‐score were seen beyond this. Forty‐two (32%) patients received EFS. Prior to transplantation, it was not found to be associated with change in anthropomorphic growth. Post‐transplantation exposure to EFS was associated with a faster increase in weight z‐score (EST: +0.480 [0.231] z/yr, p = 0.04) and height z‐score over time (EST: +0.366 [0.141] z/yr, p = 0.01). Normalization of weight and height z‐scores was not achieved during the study follow‐up period. This study suggests that further investigation into the role of EFS is warranted to identify strategies to improve growth in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
Union Activism in an Inclusive System of Industrial Relations: Evidence from a Spanish Case Study
Authors: Jódar Pere , Vidal Sergi , Alós Ramon
Published: July 2010

In this article we analyse the reasons for active trade union participation within the context of Spanish industrial relations. Spain represents a particularly interesting case as the unions' main activity, collective bargaining, is considered a public good. The present study is based on a representative survey of one region of the ‘Worker Commissions’ trade union and provides empirical evidence that union presence in the workplace has a significant influence on members' propensity for activism. Union presence in the workplace enhances collectivism and builds incentive for action in inclusive systems of industrial relations. By contrast, individualistic orientations and instrumental motives are of little relevance in the Spanish industrial relations context.
SELECTING EFFECTIVE FEATURES AND RELATIONS FOR EFFICIENT MULTI‐RELATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
Authors: He Jun , Liu Hongyan , Hu Bo , Du Xiaoyong , Wang Puwei
Published: July 2010

Feature selection is an essential data processing step to remove irrelevant and redundant attributes for shorter learning time, better accuracy, and better comprehensibility. A number of algorithms have been proposed in both data mining and machine learning areas. These algorithms are usually used in a single table environment, where data are stored in one relational table or one flat file. They are not suitable for a multi‐relational environment, where data are stored in multiple tables joined to one another by semantic relationships. To address this problem, in this article, we propose a novel approach called FARS to conduct both Feature And Relation Selection for efficient multi‐relational classification. Through this approach, we not only extend the traditional feature selection method to select relevant features from multi‐relations, but also develop a new method to reconstruct the multi‐relational database schema and eliminate irrelevant tables to improve classification performance further. The results of the experiments conducted on both real and synthetic databases show that FARS can effectively choose a small set of relevant features, thereby enhancing classification efficiency and prediction accuracy significantly.
PRICE AND QUANTITY RESPONSES TO COST AND DEMAND SHOCKS*
Authors: Geroski P. A. , Hall S. G.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

When prices are inflexible, real variables like production and inventories must bear the brunt of responding to cost and demand shocks. In these circumstances, one expects to observe rather more variation in quantities than in prices, and that is, in fact, what we observe in the data. To explain this observation, one must explain why prices are inflexible. Our goal in this paper is to ascertain whether it is selectivity in response to demand shocks or just a more extensive smoothing of prices than quantities which accounts for the relatively higher variation in quantities which we observe. We conclude that selectivity in response is clearly evident in the data: demand shocks have only very weak effects on prices, but they have substantial (if rather transitory) effects on quantities.
DURATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN SPAIN: RELATIVE EFFECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT AND FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: Ahn Namkee , Ugidos‐Olazabal Arantza
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

We estimate the effects of unemployment benefit and family situation on the unemployment duration in Spain. Empirical results indicate that the distinctions between the exits into employment and the exits from the labour force and between men and women are important. Although unemployment benefit reduces significantly the job‐finding probabilities, its effects are much larger on exits from the labour force. Many people who decide to go out of the labour force delay their exits until they exhaust their unemployment benefits. Family situation also has strong effects on the duration of unemployment in Spain. Household heads have about twice larger job‐finding probability than non‐heads, and having a working household head or other working household members improves employment probability. This suggests that family connections in the labour market are important determinants of unemployment duration in Spain.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPERVISION AND PAY: EVIDENCE FROM THE BRITISH NEW EARNINGS SURVEY†
Authors: Brunello Giorgio
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTS

This paper looks at the relationship between supervision and pay using British data, that refer to a different institutional context. The analysis is based on information provided by the British New Earnings Survery over the period 1975–1982. The empirical investigation reveals that the relationship between supervision and pay is likely to be affected in a significant way not only by the estimation technique, as stressed by the existing literature, but also by errors in the measurement of the main variables.
INTRAHOUSEHOLD INEQUALITY AT DIFFERENT WELFARE LEVELS: ENERGY INTAKE AND ENERGY EXPENDITURE DATA FROM THE PHILIPPINES*
Authors: Haddad Lawrence , Kanbur Ravi , Bouis Howarth
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTS

This paper investigates the relationship between intrahousehold inequality and levels of household welfare. Under certain conditions it is demonstrated — with both the unitary model of the household and with some collective models — that the relationship between household welfare and inequality within the household can have an inverted u‐shape. Using two sets of calorie adequacy data from a sample of 455 households in the Philippines, a spline analysis is used to test the hypothesis that inequality within the household first increases and then decreases as per capita household total expenditure increases. The two sets of calorie adequacy data are based on repeated 24‐ hour recalls of dietary intake, and on calorie requirements that are unadjusted and then adjusted for individual activity patterns. Results indicate that once activity patterns are accounted for, calorie intake shortfalls are borne fairly equally within the household at all per capita household total expenditure levels.
THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION: A CASE‐STUDY OF URBAN INDIA†
Authors: Kingdon Geeta
Published: July 2010

Recent evidence of a substantial link between quality of schooling and individual productivity suggests that, from an economic efficiency perspective, quality aspects of education deserve attention. This paper presents empirical evidence on the relative quality and efficiency of private and government‐funded schools in urban India, using data from Uttar Pradesh. The results suggest that standardizing for home background and controlling for sample selectivity greatly reduces the raw average achievement advantage of private school students over public school students, but does not wipe it out. Private schools' standardized achievement advantage (or better quality) is complemented by their lower unit costs to enable them to be more efficient. The results support much of the existing international evidence on the relative efficiency of private and public schools.