bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of thin GaAs insertion layer on InAs∕(InGaAs)∕InP(001) quantum dots grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Park Kwangmin , Moon Pilkyung , Ahn Eungjin , Hong Sukwon , Yoon Euijoon , Yoon Jeong Won , Cheong Hyeonsik , Leburton Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2005

We studied the influence of a thin GaAs insertion layer (5–10 monolayers) on the optical properties of InAs QDs grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The insertion of a 10 monolayer (ML) thick GaAs layer on the InAs QDs led to significant photoluminescence blueshifts of 54 and 111meV when they were grown on InGaAs and InP, respectively. In addition, a narrowing of full width at half maximum was observed when the thicker GaAs insertion layers and higher overgrowth temperature for the top capping layer were used. These results can be applied for tuning the emission wavelength around 1.55μm for optical fiber communication.
Ultraviolet photovoltage characteristics of SrTiO3−δ∕Si heterojunction
Authors: Zhao Kun , Huang Yanhong , Zhou Qingli , Jin Kui-Juan , Lu Huibin , He Meng , Cheng Bolin , Zhou Yueliang , Chen Zhenghao , Yang Guozhen
Published: May 2005

A photovoltaic effect is observed in the heterostructure of p-Si∕n-SrTiO3−δ (p: hole carrier type, n: electron carrier type). The current–voltage curve exhibits a good rectifying characteristic similar to that of the traditional diode. The junction shows the open circuit voltage of 126mV∕mJ, the short circuit current of 1.78mA∕mJ, and the response time faster than 10ns for ultraviolet pulsed laser of 25ns in duration at room temperature, suggesting the promising potential of this junction as a new type of ultrafast ultraviolet detectors with high sensitivity for application.
Exploring extreme particle density and size for blue photoluminescence from as-deposited amorphous Si-in-SiNx films
Authors: Liu Cheng , Li Chaorong , Ji Ailing , Ma Libo , Wang Yongqian , Cao Zexian
Published: May 2005

The number density of silicon particles in a silicon compound matrix that are smaller than 3.0 nm is subject to a few restrictive factors. We report the growth of amorphous Si-in-SiNx thin films containing small particles (down to 2.2 nm) of a density over 1.4×1013∕cm2, as determined from transmission electron microscopic graphs. Intense blue photoluminescence centered at 440 nm could be measured in such as-deposited films, and the external quantum efficiency was estimated to be at the 0.1–1.0 % level by comparing against that from a high-quality GaN sample. Rapid annealing for two minutes at 500 °C induced only slight enhancement of photoluminescence intensity. Further effort to increase the particle density led to particle conglomeration, and continued reduction of particle size endangers the survival of nanoparticles in matrix material. Clues for a more realistic mechanism are discussed based on the correlation of photoluminescence features to the microstructure of the films.
'Industrial Instruction' for the 'Industrious Classes': Founding the Industrial and Technological Museum, Melbourne
Authors: Fennessy Kathleen M.
Published: May 2005

This paper examines the movement to foster scientific and technical learning in the colony of Victoria during the 1860s. It discusses how the concept of a public museum for 'industrial' and 'technological' instruction emerged, and analyses the events leading to the establishment of the Industrial and Technological Museum, Victoria's first public institution for educating the people in applied science.
The effect of malnutrition on the pattern of growth in the rat kidney and the renal response to acidosis
Authors: Fraser H. S. , Alleyne G. A. O.
Published: May 2005

1. The kidneys of normal rats were analysed for water, fat, protein, RNA and DNA, at 10, 21 and 36 d after birth. The effects on growth caused by two types of malnutrition were investigated.

2. An increase in the RNA:DNA ratio was demonstrated between 10 and 36 d, contrary to previous evidence that this ratio is fixed at birth.

3. Energy deficiency during the first 21 d of life resulted mainly in fewer kidney cells, whereas protein-energy deficiency between 21 and 36 d resulted mainly in a smaller cellular content of RNA and protein.

4. In response to metabolic acidosis, both groups of malnourished rats increased urinary excretion of ammonia and there was enhanced gluconeogenesis in vitro; the basal rate of gluconeogenesis was lower in the protein-energy-deficient rats than in the controls.

5. Protein-energy-deficient rats did not exhibit the renal hypertrophy shown by the control rats in response to acidosis.
Protein digestion in the intestine of sheep
Authors: Ben-Ghedalia D. , Tagari H. , Bondi A. , Tadmor A.
Published: May 2005

1. The rate of flow of digesta along the intestinal tract, and particularly the changes occurring in proteins during their passage through the intestine were determined in six rams; each animal was fistulated with three cannulas which involved six different sites of the intestine. Cr2O3 was used as a marker substance to measure the rate of flow of the digesta.

2. In the sections of the intestine from 1 to 15 m posterior to the pylorus the amounts of water, dry matter and total nitrogen decreased gradually as a result of their absorption through the intestinal wall. The region of the intestine situated at a distance of 7–15 m from the pylorus was more active with respect to the absorption of N, whereas water and dry matter were adsorbed to a greater extent in the region from 1 to 7 m from the pylorus.

3. The only part of the intestine in which substantial increases of water, dry matter and total N were found was the section immediately distal to the pylorus, and these increases were caused by the inflow of bile, and pancreatic and duodenal juices. The net increase found beyond the entry of the common bile duct was 2.7 g protein N and 2.0 g non-protein N (NPN)/24 h.

4. The activities of trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase A and the ratio α-NH2 NPN: protein N increased from the pylorus up to a distance of 7 m and decreased again from this point to a distance of 15 m from the pylorus.

5. In the sections of the intestine between 1 and 3 and between 3 and 7 m distant from the pylorus the extent of proteolysis exceeded considerably that of absorption of amino acids through the intestinal wall. This was concluded from the decrease in the rate of flow of protein amino acids (by 31% between 1 and 3 m distant from the pylorus and by 34% between 3 and 7 m) and the simultaneous increase in non-protein amino acids (by 20% in the region between 1 and 3 m) or no change in non-protein amino acids (between 3 and 7 m).

6. The relatively greater decrease in non-protein amino acids (by 57%) compared with that of protein amino acids (by 41%) occurring in the section 7 to 15 m distant from the pylorus showed that this is an area of most intensive absorption of amino acids.

7. In the lower section of the intestine, from 15 to 25 m distant from the pylorus, the total amount of amino acids showed almost no change; probably a net effect of loss and gain of amino acids mainly due to microbial activities. Increases in the dehydrogenase activity suggested enhancement of bacterial activity in this lower region of the intestine.

8. The supply of essential amino acids to the tissues of sheep is improved, compared with the amino acid composition of the diet, as the result of ruminal biosynthesis of essential amino acids and ruminal degradation of non-essential amino acids and preferential absorption of essential amino acids through the intestinal wall, particularly in the section of most intensive absorption, 7–15 m distant from the pylorus.
The effect of dietary prophionic acid on the requirement of chicks for vitamin B12
Authors: Ryś R. , Korleski J.
Published: May 2005

1. Test diets were given to chicks from 1 to 28 d of age. The basal diet contained soyabean meal as the sole source of protein and contained no vitamin B12.

2. The basal diet supported poorer growth and feed conversion efficiency than did the same diet supplemented with 0.01, 0.03 or 0.3 mg cyanocobalamin/kg.

3. Each of the four diets was also offered with a supplement of 20 g propionic acid/kg. This caused a significant growth depression at all but the highest level of cyanocobalamin addition.

4. Methylmalonic acid was detected in the excreta of chicks that received the supplements of 0 and 0.01 mg cyanocobalamin/kg diet, and in those of chicks receiving 0.03 mg only for the chicks that were also receiving propionic acid.

5. The results suggest that giving the odd-carbon, propionic acid to chicks may increase their requirement for vitamin B12.
Photosensitization of albino rats fed on lucerne-proetin concentrate
Authors: Lohrey Evelyn , Tapper B. , Hove E. L.
Published: May 2005

1. The photosensitizing effect of leaf-protein concentrate (LPC) prepared from lucerne (Medicago sativa) was demonstrated when it was included in the diet of albino rats at concentrations between 40 and 480 g/kg diet.

2. Skin lesions of varying severity up to the sloughing of ears and tails occurred when such rats were illuminated with natural daylight through window-glass or with simulated daylight from a bank of lamps having emission maxima at 410, 437 and 660 nm and with approximately 4% of the energy of summer sunlight.

3. Protein concentrates prepared from ryegrass (Lolium multiforum) and a crude chlorophyll extract of spinach (Spinacea oleracea) did not cause these effects.

4. Extracts from blood plasma and livers of rats given lucerne LPC contained pheophorbide-a and two other unidentified green pigments, but no detectable phylloerythrin or chlorophyll. Extracts from the blood of rats given ryegrass LPC had no detectable pheophorbide or other chlorophyll-derived pigments.

5. The lucerne LPC given to the rats contained relatively large amounts of pheophorbide-a among a variety of pigments. The ryegrass LPC and the spinach extracts had only small amounts of this pigment relative to the other chlorophyll-type pigments.

6. These findings indicate that pheophorbide-a and related pigments are the agents responsible for the photosensitization of the rats. Possible explanations of their presence in lucerne LPC are discussed.
Studies on unidentified growth factors
Authors: Bunyan J. , Murrell Elspeth A. , Cawthorne M. A. , Redman B. T.
Published: May 2005

1. Weanling rats were given diets containing all the nutrients known to be required, with L-amino acids in place of protein. Dietary supplements were added isonitrogenously.

2. Torula yeast (50 g/kg diet) and dried brewers' yeast (50 g/kg) significantly improved the rats' growth rate. Part of this activity was attributed to the minerals present in the yeasts, zinc, iodine, iron, copper and manganese all being implicated.

3. Marmite (20 g/kg) and a basic fraction (6.6 g/kg) obtained from it by cation-exchange chromatography significantly improved growth. The ash component of the basic fraction was inactive.

4. Growth was increased by an extra supplement of vitamins and by treating the rats with neomycin sulphate and tetracycline. The growth stimulus due to Marmite was additive with that due to the antibiotics, but not with that due to the vitamin supplement.

5. The growth rate with torula yeast (50 g/kg) was maintained at about 30% greater than on the basal diet during a test lasting 80 d. At the end of that period six control and five supplemented male rats sired normal litters. Post-mortem examination, including histology, of others showed no abnormalities due to factor G deficiency.

6. Fresh ox liver (100 g/kg diet) significantly improved the growth rate, but this improvement could be attributed to the effects of the water and minerals contained in the liver.

7. These results confirm the discovery by Schwarz, Smith & Oda (1966) that yeasts contain an organic growth-promoting factor (factor G) for rats receiving amino acid diets. Factor G is not likely to be one of the vitamin B group.
Studies on the composition of food
Authors: Tolan A. , Robertson Jean , Orton C. R. , Head M. J. , Christie A. A. , Millburn Barbara A.
Published: May 2005

1. The nutrient content of battery, deep litter and free range eggs from domestic hens under systems of management typical of those used in the commercial production of eggs was studied from January to March 1968.

2. Monthly samples of eighteen eggs, supplied by six centres, were homogenized, freezedried, ground and stored at −15°. Their contents of moisture, nitrogen, amino acids, fats, fatty acids and cholesterol, ash, sodium, potassium, calcium and iron, thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, tocopherols and retinol were determined. The mean values for eggs from each system, each centre and each quarter of the year were calculated.

3. For many nutrients, no significant difference between systems was detected; the greatest variations occurred in the content of some vitamins. Free range eggs contained more vitamin B12than deep litter or battery eggs and more folic acid (Lactobacillus caseiassay) than battery eggs. Differences in tocopherol and cholesterol contents were complicated by system-by-centre interactions. There were also small differences in calcium and iron contents.

4. Riboflavin, folic acid (Lactobacillus casei) and vitamin B12were the only nutrients which were observed to vary with the time of year in the eggs from all systems of management. Major differences were found in the vitamin content of eggs from different centres.

5. Though the differences in vitamin B12and folic acid contents which result from the different systems of management are of little significance in an average mixed diet, they would be measurable for some individuals who may depend on eggs as an important source of these nutrients.
Intravenous energy infusion in lambs: effects on nitrogen retentin, plasma free amino acids and plasma urea nitrogen
Authors: Eskeland B. , Pfander W. H. , Preston‡ R. L.
Published: May 2005

1. Acetate, propionate, butyrate and glucose were each administered intravenously (2.09 MJ (0.5 Mcal)/d) to lambs on either high-concentrate (HC) or high-roughage (HR) diets in two experiments with 4 × 4 Latin square design. During a control period all animals received a saline infusion.

2. In lambs on the HC diet glucose was the most effective metabolite tested for improving nitrogen retention. Acetate was 51%, butyrate, 75%, propionate, 90% as effective as glucose in promoting N retention. Propionate infusion was most effective in increasing N retention in lambs on the HR diet. Acetate was 60%, butyrate, 75%, and glucose, 80% as effective as propionate. Glucose infusion did not lower plasma urea N (PUN) concentration in lambs receiving the HC diet, but the three volatile fatty acids (VFA) did lower it (P< 0.01). All energy sources significantly reduced the PUN concentrations with the HR diet, but differences between sources were not significant.

3. Plasma concentrations of valine, isoleucine, leucine and phenylalanine were depressed to 57, 71, 89 and 90% of their control values during glucose, propionate, butyrate and acetate infusion. Plasma concentrations of lysine and methionine were significantly decreased from control values (P< 0.05) but there was no significant difference between energy sources. Lysine, valine, isoleucine and leucine were significantly (P< 0.01) higher in lambs given the HR diet than in lambs given the HC diet. The concentration of alanine was greater (P< 0.05) during glucose infusion than during acetate and butyrate infusions, indicating net synthesis of alanine and possibly other non-essential amino acids during glucose infusion, since the plasma free amino acid N concentration increased despite decreased concentrations of plasma essential amino acids during glucose infusion.

4. The results indicated that glucose and propionate were superior to acetate and butyrate as energy sources for protein formation.

5. The poor relationship between PUN and N balance and plasma free essential amino acids suggested that PUN concentration may have been inappropriate to assess the protein status under some dietary conditions.
Protein digestibility of a feed mixture in a relation to the protein digestibility of the individual protein components
Authors: Eggum Bjørn O. , Christensen Konrad D.
Published: May 2005

1. Protein digestibility of two proteins was measured when these proteins were given together and separately to rats.

2. The influence of carbohydrates on protein utilization (true protein digestibility, biological value and net protein utilization) was also studied. Autoclaved potato starch was replaced by increasing amounts of glucose, sucrose, fructose and lactose respectively. Glucose, fructose and sucrose appeared to have no specific influence on protein utilization when given in increasing amounts and when compared with autoclaved potato starch. Higher concentrations of lactose, however, caused diarrhoea.

3. The true digestibility of the protein components in a mixture was directly related to the true digestibility of each protein component, including proteins of low digestibility.
Effect of the protein content of the diet on the vitamin B12status in rats
Authors: Jathar V. S. , Satoskar R. S. , Mehta B. M. , Rege D. V.
Published: May 2005

1. The effects of the protein content of the diet on the vitamin B12concentration of serum and of various tissues were studied in rats by means of microbiological and radioisotopic techniques.

2. Protein starvation reduced tissue weights and nitrogen contents, serum protein concentrations and haemoglobin values.

3. The vitamin B12contents of the serum and of several organs and tissues were greater in the protein-starved animals for reasons that remain unexplained.

4. The retention of radioactive cyanocobalamin per g fresh weight was significantly greater in liver, kidney, spleen and brain in the protein-depleted rats than in those given adequate protein. However, the total tissue retention was not significantly different between these groups, so that there was a greater capacity for tissue binding and for body conservation of vitamin B12in the protein-starved animals.
Digestion and absorption of starch, maltose and lactose by the preruminant calf
Authors: Coombe N. B. , Smith R. H.
Published: May 2005

1. Preruminant calves, some of which were equipped with re-entrant cannulas in the small intestine, were given liquid feeds in which various starches, maltose or lactose formed the sole source of carbohydrate.

2. The sugars left the abomasum at the same rate as a water-soluble marker but the starches were greatly delayed. Little starch left the abomasum until about 5 h after feeding. Examination of abomasal contents 0.5 h after feeding showed the starch to be associated with the casein clot.

3. Amounts of starch, maltose and lactose removed during the passage of digesta through the small intestine were about 60, 43 and 97% of intake respectively, with no marked difference with age between about 7 and 16 weeks.

4. No change in blood glucose was apparent in calves given starch-containing feeds. The possible effect of the retention of dietary starch in the abomasum in minimizing blood glucose responses is discussed.
The effect of frequency of feeding on the utilization of free lysine by growing pigs
Authors: Batterham E. S.
Published: May 2005

1. Pigs from 20 to 47 kg live weight were given a wheat–safflower diet supplemented with either 0, 2 or 4 g L-lysine/kg either once daily or in six equal portions at intervals of 3 h.

2. The addition of lysine at both levels significantly (P < 0.001) increased growth rate, feed conversion and lean content of the ham.

3. Frequency of feeding had no effect on the response of pigs given the control diet.

4. A significant interaction (P < 0.05) between frequency of feeding and lysine supplementation occurred for growth rate. Growth responses to the supplements of 2 and 4 g L-lysine/ kg with once-daily feeding were only 43 and 69% of those achieved under the frequent-feeding regimen.
Some observations on the possible nutritional significance of vitamin B12- and folate-binding proteins in milk
Authors: Ford J. E.
Published: May 2005

1. The folate and vitamin B12in milk are strongly bound to minor whey proteins. These binder proteins are present in excess, and so milk has capacity – which varies between milks of different mammalian species – to sequester added cyanocobalamin and folic acid.

2. A study was made of the influence of different milks on uptake of [3H]cyanocobalamin and [3H]folic acid in selected bacteria, mostly of types that are commonly found in the intestine.

3. None of the test cultures required exogenous vitamin B12. Nevertheless, when free cyanocobalamin was added, in seven of nine cultures it was rapidly taken up into the cells, though there were large differences between the different bacterial species in their absorptive capacity. In presence of sow's milk, little or none of the added cyanocobalamin was taken up, even after incubation of the test mixture for 1 h at 37°. The avidity of sow's milk for cyanocobalamin, as judged from its retention of the vitamin against competition by bacterial cells, was greater than that of a preparation of porcine Intrinsic Factor of similar binding capacity.

4. Of ten cultures of bacteria representing seven species, only the five cultures that required exogenous folate took up added folic acid into the cells. Uptake was severely depressed by the simultaneous addition of goat's colostrum, even after incubation of the test mixture for 1 h at 37°.

5. The physiological role of the binders is discussed. It is postulated that they may act in the mammary gland as trapping mechanisms to accumulate the vitamins from blood plasma into milk and in the gut to facilitate their absorption, both directly, and indirectly by preventing their uptake by intestinal micro-organisms. It is concluded that the binders might well influence the vitamin economy in the neonatal period, and the ecology of the gut microflora.
Selecting a healthy diet score: lessons from a study of diet and health in early old age (the Boyd Orr cohort)
Authors: Maynard M , Ness AR , Abraham L , Blane D , Bates C , Gunnell DJ
Published: May 2005

Objectives

To describe the selection and modification of an appropriate diet score to assess diet quality in early old age.

Design and setting

Cross-sectional analyses of the Boyd Orr cohort – a long-term follow-up of men and women whose families took part in a survey of diet and health in pre-war Britain. Dietary data were obtained from a 113-item food-frequency questionnaire. A nine-item Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) developed by Huijbregts and colleagues was identified from the literature and modified because some dietary variables were unavailable and to accord more closely with recommendations of the UK Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

Subjects

In total, 1475 traced, surviving cohort members aged 60 years and over.

Results

Modification resulted in a 12-item Healthy Diet Score (HDS). We found that about half the variation in the HDS was explained by variation in the HDI (r = 0.71). There was, however, little misclassification of subjects (<10%) into extreme thirds of the distribution by the HDS compared with the HDI. Items of the score most strongly correlated with overall score were saturated fat (r = −0.57), red meat (r = −0.46), dietary fibre (r = 0.58), fruit and vegetables (r = 0.54) and percentage energy from carbohydrates (r = 0.51). Modifying existing items had greater impact on agreement between HDI and HDS than the addition of new items.

Conclusions

The selection and modification of diet scores is more complicated than often assumed. Furthermore, modest changes to an existing score can produce a score that is different from the original, and although it was not possible to test this issue, it may no longer predict subsequent health experience.
A concise overview of national nutrition action plans in the European Union Member States
Authors: Lachat Carl , Van Camp John , De Henauw Stefaan , Matthys Christophe , Larondelle Yvan , Winter Anne-Marie Remaut–De , Kolsteren Patrick
Published: May 2005

Objective

This study presents an overview of national nutrition action plans in the member states of the European Union (EU), before its enlargement in 2004. In addition, their compliance with key recommendations of the World Health Organization, as documented in the First Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy and the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, has tentatively been evaluated on the basis of the policy documents published.

Design

Literature review of publicly available policy national plans on nutrition and physical activity.

Setting

Member states of the EU before enlargement in May 2004.

Results

The development of national nutrition action plans is gaining momentum. Six of the 15 EU member states – namely, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, The Netherlands and the UK – have an operational nutrition policy and four of them have published an elaborated description of their nutrition policy in English. By the end of 2004, another four countries are expected to have their plan finalised. The available nutrition action plans generally seem to comply with international recommendations, although large variations are observed between the member states in terms of terminology, nutritional recommendations, institutional framework, nutritional scope, social groups targeted and monitoring and evaluation structures.

Conclusions

Although the importance of nutritional surveillance, a comprehensive approach to nutritional problems and stakeholder involvement is recognised by the action plans, the justification for it is vaguely described. This paper advocates for proper evaluation and documentation of interventions in public health nutrition and nutrition policies.
Analysis of the temporal intake of cereal and dairy products in Irish adults: implications for developing food-based dietary guidelines
Authors: Burke SJ , McCarthy SN , O'Dwyer NA , Gibney MJ
Published: May 2005

Objectives

To analyse the temporal distribution of the intake of cereal and dairy products in the Republic of Ireland.

Design

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey established a database of habitual food and drink consumption using a 7-day food diary. The database also recorded the time and day of food consumption. Mean intakes of cereal and dairy products were calculated for time of the day and day of the week.

Results

At the weekend, the percentage of consumers decreased for nearly all cereal and dairy products. White bread, total cereals, full-fat milk and total dairy intakes were significantly lower at the weekend (P<0.01) compared with weekdays. Intakes of cereal and dairy products over time of the day showed clear mealtime or snacking patterns when the number of consumers was controlled for. White bread, wholemeal bread, total cereals, full-fat milk, reduced-fat milk and total dairy intakes showed mealtime peaks for morning, afternoon and evening. When examined by tertile of intake, tertile of percentage energy from fat and tertile of fibre intake, intakes of cereal and dairy products over time of the day and day of the week were similar to trends described above, regardless of the tertile.

Conclusions

Temporal analysis of the intakes of cereal and dairy products did not reveal any unusual trends in this population. However, the significant methodological issues raised in this paper will be of benefit to other aspects of research in this area.
The influence of cereal and dairy consumption on the Irish diet: implications for developing food-based dietary guidelines
Authors: Burke SJ , Gibney MJ , O'Dwyer NA , McCarthy SN
Published: May 2005

Objectives

To estimate the intakes of cereal and dairy products and their contribution to nutrient intakes in men and women from the Republic of Ireland with a view to formulating food-based dietary guidelines.

Design

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey established a database of habitual food and drink consumption using a 7-day food diary. From this database all cereal and dairy products from recipes and identifiable sources were identified and a new database was generated from which analysis of the role of cereal and dairy products in the diet was carried out.

Results

Almost 100% of the population consumed cereal and dairy products over the course of the survey week. In general, men consumed significantly more cereal and dairy products than did women (P<0.05). Cereal products made an important contribution to the mean daily intakes of energy (26%), protein (21%), fat (13%), carbohydrate (41%), fibre (45%), iron (43%) and folate (27%). Dairy products also contributed largely to the mean daily intakes of energy (11%), protein (14%), fat (17%), calcium (48%), phosphorus (24%) and vitamin A (27%). Analysis of nutrient intakes across tertiles of cereal and dairy consumption showed that high consumers of wholemeal bread, breakfast cereals, reduced-fat milk and yoghurt had lower fat and higher carbohydrate, fibre and micronutrient intakes than low consumers of these foods.

Conclusions

Findings from the present study could be used to develop effective health strategies to implement changes in cereal and dairy consumption that could alter fat, fibre and micronutrient intakes in the diet.
Food consumption and nutrient intakes with a special focus on milk product consumption in early pubertal girls in Central Finland
Authors: Lyytikäinen A , Lamberg-Allardt C , Kannas L , Cheng S
Published: May 2005

Objective

To evaluate the current status of dietary intakes in early pubertal girls with a special focus on milk products.

Design

Cross-sectional data using 3-day food records.

Subjects

Eight hundred and sixty girls, aged 10–12 years, at Tanner maturation stage I-III.

Results

The mean consumption of milk products (620 g day−1) was similar to that of a Finnish study in the 1980s, while the consumption of non-milk drinks (403 gday−1) had increased. Twelve per cent of the girls had a dairy-restricted diet and consumed significantly less milk products than girls with a non-restricted diet (465 vs. 644 g day−1, P<0.001). Girls with low milk product consumption had the highest non-milk drinks consumption (P<0.001). The mean energy intake was 7.1 MJ day−1. No major changes were found in the sources of nutrients. The shares of energy for nutrients were close to recommendations except for saturated fat (13.9 vs. 10% of energy) and carbohydrates (51.5 vs. 55–60% of energy). The mean calcium intake (1117 mg day−1) was above the recommendation, while the vitamin D intake (3.1 μg day−1) of 88% of the girls was below the recommendation.

Conclusions

The diet quality of early pubertal girls is close to the recommendations and has improved with respect to fat compared with the 1980s. Consumption of milk products is high although the consumption of non-milk drinks has increased. We found a subgroup of girls who compensate their low milk product consumption with a higher consumption of non-milk drinks. Following a dairy-restricted diet is the main reason for low consumption of milk products.
Phonological similarity effects in verbal complex span
Authors: Lobley Katy J. , Baddeley Alan D. , Gathercole Susan E.
Published: May 2005

Phonological similarity effects were used to assess the role of acoustic coding in verbal complex span, a processing-plus-storage measure found to correlate significantly with aspects of complex cognition. Three experiments demonstrated consistent effects of phonological similarity on listening span. These effects appeared relatively insensitive to manipulations of task materials (Experiment 1) and differences in processing task demands (Experiments 2 and 3). The results were interpreted as reflecting a significant role for the phonological loop in supporting verbal complex span and a multicomponent view of working memory, as tapped by these tests. Phonological similarity did not significantly interact with aspects of the tasks varied across Experiments 1 to 3, suggesting a relative robustness of the effect. However, variation in the phonological similarity effect sizes across Experiments 1 to 3 supports the suggestion that task demands and characteristics have the potential to disrupt the phonological similarity effect and, by implication, the reliance on a phonological code.
Mining genetic epidemiology data with Bayesian networks I: Bayesian networks and example application (plasma apoE levels)
Authors: Rodin Andrei S. , Boerwinkle Eric
Published: May 2005

Motivation: The wealth of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data within candidate genes and anticipated across the genome poses enormous analytical problems for studies of genotype-to-phenotype relationships, and modern data mining methods may be particularly well suited to meet the swelling challenges. In this paper, we introduce the method of Belief (Bayesian) networks to the domain of genotype-to-phenotype analyses and provide an example application.

Results: A Belief network is a graphical model of a probabilistic nature that represents a joint multivariate probability distribution and reflects conditional independences between variables. Given the data, optimal network topology can be estimated with the assistance of heuristic search algorithms and scoring criteria. Statistical significance of edge strengths can be evaluated using Bayesian methods and bootstrapping. As an example application, the method of Belief networks was applied to 20 SNPs in the apolipoprotein (apo) E gene and plasma apoE levels in a sample of 702 individuals from Jackson, MS. Plasma apoE level was the primary target variable. These analyses indicate that the edge between SNP 4075, coding for the well-known ε2 allele, and plasma apoE level was strong. Belief networks can effectively describe complex uncertain processes and can both learn from data and incorporate prior knowledge.

Availability: Various alternative and supplemental networks (not given in the text) as well as source code extensions, are available from the authors.

Contact:  arodin@uth.tmc.edu

Supplementary information:  http://bioinformatics.oxfordjournals.org
Resmap: automated representation of macromolecular interfaces as two-dimensional networks
Authors: Swint-Kruse Liskin , Brown Curties S.
Published: May 2005

Summary: To aid detailed comparison of a large number of macromolecular structures, Resmap imports Protein Data Bank files and represents subunit/domain interfaces as two-dimensional networks.

Availability:  http://www.kumc.edu/biochemistry/resmap/

Contact:  lswint-kruse@kumc.edu

Supplementary information: Default definitions and directions for graphically managing networks are available at the same website.
Comparative interactomics analysis of protein family interaction networks using PSIMAP (protein structural interactome map)
Authors: Park Daeui , Lee Semin , Bolser Dan , Schroeder Michael , Lappe Michael , Oh Donghoon , Bhak Jong
Published: May 2005

Motivation: Many genomes have been completely sequenced. However, detecting and analyzing their protein–protein interactions by experimental methods such as co-immunoprecipitation, tandem affinity purification and Y2H is not as fast as genome sequencing. Therefore, a computational prediction method based on the known protein structural interactions will be useful to analyze large-scale protein–protein interaction rules within and among complete genomes.

Results: We confirmed that all the predicted protein family interactomes (the full set of protein family interactions within a proteome) of 146 species are scale-free networks, and they share a small core network comprising 36 protein families related to indispensable cellular functions. We found two fundamental differences among prokaryotic and eukaryotic interactomes: (1) eukarya had significantly more hub families than archaea and bacteria and (2) certain special hub families determined the topology of the eukaryotic interactomes. Our comparative analysis suggests that a very small number of expansive protein families led to the evolution of interactomes and seemed tohave played a key role in species diversification.

Contact:  jong@kribb.re.kr

Supplementary information:  http://interactomics.org
Efficient recognition of folds in protein 3D structures by the improved PRIDE algorithm
Authors: Gáspári Zoltán , Vlahovicek Kristian , Pongor Sándor
Published: May 2005

Summary: An improved version of the PRIDE (PRobaility of IDEntity) fold prediction algorithm has been developed, based on more solid statistical basis, fast search capabilities and efficient input structure processing. The new algorithm is effective in identifying protein structures at the ‘H’ level of the CATH hierarchy.

Availability: The new algorithm is integrated into the PRIDE2 web servers at http://pride.szbk.u-szeged.hu and http://www.icgeb.org/pride

Contact:  pongor@icgeb.org

Supplementary information: Detailed documentation and performance evaluation is available in the description section of the PRIDE2 web server.
Working-class royalty: bees beat the caste system
Authors: Wenseleers Tom , Ratnieks Francis L.W , Ribeiro Marcia de F , Alves Denise de A , Imperatriz-Fonseca Vera-Lucia
Published: May 2005

The struggle among social classes or castes is well known in humans. Here, we show that caste inequality similarly affects societies of ants, bees and wasps, where castes are morphologically distinct and workers have greatly reduced reproductive potential compared with queens. In social insects, an individual normally has no control over its own fate, whether queen or worker, as this is socially determined during rearing. Here, for the first time, we quantify a strategy for overcoming social control. In the stingless bee
Schwarziana quadripunctata
, some individuals reared in worker cells avoid a worker fate by developing into fully functional dwarf queens.
Molecular evidence and marine snake origins
Authors: Lee Michael S.Y
Published: May 2005

A molecular phylogeny was used to refute the marine scenario for snake origins. Nuclear gene sequences suggested that snakes are not closely related to living varanid lizards, thus also apparently contradicting proposed relationships between snakes and marine mosasaurs (usually considered to be varanoids). However, mosasaurs share derived similarities with
both
snakes and living varanids. A reanalysis of the morphological data suggests that, if the relationships between living taxa are constrained to the proposed molecular tree, with fossil forms allowed to insert in their optimal positions within this framework, mosasaurs cluster with snakes rather than with varanids. Combined morphological and molecular analyses also still unite marine lizards with snakes. Thus, the molecular data do not refute the phylogenetic evidence for a marine origin of snakes.
Offspring sex ratio is related to paternal train elaboration and yolk corticosterone in peafowl
Authors: Pike Thomas W , Petrie Marion
Published: May 2005

Several recent experimental studies have provided strong evidence for the ability of birds to manipulate the sex ratio of their offspring prior to laying. Using a captive population of peafowl (Pavo cristatus), we tested experimentally the effects of paternal attractiveness on offspring sex ratio, and related sex ratio deviations to egg-yolk concentrations of testosterone, 17β-estradiol and corticosterone. When females were mated to males whose attractiveness had been experimentally reduced by removing prominent eyespot feathers from their trains, they produced significantly more female offspring, had significantly higher yolk corticosterone concentrations and tended to have lower levels of yolk testosterone than when mated to the same males with their full complement of feathers. Concentrations of 17β-estradiol did not vary consistently with sex ratio biases. These findings add to the small number of studies providing experimental evidence that female birds can control the primary sex ratio of their offspring in response to paternal attractiveness, and highlight the possibility that corticosterone and perhaps testosterone are involved in the sex manipulation process in birds.
Selection by parasites may increase host recombination frequency
Authors: Fischer O , Schmid-Hempel P
Published: May 2005

Meiotic recombination destroys successful genotypes and it is therefore thought to evolve only under a very limited set of conditions. Here, we experimentally show that recombination rates across two linkage groups of the host, the red flour beetleTribolium castaneum, increase with exposure to the microsporidian parasite,Nosema whitei, particularly when parasites were allowed to coevolve with their hosts. Selection by randomly varied parasites resulted in smaller effects, while directional selection for insecticide resistance initially reduced recombination slightly. These results, at least tentatively, suggest that short-term benefits of recombination—and thus the evolution of sex—may be related to parasitism.
Male dwarf chameleons assess risk of courting large, aggressive females
Authors: Stuart-Fox Devi M , Whiting Martin J
Published: May 2005

Conflict between the sexes has traditionally been studied in terms of costs of mating to females and female resistance. However, courting can also be costly to males, especially when females are larger and aggressively resist copulation attempts. We examined male display intensity towards females in the Cape dwarf chameleon,
Bradypodion pumilum
, in which females are larger than males and very aggressive. We assessed whether aggressive female rejection imposes potential costs on males and whether males vary their display behaviour with intensity of female rejection, female size or relative size differences. Males persisted in courtship after initial female rejection in 84% of trials, and were bitten in 28% of trials. Attempted mounts were positively associated with males being bitten. Males reduced courtship with increased intensity of female rejection. Male courtship behaviour also varied with female size: males were more likely to court and approach smaller females, consistent with the hypothesis that larger females can inflict more damage. These results suggest that, in addition to assessing female willingness to mate, male dwarf chameleons may use courtship displays to assess potential costs of persistence, including costs associated with aggressive female rejection, weighed against potential reproductive pay-offs associated with forced copulation.
On multiscale approaches to three-dimensional modelling of morphogenesis
Authors: Chaturvedi R , Huang C , Kazmierczak B , Schneider T , Izaguirre J.A , Glimm T , Hentschel H.G.E , Glazier J.A , Newman S.A , Alber M.S
Published: May 2005

In this paper we present the foundation of a unified, object-oriented, three-dimensional biomodelling environment, which allows us to integrate multiple submodels at scales from subcellular to those of tissues and organs. Our current implementation combines a modified discrete model from statistical mechanics, the Cellular Potts Model, with a continuum reaction–diffusion model and a state automaton with well-defined conditions for cell differentiation transitions to model genetic regulation. This environment allows us to rapidly and compactly create computational models of a class of complex-developmental phenomena. To illustrate model development, we simulate a simplified version of the formation of the skeletal pattern in a growing embryonic vertebrate limb.
Nonlinear time-periodic models of the longitudinal flight dynamics of desert locustsSchistocerca gregaria
Authors: Taylor Graham K , Żbikowski Rafał
Published: May 2005

Previous studies of insect flight control have been statistical in approach, simply correlating wing kinematics with body kinematics or force production. Kinematics and forces are linked by Newtonian mechanics, so adopting a dynamics-based approach is necessary if we are to place the study of insect flight on its proper physical footing. Here we develop semi-empirical models of the longitudinal flight dynamics of desert locustsSchistocerca gregaria. We use instantaneous force–moment measurements from individual locusts to parametrize the nonlinear rigid body equations of motion. Since the instantaneous forces are approximately periodic, we represent them using Fourier series, which are embedded in the equations of motion to give a nonlinear time-periodic (NLTP) model. This is a proper mathematical generalization of an earlier linear-time invariant (LTI) model of locust flight dynamics, developed using previously published time-averaged versions of the instantaneous force recordings. We perform various numerical simulations, within the fitted range of the model, and across the range of body angles used by free-flying locusts, to explore the likely behaviour of the locusts upon release from the tether. Solutions of the NLTP models are compared with solutions of the nonlinear time-invariant (NLTI) models to which they reduce when the periodic terms are dropped. Both sets of models are unstable and therefore fail to explain locust flight stability fully. Nevertheless, whereas the measured forces include statistically significant harmonic content up to about the eighth harmonic, the simulated flight trajectories display no harmonic content above the fundamental forcing frequency. Hence, manoeuvre control in locusts will not directly reflect subtle changes in the higher harmonics of the wing beat, but must operate on a coarser time-scale. A state-space analysis of the NLTP models reveals orbital trajectories that are impossible to capture in the LTI and NLTI models, and inspires the hypothesis that asymptotic orbital stability is the proper definition of stability in flapping flight. Manoeuvre control on the scale of more than one wing beat would then consist in exciting transients from one asymptotically stable orbit to another. We summarize these hypotheses by proposing a limit-cycle analogy for flapping flight control and suggest experiments for verification of the limit-cycle control analogy hypothesis.
Statistical geometry of pores and statistics of porous nanofibrous assemblies
Authors: Eichhorn Stephen J , Sampson William W
Published: May 2005

The application of theoretical models to describe the structure of the types of fibrous network produced by the electrospinning of polymers for use in tissue engineering and a number of other applications is presented. Emphasis is placed on formal analyses of the pore size distribution and porosities that one would encounter with such structures and the nature of their relationships with other structural characteristics likely to be important for the performance of nanofibrous materials. The theoretical structures considered result from interactions between randomly placed straight rods that represent fibres with nanoscale dimensions. The dominant role of fibre diameter in controlling the pore diameter of the networks is shown and we discuss the perhaps counter-intuitive finding that at a given network mass per unit area and porosity, increasing fibre diameter results in an increase in mean pore radius. Larger pores may be required for ingrowth of cells to nanofibrous networks, hence this study clarifies that simply making the diameters of the fibres smaller might not be the way to improve cell proliferation on such substrates. An extensive review of structural features of the network such as the distribution of mass, inter-fibre contacts and available surface for cell attachment, fibre contact distributions for integrity of the networks and the porosity and pore size distributions is given, with emphasis placed on nanofibre dimensions for the first time.
Local stresses and elastic constants at the atomic scale
Authors: Delph T.J
Published: May 2005

In this paper, we examine the problem of deriving local stress measures and associated elastic constants for a region containing a fixed number of atoms that is part of a larger body. By means of an expansion of the local interatomic potential energy, we derive expressions for the local second Piola–Kirchoff stress and the associated elastic constants. We relate these to other previously derived atomic scale stress measures. Numerical calculations are presented for the case of an oversized inclusion embedded in an otherwise perfect face-centred cubic crystal.