bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adjusted Scaling of FDG Positron Emission Tomography Images for Statistical Evaluation in Patients With Suspected Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Buchert Ralph , Wilke Florian , Chakrabarti Bhismadev , Martin Brigitte , Brenner Winfried , Mester Janos , Clausen Malte
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) gained increasing acceptance for the voxel‐based statistical evaluation of brain positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose analog 2‐[18F]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose (FDG) in patients with suspected Alzheimer's disease (AD). To increase the sensitivity for detection of local changes, individual differences of total brain FDG uptake are usually compensated for by proportional scaling. However, in cases of extensive hypometabolic areas, proportional scaling overestimates scaled uptake. This may cause significant underestimation of the extent of hypometabolic areas by the statistical test. Methods. To detect this problem, the authors tested for hyper metabolism. In patients with no visual evidence of true focal hypermetabolism, significant clusters of hypermetabolism in the presence of extended hypometabolism were interpreted as false‐positive findings, indicating relevant overestimation of scaled uptake. In this case, scaled uptake was reduced step by step until there were no more significant clusters of hypermetabolism. Results. In 22 consecutive patients with suspected AD, proportional scaling resulted in relevant overestimation of scaled uptake in 9 patients. Scaled uptake had to be reduced by 11.1%± 5.3% in these cases to eliminate the artifacts. Adjusted scaling resulted in extension of existing and appearance of new clusters of hypometabolism. Total volume of the additional voxels with significant hypometabolism depended linearly on the extent of the additional scaling and was 202 ± 118 mL on average. Conclusions. Adjusted scaling helps to identify characteristic metabolic patterns in patients with suspected AD. It is expected to increase specificity of FDGPET in this group of patients.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Thalamus in Essential Tremor Patients
Authors: Kendi Ayşe Tuba Karagülle , Tan Funda Uysal , Kendi Mustafa , Erdal Haydar Hüseyin , Tellioglu Serdar
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose. Although essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders, its pathogenesis remains obscure. The ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM nucleus) is suggested to play an important role in the occurrence of disease. In this study, the authors investigated the presence of biochemical or metabolic alterations in the thalamus of patients with ET using magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. Methods. The study group included 14 patients with ET who suffered from tremor predominantly in their right arm and 9 healthy controls. All patients and controls were right handed. Following conventional cranial MR imaging, single voxel protonMRspectroscopy of the thalamus involving the VIM nuclei was performed bilaterally in both the patients with ET and controls. Metabolite peaks of choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and Nacetylaspartate (NAA) were obtained from each spectroscopic volume of interest. The right and left thalamic NAA/Cr and Cho/ Cr ratios were compared first within the patient group and then between the control and patient groups. The differences in age and spectroscopic data between groups were assessed using the Mann‐Whitney U test, whereas the comparison within groups between left thalamus and right thalamus was done by the Wilcoxon test. Results. In patients with ET, the NAA/Cr ratio of the right thalamus was found to be significantly higher than the NAA/Cr ratio of the left thalamus (P= .02). However, NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios were found to be similar (P > .05) when we compared the control and patient groups for the right thalamus and then the left thalamus. Conclusion. These data present preliminary evidence for metabolic alterations of the contralateral thalamus (namely, low NAA/Cr ratio) in ET patients with predominantly involved right arm. However, the series is small and further data are necessary to clear the subject adequately.
Bolivie: entre changement et inertie. Emploi et protection sociale ces vingt dernières années
Authors: WANDERLEY Fernanda
Published: November 2009

En 2006, avec l'arrivée au pouvoir du Mouvement pour le socialisme d'Evo Morales, la Bolivie entre dans une nouvelle période de son histoire. C'est une étape de réformes politiques et économiques ayant pour objectif de faire mieux que le modèle néolibéral en vigueur dans le pays depuis 1985, et de réorganiser l'Etat conformément à la nouvelle Constitution de 2008. L'auteure analyse l'évolution du régime de l'emploi et de la protection sociale des années quatre‐vingt et quatre‐vingt‐dix ainsi que les difficultés qui demeurent pour construire une stratégie de développement favorable à l'emploi et à l'égalité.
Targeting histone deacetylases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Schneider Günter , Krämer Oliver H. , Fritsche Petra , Schüler Susanne , Schmid Roland M. , Saur Dieter
Published: November 2009

Introduction

The HDAC family

HDAC inhibitors

HDAC expression in PDAC

HDACs control proliferation of PDAC cells

HDACs control apoptosis and mediate therapeutic resistance

HDACs, EMT and metastasis of PDAC

Concluding remarks

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a dismal disease with a median survival below 6 months and a 5‐year survival rate below 1%. Effective therapies for locally advanced or metastatic tumours are missing and curatively resected patients relapse in over 80% of the cases. Although histone deacetylases (HDACs) are involved in the control of proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, migration and angiogenesis of cancer cells, knowledge about the expression patterns and functions of individual HDAC isoenzymes in pancreatic cancer is sparse. This review summarizes the roles of HDACs as novel therapeutic targets and the molecular mode of action of HDAC‐inhibitors (HDACI) in PDACs. Success of HDACI in clinical settings will depend on an increased knowledge of HDAC functions as well as on a better understanding of the mode of action of HDACI. Pre‐clinical experimental data that constitute the basis for rational therapeutic strategies to treat PDAC are described here. Translating these rational‐based therapies into the clinic will finally increase our chance to establish an effective HDACI‐containing combination therapy effective against PDAC.
Altered distribution of tight junction proteins after intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: Li Qiurong , Zhang Qiang , Wang Chenyang , Liu Xiaoxiang , Qu Linlin , Gu Lili , Li Ning , Li Jieshou
Published: November 2009

Tight junction (TJ) disruptions have been demonstrated both in vitro and more recently in vivo in infection. However, the molecular basis for changes of TJ during ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury is poorly understood. In the present study, intestinal damage was induced by I/R in an animal model. As assessed by TUNEL and propidium iodide uptake, we showed that I/R injury induced apoptosis as well as necrosis in rat colon, and the frequency of apoptotic and necrotic cells reached the maximum at 5 hrs of reperfusion. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that claudins 1, 3 and 5 are strongly expressed in the surface epithelial cells of the colon; however, labelling of all three proteins was present diffusely within cells and no longer focused at the lateral cell boundaries after I/R. Using Western blot analysis, we found that distribution of TJ proteins in membrane microdomains of TJ was markedly affected in I/R injury rats. Occludin, ZO‐1, claudin‐1 and claudin‐3 were completely displaced from TX‐100 insoluble fractions to TX‐100 soluble fractions, and claudin‐5 was partly displaced. The distribution of lipid raft marker protein caveolin‐1 was also changed after I/R. I/R injury results in the disruption of TJs, which characterized by relocalization of the claudins 1, 3 and 5 and an increase in intestinal permeability using molecular tracer measurement. I/R injury altered distribution of TJ proteins in vivo that was associated with functional TJ deficiencies.
Effect of diabetes and metabolic control on de novo bone formation following guided bone regeneration
Authors: Retzepi Maria , Lewis Mark P. , Donos Nikolaos
Published: November 2009

Objectives: To evaluate histologically and morphometrically the effect of experimental diabetes and metabolic control on de novo bone formation following guided bone regeneration (GBR).

Methods: Thirty‐five Wistar rats were allocated in three experimental groups: (a) uncontrolled, streptozotocin‐induced diabetes (D); (b) insulin‐controlled diabetes (CD); (c) healthy (H). A standardised titanium microimplant with sandblasted and acid‐etched surface was placed into the inferior border of the mandible bilaterally. On the test site, the microimplant was covered with a titanium reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane securely fixed in the mandible according to the GBR principle. The contralateral site served as control. Following 90 days of healing, undecalcified sections were prepared and planimetric measurements of the per cent vertical height of newly formed bone and the per cent new bone‐to‐implant contact were performed.

Results: In all experimental groups, at the GBR treated sites, significant neo‐osteogenesis was observed. The vertical height of the newly formed bone and per cent bone‐to‐implant contact were not statistically significantly different among the H (51.3±7.2% and 50±6.8%), D (30.5±13.4% and 35±16.8%) and CD (41.6±8.3% and 39.9±6.5%) groups. However, uncontrolled diabetes was related to higher outcome variability and increased rate of infectious complications. In the control sites, marginal bone loss was observed in the D group, whereas, in the H and CD groups, minimal new bone formation was observed.

Conclusions: Significant de novo bone formation can be achieved via GBR treatment even in the presence of uncontrolled diabetes, although less predictably compared with the healthy status. Insulin‐mediated metabolic control may reverse these adverse effects.

To cite this article: Retzepi M, Lewis MP, Donos N. Effect of diabetes and metabolic control on de novo bone formation following guided bone regeneration. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21, 2009; 71–79.
Intra‐category determinants of global self‐rating of oral health among the elderly
Authors: Kim Hae‐Young , Patton Lauren L.
Published: November 2009

Kim H‐Y, Patton LL. Intra‐category determinants of global self‐rating of oral health among the elderly. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 68–76. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract –  Global self‐ratings of oral health (GSROH) have been used in population surveys to assess oral health status. The aim of this study was to assess various candidate predictors for each response level (very poor, poor, fair, and good/very good) of GSROH among Korean elders. Data from a national representative sample of Korean adults aged 65 years and over was analyzed. The mean age of the 1173 subjects was 72.7 years and 60.2% were women. After bivariate analysis, a generalized multinomial logit model with individual slope parameters was performed. Only 29.5% of elders rated their oral health as good or very good, while 53.1% assessed their oral health as poor or very poor. Significant determinants for GSROH for elders (including dentate and edentulous) were difficulty chewing, concern about oral health, the number of missing teeth, and denture state. Income and education were not significant determinants. The number of decayed teeth was an additional determinant in the model for the dentate only subgroup. The indicator demarcating response at a good/very good oral health level compared with poorer oral health levels for all (dentate and edentulous) elders was not reporting having much difficulty chewing. Experiencing loss of 10 or more teeth and being concerned about their oral health distinguishes those in the poor or very poor GSROH levels from the others. For dentate elders, having untreated dental caries was also distinguishing for those reporting very poor oral health. Public health programs aimed at correcting significant chewing functional difficulties in the elderly, by restoring or replacing missing teeth, may alleviate the oral health concerns and improve the overall oral health of the elderly.
De novo intraepidermal epithelioid melanocytic dysplasia: an emerging entity
Authors: Magro Cynthia M. , Crowson A. Neil , Mihm Martin C. , Kline Mitchell
Published: November 2009

De novo intraepidermal epithelioid melanocytic dysplasia represents a distinctive form of intraepidermal melanocytic dysplasia. Although these lesions are atypical, they are not diagnostic of melanoma. They are considered a part of the atypical mole phenotype and may define a point in the natural course of melanomagenesis.

Magro CM, Crowson AN, Mihm MC, Kline M. De novo intraepidermal epithelioid melanocytic dysplasia: an emerging entity of diagnostic and clinical importance.
Vorinostat enhances the antimyeloma effects of melphalan and bortezomib
Authors: Campbell Richard A. , Sanchez Eric , Steinberg Jeffrey , Shalitin Dror , Li Zhi‐Wei , Chen Haiming , Berenson James R.
Published: November 2009

Objectives:  Examine the antitumor activity of the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat’s antitumor activity against multiple myeloma (MM) using cell lines and a murine xenograft model.

Methods:  RPMI8226, U266, and MM1S cells were cultured for 48 h in the presence of media, vorinostat, melphalan, or bortezomib alone, or combinations of vorinostat with melphalan or bortezomib. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTS [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfphophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium, inner salt] assay. Severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing LAGκ‐1B tumors were treated with vorinostat [30, 60, or 100 mg/kg daily for five consecutive days per week (qd×5d), 100 or 300 mg/kg daily for 2 d/wk (qd×2d)], melphalan (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg qd×1d), bortezomib (0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg qd×2d), or combinations thereof for 35 d. Tumor growth was determined via measurement of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) levels and tumor volume.

Results and Conclusions:  Vorinostat enhanced the anti‐MM effects of melphalan and bortezomib in vitro. Synergism was observed with vorinostat and melphalan in RPMI8226 and U266 cell lines. Vorinostat 100 mg/kg in combination with melphalan 3 mg/kg resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth in vivo, compared with control (tumor volume P = 0.0001; hIgG P = 0.0001), single‐agent vorinostat (tumor volume P = 0.0025; hIgG P = 0.0137), and single‐agent melphalan (tumor volume P = 0.0043; hIgG P = 0.0426). Vorinostat also enhanced the antimyeloma effects of bortezomib in vivo. Vorinostat enhances the anti‐MM activity of melphalan and bortezomib in vitro and in vivo. This study provides rationale for further evaluation of vorinostat in combination with chemotherapeutic agents and bortezomib for the treatment of MM.
One Match to Go!
Authors: Spiegelhalter David , Ng Yin-Lam
Published: November 2009

Can statistics really predict the results of Premier League football matches? David Spiegelhalter and Yin-Lam Ng put their skills to the test, and their reputations on the line—and scored!
Testing Nature to the Limit: The Large Hadron Collider
Authors: Cowan Glen
Published: November 2009

The Large Hadron Collider is intended to probe to the very heart of nature. As it restarts after its teething problems, Glen Cowan explains how this huge experiment will depend crucially on statistics to interpret what it finds.
The Geometry of Hobbits: Homo Floresiensis and Human Evolution
Authors: Jungers William , Baab Karen
Published: November 2009

Until quite recently modern humans shared the earth with now extinct relatives—Neanderthals and others—in Europe and Asia. Homo floresiensis—dubbed the “hobbits” in the popular press—is the most recent, and the most surprising, addition to the human family tree. Were the tiny hobbit people of Flores dwarfed descendents of known species, modern humans suffering from a skull-shrinking genetic disease or a new species entirely? William Jungers and Karen Baab look at the time, the space and the body-shape of the astonishing hobbits.
Green Shoots … or Shallow Roots?
Authors: Blunt Gordon
Published: November 2009

After the Great Financial Crash, how soon can we recover? Some said it would take a decade. But France and Germany claim to be moving out of recession already. Is recovery in sight for Britain too? Are we stuck in recession for the foreseeable future? Is worse to come? Gordon Blunt looks at the statistics and provides some answers.
Residents at the University of Maryland Medical System Provide Insight to Learning Infrapubic Approach for IPP Surgery: Relative Benefits but Novel Challenges Exposed in First 15 Cases
Authors: Kramer Andrew , Chason Judd
Published: November 2009

Introduction

Emphasis should be placed on assessing resident education. At our institution, the trans-scrotal (TS) approach for inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery has been widely taught, with infrapubic (IP) approach recently introduced. Feedback and trends on learning a new implant technique is assessed.

Aim

The aim is to understand the advantages and pitfalls of a surgical approach through residents in training. This will provide insight into resident education for teaching physicians and a framework for understanding how to teach the two approaches.

Main Outcome Measures

The outcomes measured will be the residents’ reflection on the ease of different steps of the infrapubic procedure upon finishing 15 sequential cases as well as feeling about the end result and time it took to complete the operation.

Methods

Two senior residents with experience of over 100 TS implants recorded impressions on their first 15 infrapubic IPP cases via questionnaire. IPP was compared with TS with regard to reservoir, cylinder, pump placement, surgical exposure, and resident involvement. Scores of 1–5 were given, with 1 implying harder or more difficult, 3 the same, and 5 better or easier.

Results

Proximal dilatation and cylinder placement remained superior for the IP approach, but distal cylinder placement posed major challenges for the IP surgery. Pump placement was more difficult and remained so for the IP approach, yet reservoir placement was similar. Residents’ sense of involvement was superior early on for the IP procedure. Operating room time improved steadily for the IP approach and ultimately was faster than implants placed trans-scrotally.

Conclusion

The IP approach is quickly learned by residents. Resident placement with the IP approach offers no advantage for the experienced resident. Pump placement and distal dilatation began and remain challenging. Location of corporotomy is the most challenging component and dictates difficulty of dilatation. Residents gain early confidence with the IP approach.
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors and Female Sexual Response: Faulty Protocols or Paradigms?
Authors: Chivers Meredith L. , Rosen Raymond C.
Published: November 2009

Introduction

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5), such as sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, have revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Few successes, in contrast, have been reported for the use of these agents in treatment of sexual arousal problems in women.

Aim

To review research examining efficacy of PDE5 in women, critique the methods and models employed, and integrate the findings within a broader, gender-specific understanding of female sexual response.

Methods

A conceptual and methodological review of all published studies examining PDE5 efficacy in female samples.

Main Outcome Measures

Study methods, populations, outcome measures, study results.

Results

A total of 16 studies were reviewed. Studies using self-reported measures of sexual functioning showed mixed results whereas studies examining physiological effects of PDE5 on genital vasocongestion consistently report significant effects on genital sexual response.

Conclusions

The lack of efficacy of PDE5 treatment in women is likely attributable to gender differences in the concordance between physiological and psychological components of sexual response. Discordance between genital and subjective measures of sexual response in women may be augmented by PDE5 effects on genital vasocongestion in some populations, rendering successful treatment unlikely via pharmacological treatment alone.
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF GALLIC ACID EXTRACTION FROM JATROPHA CURCAS LINN. LEAVES USING SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE WITH METHANOL CO‐SOLVENT
Authors: MANPONG PATUMPORN , DOUGLAS SUPAPORN , DOUGLAS PETER L. , PONGAMPHAI SUWASSA , TEPPAITOON WITTAYA
Published: November 2009

The leaves of Jatropha curcas Linn. contain antioxidant, anticancer and anti‐HIV compounds. This research investigated the extraction of the phenolic compound, gallic acid (GA), from Jatropha curcas Linn. leaves using supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) and methanol co‐solvent. The SCCO2 pilot plant extractor, which was 10 times the capacity of a lab scale unit, was designed and built by our research group using a hydraulic pump instead of high pressure pump. The operating pressure was varied from 20 to 40 MPa; the temperature was varied from 40 to 60C; the particle size was varied from 10 to 40 mesh and the modifier concentration was varied from 0 to 70% (v/v) aqueous methanol. An orthogonal L9 (3)4 experimental design was applied to determine the optimal extracting condition and the effect of the parameters. The largest extraction yield from the experiment was 75.39 mg/kg dry weight of leaves at 40 MPa, 50C and 10–16 mesh particles using a 70% (v/v) methanol modifier. However, from the analysis of L9 (3)4, the optimal operating conditions were at 20 MPa, 50C and 10–16 mesh particles using a 70% (v/v) methanol modifier. It was found that temperature, particle size and modifier concentration had a statistically significant influence (at 85% confidence level) on the GA extraction yield. The fact that pressure was not found to be statistically significant is possibly due to the difficulty in controlling pressure in the pilot plant.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A pilot plant scale supercritical fluid extraction unit, which was 10 times the size of typical laboratory units, was designed and built in our lab using a low cost hydraulic pump to replace a high pressure pump. The pilot plant was able to reasonably extract gallic acid from the leaves of Jatropha curcas Linn. Preliminary experiments resulted in an optimal set of operating conditions which can be used as a starting point in future work. The system will eventually be instrumented and controlled to access operating data as well as maintain the operation of the extractor at desired set‐points. The advantage of using SCCO2 for the extraction is to achieve pure quality product. Gallic acid, which is one of the phenolic compounds in physic nut leaves, is characterized by various properties such as anti‐inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticancer, antioxidant and antiviral agent.
MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR VACUUM‐MICROWAVE CONCENTRATION BEHAVIOR OF PINEAPPLE JUICE
Authors: ASSAWARACHAN RITTICHAI , NOOMHORM ATHAPOL
Published: November 2009

Laboratory scale microwave vacuum was designed and developed to concentrate pineapple juice. Pineapple juice was concentrated from initial concentration of 12.26 ± 0.11 to 61.21 ± 1.47°Brix at three different microwave power densities (0.451, 0.925 and 1.536 W/g) under four levels of vacuum pressure (200, 300, 400 and 500 mbar). The effect of operating conditions (vacuum pressure and microwave power density) on evaporation rate of pineapple concentrate was investigated to select the most appropriate empirical relationships for the prediction of change in pineapple juice concentration during microwave‐vacuum evaporation (MVE) under different conditions. The experimental data were fitted to various empirical models (Lewis, Page, modified Page, Henderson and Pabis, Two terms, Two term exponential, Logarithmic and Wang and Singh) to determine the most appropriate representation of the concentration behavior of pineapple juice under vacuum‐microwave environment. The empirical models were compared according to three statistical parameters, the correlation coefficient (R2), reduce chi‐square (χ2) and root mean square error (RMSE). The modified Page model gave the highest R2 and lowestχ2 and RMSE values and thus, predicted evaporation characteristics of the pineapple concentrate more accurately. Based on the multiple regression analysis, the relationship of model constants and coefficient was expressed in terms of microwave power density and vacuum pressure. Validation of the selected model was determined with the experimental data. The result showed the suitability of the modified Page model in describing evaporation rate of pineapple concentrate.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Evaporation is a type of heat transfer, which involves the evaporation of a volatile solvent such as water from a nonvolatile solute material in a solution. Microwave vacuum applied in evaporation process has the advantage of highly efficient technology because it can improve energy efficiency and product quality. This study investigated the effect of microwave power density and vacuum pressure on the concentration of pineapple juice in order to select the suitable mathematical model for the representation of concentration change.
EFFECT OF POLYOLS ON SHELF‐LIFE AND QUALITY OF FLAT BREAD FORTIFIED WITH SOY FLOUR
Authors: POURFARZAD AMIR , KHODAPARAST MOHAMMAD HOSSEIN HADDAD , KARIMI MEHDI , MORTAZAVI SEYED ALI , DAVOODI MEHDI GHIAFEH , SOURKI ABDOLLAH HEMATIAN , RAZAVIZADEGAN JAHROMI SEYED HOSSEIN
Published: November 2009

The influence of glycerol, sorbitol, maltitol and propylene glycol on shelf life and quality of Barbari, Iranian flat bread, fortified with soy flour, was examined. Effects of different levels of polyols (0, 1 and 5 g/100 g) were analyzed during 2 weeks of storage at room temperature. Specific volume and width/height ratio of fresh breads were not affected by polyol addition, while it significantly decreased the moisture content of the bread. Propylene glycol significantly decreased water activity to 0.871 (1 g/100 g propylene glycol) and 0.867 (5 g/100 g propylene glycol) in comparison with the control (0.883). Evaluation of crumb hardness and moisture indicated that sorbitol and propylene glycol were able to diminish bread staling. The rise in hardness in polyol‐supplemented bread samples was not significantly more than the control between the first and second days of storage. Increase in hardness of bread samples was observed lower than the control after the second day in both levels of the sorbitol and 5 g/100 g propylene glycol. Acceptability of the breads, as indicated by panelists, was found to be higher than control bread for 5 g/100 g propylene glycol with 3.8 and 4.8 values, respectively. Results showed that propylene glycol can present the greatest effect on quality and shelf life of Barbari flat bread fortified with soy flour.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Flat bread plays a significant role in the diet of large portion of the Middle East population, but it is a highly delicate product. The three most common forms of bread deterioration are staling, moisture loss and microbial spoilage. One of the most frequent ways to prevent or control these problems is the use of additives such as polyols. Polyols may be a good choice to diminish the hardening phenomena, moisture loss and water activity, and increase the shelf life and sensory acceptability of bakery products. On the other hand, incorporation of soybean flour into food products, especially in developing countries, can provide good nutritional quality besides prolonging the shelf life of bread. The changes due to polyol addition need to be characterized if a viable commercial product should be achieved.
Bad cops
Authors: Kane Robert J. , White Michael D.
Published: November 2009

Research Summary

Police scholars and public policymakers throughout generations have sought to identify reliable correlates of police misconduct. Despite these efforts, general statements as to the etiology and epidemiology of police misconduct remain inconclusive, in part because of the inconsistent definitions of misconduct and the difficulty of obtaining the data required to make such statements. This research attempts to fill these gaps through a comparison of the personal and career histories of all 1,543 officers who were involuntarily separated from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for cause during 1975–1996 with a randomly selected sample of their police academy classmates who served honorably. The study uses confidential NYPD files as its major data sources, which include extensive biographical and career information. The study finds that career‐ending misconduct rarely occurs in the NYPD and that the types of misconduct do not match well with existing definitions. Several factors emerge as significant predictors of misconduct, including officer race, minimal education, records of prior criminality and prior poor employment, failure to advance in the NYPD, and histories of citizen complaints.

Policy Implications

This study shows that existing definitions of police misconduct are difficult to apply to actual cases of police malpractice, which leads the authors to create a new eight‐category classification scheme. The rarity of misconduct, especially on‐duty abuse, confirms prior research indicating that most police officers do their jobs without engaging in serious malpractice. These findings suggest that the NYPD has become better behaved as it has become more diverse along race and gender dimensions and that the link between black officers and misconduct might be explained by persistent “tokenism.” The findings related to race have important implications for continued efforts to build racially representative police departments. Personal history findings highlight the importance of conducting background investigations that disqualify candidates with arrest records and employment disciplinary histories, whereas the inverse relationship between college education and misconduct provides strong support for continued emphasis on pre‐ and post‐employment educational requirements.
Examining fatal and nonfatal incidents involving the TASER
Authors: White Michael D. , Ready Justin
Published: November 2009

Research Summary

According to TASER International, nearly 10,000 police departments in the United States have deployed the TASER as a less lethal force alternative in some capacity. Despite the TASER's increasing popularity, serious questions have been raised about the device's physiological side effects; in particular, Amnesty International has reported that more than 300 people have died after being subjected to the TASER. Although a growing body of research has examined the physiological effects of the TASER on animals and healthy human volunteers in laboratory settings, there has been virtually no empirical analysis of “real‐world” fatal and nonfatal TASER cases simultaneously. This article examines all media reports of TASER incidents from 2002 to 2006 through a comprehensive review of LexisNexis and New York Times archives. We compare TASER incidents in which a fatality occurred to TASER incidents in which a fatality did not occur and then employ multivariate analyses to identify the incident and suspect characteristics that are predictive of articles describing TASER‐proximate deaths.

Policy Implications

Several suspect factors were significantly associated with the reporting of a fatal TASER incident, including drug use (but not alcohol), mental illness, and continued resistance. Multiple deployments of the TASER against a suspect was also associated with the likelihood of the article describing a fatality—especially if the suspect was emotionally disturbed—which raises the possibility that the risk of multiple shocks might not be uniform for all suspects. More research is needed to explore the relationship between mental illness, drug use (illicit or therapeutic), continued resistance, and increased risk of death. In the meantime, police departments should develop specific policies and training governing the use of multiple TASER shocks against individuals who could be in these vulnerable physiological and psychological states.
Use of Dacid‐, Dbile‐, zacid‐, and zbile‐Values in Evaluating Bifidobacteria with Regard to Stomach pH and Bile Salt Sensitivity
Authors: Jia Li , Shigwedha Nditange , Mwandemele Osmund D.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  The survival of bifidobacteria in simulated conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was studied based on the D‐ and z‐value concept. Some Bifidobacterium spp. are probiotics that improve microbial balance in the human GI tract. Because they are sensitive to low pH and bile salt concentrations, their viability in the GI tract is limited. The D‐ and z‐value approach was therefore adopted as a result of observing constant log‐cell reduction (90%) when Bifidobacterium spp. were exposed to these 2 different stressing factors. Survivals of one strain each or 4 species of Bifidobacterium was studied at pH between 3.0 and 4.5 and in ox‐bile between 0.15% and 0.60% for times up to 41 h. From the Dacid‐ and Dbile‐values, the order of resistance to acid and bile was B. bifidum > B. infantis > B. longum > B. adolescentis. While the former 3 strains retained high cell viability at pH 3.5 (>5.5 log CFU/mL after 5 h) and at elevated bile salt concentration of 0.6% (>4.5 log CFU/mL after 3 h), B. adolescentis was less resistant (<3.4 log CFU/mL). The zacid‐ and zbile‐values calculated from the Dacid‐ and Dbile‐values ranged from 1.11 to 1.55 pH units and 0.40% to 0.49%, respectively. The results suggest that the Dacid‐, Dbile‐, zacid‐, and zbile‐value approach could be more appropriate than the screening and selection method in evaluating survival of probiotic bacteria, and in measuring their tolerance or resistance to gastric acidity and the associated bile salt concentration in the small intestine.

Practical Application: The evaluation of the tolerance of bifidobacteria to bile salts and low pH has been made possible by use of D‐ and z‐value concept. The calculated zacid‐ and zbile‐values were all fairly similar for the strains used and suggest the effect of increasing the bile salt concentration or decreasing the pH on the Dacid‐ and Dbile‐values. This approach would be useful for predicting the suitability of bifidobacteria and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotics for use in real‐life situations.
Ingredients and pH are Key to Clear Beverages that Contain Whey Protein
Authors: LaClair Caitlin E. , Etzel Mark R.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  A challenge of shelf stable beverages that contain whey protein is that a small portion of protein can be denatured and aggregated during thermal processing, resulting in a turbid solution or white precipitate that consumers perceive as a defect. In this study, 3 approaches were taken to reduce turbidity in heat‐treated beverages that contain whey protein: (1) centrifugation to remove insoluble protein aggregates, (2) addition of ingredients, and (3) alteration of pH in the range from 3.0 to 4.0. At pH 3.6 and below, all samples were essentially clear both before and after heating for all ingredients. At a pH of 3.8 and above, ingredient selection was crucial to solution clarity after heat treatment. At a pH of 4.0, addition of salts at both 10 and 50 mM increased the turbidity significantly compared to the control, which contained only whey protein in water. Neither addition of sugars at 25, 50, and 100 g/L, nor addition of sugar alcohols at 25 g/L significantly affected turbidity after heat treatment compared to the control. However, sugar alcohols added at 50 or 100 g/L significantly reduced turbidity after heat treatment compared to the control. Removal of insoluble protein aggregates by centrifugation prior to heat treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in turbidity after heat treatment. Understanding these results at the molecular level will assist food scientists in selecting processing treatments, ingredients, and pH in the development of shelf stable clear beverages that contain whey protein.
Microbial Decontamination of Honey of Indian Origin Using Gamma Radiation and Its Biochemical and Organoleptic Properties
Authors: Saxena Sudhanshu , Gautam Satyendra , Sharma Arun
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  Gamma radiation is known to inactivate microorganisms in various foods and thus ensures their microbial safety. In the present study, process parameters were standardized for achieving microbial decontamination of honey of Indian origin. Study was also carried out to examine the effect of gamma radiation treatment on the biochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and organoleptic attributes of the honey. A 15 kGy dose of gamma radiation was found to be sufficient for complete microbial decontamination of honey including spores, thus improving its microbial safety without affecting the quality attributes.
Effect of Feed Liquid Temperature on the Structural Morphologies of d‐Limonene Microencapsulated Powder and Its Preservation
Authors: Paramita V. , Iida K. , Yoshii H. , Furuta T.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  The influence of the feed liquid temperature of the spray drying was investigated on the particle morphology (vacuole size and shell thickness of hollow particle) and the stability of encapsulated d‐limonene. The feed liquid was the mixture of d‐limonene emulsified in a wall material of blending gum arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD) at the mass ratio of 1 : 2, and the liquid temperature was varied from 40 to 80 °C. The percentage of the hollow particle in the spray‐dried powder was over 40% and slightly increased with the rising of the feed temperature. Hollow particles have shells of different thickness, which was estimated from the image with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The shell thickness increased with the increase in the feed temperature. This finding was qualitatively supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the fractured particles. In addition, release and oxidation stability of encapsulated d‐limonene were measured at constant temperature and humidity. The powder at high temperature of feed has higher stability for release and oxidation of d‐limonene than that at a lower feed temperature. The result may partly be attributed to the increase of the shell thickness of the particle at a higher feed temperature. The thicker shell wall possibly served as the barrier of the flavor release and the diffusion of oxygen and moisture from the surrounding environment.
Quality Attributes and Microbial Storage Stability of Caviar from Cultivated White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
Authors: Shin Joong‐Han , Oliveira Alexandra C.M. , Rasco Barbara A.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  Caviar was prepared from white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) roe by adjusting the water phase salt (WPS) to 4.0% to 6.3% by adding food grade NaCl. Fish were obtained from 2 different farms from the Inland Northwest (N = 5). Salt was absorbed at a different rate and to a different extent by roe from different fish. The lipid content in the fish roe varied from 10.2% to 14.4% (w/w), with palmitic acid and oleic acid being the most abundant saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids present, respectively. The caviar contained high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (35% to 37%) with docosahexanoic acid being the most abundant ω‐3 long chain fatty acid. There were no significant differences in microbial storage stability for caviars from different fish stored at 3 °C. However, for caviar stored at 7 °C, there was less growth of Listeria monocytogenes (using a cocktail of ATCC 19114, 7644, 19113 strains) in 2 samples (2B46 and 0F05) until day 20. In 2 other samples (453F and 2519), which had lower initial microbial loads, less overall microbial growth was observed, indicating that culture and harvest practices result in compositional differences between fish, which may impact both product composition and storage stability.
Determination of Trace Para Red Residues in Foods through On‐Line Molecularly Imprinted Solid Phase Extraction Coupled with High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Xu Z.X. , Zhou J. , Zhao D.Y. , Qiao X.G. , Yang J.M.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  In this article, we prepared a novel imprinted polymer by a room temperature ionic liquid‐mediated surface molecular imprinting technique in combination with a sol–gel process. This polymer was characterized by static and kinetic adsorption experiments and exhibited good recognition ability and offered fast kinetics for the adsorption of Para Red. A simple and sensitive analytical method, based on the coupling of molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), had been developed for determination of trace Para Red. With a loading flow rate of 0.42 mL min−1 for 25 mL, an enrichment factor of 1061 was achieved. Under the selected experimental condition, the detection limit (S/N = 3) of Para Red was 6.6 ng L−1, and the peak area precision (RSD) for 5 replicate detections of 0.15 μg L−1 Para Red was 4.1%. The applicability of this method for determination of the blank chili sauce sample, spiked with Para Red at 5 to 25 ng g−1 levels, was demonstrated, with recoveries ranging from 86% to 95%.

Practical Application: In this paper, a simple and sensitive analytical method, based on the coupling of molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction with high performance liquid chromatography, had been developed for determination of trace Para Red. It was applied to the analysis of spiking Para Red in chili sauce sample with satisfactory recovery and repeatability. This proposed method has the potential to be used for monitoring the illegal addition of Para Red in foods in the future due to its simple, reliable, rapid, and excellent precision.
Issues and Challenges in Studying Parental Control: Toward a New Conceptualization
Authors: Grolnick Wendy S. , Pomerantz Eva M.
Published: November 2009

Abstract— Although investigators have long considered parents’ exertion of control over children as a central part of the socialization process, the study of control has been marked by conceptual and empirical confusion. This article outlines some of the history of the construct of control in the context of parenting, delineating the development of the contemporary approach that distinguishes among multiple forms of control. It proposes a refinement of this approach such that only parenting characterized by pressure, intrusion, and domination should be considered control, whereas parenting frequently labeled control but characterized mainly by guidance should be considered structure. This article highlights the benefits of distinguishing between these two dimensions of parenting rather than multiple forms of control.
The Self in Action: An Emerging Link Between Self‐Beliefs and Behaviors in Middle Childhood
Authors: Davis‐Kean Pamela E. , Jager Justin , Andrew Collins W.
Published: November 2009

Abstract— For many decades, an important goal of psychological research has been to understand the link between self‐beliefs and behaviors and functioning. This article considers converging evidence from diverse fields that a developmental shift in this linkage occurs in middle childhood—that, around age 8, children become more likely to use knowledge about their own selves to actively evaluate and reflect on their thoughts and behavior. This shift has implications for understanding the importance of potential age‐related cognitive changes in the understanding of the self; it also has methodological implications regarding the appropriate age to collect self‐evaluative data on young children.
Should We Care About Adolescents Who Care for Themselves? What We Have Learned and What We Need to Know About Youth in Self‐Care
Authors: Mahoney Joseph L. , Parente Maria E.
Published: November 2009

Abstract— This article provides an overview of existing research on the prevalence and predictors of adolescent self‐care and on the consequences associated with it. Self‐care, in which the young are left unsupervised during out‐of‐school hours, is a common experience for millions of American youth, and existing studies suggest that this arrangement may represent a risk for the development of behavior problems. However, the behavior problems associated with self‐care depend on both individual and environmental factors and are most likely to develop when self‐care (a) occurs out of the home, (b) involves permissive parenting and/or low parental monitoring, (c) takes place in neighborhoods with high levels of crime and disorganization, (d) involves adolescents with preexisting behavioral problems, and (e) represents an intensive and persistent arrangement. Following a survey of current research on self‐care, recommendations are offered regarding future research and policy.
Specialized home treatment versus hospital‐based outpatient treatment for first‐episode psychosis: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Dewa Carolyn S. , Zipursky Robert B. , Chau Nancy , Furimsky Ivana , Collins April , Agid Ofer , Goering Paula
Published: November 2009

Objective: This pilot study compared the effectiveness of specialized care that was home based versus hospital based for individuals experiencing their first psychotic episode.

Method: A randomized controlled trial design was used. A total of 29 subjects were interviewed at baseline, 3 and 9 months. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to test for statistically significant changes over time within and between groups with regard to community psychosocial functioning and symptom severity.

Results: Our findings indicate that subjects in both the home‐based and hospital‐based programmes significantly improved with regard to symptoms and community functioning over time. However, the rates of change over time were not significantly different between the two programmes. There was a statistically significant difference between programmes with regard to the proportion of subjects with less than two visits (i.e. either did not attend their first assessment or attended follow‐up visits after their assessment).

Conclusions: This was a modest pilot study and the sample was too small to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. However, the results raise questions about differences in initial treatment engagement. They suggest the need for additional research focusing on interventions that promote initial treatment seeking.
‘Schizophrenia postdrome’: a study of low‐level psychotic experience after remission of first‐episode schizophrenia
Authors: Burley Kate , Upthegrove Rachel , Birchwood Max , Patterson Paul , Skeate Amanda
Published: November 2009

Background: Despite remission being the primary objective following the first episode of schizophrenia, clinically stabilized patients nevertheless relapse.

Aim: To assess the extent and fluctuation of low‐level psychotic symptoms in patients who are in remission after first‐episode schizophrenia and consider whether this is equivalent to symptomatology experienced by those at ‘ultra high risk’ (UHR) of developing first‐episode psychosis.

Methods: We examined the phenomenological characteristics of 11 patients who fulfilled international remission criteria using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms and compared this cohort with an UHR sample.

Results: Remitted patients were experiencing attenuated positive symptoms (73%) and brief limited intermittent psychotic symptoms (18%), features that were similarly prevalent in the UHR group. There was no significant fluctuation in these low‐level symptoms over the course of four interviews.

Conclusions: Although further research is required in this novel field, such features could form the building blocks for better prediction of psychotic relapse.