bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is the ‘normal range’ for prostate‐specific antigen? Use of a receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate a serum marker
Authors: Gillatt D. , Reynard J.M.
Published: November 2008

Objective To compare the relative sensitivity and specificity of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) as a test for prostate cancer over a range of PSA values in a variety of patient groups, and to compare the sensitivity and specificity of PSA and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP).

Subjects and methods Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (sensitivity plotted against 1‐specificity) were constructed to compare the ability of PSA to discriminate men with prostate cancer (n = 257) from those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n = 220) or control patients (ra = 164). Receiver operating characteristic curves were also constructed to compare PSA and PAP in 173 men with either BPH or prostate cancer.

Results When patients with symptomatic BPH and those with advanced prostate cancer are excluded, a PSA of 8 ng/mL has a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 98% for prostate cancer. In patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of bladder outflow obstruction, PSA remains a sensitive marker for prostate cancer (93% sensitivity at 10 ng/mL) but its specificity (65%) is poor. PSA is a sensitive test for skeletal metastases but levels of 60–80 ng/mL are required to achieve a specificity of 70% or more. The sensitivity of PSA is far superior to that of PAP.

Conclusion Serum PSA provides good discrimination between patients with and without prostate cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of PSA can be improved by excluding men with symptomatic BPH. The specificity of PSA as a diagnostic test for prostate cancer is reduced in men with symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction. For reasonable sensitivity and specificity, a PSA of 60–80 ng/mL is required for differentiating non‐metastatic from metastatic prostate cancer. The ROC curve comparing PSA and PAP provides a graphical demonstration of the superiority of PSA as a tumour marker. The ability of PSA to identify prostate cancer can be improved by selecting out groups of patients and by adjusting the cut‐off level of PSA to the population under study.
Prognostic evaluation of morphonuclear parameters in superficial and invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Colombel M. , De Launoit Y. , Bellot J. , Kiss R. , Abbou C. , Chopin D.
Published: November 2008

Objective To assess the prognostic value of morphonuclear parameters determined by means of computerized image analysis in untreated bladder tumours.

Patients and methods Fifty patients had untreated bladder cancer; in 28 patients the tumours were superficial (7pTlGl; 14pTlG2; 7pTlG3) and in 22 they were invasive (6T2G2, 9T2G3, 2T3G2, 5T3G3). Feulgen‐stained imprints were processed for morphonuclear analysis on a SAMBA 200 computerized image analysis system (T1TN, France), which measures optical density (integrated optical density, IOD; surface area, SURF; mean optical density, MOD), texture (long run length, LRL; short run length, SRL; run length distribution, RID; run length percentage, RLP; grey level distribution, GLD) and contrast (contrast, C; energy, E).

Results Morphonuclear parameters IOD, SURF, LRL, SRL and C were found to correlate with the risk of recurrence and progression of superficial bladder tumours (Results for ANOVA respectively IOD P<0.001; SURF P= 0.02; LRL P= 0.05; RLD P= 0.04; SRL P= 0.04; C P<0.001). In invasive bladder cancer, parameters IOD and C only correlated with the risk of progression (ANOVA respectively IOD P<0.001; C P<0.001). On the other hand, progression‐free curve analysis using the Kaplan Meier method showed that morphonuclear parameters may be useful in predicting the outcome for superficial tumours (Log/Rank test: SURF P<0.001; RLD <0.001; SRL = 0.003; LRL <0.001; C<0.001; IOD<0.001). In the case of invasive tumours, only two parameters provided prognostic information (Logrank test: C<0.001; IOD<0.001).

Conclusion Nuclear morphometry assessed by image analysis is potentially useful in assessing the prognosis of bladder tumours; it provides Objective and quantitative parameters. Further studies will determine whether morphonuclear analysis can be used to monitor the treatment of bladder cancer, particularly superficial tumours.
Treatment of neuropathic urinary and faecal incontinence with synchronous bladder reconstruction and the antegrade continence enema procedure*
Authors: Roberts J.P. , Moon S. , Malone P.S.
Published: November 2008

Objectives To report our experience with synchronous bladder reconstruction and the antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedure in the management of neuropathic urinary and faecal incontinence.

Patients and methods Eight patients (four boys, four girls) with a median age of 9 years 10 months (range 4.5–17) were treated. Five had spina bifida, two high ano‐rectal malformations and one had been successfully treated for a spinal neuroblastoma. The appendix was used for the ACE procedure in five patients and a tubularized caecal or colonic flap in the other three. Seven patients had an augmentation cystoplasty and one a cystectomy with a continent diversion. A bladder neck reconstruction or an urethral lengthening procedure was performed in five patients and the bladder outlet was closed in two. Six patients required some form of revision. Four patients underwent a simultaneous Mitrofanoff procedure.

Results The median length of follow‐up was 11.5 months (range 3–29). Five patients were completely clean and the remaining three experienced minor faecal soiling only. They were all delighted with the result. Six patients were dry day and night, one was wet at night only while the final patient was wet day and night.

Conclusions Synchronous surgical procedures to make patients with neuropathic incontinence both clean and dry is effective, but most patients require revision surgery. Patient motivation and selection and the availability of a nurse specialist is crucial in obtaining satisfactory results.
Endoscopic trigonoplasty for primary vesico‐ureteric reflux
Authors: Okamura K. , Ono Y. , Yamada Y. , Kato T. , Tsuji Y. , Ohshima S. , Miyake K.
Published: November 2008

Objective To investigate the surgical results of endoscopic trigonoplasty in patients with primary vesico‐ureteric reflux.

Patients and methods Records were reviewed for 12 patients who underwent endoscopic trigonoplasty between February 1992 and February 1994. Of the 12 patients, 11 were female; one was a child and nine had unilateral disease. From 15 renoureteric units, grade I vesico‐ureteric reflux was demonstrated in five, grade II in six and grade III in four. The ureteric orifices were approximated close to the midline via the urethral route and two trocars on the abdomen achieved pneumobladder.

Results The mean surgical time was 178 ± 52 min; this lessened as the learning curve developed. Intra‐opera‐tive complications in three patients were all caused by trocar placement. Eleven patients required analgesics for one post‐operative day only. No post‐operative dilatation of the upper urinary tract was demonstrated. Vesico‐ureteric reflux was eradicated in all patients.

Conclusions Endoscopic trigonoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure with a high cure rate. By not destroying the normal vesico‐ureteric junction, postoperative obstruction cannot occur. We believe that endoscopic trigonoplasty is a feasible procedure for patients with vesico‐ureteric reflux.
The State and Social Networks
Authors: Løvseth Toini
Published: November 2008

Based on a comparative study of socio‐political networks and state strategies in Northern Norway and Southern Italy, this article argues that state strategies and capacity play an important role in determining the structure and impact of social networks on regional development. Similar in their choice of policy regimes and active distribution of resources to their lagging peripheries, Italy and Norway display very different informal networks between socio‐political actors as well as development characteristics. These differences in social networks and development can be traced back to the willingness and ability of state actors to entrench themselves at the centre of the socio‐political networks in the regions. Their ability is constrained by the social networks themselves, hemmed in by past history of nation‐building and is in essence a picture of the legitimacy of the state. State openness towards mobilising social groups enables it to keep control over the mobilisation process and build for itself a central role in social networks. State closeness towards mobilising social groups brings with it the danger that alternative elites will build alternative social networks on the different territories they control – networks in which the state will play a less central role. The cases illustrate the pros and cons of both types of state strategies, and form a good basis for a discussion of the optimal mix of state intervention and local social organisation in development.
Empowering Members of Ethnic Organisations: Tracing the Political Integration Potential of Immigrant Associations in Stockholm
Authors: Strömblad Per , Bengtsson Bo
Published: November 2008

The voluminous participation literature notwithstanding, knowledge is still scarce on how voluntary associations more precisely provide their members with politically significant human and social capital. This article focuses on the capacities of immigrant organisations to promote the political integration of ethnic minority members. Analysing a unique dataset, based on face‐to‐face interviews with representatives of 106 organisations of four different immigrant groups in Greater Stockholm, the study empirically investigates what the authors refer to as an association's ‘political integration potential’ (PIP) – the possibility of a given ethnic association to promote the inclusion of its members in the political community of the host society. As elements of PIP, the article examines associational‐level political activity as well as support and mobilisation of individual members, and analyses how the former may be induced by the latter. Furthermore, the article tries to explain why some types of organisations do better than others in these respects. It finds that size and diversification of associations have an important impact on PIP, thus explaining observed differences between associations of the ethnic categories included in this study.
From a Contingent Party System to Party System Convergence? Mapping Party System Change in Postwar Finland
Authors: Arter David
Published: November 2008

The current imperative in journal articles of presenting new data and new ‘theory’ has largely been at the expense of new interpretations and ‘big picture’ analyses. This article proceeds from the failure of the comparative politics literature, from Sartori to Evans and Green‐Pedersen, to grasp the essential dynamics of the Cold War Finnish party system and the curious absence of Finnish studies of the significant legislative party system change occurring thereafter. Following a critique of Green‐Pedersen's notion of ‘party system implosion’ as applied to Finland, the article depicts a shift from the contingent party system of the Cold War era, when exogenous veto players formed institutional barriers to office‐seeking parties, to the present convergent party system where most, if not all parties compete for, and converge on, the centre ground and cooperate interchangeably in governing coalitions without significant deviations in the main lines of public policy.
Getting Real Performance Out of Pay‐for‐Performance
Authors: NICHOLSON SEAN , PAULY MARK V. , WU ANITA YA JUNG , MURRAY JAMES F. , TEUTSCH STEVEN M. , BERGER MARC L.
Published: November 2008

Context: Most private and public health insurers are implementing pay‐for‐performance (P4P) programs in an effort to improve the quality of medical care. This article offers a paradigm for evaluating how P4P programs should be structured and how effective they are likely to be.

Methods: This article assesses the current comprehensiveness of evidence‐based medicine by estimating the percentage of outpatient medical spending for eighteen medical processes recommended by the Institute of Medicine.

Findings: Three conditions must be in place for outcomes‐based P4P programs to improve the quality of care: (1) health insurers must not fully understand what medical processes improve health (i.e., the health production function); (2) providers must know more about the health production function than insurers do; and (3) health insurers must be able to measure a patient's risk‐adjusted health. Only two of these conditions currently exist. Payers appear to have incomplete knowledge of the health production function, and providers appear to know more about the health production function than payers do, but accurate methods of adjusting the risk of a patient's health status are still being developed.

Conclusions: This article concludes that in three general situations, P4P will have a different impact on quality and costs and so should be structured differently. When information about patients' health and the health production function is incomplete, as is currently the case, P4P payments should be kept small, should be based on outcomes rather than processes, and should target physicians' practices and health systems. As information improves, P4P incentive payments could be increased, and P4P may become more powerful. Ironically, once information becomes complete, P4P can be replaced entirely by “optimal fee‐for‐service.”
Goodness is central: Task invariance of perceptual organization in a dual‐task setting1
Authors: LACHMANN THOMAS , VAN LEEUWEN CEES
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  We adopted the psychological refractoriness paradigm to study whether visual pattern goodness affects central processing load in a same‐different task. In a dual‐task experiment, a two‐alternative forced choice auditory classification was followed by a same‐different task in which Garner's classical five‐dot patterns were presented. Goodness of these patterns and stimulus‐onset asynchrony (SOA) between the first and second task were varied between trials. Participants used a physical sameness criterion; only patterns of the same shape and orientation were responded to as same. Strong effects of pattern goodness and SOA were found, and both factors had additive effects on response latencies. This result was taken as evidence that pattern goodness determines central processing load in the physical sameness task. The result is consistent with Lachmann and van Leeuwen (2007a), in which a categorical sameness task was used. Comparing both studies it was concluded that goodness reduces the central processing load of visual stimulus information independently of task variation.
Auditory sensitivity to temporal deviations from perceptual isochrony: Comparison of the starting point and ending point of acoustic change1
Authors: TANAKA SATOMI , TSUZAKI MINORU , AIBA ERIKO , KATO HIROAKI
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  The occurrence of a sound event in a sound stream can be perceived without difficulty even when it is difficult to define the acoustic boundary. This study was designed to investigate which acoustical feature functions as an effective cue to “mark” the occurrence of a new event. When two steady sounds are connected by a short frequency glide, at which point do we perceive the occurrence of the second sound: the starting point of the frequency glide or its ending point? To answer this question, experimental stimuli were designed to establish an isochronous structure that was conveyed exclusively by the starting or by the ending point of the glide. The frequency glide was made by modulating the carrier frequency of a sinusoid or the resonant frequency of a complex tone. In two experiments, the deviation from the isochronous structure was detected more easily under the starting‐point condition than under the ending‐point condition. The results suggest that the starting point functions as a more effective cue for marking a new event than does the ending point.
Assessment of methane and nitrous oxide flux from mangroves along Eastern coast of India
Authors: CHAUHAN R. , RAMANATHAN AL. , ADHYA T. K.
Published: November 2008

Mangroves are considered to be a minor source of greenhouse gases (CH4 and N2O) in pristine environmental condition. However, estimates of efflux suggest that anthropogenic activities have led to a pronounced increase in greenhouse gas emission. Along the east coast of India, mangroves vary substantially in area, physiography and freshwater input, which ultimately modify the biogeochemical processes operating within this ecosystem. An attempt has here been made to elucidate the existing variation and role of climatic variability on the emission of greenhouse gases from mangroves. The flux estimates of CH4 and N2O have been quantified from Bhitarkanika mangrove accounting for spatial and temporal (seasonal) variation. The annual rates were estimated to be 0.096 × 10 9 g CH4 year−1 and 5.8 × 103g N2O year−1 for the whole mangrove area of the east coast of India. Upscaling these estimates yield an annual emission of 1.95 × 10 12 g CH4 year−1 and 1.1 × 10 11 g N2O year−1 from worldwide mangrove areas. The influence of elevated nutrient inputs through anthropogenic influence enhances the emission of greenhouse gas. The present article shows the need to develop an inventory on greenhouse gas flux from mangrove ecosystem.
Sedimentary fabrics in the authigenic carbonates from Bush Hill: implication for seabed fluid flow and its dynamic signature
Authors: FENG D. , CHEN D. , ROBERTS H. H.
Published: November 2008

Seep carbonates, the product of cold seep fluids mediated by microbial activity, archive information on seabed fluid flow and microbiological processes that led to their formation. Sedimentary fabrics are well developed in the authigenic carbonate from active seep sites at Bush Hill, Green Canyon Block 185 of the Gulf of Mexico. This authigenic carbonate has much lower carbon isotope values than typical marine cements and the carbonate is concluded to be derived from the oxidation of seeping petroleum. The authigenic fabrics commonly exhibit microbial or texturally unique sedimentary structures; e.g. framboidal pyrite, clotted microfabric and peloid, botryoidal aragonite, microfilament, and rosette‐like aragonite are all preserved in seep carbonate. These fabrics are indicators of biological influence during microbial oxidation of petroleum and sulfate reduction when cold fluids seep on to the seabed. The textures are therefore considered as additional evidence that can be used to identify and interpret ancient cold‐fluid seeps on seafloor. The difficulty of the preservation of these biogenic fabrics is thought to be related to the redox condition and dynamic signature (e.g. rate of fluid flow) of cold seeps.
Genotypic Association Analysis Using Discordant‐Relative‐Pairs
Authors: Yan T. , Yang Y.‐N. , Cheng X. , DeAngelis M. M. , Hoh J. , Zhang H.
Published: November 2008

In practice, family‐based design has been widely used in disease‐gene association analysis. The major advantage of such design is that it is not subject to spurious association due to population structure such as population stratification (PS) and admixture. A disadvantage is that parental genotypes are hard to obtain if the disease is late onset for which a discordant‐relative‐pair design is useful. Designs of such kind include full‐sib‐pair, half‐sib‐pair, first‐cousin‐pair, and so on. The closer the relatedness of the pair, the less possible that they are subject to population stratification. On the other hand, the association test using close relative‐pairs may be less powerful due to over‐matching. Trade‐off between these two factors (population structure and over‐matching) is the major concern of this study. Some tests, namely McNemar's test, matched Cochran‐Armitage trend tests (CATTs), matched maximum efficient robust test (MERT), and Bhapkar's test, are used for testing disease‐gene association based on relative‐pair designs. These tests are shown to be valid in the presence of PS but not admixture. Numerical studies show that the McNemar's test, additive CATT, MERT, and Bhapkar's test are robust in power, but none of them is uniformly more powerful than the others. In most simulations, the power of any of the tests increases as the pair is more distant. The proposed methods are applied to two real examples.
Rescue and Restoration: Experimental Translocation ofAmorpha herbaceaWalter var.crenulata(Rybd.) Isley into a Novel Urban Habitat
Authors: Wendelberger Kristie S. , Fellows Meghan Q. N. , Maschinski Joyce
Published: November 2008

Though translocations of rare populations should be considered only as the last resort for species’ conservation, when habitat destruction is imminent, it may be the only means to preserve a species. With over half the known, wild federally endangered Crenulate leadplant (Amorpha herbaceavar.crenulata), Fabaceae, growing on unprotected land slated for development, preserving this unprotected population was critical. We rescued whole plants, cuttings, and seeds for an experimental translocation. Into a restored pine rockland, once dominated by the invasive exotic tree Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), we transplanted plants from different sources and of different sizes. Plants used were rescued from an unprotected site, seedlings, and 1‐, 2‐, and 7‐year‐old plants from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s ex situ collection, creating a novel population in a new habitat. We also evaluated which propagule type and source had the best survival, growth, and reproduction. After 40 months, overall transplant survival was 71%. Large whole plants, rescued and nursery grown, had the best survival rates (86 and 78%), whereas cuttings had 67% survival and seedlings had only 26% survival. The restored site, once nearly a monoculture ofS. terebinthifolius, is now dominated by 104 native plant species, including 17 naturally recruited state listed, plus the one translocated federally endangered plant species. In addition, one federally threatened snake species was observed on the site. These studies demonstrate that botanic garden collections not only play a vital role in the conservation of species’ genetic diversity but also can be used as source material for habitat restoration.
Restoration of California Native Grasses and Clovers: The Roles of Clipping, Broadleaf Herbicide, and Native Grass Density
Authors: Lulow Megan E.
Published: November 2008

One of the major challenges confronting grassland restoration of highly invaded communities is increasing the diversity of native species. There is surprisingly little research investigating how reconstructed native grasslands respond to common management techniques and how these techniques influence the relative establishment of both native grasses and forbs. Despite the diversity and wide distribution of native clovers in California, few practitioners incorporate them into grassland restoration plans. Conversely, non‐native clovers have been seeded extensively onto California rangelands. This study addresses the following questions: (1) Using readily available management tools, is there a strategy that can benefit the growth of both planted native bunchgrasses and seeded clovers? (2) Do native bunchgrasses compete with establishing clovers and non‐native grasses? (3) Do native and non‐native clovers differ in their response to management treatments or in their productivity? Plots were established to test three factors in different combinations over 3 years: (1) early spring clipping, (2) initial broadleaf herbicide, and (3) native bunchgrass planting density. Native and non‐native clovers were seeded in years 2 and 3. Early spring clipping did not have a significant effect on native bunchgrass cover, yet it did result in greater growth of native and non‐native clovers. The direction of the response to broadleaf herbicide changed between years for native bunchgrasses and was consistently negative for native clovers. Plots with higher native grass densities did not adversely affect the seeded clovers, yet non‐native grass cover was reduced. Native and non‐native clovers exhibited similar responses to clipping and established at similar densities.
Lessons Learned about Research and Management: A Case Study from a Midwest Lowland Savanna, U.S.A.
Authors: Dettman Connie L. , Mabry Catherine M.
Published: November 2008

Integrating research and practice is a fundamental challenge for restoration and conservation. Scientists recognize restoration as an opportunity to test basic ecological principles, and that core scientific practices such as establishing control plots, replication, monitoring, and data management are fundamental to learning from restoration and management. However, practical constraints inherent to many projects often work against fully integrating research and management. In 2005, we had the opportunity to evaluate a lowland savanna that had been undergoing restoration by The Nature Conservancy since 1997. We used the data generated as a case study to evaluate how the restoration process might have changed had scientists been involved from the outset. Prescribed fire is the primary tool used to restore upland savanna and was chosen by The Nature Conservancy to manage the lowland savanna. In open areas dominated by Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), fire was associated with reduced cover of this highly invasive species and an increase in native species richness. However, other results suggested that management options beyond the use of fire are needed to restore this lowland savanna. In retrospect, an approach that integrated the skills of researchers and managers at the outset of the study would have altered many of the restoration goals and processes. Pretreatment data, greater replication, and systematically varying treatments could have provided a more robust assessment of treatment effects. We recognize, however, that impediments in staffing, funding, and time were barriers to following this course of action.
Embracing Variability in the Application of Plant–Soil Interactions to the Restoration of Communities and Ecosystems
Authors: Eviner Valerie T. , Hawkes Christine V.
Published: November 2008

Plant–soil interactions are the foundation of effective and sustained restoration of terrestrial communities and ecosystems. Recent advances in ecological science have greatly contributed to our understanding of the effects of soil conditions on plant community dynamics and our understanding of plant composition impacts on almost every aspect of soil structure and function. Although these theories provide important guidelines for the practice of restoration, they often fall short of providing the level of information required to make effective site‐specific management decisions. This is largely because of ecology’s search for simple unifying theories and the resulting tendency to generalize from studies at one or only a few sites. An average effect or broad‐scale simple relationship tends to provide a “one‐size‐fits‐all” (or none) prescription for managers. Plant–soil interactions can vary greatly depending on their context (e.g., environmental conditions, management practices, time, neighboring community, interaction with other organisms). The ability to predict these context‐dependent interactions between plants and soils can be developed by building upon existing general frameworks for understanding plant–soil interactions. Collaborations between researchers and managers can develop conceptual tools that allow us to understand and manage the variability and complexity of plant–soil interactions, simultaneously advancing theory and applicability.
Growth and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization of Two Prairie Grasses Grown in Soil from Restorations of Three Ages
Authors: Anderson Roger C.
Published: November 2008

I compared growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization of two prairie grasses (Wild rye [Elymus canadensis] and Little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium]), an early‐ and a late‐dominating species in prairie restorations, respectively, grown in soil from restored prairies of differing age, soil characteristics, and site history. There were no consistent patterns between restoration age and soil inorganic nutrients or organic matter. The oldest restoration site had higher soil mycorrhizal inoculum potential (MIP) than 2‐ and 12‐year‐old restorations. However, MIP did not translate into actual colonization for two species grown in soils from the three restorations, nor did MIP relate to phosphorus availability. There were significant differences in root mass and colonization among Wild rye plants but not among Little bluestem plants grown in soils from the three restorations. Wild rye grown in 2‐year‐old restoration soil had significantly higher AMF colonization than when it was grown in soils from the 12‐ and 17‐year‐old restorations. Wild rye grown in 2‐year‐old restoration soil also had higher colonization than Little bluestem grown in 2‐ and 12‐year‐old restoration soils. Little bluestem had no significant correlations between shoot biomass, root biomass or colonization, and concentrations of soil P, total N, or N:P. However, for Wild rye, total soil N was positively correlated with root mass and negatively correlated with colonization, suggesting that in this species, mycorrhizae may affect N availability. Collectively, these results suggest that soil properties unrelated to restoration age were important in determining differences in growth and AMF colonization of two species of prairie grasses.
Does It Make Sense to Restore Wildland Fire in Changing Climate?
Authors: Fulé Peter Z.
Published: November 2008

Forest restoration guided by historical reference conditions of fire regime, forest structure, and composition has been increasingly and successfully applied in fire‐adapted forests of western North America. But because climate change is expected to alter vegetation distributions and foster severe disturbances, does it make sense to restore the ecological role of wildland fire through management burning and related activities such as tree thinning? I suggest that some site‐ and date‐specific historical conditions may be less relevant, but reference conditions in the broad sense are still useful. Reference conditions encompass not only the recent past but also evolutionary history, reflecting the role of fire as a selective force over millennia. Taking a long‐term functional view of historical reference conditions as the result of evolutionary processes can provide insights into past forest adaptations and migrations under various climates. As future climates change, historical reference data from lower, southerly, and drier sites may be useful in places that are higher, northerly, and currently wetter. Almost all models suggest that the future will have substantial increases in wildfire occurrence, but prior to recent human‐caused fire exclusion, fire‐adapted pine forests of western North America were among the most frequently burned in the world. Restoration of patterns of burning and fuels/forest structure that reasonably emulate historical conditions prior to fire exclusion is consistent with reducing the susceptibility of these ecosystems to catastrophic loss. Priorities may include fire and thinning treatments of upper elevation ecotones to facilitate forest migration, whereas vulnerable low‐elevation forests may merit less management investment.
Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Wheat Seed Germination and Alleviates Oxidative Damage against Copper Stress
Authors: Zhang Hua , Hu Lan‐Ying , Hu Kang‐Di , He Yun‐Dong , Wang Song‐Hua , Luo Jian‐Ping
Published: November 2008

With the enhancement of copper (Cu) stress, the germination percentage of wheat seeds decreased gradually. Pretreatment with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor alleviated the inhibitory effect of Cu stress in a dose‐dependent manner; whereas little visible symptom was observed in germinating seeds and radicle tips cultured in NaHS solutions. It was verified that H2S or HS− rather than other sulfur‐containing components derived from NaHS attribute to the potential role in promoting seed germination against Cu stress. Further studies showed that NaHS could promote amylase and esterase activities, reduce Cu‐induced disturbance of plasma membrane integrity in the radicle tips, and sustain lower levels of malondialdehyde and H2O2 in germinating seeds. Furthermore, NaHS pretreatment increased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and decreased that of lipoxygenase, but showed no significant effect on ascorbate peroxidase. Alternatively, NaHS prevented uptake of Cu and promoted the accumulation of free amino acids in seeds exposed to Cu. In addition, a rapid accumulation of endogenous H2S in seeds was observed at the early stage of germination, and higher level of H2S in NaHS‐pretreated seeds. These data indicated that H2S was involved in the mechanism of germinating seeds' responses to Cu stress.
PRODUCTION OF PALM OIL REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SOLID FAT CONTENT
Authors: TARMIZI AZMIL HAIZAM AHMAD , SIEW WAI LIN , KUNTOM AINIE
Published: November 2008

Three palm oil reference materials were produced for solid fat content analysis employing the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Test Methods. Thirteen laboratories participated in the characterization study, where the solid fat content in palm oil, palm olein and palm stearin were identified at temperature range from 0 to 45C. The consensus values were calculated based on the acceptability of statistical results from collaborating laboratories. Both of the consensus values and their uncertainties (%) for each reference material are as follows: 71.12 ± 1.82% (0C), 54.07 ± 1.05% (10C), 37.44 ± 0.88% (15C), 24.18 ± 1.09% (20C), 13.32 ± 0.86% (25C), 7.64 ± 0.28% (30C), 4.05 ± 0.14% (35C) and 1.25 ± 0.49% (40C) for SFC of palm oil, 66.32 ± 1.93% (0C), 43.53 ± 1.32% (10C), 22.50 ± 0.78% (15C), 6.68 ± 1.14% (20C) and 1.40 ± 0.35% (25C) for SFC of palm olein, and 78.09 ± 1.23% (0C), 67.66 ± 0.71% (10C), 56.29 ± 1.18% (15C), 44.37 ± 1.13% (20C), 30.22 ± 1.25% (25C), 20.08 ± 0.58% (30C), 13.72 ± 0.32% (35C), 8.97 ± 0.72% (40C) and 5.06 ± 0.41% (45C) for solid fat content of palm stearin.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The implementation of the ISO 17025 accreditation should be encouraged for testing laboratories to assure the traceability of analysis performed. This accreditation requires the use of certified reference materials to ensure that the analysis performed is parallel to the ISO 17025 standards. However, the unavailability of palm oil reference materials will affect the implementation of such standards for laboratories that are performing palm oil analyses. Hence, this study is aimed to characterize and certify the palm oil reference materials for determination of solid fat content. The establishment of this study is hoped to increase the credibility of laboratories, which are involved in the palm oil analysis. This will also promote the Malaysia Palm Oil Board as a center for the certification of palm oil reference materials.
MODELING CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY OF β‐CAROTENE RICH SWEET POTATO CURD
Authors: SIVAKUMAR P. SETHURAMAN , PANDA SMITA H. , RAY RAMESH C. , PRADHAN DURGA C. , SIVARAMANE N.
Published: November 2008

Sweet potato (SP) curd prepared by co‐fermenting boiled β ‐carotene rich SP puree, cow's milk with curd culture, was evaluated for consumer acceptability of sensory attributes. One hundred consumers from the Orissa State, India evaluated SP curd in terms of five major sensory attributes, i.e., sweetness, color, texture, aroma and general appearance on a 9‐point hedonic scale. The responses were modeled through binary logistic regression to understand the sensory attributes, which govern the decision process. Color and texture were found to influence consumer acceptability. The β ‐carotene supplied by SP‐enriched yellow color of the curd, and starch and dietary fiber enhanced the thickness of SP curd.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem affecting bulk of the disadvantaged population living in the developing countries. Fortification of foods with β‐carotene (precursor of vitamin A) is widely regarded as a strategy to combat VAD through natural means. Sweet potato (SP) is a secondary staple food for small and tribal farmers particularly during off‐season when there is a scarcity of food grains. Curd is a popular fermented dairy product, consumed widely in the Indian subcontinent. Fortifying curd with β‐carotene rich SP can enhance the nutrient content (β‐carotene, minerals, etc.) as well as culinary qualities (color and texture). Besides, modeling consumer preferences help us to identify the attributes, which govern the acceptability of SP curd. Such model could be compared with the sensory panel results to understand the accuracy with which decisions are made at the laboratory level.
DESCRIPTIVE PROFILE OF PEACH NECTAR SWEETENED WITH SUCROSE AND DIFFERENT SWEETENERS
Authors: PORTO CARDOSO JULIANA MARIA , ANDRÉ BOLINI HELENA MARIA
Published: November 2008

Consumers are looking even more for food with pleasant characteristics in terms of flavor, appearance, aroma and texture. Thanks to technological advances, it is possible to find low‐calorie products with these characteristics, with competitive prices when compared with similar products containing sucrose. In this study, peach nectar samples containing sucrose and the sweeteners aspartame, cyclamate/saccharin 2:1 blend, stevia, sucralose and acesulfame‐K, were evaluated by Descriptive Quantitative Analysis. This methodology is the most complete and sophisticated technique for the sensory characterization of a product, because it allows a complete description of all the attributes existent in such product. Eleven consumers were selected by their discriminative capacity, repeatability of judgment and agreement with the sensory team. Sucrose sample were at ideal sweetness and the sweeteners samples were at equi‐sweet concentrations. The descriptive terms were yellow color (YCL), cloudy aspect (CLD), brightness (BRI), visual viscosity (VIS), peach aroma (PAR), sweet aroma (SAR), herb aroma (HAR), peach flavor (PFL), sweetness (SWE), bitterness (BIT), herb flavor (HFL), sourness (SOU), residual bitterness (RBT), residual sweetness (RSW), astringency (AST) and body (BOD). The results were evaluated by analysis of variance, Tukey's test and Principal Component Analysis. The results show that the samples did not have statistical difference (P ≤ 0.05) in the attributes YCL, CLD and BRI. The sample sweetened with sucrose presented higher grades in the attributes VIS, PAR, PFL, SWE and BOD, differing statistically (P ≤ 0.05) from the other samples. Samples containing Stevia received high grades in unpleasant attributes, such as HAR, HFL, BIT, RBT and RSW, which would certainly influence its acceptance in consumers' tests. Acesulfame‐K also presented high grades in the attributes BIT and RBT.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Quantitative Descriptive Analysis is one of the most sophisticated methods to characterize sensory attributes of products, providing a complete description of important sensory properties. With this technique, it is possible to study qualitative and quantitative aspects of the products.

This methodology is used when launching a new product; in quality control applications; to track sensory changes in a product over time; to correlate instrumental, chemical or physical with sensory measurements, among others.

In this research, several lexicons were generated to describe the peach nectar sweetened with different sweeteners, highlighting some characteristics of sweeteners such as bitterness and residual tastes. It also presents a comparison among the nectar sweetened with sucrose and sweeteners and shows which sweetener has a descriptive profile more similar to sucrose.

With this information, people suffering from diabetes or obesity, major problems in the whole world, could find a sugar substitute with similar properties of sucrose.
THE INFLUENCE OF TESTING CONTEXT ON TEA BAG PRODUCT ACCEPTANCE IN CENTRAL LOCATION TESTS
Authors: POSRI WILATSANA , MACFIE HAL
Published: November 2008

We investigate the reliability and predictive power (correspondence with home‐use test [HUT] outcomes) of central location tests (CLTs) using a tea bag product. The setting involves three different CLT testing contexts reflecting “natural versus controlled” approaches: (1) traditional CLT, using controlled testing with ad libitum consumption (n = 47); (2) dosing CLT (DCLT), offering dose choices (sugar and milk combinations) that are different across consumers but similar across samples for individuals (n = 47); and (3) free choice CLT (FCLT), simulating natural tea‐making circumstances and individual brewing preferences (n = 44). CLT results are compared with outcomes from HUTs, employing Pearson correlation coefficients on CLT‐HUT scores as indicators of the ability of CLT outcomes to predict HUT outcomes. Analysis of variance and internal preference mapping methods are also applied. FCLT is found to better discriminate between samples than the other CLTs. However, only the DCLT group revealed a statistically significant (though weak in magnitude) relationship (r = 0.234) between CLT and HUT.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Central location tests (CLTs) are used extensively in sensory research because of their cost‐effectiveness and ease of implementation. However, questions remain about whether CLT responses are consistent with responses from more natural, longer term testing environments. This research studies consumer liking in CLT and compares it with choices of tea made and consumed at home in home‐use tests (HUT). It aims to address two major outcomes from three different CLT testing contexts: (1) the degree of relationship to liking scores derived from long‐term testing in HUT; and (2) ability to distinguish between samples. The testing product chosen here involves complexity in preparation and significant cultural contextual consumption. Thus, the results are expected to contribute to improving design of CLTs to predict long‐term acceptance and choices in food research.
RELIABILITY OF SENSORY ASSESSORS: ISSUES OF RETENTION AND LEARNING
Authors: BITNES JANNA , UELAND ØYDIS , MØLLER PER , MARTENS MAGNI
Published: November 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the sensory performance of assessors in a sensory panel may be retained after years of retirement from sensory work. The approach was to register previous performance in basic tastes identification tests and to compare with their present performance in the same tests, as well as in judging complex foods. The results showed that the identified performance was within the response curve of the performance over several years. However, there was no clear relationship between the performances in identification and in judging foods. The retired assessors who had been away from sensory work for several years showed lower performance than the active assessors did, but with larger variability within the group. The retired assessors performed better than the active assessors concerning the evaluation of bitter.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The results from this study provides knowledge about how time without sensory training for a panelist might challenge the expertise obtained through many years as assessor in a sensory panel. Our findings showed that the sensory panelists were reliable despite several years of retirement. However, this was dependent on individual differences, attribute, product and method in question. This will have practical application in the food industry, where sensory panels vary according to the needs and available resources of the companies. The results open for the use of sensory assessors at infrequent intervals, but at the same time, they remind us that the assessors' sensory abilities might change for each product, attribute and sensory task.
CONSUMER ATTITUDE TOWARD SHELF‐LIFE LABELING: DOES IT INFLUENCE ACCEPTANCE?
Authors: GIMÉNEZ ANA , ARES GASTÓN , GÁMBARO ADRIANA
Published: November 2008

The aims of the present work were to study consumer attitudes toward shelf‐life labeling and to evaluate if shelf‐life information affects consumer acceptability, rejection to consume and rejection to repeat purchase. Six samples of dulce de leche with different plastic flavor intensities were presented to a panel of 50 consumers, who scored their overall acceptability and indicated their intention to consume and to repeat purchase of the samples. They also answered a multiple‐choice questionnaire regarding their attitude toward shelf‐life labeling.

Knowing that the samples were near the end of their shelf life did not affect acceptability scores or consumer rejection to consume. Thus, consumer perception of the product was not affected by knowing that it was close to expiration. This is in agreement with the fact that most consumers (75%) first try an expired product before deciding what to do.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Ninety‐five and seventy‐nine percent of the consumers stated that they read shelf‐life information at purchase and consumption stage, respectively, which suggests the importance of proper shelf‐life labeling.

Consumer rejection to repeat purchase was higher than rejection to consume. Thus, consumers seemed to consume a product although they might not actually like it or buy it again. Thus rejection to purchase or repeat purchase could be a more conservative criterion than rejection to consume in order to estimate sensory shelf lives or acceptance limits for sensory defects.
INVESTIGATION OF UNIAXIAL STRESS RELAXATION PARAMETERS TO CHARACTERIZE THE TEXTURE OF YELLOW ALKALINE NOODLES MADE FROM DURUM AND COMMON WHEATS
Authors: HATCHER D.W. , BELLIDO G.G. , DEXTER J.E. , ANDERSON M.J. , FU B.X.
Published: November 2008

Durum wheat samples (three varieties), milled to yield straight‐grade and patent flours, were processed into YANs. CWHWS and CWRS flours, customarily employed to make noodles, were included for comparative purposes. Uniaxial stress relaxation parameters, %SR, K1 and K2, derived from Peleg's model, were determined for all cooked noodles. Analysis of variance indicated a significant durum sample effect (P < 0.0001) on all three parameters. Significant differences (P = 0.05) were observed among all three CWHWS parameters and the durum flour samples, but not for CWRS. Significant correlations were detected among the three stress relaxation parameters and empirical texture measurements: RTC, REC and MCS. Flour yield exhibited a significant effect (P = 0.05) on %SR, K1 and K2, which was not detected using the empirical texture measurements. The uniaxial stress relaxation test provides a complementary, discriminating method for YAN texture measurement.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This describes the use of uniaxial compression to characterize and discriminate Asian noodle quality texture parameters on the basis of rheological principles. It demonstrates the discriminatory power of three parameters to discern similar noodle flour sources. The technique and parameters are simple to calculate and are well correlated with traditional empirical texture measurements.