bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internationalising university schools of nursing in South Africa through a Community of Practice
Authors: Uys L.R. , Middleton L.
Published: January 2011

UYS L. R. & MIDDLETON L. (2011) Internationalising university schools of nursing in South Africa through a Community of Practice. International Nursing Review58, 115–122

Introduction:  International nursing experiences in higher education have traditionally enabled and continue to enable nurses to appreciate ‘. . . the richness of the nursing mosaic . . . and the realities of nursing in many different cultural contexts’. This article describes a case study of the Collaboration for Higher Education of Nurses and Midwives in Africa in terms of its success in internationalising the nursing schools involved.

Background:  Different types of international contact have led to a limited pattern of internationalization in the universities of Southern Africa, which often places African academics in a secondary or dependant position. Opportunities for truly equal international partnerships have been limited.

Methods:  A qualitative analysis of the views of participants from the consortium of universities was carried out based on the conceptual framework of communities of practice.

Findings:  An effective community of practice had been established, focused on the major knowledge domain of nursing and midwifery in Africa, and sharing the perception that their work was empowering and collaborative. The community had established its own ways of working, and articulated major institutional and individual benefits.
What is Driving the Manufacturing FDI Wave in Asia?
Authors: Takechi Kazutaka
Published: January 2011

This paper analyzes the dynamic pattern of Japanese manufacturing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asia. Japanese electronics firms shifted manufacturing operations abroad in the 1990s. We focus on the timing of the surge in FDI: why in this period did Japanese electronics firms increase manufacturing FDI in Asia? The empirical findings indicate that, in addition to productivity improvements, learning experiences from FDI were the primary determinants of the FDI wave. Firms' own past FDI experiences, the experiences of other firms (spillovers), and the presence of own distribution services encourage manufacturing FDI.
Trade and Inequality with Limited Labor Mobility: Theory and Evidence from China
Authors: Li Muqun , Coxhead Ian
Published: January 2011

Does globalization increase inequality in developing countries, and if so, how? In a theoretical model of a regionally heterogeneous economy, we show how different regional rates of technical progress due to trade and FDI interact with constraints to unskilled labor mobility. As favored regions benefit more from trade, their growing demand for skills drains skilled workers from disadvantaged areas, and average incomes in the former grow faster than in the latter. Moreover, this unbalanced regional growth may also raise inequality within each region. It could even reduce absolute income per capita in the less favored region. We test these predictions with Chinese data from the Open Door era. Results confirm that different regional growth rates have increased both interregional and intraregional inequality. Moreover, growth of skills‐based export industries in coastal regions is associated, other things equal, with lower incomes for the poor in inland provinces.
Dynamic Pricing in Declining Demand: The Case of Duopoly
Authors: Ota Rui
Published: January 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate what theory predicts about price dynamics when firms face a decline in demand for their product due to an arrival of a new substitutable product. To this end, this paper constructs a dynamic duopoly model and simulates price paths. The study demonstrates that the price path is nonmonotonic and could be divided into three stages. The basic mechanism of generating the path is a tradeoff between two counteracting motives to set the price: pricing lower to delay the adoption of the new product, and pricing higher to exploit price‐insensitive consumers.
Determinants of International R&D Outsourcing: The Role of Trade
Authors: García‐Vega María , Huergo Elena
Published: January 2011

This paper investigates the determinants of international R&D outsourcing, in particular the role of trade. We sketch a monopolistic competition model with heterogeneous firms where outsourcing increases a firm's fixed transaction costs as well as its productivity. Financial constraints affect the decision to outsource R&D more to nonexporters than to exporters. In contrast, exporters are more sensitive to a lack of information because they have higher losses when there is technology leakage. We test these predictions using a panel database of Spanish companies. The results highlight the relevance of information in competitive markets, and the role of trade to induce companies to engage in other globalization strategies.
Statistical Modelling of Graphite Brick Cracking in Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors
Authors: Maul Philip R. , Robinson Peter C. , Northrop Paul J.
Published: January 2011

Graphite cores in advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors contain bricks which are subject to cracking and periodic inspections provide information on the state of a sample of the bricks. Statistical models are fitted to the historic data and used to predict the numbers of cracked bricks that are expected to be seen at reactor inspections. As more data have become available the complexity of the best performing models has increased. By repeatedly making blind predictions of core behaviour the predictive performance of the models can be quantified and they can then be used to forecast behaviour of the core over longer periods.
NATURALISM AND THE SURREPTITIOUS EMBRACE OF NECESSITY
Authors: MOSSER KURT
Published: January 2011

Abstract: In this article, two philosophical positions that structure distinct approaches in the history of metaphysics and epistemology are briefly characterized and contrasted. While one view, “naturalism,” rejects an a priori commitment to necessity, the other view, “transcendentalism,” insists on that commitment. It is shown that at the level of the fundamentals of thought, judgment, and reason, the dispute dissolves, and the naturalists' employment of “necessity for all practical purposes” is at best only nominally distinct from the transcendentalists' use of the same concept.
ART CONCEPT PLURALISM
Authors: UIDHIR CHRISTY MAG , MAGNUS P. D.
Published: January 2011

Abstract:There is a long tradition of trying to analyze art either by providing a definition (essentialism) or by tracing its contours as an indefinable, open concept (anti‐essentialism). Both art essentialists and art anti‐essentialists share an implicit assumption of art concept monism. This article argues that this assumption is a mistake. Species concept pluralism—a well‐explored position in philosophy of biology—provides a model for art concept pluralism. The article explores the conditions under which concept pluralism is appropriate, and argues that they obtain for art. Art concept pluralism allows us to recognize that different art concepts are useful for different purposes, and what has been feuding definitions can be seen as characterizations of specific art concepts.
Taking students outdoors to learn in high places
Authors: Fuller Ian C
Published: January 2011

Fieldwork is an integral component of the geography degree. It is perceived by lecturers and students alike as an enjoyable, valuable learning experience outside in the real world. But what determines the type of field experiences we offer? To what extent is the fieldwork experience informed by best practice in pedagogy, research location and field, institutional practice/constraints, leader's outdoor experience, or a combination of all these and more? This paper offers a personal reflection on physical geography fieldtrip design in New Zealand, Britain and Spain involving New Zealand and British students over a period of 14 years, spanning two contrasting university systems and two institutions. A range of learning experiences is considered: residential and day trips, Cook's Tours and detailed investigations. These cover a range of academic and altitudinal levels from first year to final year undergraduate and from sea level to mountain top. Key drivers in the design and development of these field courses are considered in order to explore the reason for taking students to a plethora of ‘high places’, defined not only in the sense of altitude, but also in the sense of perceived intrinsic geographical value. The role played by the ‘great outdoors’ in fostering development of geographical knowledge is discussed by considering the notion that taking students outside to learn in ‘high places’ will automatically be of a cognitive advantage and intrinsically foster deeper levels of learning. The outdoor environment has much to offer the development of geographical knowledge among student cohorts, but care is required to maximise its potential.
Beyond relationship reciprocity: A consideration of varied forms of children's relationships
Authors: OLSEN JAMES P. , PARRA GILBERT R. , COHEN ROBERT , SCHOFFSTALL CORRIE L. , EGLI CLAYTON JOE
Published: January 2011

The present research extends the use of a new scheme for classifying children's peer relationships that (a) jointly evaluates friendship and antipathy nominations and (b) includes nonreciprocated friend and antipathy nominations. Findings revealed that 12.1% of all classroom dyads (total dyads = 2,313) were unbalanced relationships, in which one child perceived a friendship but was disliked by the other child. Furthermore, having high frequencies of “befriending but disliked” relationships was associated with poor social competence and having high frequencies of “disliking but befriended” relationships was associated with good social competence. Results support the use of this new classification scheme by highlighting the common nature of unbalanced relationships and by establishing the association of unbalanced relationships to peer social competence outcomes.
Forecasting the specific providers that recipients will perceive as unusually supportive
Authors: VEENSTRA AMY L. , LAKEY BRIAN , COHEN JAY L. , NEELY LYNN C. , OREHEK EDWARD , BARRY ROBIN , ABEARE CHRISTOPHER A.
Published: January 2011

Perceived support primarily reflects the relationships among specific recipients and providers. These strong relational influences suggest a new approach to interventions: Match specific providers with specific recipients so that unusually supportive relationships emerge. For this approach to be successful, progress must be made on several basic research questions. For example, it must be possible to forecast the specific providers that recipients will perceive as unusually supportive (i.e., forecasting relational support). In 2 studies, support recipients had 3 or 5 conversations with the same providers and reported affect, provider supportiveness, and perceived similarity (Study 2 only) after each conversation. Relational support could be forecasted from recipients' reactions to a single, brief conversation with each provider, even after 4 months had elapsed.
Recovery of Native Plant Community Characteristics on a Chronosequence of Restored Prairies Seeded into Pastures in West‐Central Iowa
Authors: Carter Daniel L. , Blair John M.
Published: January 2011

Restored grasslands comprise an ever‐increasing proportion of grasslands in North America and elsewhere. However, floristic studies of restored grasslands indicate that our ability to restore plant communities is limited. Our goal was to assess the effectiveness of restoration seeding for recovery of key plant community components on former exotic, cool‐season pastures using a chronosequence of six restoration sites and three nearby remnant tallgrass prairie sites in West‐Central Iowa. We assessed trends in Simpson's diversity and evenness, richness and abundance of selected native and exotic plant guilds, and mean coefficient of conservatism (mean C). Simpson's diversity and evenness and perennial invasive species abundance all declined with restoration site age. As a group, restoration sites had greater richness of native C3 species with late phenology, but lower richness and abundance of species with early phenology relative to remnant sites. Total native richness, total native abundance (cover), mean C, and abundance of late phenology C3 plants were similar between restoration and remnant sites. Observed declines in diversity and evenness with restoration age reflect increases in C4 grass abundance rather than absolute decreases in the abundance of perennial C3 species. In contrast to other studies, restoration seeding appears to have led to successful establishment of tallgrass prairie species that were likely to be included in seeding mixtures. While several floristic measures indicate convergence of restoration and remnant sites, biodiversity may be further enhanced by including early phenology species in seeding mixes in proportion to their abundance on remnant prairies.
Evaluation of overnight hold of whole blood at room temperature before component processing: effect of red blood cell (RBC) additive solutions on in vitro RBC measures
Authors: van der Meer Pieter F. , Cancelas Jose A. , Cardigan Rebecca , Devine Dana V. , Gulliksson Hans , Sparrow Rosemary L. , Vassallo Ralph R. , de Wildt‐Eggen Janny , Baumann‐Baretti Bärbel , Hess John R. ,   for the BEST Collaborative
Published: January 2011

BACKGROUND: Whole blood (WB) can be held at room temperature (18‐25°C) up to 8 hours after collection; thereafter the unit must be refrigerated, rendering it unsuitable for platelet (PLT) production. Overnight hold at room temperature before processing has logistic advantages, and we evaluated this process in an international multicenter study for both buffy coat (BC)‐ and PLT‐rich plasma (PRP)‐based blood components and compared three red blood cell (RBC) additive solutions (ASs) for their ability to offset effects of overnight hold.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Nine centers participated; seven used the BC method, and two used the PRP method. Four WB units were pooled and split; 1 unit was processed less than 8 hours from collection (Group A), and the other three (Groups B, C, and D) were held at room temperature and processed after 24 to 26 hours. RBCs in Groups A and B were resuspended in saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol, Group C in phosphate‐adenine‐guanosine‐glucose‐saline‐mannitol, and Group D in ErythroSol‐4 RBCs were stored at 2 to 6°C for 49 days.

RESULTS: RBCs from overnight‐held WB had lower 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate (2,3‐DPG) and higher adenosine triphosphate (ATP). At the end of storage there were no differences between groups, apart from a slightly higher hemolysis in Group B. ErythroSol‐4 showed a slightly higher initial ATP and 2,3‐DPG content, but at the end of storage no differences were found.

CONCLUSION: Overnight hold of WB before processing has no lasting deleterious effects on in vitro quality of subsequently prepared components. The use of different RBC ASs did not appear to offer significant advantages in terms of RBC quality at the end, regardless of the processing method.
Defragmenting the Regulatory Process†
Authors: Shapiro Stuart
Published: January 2011

The regulatory process is often criticized for being cumbersome and slow, much like a computer whose hard drive is fragmented by files no longer used or useful. Like such a computer, the regulatory process contains many requirements of dubious utility. These include the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and numerous executive orders. While other parts of the regulatory process such as notice and comment and cost‐benefit analysis have received much more academic attention, these other parts of the process deserve examination as well. This article argues that such an examination will reveal that these statutes and executive orders add little of value to the regulatory process while consuming agency resources. An improved requirement for cost‐benefit analysis with distributional analysis could easily replace virtually all of these requirements and improve regulations while reducing the time needed to promulgate regulations.
Acculturation, Ethnicity, and Air Pollution Perceptions
Authors: Johnson Branden B.
Published: January 2011

A globalizing world increases immigration between nations, raising the question of how acculturation (or its lack) of immigrants and their descendants to host societies affects risk perceptions. A survey of Paterson, New Jersey, residents tested acculturation's associations with attitudes to air pollution and its management, and knowledge of and self‐reported behaviors concerning air pollution. Linguistic and temporal proxy measures for acculturation were independent variables along with ethnicity, plus controls for gender, age, education, and income in multivariate analyses. About one‐fifth of contrasts between non‐Hispanic whites, non‐Hispanic blacks, English‐interviewed Hispanics, and Spanish‐interviewed Hispanics were statistically significant (Bonferroni‐corrected) and of medium or higher affect size, with most featuring the Spanish‐interviewed Hispanics. Knowledge variables featured the most significant differences. Specifically, Spanish‐interviewed Hispanics reported less concern, familiarity with pollution, recognition of high pollution, and vigorous outdoor activity, and greater belief that government overregulates pollution than English‐interviewed Hispanics (and than the other two groups on most of these variables too). English‐interviewed Hispanics did not differ from non‐Hispanic whites, but did on several variables from non‐Hispanic blacks. Temporal proxies of acculturation among the foreign‐born were far less significant, but concern and familiarity with air pollution increased with time spent in the United States, while belief in overregulation and a positive trend in New Jersey pollution increased with time in the nation of origin. Implications of these acculturation and ethnicity findings for risk perception/communication research and practice are discussed.
Communicating Fish Consumption Advisories in California: What Works, What Doesn’t
Authors: Tan May Lynn , Ujihara Alyce , Kent Lani , Hendrickson Ilinisa
Published: January 2011

State agencies face many challenges in creating sport fish consumption advisories that can be readily understood by diverse populations. In this study, our objectives were to identify barriers to understanding consumption advisories and recommend more effective approaches for communicating advisory concepts. We conducted key informant interviews with demographically diverse consumers of sport fish from the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta watershed in California to explore how intended audiences perceive consumption advisories and identify factors that influence comprehension. Some barriers to communication included the use of portion sizes that departed from commonly consumed amounts, poorly understood terminology, misleading category headings, and ineffective visual tools. Comprehension was enhanced when advisory information did not contradict existing beliefs about fish or fish consumption, and when advisories provided information about contaminant levels in specific kinds of fish. Using certain methods, such as portion sizes that reflect commonly consumed amounts, mercury meters to convey contaminant levels, three advice categories (e.g., high, medium, low), and population definitions that identify specific age ranges, improved the clarity of advisory concepts for intended audiences.
Empirical Estimation of the Conditional Probability of Natech Events Within the United States
Authors: Santella Nicholas , Steinberg Laura J. , Aguirra Gloria Andrea
Published: January 2011

Natural disasters are the cause of a sizeable number of hazmat releases, referred to as “natechs.” An enhanced understanding of natech probability, allowing for predictions of natech occurrence, is an important step in determining how industry and government should mitigate natech risk. This study quantifies the conditional probabilities of natechs at TRI/RMP and SICS 1311 facilities given the occurrence of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods. During hurricanes, a higher probability of releases was observed due to storm surge (7.3 releases per 100 TRI/RMP facilities exposed vs. 6.2 for SIC 1311) compared to category 1–2 hurricane winds (5.6 TRI, 2.6 SIC 1311). Logistic regression confirms the statistical significance of the greater propensity for releases at RMP/TRI facilities, and during some hurricanes, when controlling for hazard zone. The probability of natechs at TRI/RMP facilities during earthquakes increased from 0.1 releases per 100 facilities at MMI V to 21.4 at MMI IX. The probability of a natech at TRI/RMP facilities within 25 miles of a tornado was small (∼0.025 per 100 facilities), reflecting the limited area directly affected by tornadoes. Areas inundated during flood events had a probability of 1.1 releases per 100 facilities but demonstrated widely varying natech occurrence during individual events, indicating that factors not quantified in this study such as flood depth and speed are important for predicting flood natechs. These results can inform natech risk analysis, aid government agencies responsible for planning response and remediation after natural disasters, and should be useful in raising awareness of natech risk within industry.
A Bayesian Evidence Synthesis for Estimating Campylobacteriosis Prevalence
Authors: Albert Isabelle , Espié Emmanuelle , de Valk Henriette , Denis Jean‐Baptiste
Published: January 2011

Stakeholders making decisions in public health and world trade need improved estimations of the burden‐of‐illness of foodborne infectious diseases. In this article, we propose a Bayesian meta‐analysis or more precisely a Bayesian evidence synthesis to assess the burden‐of‐illness of campylobacteriosis in France. Using this case study, we investigate campylobacteriosis prevalence, as well as the probabilities of different events that guide the disease pathway, by (i) employing a Bayesian approach on French and foreign human studies (from active surveillance systems, laboratory surveys, physician surveys, epidemiological surveys, and so on) through the chain of events that occur during an episode of illness and (ii) including expert knowledge about this chain of events. We split the target population using an exhaustive and exclusive partition based on health status and the level of disease investigation. We assume an approximate multinomial model over this population partition. Thereby, each observed data set related to the partition brings information on the parameters of the multinomial model, improving burden‐of‐illness parameter estimates that can be deduced from the parameters of the basic multinomial model. This multinomial model serves as a core model to perform a Bayesian evidence synthesis. Expert knowledge is introduced by way of pseudo‐data. The result is a global estimation of the burden‐of‐illness parameters with their accompanying uncertainty.
Enterprise Risk Management Through Strategic Allocation of Capital
Authors: Ai Jing , Brockett Patrick L. , Cooper William W. , Golden Linda L.
Published: January 2011

Abstract

This article presents a conceptual framework for operationalizing strategic enterprise risk management (ERM) in a general firm. We employ a risk‐constrained optimization approach to study the capital allocation decisions under ERM. Given the decision maker's risk appetite, the problem of holistically managing enterprise‐wide hazard, financial, operational, and real project risks is treated by maximizing the expected total return on capital, while trading off risks simultaneously in Value‐at‐Risk type of constraints. This approach explicitly quantifies the concepts of risk appetite and risk prioritization in light of the firm's default and financial distress avoidance reflected in its target credit rating. Our framework also allows the firm to consider a multiperiod planning horizon so that changing business environments can be accounted for. We illustrate the implementation of the framework through a numerical example. As an initial conceptual advancement, our formulation is capable of facilitating more general ERM modeling within a consistent strategic framework, where idiosyncratic variations of firms and different modeling assumptions can be accommodated. Managerial implications are also discussed.
Molecular changes during skin aging and wound healing after fractional ablative photothermolysis
Authors: Helbig Doris , Paasch Uwe
Published: January 2011

Photo‐damaged skin is characterized by major alterations of the extracellular matrix and collagen network, leading to clinically obvious signs of skin aging. UV radiation increases the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1, which initiates the cleavage of fibrillar collagen types I and III. The developing collagen fragments are further degraded by MMPs 2 and 9. Various ablative, non‐ablative, thermal and non‐thermal rejuvenation modalities have been tested for their capacity to reverse epidermal and dermal signs of photo‐ and chronological‐aging. Light and laser therapies are among the most effective treatment options for skin rejuvenation. Conventional laser therapy treats entire surface areas by selective photothermolysis or ablation. Recently, intervention with a fractional ablative laser leads to fast wound healing, and hence, a substantial amount of the target skin area is left untreated. It is not known if the efficacy of a particular ablative skin rejuvenation treatment depends on the extent of microwounding and/or the amount of heat produced. The underlying molecular changes are not fully understood but have been postulated to be induced by time‐dependent changes in heat shock proteins, transforming growth factor β, MMPs, hyaluronic acid synthethases, hyaluronidases and HA, among others.
Engineering toxins for 21st century therapies
Authors: Chaddock John A. , Acharya K. Ravi
Published: January 2011

‘Engineering Toxins for 21st Century Therapies’ (9–10 September 2010) was part of the Royal Society International Seminar series held at the Kavli International Centre, UK. Participants were assembled from a range of disciplines (academic, industry, regulatory, public health) to discuss the future potential of toxin‐based therapies. The meeting explored how the current structural and mechanistic knowledge of toxins could be used to engineer future toxin‐based therapies. To date, significant progress has been made in the design of novel recombinant biologics based on domains of natural toxins, engineered to exhibit advantageous properties. The meeting concluded, firstly that future product development vitally required the appropriate combination of creativity and innovation that can come from the academic, biotechnology and pharma sectors. Second, that continued investigation into understanding the basic science of the toxins and their targets was essential in order to develop new opportunities for the existing products and to create new products with enhanced properties. Finally, it was concluded that the clinical potential for development of novel biologics based on toxin domains was evident.
RIP1 comes back to life as a cell death regulator in TNFR1 signaling
Authors: O’Donnell Marie Anne , Ting Adrian T.
Published: January 2011

Cell death induction by tumor necrosis factor has been an intensively studied area for the last two decades. Although it may appear that the skeleton should have been picked clean by now, new secrets about tumor necrosis factor death signaling are still being uncovered. In particular, the recent evidence that ubiquitination of the death kinase receptor‐interacting protein 1 regulates its participation in apoptotic and necrotic cell death is opening up unexplored avenues in the catacombs of tumor necrosis factor death signaling. In this minireview, we focus on two major cell‐death checkpoints that determine whether receptor‐interacting protein 1 functions as a pro‐survival or pro‐death molecule.
Identifying Priority Areas for Wetlands Restoration along the Louisiana Coast under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act of 1990
Authors: Kim Seung Gyu , Cho Seong‐Hoon , Roberts Roland K.
Published: January 2011

This research uses a sequence of hedonic spatial regressions across successively larger ranges of contiguous census‐block groups (CBGs) to identify priority areas for wetlands restoration along the Louisiana coast under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA). Marginal implicit prices of wetlands and open water from the regressions were translated into amenity values received by single‐family house owners within five Queen orders of CBGs. Differences between amenity values of wetlands and open water were used to proxy the amenity values of four potential restoration sites. These differences were summed over housing locations within each order of contiguous GBG neighbors and across the orders for each site. Based on the aggregate amenity value per acre from wetlands restoration and under the assumption that most restoration projects are designed to benefit as wide an area as possible, the priority ranking for restoration becomes: (1) Fresh Bayou, (2) Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, (3) Bayou LaBranchee, and (4) Barataria Bay Waterway.

Dans le présent article nous avons utilisé une séquence de régressions spatiales hédoniques dans de larges groupes d'îlots de recensement contigus pour déterminer les secteurs prioritaires pour la restauration des milieux humides le long de la côte de la Louisiane en vertu de la Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA). Les prix marginaux implicites des milieux humides et des zones d'eau libre obtenus à partir des régressions ont été traduits en valeurs d'agrément formulées par les propriétaires de maisons unifamiliales dans cinq regroupements d'îlots de recensement contigus. Les différences entre les valeurs d'agrément des milieux humides et des zones d'eau libre ont été utilisées pour donner une approximation des valeurs d'agrément de quatre sites de restauration potentiels. Ces différences ont été totalisées pour chaque résidence dans chacun des regroupements et entre les regroupements pour chaque site. D'après la valeur d'agrément agrégée par acre de restauration des milieux humides et l'hypothèse voulant que la plupart des projets de restauration soient conçus pour profiter à la plus grande zone possible, l'ordre de priorité pour la restauration est la suivante: 1. Fresh Bayou; 2. Sabine National Wildlife Refuge; 3. Bayou LaBranchee; 4. Barataria Bay Waterway.
Allocating Land for an Ecosystem Service: A Simple Model of Nutrient Retention with an Application to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Authors: Simpson R. David
Published: January 2011

There has been great interest in recent decades in “ecosystem services.” One of the services most often mentioned is the retention of nutrients. I construct a simple model of agricultural land use under a regulatory requirement that nutrient loading cannot exceed a fixed ceiling. Farmers decide the quantity of residual nutrients they will generate, how much land they will allocate to production, and, consequently, how much land that could have been used for production they will instead preserve for the retention of nutrients. I develop three propositions. First, when the regulatory constraint is relatively weak, there will be a corner solution in which no land is set aside to provide the service of nutrient retention. Second, for any given regulatory constraint, there is a maximum amount of land that would be set aside to provide ecosystem services, regardless of the efficiency with which preserved land performs the nutrient retention function. Third, when it would prove very valuable to set some land aside for nutrient retention, less land in total may optimally be preserved for this purpose than when the service is less valuable. I illustrate the implications of this model with an application to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Depuis les dernières décennies, les services écosystémiques suscitent beaucoup d’intérêt. La rétention des éléments nutritifs figure parmi les services les plus mentionnés. Dans le présent article, j’ai élaboré un modèle simple d’utilisation des terres agricoles qui tient compte d’une exigence réglementaire selon laquelle les charges en éléments nutritifs ne peuvent excéder une quantité maximale établie. Les agriculteurs décident de la quantité d’éléments nutritifs résiduels qu’ils généreront, des superficies qu’ils consacreront à la production et, par conséquent, des superficies qui, au lieu d’être consacrées à la production, seront réservées à la rétention des éléments nutritifs. J’ai formulé trois propositions. Premièrement, lorsque la limite réglementaire n’est pas fermement imposée, une solution spéciale (corner solution) fera en sorte qu’aucune superficie ne sera réservée pour la rétention des éléments nutritifs. Deuxièmement, pour toute limite réglementaire établie, des superficies maximales seront réservées pour offrir des services écosystémiques, peu importe l’efficacité de rétention des éléments nutritifs de ces superficies. Troisièmement, lorsqu’il aura été prouvé que réserver des superficies pour la rétention des éléments nutritifs est d’une grande valeur, il se peut que les superficies réservées à cette fin soient inférieures à celles qui l’avaient été lorsque le service avait une moindre valeur. J’ai illustré les incidences de ce modèle en l’appliquant au bassin versant de la baie de Chesapeake.
Gelation Properties of Spent Duck Meat Surimi‐Like Material Produced Using Acid–Alkaline Solubilization Methods
Authors: Nurkhoeriyati T. , Huda N. , Ahmad R.
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  The gelation properties of spent duck meat surimi‐like material produced using acid solubilization (ACS) or alkaline solubilization (ALS) were studied and compared with conventionally processed (CON) surimi‐like material. The ACS process yielded the highest protein recovery (P < 0.05). The ALS process generated the highest lipid reduction, and the CON process yielded the lowest reduction (P < 0.05). Surimi‐like material produced by the CON process had the highest gel strength, salt extractable protein (SEP), and water holding capacity (WHC), followed by materials produced via the ALS and ACS processes and untreated duck meat (P < 0.05). The material produced by the CON process also had the highest cohesiveness, hardness, and gumminess values and the lowest springiness value. Material produced by the ACS and ALS processes had higher whiteness values than untreated duck meat gels and gels produced by the CON method (P < 0.05). Surimi‐like material produced using the ACS and CON processes had significantly higher myoglobin removal (P < 0.05) than that produced by the ALS method and untreated duck meat. Among all surimi‐like materials, the highest Ca2+‐ATPase activity was found in conventionally produced gels (P < 0.05). This suggests that protein oxidation was induced by acid–alkaline solubilization. The gels produced by ALS had a significantly lower (P < 0.05) total SH content than the other samples. This result showed that the acid–alkaline solubilization clearly improved gelation and color properties of spent duck and possibly applied for other high fat raw material.
Effects of Argon Enriched Low‐Oxygen Atmospheres and of High‐Oxygen Atmospheres on the Kinetics of Polyphenoloxidase (PPO)
Authors: O’Beirne David , Murphy Eileen , Eidhin Deirdre Ni
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  The reported benefits of enrichment of air atmospheres with argon or oxygen for control of enzymatic browning were investigated by determining the effects of these atmospheres on PPO kinetics. Kinetics of purified apple PPO and a commercially available mushroom PPO were studied in an in vitro model system. Enrichment with argon produced greater inhibitory effects than the current industry practice of enrichment with nitrogen. Kmapp values (mM) for apple PPO in 3%O2/97%Ar, 3%O2/97%N2, and air, were 133, 87, and 48, respectively. The data indicate that inhibition by both gases is competitive, and also support the hypothesis that the greater inhibitory effect of argon was proportional to the size of the Van der Waals radius of argon against nitrogen (1.91Å against 1.54Å). Much smaller inhibitory effects were observed in the presence of 80% O2 (Kmapp 57mM), and the nature of this inhibition was less clear. The results suggest that the benefits of argon enrichment may be relatively small, and may require critical enzyme, substrate, and gas levels to be successful. However, these benefits may be exploitable commercially in some fresh‐cut products, and may allow less anoxic atmospheres to be used.

Practical Application:  Control of enzymatic browning without sulfites continues to be a challenge in some fresh‐cut products. While sporadic benefits of these atmospheres in control of enzymatic browning have been reported, results have been inconsistent in commercial practice. The results suggest that the benefits of argon enrichment may be relatively small, and may require critical enzyme, substrate, and gas levels to be successful. However, these benefits may be exploitable commercially in some fresh‐cut products, and allow less anoxic atmospheres to be used.
Detection of Warfare Agents in Liquid Foods Using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay
Authors: Lumor Stephen E. , Diez‐Gonzalez Francisco , Labuza Theodore P.
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  The brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) was used for rapid and non‐specific detection of biological and chemical warfare agents at concentrations considerably below that which will cause harm to humans. Warfare agents detected include T‐2 toxin, trimethylsilyl cyanide, and commercially available pesticides such as dichlorvos, diazinon, dursban, malathion, and parathion. The assay was performed by introducing 50 μL of milk or orange juice contaminated with each analyte into vials containing 10 freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii in seawater. This was incubated at 28 °C for 24 h, after which mortality was determined. Mortality was converted to probits and the LC50 was determined for each analyte by plotting probits of mortality against analyte concentration (log10). Our findings were the following: (1) the lethal effects of toxins dissolved in milk were observed, with T‐2 toxin being the most lethal and malathion being the least, (2) except for parathion, the dosage (based on LC50) of analyte in a cup of milk (200 mL) consumed by a 6‐y‐old (20 kg) was less than the respective published rat LD50 values, and (3) the BSLA was only suitable for detecting toxins dissolved in orange juice if incubation time was reduced to 6 h. Our results support the application of the BSLA for routine, rapid, and non‐specific prescreening of liquid foods for possible sabotage by an employee or an intentional bioterrorist act.

Practical Application:  The findings of this study strongly indicate that the brine shrimp lethality assay can be adapted for nonspecific detection of warfare agents or toxins in food at any point during food production and distribution.
Use of Ramping and Equilibrium Water Vapor Sorption Methods to Determine the Critical Relative Humidity at which the Glassy to Rubbery Transition Occurs in Polydextrose
Authors: Li Qingruisi E. , Schmidt Shelly J.
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  Recent research has demonstrated that the critical relative humidity (RHc) values, obtained using automatic water vapor sorption instruments, can be used to detect the glassy to rubbery transition. However, reported time dependency of these RHc values suggests that additional research be carried out using equilibrium water vapor sorption methods. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the RHc for amorphous polydextrose at various temperatures using both instrumental (Dynamic Vapor Sorption [DVS] ramping and equilibrium) and saturated salt slurry methods, and (2) compare the RHc values obtained via sorption methods to the glass transition temperature (Tg) values obtained via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). When plotted as a “glass curve” on a state diagram, the RHc values (plotted as a function of temperature) were found to be similar to the Tg values (plotted as a function of relative humidity). Of the 3 sorption methods employed, at 25 °C, the saturated salt slurry exhibited the lowest RHc value (34.3%), followed by the DVS equilibrium method (41.7%), and the DVS ramping method (49.9%). The RHc DVS equilibrium method was closest to the calculated DSC Tg onset RHc value (41.6% at 25 °C). These water sorption methods show promise as practical tools for predicting the quality and stability attributes of amorphous materials by being able to routinely determine the location of the glassy to rubbery transition. Future research applying these sorption methods to more complex amorphous food systems is suggested.

Practical Application:  Despite its extreme usefulness, the Tg, a key element of the Food Polymer Science approach, remains a challenging parameter to routinely measure in amorphous food materials. Recent research has demonstrated that the RHc values can be used to detect the glassy to rubbery transition. However, reported time dependency of these RHc values suggests that additional research be carried out using equilibrium water vapor sorption methods. Therefore, in this research 2 instrumental (DVS ramping and equilibrium) methods and the traditional saturated salt slurry method were used to obtain RHc values, comparing them to DSC obtained Tg values. The water sorption methods show promise as practical tools for predicting the quality and stability attributes of amorphous materials by being able to routinely determine the location of the glassy to rubbery transition. Future research applying these sorption methods to more complex amorphous food systems is suggested.
Impact of Storage on Dark Chocolate: Texture and Polymorphic Changes
Authors: Nightingale Lia M. , Lee Soo‐Yeun , Engeseth Nicki J.
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  Chocolate storage is critical to final product quality. Inadequate storage, especially with temperature fluctuations, may lead to rearrangement of triglycerides that make up the bulk of the chocolate matrix; this rearrangement may lead to fat bloom. Bloom is the main cause of quality loss in the chocolate industry. The effect of storage conditions leading to bloom formation on texture and flavor attributes by human and instrumental measures has yet to be reported. Therefore, the impact of storage conditions on the quality of dark chocolate by sensory and instrumental measurements was determined. Dark chocolate was kept under various conditions and analyzed at 0, 4, and 8 wk of storage. Ten members of a descriptive panel analyzed texture and flavor. Instrumental methods included texture analysis, color measurement, lipid polymorphism by X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, triglyceride concentration by gas chromatography, and surface properties by atomic force microscopy. Results were treated by analysis of variance, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and linear partial least squares regression analysis. Chocolate stored 8 wk at high temperature without fluctuations and 4 wk with fluctuations transitioned from form V to VI. Chocolates stored at high temperature with and without fluctuations were harder, more fracturable, more toothpacking, had longer melt time, were less sweet, and had less cream flavor. These samples had rougher surfaces, fewer but larger grains, and a heterogeneous surface. Overall, all stored dark chocolate experienced instrumental or perceptual changes attributed to storage condition. Chocolates stored at high temperature with and without fluctuations were most visually and texturally compromised.

Practical Application:  Many large chocolate companies do their own “in‐house” unpublished research and smaller confectionery facilities do not have the means to conduct their own research. Therefore, this study relating sensory and instrumental data provides published evidence available for application throughout the confectionery industry.
Distribution of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from Turkey Farms and Different Stages at Slaughter Using Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis and flaA‐Short Variable Region Sequencing
Authors: Perko‐Mäkelä P. , Alter T. , Isohanni P. , Zimmermann S. , Lyhs U.
Published: January 2011

The aim of this study was to assess the diversity of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. isolated from turkey flocks at six rearing farms 1–2 weeks prior to slaughter (360 faecal swab samples) and from 11 different stages at the slaughterhouse (636 caecal, environmental, neck skin and meat samples). A total of 121 Campylobacter isolates were identified to species level using a multiplex PCR assay and were typed by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and flaA‐short variable region (SVR) sequencing. All Campylobacter isolates were identified as Campylobacter jejuni. PFGE analysis with KpnI restriction enzyme resulted in 11 PFGE types (I–XI) and flaA SVR typing yielded in nine flaA‐SVR alleles. The Campylobacter‐positive turkey flocks A, C and E were colonized by a limited number of Campylobacter clones at the farm and slaughter. The present study confirms the traceability of flock‐specific strains (PFGE types I, V and IX; flaA types 21, 36 and 161) from the farm along the entire processing line to meat cuts. It seems that stress factors such as high temperature of the defeathering water (54–56°C), drying of the carcass skin during air chilling (24 h at 2°C), and oxygen in the air could not eliminate Campylobacter completely. Campylobacter‐negative flocks became contaminated during processing by the same subtypes of Campylobacter introduced into the slaughter house by preceeding positive flocks even if they were slaughtered on subsequent days. Proper and efficient cleaning and disinfection of slaughter and processing premises are needed to avoid cross‐contamination, especially in countries with a low prevalence of Campylobacter spp. The majority of flaA SVR alleles displayed a distinct association with a specific PFGE type. However, a linear relationship for all strains among both typing methods could not be established. To specify genetic relatedness of strains, a combination of different genotyping methods, is needed.
A Dual Aspect Account of Moral Language
Authors: STRANDBERG CAJ
Published: January 2011

It is often observed in metaethics that moral language displays a certain duality in as much as it seems to concern both objective facts in the world and subjective attitudes that move to action. In this paper, I defend The Dual Aspect Account which is intended to capture this duality: A person’s utterance of a sentence according to which φing has a moral characteristic, such as “φing is wrong,” conveys two things: The sentence expresses, in virtue of its conventional meaning, the belief that φing has a moral property, and the utterance of the sentence carries a generalized conversational implicature to the effect that the person in question has an action‐guiding attitude in relation to φing. This account has significant advantages over competing views: (i) As it is purely cognitivist, it does not have the difficulties of expressivism and various ecumenical positions. (ii) Yet, in spite of this, it can explain the close, “meaning‐like,” connection between moral language and attitudes. (iii) In contrast to other pragmatic accounts, it is compatible with any relevant cognitivist view. (iv) It does not rest on a contentious pragmatic notion, such as conventional implicature. (v) It does not imply that utterances of complex moral sentences, such as conditionals, convey attitudes. In addition, the generalized implicature in question is fully calculable and cancellable.