bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance-Based Assessment
Authors: VanTassel-Baska Joyce
Published: December 2013

Performance-based assessment clearly represents an indispensable approach for assessing gifted student learning. Challenging performance tasks allow gifted learners to reveal their considerable intellectual capacity and energy. Through performance tasks, teachers gain insights into a gifted student’s true level of capability in a domain of knowledge. As the majority of programs for the gifted employ a project-based approach to curriculum, there is a real need to use a matching assessment model. Performance-based assessment, which includes product assessment, provides just such a match. Moreover, the new assessments for the Common Core State Standards use performance-based assessments as a main format for items as a way to judge the acquisition of higher level skills like developing argument. Thus, the incorporation of performance-based assessment in core content areas would appear a necessary part of designing effective programs for gifted learners and assessing them appropriately.
Using CBM to Identify Advanced Learners in the General Education Classroom
Authors: Sulak Tracey N.
Published: December 2013

Identification of gifted and talented students presents a conceptual and practical challenge for educators. On the one hand, giftedness can be represented by potential, a difficult trait to measure reliably given the multifaceted approach supported by many gifted programs. On the other hand, some behaviors that are indicative of potential, especially in academic areas, may only develop if students are provided with adequate experiences and advanced instruction. Vygotsky suggested instruction leads development, which supports the idea of offering advanced instruction to encourage the development of gifts and talents. This developmental approach to giftedness supports instructional practices based on student needs as opposed to labels, which is in direct opposition to the absolutist approach to giftedness. Under an absolutist paradigm, traditionally underserved populations are often excluded from gifted programming because intelligence tests or other normative procedures fail to identify undeveloped talents and gifts. To provide adequate programming for diverse populations, the identification procedures must be connected to the instructional programming, and for teachers, this shift means maximizing the development of all students by differentiating instruction based on needs rather than classifications or labels. This article describes the use of curriculum-based measurements in identifying gifted students.
Waheeda Remembering Her Cat Izzy
Authors: Jegatheesan Brinda , Witz Klaus
Published: December 2013

This article is based on a single interview session with a 7-year-old girl, Waheeda, regarding the cat Izzy that Waheeda used to have 2 years before the interview. The interview was part of a research project that explored the relationships of multicultural children with their companion animals. The article first tries to give a larger impression of Waheeda’s way of being (including consciousness) in two segments of the interview, using the philosophy, concepts, and techniques of Portraiture in the sense of Lawrence-Lightfoot and Davis, and Witz. The last section suggests that Waheeda’s way of being in the interview is a natural developmental precursor of the consciousness in adults when they talk about things they have experienced in the past, and that her “self-actualized” behavior in the second segment shows the love that had arisen in her for her cat Izzy.
“For Our Words Usually Land on Deaf Ears Until We Scream”
Authors: Martinez Shantel
Published: December 2013

What does it mean to unbind your tongue? Is it dangerous? Liberating? Or somewhere in between? The purpose of this article is to reconceptualize the tongue and the hand as sites of resistance and oppression for women of color scholars. Linking the act of writing with speaking, I explore the process of unbinding one’s tongue rather than biting it for the sake of academic, communal, and familial harmony and happiness. As a result, I examine what it means to break away from traditional standards and approaches to writing to engage fragmented bodies and voices that are rarely represented in the academy. Utilizing women of color and indigenous feminism, queer theorists, and disability studies, I critically engage metaphors of the tongue, issues surrounding voice and violence, and also present a poem showcasing my frustrations and insights.
A BAC based physical map and genome survey of the rice false smut fungus Villosiclava virens
Authors: Wang Xiaoming , Liu Qingli , Wang Hao , Luo Chao-Xi , Wang Gejiao , Luo Meizhong
Published: December 2013

Background

Rice false smut caused by Villosiclava virens is a devastating fungal disease that spreads in major rice-growing regions throughout the world. However, the genomic information for this fungal pathogen is limited and the pathogenic mechanism of this disease is still not clear. To facilitate genetic, molecular and genomic studies of this fungal pathogen, we constructed the first BAC-based physical map and performed the first genome survey for this species.

Results

High molecular weight genomic DNA was isolated from young mycelia of the Villosiclava virens strain UV-8b and a high-quality, large-insert and deep-coverage Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library was constructed with the restriction enzyme HindIII. The BAC library consisted of 5,760 clones, which covers 22.7-fold of the UV-8b genome, with an average insert size of 140 kb and an empty clone rate of lower than 1%. BAC fingerprinting generated successful fingerprints for 2,290 BAC clones. Using the fingerprints, a whole genome-wide BAC physical map was constructed that contained 194 contigs (2,035 clones) spanning 51.2 Mb in physical length. Bidirectional-end sequencing of 4,512 BAC clones generated 6,560 high quality BAC end sequences (BESs), with a total length of 3,030,658 bp, representing 8.54% of the genome sequence. Analysis of the BESs revealed general genome information, including 51.52% GC content, 22.51% repetitive sequences, 376.12/Mb simple sequence repeat (SSR) density and approximately 36.01% coding regions. Sequence comparisons to other available fungal genome sequences through BESs showed high similarities to Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma reesei, Nectria haematococca and Cordyceps militaris, which were generally in agreement with the 18S rRNA gene analysis results.

Conclusion

This study provides the first BAC-based physical map and genome information for the important rice fungal pathogen Villosiclava virens. The BAC clones, physical map and genome information will serve as fundamental resources to accelerate the genetic, molecular and genomic studies of this pathogen, including positional cloning, comparative genomic analysis and whole genome sequencing. The BAC library and physical map have been opened to researchers as public genomic resources (http://gresource.hzau.edu.cn/resource/resource.html).
Inhibitory effects of grape skin extract and resveratrol on fatty acid synthase
Authors: Liang Yan , Tian Weixi , Ma Xiaofeng
Published: December 2013

Background

Grape skin, a rich source of phytochemicals, has been reported to possess remarkable anti-obesity activity. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a key enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of fatty acid de novo, and has been considered as an anti-obesity target. To elucidate the anti-obesity mechanism of grape skin, we investigated the effects of grape skin extract (GSE) and resveratrol, one of the phytochemicals in GSE, on FAS and FAS over-expressed 3 T3-L1 preadipocyte.

Methods

Purified FAS was obtained from chicken liver. Dried grape skin was extracted by 50% ethanol and partitioned by ethyl acetate. Inhibitory effects of GSE and resveratrol on FAS including fast-binding inhibition, time-dependent inhibition, and enzyme kinetics were determined. Inhibitory effects of GSE and resveratrol on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte were also measured.

Results

GSE inhibited the overall reaction and β-ketoacyl reductase (KR) reaction of FAS with IC50 values of 4.61 μg/ml and 20.3 μg/ml. For inhibition by resveratrol, the relevant IC50 values were 11.1 μg/ml and 21.9 μg/ml, respectively. And both GSE and resveratrol showed time-dependent inhibition for FAS, with the k
obs values of 0.028 min-1, and 0.040 min-1 respectively. They inhibited the overall reaction of FAS competitively with acetyl-CoA, noncompetitively with malonyl-CoA and in a mixed manner with NADPH. Moreover, the inhibition on KR domain by resveratrol was time-dependent with k
obs value of 0.106 min-1. In 3 T3-L1 preadipocytes, resveratrol reduced lipid accumulation remarkably.

Conclusions

GSE and resveratrol are potent FAS inhibitors and they bound reversibly to the KR domain of FAS to inhibit the reduction of the saturated acyl groups in fatty acid synthesis. Based on the valid data and deliberate analysis, we proposed that GSE and resveratrol have great medical potential and officinal value in treating obesity and related diseases.
Impact of a mandatory geriatric medicine clerkship on the care of older acute medical patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: St Onge Joye , Ioannidis George , Papaioannou Alexandra , McLeod Heather , Marr Sharon
Published: December 2013

Background

The impact of geriatric medicine educational programs on patient level outcomes, as opposed to educational measures, is not well studied. We aimed to determine whether completion of a mandatory geriatrics rotation changed the clinical behaviors of clerks caring for older patients admitted to a medical clinical teaching unit.

Methods

We reviewed the charts of 132 older (>70y) patients, admitted to one medical clinical teaching unit (CTU) during 2005, and cared for by a clinical clerk, for documented functional assessment, cognitive assessment, recognition of medications that cause confusion, and early removal of indwelling urinary catheters. Performance of these outcomes was compared between clerks who had completed a mandatory 2-week geriatrics rotation immediately before the medical CTU rotation (n = 62) and those who completed geriatrics immediately after (n = 74). Patient outcomes were also measured and compared between groups.

Results

Compared to clerks without prior geriatric exposure, clerks with geriatrics exposure were almost 3 times as likely to assess function of their older patients within two days of assuming care (27% vs. 12%, OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.12 to 6.66). There were no significant differences in the other clinical behaviors. Patients cared for by geriatrics-exposed clerks were less likely to die or be institutionalized (10% vs. 31%, OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.63), and they had shorter lengths of stay by an average of -7.14 days (95% CI: -12.2 to -2.07). Adjustment for baseline differences in age and cognitive impairment did not alter the results.

Conclusions

Clinical clerks who had completed a mandatory geriatrics rotation were more likely to document functional status upon assuming care of their older medical CTU patients, and there was also an association with better clinical outcomes. This highlights the value of including a geriatric medicine rotation as part of the core clerkship curriculum.
IVF outcome is optimized when embryos are replaced between 5 and 15 mm from the fundal endometrial surface: a prospective analysis on 1184 IVF cycles
Authors: Rovei Valentina , Dalmasso Paola , Gennarelli Gianluca , Lantieri Teresa , Basso Gemma , Benedetto Chiara , Revelli Alberto
Published: December 2013

Background

Some data suggest that the results of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be affected by the site of the uterine cavity where embryos are released. It is not yet clear if there is an optimal range of embryo-fundus distance (EFD) within which embryos should be transferred to optimize IVF outcome.

Methods

The present study included 1184 patients undergoing a blind, clinical-touch ET of 1–2 fresh embryos loaded in a soft catheter with a low amount of culture medium. We measured the EFD using transvaginal US performed immediately after ET, with the aim to assess (a) if EFD affects pregnancy and implantation rates, and (b) if an optimal EFD range can be identified.

Results

Despite comparable patients’ clinical characteristics, embryo morphological quality, and endometrial thickness, an EFD between 5 and 15 mm allowed to obtain significantly higher pregnancy and implantation rates than an EFD above 15 mm. The abortion rate was much higher (although not significantly) when EFD was below 5 mm than when it was between 5 and 15 mm. Combined together, these results produced an overall higher ongoing pregnancy rate in the group of patients whose embryos were released between 5 and 15 mm from the fundal endometrial surface.

Conclusions

The site at which embryos are released affects IVF outcome and an optimal EFD range exists; this observations suggest that US-guided ET could be advantageous vs. clinical-touch ET, as it allows to be more accurate in releasing embryos within the optimal EFD range.
Improving structural similarity based virtual screening using background knowledge
Authors: Girschick Tobias , Puchbauer Lucia , Kramer Stefan
Published: December 2013

Background

Virtual screening in the form of similarity rankings is often applied in the early drug discovery process to rank and prioritize compounds from a database. This similarity ranking can be achieved with structural similarity measures. However, their general nature can lead to insufficient performance in some application cases. In this paper, we provide a link between ranking-based virtual screening and fragment-based data mining methods. The inclusion of binding-relevant background knowledge into a structural similarity measure improves the quality of the similarity rankings. This background knowledge in the form of binding relevant substructures can either be derived by hand selection or by automated fragment-based data mining methods.

Results

In virtual screening experiments we show that our approach clearly improves enrichment factors with both applied variants of our approach: the extension of the structural similarity measure with background knowledge in the form of a hand-selected relevant substructure or the extension of the similarity measure with background knowledge derived with data mining methods.

Conclusion

Our study shows that adding binding relevant background knowledge can lead to significantly improved similarity rankings in virtual screening and that even basic data mining approaches can lead to competitive results making hand-selection of the background knowledge less crucial. This is especially important in drug discovery and development projects where no receptor structure is available or more frequently no verified binding mode is known and mostly ligand based approaches can be applied to generate hit compounds.
Subsidized work before and after the German Hartz reforms: design of major schemes, evaluation results and lessons learnt
Authors: Wolff Joachim , Stephan Gesine
Published: December 2013

This review discusses empirical studies on hiring subsidies in the private sector and on schemes directly providing usually public or non-profit sector jobs for the unemployed in Germany. An important effect of hiring subsidies is that they stabilise employment. For employment schemes, results before the Hartz reforms imply mostly negative average treatment effects on regular employment outcomes of the treated, while results are mostly positive after introducing the reforms. During the years 2003 to 2005, the benefit system was radically reformed and now emphasizes mutual obligations. That might be one reason for changes in the effectiveness of job creation schemes.

JEL codes

H53; J08; J68
Short-term training programs for immigrants in the German welfare system: do effects differ from natives and why?
Authors: Thomsen Stephan L , Walter Thomas , Aldashev Alisher
Published: December 2013

We evaluate the individual employment effects of four types of short-term training for immigrants and natives in the German welfare system and identify differences in the effects determined by unobservable factors. Based on comprehensive and unique administrative data, we apply propensity score matching in a dynamic setting to estimate the treatment effects and suggest the identification of unexplained effect differences between groups. The results show a mixed picture: two types of training increase the employment chances of immigrants, whereas the other two are rather ineffective. Effect differences between immigrants and natives predominantly result from socio-demographic composition.

JEL codes: I38, C14, J61
A randomized, controlled, multicenter trial of the effects of antithrombin on disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with sepsis
Authors: Gando Satoshi , Saitoh Daizoh , Ishikura Hiroyasu , Ueyama Masashi , Otomo Yasuhiro , Oda Shigeto , Kushimoto Shigeki , Tanjoh Katsuhisa , Mayumi Toshihiko , Ikeda Toshiaki , Iba Toshiaki , Eguchi Yutaka , Okamoto Kohji , Ogura Hiroshi , Koseki Kazuhide , Sakamoto Yuichiro , Takayama Yasuhiro , Shirai Kunihiro , Takasu Osamu , Inoue Yoshiaki , Mashiko Kunihiro , Tsubota Takaya , Endo Shigeatsu ,   Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (JAAM DIC) Study Group for the JAAM DIC Antithrombin Trial (JAAMDICAT)
Published: December 2013

Introduction

To test the hypothesis that the administration of antithrombin concentrate improves disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), resulting in recovery from DIC and better outcomes in patients with sepsis, we conducted a prospective, randomized controlled multicenter trial at 13 critical care centers in tertiary care hospitals.

Methods

We enrolled 60 DIC patients with sepsis and antithrombin levels of 50 to 80% in this study. The participating patients were randomly assigned to an antithrombin arm receiving antithrombin at a dose of 30 IU/kg per day for three days or a control arm treated with no intervention. The primary efficacy end point was recovery from DIC on day 3. The analysis was conducted with an intention-to-treat approach. DIC was diagnosed according to the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) scoring system. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score, platelet count and global markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were measured on day 0 and day 3.

Results

Antithrombin treatment resulted in significantly decreased DIC scores and better recovery rates from DIC compared with those observed in the control group on day 3. The incidence of minor bleeding complications did not increase, and no major bleeding related to antithrombin treatment was observed. The platelet count significantly increased; however, antithrombin did not influence the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score or markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis on day 3.

Conclusions

Moderate doses of antithrombin improve DIC scores, thereby increasing the recovery rate from DIC without any risk of bleeding in DIC patients with sepsis.

Trial registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000000882
Bovespa: viabilizando a primeira IPO de bolsa no Brasil
Authors: Rocha Ricardo Humberto , Oliveira Lucas Guimarães
Published: December 2013

O caso se passa em 2007, época em que que a Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo a dá início ao seu processo de IPO. O protagonista é Raymundo Magliano, presidente do conselho administrativo na ocasião.DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c10http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c10
E agora, José? Alternativas para o desenvolvimento econômico de um pequeno município
Authors: Caldas Eduardo de Lima , Jayo Martin , Dolfato Helena Fernandes
Published: December 2013

O prefeito de uma pequena cidade se vê diante de duas formas de reorientar a economia a partir do turismo. E agora, qual a melhor opção?DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c11http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c11
Dia da criança: missão institucional do Exército?
Authors: Alves Claudiney Silvestre
Published: December 2013

Uma unidade militar do Exército realiza tradicionalmente um evento de integração com a comunidade: a comemoração do dia da criança. Ao receber a incumbência de organizá-lo, o Capitão Siqueira Campos questiona a legitimidade desse tipo de ação dentro de um quartel. DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c12http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c12
O fortalecimento da rede de economia solidária do Montanhão
Authors: Gattai Silvia
Published: December 2013

O caso narra o processo de surgimento e desenvolvimento de um grupo de economia solidária no ABC paulista, e sua relação com um grupo de empreendedores sociais. A parceria entre esses atores deve prosseguir ou desfazer-se?DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c13http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c13
Livraria Nobel: os dilemas do crescimento
Authors: Da Rocha Angela , Cotta de Mello Renato , Da Silva Gilberto Figueira
Published: December 2013

A tradicional rede de livrarias cresceu usando o sistema de franquias. Qual o potencial de expansão internacional, vis-à-vis às operações domésticas?DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c7http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2c7
Bovespa: viabilizando a primeira IPO de bolsa no Brasil (Notas de ensino)
Authors: Rocha Ricardo Humberto , Oliveira Lucas Guimarães
Published: December 2013

DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n10http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n10
E agora, José? Alternativas para o desenvolvimento econômico de um pequeno município (Notas de ensino)
Authors: Caldas Eduardo de Lima , Jayo Martin , Dolfato Helena Fernandes
Published: December 2013

DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n11http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n11
Dia da criança: missão institucional do Exército? (Notas de ensino)
Authors: Alves Claudiney Silvestre
Published: December 2013

DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n12http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n12
Emoções de uma mãe de primeira viagem (Notas de ensino)
Authors: Luchesi Juliana Raquel de Souza , Machado Rosimeri , De Toni Deonir
Published: December 2013

DOI: 10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n8http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvcasosv3n2n8
Economic evaluations of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis: 2004-2012
Authors: Liu Frank Xiaoqing , Quock Tiffany P. , Burkart John , Noe Les L. , Inglese Gary
Published: December 2013

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a debilitating condition resulting in death unless treated. Treatment options include conservative care, transplantation, and dialysis. Major alternative dialysis modalities include peritoneal dialysis (PD) and in-center hemodialysis (ICHD), which have been shown to produce similar outcomes and survival. The need to provide dialysis treatment for patients with ESRD represents a significant financial challenge for global health care systems. Changes in clinically-appropriate dialysis delivery leading to more efficient use of resources would increase health systems’ ability to meet that challenge. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the economic literature of PD and ICHD within the context of continued economic uncertainty and pressure on healthcare resource use.

Methods:A systematic literature search was conducted for studies published between 2004 and 2012.  Articles are included if they were original research studies in English which reported costs and/or cost effectiveness associated with PD and ICHD.

Results:Twenty-four articles are included in our review, six of which are cost effectiveness studies comparing PD and ICHD.

Conclusions:Our findings echo those of prior published reviews, showing that PD is significantly cost-saving compared to ICHD therapy in most developed countries and some developing countries. Increasing the use of clinically-appropriate PD would substantially reduce healthcare costs.
Comparison of Physicochemical and Textural Properties of Glutinous Rice Cultivars
Authors: Yoo Jae-Soo , Park Hyun-Su , Cho Young-Chan , Kim Bo-Kyeong , Ha Ki-Young
Published: December 2013

This study was carried out to compare the varietal difference in physiochemical properties and textural properties of waxy rice cultivars. Crude protein had 5.9-7.2% varietal difference while crude lipid and crude ash contents were within the range of 0.8-2.0% and 0.3-0.6% and had a similar tendency as non-waxy rice. The amylose content was within the range of 1.79-1.93% and did not show significant differences among the tested cultivars. The water binding capacity of Hwaseonchal of the japonica cultivars scored the highest, Sinseonchal showed the lowest, while tongil-type Hangangchal showed a lower value, which can be due to a higher internal density. Baekseolchal showed the highest alkali digestion value and Sinseonchal showed the lowest. In amylogram characteristics, Baekseolchal showed the lowest value and Hwaseonchal and Sangjuchal showed higher initial temperature. Hangangchal scored higher in peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity, and final viscosity. It was prospective for all the cultivars to show slow retrogradations due to low setbacks compared to non-waxy rice and Hangangchal which showed the lowest setback. X-ray diffraction of waxy rice starch particles was typical A pattern. Hangangchal scored the highest and Hwaseonchal scored the lowest in crystallinity. One of the characteristics of cooked rice made from waxy rice is the hardness, which shows degrees of retrogradations, increased in storage time. Hangangchal showed a higher range of transformation with time and a higher retrogradation rate.
Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Mooks Prepared from Cowpea, Mungbean and Allbanggae
Authors: Kim Soo-Hyun , An Jeung Hee , Chung Kang-Hyun
Published: December 2013

This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical and sensory properties of Mooks prepared from three different starches (cowpea, mungbean, and allbanggae) and compare their textural characteristics. The viscosity of allbanggae starch showed the highest value among the tested starches. Mook prepared from allbanggae starch showed a significantly different gelatinization property, while that from cowpea and mungbean starch showed a similar trend. The color properties of Mook prepared from different starches showed different color values among other Mooks, showing the lowest lightness in Mook made from allbanggae starch, while Mooks from other starches showed a similar trend. As the results of textural analysis, the hardness of allbanggae Mook was different from that of other Mooks showing a significantly lower value such as 499.43 g, while that of cowpea and mungbean Mook was 1083.03 g and 980.95 g, respectively. In addition, the more allbanggae starch added in mungbean Mook was, the more the value of hardness of mungbean Mook increased. The sensory characteristics of cowpea and mungbean Mook improved according to the addition ratio of allbanggae starch, showing a significant increase in their overall acceptability after an increased level of allbanggae starch.
Pasting Properties of Corn, Potato, Sweet Potato Starches and Wheat Flours with Partial Rice Starch Substitution
Authors: Lee Hyang-Mi , Lee Young-Tack
Published: December 2013

Rapid visco-analyzer (RVA) was used to evaluate the pasting properties of selected starches; i.e., corn, potato, and sweet potato starches and wheat flours substituted with rice starches isolated from normal and waxy rice samples. The gelatinization temperature and pasting viscosities of rice starch were lower than those of the corn, potato, and sweet potato starches. The peak and trough viscosities of normal corn starch increased as substitution levels of normal and waxy rice starches increased, while setback values tended to decrease. Contrary to normal corn starch, the peak viscosity of waxy corn starch decreased as substitution levels of rice starch increased, while final and setback viscosities increased. The peak viscosity of potato starch, showing the highest value among the starches, slightly decreased with increasing levels of rice starch. However, compared to the other starches, the pasting viscosity of potato starch substituted with rice starch was the highest and its setback value was the lowest. The pasting viscosity of sweet potato starch decreased as substitution levels of rice starch increased. Incorporating normal rice starch increased the pasting viscosities of wheat flour, while waxy rice starch resulted in lowered flour pasting viscosities.
Operational Characteristics and Microbial Inactivation Performance of Corona Discharge Plasma Jet System
Authors: Mok Chulkyoon , Lee Taehoon
Published: December 2013

A corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) treatment system was fabricated and its operation characteristics were determined. Also the microbial inactivation efficacy of CDPJ was evaluated in order to explore its potentialities as a nonthermal sterilization technology. The system consisted of power supply, transformer, electrode assembly, air blower, and sample treatment plate. Plasma was generated by corona discharge between tungsten lid electrodes with air stream blowing at high speed resulting in downward plasma ejection as a jet. Higher currents and, consequently, greater power were required for the plasma generation as the frequencies increased. Plasmas were generated at a current greater than 1.0 A and frequencies over 32.5 kHz. Stable plasma jets were acquired when the current and the frequency exceeded 1.5 A and 40.0 kHz. Plasma jet length was extended with the current strength. The maximum temperature increased after a 2 min treatment was less than 25°C regardless of the current strength, indicating that the technology belonged to the non-thermal processing category. The CDPJ inactivation effect against Escherichia coli increased with the current strength. More than 4.5 log reduction was achieved by 1 min treatment at 1.5 A. The inactivation pattern fitted to a 2-stage 1st order reaction model.
Rheological and Morphological Changes in Lager Yeast Sediment
Authors: Ho Lee Joon , Young Lee Shin , Won Hur
Published: December 2013

Yeast sediment is used for pitching subsequent batches or for making yeast extract in lager beer fermentation. The rheological properties of dense yeast sediments and those stored at different temperatures and periods were investigated using a rotational viscometer. A dense suspension of yeast cells harvested at the stationary phase showed slight dilatancy (n = 1.19-1.25). The dilatant yeast suspension became more viscous after several days at room temperature as well as at 4°C. A high shear rate (170.7 s-1) reduced shear thickening in the yeast suspension stored at room temperature for 2 and 4 d. However, dilatancy was restored and even increased in the yeast cells at 6 d. Flow cytometry showed that haploid, diploid, triploid, and tetraploid yeast cells are present in the stationary phase yeast cells, in which polyploid populations varied dynamically. Image analysis of SEM micrographs revealed that the yeast cells have a bimodal distribution in size and the distribution varied significantly in yeast sediment stored at room temperature. Thus, the results suggest that the rheological properties of yeast sediments related to morphological changes could be associated with polyploid populations. Accordingly, rotational viscometry can be applied to monitor the physiological status of yeast sediments in the stationary phase.
Dilute Solution Properties of Polysaccharide Rich Fraction from Ultra-filtration of Aloe vera Gel
Authors: Beak Jin Hong , Kang Eun Won , Kim Sung A , Cha Ji Min , Lee Shin Young
Published: December 2013

Two fractions (permeate and retentate) from fiber free Aloe vera gel were prepared using an ultra-filtration (UF) system with a tubular ceramic membrane (MWCO of 50 kDa), and their dilute solution properties were investigated. The intrinsic viscosities of fiber free Aloe vera gel and the retentate and permeate fractions that were prepared by ultra-filtration were 18.48, 37.74, and 2.01 dL/g, respectively. UF aloe retentate as a polysaccharide rich fraction exhibited polyelectrolyte behavior showing a sharp decrease of intrinsic viscosity by the addition of NaCl. However, as its NaCl concentration increasing to 1 M, its intrinsic viscosity slightly increased due to conformational change caused by the high concentration of NaCl. On the one hand, the intrinsic viscosities of the dilute UF-retentate solution were exponentially decreased with increasing temperature, and the temperature dependency of its intrinsic viscosity showed a sharp discontinuity at 30°C instead of a linear Arrhenius behaviour, indicating a variation of flow mechanism or network rearrangement of a molecular chain. The chain stiffness of polysaccharide rich fraction at bellow and above 0.5 M of NaCl addition was 0.048 and 0.515, respectively, showing different stiffenings and significant conformational change. The coil overlap parameter and critical concentration of UF-retentate were 3.0 and 0.08 g/dL, respectively.
Effects of Japonica Type Rice Cultivar on Quality of Gluten-free Rice Bread
Authors: Kang Tae-Young , Choi Eunhye , Jo Hye Young , Yoon Mi-Ra , Lee Jeom-Sig , Ko Sanghoon
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of rice cultivar on the quality of gluten-free rice bread. Three different type of japonica rice cultivars (Seolgaeng, Goami, and Baegjinju) were used in this study. Rice flour was produced by dry milling and using a 200 mesh sieve. Rice bread was prepared using the straight dough method with an addition of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as a dough improver. Rice bread dough was divided into 170 g and then fermented prior to baking. Gluten-free rice bread prepared using flour from the Seolgaeng cultivar showed the largest volume (446±11.7 mL) and a uniformly distributed pore structure in bread crumbs whose hardness value was 2.66±0.2 N. Rice bread prepared using flour from Goami and Baegjinju cultivars showed rough crumb surface and hard crumb texture. The low damaged starch content (4.5%) and intermediate amylose content (19.3%) of the Seolgaeng cultivar contributed to produce superior qualities such as large volume and soft crumb texture in rice bread.
Quality Characteristics of Whole Barley Flour Added Yogurt Made with Various Lactic Acid Bacteria
Authors: Lee Mi-Ja , Kim Kyung-Soon , Kim Hyung-Soon
Published: December 2013

The objective of this experiment was to select the best strain of lactic acid bacteria for the manufacture of yogurt with 3% whole barley flour. Yogurt was fermented with various lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA), Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus (LB), and Streptococcus thermophilussei (ST), and quality properties, β-glucan content, and antioxidant activity were estimated. The quality of the control yogurt and that containing barley flour showed significant differences according to the type of lactic acid bacteria strain. Barley yogurt that was fermented with LALBST complex bacteria had low pH, high titratable acidity and brix. Also, its viable cell count, the value of L, and antioxidant activity were high, and the value of a and b were low. The β-glucan content of barley yogurt containing 3% whole barley flour was 0.15%. The pH of yogurt decreased with the addition of barley flour. Titratable acidity, brix, β-glucan content, and the antioxidant activity of yogurt fermented with barley flour increased. Viscosity also increased significantly with the addition of barley flour. Yogurt qualities such as pH, titratable acidity, and viscosity were developed by the addition of barley flour. From these results, the best strain of lactic acid bacteria for fermenting yogurt containing barley flour was the LALBST complex.
Quality Characteristics of dried Kimchi by Cyclic Low Pressure Drying
Authors: Seo Yong Chang , Choi Young Beom , Ko Jung Rim , Lee Hyeon Yong
Published: December 2013

This study aimed to economically produce high quality of dried kimchi through a cyclic low pressure drying device in order to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional drying process. The moisture content of dried kimchi obtained from the cyclic low pressure drying process was found to be uniformly reduced according to drying time. Also, cyclic low pressure drying showed the shortest change and a stable reduction in drying rate. Further, cyclic low pressure drying did not markedly change pH, titratable acidity, or salt content. In addition cyclic low pressure drying compared with fresh kimchi showed the similar color values and maintained the flavor of the kimchi. In conclusion, cyclic low pressure drying resulted in superior rehydration and sensory scores.
Enhancement of Biological Activities of Fresh Ginseng by Balanced Low Pressure Drying Processes
Authors: Kim Ji Seon , Choi Young Beom , Ko Jung Rim , Lee Hyeon Yong
Published: December 2013

This study was performed to maintain the biological activities of fresh ginseng during the drying processes. To obtain this purpose, a balanced low pressure drying process was employed to dry fresh ginseng at low temperature and pressure. This process requires a longer process time than that of hot air drying, but much lower temperature. This system is also economically feasible as it requires lower input energy than freeze drying and maintains similar biological activities such as acidic polysaccharides, because these polysaccharides were known to be heat labile and also resulted in lowering the biological activities of ginseng extract. It was also found that the higher process time and temperature of hot air drying significantly reduced volatile biologically active components such as phenolic compounds, which resulted in lowering the antioxidant activities of ginseng extract. Furthermore, the liquid extracts from ginseng dried by the balanced low pressure drying process increased the growth of human B and T cells, also increased secretion of both IL-6 and TNF-α. These results demonstrate that low pressure drying under balanced air condition could reduce the degradation of ginseng by preventing the breakdown of heat labile biologically active components, not ginsenosides. It could eventually improve the biological activities of fresh ginseng.
Properties of Normal and Glutinous Black Rice Flours Prepared by Different Milling Methods
Authors: Lee Young-Tack
Published: December 2013

Two black rice samples, normal and glutinous black rice, were milled by different milling methods, and the physicochemical properties of the black rice flour samples were tested. Total anthocyanin content in the black rice decreased during soaking in the process of wet milling. The particle size of the black rice flour prepared by dry milling (DM) using a pin mill was smaller than that by wet milling (WM) using a roll mill. Damaged starch contents in the dry milled black rice flour were 16.2 and 14.2% for normal and glutinous samples, respectively, whereas these were only 2.7 and 5.9% for the wet milled samples. The particle size was further reduced by successive dry milling of the flour after wet milling and drying (WDM). However, WDM resulted in a lower damaged starch (%) than DM, despite reduced flour particle size. Little differences in the water absorption index (WAI) of the black rice flour were observed among the different milling methods. Water solubility index (WAI) was in the following order: DM, WDM, and WM, and was higher in glutinous black rice flour than in normal black rice flour. Determined by Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA), glutinous black rice flour appeared to have significantly higher gelatinization temperature and pasting viscosities including peak, trough, breakdown, and final viscosities. Compared to dry milled black rice flour, wet milled black rice flour showed lower peak viscosity and higher final viscosity, resulting in increased setback value.
Quality Characteristics of Cold Storage Pork Patty by Micro-encapsulation of Natural Additives
Authors: Kim Hee-Sun , Seong Pil-Nam , Chang Moon-Jeong , Kim Myung-Hwan
Published: December 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of micro-encapsulation for green tea, sage, and paprika oleoresin extracts as nitrate substitutes on the colors, total flavonoids, DPPH radical scavenging activities, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total plate counts changes of pork patties during storage for 7 d at 4°C. For color, the value of treatment 2 (micro-encapsulated) was higher than those of control (nitrate added) or treatment 1 (non-capsulated) throughout the storage period. Total flavonoid contents of the control and treatments were similar values in the initial stage of storage and those of control, treatment 1, and treatment 2 decreased 52, 47, and 43%, respectively, after 7 d storage at 4°C. DPPH radical scavenging activities of control, treatment 1, and treatment 2 were 8.68, 18.15, and 23.57%, and TBARS values were 0.54, 0.36, and 0.33 mg/kg, respectively, after pork patty manufacturing. The TBARS value of the control increased 61%, while that of treatment 2 increased only 30% during storage for 7 d at 4°C. Total plate counts of the control and treatments were in the 2.98-3.38 log CFU/g range in the initial stage of storage, and in the 3.32-3.64 log CFU/g range after 7 d storage at 4°C, which were not significantly different at the 5% level.
Concentration of Rice Bran Lipid Soluble Bioactive Substances Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Kim Inhwan , Yoon Sung Won , Lee Junsoo , Lee Jeom-Sig , Kim In-Hwan
Published: December 2013

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of different pressure and temperature combinations on the concentrations of tocols homologues, policosanol, phytosterol, and γ-oryzanol in crude rice bran oil (RBO) using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). To effectively separate oily substances from bioactive substances, fatty acid ethyl esterification was performed by sulfuric acid or the lipase catalytic method. In sulfuric acid esterification, γ-tocotrienol content was decreased by ca. 50%, whereas in lipase esterification, γ-tocotrienol content was not decreased. Therefore, lipase catalytic esterification was performed for the fatty acid alkyl esterification of RBO. The fractional extraction of RBO ethyl esters was performed using SC-CO2 in the condition of 9.62 Mpa, 10.34 MPa, or 11.03 MPa and 45°C, 50°C, or 55°C. During the fractionation of RBO using SC-CO2, a little tocols content was extracted with fatty acid ethyl esters, but policosanol and phytosterol were not extracted. Especially, there is a high correlation (R2=0.9306) between the density of CO2 and tocols contents extracted to the fractions. The concentration rates of tocols and phytosterol were the highest in the condition of 55°C and 9.62 MPa. Therefore, the lower CO2 density applied, the more efficient the concentrations of tocols and phytosterol were in this study.
Antioxidant Properties of Pinus koraiensis Needle Powder Extracts as Influenced by Drying Methods
Authors: Chung Ha-Sook , Kim In Ho , Kim Seong Ho , Lee Jun Ho
Published: December 2013

Korean pine needles have long been used in traditional Korean herbal medicine. Hence, pine needle extract was prepared as powder using 50% ethanol extraction followed by various drying methods such as hot-air drying, vacuum drying, and freeze drying. With these extracts, the effects of the drying methods on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities were assessed. As a result, vacuum drying resulted in the highest yield, whereas hot-air dried extract contained the least amount of total phenolic compounds. However, the extracts by hot-air drying showed the highest amount of total flavonoids in comparison with the extracts obtained by other drying methods (p<0.05). In case of freeze dried samples, there was much stronger 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities than in other samples (p<0.05). The nitrate scavenging activities of all samples at high acidic conditions were higher than 80%, and that of the vacuum dried sample showed a significantly higher value (p<0.05). t-Cinnamic acid was the major phenolic acid regardless of drying method applied.
Hepatoprotective Activity of Quality Certificated Traditional Doenjang in Korea
Authors: Park So-Lim , Lee So-Young , Kim In-Sun , Lim Seong-Il , Song Jin , Choi Shin-Yang
Published: December 2013

This study investigated the α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) inhibitory activity of traditional doenjang in Korea. Only the traditional doenjang of which quality was certificated in Korea was used in this study. The most significant marker for fibrolysis is the expression of α-SMA and when MEF cells were treated with extract of Kyongbuk doenjang, the α-SMA expression was suppressed 74%, Gangwon and Chunbuk doenjang were suppressed the α-SMA expression more than 60% compared with the control. Particularly Kyongbuk doenjang was fermented over 2 years and the difference between Kyongbuk doenjang and silymarin was only 10%.
Production of γ-Aminobutyric Acid by Lactobacillus brevis 340G Isolated from Kimchi and Its Application to Skim Milk
Authors: Seo Myung-Ji , Lee Ji-Yeon , Nam Young-Do , Lee So-Young , Park So-Lim , Yi Sung-Hun , Lee Mi-Hwa , Roh Seong Woon , Choi Hak-Jong , Lim Seong-Il
Published: December 2013

The Lactobacillus brevis 340G strain isolated from traditional Korean fermented food (kimchi) produced 15.50 mM of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) after 48 h of cultivation in MRS media containing 1% L-monosodium glutamate (MSG). The culture conditions of Lb. brevis 340G were optimized for GABA production. Lb. brevis 340G was cultivated at 30°C in optimized MRS media containing 3% sucrose and 2% yeast extract with 3% MSG, resulting in maximum GABA production (68.77 mM) after 54 h of cultivation. Skim milk fermented with Lb. brevis 340G produced 4.64 mM of GABA in the presence of 1% MSG. These results suggest that Lb. brevis 340G could be used as a starter for functional fermented foods and skim milk fermented with Lb. brevis 340G could be further developed to become functional dairy food fortified with GABA.
Comparative Immunohistochemical Analysis of IMP3, GLUT1, EMA, CD146, and Desmin for Distinguishing Malignant Mesothelioma From Reactive Mesothelial Cells
Authors: Minato Hiroshi , Kurose Nozomu , Fukushima Mana , Nojima Takayuki , Usuda Katsuo , Sagawa Motoyasu , Sakuma Tsutomu , Ooi Akishi , Matsumoto Isao , Oda Makoto , Arano Yoshihiko , Shimizu Junzo
Published: December 2013

Objectives:

To identify useful biomarkers for differentiating between malignant mesothelioma (MM) and reactive mesothelial cells (RMCs).

Methods:

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 34 MM and 40 RMC samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, and the findings were compared.

Results:

Positive markers for MM included insulin-like growth factor 2 messenger RNA binding protein 3 (IMP3), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and CD146, which showed sensitivities of 94%, 85%, 79%, and 71% and specificities of 78%, 100%, 88%, and 98%, respectively. In sarcomatoid MM, EMA had significantly lower expression than did IMP3, GLUT1, and CD146 (P < .001). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were the highest for IMP3 (0.95), followed by GLUT1 (0.93). When the optimal cutoff points for IMP3 (30%) and GLUT1 (10%) were used, the sensitivity of IMP3 and GLUT1 for MM was 100%, and the specificity of both for MM was 95%.

Conclusions:

The combination of IMP3 and GLUT1 is most appropriate for distinguishing MM from RMC using FFPE sections.