bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Culinary culture and globalization. An analysis of British and German Michelin‐starred restaurants
Authors: Lane Christel
Published: December 2011

The high‐end restaurant segment in Britain and Germany has long been shaped by the cultural hegemony of French haute cuisine, perpetuated by multiple processes, including the influence of the Michelin or Red Guide. Traditionally, this hegemony has been expressed in the prevalence of French expatriate chefs, culinary techniques and style and even restaurant culture. This paper investigates whether processes of globalization have weakened or even undermined this French cultural dominance in fine‐dining restaurants and their culinary culture. To this end, the study identifies the various forms taken by globalization processes in this industry segment and then assesses their impact on the dominance of the French paradigm of culinary culture. The investigation focuses on British and German Michelin‐starred restaurants, underlining both commonalities and divergences in the process of interaction between French, global and local influences. The study employs a qualitative method, using a number of case studies to discern cross‐industry patterns. All chefs with two or three stars in the two countries, i.e. 45 chefs, were selected for the analysis of their cuisine.
Residents’ perspectives on urinary incontinence: a review of literature
Authors: Ostaszkiewicz Joan , O’Connell Bev , Dunning Trisha
Published: December 2011

Background:  Individuals in residential aged care facilities experience urinary incontinence more than any other single population. Despite these factors, the impact of the condition on their quality of life, their perspectives of living with the condition, and their preferences for care have received little research attention.

Aim:  To provide a descriptive overview of research about; the impact of urinary incontinence on residents’ quality of life; residents’ perspectives of having urinary incontinence; and their preferences for continence care’.

Design:  A descriptive review of literature.

Method:  A broad search was undertaken for qualitative and quantitative research that evaluated residents’ quality of life related to urinary incontinence; their perspectives on having urinary incontinence, and their preferences for managing it. Data were displayed in tabular format, summarized, and described.

Results:  Ten studies were identified and reviewed (six qualitative and four quantitative). They reveal many residents’ value having independent bowel and bladder function, but believe that incontinence in inevitable and intractable. Some adopt self management strategies, however considerable barriers hinder their ability to maintain continence and manage incontinence. Residents often have low expectations, and hence decline further evaluation and treatment. Some express satisfaction with continence care even if this care is not consistent with their preferences. Little is known about how cognitively impaired residents perceive their condition. However some individuals with cognitive impairment respond with acute anxiety when carers’ attempt to provide continence care.

Conclusion:  Residents’ perspectives on incontinence and preferences for continence care relate to low expectations for improvement. Such misconceptions should be addressed and residents and their family members should be given a range of options from which to choose. As urinary incontinence impacts on residents’ quality of life, it is also important that continence care is delivered in a participative and sensitive way.
The European Union and Conflict Resolution: Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Bilateral Cooperation
Authors: Tannam Etain
Published: December 2011

The aim of this article is to determine the EU's effect on British–Irish and Greek–Turkish cooperation. It examines the EU's actual and potential role in fostering British–Irish and Greek–Turkish cooperation as well as its policies to Northern Ireland and Cyprus themselves. Domestic bureaucratic capacity and institutional design are put forward as explanations for the success of the British–Irish relationship rather than EU membership per se. In the case of Cyprus, the article suggests that increased bilateral cooperation with respect to disputed territory is unlikely to occur in the absence of faster bureaucratic change in both Greece and Turkey. EU membership is not a causal factor in the evolution of cooperation and conflict resolution.
The Political Opposition and Democracy in Macao: Revolutionaries or Loyalists?
Authors: Wing-yat Eilo Yu , Ka-man Natalie Chin
Published: December 2011

This article examines the nature of political opposition in the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) to give us an understanding of its role in and approach to political reform in the territory. It explores the emergence of the pro-democracy opposition in Macao since the end of the colonial era and the self-perception of pro-democratic opposition groups in the MSAR regime, and argues that the majority of opposition groups perceive themselves as ‘loyal’ opponents to the current regime. The groups aim at checking the authorities in the scope of the constitution as loyal constituents. Their assumption of this role is the result of several environmental factors, including a relatively weak civil society, a lack of resources and a pro-government media.
Geometric Derivations Of Minimal Sets Of Sufficient Multiview Constraints
Authors: Thomas Orrin H. , Oshel Edward R.
Published: December 2011

Geometric interpretations of four of the most common determinant formulations of multiview constraints are given, showing that they all enforce the same geometry and that all of the forms commonly in use in the machine vision community are a subset of a more general form. Generalising the work of Yi Ma yields a new general 2 × 2 determinant trilinear and 3 × 3 determinant quadlinear. Geometric descriptions of degenerate multiview constraints are given, showing that it is necessary, but insufficient, that the determinant equals zero. Understanding the degeneracies leads naturally into proofs for minimum sufficient sets of bilinear, trilinear and quadlinear constraints for arbitrary numbers of conjugate observations.
Specific feature of olfactory dysfunction with Alzheimer's disease inspected by the Odor Stick Identification Test
Authors: JIMBO Daiki , INOUE Masashi , TANIGUCHI Miyako , URAKAMI Katsuya
Published: December 2011

Aim:  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most significant diseases associated with ageing. As the disease progresses, symptoms including olfactory dysfunction often appear along with cognitive dysfunction. We examined olfactory and other indexes to investigate correlations between them and the validity of an olfactory test for screening for AD.

Methods:  To assess whether odorant identification will be a useful diagnostic tool, we investigated the olfactory ability of Alzheimer's disease patients (ADs) using the Odor Stick Identification Test for the Japanese. As a control, we compared ADs to aged people without AD or dementia. To investigate the relationship between olfactory loss and severity of AD, we used the Mini‐Mental State Examination, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, biomarkers in spinal fluid and single‐photon emission computed tomography as brain imaging.

Results:  In comparing the controls and ADs, we believe that there are significant differences, with ADs having particularly low activity with regard to olfactory function and some odorants. We showed that there was a definite correlation between cognitive and olfactory function. To confirm this, we sorted subjects by markers of severity scores for comparison. In all areas, the AD group had more serious olfactory dysfunction, including in the early stages of AD.

Conclusion:  This study suggests that olfactory tests such as the Odor Stick Identification Test for the Japanese can be useful for assessing severity of AD, including cognitive dysfunction. Further investigations will enable us to establish an olfactory assessment method for the screening or diagnosis of AD.
THE CYANOBACTERIAL CHLOROPHYLL‐BINDING‐PROTEIN ISIA ACTS TO INCREASE THE IN VIVO EFFECTIVE ABSORPTION CROSS‐SECTION OF PSI UNDER IRON LIMITATION1
Authors: Ryan‐Keogh Thomas J. , Macey Anna I. , Cockshutt Amanda M. , Moore C. Mark , Bibby Thomas S.
Published: December 2011

Iron availability limits primary production in >30% of the world’s oceans; hence phytoplankton have developed acclimation strategies. In particular, cyanobacteria express IsiA (iron‐stress‐induced) under iron stress, which can become the most abundant chl‐binding protein in the cell. Within iron‐limited oceanic regions with significant cyanobacterial biomass, IsiA may represent a significant fraction of the total chl. We spectroscopically measured the effective cross‐section of the photosynthetic reaction center PSI (σPSI) in vivo and biochemically quantified the absolute abundance of PSI, PSII, and IsiA in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We demonstrate that accumulation of IsiA results in a ∼60% increase in σPSI, in agreement with the theoretical increase in cross‐section based on the structure of the biochemically isolated IsiA‐PSI supercomplex from cyanobacteria. Deriving a chl budget, we suggest that IsiA plays a primary role as a light‐harvesting antenna for PSI. On progressive iron‐stress in culture, IsiA continues to accumulate without a concomitant increase in σPSI, suggesting that there may be a secondary role for IsiA. In natural populations, the potential physiological significance of the uncoupled pool of IsiA remains to be established. However, the functional role as a PSI antenna suggests that a large fraction of IsiA‐bound chl is directly involved in photosynthetic electron transport.
EFFECTS OF HIGH PRESSURE IN THE ARMORED DINOFLAGELLATE SCRIPPSIELLA HEXAPRAECINGULA (PERIDINIALES, DINOPHYCEAE): CHANGES IN THECAL PLATE PATTERN AND MICROTUBULE ASSEMBLY1
Authors: Sekida Satoko , Takahira Masaki , Horiguchi Takeo , Okuda Kazuo
Published: December 2011

The possible role of cortical microtubules in dinoflagellates was studied using high‐pressure treatments applied to nonmotile cells (just after ecdysis) of Scrippsiella hexapraecingula T. Horig. et Chihara. Whereas considerable disorganization of cortical microtubules was observed when cells were exposed to high‐pressure treatments of 98 MPa or more for 5–15 min, they were mostly intact in cells exposed to a pressure of <98 MPa for 5 min. After nonmotile cells were exposed to high‐pressure treatments sufficient to disorganize the cortical microtubules, they produced new motile cells with thecal plate patterns that differed considerably from the pattern known for this species. Increasing the intensity of high pressure applied to nonmotile cells resulted in an increase in the number of cells that exhibited disorganized cortical microtubules as well as a change in their thecal plate pattern, suggesting that high pressure disorganizes cortical microtubules leading to a change in the thecal plate pattern.
Therapeutic phlebotomy procedures and their impact on a rural hospital's red blood cell inventory and fiscal stature
Authors: Flynn Rebecca C. , Bryant Barbara J.
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic phlebotomy (TP) programs offer an important community service and often provide financial and donor unit resources for the hospital. This study assessed the financial impact and red blood cell (RBC) inventory contribution of a small, rural hospital‐based TP program.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: TP procedures over 13 months were evaluated at a 142‐bed rural hospital. The hospital had a Food and Drug Administration variance for a hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) donor program. The revenue for the non‐HH therapeutic phlebotomies and the savings attained for units added to RBC inventory from allogeneic eligible HH donors were compiled.

RESULTS: During the study, 84 patients were involved in the TP program. Of the 62 HH patients, 43 met eligibility requirements for allogeneic donations resulting in 207 donor units collected for the blood bank inventory and a savings of $21,000 in blood costs. Additionally, 22 non‐HH patients underwent 183 TP procedures earning the hospital over $15,000 in net revenue.

CONCLUSION: The TP program at this small, rural 142‐bed hospital provided a financial gain of $36,000 during the 13‐month study period. The HH donor program contributed approximately 4% to the RBC inventory. The TP program at this small, rural 142‐bed hospital proved to be financially lucrative and provided a community service to patients.
Toward a Social Psychology of Globalization
Authors: Chiu Chi‐yue , Gries Peter , Torelli Carlos J. , Cheng Shirley Y. Y.
Published: December 2011

In most parts of the world, globalization has become an unstoppable and potent force that impacts everyday life and international relations. The articles in this issue draw on theoretical insights from diverse perspectives (clinical psychology, consumer research, organizational behavior, political psychology, and cultural psychology) to offer nuanced understanding of individuals’ psychological reactions to globalization in different parts of the world (Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China, Singapore, Switzerland, United States, Taiwan). These articles address the questions of how people make sense of and respond to globalization and its sociocultural ramifications; how people defend the integrity of their heritage cultural identities against the “culturally erosive” effects of globalization, and how individuals harness creative insights from their interactions with global cultures. The new theoretical insights and revealing empirical analyses presented in this issue set the stage for an emergent interdisciplinary inquiry into the psychology of globalization.
When Knowledge Is a Double‐Edged Sword: Contact, Media Exposure, and American China Policy Preferences
Authors: Gries Peter Hays , Crowson H. Michael , Cai Huajian
Published: December 2011

Globalization affords greater opportunities to learn about foreign peoples than in the past. What impacts do interpersonal contact, media exposure to and knowledge about China have on the American people's China policy preferences? Two large surveys of U.S. citizens were conducted in the summers of 2008 and 2009 to explore whether knowledge about China and prejudice against the Chinese people and the Chinese government would mediate the relationship between contact and media exposure on the one hand, and U.S. China policy preferences on the other. Results show that while knowledge played the expected mediating roles between contact and media exposure on the one hand, and prejudice against the Chinese people on the other, greater knowledge of China was actually associated with greater negativity toward the Chinese government, which in turn contributed to desires for tougher China policies. Both media exposure and interpersonal contact thus had mixed effects on China policy preferences.
Mammographic Screening Practices Among Chinese‐Australian Women
Authors: Kwok Cannas , Fethney Judith , White Kate
Published: December 2011

Purpose: To report mammographic screening practice among Chinese‐Australian women, and to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, acculturation factors (English proficiency and length of stay in Australia), cultural beliefs, and having a mammogram as recommended.

Design: Cross‐sectional and descriptive. The study was conducted in 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Of 988 Chinese‐Australian women over 18 years of age invited to participate in the study, 785 (79%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Of these women, 320 (40.8%) were in the target age range of 50 to 69 years.

Methods: The Chinese Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (CBCSB) was used as a data collection instrument. Analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis using chi‐square and t tests, and logistic regression.

Results: Of the 320 women in the targeted age range of 50 to 69 years, 238 (74.4%) had a mammogram as recommended biannually. Being married‐de facto, in the 60 to 69 age group, and speaking Cantonese at home were positively associated with women's mammographic screening practice. However, no statistically significant differences in acculturation factors and having a mammogram as recommended were found. In terms of CBCSB score, women who had mammograms as recommended had more positive attitudes toward health checkups and perceived fewer barriers to mammographic screening.

Conclusions: Effort should be focused on specific subgroups of Chinese‐Australian women in order to fully understand the barriers involved in participating in mammographic screening.

Clinical Relevance: Nurses can use the findings from the present study to design culturally sensitive breast cancer screening programs to encourage women's participation in mammography.

Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2012; XX:X, XXX–XXX. ©2011 Sigma Theta Tau International.
Ravens and Film: Stories of Continuity and Mediation
Authors: Kisin Eugenia
Published: December 2011

This article reviews the first seven episodes of the computer‐animated television series Raven Tales. Raven Tales adapts Northwest Coast First Nations myths and legends, circulating these stories to increase their reach and relevance for young audiences. I examine the series in terms of its content's role in cultural renewal in First Nations communities, in relation to the mediations enacted through its production histories, and in the ways in which its form relates to other Northwest Coast visual projects. I argue that Raven Tales works to mediate positive identities both within Native communities and against non‐Native power structures.
DETECTION OF ENTEROTOXIGENIC STAPHYLOCOCCI BY LOOP‐MEDIATED ISOTHERMAL AMPLIFICATION METHOD
Authors: NAGARAJAPPA SOWMYA , THAKUR MUNNA SINGH , MANONMANI HARAVE KRISHNAN
Published: December 2011

Enterotoxigenic staphylococcal strains isolated from the food samples in Mysore, Karnataka, India, were evaluated using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. The detection limit was 100 colony‐forming units (cfu)/test for LAMP and 10,000 cfu/test for PCR. In the presence of coexisting microbes such as Yersinia enterocolitica, the assays were carried out and the quantified DNA was subjected to LAMP and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Despite the presence of Y. enterocolitica genomic DNA, the sensitivity of LAMP remains the same. The detection limits of LAMP and PCR were 100 fg/test and 10 pg/test, respectively. In all cases, LAMP was found to be 100‐fold more sensitive than PCR. No DNA amplification was observed for ent A, ent B, ent C and ent D non‐producing staphylococci and other bacterial strains, indicating its high specificity. Thus, LAMP has been proven to be a powerful tool, which is useful for detection and obtaining a reliable identification of the toxin genes of the pathogen from diverse food sources.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Enterotoxigenic staphylococcal prevalence in food products in Mysore, Karnataka, India, has been documented. In developing countries, such as India, where food‐borne illness is of serious concern, loop‐mediated isothermal amplification method may serve as a powerful tool for rapid diagnosis of food‐borne pathogens in food safety analysis as it is cost‐effective, simple and sensitive than polymerase chain reaction.
PROPERTIES OF DURANCIN GL, A NEW ANTILISTERIAL BACTERIOCIN PRODUCED BY ENTEROCOCCUS DURANS 41D
Authors: DU LIHUI , SOMKUTI GEORGE A. , RENYE JR JOHN A. , HUO GUICHENG
Published: December 2011

The properties of the antilisterial durancin GL were characterized. The bacteriocin was the product of Enterococcus durans 41D, which was isolated from Hispanic‐style cheese samples. The antibacterial activity of durancin GL was only evident against gram‐positive bacteria, including Listeria species. Bacteriocin's activity was retained after treatment with surfactants of different groups (Tween, Brij and sodium dodecyl sulfate), and reducing (β‐mercaptoethanol) or chelating (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) agents failed to inactivate the bacteriocin. Durancin GL was active over the pH range of 2–11 and heat resistant for at least 30 min at 100C. However, exposure to 121C for 17 min completely inactivated the bacteriocin. Durancin GL displayed primary metabolite kinetics with the bacteriocin production rate being parallel with the growth cycle of E. durans 41D. The estimated molecular mass of durancin GL was <6 kDa, and it displayed a bactericidal effect on sensitive strains without concomitant cell lysis. The apparently new antilisterial bacteriocin from the putative probiotic strain E. durans 41D may be used to protect food products against various gram‐positive bacteria, including the food‐borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The bacteriocins of food‐grade lactic acid bacteria may be useful as natural antimicrobials for food preservation. Food‐borne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, may develop resistance to nisin, which is currently the only bacteriocin approved for use in foods. This study describes the initial characterization of an apparently novel bacteriocin, durancin GL, which is produced by a strain of Enterococcus durans found in artisanal Mexican cheese samples. The bacteriocin was shown to effectively inhibit the growth of several L. monocytogenes strains, including the nisin‐resistant variant, L. monocytogenes NR30. The results suggest that durancin GL may be developed to serve as a food‐grade preservative to inhibit the growth of nisin‐resistant Listeria.
INFLUENCE OF ETHYLENEDIAMINE‐N,N′‐DISUCCINIC ACID (EDDS) CONCENTRATION ON THE BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF FATTY ACIDS IN VITRO*
Authors: HINTON JR A. , INGRAM K.D.
Published: December 2011

The antibacterial activity of mixtures of ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐disuccinic acid (EDDS) and antibacterial fatty acids (FA) was examined using the agar diffusion assay. Solutions of caproic, caprylic, capric and lauric acids dissolved in potassium hydroxide (KOH) were supplemented with 0, 5 or 10 mM of EDDS and adjusted to pH 11.0 with citric acid. Wells made in agar media seeded with one of nine bacterial isolates were filled with FA‐KOH or FA‐KOH‐EDDS solutions. After incubation of agar plates, zones of inhibition of bacterial growth around the agar wells were measured. Results indicated that caproic‐KOH‐EDDS and caprylic‐KOH‐EDDS inhibited growth of more bacterial isolates than caproic‐KOH and caprylic‐KOH, respectively. Although, capric‐KOH and lauric‐KOH produced zones of inhibition of all nine bacterial isolates, significantly (P ≤ 0.05) larger zones of inhibition were produced by capric‐KOH‐EDDS and lauric‐KOH‐EDDS. Findings of this study indicate that mixtures of FA‐KOH‐EDDS possess greater antibacterial activity than FA‐KOH.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Research demonstrates that supplementing mixtures of FA‐KOH with EDDS increases the antibacterial activity of these antimicrobial surfactants. Similar results have been produced with FA‐KOH supplemented with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). However, EDTA is a man‐made, nonbiodegradable chelator, whereas EDDS is a natural biodegradable chelator. Therefore, EDDS may be used as an alternative for EDTA in formulations of FA‐KOH currently being examined as novel sanitizers for decreasing microbial contamination associated with poultry processing. Since EDDS is biodegradable, use of this chelator will not cause concerns of environmental pollution associated with the use of EDTA.
EVALUATION OF INTESTINAL INVASION IN GERM‐FREE MICE CHALLENGED WITH ACID‐ADAPTED AND NONACID‐ADAPTED SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS SE86 AND SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM ST99
Authors: PEREZ KARLA J. , MARTINS FLAVIANO S. , CARA DENISE C.M. , NICOLI JACQUES R. , TONDO EDUARDO C.
Published: December 2011

The aim of the present study was to evaluate intestinal invasion in germ‐free mice by acid‐adapted and nonacid‐adapted Salmonella (S.) Enteritidis SE86 and S. Typhimurium ST99. The microorganisms were cultivated in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with glucose in order to promote a gradual pH decrease and acid adaptation during the stationary phase. Acid‐adapted and nonacid‐adapted S. Enteritidis SE86 and S. Typhimurium ST99 were administered orally to germ‐free mice, which were kept under aseptic conditions. Feces and intestinal portions were examined by microbiological and histopathological examinations, respectively, during a 12‐day period. A mortality curve was constructed during the same period. The results indicated a similar rapid multiplication of all microorganisms after inoculation; however, mice inoculated with acid‐adapted SE86 showed a higher mortality rate (fourth day) and more severe lesions than animals challenged with ST99. Histopathological analysis showed greater severity of infection caused by SE86 than ST99. The latter microorganism did not cause the death of animals, even 12 days after inoculation. Acid‐adapted SE86 demonstrated a greater virulence in the mice, and this capacity might be related to the survival of this microorganism through the stomach acid barrier.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

In the Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil, a specific strain of S. Enteritidis (SE86) has been identified as the main causative agent of more than 90% of the salmonellosis cases investigated by the Surveillance Service during the last decade. When compared with other Salmonella serovars, this strain has shown a higher acid adaptation capacity when exposed to sublethal acid levels. Since the stomach acid barrier is one of the most important defenses against foodborne pathogens, acid adaptation can be very important for virulence of such microorganisms. This study focused on investigating in vivo the influence of SE86 acid adaptation capability on its pathogenic characteristics to explain why this microorganism is predominantly involved in foodborne salmonellosis in southern Brazil.
PLANT EXTRACTS AS POTENT BIOPRESERVATIVES FOR SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM CONTROL AND QUALITY ENHANCEMENT IN GROUND BEEF
Authors: TAYEL AHMED A. , EL‐TRAS WAEL F.
Published: December 2011

Plants are continually the generous source to supply man with valuable bioactive substances. Six plant extracts were evaluated as potential biopreservatives to solve the catastrophe of beef contamination with Salmonella Typhimurium and improve ground beef overall quality. Five of the examined plant extracts exhibited remarkable antibacterial activities, using different assays, against three S. Typhimurium strains. Supplementation of experimentally inoculated beef trimmings with pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and cinnamon bark extract (CBE) resulted in a sharp reduction in bacterial cell counts during storage period for 7 days. Blending of ground beef with the double minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) from PPE or with a combination from PPE and CBE, at their MIC values, completely inhibited S. Typhimurium growth within the first days of storage. All of the examined sensory characteristics, e.g., odor, color and overall quality, were greatly raised subsequent to the supplementation of ground beef with plant extracts.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

In addition to their economical and health promoting benefits, the application of plant extracts, as natural and safe biopreservatives, could be highly recommended for the improvement of microbiological and sensory quality of ground beef. The supplementation of ground beef with plant extracts, i.e., PPE and CBE, resulted in the increasing of shelf life up to 7 days and complete inhibition of S. Typhimurium growth in the product. The proposed biopreservative agents and concentrations could be innovatively applied for the preservation of meat products.
ASSESSING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MICROBIOTA AND FOOD HANDLER PRACTICES IN DELICATESSEN SECTIONS: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
Authors: HUMAN IZANNE SUSAN , LUES RYK
Published: December 2011

The interactions between microbiota and food handler practices in the delicatessen sections of a major retail group in the Western Cape were investigated in order to establish possible relationships between food handler practices and microbial contamination. The microbiota analyzed included total viable counts, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus on hands and aprons of food handlers. Various groups of food handler practices were identified, using a questionnaire, and compared with microbial counts on hands and/or aprons by means of the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. Variables were described by means, standard deviations, medians and percentiles. A statistically significant difference occurred with regard to Enterobacteriaceae counts on aprons (P = 0.01) between respondents who had received and those who never had received (1) training in personal hygiene as well as (2) training in general hygiene. In both instances, respondents who had received training proved to have higher Enterobacteriaceae counts on their aprons in particular, and the maximum values of the organism counts were also much higher. Several studies have indicated that although training might bring about an increased knowledge of food safety, this does not always result in a positive change. Therefore, the type and effectiveness of training needs to be addressed.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Enforcement of legislation in itself cannot ensure safe food – there should be commitment from all levels of staff, including management. Media‐based hygiene monitoring requires incubation time for results to be obtained. By the time remedial actions are implemented, customers could already be placed at risk and therefore a need exists for monitoring techniques that could provide results in time for remedial action to be effectively implemented, as well as target microbial values for hands of food handlers and for surfaces.

As people from lower economic classes with low education levels are frequently employed as food handlers, a major challenge in the food industry is to motivate food handlers to apply what they have learned regarding food hygiene. Training, including refresher training, is fundamentally important as well as periodic assessments of the effectiveness of training. Routine supervision should be done in order to ensure that procedures are being carried out effectively.
IMPACT OF PROTON: A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATION COURSE ON FOOD HANDLERS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS
Authors: REBELLATO STEVEN , CHOLEWA SCOTT , CHOW JAIME , POON DONNA
Published: December 2011

We conducted an evaluation of our food handler certification program, PROTON. Research examined changes in knowledge, attitude and behavior of participants as a result of completing the course. Participants completed a pre‐test assessing the three variables related to food safety at time of registration. One month following the completion of the program, participants completed an identical post‐test. A total of 1,042 pre‐tests and 320 post‐tests were completed. Scores in the pre‐test (6.3/10) and mean score for the post‐test (7.6/10) rendered a mean difference of 1.3 (95% confidence interval = 1.1 to 1.6; P < 0.0001) demonstrating an increase in knowledge by participants after taking the course. Significant increases for two attitudinal statements related to cross‐contamination and time‐temperature abuse scored high levels of participant agreement. PROTON is successful at positively impacting the knowledge, attitude and behavior of participants toward factors important to food safety, and recommendations for program enhancement are identified.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

From a program planning perspective, there are a number of implications from this study. It would be useful to revise the program according to the findings so that further positive changes in knowledge, attitude and behavior can be reached. For example, to enhance positive changes, certain parts of the workshop should have greater emphasis on improving skill building opportunities so that food handlers have the practical skills required to complete various safe food handling tasks when in their place of employment. It would also be important to ensure that the program content includes a variety of learning strategies, based on adult‐learning principles, to ensure the content is relevant and acceptable to all participants. Overall, PROTON is an effective food handler education and certification program, and enhancement to the program could increase further positive changes.
EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF A POLYHEXAMETHYLENE BIGUANIDE‐COATED TEXTILE BY MONITORING BOTH BACTERIAL GROWTH (ISO 20743/2005 STANDARD) AND VIABILITY (LIVE/DEAD BACLIGHT KIT)
Authors: CHADEAU E. , BRUNON C. , DEGRAEVE P. , LEONARD D. , GROSSIORD C. , BESSUEILLE F. , COTTAZ A. , RENAUD F. , FERREIRA I. , DARROUX C. , SIMON F. , RIMBAULT F. , OULAHAL N.
Published: December 2011

Antimicrobial textiles (65% cotton – 35% polyester) were functionalized using a patented technology that combines an antimicrobial molecule – polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and a precipitating agent – sodium laurylsulphate. Surface characterization was performed by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and both techniques made clear signatures of PHMB at the top surface of treated textiles. Washing led to a strong decrease of PHMB concentration at the surface. Comparison of textile surface analysis and antimicrobial tests indicated that the amount of PHMB at its extreme surface of textiles after five or 10 industrial washings was sufficient to inhibitListeria innocuabut notPseudomonas aeruginosagrowth. The viability ofL. innocuacells after contact with PHMB‐treated textile after one industrial washing was estimated using the Live/Dead BacLight kit (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR): the combination of epifluorescence microscopy observations coupled with classic enumeration allowed detection of the presence of viable but nonculturable cells.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Protective clothing is required in the food‐processing industry to protect products from being contaminated by microorganisms carried by workers' clothes or filtration systems. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in the use of antimicrobial functionalized textiles in the food industry to avoid that textiles could be vectors for pathogenic or food spoilage microorganisms. In the present study, the correlation between PHMB (the antimicrobial agent) at the surface of textiles (monitored by surface analysis characterization methods) and their antibacterial activity was assessed. After contact with antimicrobial textiles, the enumeration of bacteria was performed either by plate counting or by direct observation by epifluorescence microscopy in the presence of fluorescent viability markers in order to determine whether viable but nonculturable bacterial cells were present.
Modeling the Negotiation of Newsworthiness
Authors: FOGARTY BRIAN J.
Published: December 2011

The news product we view each day is formed through negotiations and relationships between members of the press and elected and governmental officials. This negotiation of newsworthiness is inherently a bargaining process. Yet since the process is often hidden and sometimes implicit, it is near impossible for researchers to precisely observe and empirically model how the political news product is created. In this article, I propose a series of bargaining models to gain understanding of the negotiation of newsworthiness between the news media and the government. I establish that even though the government and politicians often have advantages in creating the news, informational control can be mitigated by increasing news outlets’ resources within a dense political news environment. The results provide a formal rationale for when we should and should not expect accountability reporting.

Las noticias fabricadas que vemos cada día son producto de negociaciones y relaciones entre miembros de la prensa y oficiales electos y gubernamentales. Esta negociación por la relevancia de cada reportaje es intrínsecamente un proceso de negociación. Sin embargo, este es un proceso frecuentemente oculto y a veces implícito, es casi imposible para los investigadores observar de manera precisa y modelar empíricamente cómo los reportajes políticos fabricados son creados. En este artículo, propongo una serie de modelos de negociación para ganar un mejor entendimiento de la negociación por la relevancia entre la prensa y el gobierno. Establezco que aunque muchas veces la creación de estos reportajes supone una ventaja para el gobierno y los servidores públicos, el control de la información puede ser mitigado por los crecientes recursos de la prensa especializada en cobertura política. Los resultados proveen una base lógica formal para establecer cuando se debe o no esperar un reportaje responsable.
Treatment of HPV Infection‐Associated Cervical Condylomata Acuminata with 5‐Aminolevulinic Acid‐Mediated Photodynamic Therapy†
Authors: Wang Hong‐Wei , Zhang Ling‐Lin , Miao Fei , Lv Ting , Wang Xiu‐Li , Huang Zheng
Published: December 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated cervical condylomata. A total of 56 patients with cervical and external condylomata lesions were recruited for this open‐label study. HPV genotyping of exfoliated cells collected from the cervix and external lesions was performed. Cervical lesions were treated with PDT by applying ALA gel (10%) to the surface of the cervix for 4 h followed by irradiating with a 635 nm laser at 100 J cm−2. PDT was repeated at 2‐week intervals if lesion and HPV infection remained. Patients were followed up for 6–24 months. Genotyping analysis revealed four HPV subtypes (HPV6, 11, 16 and 18). The overall complete remission rate of 1–4 sessions of treatments was 98.2% and the corresponding HPV clearance rate was 83.9%. Ten cases showed complete removal of cervical lesions and HPV infection after a single treatment. Recurrence rate was 3.6%. Adverse effects were minimal and no structural complications were reported. In conclusion, topical ALA PDT is safe and effective for eradicating cervical HPV infection and eliminating condylomata lesion. Its definitive role in treating cervical condylomata deserves further investigation.
Intra‐abdominal hypertension in horses
Authors: Canola P. A. , Johnson P. J.
Published: December 2011

Intra‐abdominal hypertension (IAH) may lead to a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome associated with significant dysfunction of the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems of human patients. A recent prospective multicentre epidemiological investigation in man concluded that IAH was associated with an increased risk of mortality in critically ill patients. In this review, we present current information pertaining to the potential clinical importance of IAH in the context of equine clinical practice. In conclusion, consideration of intra‐abdominal pressure should be a part of the clinical assessment of patient well‐being in critically ill equine patients.
The effect of intralesional injection of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow supernatant on collagen fibril size in a surgical model of equine superficial digital flexor tendonitis
Authors: CANIGLIA C. J. , SCHRAMME M. C. , SMITH R. K.
Published: December 2011

Reasons for performing study: Collagen fibril size is decreased in repair tissue following tendon injury compared to normal tendon matrix in horses. Mesenchymal stem cells have been suggested to promote regeneration of tendon matrix rather than fibrotic repair following injury, although this concept remains unproven.

Objectives: To explore the hypothesis that implantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow into a surgically created central core defect in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of horses would induce the formation of a matrix with greater ultrastructural similarities to tendon matrix than the fibrotic scar tissue formed in control defects.

Methods: Tissue was collected 16 weeks after induction of injury and 12 weeks after treatment from normal and injured regions of control and treated limbs of 6 horses and examined using transmission electron microscopy. Collagen fibril diameters were measured manually with image analysis software and surface areas calculated. Three parameters assessed for normal and injured tissue were mass average diameter (MAD), collagen fibril index (CFI) and the area dependent diameter (ADD).

Results: Normal regions from both treated and control limbs displayed higher MAD and CFI values, as well as a characteristic bimodal distribution in fibril size. Injured regions from both treated and control limbs displayed significantly lower MAD and CFI values, as well as a unimodal distribution in fibril size. There were no significant differences between treated and control limbs for any of the parameters assessed.

Conclusions: Intralesional injection of autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells had no measurable effect on the fibril diameter of collagen in healing tissue in the SDFT of this experimental model 16 weeks after injury.

Potential relevance: Favouring matrix regeneration over fibrotic repair may not be the mechanism by which autologous mesenchymal stem cells assist healing of tendon injury.
Investigation on Modified Humic Substances Based Binders for Iron Ore Agglomeration
Authors: Han Guihong , Jiang Tao , Li Guanghui , Huang Yanfang , Zhang Yuanbo
Published: December 2011

Characterization of modified humic substances based binders for iron ore agglomeration was examined by chemical analysis, optical density, Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), and thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC). Chemical analysis displays the proportion of fulvic acid (FA) to humic acid (HA) in the binder is 1:10. Compared with the HA, the FA possesses more functional groups. Meantime, optical density ratio analysis shows that the molecular weight and aromatization degree of the FA are smaller than those of the HA. FTIR spectra further confirm aromatic and aliphatic fractions are associated with various types of oxygen-rich groups including carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. TG–DSC and chemical analysis indicate structural changes of the binder including thermal decomposition, dehydroxylation and/or decarboxylation are caused during heating. The structural characterization of the binder ensures its good performance in the field of iron ore agglomeration.
Micromechanical Model for the Orthotropic Elastic Constants of Polyetheretherketone Composites Considering the Orientation Distribution of the Hydroxyapatite Whisker Reinforcements
Authors: Deuerling Justin M. , Scott Vitter J. , Converse Gabriel L. , Roeder Ryan K.
Published: December 2011

Hydroxyapatite (HA) whisker reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites have been investigated as bioactive materials for load-bearing orthopedic implants with tailored mechanical properties governed by the volume fraction, morphology, and preferred orientation of the HA whisker reinforcements. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish key structure-property relationships and predictive capabilities for the design of HA whisker reinforced PEEK composites and, more generally, discontinuous short fiber-reinforced composite materials. HA whisker reinforced PEEK composites exhibited anisotropic elastic constants due to a preferred orientation of the HA whiskers induced during compression molding. Experimental measurements for both the preferred orientation of HA whiskers and composite elastic constants were greatest in the flow direction during molding (3-axis, C33), followed by the transverse (2-axis, C22) and pressing (1-axis, C11) directions. Moreover, experimental measurements for the elastic anisotropy and degree of preferred orientation in the same specimen plane were correlated. A micromechanical model accounted for the preferred orientation of HA whiskers using two-dimensional implementations of the measured orientation distribution function (ODF) and was able to more accurately predict the orthotropic elastic constants compared to common, idealized assumptions of randomly oriented or perfectly aligned reinforcements. Model predictions using the 3-2 plane ODF, and the average of the 3-1 and 3-2 plane ODFs, were in close agreement with the corresponding measured elastic constants, exhibiting less than 5% average absolute error. Model predictions for C11 using the 3-1 plane ODF were less accurate, with greater than 10% error. This study demonstrated the ability to accurately predict differences in orthotropic elastic constants due to changes in the reinforcement orientation distribution, which will aid in the design of HA whisker reinforced PEEK composites and, more generally, discontinuous short fiber-reinforced composites.
INCOMPRESSIBLE ONE-SIDED SURFACES IN EVEN FILLINGS OF FIGURE 8 KNOT SPACE
Authors: BARTOLINI LORETTA
Published: December 2011

In the closed, non-Haken, hyperbolic class of examples generated by (2p, q) Dehn fillings of Figure 8 knot space, the geometrically incompressible one-sided surfaces are identified by the filling ratio [Formula: see text] and determined to be unique in all cases. When applied to one-sided Heegaard splitting, this can be used to classify all geometrically incompressible splittings in this class of closed, hyperbolic examples; no analogous classification exists for two-sided Heegaard splitting.
KNOT HOMOLOGY OF (3, m) TORUS KNOTS
Authors: GILLAM WILLIAM D.
Published: December 2011

We give a direct computation of the Khovanov knot homology of the (3, m) torus knots/links. Our computation yields complete results with ℤ[½] coefficients, though we leave a slight ambiguity concerning 2-torsion when integer coefficients are used. Our computation uses only the basic long exact sequence in knot homology and Rasmussen's result on the triviality of the embedded surface invariant.
COST AND COMPLEXITY OF HARNESSING GAMES WITH PAYMENTS
Authors: EIDENBENZ RAPHAEL , PIGNOLET YVONNE ANNE , SCHMID STEFAN , WATTENHOFER ROGER
Published: December 2011

This article studies how a mechanism designer can influence games by promising payments to the players depending on their mutual choice of strategies. First, we investigate the cost of implementing a desirable behavior and present algorithms to compute this cost. Whereas a mechanism designer can decide efficiently whether strategy profiles can be implemented at no cost at all our complexity analysis indicates that computing an optimal implementation is generally NP-hard. Second, we introduce and analyze the concept of leverage in a game. The leverage captures the benefits that a benevolent or a malicious mechanism designer can achieve by implementing a certain strategy profile region within economic reason, i.e., by taking the implementation cost into account. Mechanism designers can often manipulate games and change the social welfare by a larger extent than the amount of money invested. Unfortunately, computing the leverage turns out to be intractable as well in the general case.
COLLUSION OR SNIPING IN SIMULTANEOUS ASCENDING AUCTIONS — A PRISONER'S DILEMMA
Authors: FÜLLBRUNN SASCHA
Published: December 2011

In simultaneous ascending price auctions with heterogeneous goods Brusco and Lopomo [2002] derive collusive equilibria, where bidders divide objects among themselves, while keeping the prices low. Considering a simultaneous ascending price auction with a fixed deadline, i.e. the hard close auction format, a prisoner's dilemma situation results and collusive equilibria do not longer exist, even for only two bidders. Hence, we introduce a further reason for sniping behavior in Hard Close auctions, i.e. to appear to collude early in the auction and to defect at the very last moment.