bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loss of Cav1.3 Channels Reveals the Critical Role of L-Type and BK Channel Coupling in Pacemaking Mouse Adrenal Chromaffin Cells
Authors: Marcantoni Andrea , Vandael David H. F. , Mahapatra Satyajit , Carabelli Valentina , Sinnegger-Brauns Martina J. , Striessnig Joerg , Carbone Emilio
Published: January 2010

We studied wild-type (WT) andCav1.3−/−mouse chromaffin cells (MCCs) with the aim to determine the isoform of L-type Ca2+channel (LTCC) and BK channels that underlie the pacemaker current controlling spontaneous firing. Most WT-MCCs (80%) were spontaneously active (1.5 Hz) and highly sensitive to nifedipine and BayK-8644 (1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, methyl ester). Nifedipine blocked the firing, whereas BayK-8644 increased threefold the firing rate. The two dihydropyridines and the BK channel blocker paxilline altered the shape of action potentials (APs), suggesting close coupling of LTCCs to BK channels. WT-MCCs expressed equal fractions of functionally active Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels. Cav1.3 channel deficiency decreased the number of normally firing MCCs (30%; 2.0 Hz), suggesting a critical role of these channels on firing, which derived from their slow inactivation rate, sizeable activation at subthreshold potentials, and close coupling to fast inactivating BK channels as determined by using EGTA and BAPTA Ca2+buffering. By means of the action potential clamp, in TTX-treated WT-MCCs, we found that the interpulse pacemaker current was always net inward and dominated by LTCCs. Fast inactivating and non-inactivating BK currents sustained mainly the afterhyperpolarization of the short APs (2–3 ms) and only partially the pacemaker current during the long interspike (300–500 ms). Deletion of Cav1.3 channels reduced drastically the inward Ca2+current and the corresponding Ca2+-activated BK current during spikes. Our data highlight the role of Cav1.3, and to a minor degree of Cav1.2, as subthreshold pacemaker channels in MCCs and open new interesting features about their role in the control of firing and catecholamine secretion at rest and during sustained stimulations matching acute stress.
Activin Potentiates Proliferation in Mature Avian Auditory Sensory Epithelium
Authors: McCullar Jennifer S. , Ty Sidya , Campbell Sean , Oesterle Elizabeth C.
Published: January 2010

Humans and other mammals are highly susceptible to permanent hearing and balance deficits due to an inability to regenerate sensory hair cells lost to inner ear trauma. In contrast, nonmammalian vertebrates, such as birds, robustly regenerate replacement hair cells and restore hearing and balance functions to near-normal levels. There is considerable interest in understanding the cellular mechanisms responsible for this difference in regenerative capacity. Here we report on involvement of the TGFβ superfamily type II activin receptors, Acvr2a and Acvr2b, in regulating proliferation in mature avian auditory sensory epithelium. Cultured, posthatch avian auditory sensory epithelium treated with Acvr2a and Acvr2b inhibitors shows decreased proliferation of support cells, the cell type that gives rise to new hair cells. Conversely, addition of activin A, an Acvr2a/b ligand, potentiates support cell proliferation. Neither treatment (inhibitor or ligand) affected hair cell survival, suggesting a specific effect of Acvr2a/b signaling on support cell mitogenicity. Using immunocytochemistry, Acvr2a, Acvr2b, and downstream Smad effector proteins were differentially localized in avian and mammalian auditory sensory epithelia. Collectively, these data suggest that signaling through Acvr2a/b promotes support cell proliferation in mature avian auditory sensory epithelium and that this signaling pathway may be incomplete, or actively blocked, in the adult mammalian ear.
Rückkehrer in die DDR. Das Beispiel des Bezirks Suhl 1961 bis 1972
Authors: Neumeier Gerhard
Published: January 2010

Vorspann

Die sogenannten „Rückkehrer“ bildeten ein weitgehend unbekanntes, aber nichtsdestotrotz aufschlussreiches Kapitel in den deutsch-deutschen Beziehungen nach 1961. Wie kam es, dass Menschen, die unter hohem persönlichen Risiko aus der DDR geflohen waren, dorthin wieder freiwillig zurückkehrten? Und welche Rückschlüsse ergeben sich daraus für die beiden deutschen Staaten? War die Flucht in den Westen nicht immer eine Verbesserung? Mit Hilfe der Verhörprotokolle des Ministeriums für Staatssicherheit lässt sich nun ein genaueres Bild dieser „Wanderer zwischen den Welten“ zeichnen.
Ein deutscher Tory zwischen Kaiserreich und Weimarer Republik. Der Nachlass Clemens von Delbrücks (1856-1921)
Authors: Steinbach Matthias , Dathe Uwe
Published: January 2010

Vorspann

Die Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena kann eine kleine Sensation melden: In ihren Beständen fand sich vor kurzem der umfangreiche Nachlass von Clemens von Delbrück, der zu den einflussreichsten Persönlichkeiten des späten Kaiserreichs und der frühen Weimarer Republik zu zählen ist. Die beiden Autoren, Matthias Steinbach und Uwe Dathe, die den Nachlass in einem ambitionierten Projekt erschließen, stellen die schriftliche Hinterlassenschaft Delbrücks vor und weisen dabei auch der künftigen Forschung neue Wege.
Sexless Minds at Work and at Play: Poullain de la Barre and the Origins of Early Modern Feminism
Authors: La Vopa Anthony J.
Published: January 2010

This article recontextualizes the thought of François Poullain de la Barre, arguably the first modern feminist, in order to demonstrate that his feminism was at once more radical and more constrained than has been realized.
Domi mansit, lanam fecit
Authors: Sestieri Anna Maria Bietti
Published: January 2010

Seven female tombs from ancient Lazio dating from Latial period I (Final Bronze Age, 11th-10th centuries BC), and some 250 tombs dating from Latial period II (Early Iron Age, 10th-9th centuries BC) from the cemetery of Osteria dell’Osa, Rome, are analyzed from a gendered perspective. The sample shows a few significant features, which seem to differentiate it from the male component of the same contexts: 1. Gender specific personal ornaments are given to women from birth. 2. Some age specific artefacts and roles can be identified for all age classes. 3. A small number of female outfits includes some special indications of prestige; however, neither a systematic formalization of prestige features, nor specific correlates of roles or functions, can be identified. 4. ‘Priesthood’ is the only vertical role apparently given to women; in this case, too, there is some consistent indication that it was appointed from birth. 5. Secondary religious functions also seem to have been performed by some women. 6. Witchcraft might be the only self-appointed female role, which, however, apparently implied a diminished degree of integration in the community and kin group.
Landscape, Territories, and the Life-Histories of Monuments in Temple Period Malta
Authors: Grima Reuben
Published: January 2010

Archaeological evidence from Malta during the Temple Period is characterized by an abundance of monumental buildings, and a dearth of domestic evidence. Earlier work has used the monuments as an indicator of social organisation and demography, exploring the possibility of predicting the nature of polities or territories on the basis of their distribution and size. That issue is revisited here, introducing two additional variables: (1) the influence of the landscape itself, and (2) the development of monuments over time. When suitability of landscape for exploitation is examined independently of monument distribution, the two are found to be closely related. The development of the monuments over time is examined next, and shows evidence of a relationship between the diverging life-histories of the monuments, and the constraints and opportunities ordained by the landscape in different parts of the archipelago.
Ruth D. Whitehouse
Authors: Pearce Mark , Hamilton Sue , Brown Keri
Published: January 2010

Introducing Ruth

It is traditional for honorary volumes to offer a summary of the career and the academic works of the person celebrated on the occasion of their retirement. This article is self-evidently placed in the current issue of the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology with that function, but it concerns a person who, although retiring as Professor in Mediterranean Studies, is clearly not at the end of her academic career: she has research projects currently in progress, with writing-up and publication timetables in place, and new roles from autumn 2007 as editor of the University College London Institute of Archaeology’s flagship publication Archaeology International and chair of the UCL Institute of Archaeology’s Publications Committee. At the same time she has concurrent plans to devote more time to working on the publishing side of the Accordia Research Institute, which she directs with John Wilkins. Ruth Whitehouse would not particularly warm to a valedictory resumé of her academic career to date, and so we offer the following in the spirit of characterizing the career of a successful female academic who is the first and only female professor of the UCL Institute of Archaeology, who has worked within and significantly contributed to the successive strands of archaeological theory and practice that have come to the fore through her academic career, and who remarkably achieved this while remaining a fully rounded person who has enabled the academic development of many, and who has also maintained a total commitment to her thriving family throughout. We would also add that it is impossible not to like Ruth, although she certainly is not a ‘soft touch’—being very much prepared to stand sturdily by her human, political and academic convictions.
Statue-menhirs, Human Remains and Mana at the Ossimo ‘Anvòia’ Ceremonial Site, Val Camonica
Authors: Fedele Francesco
Published: January 2010

Survey in 1988 brought to light statue-menhirs in their primary context at Anvòia and Plassagróp, two sites near Ossimo in Val Camonica. Detailed excavation of the Anvòia site in 1988–2002 has provided substantial information about Copper Age ritual sites in the valley and the Central Alps, particularly the finding that human skeletal remains were introduced and ritually treated at Anvòia. Such contextual data modify interpretation of the symbolic monoliths that define such sites. Here a brief account of the site and excavations is given, with particular attention to ritual behaviour, the sense of place and ideology. An ideology of ancestors and memory may have provided the context for statue-menhir sites in the Copper Age (3rd millennium BC) Alps.
Food Storage in Prehistoric Northern Greece
Authors: Margomenou Despina
Published: January 2010

Despite systematic archaeological research since the mid-1970s, developments in prehistoric northern Greece are not well understood. The paper focuses on the Late Bronze Age and the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age transition (c. 1700/1500–1100/1000 BC). This is often considered a formative period for the appearance of institutionalized inequality at the end of the Late Iron Age (Archaic). One of the main sets of evidence in the discussion regarding state emergence in northern Greece pertains to food storage. This paper reviews some of this evidence and presents new data from an ongoing comparative study of storage practices in the region (Northern Greek Storage Project). This further affords the opportunity to revisit the question of state emergence and sociopolitical complexity within an anthropological framework that stresses historicity, agency. and a focus on the local scale.
Striking a Local-Global Balance in Eastern Iberia
Authors: Hodos Tamar
Published: January 2010

Discussion and debate.
Colonial Activities and Iberian Origins
Authors: Sanmartí Joan
Published: January 2010

Discussion and debate.
Postpolitical Colonialism
Authors: González-Ruibal Alfredo
Published: January 2010

Discussion and debate.
Response
Authors: Vives-Ferrándiz Jaime
Published: January 2010

Discussion and debate.
Archaeological Evidence of Land Tenure in the Petra Region, Jordan: Nabataean-Early Roman to Late Byzantine
Authors: Kouki Paula
Published: January 2010

The sixth-century AD Petra Papyri indicate the existence of a wealthy land-owning class in Petra, Jordan. To see whether this situation is reflected in archaeological data, the evidence of rural settlement in the Petra region between the first and early seventh century AD is reviewed. The results indicate that after the expansion of sedentary life in the first century AD, rural settlement began to contract by the third century. The decline continued through the fourth century. The settlement pattern that emerges in the fifth century AD is that of nucleated agricultural villages and towns. This development is seen as related to the profound economic change in the region brought about by the cessation of interregional trade through Petra.
Of Stamps, Loom Weights and Spindle Whorls: Contextual Evidence on the Function(s) of Neolithic Stamps from Ulucak, I?zmir, Turkey
Authors: Çilingiroglu Çiler
Published: January 2010

This study discusses the function(s) of Neolithic stamps and their designs by using two different lines of evidence. The function of the artifact itself is considered by using contextual information from the Neolithic site of Ulucak Höyük, located in the vicinity of I?zmir in western Turkey. It will be argued that the co-occurrence of stamps with objects related to textilemanufacturing—e.g. bone needles, spindle whorls and loom weights—at Ulucak allows us to interpret their function as stamps to make patterns, among other cultural media, on woven fabrics. Secondly, the role of images on stamps is discussed in terms of what they might have signified to the communities who reproduced them over a vast time and area. The intention is to demonstrate that geometrical and floral images observed on Neolithic stamps were not simply decorative but also symbolic, referring to central themes and stories of—and for—early farming communities.
Confirmation of Flixweed (Descurainia sophia) Resistance to Tribenuron-Methyl Using Three Different Assay Methods
Authors: Xu Xian , Wang Gui Qi , Chen Si Long , Fan Cui Qin , Li Bing Hua
Published: January 2010

Research was conducted to establish a method to investigate the resistance level of flixweed to tribenuron-methyl and the evolved biochemical resistance mechanism. Four resistant biotypes were collected from wheat fields in Mazhuangcun, Jiacun, Dishangcun, and Bafangcun in the Hebei province of China where tribenuron-methyl had been continuously used for more than 10 yr. Two susceptible biotypes were collected from wheat fields where tribenuron-methyl was never applied. Different biotypes were assessed by petri-dish bioassay, whole-plant bioassay, and acetolactate synthase (ALS) assay. Comparisons of data indicated a similarity between methods and that experiments demonstrated that petri-dish bioassay was a feasible method to identify flixweed resistant to tribenuron-methyl. Data indicated differences among the flixweed biotypes when assessed by the petri-dish bioassay, whole-plant bioassay, or ALS enzyme assay, and a close association was obtained for the three bioassay methods. ALS resistance varied by biotypes with Mazhuangcun > Jiacun > Dishangcun > Bafangcun. Target-site enzyme assay data indicated that the resistant biotype's enhanced ALS activity was the biochemical mechanism that induced flixweed's evolved resistance to tribenuron-methyl. The concentrations of tribenuron-methyl causing 50% inhibition of ALS activity of the four resistant biotypes were 1,359, 513, 184, and 164 nM; in the susceptible biotypes these concentrations were 64 and 65 nM. Resistance indexes were 21, 8, 3, and 3 for Mazhuangcun, Jiacun, Dishangcun, and Bafangcun biotypes, respectively.
Heritability of Glyphosate Resistance in Indiana Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) Populations
Authors: Davis Vince M. , Kruger Greg R. , Hallett Steven G. , Tranel Patrick J. , Johnson William G.
Published: January 2010

Horseweed has rapidly become a major weed in soybean and cotton production fields of the United States, and Indiana farmers ranked horseweed as one of the five worst weeds in their fields during a mail survey in 2003. Glyphosate resistance in horseweed is conferred by a single, incompletely dominant gene. Horseweed populations possess a high level of variability in their response to glyphosate. Horseweed has also evolved resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, and biotypes resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate are in many of the same areas. An experiment was designed to determine whether glyphosate resistance can be transferred by pollen. We found glyphosate-resistant plants in 1.1 to 3.8% of the progeny. Segregation ratios fit the expected 3 : 1 resistant : sensitive ratios confirming that glyphosate resistance in horseweed can transfer to closely located glyphosate-susceptible biotypes under open-pollinated conditions at low frequencies. The hypothesis of a follow-up experiment was that first-generation progeny of parent plants, selected on a continuum of low to high phenotypic response to glyphosate, will inherit respective low to high phenotypic responses to glyphosate. The variability in field-collected populations (low-level to high-level glyphosate resistance) ranged from 2 to 14 times the commonly recommended field use rate of glyphosate. However, low- and high-levels of glyphosate resistance were not observed in first-generation progeny. We conclude that differential glyphosate responses observed among parental populations was due to different frequencies of the resistance allele within the populations, rather than the presence of different resistance alleles.
Quantification and Mitigation of Adventitious Presence of Volunteer Flax (Linum usitatissimum) in Wheat
Authors: Dexter Jody E. , Jhala Amit J. , Hills Melissa J. , Yang Rong-Cai , Topinka Keith C. , Weselake Randall J. , Hall Linda M.
Published: January 2010

Global expansion in the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops has raised concerns about the adventitious presence of GE seeds in non-GE and organic products. Flax is the second most important oilseed crop in western Canada and is currently being evaluated as a potential platform for the production of bio-products. Before transgenic flax is released for commercial production, mitigation measures must be identified to reduce the adventitious presence in subsequent crops. To quantify adventitious presence of volunteer flax in spring wheat and to identify the efficacy of herbicide treatments on mitigating volunteer flax adventitious presence, research was conducted at four locations during 2005 and 2006 in central Alberta. To simulate artificial volunteer populations, flax was seeded prior to wheat at a target population of 150 plants m−2. In the untreated control, volunteer flax seed yield was 135 kg ha−1, which resulted in adventitious presence of 8.57% in spring wheat. When left uncontrolled, volunteer flax reduced wheat yields ∼57% and resulted in volunteer flax seed production of 4,755 seeds m−2. A single PRE treatment of glyphosate or glyphosate plus tribenuron reduced volunteer flax density from 39 to 4 and 6 plants m−2, respectively, seed production from 4,755 to < 58 seeds m−2, and volunteer flax seed viability from 55 to < 40%. POST herbicides, fluroxypyr plus MCPA and fluroxypyr plus 2,4-D, reduced volunteer flax seed production as low as 0.6 and 0.0 seeds m−2, respectively, adventitious presence to 0.64 and 0.03%, respectively, and seed viability to ≤ 10%. Combination of glyphosate applied PRE followed by fluroxypyr plus 2,4-D or by thifensulfuron plus tribenuron plus quinclorac applied POST reduced adventitious presence of volunteer flax in wheat to near 0%. These treatment combinations were also effective for reducing volunteer flax fecundity to 0.0 and 7.1 seeds m−2, respectively, and volunteer flax seed viability to 0 and 5%, respectively. This study demonstrated that with effective mitigation strategies, seed mediated gene flow from GE volunteer flax can be reduced.
The American Idol Effect: Are Students Good Judges of Their Creativity across Domains?
Authors: Kaufman James C. , Evans Michelle L. , Baer John
Published: January 2010

Students are often asked to judge their own creativity. There is some evidence that such judgments correlate modestly with other self-report data and some divergent thinking test measures. Only limited work, however, has been done comparing self-reported creativity with actual creative performance. Because levels of self-reported creativity might vary across domains— which would allow greater likelihood of accuracy of such reports—we examined self-reports of creativity in four domains and compared these with expert ratings of subjects' work in those domains (as judged using the Consensual Assessment Technique). Subjects were 78 fourth-grade students. The students did not predict uniform levels of creativity for themselves across domains (all self-assessments correlated across domains less than .30). However, these predictions did not match expert ratings of the students' creative products in each domain. These results challenge the validity of self-assessments of creativity among students of this age, even when the students are given the opportunity to give themselves different creativity ratings in different domains.
On The Formation of Canons: The Dynamics of Narratives in Art History
Authors: Ginsburgh Victor , Weyers Sheila
Published: January 2010

The article illustrates the formation over time of the late 20th century canons of two schools that dominated all other European schools in their time: Italian Renaissance and Flemish Realism. Since most artists were discussed some 400 years ago, by Vasari in the second edition of his Vite and by van Mander in his Schilder-boeck, narratives by art historians can be followed over a long period of time. To explore the dynamic process of canon formation, we collected data on the presence and the greatness of a large number of artists in narrative works written by important art scholars at time intervals of roughly 75 years, so that the 400 years elapsed between 1600 and 2000 are spanned as best as possible. At least half of the artists in the two canons were already there 400 years ago. There are several cases of wrong attributions or of new technical discoveries that prevented some names to be canonical any sooner. There are also artists who art historians learned to appreciate or to understand better, and who entered at much later times. Finally, the number of names that entered or were moved up in the canon because their works acquired new properties in the light of works by artists that followed them is not very large. This appears to be in contradiction with the frequent suggestion that canons are continuously moving and that no artist can survive forever.
How Important is Beauty to You? The Development of the Desire for Aesthetics Scale
Authors: Lundy Duane E. , Schenkel Miranda B. , Akrie Talayna N. , Walker April M.
Published: January 2010

We comprehensively measured individual differences in aesthetic interest by developing The Desire for Aesthetics Scale (DFAS). In Study 1, a 40-item scale was given to 71 undergraduates. Based on item-total correlations, the worst items were revised or dropped, and new items were created. In Study 2, a 43-item scale was tested with 99 undergraduates from two colleges, and was given to one group 3 months later, demonstrating adequate test-retest reliability scores ( r = .74). In Study 3, a revised 42-item scale was given to 62 older, non-students. For the combined relevant samples from Study 2 and Study 3 ( N = 110), the final 36-item DFAS yielded good internal consistency ( alpha = .82, p < .001 compared to a test value of .70; 95% confidence interval: (0.764, 0.865)). Overall, in multiple samples, this scale resulted in reliable measurements of individual differences in motivation to seek out and care about a wide range of aesthetic stimuli.
Technical Communication Internship Requirements in the Academic Economy: How We Compare among Ourselves and across other Applied Fields
Authors: Savage Gerald J. , Seible Marcea K.
Published: January 2010

This article reports a study of internship requirements in technical communication programs compared with three established professions and one emerging profession that have certification or licensing requirements for practitioners. The study addresses three questions about technical communication internship programs: 1) Are internships offered as a way to fulfill program academic credit requirements? 2) If internships are offered, are they required or elective? 3) What are the minimum/maximum academic credits allowed for internships toward fulfillment of program requirements and the number of workplace hours of internship required? To answer these questions we focused on three elements of internship program management: academic credits, workplace hours per academic credit, and total workplace hours required. Our findings indicate that there is considerable disparity for these factors among programs in our field and that we lack criteria similar to those used in established professions for internships.
Does FDI Accelerate Economic Growth? The OECD Experience Based on Panel Data Estimates for the Period 1980-2004
Authors: Ghosh Madanmohan , Wang Weimin
Published: January 2010

Although empirical literature offers rich insights on the relationship of FDI and economic growth, it provides mixed evidence on the existence of productivity externalities in the host country generated by foreign multinational companies. A branch of literature suggests that the positive impact of FDI is conditional on countries stock of human capital or a threshold absorptive capacity. Most of the studies that came up with these conclusions are either based on developing or a mix of developing and developed country experiences. There is a dearth of literature explicitly focused on developed country experiences. Moreover, most literature has focused on the impact of inward FDI on host country economic growth. Does outward FDI exert any influence on source country economic growth? This paper addresses these issues using panel time series data from 25 OECD countries for the period 1980-2004 in a cross-country regression framework. It finds that both inward and outward are positively correlated with host and source country economic growth. However, the impact of FDI on economic growth is moderate. Results suggest that the elasticity of GDP growth with respect to both inward and outward FDI in the host and source countries is about 0.01.
Effect of preservation method and storage condition on ascorbic acid loss in beverages
Authors: Cvetkovic Biljana , Jokanovic Marija
Published: January 2010

Global market is flooded with vitamin-enriched foods, mainly beverages. Major vitamins for enriching beverages are the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. Ascorbic acid is readily oxidized and lost during storage of the beverages, at rates depending on the conditions of storage. This fact is of great importance for the consumer who must know how to store beverages and when to consume them in order to get the maximum benefit of added vitamin C. The objective of this paper was to determine the amount of ascorbic acid lost in beverages applying different preservation methods and storage condition. Beverage was made in laboratory conditions with synthetic L-ascorbic acid added according to the national legislations. After 30 days of storage at 4-8oC ascorbic acid overall loss was from 81.01% to 90.27% in thermally pasteurized samples and from 97.83 % to almost complete loss in samples preserved with sodium benzoate.
Antimicrobial activity of caraway, garlic and oregano extracts against filamentous moulds
Authors: Dimic Gordana , Kocic-Tanackov Suncica , Pejin Dusanka , Pejin Jelena , Tanackov Ilija , Tuco Danijela
Published: January 2010

Inhibitory effect of caraway, garlic and oregano extracts (0.07, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2%), against four moulds species was investigated. The caraway extract had the strongest inhibitory effect by inhibiting the germination of Emericella nidulans, Penicillium commune and P. implicatum at the concentration of 0.1% and Aspergillus tamarii at the concentration of 0.5% during 7 days of incubation at 25?C. The extract of garlic only partially inhibited the growth of A. tamarii and P. commune. However, it inhibited completely the growth of P. implicatum and E. nidulans at the doses of 0.5 and 1%. Oregano partially inhibited all mould species, significantly reducing the growth of colonies, especially of E. nidulans (93.3%).
Properties of extruded snacks supplemented with amaranth grain grits
Authors: Dokic Ljubica , Bodroza-Solarov Marija , Hadnadjev Miroslav , Nikolic Ivana
Published: January 2010

Extruded amaranth grain products have specific aroma and can be used as snack food, supplement in breakfast cereals, or as raw material for further processing. Extruded products of corn-amaranth grits blends, containing 20% or 50% amaranth grain grits, were produced by extrusion-cooking using a laboratory Brabender single screw extruder 20 DN. Extrudates with various texture were obtained. During extrusion process starch granules are partially degraded, hence rheological properties were examined. All samples exhibited thixotropic flow behavior. Those samples in which part of the corn grits was replaced with amaranth one had lower viscosity and exhibited lower level of structuration during storage.
Use of milk-based kombucha inoculum for milk fermentation
Authors: Malbasa Radomir , Loncar Eva , Milanovic Spasenija , Kolarov Ljiljana
Published: January 2010

In this investigation fermented milk beverages with 0.9% of milk fat were produced using 10 and 15% (v/v) of traditional and milk-based kombucha inoculum by application of appropriate technological process. Milk fermentation using two types and concentrations of kombucha inoculum were stopped when the pH reached 4.5. Sigmoidal fermentation profiles were noticed with traditional kombucha inoculums and linear with milk-based kombucha inoculums. Chemical content and physico-chemical characteristics of kombucha fermented milk beverages were typical and yoghurt-like for all obtained products. The best textural and sensory characteristics possesed beverage obtained in fermentation of milk using 10% (v/v) of milk-based kombucha inoculum.
Antioxidant activity of white grape seed extracts on DPPH radicals
Authors: Mandic Anamarija , Djilas Sonja , Canadanovic-Brunet Jasna , Cetkovic Gordana , Vulic Jelena
Published: January 2010

Composition and antioxidant activity of grape seed extract (GSE) obtained from red grape varietes are very well documented, in contrast to the white varietes. This paper presents the results of polyphenols content of ethyl acetate extract of grape seeds, obtained from two white grape varieties, Italian Riesling and Zupljanka, and their antioxidant activity on the stable DPPH radical. The influence of the addition of GSE to raspberry juice on the DPPH radical was also examined. Content of total polyphenols in GSEs ranged between 81.6 and 82.8% (w/w), and the contetn of flavan-3-ols between 66.2 and 91.0% (w/w). HPLC results showed that the most abundant components in the extract were (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin for both grape varieties. All tested GSEs exhibited good antioxidant activity. IC50 values for the GSEs of Italian Riesling and Zupljanka were 0.79 and 0.95 mg sample/mg DPPH radical, respectivelly. Since the GSE of Italian Riesling possesed stronger antioxidant activity, it was used for further experiments. The IC50 value for raspberry juice was 4.18 mg raspberry juice/mg DPPH. The raspberry juice with addition of 0.60 ?g/mL of GSE showed antioxidant activity of 39.2%. The same juice with the threefold concentration of vitamin C (1.81 ?g/ml) exhibited similar antioxidant activity (33.9%). Antioxidant activity of the same amount of juice without added antioxidants was lower (15.7%). The results showed that the GSE of white varietes could be considered as a good functional food ingredient.
Protocol for using protein solubility as an indicator of full-fat soybean heat treatment
Authors: Palic Dragan , Coetzee Sophia
Published: January 2010

When the degree of full-fat soybean (FFSB) processing is determined using protein solubility as an indicator of heat treatment extent, a problem represents the lack of a standard with known value of protein solubility, against which the protein solubility of heat treated FFSB would be determined. Also, a special practical problem imposes the fact that universal ranges of units for describing the degree of FFSB processing are used globally, without taking into consideration specific regional differences. In this paper, a protocol was proposed for establishing unit ranges for defining under-, adequately- and over-processed FFSB when protein solubility is used as an indicator of the extent of heat treatment.
Dietary fiber content in some dry beans
Authors: Vasic Mirjana , Vujicic Biserka , Tepic Aleksandra , Gvozdanovic-Varga Jelica , Sumic Zdravko
Published: January 2010

Dietary fibers are one of the main nutritive components, along with proteins, fats and oils, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Also, they are one of the basic parameters of dry beans technological quality and nutritive value. Physical characteristics and the main chemical composition of sixteen dry bean varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris) had been examined in this study. Using statistical analyses, correlation between certain parameters of chemical composition was established.
The evolution of lactic acid bacteria community during the development of mature sourdough
Authors: Zugic-Petrovic Tanja , Jokovic Natasa , Savic Dragisa
Published: January 2010

In order to follow the composition and changes in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population of rye flour sourdough that was continuously propagated by a repeated inoculation, sixty-two strains of LAB were isolated and characterized. The LAB were the only bacteria detected, both at the end of the second propagation step and in the stage of mature sourdough (after two weeks of continuous daily refreshment). The stable ecological system in rye sourdough could be established from the second propagation step onward. The predominant genera of LAB during the development of sourdough were lactobacilli, which were grouped in eight clusters. Heterofermentative lactobacilli were in majority in both propagation step two and a mature sourdough participating 56% and 70% of total bacterial count, respectively. The identification based on a phenotypic characterization that was carried out by using a set of 36 tests, showed that the lactobacilli contained in the two sourdough steps did not clearly belong to any known species of the genus Lactobacillus. In addition, the structure of the bacterial population were monitored by two statistical techniques (Hierachical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis), being applied to phenotypical characteristics of the isolates.
Mathematical modelling of flux recovery during chemical cleaning of tubular membrane fouled with whey proteins
Authors: Lukic Natasa , Popovic Svetlana , Markovic Jelena
Published: January 2010

Membrane process efficiency in the dairy industry is impaired by the formation of deposits during filtration processes. This work describes cleaning procedures for ceramic tubular membrane (50 nm) fouled with whey proteins. Also, mathematical modelling was performed to obtain models which allow deeper insight into the mechanisms involved during cleaning procedures. The caustic solutions (0.2%w/w, 0.4%w/w and 1.0%w/w NaOH) and the mixture of two commercial detergents (0.8%w/w P3-ultrasil 69+0.5% w/w P3-ultrasil 67 and 1.2% P3-ultrasil 69+0.75 P3-ultrasil 67) were used as chemical cleaning agents. The results showed that the best flux recovery was achieved with 0.4%w/w NaOH solution. After analyzing the experimental data, five parameter and six parameter kinetic models were suggested for alkali and detergent cleaning, respectively. The changes of total and specific resistances, as well as the change of the effective pore diameter and deposit thickness during cleaning are estimated by applying these models.
Osmotic dehydration of red cabbage in sugar beet molasses: Mass transfer kinetics
Authors: Misljenovic Nevena , Koprivica Gordana , Levic Ljubinko , Filipcev Bojana , Kuljanin Tatjana
Published: January 2010

The paper describes a study of osmotic dehydration of red cabbage in sugar beet molasses of different concentrations (40, 60 and 80%) at 50?C and under atmospheric pressure. The best results were obtained at the sugar beet molasses of 80% as an osmotic medium. The most important kinetic parameters of the process were determined: water loss, solid uptake, weight reduction, normalized solid content and normalized moisture content. The kinetic parameters were determined after 1, 3 and 5 hours. Mass transfer coefficients were calculated using Hawkes and Flink's model and the results indicate that the diffusion of water and solids was the most intensive during the first three hours of dehydration.
Determination of tension strength in the longitudinal and circumferentional direction in glass-polyester composite pipes
Authors: Putic Slavisa , Stamenovic Marina , Bajceta Branislav , Vitkovic Dragana
Published: January 2010

Polymer composite pipes with glass fiber reinforcement have today a wide usage in the chemical and process industries. The basic subject of this paper is the determination and distribution of stresses and strains in longitudinal and circumferentional directions of glass-polyester pipes under tension test. Also, the tension strengths in both directions are determined out. Tension test was performed on an electro-mechanical test machine on flat samples and rings obtained by cutting of pipes produced by the method 'Filament winding' with glass fibers reinforcement ?55?. Also, the micromechanical analysis on fracture surfaces was done by SEM, which provided the knowledge about models and mechanisms of fracture on applyed loading.
The use of L-ascorbic acid in speciation of arsenic compounds in drinking water
Authors: Stanic Aleksandar , Jovanic Sasa , Marjanovic Nikola , Suturovic Zvonimir
Published: January 2010

Arsenic speciation, besides total arsenic content determination, is very important in analysis of water, foodstuffs, and environmental samples, because of varying degrees of toxicity of different species. For such purpose hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry can be used based on the generation of certain types of hydride, depending on the pH value and pretreatment in different reaction media. In this study, we have investigated the effect of L-ascorbic acid as the reaction medium as well as the pre-reducing agent in speciation of arsenic by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry in order to determine monomethyl arsonic acid (MMA) in the presence of inorganic forms of arsenic.
Treatment of sugar beet thick juice spent wash by chemical and natural coagulants
Authors: Sciban Marina , Klasnja Mile , Antov Mirjana
Published: January 2010

The possibility of treatment of wastewater from bioethanol production by aluminium sulfate and natural coagulant extracted from common bean seed was studied. The highest coagulation activity at pH 6.5 is reached with analum dose of 1 g/l, but only a little lower coagulation activities were obtained by the dose of 0.05 and 0.10 g/l, which is more favorable for economic and environmental reasons. When natural coagulant from common bean was applied the highest coagulation activity, 14.3%, at pH 6.5 is reached with a dose of 0.5 ml/l. However, when common bean natural coagulant was used simultaneously with alum, the highest turbidity removal resulting in 24% coagulation activity was achieved and this was more efficient than when alum or natural coagulant were used.
Simple correlations for bubble columns and draft tube airlift reactors with dilute alcohol solutions
Authors: Sijacki Ivana , Colovic Radmilo , Tokic Milenko , Kojic Predrag
Published: January 2010

Simple empirical correlations were developed to predict gas holdup, liquid circulation time, downcomer liquid velocity and volumetric mass transfer coefficient in dilute alcohol solutions in bubble columns and draft tube airlift reactors with single orifice sparger. Also, new experiments were conducted with diluted alcohol solutions to n-octanol, expanding the experimental data from C1 up to C8. The proposed empirical correlations include, beside the superficial gas velocity, the alcohol chain length as the only factor to characterize the liquid phase. The suggested correlations have shown good agreement between the calculated and the experimental data.
Antimicrobial effects of spices and herbs essential oils
Authors: Skrinjar Marija , Nemet Nevena
Published: January 2010

Spices and herbs have been used as food additives since ancient times, as flavouring agents but also as natural food preservatives. A number of spices shows antimicrobial activity against different types of microorganisms. This article gives a literature review of recent investigations considering antimicrobial activity of essential oils widely used spices and herbs, such as garlic, mustard, cinnamon, cumin, clove, bay, thyme, basil, oregano, pepper, ginger, sage, rosemary etc., against most common bacteria and fungi that contaminate food (Listeria spp., Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium spp. and many others). Antimicrobial activity depends on the type of spice or herb, type of food and microorganism, as well as on the chemical composition and content of extracts and essential oils. Summarizing results of different investigations, relative antimicrobial effectiveness can be made, and it shows that cinnamon, cloves and mustrad have very strong antimicrobial potential, cumin, oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary show medium inhibitory effect, and spices such as pepper and ginger have weak inhibitory effect.
The influence of carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan and guar-gum addition in bread dough before freezing on metabolism and viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Pejin Dusanka , Grujic Olgica , Pejin Jelena , Dosenovic Irena , Kocic-Tanackov Suncica
Published: January 2010

Doughs were prepared with different concentrations of carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan, and guar-gum (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% in doughs), freezed at -20?C and analyzed after 0, 7, 15 and 30 days. Pure Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture was isolated from dough and was cultivated under optimal conditions during 24 hrs to determine the following parameters: specific growth rate, fermentative activities and cytochromes contents in intact cells with the aim of determining the respiration intensity. During freezing of dough for 30 days, the percentage of living cells from dough surface was 53.11% and from the middle 54.95%. Carboxymethylcellulose in concentration of 0.3 and 0.5% increased number of survived cells on the surface to 70.64, and 70.28% and in the middle to 74.79, and 76.54%, respectively. Guar-gum increased number of survived cells only in concentration of 0.1% on the surface to 70.17% and in the middle of the dough to 75.26%. The mean specific growth rate decreased by approximately 10% during 30 days of storage at -20?C. Content of cytochromes in intact cells decreased in all samples during freezing.
Progress in the production of bioethanol on starch-based feedstocks
Authors: Mojovic Ljiljana , Pejin Dusanka , Grujic Olgica , Markov Sinisa , Pejin Jelena , Rakin Marica , Vukasinovic Maja , Nikolic Svetlana , Savic Dragisa
Published: January 2010

Bioethanol produced from renewable biomass, such as sugar, starch, or lignocellulosic materials, is one of the alternative energy resources, which is both renewable and environmentally friendly. Although, the priority in global future ethanol production is put on lignocellulosic processing, which is considered as one of the most promising second-generation biofuel technologies, the utilization of lignocellulosic material for fuel ethanol is still under improvement. Sugar-based (molasses, sugar cane, sugar beet) and starch-based (corn, wheat, triticale, potato, rice, etc.) feedstock are still currently predominant at the industrial level and they are, so far, economically favorable compared to lingocelluloses. Currently, approx. 80 % of total world ethanol production is obtained from the fermentation of simple sugars by yeast. In Serbia, one of the most suitable and available agricultural raw material for the industrial ethanol production are cereals such as corn, wheat and triticale. In addition, surpluses of this feedstock are being produced in our country constantly. In this paper, a brief review of the state of the art in bioethanol production and biomass availability is given, pointing out the progress possibilities on starch-based production. The progress possibilities are discussed in the domain of feedstock choice and pretreatment, optimization of fermentation, process integration and utilization of the process byproducts.
Artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical product formulation: Neural computing
Authors: Ibric Svetlana , Djuric Zorica , Parojcic Jelena , Petrovic Jelena
Published: January 2010

The properties of a formulation are determined not only by the ratios in which the ingredients are combined but also by the processing conditions. Although the relationships between the ingredient levels, processing conditions, and product performance may be known anecdotally, they can rarely be quantified. In the past, formulators tended to use statistical techniques to model their formulations, relying on response surfaces to provide a mechanism for optimization. However, the optimization by such a method can be misleading, especially if the formulation is complex. More recently, advances in mathematics and computer science have led to the development of alternative modeling and data mining techniques which work with a wider range of data sources: neural networks (an attempt to mimic the processing of the human brain); genetic algorithms (an attempt to mimic the evolutionary process by which biological systems self-organize and adapt), and fuzzy logic (an attempt to mimic the ability of the human brain to draw conclusions and generate responses based on incomplete or imprecise information). In this review the current technology will be examined, as well as its application in pharmaceutical formulation and processing. The challenges, benefits and future possibilities of neural computing will be discussed.

 This article has been retracted. Link to the retraction 10.2298/CICEQ1104000E
Influence of ferrocene and its derivatives on growth of Escherichia coli (ATTC 25922)
Authors: Zabic Mirjana , Kukric Zoran , Topalic-Trivunovic Ljiljana
Published: January 2010

This study is a continued investigation of the influence of ferrocene and its derivatives on trypsin activity. The goal was to examine the effect in vivo, by monitoring the growth of the bacteria Escherichia coli. The growth of the bacteria with the addition of ferrocene and derivatives of various concentrations was followed up spectrophotometrically, measuring changes in OD, correlating OD with the number of formed bacterial colonies and comparing the results as the mean generation time. The obtained results in relation to control experiments indicate a very strong inhibitory action of ferrocene and (dimethylaminomethyl) ferrocene, a medium or modest inhibitory effect of methyl 1'-acetamidoferrocene- 1-carboxylate and benzyl 1'-methoxycarbonyl-1-ferrocenecarbamate; influence of benzyl 1'-carboxy-1-ferrocenecarbamate is negligible, while 1'-acetamidoferrocene-1-carboxylic acid causes the increase in the growth of Escherichia coli.