bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La crítica en la plaza pública. Siglos XVIII-XX (pequeñas dudas históricas sobre educación y literatura)
Authors: Campos-F.-Fígares Mar
Published: November 2015

Cuando nos acercamos a la educación literaria necesitamos cubrir un hueco histórico acerca del nacimiento de la Crítica y su función facilitadora y divulgadora. Y al igual que hoy hablamos de una sociedad globalizada, no podemos pensar en esa función de la crítica en España sin analizar también su aparición en otros países, principalmente Inglaterra y Francia. Desde su nacimiento en el nuevo espacio de la Plaza Pública del XVIII hasta su difuminación en el “Mercado sin más”, será un agente fundamental en la educación en general y en la educación literaria en particular.
Nonlinear tree growth dynamics predict resilience to disturbance
Authors: Billings S. A. , Glaser S. M. , Boone A. S. , Stephen F. M.
Published: November 2015

Following a disturbance, why does one tree survive while another dies? Physiological mechanisms may explain varying responses to disturbance between different tree species, but fewer studies have investigated conspecific variation in resilience to forest disturbance. We propose that a dynamic signal found in trees may provide clues to their post‐disturbance fate. Specifically, linear versus nonlinear growth dynamics of a tree may be an indicator of its likelihood to survive a disturbance. Here, we investigate stands of red oak (Quercus rubraL.) that experienced disturbances in the form of drought and insect attack. Earlier work indicated that oaks dying during these disturbances had faster growth rates in their first years of life, but there was no obvious difference in canopy status, size, age, or microsite habitat between trees that survived and those that died. To investigate potential differences in growth dynamics between these trees, we quantified radial growth of individual trees and used two forecasting models to classify tree growth dynamics as linear or nonlinear. Trees were classified as healthy, declining, or dying based on crown cover, and dynamic patterns of growth were related to these health classifications. Contrary to expectations, we found healthyQ. rubrawere significantly more likely to exhibit nonlinear growth dynamics relative to declining and dying trees. The drivers of this effect remain unclear, but nonlinear growth dynamics in healthy trees may represent an enhanced ability to benefit from resource pulses, in turn promoting greater resilience. Our work suggests that forecasting models offer a means of predicting tree survival during forest disturbances and thus represent an increasingly valuable tool as forest disturbances increase in frequency and severity.
Patterns of loggerhead turtle ontogenetic shifts revealed through isotopic analysis of annual skeletal growth increments
Authors: Ramirez Matthew D. , Avens Larisa , Seminoff Jeffrey A. , Goshe Lisa R. , Heppell Selina S.
Published: November 2015

Ontogenetic changes in resource use often delimit transitions between life stages. Ecological and individual factors can cause variation in the timing and consistency of these transitions, ultimately affecting community and population dynamics through changes in growth and survival. Therefore, it is important to document and understand behavioral and life history polymorphisms, and the processes that drive intraspecific variation in them. To evaluate juvenile loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) life history variation and to detect shifts in habitat and diet that occur during an oceanic‐to‐neritic ontogenetic shift, we sequentially analyzed the stable isotope composition of humerus bone growth increments from turtles that stranded dead on Southeastern U.S. beaches between 1997 and 2013 (n = 84). In one‐half of the sampled turtles, growth increment‐specific nitrogen stable isotope (δ15N) data showed significant increases in δ15N values over each turtle's life. These data were used to provide a new line of evidence that juvenile Northwest Atlantic loggerheads exhibit two major ontogenetic shift patterns: discrete shifts (n = 24), which were completed within one year, and facultative shifts (n = 14), which were completed over multiple years (up to five). The mean difference in pre‐ and post‐ontogenetic shift δ15N values was 4.3‰. Differences in isotopic baselines between neritic and oceanic habitats of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean make it likely these patterns are driven by a coupled change in both habitat and diet, and that facultative shifters utilize both neritic and oceanic resources within transitional growth years. Mean size and age at transition between habitats (54.2 cm straightline carapace length, SCL; 11.98 yr) was within the range of previous estimates and did not differ between discrete and facultative shifters. Our results further expand our understanding of loggerhead sea turtle life history polymorphisms and demonstrate the value of bone tissue analysis to the study of this variation. Sequential analysis of annual skeletal growth increments provides a valuable method for reconstructing long‐term ontogenetic changes in foraging ecology and habitat use in long‐lived, cryptic marine species.
Evaluating Agronomic Responses of Camelina to Seeding Date under Rain‐Fed Conditions
Authors: Sintim Henry Y. , Zheljazkov Valtcho D. , Obour Augustine K. , Garcia y Garcia Axel , Foulke Thomas K.
Published: November 2015

The potential to use camelina (Camelina sativa L.) as a bioenergy crop has increased the need to develop management practices that would improve sustainable production. This study evaluated the effects by cultivars (Blaine Creek, Pronghorn, and Shoshone) and three spring seeding dates on the performance of camelina grown under rain‐fed conditions in northern Wyoming. Results showed significant effects of cultivar and/or seeding dates on camelina establishment, phenology, yield, seed protein, oil content, and estimated biodiesel yield. Growing degree‐day (GDD) requirements for plant emergence, flowering, and maturity were 34, 417, and 998, respectively. Among the three cultivars studied, Blaine Creek and Pronghorn had better establishment and subsequent seed yield in both years. Averaged across the 2 yr, seed yield of Blaine Creek and Pronghorn were 931 and 963 kg ha−1, respectively, greater than that of Shoshone (826 kg ha−1). Seeding date had no effect on seed yield in 2013. However, in 2014, early seeding increased camelina seed yield. Early seeding in 2014 resulted in a general increase in plant height, harvest index, protein yield, oil content, and estimated biodiesel yield, but reduced protein content. Our findings showed seeding camelina early resulted in good plant establishment, increased seed yield, oil content, and the estimated biodiesel yield. Nonetheless, early seeding could be restrained by wet field conditions prevalent in the spring in most regions of the Great Plains. Hard frost can also be problematic for young spring camelina seedlings.
Forage Attributes and Animal Performance from Native Grass Inter‐Seeded with Red Clover
Authors: Keyser Patrick D. , Holcomb Elizabeth D. , Lituma Christopher M. , Bates Gary E. , Waller John C. , Boyer Christopher N. , Mulliniks J. Travis
Published: November 2015

Native warm‐season grasses (NWSG) could provide desirable complementary summer forage for tall fescue [TF; Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.] systems, especially for reproductive animals that may be disproportionately affected by TF toxicosis. Inter‐seeding legumes into pastures is a common practice but has received only limited attention for NWSG. Switchgrass (SG; Panicum virgatum L.) and a big bluestem (BB; Andropogon gerardii Vitman) indiangrass (IG; Sorghastrum nutans Nash) blend (BB/IG), each with and without inter‐seeded red clover (RC; Trifolium pratense L.), were grazed (46–54 and 38–46‐cm canopy heights for SG and BB/IG, respectively) by bred dairy heifers for 3 yr. Establishment of RC was inconsistent leading to limited influence on forage mass, crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Similarly, RC had minimal influence on average daily gain (ADG; kg d−1), animal days (AD) ha−1, and total gain (GAIN; kg ha−1). The ADG was 1.03 (SG), 1.23 (SG+RC), 1.25 (BB/IG), and 1.33 (BB/IG+RC) kg d−1 during the early season and 0.36 (SG+RC), 0.37 (SG), 0.54 (BB/IG), and 0.86 (BB/IG+RC) kg d−1 later in the season. Higher stocking was possible with SG (234, 330, and 222 AD ha−1 in 2010, 2011, 2012, respectively) than BB/IG (196, 240, and 162 AD ha−1 in 2010, 2011, 2012, respectively), but total gain (kg ha−1) was not consistently different. Switchgrass and BB/IG both provided acceptable forage quality and good animal performance and could be used for summer forage for bred heifers; RC had limited benefit and competed with NWSG.
Changes in Physiological Traits in Soybean with Breeding Advancements
Authors: Keep N.R. , Schapaugh W.T. , Prasad P.V.V. , Boyer J.E.
Published: November 2015

Plant breeding makes important contributions to increased production of food and fiber. The objective of this research was to characterize the changes in physiological traits in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that have occurred with breeding advancements. Sixty maturity group (MG) III and 54 MG IV cultivars, released from the 1920s through 2010, were evaluated in MG‐specific experiments in dryland and irrigated environments at Manhattan, KS, in 2010 and 2011. Genotypes were planted in four‐row, 3.4‐m‐long plots 76 cm apart and arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Genotypes were evaluated for canopy temperature (CT), leaf chlorophyll content (Chlor), pollen germination (PG), electrolyte leakage (EL) and leaf antioxidants (TAC). Genotypes differed for CT, Chlor, and PG in each of the two MGs. Among genotypes seed yield increased with year of release (YOR) in both MGs, as well as Chlor content. Canopy temperature and seed yield decreased with YOR in both MGs. This study provided evidence that CT and Chlor changed over time along with changes in maturity, plant height, lodging, and disease resistance. The changes have resulted in corresponding improvements in seed yield. The relationships between CT and Chlor with seed yield provide support to intentionally select for these traits in plant breeding programs as a possible means to improve genetic gain.
Plant Characteristics of High‐Yielding Upland Rice Cultivars in West Africa
Authors: Saito Kazuki
Published: November 2015

In West Africa, upland rice (Oryza spp.) is typically grown in low‐input production systems under low soil fertility conditions. Genetic improvement may offer a cost‐effective approach to improving the productivity rather than approaches that rely solely on external nutrient inputs. In the 1990s, the upland rice breeding program of the West Africa Rice Development Association (now Africa Rice Center [AfricaRice]) developed New Rice for Africa (NERICA) cultivars. However, recent studies suggest that there is scope for improving on the currently available NERICA cultivars. The objectives of this study are to (i) quantify yield advantage of two cultivars (Aus 257 and IR 74371‐3‐1‐1) which were identified as high‐yielding ones from a wide range of materials, over NERICA 1, and (ii) identify plant characteristics of these two high‐yielding cultivars. Data were compiled from nine on‐station and 23 on‐farm trials in Benin. On average over all the trials, the two cultivars out yielded local check upland NERICA 1. Particularly, their relative yield advantage was higher when NERICA 1 showed low yield. Aus 257 had greater biomass accumulation, harvest index (HI), and uptake of N, P, and K. Greater biomass accumulation was the result of high leaf area index (LAI). Cultivar variation in nutrient‐use efficiency also contributed to high yield, and IR 74371‐3‐1‐1 showed higher nutrient‐use efficiency than NERICA 1 and Aus 257. These results suggest that the use of the two cultivars with greater biomass accumulation, harvest index, nutrient uptake, and use efficiency is critical for improving rice yield.
Trait Combinations That Improve Rice Yield under Drought: Sahbhagi Dhan and New Drought‐Tolerant Varieties in South Asia
Authors: Anantha M.S. , Patel Devraj , Quintana Marinell , Swain Padmini , Dwivedi Jawaharlal L. , Torres Rolando O. , Verulkar Satish B. , Variar Mukund , Mandal Nimai P. , Kumar Arvind , Henry Amelia
Published: November 2015

Drought is one of the most severe constraints reducing rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield in rainfed environments. ‘Sahbhagi Dhan’ (IR74371‐70‐1‐1) is a drought‐tolerant rice variety that was released in India in 2010—and subsequently in Nepal as ‘Sukha Dhan 3’ and in Bangladesh as ‘BRRI Dhan 56’—and has performed well in rainfed farmers’ fields. This study was conducted to understand the physiological drought response characteristics of Sahbhagi Dhan that contribute to its increased yield under drought. Physiological characterization of Sahbhagi Dhan and other newer breeding lines was conducted across multiple seasons at one site in the Philippines and at four sites in India. Several distinct traits of Sahbhagi Dhan were observed: high emergence rates under direct‐seeded germination‐stage stress, a high proportion of total root length as lateral roots in some seasons, high harvest index under drought, and high yield stability across wet seasons. However, some unfavorable responses of Sahbhagi Dhan were observed: impaired growth when sown during seasons with early‐stage cold temperatures or low solar radiation, resulting in relatively low yield stability across dry seasons. These results point to the importance of combining multiple traits for yield stability across drought‐prone environments. Some of the newly developed breeding lines showed even greater yield stability than Sahbhagi Dhan, reflecting the effectiveness of ongoing improvement through direct selection for grain yield under drought that has resulted in advantageous combinations of physiological traits to increase yield in farmers’ fields.
Discovery of a Dhurrin QTL in Sorghum: Co‐localization of Dhurrin Biosynthesis and a Novel Stay‐green QTL
Authors: Hayes Chad M. , Weers Brock D. , Thakran Manish , Burow Gloria , Xin Zhanguo , Emendack Yves , Burke John J. , Rooney William L. , Mullet John E.
Published: November 2015

Dhurrin [(S)‐p‐hydroxymandelonitrile‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside] is a cyanogenic glucoside produced by sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and is generally considered a natural defense compound capable of producing the toxin hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to deter animal herbivory. Recently, high levels of leaf dhurrin have been found in grain sorghum genotypes that also exhibit stay‐green during postanthesis water deficit. Post‐flowering drought tolerance (stay‐green) in sorghum is an economically important trait in sorghum production regions where drought stress postanthesis is common. Stay‐green is associated with reduced lodging, charcoal rot resistance, increased grain fill, and increased grain yield. The genetic control of stay‐green is complex, with multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) being identified in affecting expression of stay‐grain. Here we report the discovery of a dhurrin QTL (Dhu1) on SBI01 using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population derived from BTx642/Tx7000. Leaf dhurrin was highly heritable and Dhu1 explained a large percentage of the variation of leaf dhurrin in the population. Dhu1 is aligned with genes involved in dhurrin biosynthesis (CYP79A1, CYP71E1, UGT85B1). Protein sequence variants found in CYP71E1 and UGT85B1 could be the cause of the observed differences in leaf dhurrin levels in BTx642, Tx7000, and other sorghum lines that vary in leaf dhurrin content. Dhu1 is also aligned with a previously un‐identified stay‐green QTL (Stg5) on SBI01, consistent with prior studies showing an association between high leaf dhurrin levels, this region of SBI01, and expression of the stay‐green trait.
Sex Differences on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—III in Bahrain and the United States
Authors: Bakhiet Salaheldin Farah Attallah , Lynn Richard
Published: November 2015

Sex differences on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–III (WISC–III) are reported for children in Bahrain and the United States. The results for the two samples were consistent in showing no significant differences in Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs, higher average scores by boys on the Block design and Mazes subtests of spatial ability, and higher average scores by girls on Coding. There was also greater variability in boys than in girls.
Personality Assessment Inventory: Psychometric Analyses of its Argentinean Version
Authors: Stover Juliana B. , Solano Alejandro Castro , Liporace Mercedes Fernández
Published: November 2015

This psychometric analysis of the Argentinean version of the Personality Assessment Inventory employed a convenience sample of 998 non-clinical adults from Buenos Aires, Argentina, stratified by sex and age (50% men; M age = 40.4 yr., SD = 16.8; 50% women; M age = 40.7 yr., SD = 17.4; 69% were employed). For a criterion validity study, a second sample of 394 students at the University of Buenos Aires was selected (47% men; M age = 24 yr., SD = 3.7; 53% women; M age = 23.6 yr., SD = 3.4). Cronbach's αs ranged from .60 to .86, indicating adequate internal consistency. Following American, German, and Spanish studies, a first analysis on the 22 scales obtained a five-factor solution (65.3% of total variance), and a second analysis on 11 clinical scales isolated a two-factor solution (69.3% of total variance). Correlations with the Symptom Checklist-90-R provided support for criterion validity. Most of the scales and subscales showed sex differences and differences between American and Argentinean samples. Future research must add other psychometric indicators.
Satisfaction with Life among Young Adults in Four Arab Countries
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M. , Nayal Mayssah A. El
Published: November 2015

This study sought to explore the sex and cultural differences in satisfaction with life between undergraduate men and women recruited from four Arab countries, i.e., Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Qatar ( N = 1,322); ages ranged from 18 to 27 years. The participants responded to the Arabic version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Egyptian and Lebanese women obtained significantly higher mean scores on satisfaction with life than did their male counterparts, whereas there were no significant sex differences in the Kuwaiti and Qatari samples. For men, the Qatari and Kuwaiti samples obtained the high mean scores on satisfaction with life, whereas the Egyptian and Lebanese samples obtained the low mean scores. For women, the Qatari sample had the higher mean score, whereas the Egyptian sample obtained the lowest mean score. The results were explained in light of the positive association between gross domestic product and satisfaction with life.
Interest in Astrology and Phrenology over Two Centuries: A Google Ngram Study
Authors: Genovese Jeremy E. C.
Published: November 2015

The Google Ngram Viewer shows the frequency of words in a large corpus of books over two centuries. In this study, the names of two pseudosciences, astrology and phrenology, were compared. An interesting pattern emerged. While the level of interest in astrology remained relatively stable over the course of two centuries, interest in phrenology rose rapidly in the early 1800s but then declined. Reasons for this pattern are discussed.
Self-Reports of Illegal Activity, SCL-90–R Personality Scales, and Urine Tests in Methadone Patients
Authors: Cernovsky Zack , Sadek Gamal , Chiu Simon
Published: November 2015

In routine work, medical staff usually has to rely on the patient's self-reports of criminal activity and of recent involvement in fights. This study examines how these self-reports of crime correlate with the patients' routine urine tests and personality measures. Pearson correlations of these self-reports by 55 methadone patients ( M age = 34.1 yr., SD = 9.1; 35 men, 20 women) were calculated to their urine screening tests (those for opiates, benzodiazepines, and cocaine) and to personality scores on the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Patients who reported being involved in recent illegal activities to obtain drugs had significantly higher scores on the SCL-90-R scale assessing obsessive-compulsive symptoms ( r = .28) and had more frequent positive urine tests for cocaine ( r = .35). Those who reported having engaged in fights within the last 12 mo. had higher scores on SCL-90-R measures of somatic complaints ( r = .32), anxiety ( r = .31), and depression ( r = .29), and of overall psychopathology ( r = .29), and they also had more often positive urine tests for cocaine ( r = .28) than other patients. Studies on larger samples are needed to help clinicians to predict criminal or hostile behavior during methadone treatment.
Effects of Periodic and Continuous Resistance Training on Muscle Strength in Detrained Women
Authors: Gentil Paulo , Ferreira-Junior João B. , Soares Saulo R. S. , Martorelli André S. , Bottaro Martim , Cadore Eduardo L. , Loenneke Jeremy P.
Published: November 2015

It has been reported that periodic resistance training (retraining after short-term detraining) could maintain muscle performance. However, the training volume used in previous studies differed between continuous and periodic training groups. This study compared strength gains following 20 sessions of continuous and periodic resistance training programs. 60 healthy, detrained women were randomly assigned into one of two groups: (1) continuous resistance training group or (2) retraining resistance group. The continuous resistance training group performed a non-interrupted resistance training program for 10wk., while the retraining resistance group trained for 5wk., detrained 2wk., and resumed training for 5wk. All participants performed three sets of 8–12 maximum repetitions of lower- and upper-body exercises two days per week, with at least 48 hr. between sessions. There was no significant difference on knee extensors and elbow flexors peak torque gain between the continuous resistance training group and the retraining resistance group. The results suggest that 2 wk. of detraining does not affect strength gains after a total of 10wk. in detrained women.
The Influence of Cigarette Designs and Smoking Regimes on Vapour Phase Yields
Authors: Purkis W , Mueller C , Intorp M , Seidel H
Published: November 2015

Cigarettes with similar design features but with either cellulose acetate or dual carbon filters were made at 1-mg and 13-mg “tar” levels, as determined under the ISO smoking procedure. Products were smoked under the ISO, Massachusetts and Canadian smoking regimes to provide per-cigarette and per-puff yields of twelve vapour phase (VP) smoke components. The yields generated at the lit end of the cigarette and the significant yield reductions caused by filter ventilation, selective (carbon) adsorption, tobacco rod ventilation and diffusion were estimated in a modelling approach. For a “1-mg tar” carbon-filtered product it was estimated that the VP generated at the lit end was reduced by 99.4% to a machine yield of 17 µg/cig under ISO smoking conditions. Under the Canadian regime with 100% vent blocking, the estimated total VP was lowered 20% by tobacco rod effects and 15% by carbon filter adsorption giving a machine yield of 3487 µg/cig. The carbon filter adsorbed less efficiently partly due to the artificially high smoke temperatures through the filter that would probably not be tolerated by human smokers. Under the Massachusetts regime with 50% vent blocking, conditions better associated with human smoking, the total VP was lowered 51% by filter ventilation, 22% by tobacco rod effects and 17% by carbon filter adsorption giving a machine yield of 659 µg/cig. Ventilation is used to achieve “tar”/nicotine/carbon monoxide yield ceilings at 10/1/10 mg based on the current ISO smoking method. If future regulations were to mandate further reductions in VP then this will only be selectively achieved by increasing filter or tobacco rod ventilation/porosity or by using selective adsorption. It is inevitable that manufacturers will need to add further ventilation into their product to comply with such regulations and this should be reflected in any smoking regime. Furthermore, regimes with 100% vent blocking, that do not produce data reflecting the significant reductions in VP yields, provided to the smoker by ventilation, are misleading and their results will not correlate with relevant biomarker data. When proposing a different smoking regime, it is essential to understand the generation and transfer of smoke within cigarettes and factors involved in the subsequent data interpretation as described in this work. For regulatory evaluation purposes, cigarette characterisation using a regime that removes ventilation, one of the main design tools, is more misleading than the current ISO regime or one with partial vent blocking.
Determination of Aromatic Amines in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke - The CORESTA 2007 Joint Experiment
Authors: Intorp M , Purkis S
Published: November 2015

CORESTA joint experiment work in 2006 had compared data on a wide range of smoke constituents obtained from Kentucky reference cigarettes (1R5F and 2R4F), according to the existing methods used by participants. This work had identified that the methods used to determine aromatic amine yields in mainstream smoke would particularly benefit from further study to investigate the main weaknesses and influencing factors in their yield variability before progressing to full method standardisation. This report describes the output from a 2007 joint experiment to address these issues. Participating laboratories carried out experiments to investigate several factors that had been identified in the methodology as potential sources of variability. These were the amine derivative type, the derivatisation time and the point at which the addition of the internal standard for calibration occurred. A statistical assessment was made of their possible influence on aromatic amine smoke yields and yield reproducibility across different laboratories. Results showed that aromatic amines again had poor between-laboratory yield reproducibility. The stage at which the internal standard was added to the smoke sample had the most significant effect on yields. The least variable data were obtained when it was added directly after extraction from the filter pad rather than later in the process. It also appeared beneficial to use at least two calibration standards (i.e., an aminonaphthalene and an aminobiphenyl) to minimise yield differences although this recommendation was not supported by statistically significant data. Large differences in yields were not found when comparing the two studied derivatising agents especially when compared against the greater overall between-laboratory variability. Any differences between laboratories in total particulate matter and puff count at the smoke collection stage did not appear to significantly contribute to betweenlaboratory differences in yields. It appeared that some laboratories had significantly improved their methodology since the last study although high values for the between-laboratory reproducibility in this study were still found. It may be that significant improvements in reproducibility may not be forthcoming for compounds such as the aromatic amines measured at low nanogram smoke yields. Some important features that need to be controlled to minimise variability were identified in this study and will be incorporated within a collaborative study leading to a recommended method. Also, a wider range of product styles will need to be investigated, to determine the effects of differences in tobacco blends and product styles and the potential of greater product variability of commercial products. This should provide more robust estimates of within-laboratory repeatability and between-laboratory reproducibility.
Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Constituents in a Population of Adult Cigarette Smokers in the U.S. Who Spontaneously Switched to Cigarettes with Lower or Higher Machine Measured ‘Tar’ Yield
Authors: Muhammad-Kah RS , Mendes P , Rimmer L , Liang Q , Serafin R , Roethig HJ , Sarkar M
Published: November 2015

Changes in exposure to cigarette smoke and smoking behavior were assessed in adult smokers participating in a multi-center, cross-sectional study who spontaneously switched to > 3 mg lower or higher machine measured ‘tar’ yield. Of 2,542 consenting smokers only 23 down-switchers (DWNSW) and 68 up-switchers (UPSW) met study eligibility criteria. Biomarkers of exposure (BOE) to selected smoke constituents were measured. Large variability was observed in the BOEs (e.g. CV% for nicotine equivalents (nicotine and five of its metabolites, NE) per day ranged from 59% to 78%). On average, DWNSW smoked two more cigarettes/day (+ 9%) that had ~ 5.9 mg lower ‘tar’ yield. Mean NE/day were 12.0 ± 6.2 mg/day compared to 13.9 ± 8.2 mg/day after down switching. Slightly lower levels of NE/cigarette (-8%), total NNAL/day and per cigarette were observed (-18% and -23%) in the DWNSW's. UPSW smoked two fewer cigarettes/day (-13%) with higher ‘tar’ yield (~ 8.4 mg higher ‘tar’). NE/day was 12.5 ± 9.7 vs. 12.8 ± 9.0 mg/day. Total NNAL values per day and per cigarette were lower (-24% and -17%). Due to the large variability and insufficient power to detect significant differences in exposure based on post-hoc power calculations, no definitive conclusions can be drawn from this study. These results suggest that it might not be feasible to conduct a definitive assessment of changes in exposure among spontaneous switchers.
Determination of Selected Volatiles in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke. The CORESTA 2008 Joint Experiment
Authors: Intorp M , Purkis S
Published: November 2015

Joint experimental work carried out in 2006 by the CORESTA Special Analytes Task Force compared yield data on a wide range of smoke constituents obtained from reference cigarettes according to the existing methods used by participants. This work identified that the methodologies that were used to determine yields of selected volatiles in mainstream smoke under the ISO smoking regime would benefit from further joint experiments. This report describes the output from the 2008 Joint Experiment on selected volatiles in smoke (1,3-butadiene, benzene, toluene, acrylonitrile, and isoprene). Its objectives were to investigate the main weaknesses and influencing factors in methodologies used by the participating laboratories and their effects on yield variability before deciding on one to take forward to a CORESTA recommended method. The Task Force considered this step was necessary before progressing to a full collaborative study using a recommended method. An experimental protocol was devised to investigate several factors such as the use of different calibration standards and the efficiencies of different trapping systems. The effects of other general factors identified from supplied methodology information as differing across laboratories were also analysed. A statistical assessment was made of their possible influence on smoke yields and yield reproducibility across different laboratories and is discussed in this report. Between-laboratory variability has been reduced since the last study indicating that some laboratories have improved their methodology although extremely high values for the among-laboratory variability were still found for acrylonitrile (> 100%) and 1,3-butadiene (~ 80%) when related to the mean yields. The means to reduce the variability in acrylonitrile and 1,3-butadiene yields are not apparent from the data and interpretations made in this study. However, when the different laboratories use the same methodology during the development of a recommended method at the next development stage then it is hoped that this high level of variability for acrylonitrile and 1,3-butadiene will be reduced to similar levels to those found for benzene, toluene, and isoprene. As in previous work, it was recognised that although a more intense smoking regime may be introduced into the regulatory arena in the future, it was decided that the current ISO smoking regime should be used for this joint experiment. A wider range of product styles will be investigated when the Task Force works towards a recommended method to take account of differing blends and designs and the potentially greater product variability of commercial products. This will provide robust estimates of within-laboratory repeatability and among-laboratory reproducibility and is intended to be reported in a later paper.
Dr William Kerr ‘Bill’ Collins, Recipient of the 2010 Tobacco Science Research Conference Lifetime Achievement Award
Authors: Moore JM
Published: November 2015

It is my distinct pleasure to make this presentation of the TSRC Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Bill Collins from NC State University. Bill is well known in academic and industry circles for his contributions to Tobacco Science. Some have suggested that Bill Collins is the single person most identified with flue-cured tobacco at NC State and probably world-wide.
The Complexity of Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke
Authors: Perfetti TA , Rodgman A
Published: November 2015

Tobacco and tobacco smoke are both complex mixtures. We previously reported 8430 unique chemical components identified in these complex mixtures but two years later our updated number was 8889. Addition of unlisted isomers raised these numbers to 8622 and 9081, respectively. Our previous number of 4994 identified tobacco components is now 5229; our previous number of 5315 identified tobacco smoke components is now 5685. An operational definition of a complex mixture is as follows: A complex mixture is a characterizable substance containing many chemical components (perhaps thousands) in inexact proportions.

Detailed knowledge of the amount and type of each component within the substance is uncertain even with today's analytical technology. Although it has been estimated that as many as 100000 components are present in these complex mixtures, their analyses indicate that the vast majority of the mass of each of these complex mixtures accounts for the 8430 compounds reported previously. Over 98.7% of the mass of tobacco has been accounted for in terms of identified components in tobacco. Greater than 99% of the mass of whole smoke has been accounted for based on identified chemical components. Certainly, many more tobacco and tobacco smoke components are present in these complex mixtures but the total mass of these components obviously is quite small.

One of the significant challenges we face as a scientific community is addressing the problems of determining the risk potential of complex mixtures. Many issues are associated with toxicological testing of the complex mixture of tobacco smoke. Conducting valid experiments and interpreting the results of those experiments can be quite difficult. Not only is the test agent a complex mixture but also the tests are performed on species that have complicated life-processes. Interpretations of test results are often paradoxical. Significant progress has been made in the toxicological evaluations of complex mixtures in the last 80 years. The challenges we face in terms of testing the biological properties of tobacco smoke are substantial. The statement by DIPPLE et al. in their summary of the research on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the 1930s through 1980 is equally true today for the cigarette smoke situation:

…many important questions remain unanswered

…many questions persist despite the considerable progress that has been made.
In Memoriam Dietrich Hoffmann
Authors: Klus H , Kunze M , Editors of Beiträge
Published: November 2015

Dietrich Hoffmann passed away on April 20, 2011, at his home in Larchmont, New York. He had suffered from Parkinson's disease for more than 20 years. With Dietrich Hoffmann's death the tobacco community lost one of its most prominent scientists, who was familiar with all areas of tobacco research. His work guided and influenced a whole generation of scientists working in the tobacco industry, universities, regulatory agencies, national governments or international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is an obligation of honor for the authors M. Kunze, H. Klus, and the editors of BeiträgezurTabakforschung International publish a short tribute in memory of Dietrich Hoffmann.
The Full Bibliography of Dietrich Hoffmann
Authors: Boenke B
Published: November 2015

The chronology of lifetime publications authored or coauthored by Dr Dietrich Hoffmann covers a broad spectrum of different aspects of chemical carcinogenesis, the effects of air pollution and diet on cancer and - last but not least - all areas of tobacco research. In addition, Dr Dietrich Hoffmann has served as editor of several monographs concerned with research in the fields mentioned above. The important contributions of Dietrich Hoffmann to the science of carcinogenicity caused by lifestyle and environmental factors are impressively documented in the following list of his publications. It is based on entries in the scientific archive of Dr Hoffmann, which were kindly made available to the editors of this journal by MrsIlse Hoffmann. The material was reviewed and expanded by Dr Barbara Boenke of the Editorial Office of “BeiträgezurTabakforschung International”.
Quantitative Analysis of Humectants in Tobacco Products Using Gas Chromatography (GC) with Simultaneous Mass Spectrometry (MSD) and Flame Ionization Detection (FID)
Authors: Rainey CL , Shifflett JR , Goodpaster JV , Bezabeh DZ
Published: November 2015

This paper describes the modification of an existing gas chromatographic (GC) method to incorporate simultaneous mass spectrometric (MSD) and flame ionization detection (FID) into the analysis of tobacco humectants. Glycerol, propylene glycol, and triethylene glycol were analyzed in tobacco labeled as roll-your-own (RYO), cigar, cigarette, moist snuff, and hookah tobacco. Tobacco was extracted in methanol containing 1,3-butanediol (internal standard), filtered, and separated on a 15 m megabore DB-Wax column. Post-column flow was distributed using a microfluidic splitter between the MSD and FID for simultaneous detection. The limits of detection for the FID detector were 0.5 μg/mL (propylene glycol and triethylene glycol) and 0.25 μg/mL (glycerol) with a linear range of 2-2000 μg/mL (propylene glycol and triethylene glycol) and 1-4000 μg/mL (glycerol). The limits of detection for the MSD detector were 2 μg/mL (propylene glycol and triethylene glycol) and 4 μg/mL (glycerol) with a linear range of 20-2000 μg/mL (propylene glycol and triethylene glycol) and 40-4000 μg/mL (glycerol). Significant improvement in the sensitivity of the MSD can be achieved by employing selective ion monitoring (SIM) detection mode. Although a high degree of correlation was observed between the results from FID and MSD analyses, marginal chromatographic resolution between glycerol and triethylene glycol limits the applicability of FID to samples containing low levels of both of these humectants. Utilizing MSD greatly improves the reliability of quantitative results because compensation for inadequate chromatographic resolution can be accomplished with mass selectivity in detection.
A Comprehensive Study on Triacylglycerols in Tobacco Leaves Using Liquid Chromatography and Atmospheric- Pressure Chemical-Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Ishida N
Published: November 2015

Triacylglycerols in tobacco leaves were investigated to further understand their compositional and metabolic differences among various tobacco leaves and their changes during the curing processes. Non-aqueous reverse-phase chromatography for efficient separation of triacylglycerols and atmospheric-pressure chemical-ionization mass spectrometry for their detection were selected for quantitative analysis. For measuring their absolute amounts, authentic triacylglycerols comprised of the same fatty acids were introduced to generate calibration curves and to quantify the analytes. A validation study using the combination of appropriate separation and authentic triacylglycerols produced very good results in terms of linearity (> 0.999), limit of detection (3-4 ng), limit of quantification (10-15 ng) and recovery ratio (80-120%). The quantification of triacylglycerols in tobacco leaves and a subsequent principal component analysis clarified for the first time their compositional and metabolic differences among various tobacco leaves.
Updates of CORESTA Recommended Methods after Further Collaborative Studies Carried Out under Both ISO and Health Canada Intense Smoking Regimes
Authors: Purkis SW , Intorp M , Hauleithner A
Published: November 2015

During 2012, three CORESTA Recommended Methods (CRMs) (1-3) were updated to include smoke yield and variability data under both ISO (4) and the Canadian Intense (CI) (5) smoking regimes. At that time, repeatability and reproducibility data under the CI regime on smoke analytes other than “tar”, nicotine and carbon monoxide (6) and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) (7) were not available in the public literature. The subsequent work involved the determination of the mainstream smoke yields of benzo[a]-pyrene, selected volatiles (benzene, toluene, 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, acrylonitrile), and selected carbonyls (acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, crotonaldehyde, acrolein, acetone and 2-butanone) in ten cigarette products followed by statistical analyses according to the ISO protocol (8). This paper provides some additional perspective on the data variability under the ISO and CI smoking regimes not given in the CRMs.
Effects of graded levels of vitamin C supplemented feed of layers on serum concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin C
Authors: Sanda ME , Suleiman A
Published: November 2015

The study was conducted to determine the effects of layers? diets containing 0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg vitamin C on vitamin A and C concentrations in serum of layers. A total of 80 Isa brown layers (28 weeks of age) were used in this study. There were a control and three treatment groups each containing 20 hens. The experimental period lasted 8 weeks. Serum vitamin A and vitamin C concentrations were determined twice at 32 and 36 weeks of age. Serum vitamin A and serum vitamin C concentrations increased as vitamin C supplementation increased in the diet. During the study, serum concentration of vitamin C was increased significantly (P<0.05) by the addition of 150 and 250 mg/kg vitamin C and serum concentration of vitamin A was increased significantly (P<0.01) in all treatment groups in increasing order as vitamin C supplementation increases in the diet. It has been concluded that vitamin C protected vitamin A against oxidation and increased serum vitamin A levels in parallel with increased serum vitamin C.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 158-162
Management of an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants with antibiotic combined hyperimmune serum therapy
Authors: Yousuf Md Abu , Giasuddin Md , Islam Sayed Shakibul , Islam Md Rafiqul
Published: November 2015

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease associated with high morbidity and mortality in goats of Bangladesh. Though there is no known effective drug against PPR virus, Animal Health Research Division (AHRD), Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) has developed a treatment technology antibiotic combined hyperimmune serum therapy (ACHST) against the deadly PPR virus. This article described the management of a huge outbreak of PPR by ACHST at goat farm of BLRI regional station, Naikhongchari, Bandarban, a hilly area of Bangladesh. Seventy two goats out of 159 goats were infected with PPR virus naturally. The clinical history and necropsy findings were recorded and nasal swabs were collected for diagnosis of PPR virus by RT-PCR. Thirty goats among 72 goats were died before providing treatment and the rest alive 42 goats were received ACHST. Each of the goats was treated with PPR specific hyperimmune serum @ 4-5ml/goat slow IV for once, Amcicoli-D (Ampicillin trihydrate, Colistin sulfate and Dexamethasone acetate) @ 1ml/10kg body weight daily IM once for 3 days and metronidazole @ 500mg/35kg body weight orally thrice daily for 3 days. After treatment, 38 goats (93.23%) were recovered out of 42 goats. The comparative evaluation of ACHST at different stages of naturally PPR infected goats shown highest recovery rate in incubation (100%) and prodromal (100%) phases followed by pneumonic (91.67%) and diarrhoeal (81.25%) phases. It may be concluded that the ACHST could be used as therapeutic interventions for PPR infected goats.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 230-234
Morpho-physiological and yield performance of grain sorghum genotypes
Authors: Ghosh Shepon Chandra , Akram Soleh , Ahsan SM , Asif Abdulla Al , Shahriyar Sayeed
Published: November 2015

A pot experiment was carried out at the grill house of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from December 2013 to April 2014 to study the growth, morpho-physiological, yield and yield contributing characters of twenty sorghum genotypes. The experiment was consisted of twenty genotypes of sorghum viz., BD 700, BD 701, BD 702, BD703, BD704, BD705, BD706, BD707, BD708, BD709, BD710, BD712, BD720, BD721, BD722, BD725, BD726, BD727, BD728 and BD729. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The collected data were analyzed statistically and the means were adjudged by Duncans multiple range test at 1% level of probability. Among the genotypes, BD 725 showed significantly the best performance on growth, yield and morphophysiological characters compare to other genotypes at harvest, while BD728 was less efficient among those parameters. As a result, highest plant height (251.20 cm), panicle plant1 (2.83), highest 1000grain weight (27.10 g), highest grain yield (3.58 t ha1), straw yield (16.05 t ha1) and biological yield (19.64 t ha1) was recorded from BD 725 at harvest. However, number of leaves, leaf area plant1 and Leaf area index had also significantly highest (18.33 and 5542.0 cm2 and 2.81, respectively) in BD 725 at 90 days after sowing. BD 725 further recorded the highest growth of cumulative growth rate (32.54 g m2 day1) at the stage between 6090 days after sowing thereafter they decreased. All the above growth, yield and morphophysiological characters were less effective in BD728. On the basis of these results, BD 725 was found outstanding for plant growth, yield and morphophysiological characters of sorghum.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 271-284