bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers for assessing genetic relationships and diversity in sugarcane germplasm collections
Authors: Suman Andru , Kimbeng Collins A. , Edmé Serge J. , Veremis John
Published: May 2008

Characterization of wild germplasm provides essential information on genetic diversity that breeders utilize for crop improvement. The potential of the sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) technique, which preferentially amplifies gene-rich regions, was evaluated to assess the genetic relationships among members of theSaccharumspecies. A panel of 31 SRAP primer combinations were used to score 30 genotypes ofSaccharum officinarum,Saccharum spontaneum,Saccharum robustum,Saccharum sinense,Saccharum barberiand sugarcane hybrids, withMiscanthusandErianthusincluded as outgroups. The amplifications produced 1364 DNA fragments for an average of 44 per primer combination, with 83% (1135) being polymorphic and 8.7% (119) being species specific. Based on the Dice index, all 30 genotypes were differentiated from each other with genetic similarity (GS) estimates ranging from 0.60 to 0.96 (mean = 0.79). Both the dendrogram [obtained by the unweighted pairgroup method with arithmetic mean or (UPGMA)] and the non-metric multidimensional scaling method grouped the genotypes according to their phylogenetic relationships.ErianthusandMiscanthuswere separated as two outgroups (at GS levels of 0.56 and 0.72, respectively) into two major clusters: cluster I separated theS. robustum,S. sinense,S. barberiand hybrids as different subgroups with each one including someS. officinarumclones, while cluster II included theS. spontaneumclones, exclusively. AS. officinarum–S. spontaneumsequence comparison of some of the monomorphic and polymorphic bands revealed 65–90% homology with rice, corn or sugarcane sequences deposited in databases. The high discriminatory power coupled with the possibility that most of the amplicons may be amplifying gene-rich regions of the genome makes SRAP a potentially robust tool for genetic mapping aimed at marker-assisted introgression in sugarcane.
Falsch-Non-Response bei Hypertonie-Behandlung in der Hausarztpraxis
Authors: Tschudi P. , Conen D. , Baumann J. , Martina B.
Published: May 2008

Arterielle Hypertonie ist sehr häufig in der Hausarztpraxis. Viele Patienten weisen unter Behandlung noch erhöhte Praxis-Blutdruckwerte auf.Aber welche Patienten sind wirklich nicht erfolgreich behandelt? Wir haben 41 Hausarzt-Patienten mit behandelter essentieller arterieller Hypertonie und mit einem Praxis- Blutdruck ≥ 140 mmHg systolisch oder ≥ 90 mmHg diastolisch untersucht. Alle Patienten erhielten eine 24-Stunden-Blutdruckmessung. Um Prädiktoren von Falsch-Non-Response (erhöhter Praxis-Blutdruck, aber normaler Langzeit-Tages-Blutdruckmittelwert < 135/85 mmHg) zu finden, wurden hausärztliche Befunde aus Anamnese, Labor, EKG und echokardiographische Befunde erfasst und untersucht. In der Gruppe mit Falsch- Non-Response (n = 15, 37%) fanden sich signifikant mehr Frauen (67% vs. 23%, p = 0.009), und signifikant weniger Diabetiker (7% vs. 39%, p = 0.033) als in der Gruppe mit nicht erfolgreich eingestelltem Blutdruck (Praxis-Blutdruck und Langzeit- Tages-Blutdruck-Mittelwert >135/85 mmHg; n = 26, 63%). Zusammenfassend weist etwa jeder Dritte behandelte Hypertoniker mit erhöhten Praxis-Blutdruckwerten normale Blutdruckwerte in der Blutdruck- Langzeitmessung auf. Diese Falsch-Non-Response weisen 2 von 3 Frauen auf. Falsch-Non-Response in der hausärztlichen Hypertoniebehandlung muss und kann erkannt werden.
Rezidivierende Parotisschwellungen nach Koronarangiographie
Authors: Wilhelmi M. , Gasser S.
Published: May 2008

Wir berichten über einen 56-jährigen Patienten mit koronarer Herzkrankheit und subakutem Myokardinfarkt, der nach zweimaliger koronarangiographischer Intervention jeweils eine akute Sialadenitis entwickelte. Aus dem jeweils spontan regredienten Verlauf und dem sonographischen Befund wurde die Diagnose eines «Iod-Mumps» gestellt. Eine akute Sialadenitis («Iod-Mumps») nach Kontrastmittelgabe ist charakterisiert durch eine schnelle, schmerzlose und beidseitig auftretende Schwellung der Speicheldrüsen. Sie ist gewöhnlich spontan regredient und kann bei erneuter Kontrastmittelexposition rezidivieren.
Konstrukt- und Kriterienvalidierung des Sportbezogenen Leistungsmotivationstests SMT
Authors: Olofsson Annika , Frintrup Andreas , Schuler Heinz
Published: May 2008

Zusammenfassung. Mit dem Sportbezogenen Leistungsmotivationstest SMT ( Frintrup & Schuler, 2007 ) wurde ein sportpsychologisches Motivationsverfahren entwickelt, das sich in seinem Konstrukt auf den Leistungsmotivationsansatz von Schuler bezieht ( Schuler 1998 ; Schuler & Prochaska, 2000 ; Schuler, Thornton, Frintrup & Mueller-Hanson, 2004 ). Der SMT erwies sich in früheren Untersuchungen als messgenaues Instrument, das ein im hohen Maße zeitstabiles Konstrukt erfasst. Der Vergleich mit zwei weiteren sportbezogenen Messverfahren, der Achievement Motives Scale-Sport (AMS-Sport; Elbe, 2002 ) und des Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ; Gill & Deeter, 1988 , übersetzt von Elbe, 2004 ), zeigte die erwarteten Korrelationsmuster. Dies gilt ebenso für die breitere kontextuelle Einordnung mit Hilfe des Fünf-Faktoren-Modells der Persönlichkeit. An der überwiegenden Mehrzahl der Teilnehmer dreier unterschiedlicher Stichproben, insgesamt N = 5276 Personen, konnten zusätzlich sportbezogene Kriterien erhoben werden, die frühere Validierungsergebnisse bestätigten. Die erstmalige Untersuchung der Zusammenhänge des SMT mit Leistungsdaten in einzelnen Sportarten stützte die Erwartung, dass es sich bei diesem Verfahren um ein nützliches Instrument in der sportbezogenen Diagnostik handelt. Dies konnte durch die Betrachtung der inkrementellen Validität zu den Verfahren AMS-Sport und SOQ-d bekräftigt werden. Der SMT als neuartiges Verfahren, das die enge Interpretation der sportlichen Leistungsmotivation verlässt, erfasst zusätzlich relevante Informationen bezüglich der Leistung, des Engagements und des Erfolgs im Sportbereich.
Positionspapier
Authors: Westhoff Karl
Published: May 2008

Zusammenfassung. Der diagnostische Prozess wird als eine Abfolge von vielen zwangsläufig zu treffenden Entscheidungen unter Unsicherheit und die Entscheidungsorientierte Diagnostik (EOD) wird als eine Technologie zur Unterstützung des Diagnostikers (Decision-Aiding) vorgestellt. Für wichtige Stationen des diagnostischen Prozesses wird an Beispielen gezeigt, wie die EOD den Diagnostiker unterstützt, z. B. im Umgang mit Fragestellungen, bei der Gewinnung von zutreffenden Anforderungen, bei der Auswahl von Informationsquellen, bei der Gewinnung wichtiger Daten im Tiefen-Interview, beim Feedback an den Interviewer oder bei der Formulierung von Empfehlungen. Den Abschluss bildet eine entscheidungsorientierte Konzeption für Forschungen und Entwicklungen in der sportpsychologischen Diagnostik, Intervention und Evaluation.
Die Bedeutung von Lernkultur und Transfermotivation für betrieblichen E-Learning-Erfolg
Authors: Hochholdinger Sabine , Schaper Niclas
Published: May 2008

Zusammenfassung. Betriebliches E-Learning ist weit verbreitet, wurde bisher jedoch selten empirisch untersucht. Erste Befunde deuten auf Schwierigkeiten beim effizienten Einsatz hin. Dies wird auf hohe Anforderungen an die Lernenden zurückgeführt, deren Lern- und Transfererfolg deshalb in hohem Maße von angemessenen organisationalen Bedingungen, insbesondere der Lernkultur, abhängt. In diesem Zusammenhang wird der Transfermotivation eine vermittelnde Rolle zwischen lernrelevanten organisationalen Bedingungen sowie Lern- und Transfererfolg zugewiesen. Die vorliegende Studie überprüfte daher, ob Facetten der organisationalen Lernkultur mit dem Lern- und Transfererfolg betrieblichen E-Learnings zusammenhängen und ob Transfermotivation dabei als Mediatorvariable fungiert. Zu diesem Zweck wurden 146 Auszubildende an verschiedenen betrieblichen Ausbildungsstandorten befragt, die intensiv Angebote zur E-Learning-gestützten Kompetenzentwicklung genutzt hatten. Die Mediatoranalysen zeigten, dass Transfermotivation die gefundenen Zusammenhänge zwischen Facetten der Lernkultur sowie Lern- und Transfererfolg mediiert. Die organisationale Lernkulturskala wies darüber hinaus eigene, bedeutsame Korrelationen mit dem selbst eingeschätzten Lern- und Transfererfolg auf.
Erfolgsfaktoren des Lerntransfers unter computergestütztem Lernen
Authors: Konradt Udo , Christophersen Timo , Ellwart Thomas
Published: May 2008

Zusammenfassung. Es wurde der Einfluss individueller Lernstrategien auf den Lerntransfer an 60 Studierenden untersucht, die ein hypermediales Lernsystem zur betrieblichen Weiterbildung nutzten. Zusätzlich wurde der Einfluss der Lernmotivation (intrinsisch vs. extrinsisch) und einer zeitlich verschiedenen Lernorganisation (eine Sitzung, zwei oder vier Sitzungen) untersucht, die experimentell variiert wurden. In einer Pfadanalyse auf Basis von Partial Least Squares wurden in einem formativen Messmodellansatz Einzelstrategien spezifiziert, die zum Lerntransfer beitragen. Insgesamt erklärten die Lernmotivation und die Lernstrategien 46 % der Varianz in der abhängigen Variable Lerntransfer. Die Lernorganisation ließ keine Vorhersage des Lerntransfers zu. Die Ergebnisse werden im Zusammenhang mit der Erfolgsfaktorenforschung, dem Lernen mit neuen Medien sowie Messmodellen unter Verwendung formativer Indikatoren diskutiert.
Regional patterns and controls of ecosystem salinization with grassland afforestation along a rainfall gradient
Authors: Nosetto M. D. , Jobbágy E. G. , Tóth T. , Jackson R. B.
Published: May 2008

Vegetation change affects water fluxes and influences the direction and intensity of salt exchange between ecosystems and groundwater. In some conditions it can also lead to an intense accumulation of salts in soils and aquifers, as has been documented for the conversion of native grassland to tree plantations in the plains of Argentina, Hungary and Russia. In this paper we present a hierarchical framework to predict salt accumulation following vegetation change that is based on climatic, hydrogeological and biological factors. We evaluated this spatially explicit framework in temperate South America using a network of 32 pairs of adjacent plantation and grassland stands studied with detailed field measurements and remotely sensed imagery from MODIS. Our sites cover a broad precipitation gradient (770 to 1500 mm a−1) and are underlain by shallow water tables (<2.5 m of depth). At the regional scale, geoelectric surveying revealed that the salinization of plantation soils depended strongly on climate, occurring only where the annual water balance (mean precipitation‐Penman‐Monteith potential evapotranspiration) was <100 mm a−1(p < 0.0001, n = 24). At the local scale, we observed that groundwater salinities observed under ∼50‐year old plantations of different species were associated with their tolerance to salinity (p < 0.001, n = 10). Salinization occurred rapidly where rainfall was insufficient to meet the water requirements of tree plantations and where groundwater use compensated for this deficit, driving salt accumulating in the ecosystem. A general understanding of the vegetation‐groundwater relationship will help predict and manage the negative and positive consequences of groundwater use from stand to regional levels of analysis.
Parameterization of continental boundary layer clouds
Authors: Zhu Ping , Zhao Wei
Published: May 2008

Large eddy simulations (LESs) of continental boundary layer clouds (BLCs) observed at the southern Great Plains (SGP) are used to study issues associated with the parameterization of sub‐grid BLCs in large scale models. It is found that liquid water potential temperature θl and total specific humidity qt, which are often used as parameterization predictors in statistical cloud schemes, do not share the same probability distribution in the cloud layer with θl skewed to the left (negatively skewed) and qt skewed to the right (positively skewed). The skewness and kurtosis change substantially in time and space when the development of continental BLCs undergoes a distinct diurnal variation. The wide range of skewness and kurtosis of θl and qt can hardly be described by a single probability distribution function. To extend the application of the statistical cloud parameterization approach, this paper proposes an innovative cloud parameterization scheme that uses the boundary layer height and the lifting condensation level as the primary parameterization predictors. The LES results indicate that the probability distribution of these two quantities is relatively stable compared with that of θl and qt during the diurnal variation and nearly follows a Gaussian function. Verifications using LES output and the observations collected at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility (ARCF) SGP site indicate that the proposed scheme works well to represent continental BLCs.
Structure of the subsolar magnetopause regions during northward IMF: First results from THEMIS
Authors: McFadden J. P. , Phan T. D. , Carlson C. W. , Angelopoulos V. , Glassmeier K.‐H. , Auster U.
Published: May 2008

THEMIS observations at the sub‐solar magnetopause reveal the structure of the low latitude boundary layer (LLBL) and magnetosheath boundary layer (MSBL) during northward IMF. Unlike previous single spacecraft observations of this region, four of the five THEMIS spacecraft were able to capture the transition of magnetosheath plasma with no electron heating to uni‐directional heated electrons followed by bi‐directional heated electrons, demonstrating that this electron structure is spatial. Furthermore, the sequence of these transitions shows that the bi‐directional heated electrons appear at the outer edge of the weak magnetopause current sheet. Since heated magnetosheath electrons outside the magnetopause current layer are used as an indicator of lobe reconnection in the hemisphere radiating these electrons, reconnection in both lobes is observed before the flux tubes cross the magnetopause. In essence, these observations provide convincing evidence that the LLBL was formed by dual‐lobe reconnection.
Abnormal Immune Responses in fa/fa Zucker Rats and Effects of Feeding Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Authors: Ruth Megan R. , Taylor Carla G. , Zahradka Peter , Field Catherine J.
Published: May 2008

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize immune function in the fa/fa Zucker rat, and to determine the effects of feeding conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers on immune function.

Methods and Procedures: Lean and fa/fa Zucker rats were fed for 8 weeks nutritionally complete diets with different CLA isomers (%wt/wt): control (0%), c9t11 (0.4%), t10c12 (0.4%), or MIX (0.4% c9t11 + 0.4% t10c12). Isolated splenocytes were used to determine phospholipid (PL) fatty acid composition and cell phenotypes, or stimulated with mitogen to determine their ability to produce cytokines, immunoglobulins (Ig), and nitric oxide (NO).

Results: Splenocyte PL of fa/fa rats had a higher proportion of total monounsaturated fatty acids and n −3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and lower n −6 PUFA and n −6‐to‐n −3 PUFA ratio (P < 0.05). Feeding CLA increased the content of CLA isomers into PL, but there were lower proportions of each CLA isomer in fa/fa rats. Splenocytes of fa/fa rats produced more amounts of IgA, IgG, and IgM, NO, and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) (P < 0.05). Obese rats fed the t10c12 diet produced less TNF‐α and IL‐1β (lippopolysaccharide (LPS), P < 0.05). Splenocytes of fa/fa rats produced less concanavalin A (ConA)‐stimulated IL‐2 (P < 0.0001) than lean rats, except fa/fa rats fed the c9t11 diet (P < 0.05).

Discussion: The c9t11 and t10c12 CLA isomers were incorporated into the membrane PL of the fa/fa Zucker rat, but to a lesser extent than lean rats. Splenocytes of obese rats responded in a proinflammatory manner and had reduced T‐cell function and feeding the t10c12 and c9t11 CLA isomers may improve some of these abnormalities by distinct methods.
A dileucine signal situated in the C-terminal tail of the lysosomal membrane protein p40 is responsible for its targeting to lysosomes
Authors: Boonen Marielle , Rezende de Castro Roberta , Cuvelier Gaëlle , Hamer Isabelle , Jadot Michel
Published: May 2008

Transport of newly synthesized lysosomal membrane proteins from the TGN (trans-Golgi network) to the lysosomes is due to the presence of specific signals in their cytoplasmic domains that are recognized by cytosolic adaptors. p40, a hypothetical transporter of 372 amino acids localized in the lysosomal membrane, contains four putative lysosomal sorting motifs in its sequence: three of the YXXϕ-type (Y6QLF, Y106VAL, Y333NGL) and one of the [D/E]XXXL[L/I]-type (EQERL360L361). To test the role of these motifs in the biosynthetic transport of p40, we replaced the most critical residues of these consensus sequences, the tyrosine residue or the leucine–leucine pair, by alanine or alanine–valine respectively. We analysed the subcellular localization of the mutated p40 proteins in transfected HeLa cells by confocal microscopy and by biochemical approaches (subcellular fractionation on self-forming Percoll density gradients and cell surface biotinylation). The results of the present study show that p40 is mistargeted to the plasma membrane when its dileucine motif is disrupted. No role of the tyrosine motifs could be put forward. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the sorting of p40 from the TGN to the lysosomes is directed by the dileucine EQERL360L361 motif situated in its C-terminal tail.
Four-dimensional analysis of vascularization during primary development of an organ, the gonad
Authors: Coveney Douglas , Cool Jonah , Oliver Tim , Capel Blanche
Published: May 2008

Time-lapse microscopy has advanced our understanding of yolk sac and early embryonic vascularization. However, it has been difficult to assess endothelial interactions during epithelial morphogenesis of internal organs. To address this issue we have developed the first time-lapse system to study vascularization of a mammalian organ in four dimensions. We show that vascularization of XX and XY gonads is a highly dynamic, sexually dimorphic process. The XX gonad recruits vasculature by a typical angiogenic process. In contrast, the XY gonad recruits and patterns vasculature by a novel remodeling mechanism beginning with breakdown of an existing mesonephric vessel. Subsequently, in XY organs individual endothelial cells migrate and reaggregate in the coelomic domain to form the major testicular artery. Migrating endothelial cells respect domain boundaries well before they are morphologically evident, subdividing the gonad into 10 avascular regions where testis cords form. This model of vascular development in an internal organ has a direct impact on the current dogma of vascular integration during organ development and presents important parallels with mechanisms of tumor vascularization.
Specific inhibitors of the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 identified by high-throughput docking
Authors: Hellmuth Klaus , Grosskopf Stefanie , Lum Ching Tung , Würtele Martin , Röder Nadine , von Kries Jens Peter , Rosario Marta , Rademann Jörg , Birchmeier Walter
Published: May 2008

The protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 is a positive regulator of growth factor signaling. Gain-of-function mutations in several types of leukemia define Shp2 as a bona fide oncogene. We performed a high-throughput
in silico
screen for small-molecular-weight compounds that bind the catalytic site of Shp2. We have identified the phenylhydrazonopyrazolone sulfonate PHPS1 as a potent and cell-permeable inhibitor, which is specific for Shp2 over the closely related tyrosine phosphatases Shp1 and PTP1B. PHPS1 inhibits Shp2-dependent cellular events such as hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF)-induced epithelial cell scattering and branching morphogenesis. PHPS1 also blocks Shp2-dependent downstream signaling, namely HGF/SF-induced sustained phosphorylation of the Erk1/2 MAP kinases and dephosphorylation of paxillin. Furthermore, PHPS1 efficiently inhibits activation of Erk1/2 by the leukemia-associated Shp2 mutant, Shp2-E76K, and blocks the anchorage-independent growth of a variety of human tumor cell lines. The PHPS compound class is therefore suitable for further development of therapeutics for the treatment of Shp2-dependent diseases.
Direct and selective elimination of specific prions and amyloids by 4,5-dianilinophthalimide and analogs
Authors: Wang Huan , Duennwald Martin L. , Roberts Blake E. , Rozeboom Leslie M. , Zhang Yingxin L. , Steele Andrew D. , Krishnan Rajaraman , Su Linhui Julie , Griffin Drees , Mukhopadhyay Samrat , Hennessy Edward J. , Weigele Peter , Blanchard Barbara J. , King Jonathan , Deniz Ashok A. , Buchwald Stephen L. , Ingram Vernon M. , Lindquist Susan , Shorter James
Published: May 2008

Mechanisms to safely eliminate amyloids and preamyloid oligomers associated with many devastating diseases are urgently needed. Biophysical principles dictate that small molecules are unlikely to perturb large intermolecular protein–protein interfaces, let alone extraordinarily stable amyloid interfaces. Yet 4,5-dianilinophthalimide (DAPH-1) reverses Aβ42 amyloidogenesis and neurotoxicity, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Here, we show that DAPH-1 and select derivatives are ineffective against several amyloidogenic proteins, including tau, α-synuclein, Ure2, and PrP, but antagonize the yeast prion protein, Sup35,
in vitro
and
in vivo
. This allowed us to exploit several powerful new tools created for studying the conformational transitions of Sup35 and decipher the mechanisms by which DAPH-1 and related compounds antagonize the prion state. During fibrillization, inhibitory DAPHs alter the folding of Sup35's amyloidogenic core, preventing amyloidogenic oligomerization and specific recognition events that nucleate prion assembly. Select DAPHs also are capable of attacking preformed amyloids. They remodel Sup35 prion-specific intermolecular interfaces to create morphologically altered aggregates with diminished infectivity and self-templating activity. Our studies provide mechanistic insights and reinvigorate hopes for small-molecule therapies that specifically disrupt intermolecular amyloid contacts.
Distinct roles for IL-13 and IL-4 via IL-13 receptor α1 and the type II IL-4 receptor in asthma pathogenesis
Authors: Munitz A. , Brandt E. B. , Mingler M. , Finkelman F. D. , Rothenberg M. E.
Published: May 2008

IL-13 and IL-4 are central T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in the immune system and potent activators of inflammatory responses and fibrosis during Th2 inflammation. Recent studies usingIl13ra1−/−mice have demonstrated a critical role for IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) α1 in allergen-induced airway responses. However, these observations require further attention especially because IL-4 can induce similar lung pathology to IL-13, independent of IL-13, and is still present in the allergic lung. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-13Rα1 regulates IL-4-induced responses in the lung. To dissect the role of IL-13Rα1 and the type I and II IL-4Rs in experimental asthma, we examined lung pathology induced by allergen, IL-4, and IL-13 challenge inIl13ra1−/−mice. We report that IL-13Rα1 is essential for baseline IgE production, but Th2 and IgE responses to T cell-dependent antigens are IL-13Rα1-independent. Furthermore, we demonstrate that increased airway resistance, mucus, TGF-β, and eotaxin(s) production, but not cellular infiltration, are critically dependent on IL-13Rα1. Surprisingly, our results identify a CCR3- and IL-13Rα1-independent pathway for lung eosinophilia. Global expression profiling of lungs from mice stimulated with allergen or IL-4 demonstrated that marker genes of alternatively activated macrophages are differentially regulated by the type I and type II IL-4R. Taken together, our data provide a comprehensive mechanistic analysis of the critical role by which IL-13Rα1 mediates allergic lung pathology and highlight unforeseen roles for the type II IL-4R.
Longitudinal vitamin and homocysteine levels in normal pregnancy
Authors: Cikot Rolf J. L. M. , Steegers-Theunissen Régine P. M. , Thomas Chris M. G. , de Boo Theo M. , Merkus Hans M. W. M. , Steegers Eric A. P.
Published: May 2008

Evidence of the impact of maternal nutritional status on pregnancy outcome is increasing. However, reference values for vitamin and homocysteine concentrations in maternal blood during normal pregnancy are scarce, and are lacking for the preconceptional period and early pregnancy. Thus, in a longitudinal study we evaluated vitamin and homocysteine concentrations in 102 nulliparous women with an uneventful singleton pregnancy and normal outcome not using supplements. The physiological changes in vitamin and homocysteine concentrations in blood were determined from the preconceptional period throughout pregnancy until 6 weeks post-partum. The vitamins evaluated comprised retinol, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, folate in serum and erythrocytes, vitamin B12and α-tocopherol. The plasma homocysteine concentration was also measured, considering the essential roles of folate, vitamin B6and vitamin B12in homocysteine metabolism. The concentrations of retinol, thiamin, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate serum folate and vitamin B12decreased during pregnancy. In contrast, the concentrations of riboflavin, α-tocopherol, and folate in erythrocytes increased or showed only minor changes. Homocysteine concentrations also remained approximately constant during pregnancy. These observations emphasize the importance of preconceptional and post-partum concentrations of vitamins in the evaluation of pregnancy-induced changes. These data have provided valuable reference values for vitamins and homocysteine before, during and after pregnancy in order to contribute to better diagnosis of maternal deficiencies and to study further the relationship between maternal vitamin status and adverse course and outcome of pregnancy.
Validation of the doubly-labelled water technique in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)
Authors: Speakman J. R. , Perez-Camargo G. , McCappin T. , Frankel T. , Thomson P. , Legrand-Defretin V.
Published: May 2008

We validated doubly-labelled water (DLW) by comparison to indirect calorimetry and food intake–mass balance in eight Labrador dogs (24–32 kg) over 4 d. We used several alternative equations for calculating CO2production, based on the single- and two-pool models and used two alternative methods for evaluating the elimination constants: two-sample and multiple-sampling. In all cases the DLW technique overestimated the direct estimate of CO2production. The greatest overestimates occurred with the single-pool model. Using two samples, rather than multiple samples, to derive the elimination constants produced slightly more discrepant results. Discrepancies greatly exceeded the measured analytical precision of the DLW estimates. The higher values with DLW probably occurred because the dogs were extremely active during the 1 h in each 24 spent outside the chamber. Estimates of CO2production from food intake–mass balance, which include this activity, produced a much closer comparison to DLW (lowest mean discrepancy 0·3 % using the observed group mean dilution space ratio and an assumption that the mass changes reflected changes in hydration for all except one animal). We recommend an equilibration time of 6 h and use of the two-pool model based on the observed population dilution space for future studies of energy demands in dogs of this body mass.
Selenium absorption and retention from a selenite- or selenate-fortified milk-based formula in men measured by a stable-isotope technique
Authors: Dael Peter Van , Davidsson Lena , Muñoz-Box Rafael , Fay Laurent B. , Barclay Denis
Published: May 2008

The present study was designed to determine the apparent absorption and retention of the inorganic Se compounds SeO32-and SeO42-, which are commonly used for Se fortification of clinical nutrition products and infant formulas. Ten healthy men were fed a milk-based formula labelled with 40 μg Se as74SeO32-or76SeO42-on two consecutive days using a randomised crossover design. Se stable-isotope analysis of 9 d complete collections of urine and faeces was used to calculate apparent Se absorption and retention. Se retention from74SeO32-(41·0 (SD 8·4) %) AND FROM76SEO42-(46·0 (sd 7·9) %) was not significantly different (P>0·05). However, Se absorption was significantly higher from SeO42-than from SeO32-(91·3 (sd 1·4) % v. 50·2 (sd 7·8) %, P<0·05). Urinary excretion of the administered dose was 9·2 (sd 1·8) % for74SeO32-and 45y3 (sd 8·2) % for76SeO42-(P<0·05). Urinary Se excretion kinetics differed significantly for the two Se compounds; 90 % of the total urinary Se was excreted after 121 h for74SeO32-and after 40 h for76SeO42-(P<0·05). These results suggest that although Se absorption and urinary excretion differ for SeO32-and SeO42-, both Se compounds are equally well retained when administered at a relatively low dose (40 μg Se). The nutritional impact of Se fortification of foods would thus be expected to be similar when SeO42-or SeO32-are used.
Serum concentrations of carotenoids and vitamins A, E, and C in control subjects from five European countries
Authors: Olmedilla Begoña , Granado Fernando , Southon Susan , Wright Anthony J. A. , Blanco Inmaculada , Gil-Martinez Enrique , Berg Henk van den , Corridan Bernice , Roussel Anne-Marie , Chopra Mridula , Thurnham David I.
Published: May 2008

High intakes of fruits and vegetables, or high circulating levels of their biomarkers (carotenoids, vitamins C and E), have been associated with a relatively low incidence of cardiovascular disease, cataract and cancer. Exposure to a high fruit and vegetable diet increases antioxidant concentrations in blood and body tissues, and potentially protects against oxidative damage to cells and tissues. This paper describes blood concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid and retinol in well-defined groups of healthy, non-smokers, aged 25–45 years, 175 men and 174 women from five European countries (France, UK (Northern Ireland), Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands and Spain). Analysis was centralised and performed within 18 months. Within-gender, vitamin C showed no significant differences between centres. Females in France, Republic of Ireland and Spain had significantly higher plasma vitamin C concentrations than their male counterparts. Serum retinol and α-tocopherol levels were similar between centres, but γ-tocopherol showed a great variability being the lowest in Spain and France, and the highest in The Netherlands. The provitamin A: non-provitamin A carotenoid ratio was similar among countries, whereas the xanthophylls (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin) to carotenes (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene) ratio was double in southern (Spain) compared to the northern areas (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland). Serum concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin were highest in France and Spain; β-cryptoxanthin was highest in Spain and The Netherlands;trans-lycopene tended to be highest in Irish males and lowest in Spanish males; α-carotene and β-carotene were higher in the French volunteers. Due to the study design, the concentrations of carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E represent physiological ranges achievable by dietary means and may be considered as ‘reference values’ in serum of healthy, non-smoking middle-aged subjects from five European countries. The results suggest that lutein (and zeaxanthin), β-cryptoxanthin, total xanthophylls and γ-tocopherol (and α- : γ-tocopherol) may be important markers related to the healthy or protective effects of the Mediterranean-like diet.
A perspective on food energy standards for nutrition labelling
Authors: Livesey Geoffrey
Published: May 2008

Food energy values used for nutrition labelling and other purposes are traditionally based on the metabolisable energy (ME) standard, which has recent support from Warwick & Baines (2000). By reference to current practices and published data, the present review critically examines the ME standard and support for it. Theoretical and experimental evidence on the validity of ME and alternatives are considered. ME and alternatives are applied to 1189 foods to assess outcomes. The potential impact of implementing a better standard in food labelling, documentation of energy requirements and food tables, and its impact on users including consumers, trade and professionals, are also examined. Since 1987 twenty-two expert reviews, reports and regulatory documents have fully or partly dropped the ME standard. The principal reason given is that ME only approximates energy supply by nutrients, particularly fermentable carbohydrates. ME has been replaced by net metabolisable energy (NME), which accounts for the efficiency of fuel utilisation in metabolism. Data collated from modern indirect calorimetry studies in human subjects show NME to be valid and applicable to each source of food energy, not just carbohydrates. NME is robust; two independent approaches give almost identical results (human calorimetry and calculation of free energy or net ATP yield) and these approaches are well supported by studies in animals. By contrast, the theoretical basis of ME is totally flawed. ME incompletely represents the energy balance equation, with substantial energy losses in a missing term. In using NME factors an account is made of frequent over-approximations by the ME system, up to 25 % of the NME for individual foods among 1189 foods in British tables, particularly low-energy-density traditional foods. A new simple general factor system is possible based on NME, yet the minimal experimental methodology is no more than that required for ME. By accounting for unavailable carbohydrate the new factor system appears as specific to foods as the USA's food-specific Atwater system, while it is more representative of energy supply from food components. The NME content of foods is readily calculable as the sum from fat (37 kJ/g), protein (13 kJ/g), available carbohydrate (16 kJ/g), fully-fermentable carbohydrate (8 kJ/g), alcohol (26 kJ/g) and other components. Obstacles to the implementation of NME appear to be subjective and minor. In conclusion, the ME standard is at best an approximate surrogate for NME, and inadequately approximates food energy values for the purpose of informing the consumer about the impact on energy balance of the energy supply for equal intake of individual foods. NME is superior to ME for nutrition labelling and other purposes.
Tolerance of low-digestible carbohydrates: a general view
Authors: Livesey Geoffrey
Published: May 2008

The tolerance of low-digestible carbohydrates (LDCs) may be measured as the potential to cause abdominal symptoms and laxation. Tolerance of any one LDC is determined by its concentration in the food product eaten, the amount of the food product eaten, the frequency of eating the food and the consumption of other foods (increasing tolerance) and water (decreasing tolerance). Added to these, individuals vary considerably in their response to low-digestible carbohydrates in the reporting of gastrointestinal symptoms. A precise maximum no-response dose is sometimes difficult to obtain because some dose–response curves are distinctly sigmoidal. Food regulators hoping to set a trigger level at which laxation may occur have been unable to take account of all these factors because the necessary information matrices are not available for any one LDC. Nevertheless analysis of the data shows consistent trends and for circumstances when food is consumed throughout the day it now seems feasible to assign specific tolerances to specific low-digestible carbohydrates, especially the polyols for which most is known. The method by which the no-effect dose or laxative threshold is expressed is critical to its application to individual foods.
Cognitive performance and its relationship with postprandial metabolic changes after ingestion of different macronutrients in the morning
Authors: Fischer Karina , Colombani Paolo C. , Langhans Wolfgang , Wenk Caspar
Published: May 2008

The effect of carbohydrate, protein and fat ingestion on simple as well as complex cognitive functions and the relationship between the respective postprandial metabolic changes and changes in cognitive performance were studied in fifteen healthy male students. Subjects were tested in three sessions, separated by 1 week, for short-term changes in blood variables, indirect calorimetry, subjective performance and different objective performance tasks using a repeated-measures counterbalanced cross-over design. Measurements were made after an overnight fast before and hourly during 3 h after test meal ingestion. Test meals consisted of either pure carbohydrates, protein or fat and were served as isoenergetic (1670 kJ) spoonable creams with similar sensory properties. Most aspects of subjective performance did not differ between test meals. For all objective tasks, however, postprandial cognitive performance was best after fat ingestion concomitant with an almost constant glucose metabolism and constant metabolic activation state measured by glucagon:insulin (G:I). In contrast, carbohydrate as well as protein ingestion resulted in lower overall cognitive performance, both together with partly marked changes (P<0.001) in glucose metabolism and metabolic activation. They also differently affected specific cognitive functions (P<0.05) in relation to their specific effect on metabolism. Carbohydrate ingestion resulted in relatively better short-term memory and accuracy of tasks concomitant with low metabolic activation, whereas protein ingestion resulted in better attention and efficiency of tasks concomitant with higher metabolic activation. Our findings support the concept that good and stable cognitive performance is related to a balanced glucose metabolism and metabolic activation state.
Electrophilic methyl groups present in the diet ameliorate pathological states induced by reductive and oxidative stress: a hypothesis
Authors: Ghyczy Miklós , Boros Mihály
Published: May 2008

Reductive stress, characterised by an increased NADH:NAD+ ratio, may be as common and as important a consequence of redox imbalance as oxidative stress. It may also be an important predisposing cause of the generation of reactive oxygen species. Considerable experimental and indirect clinical evidence suggests that protection against reductive stress depends on biomolecules with electrophilic methyl groups (EMG) such as S-adenosylmethionine, betaine, carnitine and phosphatidylcholine. Pathological processes leading to reductive stress and their relief by such protective agents is reviewed and the proposed molecular mechanism is outlined. These and other EMG-containing biomolecules are part of the daily diet and may represent an important control system for redox balance.
The validity of self-reported energy intake as determined using the doubly labelled water technique
Authors: Hill R. J. , Davies P. S. W.
Published: May 2008

In the 1980s the development of the doubly labelled water (DLW) technique made it possible to determine the validity of dietary assessment methods using external, independent markers of intake in free-living populations. Since then, the accuracy of self-reported energy intake (EI) has been questioned on a number of occasions as under-reporting has been found to be prevalent in many different populations. This paper is a review of investigations using the DLW technique in conjunction with self-reported EI measures in groups including adults, children and adolescents, obese persons, athletes, military personnel and trekking explorers. In studies where a person other than the subject is responsible for recording dietary intake, such as parents of young children, EI generally corresponds to DLW determined energy expenditure. However, in instances where the subjects themselves report their intake, EI is generally under-reported when compared with energy expenditure. It was originally believed that this phenomenon of under-reporting was linked to increased adiposity and body size, however, it is now apparent that other factors, such as dietary restraint and socio-economic status, are also involved. This paper therefore aims to present a more comprehensive picture of under-reporting by tying in the findings of many DLW studies with other studies focusing particularly on the characteristics and mechanisms for under-reporting. Awareness of these characteristics and mechanisms will enable researchers to obtain more accurate self-reports of EI using all dietary recording techniques.
Growth inhibition of human endothelial cells by the phyto-oestrogen biochanin A, a metabolite of genistein
Authors: Ying Chingwen , Hsu Jih-Tay , Shieh Show-Chi
Published: May 2008

This study examined the growth regulatory effects of a phyto-oestrogen, biochanin A, on a transformed human endothelial cell line ECV304in vitro. Biochanin A was found to inhibit cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion and this effect was influenced by the concentration of serum present in the culture medium. In the absence of serum, the calculated IC50of biochanin A was 0.18 ± 0.1 μM COMPARED TO AN IC50OF 35±5 Μm at 10 % serum. At low cell density, the growth inhibitory effects of biochanin A were more evident than at high cell density. Co-administration of a synthetic oestrogen diethylstilboestrol with biochanin A did not suppress the growth regulatory effects of biochanin A treatment. We conclude that biochanin A inhibits the cell proliferation of human endothelial cells at concentrations that are physiologically achievablein vivoand that this effect may play an important role in the cancer-preventing activity of the phyto-oestrogens.
Activation of skeletal muscle protein breakdown following consumption of soyabean protein in pigs
Authors: Löhrke B. , Saggau E. , Schadereit R. , Beyer M. , Bellmann O. , Kuhla S. , Hagemeister H.
Published: May 2008

Diets with protein of inferior quality may increase protein breakdown in skeletal muscle but the experimental results are inconsistent. To elucidate the relationship, pigs were fed isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets based on soyabean-protein isolate or casein for 15 weeks, with four to six animals per group. A higher plasma level of urea (2.5-fold the casein group value, P=0.01), higher urinary N excretion (2.1-fold the casein group value, P=0.01), a postabsorptive rise in the plasma levels of urea, 3-methylhistidine and isoleucine in soyabean protein-fed pigs suggested recruitment of circulatory amino acids by protein breakdown in peripheral tissues. Significant differences between dietary groups were detected in lysosomal and ATP-dependent proteolytic activities in thesemimembranosusmuscle of food-deprived pigs. A higher concentration of cathepsin B protein was found, corresponding to a rise in the cathepsin B activity, in response to dietary soyabean protein. Muscle ATP-stimulated proteolytical activity was 1.6-fold the casein group value (P=0.03). A transient rise in the level of cortisol (2.9-times the casein group value, P=0.02) occurred in the postprandial phase only in the soyabean group. These data suggest that the inferior quality of dietary soyabean protein induces hormonally-mediated upregulation of muscle protein breakdown for recruitment of circulatory amino acids in a postabsorptive state.
The cholesterolaemic effects of dietary fats in cholesteryl ester transfer protein transgenic mice
Authors: Chang Chen-Kang , Snook Jean T.
Published: May 2008

In order to investigate the role of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in the cholesterolaemic response to dietary fats, we analysed plasma lipid profiles of CETP-transgenic and control C57BL/6 mice fed standard chow (AIN-93G; AIN), a low-fat diet, and diets high in butter (saturated fatty acids; SFA), high-oleic acid safflower oil (monounsaturated fatty acids; MUFA), and safflower oil (polyunsaturated fatty acids; PUFA) for 5 weeks. Each group contained four or five mice. There were significant diet and diet×genotype effects on plasma total cholesterol (TC;P= 0·035 andP= 0·008 respectively), liver TC (P < 0·001 andP= 0·002 respectively), and esterified cholesterol (EC;P= 0·002 andP= 0·001 respectively); diet effects on plasma triacylglycerol (P= 0·007), liver free cholesterol (P < 0·001), and body weight (P= 0·027); a genotype effect on body-weight gain (P= 0·014); and a diet×genotype effect on energy intake (P= 0·006). In transgenic mice the SFA diet caused significantly higher plasma TC than the PUFA diet (P < 0·05). In control mice MUFA and PUFA diets, but not the SFA diet, caused significantly higher plasma TC than the low-fat and AIN diets (P < 0·05). Transgenic mice fed PUFA had lower plasma TC (P= 0·040), while transgenic mice fed MUFA had lower LDL+VLDL-cholesterol (P= 0·013) than controls in the same dietary groups. Transgenic mice fed MUFA and PUFA diets also had significantly higher liver TC (P= 0·020 andP= 0·002 respectively) and EC (P= 0·040 andP= 0·036 respectively) than controls fed the same diets. In the present study we showed that: (1) CETP transgenic mice had a cholesterolaemic response to dietary fats similar to that in human subjects; (2) CETP transgenic mice fed PUFA showed significantly lower plasma TC, while those fed MUFA had lower LDL+VLDL-cholesterol than controls; (3) hepatic accumulation of cholesterol, possibly resulting from the combination of the enhanced cholesteryl ester transfer to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and increased hepatic uptake of cholesterol, may contribute to the cholesterol-lowering effect of MUFA and PUFA in CETP-transgenic mice; (4) CETP may play a role in appetite and/or energy regulation.
Re-evaluation of the metabolism of oral doses of racemic carbon-6 isomers of formyltetrahydrofolate in human subjects
Authors: Baggott Joseph E. , Tamura Tsunenobu , Baker Herman
Published: May 2008

The racemic mixture, [6RS]-5-formyltetrahydrofolate, is widely used clinically. In human subjects, orally-administered pure unnatural C-6 isomers, [6R]-5-formyltetrahydrofolate and [6S]-5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate, were recently shown to be metabolized to the natural isomer, [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate. We re-analysed the data from human studies published during the past four decades in which oral doses (≤10 mg) of racemic mixtures of these folates were used. We re-evaluated the data to determine whether these racemic mixtures are only 50 % bioactive or, as we now predict, more than 50 % bioactive. Our analyses indicate that, in human subjects, oral doses of the racemic mixture of the two formyltetrahydrofolates are 20–84 % more bioactive than would be predicted. These data are consistent with the following pathway: chemical conversion of these folates to 10-formyltetrahydrofolate; oxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to 10-formyldihydrofolate; subsequent enzymic conversion of 10-formyldihydrofolate to dihydrofolate by 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribotide transformylase; and finally the well-established metabolism of dihydrofolate to [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate. An additional review of the literature supports thein vivooxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate occurring to a certain extent, as 10-formyl-folic acid is rapidly formed after the administration of folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) or 5-formyltetrahydrofolate in human subjects. The dogma that an oral dose of the unnatural C-6 isomer of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate is not bioactive in human subjects does not withstand scrutiny, most probably due to the previously unrecognizedin vivooxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate. This discovery unveils new folate metabolism in human subjects.
Ontogenesis of hexokinase I and hexokinase IV (glucokinase) gene expressions in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) related to diet
Authors: Panserat S. , Fontagné S. , Bergot P. , Kaushik S.
Published: May 2008

The expressions of hexokinase IV (glucokinase, GK) and hexokinase (HK)-I genes were analysed during early ontogenesis of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Unlike HK-I gene, which was expressed during all the stages of the development, GK was only induced by the first feeding with high levels of dextrin as a source of carbohydrate. This study confirms the high capacity of common carp to use glucose even at the very early stages of development.