bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience of Mediterranean shrubland to a severe drought episode: the role of seed bank and seedling emergence
Authors: del Cacho M. , Lloret F.
Published: December 2011

Extreme climate events, such as severe drought episodes, may induce changes in vegetation if they induce species‐specific adult mortality and changes in the seedling recruitment pattern. In 2005 a severe drought occurred in Doñana National Park (south Spain) causing extensive shrubland mortality. Over the following years we monitored the soil seed bank and seedling emergence via a gradient of canopy dieback induced by the drought episode. The canopy dieback corresponded to an increase in emergence of seedlings of woody species in 2007, probably because of the reduced competition induced by canopy loss. The soil seed bank of woody species sampled in 2008 was less abundant on plots with a higher proportion of dead vegetation, probably because of depletion of the seed bank as a result of the increased germination in the previous year and also as a result of a reduction in seed supply in these sites. Accordingly, in 2009 we detected reduced emergence of woody species on plots that had suffered the greatest shrub mortality. We failed to find any significant changes in patterns of the soil seed bank and seedling emergence of short‐lived herbaceous species, indicating greater resilience in these types of species. This study highlights the resilience of Mediterranean shrublands to climate fluctuations at one extreme of the variability characteristic of these ecosystems. An increase in the frequency of severe drought episodes – increasingly probable under the new climate conditions – does have the potential, however, to induce changes in vegetation, especially in woody communities that need more time to replenish their seed banks.
Interspecific and annual variation in pre‐dispersal seed predation by a granivorous bird in two East Asian hackberries, Celtis biondii and Celtis sinensis
Authors: Yoshikawa T. , Masaki T. , Isagi Y. , Kikuzawa K.
Published: December 2011

Pre‐dispersal seed predation by granivorous birds has potential to limit fruit removal and subsequent seed dispersal by legitimate avian seed dispersers in bird‐dispersed plants, especially when the birds form flocks. We monitored pre‐dispersal seed predation by the Japanese grosbeak, Eophona personata, of two bird‐dispersed hackberry species (Cannabaceae), Celtis biondii (four trees) and Celtis sinensis (10 trees), for 3 years (2005, 2007 and 2008) in a fragmented forest in temperate Japan. Throughout the 3 years, predation was more intense on C. biondii, which, as a consequence, lost a larger part of its fruit crop. Grosbeaks preferred C. biondii seeds that had a comparatively lower energy content and lower hardness than C. sinensis, suggesting an association between seed hardness and selective foraging by grosbeaks. In C. biondii, intensive predation markedly reduced fruit duration and strongly limited fruit removal by seed dispersers, especially in 2007 and 2008. In C. sinensis, seed dispersers consumed fruits throughout the fruiting seasons in all 3 years. In C. biondii, variation in the timing of grosbeak migration among years was associated with annual variation in this bird’s effects on fruit removal. Our results demonstrate that seed predation by flocks of granivorous birds can dramatically disrupt seed dispersal in fleshy‐fruited plants and suggest the importance of understanding their flocking behaviour.
Determination of the Optimal Concentration of Several Selective Drugs Useful for Generating Multi‐Transgenic Porcine Embryonic Fibroblasts
Authors: Sato M , Ohtsuka M , Miura H , Miyoshi K , Watanabe S
Published: December 2011

Contents

Porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) are widely used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pigs. Transfection of PEFs with exogenous DNA is essential for producing genetically modified (GM; transgenic or knockout) pigs via SCNT. In this case, selectable markers are strictly required selecting and enriching stably transfected cells. The most frequently used selective drug for this purpose is a neomycin analogue (G418/geneticin); neo has been widely used as a selectable marker gene in the genomic manipulation of pigs. However, little is known about optimal concentrations of other selection drugs. This often hampers functional analysis of the porcine genome and development of individual GM pigs. This study explores the optimal concentrations of selective drugs, other than neomycin, that can be used for the selection of transfected PEFs. Porcine embryonic fibroblasts were incubated in media containing different concentrations of drugs for up to 10 days, to determine the optimal drug concentrations fatal for PEFs. The following concentrations were found to be optimal selective concentrations for use with PEFs: G418/geneticin, 400 μg/ml; blasticidin S, 8 μg/ml; hygromycin B, 40 μg/ml; puromycin, 2 μg/ml; and zeocin, 800 μg/ml. Repeated transfections with plasmids carrying selectable markers resulted in the generation of multidrug‐resistant swine transfectants. Furthermore, these markers were found to be independent. The present information will be useful for the production of SCNT‐mediated GM piglets that express multiple transgenes.
The influence of neighbourhood deprivation on the prevalence of diabetes in 25‐ to 74‐year‐old individuals: first results from the Dortmund Health Study
Authors: Mueller G. , Berger K.
Published: December 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 831–833 (2012)
RETHINKING HISTORICAL DISTANCE: FROM DOCTRINE TO HEURISTIC
Authors: PHILLIPS MARK SALBER
Published: December 2011

In common usage, historical distance refers to a position of detached observation made possible by the passage of time. Understood in these terms, distance has long been regarded as essential to modern historical practice, but this conception narrows the idea of distance and burdens it with a regulatory purpose. I argue that distance needs to be re‐conceived in terms of the wider set of engagements that mediate our relations to the past, as well as the full spectrum of distance‐positions from near to far. Re‐imagined in these terms, distance sheds its prescriptiveness and becomes a valuable heuristic for examining the history of historical representation. When distance is studied in relation to the range of mediations entailed in historical representation, it becomes evident that the plasticities of distance/proximity are by no means limited to gradients of time; rather, temporality is bound up with other distances that come from our need to engage with the historical past as (simultaneously) a realm of making, of feeling, of doing, and of understanding. Thus for every historical work, we need to consider at least four basic dimensions of representation as they relate to the problem of mediating distance: 1. the genres, media, and vocabularies that shape the history's formal structures of representation; 2. the affective claims made by the historical account, including the emotional experiences it promises or withholds; 3. the work's implications for action, whether of a political or moral nature; and 4. the modes of understanding on which the history's intelligibility depends. These overlapping, but distinctive, distances—formal, affective, ideological, and conceptual—provide an analytic framework for examining changing modes of historical representation.
Consumer perceptions of risks of chemical and microbiological contaminants associated with food chains: a cross‐national study
Authors: Kher Swaroop V. , De Jonge Janneke , Wentholt Meike T.A. , Deliza Rosirez , de Andrade Juliana Cunha , Cnossen Hilde J. , Luijckx Niels B. Lucas , Frewer Lynn Jayne
Published: December 2011

The development and implementation of effective systems to identify vulnerabilities in food chains to chemical and microbiological contaminants must take account of consumer priorities and preferences. The present investigation attempted to understand consumer perceptions associated with chemical and microbiological contaminants in four specific food chains (drinking water, farmed salmon, chicken and milk powder). To this end, ten focus group discussions were held in five different countries (Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, France and Brazil). Consumers expressed higher concerns about chemical, as compared with microbial, contaminants. Chemical contaminants were more strongly associated with the potential for severe consequences, long‐term effects and lack of personal control. Traceability was considered by consumers as a useful tool that offers the potential to improve consumer confidence in food safety.
Global Implications of the Middle Eastern Environment
Authors: Mikhail Alan
Published: December 2011

Through a discussion of the burgeoning literature related to environmental topics in the Middle East, this article explains what both environmental historians and historians of the Middle East stand to gain from a consideration of Middle East environmental history. After an examination of the limitations and possibilities of the available source base, the article addresses three main areas of research: climate, energy, and disease. It is meant to serve as an introduction to a new field and to suggest some possible avenues for future research.
Targeting PDGFR‐β in Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Fingas Christian D. , Mertens Joachim C. , Razumilava Nataliya , Bronk Steven F. , Sirica Alphonse E. , Gores Gregory J.
Published: December 2011

Background

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are highly desmoplastic neoplasms with a tumour microenvironment plentiful in myofibroblasts (MFBs). MFB‐derived PDGF‐BB survival signalling is a mediator of CCA cell resistance to apoptotic stimuli. This raises the concept that targeting PDGFR‐β, a cognate receptor of PDGF‐BB, represents a potential strategy for the treatment of human CCA.

Aims

Herein, we examine a role for inhibiting PDGFR‐β in restoring CCA cell sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

We employed human CCA samples from 41 patients (19 intrahepatic and 22 extrahepatic CCA samples), the human CCA cell lines KMCH‐1 and HUCCT‐1 as well as shPDGFR‐β‐KMCH‐1 and human myofibroblastic LX‐2 cells for these studies. In vivo‐experiments were conducted using a syngeneic rat orthotopic CCA model.

Results

Of several MFB‐derived growth factors profiled, PDGF‐BB and CTGF were most abundantly expressed; however, only PDGF‐BB attenuated tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) cytotoxicity. Co‐culturing CCA cells with PDGF‐BB‐secreting MFBs significantly decreased TRAIL‐induced CCA cell apoptosis when compared with monoculture conditions; this cytoprotective effect was abrogated in the presence of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib mesylate or linifanib, which inhibit PDGFR‐β. Consistent with these findings, MFB‐imparted cytoprotection also was abolished when PDGFR‐β was knocked down as demonstrated in shPDGFR‐β‐KMCH‐1 cells. Finally, administration of imatinib mesylate increased CCA cell apoptosis and reduced tumour growth in a rodent in vivo‐CCA model that mimics the human disease.

Conclusions

Targeting PDGFR‐β sensitizes CCA cells to apoptotic stimuli and appears to be therapeutic in vivo.
Sustaining Critical Social Services During Extended Regional Power Blackouts
Authors: Narayanan Anu , Morgan M. Granger
Published: December 2011

Despite continuing efforts to make the electric power system robust, some risk remains of widespread and extended power outages due to extreme weather or acts of terrorism. One way to alleviate the most serious effects of a prolonged blackout is to find local means to secure the continued provision of critical social services upon which the health and safety of society depend. This article outlines and estimates the incremental cost of a strategy that uses small distributed generation, distribution automation, and smart meters to keep a set of critical social services operational during a prolonged power outage that lasts for days or weeks and extends over hundreds of kilometers.
Impact of Mitral Regurgitation on the Outcome of Patients Treated with CRT‐D: Data from the InSync ICD Italian Registry
Authors: BORIANI GIUSEPPE , GASPARINI MAURIZIO , LANDOLINA MAURIZIO , LUNATI MAURIZIO , BIFFI MAURO , SANTINI MASSIMO , PADELETTI LUIGI , MOLON GIULIO , BOTTO GIANLUCA , DE SANTO TIZIANA , VALSECCHI SERGIO ,   on behalf of the InSync/InSync ICD Italian Registry Investigators
Published: December 2011

Background: We assessed the influence of clinically significant mitral regurgitation (MR) on clinical‐echocardiographic response and outcome in heart failure (HF) patients treated with a biventricular defibrillator (cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator [CRT‐D]).

Methods and Results: A total of 659 HF patients underwent successful implantation of CRT‐D and were enrolled in a multicenter prospective registry (median follow‐up of 15 months). Following baseline echocardiographic evaluation, patients were stratified into two groups according to the severity of MR: 232 patients with more than mild MR (Group MR+: grade 2, 3, and 4 MR) versus 427 patients with mild (grade 1) or no functional MR (Group MR−). On 6‐ and 12‐month echocardiographic evaluation, MR was seen to have improved in the vast majority of MR+ patients, while it remained unchanged in most MR− patients. On 12‐month follow‐up evaluation, a comparable response to CRT was observed in the two groups, in terms of the extent of left ventricular reverse remodeling and combined clinical and echocardiographic response. During long‐term follow‐up, event‐free survival did not differ between MR+ and MR− patients, even when subpopulations of patients with ischemic heart disease and with dilated cardiomyopathy were analyzed separately. On multivariate analysis, the only independent predictor of death from any cause was the lack of β‐blocker use.

Conclusions: This observational analysis supports the use of CRT‐D in HF patients with clinically significant MR; MR had no major influence on patient outcome. (PACE 2012; 35:146–154)
Low‐Temperature Processing of High‐Performance 0.74Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.26PbTiO3 Thin Films on La0.6Sr0.4CoO3‐Buffered Si Substrates for Pyroelectric Arrays Applications
Authors: Tang Yanxue , Zhou Dan , Tian Yue , Li Xia , Wang Feifei , Sun Dazhi , Shi Wangzhou , Tian Li , Sun Jinglan , Meng Xiangjian , Chu Junhao
Published: December 2011

To prepare high‐performance ferroelectric thin films on Si substrates for pyroelectric arrays applications, 0.74Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.26PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) thin films, with composition beyond morphotropic phase boundary, were deposited by radio‐frequency magnetron sputtering. Conductive perovskite La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 with resistivity of about 20 μΩ cm was used as a buffer layer between PMN–PT and Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates to promote perovskite phase formation for the PMN–PT thin films. The PMN–PT thin films with pure perovskite phase have been obtained at temperatures as low as 500°C, which is compatible with integrated circuits. The ferroelectric, dielectric, and pyroelectric properties of the films were investigated. It is found that the films exhibit a large remnant polarization of 29.2 μC/cm2 and a high pyroelectric coefficient of 9.4 × 10−4 C/m2 K at room temperature. The calculated figures of merit for current responsivity, voltage responsivity, and detectivity are 3.76 × 10−10 m/V, 0.02 m2/C, and 1.29 × 10−5 Pa−1/2, respectively. These features suggest the film a promising material for thermal imaging applications based on silicon technology.
Effects of thermophotoperiod on growth parameters of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Mironidis G. K. , Savopoulou‐Soultani M.
Published: December 2011

The effects of photoperiod and temperature on growth parameters of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were investigated under laboratory conditions by exposing its larvae to fluctuating and alternating temperature regimes. Our data made evident that the interplay between photoperiod and temperature has a direct effect on growth parameter responses of H. armigera. However, the type of temperature regime (fluctuating or alternating) may enhance or diminish the effects of photoperiod. With fluctuating temperature, larval developmental time was significantly reduced with increasing photophase, irrespective of the diapause status later in the pupal stage; the lowest value was observed under continuous light conditions. With alternating temperature, larval developmental time was significantly decreased with the reduction in temperature amplitude, and with the coincidence of the thermophase with the scotophase. At both temperature regimes, no significant differences in pupal weight were observed between diapausing and non‐diapausing individuals, although, in most treatments, the diapausing pupae tended to be heavier than the non‐diapausing ones. The increased pupal weight of individuals destined for diapause is probably related to their longer larval developmental time. Knowing the effects of these factors on the variation of H. armigera growth is necessary in explaining phenomena associated with immature stages, and can lead to a more profound understanding of the potential for this insect to evolve in response to environmental changes.
Adverse mood symptoms with oral contraceptives
Authors: POROMAA INGER SUNDSTRÖM , SEGEBLADH BIRGITTA
Published: December 2011

In spite of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) having been available for more than 50 years, surprisingly little is known about the prevalence of truly COC‐related adverse mood symptoms and about the underlying biological mechanisms of proposed changes in mood and affect. Precise estimates of COC‐related adverse mood symptoms are not available due to the lack of placebo‐controlled trials. In prospective trials the frequency of women who report deteriorated mood or deteriorated emotional well‐being varies between 4 and 10%, but it can be assumed that the causal relation in these prevalence rates is overestimated. Adverse mood symptoms and somatic symptoms are most pronounced during the pill‐free interval of the treatment cycles, but whether extended COC regimens would be more favorable in this respect is not known. COCs with anti‐androgenic progestagens, such as drospirenone and desogestrel, appear more favorable in terms of mood symptoms than progestagens with a more androgenic profile. Available data suggest that lower doses of ethinylestradiol could be beneficial.
The Yeast Golgi Apparatus
Authors: Suda Yasuyuki , Nakano Akihiko
Published: December 2011

The Golgi apparatus is an organelle that has been extensively studied in the model eukaryote, yeast. Its morphology varies among yeast species; the Golgi exists as a system of dispersed cisternae in the case of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whereas the Golgi cisternae in Pichia pastoris and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are organized into stacks. In spite of the different organization, the mechanism of trafficking through the Golgi apparatus is believed to be similar, involving cisternal maturation, in which the resident Golgi proteins are transported backwards while secretory cargo proteins can stay in the cisternae. Questions remain regarding the organization of the yeast Golgi, the regulatory mechanisms that underlie cisternal maturation of the Golgi and transport machinery of cargo proteins through this organelle. Studies using different yeast species have provided hints to these mechanisms.
Lip cancer: retrospective analysis of 181 cases
Authors: Géraud Cyrill , Koenen Wolfgang , Neumayr Ludwig , Doobe Gunnar , Schmieder Astrid , Weiss Christel , Goerdt Sergij , Faulhaber Jörg
Published: December 2011

Background: In Germany little data on the epidemiology and histology of lip cancers are available, as lip cancers are commonly pooled together with head and neck tumors.

Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of 181 patients with malignant tumors of the lips with respect to gender, location, histology, risk factors and comorbidity.

Results: There were 90 women and 91 men with a mean age of 71 years. 98 had a tumor on the upper lip and 83 patients on the lower lip. Tumors of the upper lip showed a slight female preference (61%). In contrast lower lip cancer was more common (64%) in men. Histological analysis revealed that in both regions nodular basal cell carcinomas as well as squamous cell carcinomas (NOS) are the most common subtypes. Vertical tumor thickness of squamous cell carcinomas was in most cases smaller than 6 mm (n = 71) and only in 4 cases was a tumor thickness of >6 mm detected. Altogether, 57% of the patients reported a high to very high sun exposure.

Conclusions: In comparison to previous studies we found a weaker preference for women for tumors of the upper lip and also a weaker preference for men for tumors of the lower lip. The causes remain unclear, but could be causally related to an increased life expectancy and/or changed risk profile.
Effect of persistent patent ductus arteriosus on mortality and morbidity in very low‐birthweight infants
Authors: Tauzin Laurent , Joubert Corinne , Noel Anne‐Claire , Bouissou Antoine , Moulies Marie‐Eve
Published: December 2011

Aim:  Because New Caledonia is geographically isolated from the nearest cardiac surgical centre, surgical closure of ductus arteriosus is not performed in very low‐birthweight (VLBW) infants who have a persistent patent ductus in spite of having undergone treatment with ibuprofen. This study aimed at investigating the possible effect of persistent patent ductus in VLBW infants.

Methods:  The study included 177 VLBW infants born at 25–31 weeks of gestation from January 2006 to May 2011. Mortality and major morbidities were compared between infants with a persistent patent ductus (n = 33) and those without it (n = 104). Statistical associations between potential neonatal risk factors and significant morbidities were identified using multivariate regression analyses.

Results:  Rates of mortality and major morbidities, including the rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular haemorrhage grades I–II and III–IV, periventricular leucomalacia, late‐onset infections and failure of hearing screening, were insignificantly higher in VLBW infants with a persistent patent ductus than in those without it.

Conclusion:  This study adds further evidence that persistent patent ductus arteriosus has no significant effect on mortality and morbidity in VLBW infants born at ≥25 weeks’ gestational age.
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Danish preschool children over a 10‐year period: a study of two birth cohorts in general practice
Authors: Larsen Lone Marie , Hertel Niels Thomas , Mølgaard Christian , Christensen René dePont , Husby Steffen , Jarbøl Dorte Ejg
Published: December 2011

Aim:  To determine change in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children, over a 10‐year period and to identify possible predictors of overweight in 5‐year‐old children.

Methods:  Anthropometric data from birth and routine child health examinations at 3 and 5 years of age performed in general practice were collected in 5580 children from two Funen birth cohorts (1992 and 2001, respectively) representing 48% of the total population at similar age. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was classified using the International Obesity Task Force definitions.

Results:  In a Danish representative survey of preschool children, the average body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of overweight and obesity did not vary significantly during the 10‐year period. No significant changes in mean birth weight were registered and mean BMI in the group of obese children did not increase. Overweight or obesity at 5 years was strongly associated with overweight and obesity at 3 years and with birth weight and gender.

Conclusion:  The prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed to be stable over a decade in Danish preschool children without changes in mean BMI in the group of obese children. A strong association between overweight and obesity at 3 and at 5 years of age was detected.
The potential for endozoochorous dispersal of temperate fen plant species by free‐roaming horses
Authors: Stroh Peter A. , Mountford J. Owen , Hughes Francine M.R.
Published: December 2011

Questions

Can free‐roaming Konik horses digest and subsequently disperse seeds of plant species growing in a temperate fen environment? Which species have the potential to be dispersed internally (endozoochory), and do they share common plant and seed traits? How could potential dispersal via endozoochory impact upon grazing management and the natural recolonization of wetland vegetation at a landscape scale?

Location

Wicken Fen NNR, Cambridge, UK.

Methods

Twelve dung samples were collected for one calendar year (Jun 2009–May 2010) from a free‐roaming herd of Konik horses grazing vegetation at Wicken Fen NNR. Germinable seed content of the dung was determined by means of a seedling emergence study. Species presence and estimated cover/abundance were recorded for the grazed (background) vegetation in spring and summer 2009.

Results

Almost one‐third of all species present in the background vegetation were also identified in the dung samples. There was an equal split between graminoids and forbs, but substantially more graminoid germinable seeds. Species were dispersed year‐round, with the number of species peaking in Sep and again in Dec. Of the 13 traits measured, there were significant differences between dung and background vegetation for six traits. Mean values for seed release heights (minimum and maximum) and dispersule weight were significantly lower in species found in the dung, whilst dung species had significantly greater numbers of seeds per shoot, inferred Ellenberg nitrogen values and seed bank persistence.

Conclusion

Year‐round free‐roaming grazing has the potential to make a considerable contribution to the long‐range dispersal of species growing in temperate fen habitats, and is likely to complement alternative dispersal strategies. However, germination and establishment of species post‐dispersal fate will be governed by a wide range of environmental conditions.
Influence of Genomic Ancestry on the Distribution of SLCO1B1, SLCO1B3 and ABCB1 Gene Polymorphisms among Brazilians
Authors: Sortica Vinicius de A. , Ojopi Elida B. , Genro Júlia P. , Callegari‐Jacques Sidia , Ribeiro‐dos‐Santos Ândrea , de Moraes Manoel Odorico , Romano‐Silva Marco A. , Pena Sérgio D. J. , Suarez‐Kurtz Guilherme , Hutz Mara H.
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  The frequency distribution of SNPs and haplotypes in the ABCB1, SLCO1B1 and SLCO1B3 genes varies largely among continental populations. This variation can lead to biases in pharmacogenetic studies conducted in admixed populations such as those from Brazil and other Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of self‐reported colour, geographical origin and genomic ancestry on distributions of the ABCB1, SLCO1B1 and SLCO1B3 polymorphisms and derived haplotypes in admixed Brazilian populations. A total of 1039 healthy adults from the north, north‐east, south‐east and south of Brazil were recruited for this investigation. The c.388A>G (rs2306283), c.463C>A (rs11045819) and c.521T>C (rs4149056) SNPs in the SLCO1B1 gene and c.334T>G (rs4149117) and c.699G>A (rs7311358) SNPs in the SLCO1B3 gene were determined by Taqman 5′‐nuclease assays. The ABCB1 c.1236C>T (rs1128503), c.2677G>T/A (rs2032582) and c.3435C>T (rs1045642) polymorphisms were genotyped using a previously described single‐base extension/termination method. The results showed that genotype and haplotype distributions are highly variable among populations of the same self‐reported colour and geographical region. However, genomic ancestry showed that these associations are better explained by a continuous variable. The influence of ancestry on the distribution of alleles and haplotype frequencies was more evident in variants with large differences in allele frequencies between European and African populations. Design and interpretation of pharmacogenetic studies using these transporter genes should include genomic controls to avoid spurious conclusions based on improper matching of study cohorts from Brazilian populations and other highly admixed populations.
THERMAL CHARACTERIZATION OF POULTRY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE DEVICE TO MONITOR SAFE AND PROPER COOKING
Authors: ROBLES HERNANDEZ FRANCISCO C. , NEAL JACK A. , ALDEA ULYSIS S.
Published: December 2011

This work presents a new application of semiautomated technology to monitor temperatures of a wide range of food products, which can be remotely controlled (via Internet) for various cooking operations. The workstation was created as an initial step in developing an automated temperature monitoring device within food containers such as storage pans. The equipment records the thermodynamic/kinetic changes occurring during cooking to precisely determine cooking conditions. As a safety control measurement devise, the workstation can be programmed to automate the heating/cooling cycles and to determine the amount of time food spends in unsafe temperature ranges (5–60C), which may increase the risk of foodborne illness. The workstation records the heating and cooling histories (cooking curves) during and after the cooking procedure, respectively. The cooking curves are analyzed using the Newtonian and baseline models to enhance the thermodynamic and kinetic phenomena taking place during cooking. This allows the precise determination of time and temperatures it takes to reach a desirable cooking stage as a function of the level of dehydration or denaturization.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Thermal analysis can be used to monitor the cooking process of independent pieces of an entire chicken carcass or it can be used to monitor the cooking of individual pieces. The contribution of the individual constituents of the tissue can be deconvoluted and analyzed independently, which, in turn, allows researchers to determine specific characteristics in the final product (e.g., cooking quality and level of moisture).
INTERFACIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COFFEE MIX USING DYNAMIC SURFACE TENSIOMETER
Authors: MUHAMMAD LATIF , CHOI SHIN SIK , KIM HERN
Published: December 2011

Instant coffee with different blends and various trades is available all over the world. The brands vary in their composition because of the concentration of basic ingredients, i.e., coffee, sugar and cream. Coffee and other beverages are explained on the basis of three basic properties: taste, foaming and wetting. By using dynamic surface tensiometric analysis, the effects of the basic ingredients are examined by experiments. Different brands and instant coffee sticks were experimented and results were compared.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Dynamic surface tensiometry is an important technology to evaluate the changes in the surface of liquid solutions: stagnant and flowing fluids. This technique is also applied to characterize the biological liquids, waste water treatment and beverages with large and complex molecular weight components.
A Novel Pharmacophore Model to Identify Leads for Simultaneous Inhibition of Anti‐coagulation and Anti‐inflammatory Activities of Snake Venom Phospholipase A2
Authors: Wadood Abdul , Ali Syed Abid , Sattar Rabia , Lodhi Muhammad Arif , Ul‐Haq Zaheer
Published: December 2011

In addition to catalytic action, snake venom phospholipase A2 induces several pharmacological effects including neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity as well as anti‐coagulant and anti‐platelet aggregation effects. Therefore, strategy to identify dual inhibitor for this enzyme will be of much importance in medical research. In this paper, structure‐based pharmacophore mapping, molecular docking, protein–ligand interaction fingerprints, binding energy calculations, and binding affinity predictions were employed in a virtual screening strategy to identify new hits for dual inhibition of anti‐coagulation and inflammation of phospholipase A2. A structure‐based pharmacophore map was modeled which comprised of important interactions as observed in co‐crystal of phospholipase A2 and its dual inhibitor indomethacin. The generated model was used to retrieve molecules from ChemBridge, a free database of commercially available compounds. A total of 381 molecules mapped on the developed pharmacophore model from ChemBridge database. The hits retrieved were further screened by molecular docking, protein–ligand interaction fingerprints, binding energy calculations, and binding affinity predictions using Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking and moe. Based on these results, 32 chemo‐types molecules were predicted as potential lead scaffolds for developing novel, potent and structurally diverse dual inhibitor of phospholipase A2.
Polyculture of a Critically Endangered Olive Barb, Puntius sarana (Ham.), with Indigenous Major Carps in Earthen Ponds
Authors: Rahman M. Aminur , Azimuddin K. M. , Yeasmine S.
Published: December 2011

Polyculture of olive barb with indigenous major carps was carried out for 8 mo at different densities in earthen ponds. All the experimental ponds were stocked with fingerlings of major carps viz., catla, Catla catla, and rohu, Labeo rohita, at the rate of 3750/ha each. In addition, olive barb, Puntius sarana, was stocked at the rate of 10,000, 12,500, and 15,000 fingerlings/ha in treatment‐1 (T1), treatment‐2 (T2), and treatment‐3 (T3), respectively. Fish in all the ponds were fed with supplementary feed comprising of rice bran (70%), mustard oil cake (25%), and fish meal (5%) at the rate of 3–6% of the estimated body weight. Physicochemical parameters and plankton populations of pond water were within the acceptable range for fish culture. The mean final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate of catla were very similar in all the treatments while those for rohu and olive barb were significantly higher in T1 than in T2 and T3. The gross and net productions in T1 were significantly higher than in T2 and T3. The net benefit was also highest in T1 followed by T2 and lowest in T3. Under the conditions of this experiment, growth, production, and benefits were greatest at a stocking density of olive barb at 10,000/ha in polyculture with other major carps.
Feeding Ration, Genetics, and Reproductive Traits in Female Coho Salmon: Is Bigger Better?
Authors: Myers James M. , Park Linda K. , Neely Kathleen G. , Swanson Penny , Elz Anna E. , Hard Jeffrey J.
Published: December 2011

We assessed the effects of different feeding regimes on reproductive traits in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Ration treatments subjected fish to different energy levels during oocyte proliferation (Year 1) and oocyte maturation (Year 2). Fish from 10 full‐sibling families were fed at either the recommended feeding rate or double the recommended ration during the first year. At the beginning of the second year, each ration group was split again into recommended and double ration tanks for a total of four dietary treatments. At the end of the second year, 365 females from the four treatment groups were spawned and body weight, egg weight, and egg number were measured. Overall, the fish fed the double ration during both years grew the fastest (50.1% larger than controls), had the highest egg number (46.3% larger), and had the largest eggs (9.6% larger), although similar increases were observed feeding at the double ration level during the second year alone. Ration modification produced significant changes in some reproductive traits, especially egg number, while family effects had a greater influence on relative fecundity (eggs/g female body weight) and egg weight. In fact, family effects were significant for all of the traits. Results indicate that reproductive traits can be manipulated through changes in ration and/or via genetic selection, either directly or indirectly.
Growth and Survival of Larval Sandfish, Holothuria scabra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), Fed Different Microalgae
Authors: Knauer Jens
Published: December 2011

This study assessed the nutritional value of four species of microalgae for larval sandfish, Holothuria scabra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). Two‐day‐old larvae were fed either a single diatom (Chaetoceros muelleri, Chaetoceros calcitrans), flagellate (Isochrysis aff. galbana (T‐ISO), Pavlova salina), or a ternary microalgal diet (TMD) comprised of 40% C. muelleri, 40% T‐ISO, and 20% P. salina for 12 d. On Days 4, 6, and 8 length of larvae fed either C. muelleri, C. calcitrans, or the TMD was significantly greater than in T‐ISO and P. salina fed larvae as well as the unfed control larvae. T‐ISO fed larvae had a significantly greater length compared to unfed larvae on Days 4, 6, and 8; however, larvae fed P. salina had a significantly greater length compared to unfed larvae on Days 6 and 8 only. Survival of larvae fed either C. muelleri or the TMD was significantly better than the flagellate fed and unfed larvae on Days 4, 8, and 12. There was no significant difference between survival of unfed larvae and larvae fed either T‐ISO or P. salina during the 12‐d larval culture period. On Day 12, larvae fed either a diatom or the TMD developed in excess of 84% competent doliolariae. Larvae fed C. muelleri had a significantly higher percentage competent doliolariae than larvae from all other treatments except the TMD. Neither larvae fed either T‐ISO or P. salina nor unfed larvae developed any competent doliolariae. In conclusion, this study showed C. muelleri to be the most effective of the four microalgae tested as a single microalgal diet for larval H. scabra and, as such, C. muelleri will be used as a reference diet in future studies.
The Effect of Varying Biomass of Carryover Fish in Multiple‐batch Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Pond Production
Authors: Engle Carole , Thompson Miles , Nanninga Adam
Published: December 2011

The presence of carryover (fish >350 g stocked the previous year but not yet market size) channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, in multiple‐batch production ponds has been shown to affect overall production performance and costs. However, little attention has been paid to effects of varying biomasses of carryover fish in ponds. Twelve 0.1‐ha earthen ponds were stocked March 20, 2007, with 15,000 catfish fingerlings per ha (mean weight 31 g), and carryover fish at either 726, 1460, or 2187 kg/ha (mean weight 408 g, range 204–703 g) to compare the effect of three different biomasses of carryover catfish on the production performance of understocked fingerlings. Gross and net yields increased with increasing biomass of carryover fish. Growth and mean weight at harvest of fingerlings were significantly greater at the lowest biomass of carryover fish (<1460 kg/ha), but there was no difference between the medium and high carryover density treatments. Net returns were highest with the highest biomass of carryover fish, but fell by $688/ha in Year 2 because of slower growth of fingerlings in Year 1.
Antipodean Ummah: Islam and Muslims in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Pratt Douglas
Published: December 2011

Islam first came to Australia in the 17th century and to New Zealand in the late 19th century. However, it was to be many years before distinctive Muslim communities would emerge in either country. Although there are some similarities in terms of historical dynamics, the specific modern history of each of these countries, and so of the Muslim communities within them, is quite different.
Ploughshares into Swords? St. Augustine’s Ethics of Political Violence
Authors: Gorry Jonathan
Published: December 2011

St. Augustine’s efforts to reconcile Christ’s teaching with the requirements of statecraft led him to became the founder of a theory of comparative justice we now call just war. Just war was designed to limit the nature and scope of imperial Roman warfare. Post‐Constantine Christian attitudes to the use of organised political violence have largely been interpreted and guided by this tradition. Over time the term just war has been expanded beyond its specifically Christian component to represent the dominant Western line of moral thinking on war. The key issue in this paper is to review the common conceptual vocabulary that unites just war theorists and claims Augustine as its key progenitor.
Exploring the Milk‐Clotting Properties of a Plant Coagulant from the Berries of S. elaeagnifolium var. Cavanilles
Authors: Néstor Gutiérrez‐Méndez , Dely Rubí Chávez‐Garay , Héctor Jiménez‐Campos
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  Solanum elaeagnifolium (trompillo or silverleaf nightshade) is an endemic plant from the northeast of Mexico and southwest of United States. This plant is considered as a weed with negative impact on agriculture and livestock production. Nevertheless, in some places of Chihuahua, Mexico, the berries of this plant have been used for decades in the manufacture of artisanal filata‐type asadero cheese. The milk‐clotting enzyme of S. elaeagnifolium has been scarcely studied; for this reason, the aim of this work was to explore some properties of this plant coagulant. Protein extracts (PEs) from ripe berries of S. elaeagnifolium were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and assessed for milk‐clotting activity. In addition, milk gels and miniature fresh‐type cheeses manufactured with the plant coagulant were analyzed for their texture properties. The PE from the berries of S. elaeagnifolium contained 8 proteins with molecular weights from 22 to 62 kDa. Some bands observed in the PE had similar molecular weights as reported for aspartic proteinases such as chymosin. The extracts from the berries of S. elaeagnifolium had lower milk‐cloting activities than observed with rennin or chymosin, but this plant coagulant produced firm gels under acidic conditions. The mini‐cheeses manufactured with this coagulant were softer than cheeses manufactured with rennin or chymosin. For this reason, the coagulant from the ripe berries of S. elaeagnifolium could be suitable not only for the manufacture of filata‐type cheeses but also for the manufacture of soft cheeses such as cream cheese.

Practical Application:  Silverleaf nightshade (trompillo) is a plant that grows in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. This plant is considered a weed with negative impact on agriculture and livestock production. However, the ripe berries of this plant have been used by ancient Pima Indians as a substitute of rennin in making cheese. In this work, it was observed that this plant coagulant had lower activity and produced softer cheeses than did rennin or chymosin. For this reason, the coagulant from berries of S. elaeagnifolium could be used for the manufacture of soft cheeses such as cream cheese.
Evaporation Front Compared with Crust Thickness in Potato Deep‐Fat Frying
Authors: Lioumbas John S. , Karapantsios Thodoris D.
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  The various theoretical approaches that have been proposed for modeling heat and mass transport during deep‐fat frying of potatoes provide a rather ambiguous view of the relation between the propagation of the evaporation front inside the food and the evolution of crust thickness. This can be partly attributed to the unavailability of detailed experimental information concerning the temperature field inside the developing crust to validate the models. The objective of the present work is to experimentally study the relation between crust thickness evolution and evaporation front propagation and how this varies with frying conditions. To achieve this goal, a special device has been constructed that permits (1) only 1 side of a potato stick to be exposed to hot oil, and (2) accurate and stable placement of miniature thermocouples in prescribed positions under but very close to the potato surface. Temperature recordings inside the developing crust allowed identification of different heating regimes during frying and a rough estimation of the evaporation front propagation. In addition, crust thickness was determined at intermittent time intervals by 2 independent methods (1) microphotography and (2) a micrometer. Comparison of the evaporation front propagation with crust thickness evolution indicates an interrelationship roughly up to the end of the boiling regime (bubble‐end point). After this moment, the propagation of the evaporation front is faster than the evolution of crust thickness.

Practical Application:  Understanding the role of parameters that determine crust formation is of paramount importance since crust characteristics such as thickness and texture dictate the sensory perception of fried foods. This study aims to quantify the relationship between such parameters (that is, crust evolution and the propagation of the evaporation front inside the food) and to examine how frying conditions (oil temperature and frying duration) affect it. In addition, the present findings may be of particular value to deterministic modeling efforts on the coupled heat and mass transfer phenomena during deep‐fat frying.
Inhibitory Effects of UV Treatment and a Combination of UV and Dry Heat against Pathogens on Stainless Steel and Polypropylene Surfaces
Authors: Bae Young‐Min , Lee Sun‐Young
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  Pathogens that contaminate the surfaces of food utensils may contribute to the occurrence of foodborne disease outbreaks. We investigated the efficacy of UV treatment combined with dry heat (50 °C) for inhibiting 5 foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus) on stainless steel and polypropylene surfaces in this study. We inoculated substrates with each of the 5 foodborne pathogens cultured on agar surface and then UV treatment alone or a combination of both UV and dry heat (50 °C) was applied for 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h. The initial populations of the 5 pathogens before treatment were 8.02 to 9.18 and 8.73 to 9.16 log10 CFU/coupon on the surfaces of stainless steel and polypropylene coupons, respectively. UV treatments for 3 h significantly inhibited S. Typhimurium, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus on the stainless steel by 3.06, 2.18, and 2.70 log10 CFU/coupon, and S. aureus on the polypropylene by 3.11 log10 CFU/coupon, respectively. The inhibitory effects of the combined UV and dry heat treatment (50 °C) increased as treatment time increased, yielding significant reductions in all samples treated for 3 h, with the exception of S. aureus on polypropylene. The reduction level of E. coli O157:H7 treated for 3 h on the surface of stainless steel and polypropylene treated was approximately 6.00 log10 CFU/coupon. These results indicate that combined UV and dry heat (50 °C) treatments may be effective for controlling microbial contamination on utensils and cooking equipment surfaces as well as in other related environments.