bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mycotoxins in poultry production
Authors: Resanovic Radmila , Nesic Ksenija , Nesic Vladimir , Palic Todor , Jacevic Vesna
Published: May 2009

All poultry is sensitive to mycotoxins. This partly depends on the type, age and production categories of poultry, their living conditions and nutritive status and partly on the type, quantity and duration of mycotoxin ingestion. The presence of mycotoxins results in significant health disorders and a decrease in production performances. This leads to considerable economic loss for the poultry industry - either direct losses, i.e. death of the poultry or the indirect ones, i.e. the decrease in body mass, number and quality of eggs, greater food conversion, and immunosuppression. Immunosuppression results in increased sensitivity to infective agents and a bad vaccinal response. Morevover, mycotoxin residues in poultry meat, eggs and products derived from them pose a threat to human health. In order to prevent and reduce the negative implications of mycotoxins in the poultry production, it is necessary to create both global and national strategies for combatting mycotoxins, advance diagnostic techniques and procedures, intensify the control of food quality, introduce new limits on the maximum amount of mycotoxins allowed in food and poultry feed used for certain species and categories of animals, and synchronise it with the European standards.
Investigation of toxigenic potential of fungal species by the use of simple screening method
Authors: Bocarov-Stancic Aleksandra , Levic Jelena , Dimic Gordana , Stankovic Slavica , Salma Natasa
Published: May 2009

Potential for the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 (AFLB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), T-2 toxin (T2), and zearalenone (ZON) was investigated in different fungal species belonging to the genera: Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. The majority of investigated isolates originated from cereal grains, crushed oil soybean seed and fodder mixtures. The simple screening method developed by Filtenborg et al. (1983) was applied with few modifications concerning the type of the medium and cultivation temperature. In order to optimise the biosynthetic conditions for different mycotoxins, the following control cultures, known as mycotin producers were used: OTA - A. ochraceus CBS 108.08, DAS - F. semitectum (SL-B i SL-C), T2 - F. sporotrichioides (ITM-391, M-1-1, R-2301) and ZON - F. graminearum (GZ-LES). The fungi were cultivated on the standard medium (YESA - 2% yeast extract, 15% sucrose and 2% agar, pH 6.5), three modifications of the basic medium (YESAZn - the standard medium supplemented with 0.23 mg/l ZnSO4 x 5 H2O; PPSA - the medium in which yeast extract was replaced with peptone-1; PPSAZn - the medium in which yeast extract was replaced with peptone-1 and supplemented with 0.23 mg/l ZnSO4 x 5 H2O), and the potato-dextrose agar (PDA). The earlier biosynthesis of tested mycotoxins was recorded under the following cultivation conditions of fungal species: AFLB1 - after 14 days on PDA at 27?1?C, OTA - after 10 days on YESA and YESAZn at 27?1?C, DAS - after 10 days on PPSA and PPSAZn at 27?1?C, T2 - after 7 days on PPSAZn and PPSA at room temperature (20-24?C), and ZON - after 1 week on YESA and YESAZn at room temperature (21-24?C).
Examination of the efficacy of various feed additives on the pathomorphological changes in broilers treated with T-2 toxin
Authors: Nesic Vladimir , Marinkovic Darko , Nesic Ksenija , Resanovic Radmila
Published: May 2009

A 21-day-long experiment was performed on 160 one-day-old 'Ross' broiler chicks. This research was done with the aim of investigating pathomorphological changes in broilers exposed to a relatively small amount of T-2 toxin (2 ppm) and the possibility of prevention and/or alleviating adverse effects of T-2 toxin using various feed additives. Pathohistological examination showed negative consequences of T-2 toxin in all examined organs as degenerative changes developed in small intestine mucosa, enterocites and hepatocites necroses, as well as lymphocites depletion in bursa of Fabricius. Disparately from inorganic (Minazel-plus, Mz) and organic (Mycosorb, Ms) adsorbents, which did not provoke protective effects, in liver, small intestine and bursa of Fabricius of broilers who were given feed with T-2 toxin and mixed adsorbent (Mycofix-plus, Mf), mostly preserved structure of these organs could be noted.
Effects of fertilisers on winter wheat infection caused by Fusarium species
Authors: Krnjaja Vesna , Levic Jelena , Nesic Zorica , Stankovic Slavica
Published: May 2009

Effects of fertilisers on the grain yield (t ha-1) and the development of mycobiota, especially of the Fusarium species, in winter wheat kernels were observed. Fertilisers were applied in the following variants: T1 - 30m3 of slurry (pre-sowing treatment) and 25 m3 of slurry (top-dressing), T2 - 22.500 kg of manure (pre-sowing treatment) and 220 kg of urea (top-dressing), T3 - 300 kg of urea (top-dressing) and T4 - the control without application of fertilisers. The average wheat grain yield was the highest in the treatment T2 (6.9 t ha-1), then in T3 (6.3 t ha-1) and T1 (6.2 t ha-1), while the lowest wheat grain yield (4.3 t ha-1) was registered in the control (T4). Fungi of genera Alternaria (88.8-96.3%) and Fusarium (3.7-11.1%) were mainly isolated from all wheat kernel samples collected after harvest (T1-T4). Species of the genus Dreschlera were isolated in treatments T1 (0.3%) and T2 (0.2%). The species Stemphylium botryosum was isolated only in the treatment T1 (0.2%). F. graminearum (3.5-10.8%) was isolated from wheat kernels in all observed treatments, while F. sporotrichioides was isolated in treatments T1 (0.6%), T2 (0.5%) and T3 (0.3%). F. poae (0.3%) and F. subglutinans (0.2%) were isolated in the treatment T2, while F. graminearum was predominantly present in treatments T3 (10.8%), T1 (8.7%) and T2 (7.8%), and in the control T4 (3.5%). The obtained results point out that the application of urea affected the decrease in the intensity of Alternaria species infestation, but it also affected the increase of frequency of Fusarium species, especially F. graminearum, in comparison with the control and other treatments. Negative correlation was registered between the grain yield and the intensity of infestation of Fusarium species (collectively) and F. graminearum (individually).
The frequency of occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk on the territory of Vojvodina
Authors: Polovinski-Horvatovic Miroslava , Juric Verica , Glamocic Dragan
Published: May 2009

Aflatoxin is one of the most common mycotoxins which can be found in milk. It represents a natural metabolite of aflatoxin B1 that occurs as a result of animal metabolism and the body's attempt to detoxificate it. It is excreted in milk, feces and urine of animals that consumed contaminated feed with aflatoxin B1. The carry-over from feed to milk depends on many factors, ranging from 0.3 to 6.2%. Aflatoxin M1 is in the first group of carcinogens according to the IRAC classification from 2002, but it is considered to have only 10% of carcinogenicity from its precursor aflatoxin B1. Legislation in member countries of European Union for this mycotoxin in milk intended for people is 0.05 ?g/l, while the rest of the countries that also have legislation for this mycotoxin allow the concentration that is ten times higher, and that is 0.5 ?g/l. In this paper, we have tried to provide on insight into the quality of milk, food often consumed by children, from the standpoint of mycotoxicology, and to compare the obtained data with data available from literature, from countries in the region that have similar climatic and agricultural conditions. From a total of 65 samples of processed milk, aflatoxin M1 was found in 18 samples and none of the samples exceeded the level of 0.05 ?g/l, which is allowed by the legislation of the European Union.
Gibberella fujikuroi (Sawada) Wollenweber, the new parasitical fungus on rice in the Republic of Macedonia
Authors: Karov Ilija , Mitrev Sasa , Kostadinovska Emilija
Published: May 2009

The recent observation of Gibberella fujikuroi (Sawada) Wollenworth (teleomorph) (anamorf: Fusarium moniliforme Sheld.) Fusarium fujikuroi Nirenberg (anamorph), F. moniliforme J. Sheld. (synonym), the causal agent of Bakanae disease in rice fields, provides an opportunity to observe the characteristics of the pathogen and the possibility of prevention in Kocani area. Plant material with Gibberella fujikuroi symptoms was collected from rice (Oryza sativa) over the period of 3 years (from 2006 to 2008). Within this study, the presence and damage caused by this pathogenic fungus were confirmed. The objective of this study was a continuous field observation of symptoms in order to establish the percentage of infection and use of laboratory methods for proper protection.
Gibberella intermedia the pathogen of St. John's Wort, coneflower and marshmallow in Serbia
Authors: Pavlovic Snezana , Stojsin Vera , Stojanovic Sasa , Starovic Mira , Bagi Ferenc , Budakov Dragana
Published: May 2009

Gibberella intermedia (Kuhlmann) Samuels et al. (anamorf: Fusarium proliferatum /Matsushima/ Nirenberg) was isolated from seeds of St. John's wort, marshmallow, and coneflower, as well as from roots and stalks of marshmallow and roots of coneflower. These plants had symptoms of leaf chlorosis, malformation, withering and plant dwarfing and were collected from several localities in Serbia during five-year investigations of mycopopulations of the mentioned plants. The morphological characteristics of the pathogen were described.
Role of fungi in biodeterioration process of stone in historic buildings
Authors: Ljaljevic-Grbic Milica , Vukojevic Jelena
Published: May 2009

Fungal ability in production of pigments and organic acids have crucial role in discoloration and degradation of different types of stone in cultural heritage objects. Additionally, stone objects may support novel communities of microorganisms that are active in biodeterioration process. This investigation focuses on mycological analyses of microbial biofilm from two important buildings, made of granite and sandstone, and which were heavily colonized by fungi. The 23 fungal taxa including filamentous microfungi and yeasts with specific distribution on sandstone and granite substrate were isolated. Melanized fungi from Dematiaceae (Deuteromycotina) were dominant. The identified microfungi cause discoloration, as well as mechanical exfoliation of building stone material that was analyzed through mechanical hyphae penetration and production of dark pigments and organic acids.
Chronic candidiasis - pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Klajn-Laslo Marija
Published: May 2009

The yeast named Candida normally colonizes the gut and vagina without causing any sign of its presence. It is a commensal and opportune fungus but in certain conditions it turns to be pathogenic, causing chronic disturbances in any part of the body. The pathogenesis is complex, signs and symptoms are non-specific. The colonisation is difficult to distinguish from invasive disease. The current diagnostic methods do not always allow a definitive diagnosis to be made. Treatment is complex, individual and no protocol can be created. The author tries to give an overview of the Candida related problem.
Student Perceptions and Cognitive Load: What Can They Tell Us about e-Learning Web 2.0 Course Design?
Authors: Lambert Judy , Kalyuga Slava , Capan Lisa A.
Published: May 2009

The described study investigated the effectiveness of an e-learning Web 2.0 course redesigned from the perspective of cognitive load theory. The analyzed variables were course wiki design features, levels of instructor support, levels of cognitive load and engagement, and values students placed on particular pedagogical approaches used during instruction. Descriptive statistics were used to examine potential relationships between students' prior experience in distance learning and using technology, anxiety, and engagement. Results suggest that prior experience in distance education and technology is associated with lower anxiety and higher engagement. Web 2.0 technologies may not impose excessive levels of mental load when intrinsic and extraneous cognitive loads are reduced sufficiently by providing an organized and clear course design and selecting engaging materials and activities suitable for different levels of learner expertise. While experienced learners tend to be more engaged in cognitively challenging activities that require higher level cognitive processes, novices usually need more scaffolds.
E-Learning at Work: Towards a Participative Approach
Authors: Grundén Kerstin
Published: May 2009

A case study focusing on learning outcomes from a web-based course and integration of new knowledge into work practices at the County Administration of Sweden is analysed. The study has a process-orientated longitudinal character combining different methodological approaches. The current work situation of the workers was studied using interviews. A questionnaire was distributed to the first hundred learners after they had passed the course. Telephone interviews were then made a month after the course. The respondents were more positive with respect to the usefulness of the course for their work immediately after completing the course, compared with their interview responses a month later. When they answered the questionnaire they also thought it was easier to get time for the course, than they indicated later in the telephone interviews. Likely reasons for this discrepancy are considered. The study shows the risk of obtaining inflated positive judgements of a course when the evaluation is made immediately following course completion. Instead, a process-oriented evaluation is recommended, evaluating both the work situation before the course, the comprehension of the course immediately after the course has been passed, and evaluation a month after the course has been passed. Although a majority of the learners had an overall positive judgement of the course, about half of them had not applied the new knowledge to their work, a month after the course. A participative approach with discussions in local work groups before and after the course, supported by local management, is proposed in order to facilitate integration of knowledge from the course into the work practices.
Instructor Perceptions of E-Learning in an Arab Country: Kuwait University as a Case Study
Authors: Al-Fadhli Salah
Published: May 2009

The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT), especially the recent explosive growth of Internet capacities, offers tremendous educational opportunities. The future growth and development of e-learning technologies is, perhaps, the most important of these trends in the realm of education. In fact, e-learning in particular is slowly being accepted as one of the criteria of a progressive, innovative, and leading higher educational institution. The Internet has created a new paradigm of learning which can allow teachers and students to teach and learn collaboratively via web-designed courses. While the quantitative impact of e-learning, such as cost effectiveness, can be easily measured, articulating the qualitative effectiveness of e-learning is more challenging. While the bulk of the studies related to e-learning focus on the quantitative impact of e-learning, the purpose of this research is to study the pedagogical impact of e-learning on higher education, specifically the university-level educational institution within an Arab university setting. Despite the existence of the varied number of significant challenges associated with teaching staff attitudes toward the e-learning model and with the institutional support for staff engaged on working with the e-learning environment, this study shows that e-learning has an important role in the enhancement and development of students' critical thinking. As a result, if academic institutions wish to develop e-learning initiatives, they must be receptive to implementing effective strategies to support such a beneficial and innovative initiative for the benefit of student learning.
Effects of Structured Versus Usual Care on Renal Endpoint in Type 2 Diabetes: The SURE Study
Authors: Chan Juliana C. , So Wing-Yee , Yeung Chun-Yip , Ko Gary T. , Lau Ip-Tim , Tsang Man-Wo , Lau Kam-Piu , Siu Sing-Chung , Li June K. , Yeung Vincent T. , Leung Wilson Y. , Tong Peter C. ,   for the SURE Study Group
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVE

Multifaceted care has been shown to reduce mortality and complications in type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that structured care would reduce renal complications in type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 205 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients from nine public hospitals who had plasma creatinine levels of 150–350 μmol/l were randomly assigned to receive structured care (n = 104) or usual care (n = 101) for 2 years. The structured care group was managed according to a prespecified protocol with the following treatment goals: blood pressure <130/80 mmHg, A1C <7%, LDL cholesterol <2.6 mmol/l, triglyceride <2 mmol/l, and persistent treatment with renin-angiotensin blockers. The primary end point was death and/or renal end point (creatinine >500 μmol/l or dialysis).

RESULTS

Of these 205 patients (mean ± SD age 65 ± 7.2 years; disease duration 14 ± 7.9 years), the structured care group achieved better control than the usual care group (diastolic blood pressure 68 ± 12 vs. 71 ± 12 mmHg, respectively, P = 0.02; A1C 7.3 ± 1.3 vs. 8.0 ± 1.6%, P < 0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, and study sites, the structured care (23.1%, n = 24) and usual care (23.8%, n = 24; NS) groups had similar end points, but more patients in the structured care group attained ≥3 treatment goals (61%, n = 63, vs. 28%, n = 28; P < 0.001). Patients who attained ≥3 treatment targets (n = 91) had reduced risk of the primary end point (14 vs. 34; relative risk 0.43 [95% CI 0.21–0.86] compared with that of those who attained ≤2 targets (n = 114).

CONCLUSIONS

Attainment of multiple treatment targets reduced the renal end point and death in type 2 diabetes. In addition to protocol, audits and feedback are needed to improve outcomes.
Valence intersubband gain without population inversion
Authors: Pereira Mauro
Published: May 2009

Terahertz gain without population inversion is studied in thin III–V semiconductor quantum wells. Nonequilibrium hole populations leading to intervalence gain in the transverse electric mode are investigated. The results are obtained with a Keldysh Nonequilibrium Green’s Functions approach that takes into account bandstructure, manybody and nonequilibrium effects.
Tendencias recientes de la organización espacial de los usos del suelo en las grandes ciudades latinoamericanas: el caso del Gran Santiago (Chile)
Authors: Escolano Severino
Published: May 2009

Todas las grandes ciudades latinoamericanas han registrado durante las tres últimas décadas profundos procesos de transformación que han afectado a su base económica, a sus estructuras sociales, y a su organización espacial y funcional. La configuración de los usos del suelo, que sintetiza bien la interacción entre los agentes urbanos, ha sido una de las dimensiones tocadas por los movimientos de cambio. La hipótesis aquí sustentada mantiene que el modelo tradicional monocéntrico, caracterizado por un gradiente descendente centro-periferia de la intensidad de los usos del suelo, está evolucionando hacia otro mono-policéntrico. Del examen de los resultados se puede concluir que la estructura tradicional de los usos del suelo se encuentra en una fase transicional de fragmentación que dará lugar a un modelo más complejo. El nacimiento de núcleos periféricos de elevada intensidad de uso del suelo comercial y de servicios, así como el considerable refuerzo de un sector adyacente al centro histórico tradicional, confirman que la configuración actual de la estructura de los usos del suelo está gobernada no sólo por distancia al centro urbano, sino también por otros factores, cómo la accesibilidad y el status socioeconómico.
El proceso de urbanización en la cuenca del río Chillán y su capacidad adaptativa ante precipitaciones extremas
Authors: Henríquez Ruiz Cristian
Published: May 2009

Chillán ha sido golpeado históricamente por fenómenos hidrometeorológicos, uno de los más recientes fue el de julio de 2006 que generó grandes daños, damnificados y víctimas fatales, lo que ha demostrado la alta vulnerabilidad y baja capacidad adaptativa de la cuenca. En esta investigación se analiza el proceso de urbanización en la cuenca de Chillán entre 1976-2007 y su relación en el cambio en la escorrentía superficial. Si bien se observa un aumento poco significativo en los montos de escorrentía estimados, las tendencias de urbanización, estudios de inundación y consecuencias de precipitaciones torrenciales, demuestran la importancia de contar con instrumentos de planificación territorial que actúen de manera preventiva y no reactiva frente a estos fenómenos.
El rol de la ciudad infiltrada en la reconfiguración de la periferia metropolitana de Santiago de Chile
Authors: Naranjo Ramírez Gloria
Published: May 2009

El DL 3.516/80 permite la división de predios rústicos hasta 0,5 hectárea. Su aplicación en la periferia de Santiago ha generado la urbanización del campo al margen de los instrumentos de ordenamiento territorial, que regulan solo los espacios urbanos. Santiago sufrió una fuerte expansión hasta que en 1994, el Plan Regulador Metropolitano de Santiago (PRMS), fija el límite urbano. Su aparición genera procesos de subdivisión predial y de especulación sobre la tierra, al amparo del DL 3.516/80. Esta investigación estudia el Impacto territorial del DL 3.516/80 y su relación con el PRMS en la periferia de Santiago de Chile. Mediante un análisis bibliográfico y cartográfico, entrevistas a agentes locales claves y el uso del SIG, se determina la superficie afectada por el DL 3.516, la calidad de sus suelos y la superficie perdida para la agricultura por la urbanización del campo, con lo que se constituye la “ciudad infiltrada”.
Geografía y nación. Claudio Gay y la primera representación cartográfica de Chile
Authors: Sagredo Baeza Rafael
Published: May 2009

El trabajo aborda la obra cartográfica del naturalista de origen francés Claudio Gay quién, contrado por el gobierno chileno en 1830 para explorar, reconocer y estudiar el territorio chileno y sus recursos, terminó preparando la primera cartografía de carácter nacional del país. El quehacer geográfico de Gay es apreciado en el contexto de las relaciones entre ciencia y poder, y sus mapas interpretados como un instrumento esencial de la administración estatal en cuanto herramienta para la integración territorial y el ejercicio de la soberanía.
Ensayo de análisis conductual sobre los hitos de la diplomacia chilena entre las primeras y las últimas décadas del siglo XX
Authors: Durán S. Roberto
Published: May 2009

Este es un ensayo que intenta explicar desde una perspectiva conductualista el desarrollo de la política exterior chilena durante el siglo pasado. Así, el brusco cambio de status político regional hacia fines del siglo XIX, los nocivos efectos internos producidos por la crisis económico-financiera mundial durante los años 1929-1931, las consecuencias de los cambios sociales y políticos durante los años 30, 40 y 50 son, entre otros, los aspectos de mayor relieve en este trabajo. Ciertamente, las gravitantes consecuencias y proyecciones del cese de la democracia-representativa en 1973 y la posterior redemocratización política durante la década pasada son temas esenciales en este ensayo.
El conocimiento geográfico de la Patagonia interior y la construcción de la imagen de Torres del Paine como patrimonio natural a conservar
Authors: Ferrer Jiménez Daniel
Published: May 2009

El Parque Nacional de las Torres del Paine (XII Región, Chile), el Macizo Paine y su entorno, constituye un hito en la imagen de la naturaleza del mundo andino patagónico, en los inicios del primer conservacionismo de América del Sur y en los estudios científicos sobre esa parte del Planeta. En relación con ello, además, el Paine ha sido, desde su “descubrimiento” científico y viajero hace más de un siglo, un referente fundamental de las primeras propuestas de turismo de naturaleza asociado a la idea de la conservación y un reto de primer orden para las expediciones alpinas. Esas circunstancias explican que en la tesis doctoral del autor del presente artículo se dedicase un capítulo completo a analizar las principales aportaciones en el proceso de conocimiento geográfico de la Patagonia interior y construcción de la imagen de Torres del Paine como patrimonio natural a conservar. Sobre este tema versa precisamente este texto, en el que se aporta una información original sobre las exploraciones de reconocimiento geográfico que tuvieron lugar entre 1877 y 1896 en la Patagonia interior, por iniciativa de los gobiernos de Chile y Argentina; el primer viaje turístico conocido a la región chilena de Magallanes; el papel de los primeros “visionarios” del turismo andino-patagónico chileno, agrupados en torno a la figura de Werner Gromsh y el Touring Club; o la labor geográfica, científica y divulgativa desempeñada por el salesiano italiano Alberto Maria De Agostini. El artículo concluye con algunas consideraciones relativas a las primeras expediciones alpinísticas que tuvieron como objetivo las cumbres del Macizo del Paine.
Suitability of the Betic Cordillera marly materials for the manufacture of pressed tile
Authors: Vázquez M. , Jiménez-Millán J.
Published: May 2009

This paper assesses the aptness of Carbonero Formation (in the Spanish province of Jaén) marls for the manufacture of high added value ceramic construction materials. Lithologically speaking, the Carbonero Formation comprises three members: a) a marly lower member; b) a radiolaritic middle member; and c) a turbiditic upper member. The samples studied were rich in phyllosilicates (> 39%) and calcite. The quartz and feldspar contents were low (< 27%). The majority phyllosilicates were illite-smectite mixed layers (14-50%) and illite (32-74%). Kaolinite, chlorite and palygorskite were also detected. The highest CaO content was found in the marls in the lower and intermediate members (18-27%). The particle size distributions of ground marls were similar for the < 2 µm and 2-20 µm fractions. The > 20 µm fraction was absent. Due to their low plasticity, most Carbonero Formation marls can only be pressure moulded. Their high linear shrinkage and water absorption values when fired at 800 to 1 000 ºC make them poorly suited for use in the ceramic industry. Blends of these marls with different proportions of supplementary materials may be apt for manufacturing light shades of pressed ceramic tile.
Estudio en célula Hull de un baño electrolítico de NiW y evaluación de sus propiedades
Authors: García-Urrutia I. , Díez J. A. , Müller C. , Calvillo P.
Published: May 2009

El interés en los recubrimientos de NiW ha aumentado en los últimos años debido a sus buenas propiedades como dureza, resistencia al desgaste y resistencia a la corrosión, situándolos como una de las alternativas a los actuales recubrimientos de cromo duro. En este trabajo se ha estudiado, mediante el empleo de célula Hull, la influencia de la concentración de metales, la temperatura, el pH y la densidad de corriente sobre la composición de la aleación y su espesor. Asimismo se han estudiado las principales propiedades de los depósitos de NiW como morfología, dureza, y resistencia a la abrasión y a la corrosión.
Health, well-being and wellness: An anthropological eco-systemic approach
Authors: Kirsten Tiaan G.J.C. , Van der Walt Hannes J.L. , Viljoen Charles T.
Published: May 2009

More than two decades ago, Fritjof Capra commended - and indeed advocated – a paradigm shift in health science and care. In his book The Turning Point (1982) he talks of a major shift from the preoccupation with micro-organisms to a careful study of the ‘host organism and its environment’, of ‘significant attempts to develop a unified approach to the mind/body system’ in Western medicine, of  ‘a new holistic paradigm’ (as opposed to ‘the old biomedical paradigm’) regarding the problem of health and healing, of ‘a holistic and humanistic approach to primary care’, and of ‘a holistic therapy’ as opposed to ‘the traditional biochemical practice of associating a physical disease with a specific physical cause’. Our concern in this article is with the paradigm shift advocated by Capra in this book and the progress that has since been made.OpsommingMeer as twee dekades gelede het Fritjof Capra ‘n pleidooi gelewer vir ‘n paradigmaskuif vanaf die bio- mediese model na ‘n meer holistiese, ekosistemiese model van gesondheid en genesing. Die vraag wat in hierdie artikel aan die orde kom is of praktisyns in die veld van die gesondheidswetenskappe sedertdien daarin geslaag het om die oorgang na die aanbevole paradigma te maak. ‘n Oorsig van die literatuur sedert 1982 toon dat die skuif nog nie regtig gemaak is nie. ‘n Ander literatuuroorsig toon voorts dat die terme ‘gesondheid’, ‘well-being’ en ‘wellness’ as uitruilbaar beskou word en dat hulle betekenisse meermale afhang van die gebruikskonteks. Op grond van hulle bespreking van die antropologiese ekosistemiese benadering tot gesondheid en genesing stel die outeurs voor dat die terme ‘gesondheid’ en ‘wellness’ as korrelatiewe gebruik word, en dat die term ‘well-being’ gebruik word vir al die domeine van menslike lewe en bestaan wat kan bydra tot gesondheid, oftewel ‘wellness’.
PEI–PEG–Chitosan‐Copolymer‐Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Safe Gene Delivery: Synthesis, Complexation, and Transfection
Authors: Kievit Forrest M. , Veiseh Omid , Bhattarai Narayan , Fang Chen , Gunn Jonathan W. , Lee Donghoon , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Olson James M. , Zhang Miqin
Published: May 2009

Gene therapy offers the potential of mediating disease through modification of specific cellular functions of target cells. However, effective transport of nucleic acids to target cells with minimal side effects remains a challenge despite the use of unique viral and non‐viral delivery approaches. Here, a non‐viral nanoparticle gene carrier that demonstrates effective gene delivery and transfection both in vitro and in vivo is presented. The nanoparticle system (NP–CP–PEI) is made of a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (NP), which enables magnetic resonance imaging, coated with a novel copolymer (CP–PEI) comprised of short chain polyethylenimine (PEI) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafted to the natural polysaccharide, chitosan (CP), which allows efficient loading and protection of the nucleic acids. The function of each component material in this nanoparticle system is illustrated by comparative studies of three nanoparticle systems of different surface chemistries, through material property characterization, DNA loading and transfection analyses, and toxicity assessment. Significantly, NP–CP–PEI demonstrates an innocuous toxic profile and a high level of expression of the delivered plasmid DNA in a C6 xenograft mouse model, making it a potential candidate for safe in vivo delivery of DNA for gene therapy.
Thermomechanical characteristics of benzoxazine–urethane copolymers and their carbon fiber‐reinforced composites
Authors: Rimdusit Sarawut , Liengvachiranon Chalinee , Tiptipakorn Sunan , Jubsilp Chanchira
Published: May 2009

Copolymers of polybenzoxazine (BA‐a) and urethane elastomer (PU) with three different structures of isocyanates [i.e., toluene diisocyanate (TDI), diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and isophorone diisocyanate], were examined. The experimental results reveal that the enhancement in glass transition temperature (Tg) of BA‐a/PU copolymers was clearly observed [i.e., Tg of the BA‐a/PU copolymers in 60 : 40 BA‐a : PU system for all isocyanate types (Tg beyond 230°C) was higher than those of the parent resins (165°C for BA‐a and −70°C for PU)]. It was reported that the degradation temperature increased from 321°C to about 330°C with increasing urethane content. Furthermore, the flexural strength synergism was found at the BA‐a : PU ratio of 90 : 10 for all types of isocyanates. The effect of urethane prepolymer based on TDI rendered the highest Tg, flexural modulus, and flexural strength of the copolymers among the three isocyanates used. The preferable isocyanate of the binary systems for making high processable carbon fiber composites was based on TDI. The flexural strength of the carbon fiber‐reinforced BA‐a : PU based on TDI at 80 wt % of the fiber in cross‐ply orientation provided relatively high values of about 490 MPa. The flexural modulus slightly decreased from 51 GPa for polybenzoxazine to 48 GPa in the 60 : 40 BA‐a : PU system. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Polymer structure of commercial hydrolyzable tannins by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Pizzi A. , Pasch H. , Rode K. , Giovando S.
Published: May 2009

The structures of six commercial hydrolyzable tannins, chestnut, oak, tara, sumach, chinese gall, and turkey gall tannins have been examined by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry. Their oligomeric structures and structure distributions have been defined. Degradation products of rather different structure than what previously reported were present. Different galloyl glucose monomers were observed for chestnut and oak tannin extracts and in chinese gall gallotannin extract. Combination of positive‐ and negative‐mode MALDI‐TOF showed that most galloyl residues of the galloyl glucose chains were stripped from a skeletal glucose chain. Oligomers, in some cases up to 16 or 17 glucose units long, almost totally stripped of galloyl residues were observed. This indicated that a wide distribution up to very long gaIloylglucose chains exist in most commercial hydrolyzable tannin extracts. This indicated that these commercial tannin extracts are mainly composed of long galloyl glucose chains of mixed di‐, tri‐, and pentagalloyl glucose repeating units being present in the same chain. The presence of long glucose chains where most of the galloyl residues have been stripped indicates that their linkage may be sugar residue to sugar residue. Commercial tara and turkey gall tannins have been shown to be mainly polygallic oligomers of up to eight gallic acid residues linked to each other in a chain. Commercial sumach extract revealed itself a more complex mixture of glucose oligomers up to 13 repeating units. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Inducing normality from non‐Gaussian long memory time series and its application to stock return data
Authors: Ko Kyungduk
Published: May 2009

Motivated by Lee and Ko (Appl. Stochastic Models. Bus. Ind.2007;23:493–502) but not limited to the study, this paper proposes a wavelet‐based Bayesian power transformation procedure through the well‐known Box–Cox transformation to induce normality from non‐Gaussian long memory processes. We consider power transformations of non‐Gaussian long memory time series under the assumption of anunknowntransformation parameter, a situation that arises commonly in practice, while most research has been devoted to non‐linear transformations of Gaussian long memory time series withknowntransformation parameter. Specially, this study is mainly focused on the simultaneous estimation of the transformation parameter and long memory parameter. To this end, posterior estimations via Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are performed in the wavelet domain. Performances are assessed on a simulation study and a German stock return data set. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Considerations in assessing the developmental and reproductive toxicity potential of biopharmaceuticals
Authors: Martin Pauline L. , Breslin William , Rocca Meredith , Wright David , Cavagnaro Joy
Published: May 2009

This report discusses the principles of developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) testing for biopharmaceuticals. Biopharmaceuticals are large‐molecular‐weight proteins or peptides produced by modern biotechnology techniques incorporating genetic engineering and hybridoma technologies. The principles of DART testing for biopharmaceuticals are similar to those for small‐molecule pharmaceuticals and in general follow the regulatory guidance outlined in International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) document S5(R2). However, because many biopharmaceuticals are species‐specific, alternate approaches may be needed to evaluate DART potential as outlined in ICH S6. For molecules that show species‐specific cross‐reactivity restricted to non‐human primates (NHP), some aspects of DART may require NHP testing. For biopharmaceuticals that are uniquely specific and only active on intended human targets or human and chimpanzee targets, surrogate molecules that cross‐react with the more traditional rodent species may need to be developed and used for DART testing. Alternatively, genetically modified transgenic animals may also need to be considered. Surrogate molecules and transgenic animals may also be considered for DART testing even if the biopharmaceutical is active in NHPs in order to reduce the use of NHPs. Because of the unique properties of biopharmaceuticals, a case‐by‐case approach is needed for DART and general toxicity evaluation, which requires consideration of specific product attributes including biochemical and biophysical characteristics, pharmacological activity, and intended clinical indication. Birth Defects Res (Part B), 33:176–203, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrogenotrophic denitrification and perchlorate reduction in ion exchange brines using membrane biofilm reactors
Authors: Sahu Ashish K. , Conneely Teresa , Nüsslein Klaus , Ergas Sarina J.
Published: May 2009

Halophilic (salt loving), hydrogenotrophic (H2 oxidizing) denitrifying bacteria were investigated for treatment of nitrate <$>({\rm NO}_3^ ‐ )<$> and perchlorate <$>({\rm ClO}_4^ ‐ )<$> contaminated groundwater and ion exchange (IX) brines. Hydrogenotrophic denitrifying bacteria were enriched from a denitrifying wastewater seed under both halophilc and non‐halophilc conditions. The cultures were inoculated into bench‐scale membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) with an “outside in” configuration, with contaminated water supplied to the lumen of the membranes and H2 supplied to the shell. Abiotic mass transfer tests showed that H2 mass transfer coefficients were lower in brines than in tap water at highest Reynolds number, possibly due to increased transport of salts and decreased H2 solubility at the membrane/liquid interface. An average <$>{\rm NO}_3^ ‐ <$> removal efficiency of 93% was observed for the MBfR operated in continuous flow mode with synthetic contaminated groundwater. Removal efficiencies of 30% for <$>{\rm NO}_3^ ‐ <$> and 42% for <$>{\rm ClO}_4^ ‐ <$> were observed for the MBfR operated with synthetic IX brine in batch operating mode with a reaction time of 53 h. Phylogenetic analysis focused on the active microbial community and revealed that halotolerant, <$>{\rm NO}_3^ ‐ <$>‐reducing bacteria of the bacterial classes Gamma‐Proteobacteria and Sphingobacteria were the metabolically dominant members within the stabilized biofilm. This study shows that, despite decreased H2 transfer under high salt conditions, hydrogenotrophic biological reduction may be successfully used for the treatment of <$>{\rm NO}_3^ ‐ <$> and <$>{\rm ClO}_4^ ‐ <$> in a MBfR. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 104: 483–491 © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measurement of Residence Time in Hot Compressed Water: 2. Salts in Continuously Stirred Tank Reactors
Authors: Kruse A. , Ederer H. , Ernst D. , Seine B.
Published: May 2009

The behavior of alkali salts in a continuously stirred tank reactor is of particular interest with respect to the development of the hydrothermal biomass gasification process. On the one hand, alkali salts increase gas formation. On the other hand, they may plug reactors due to precipitation. To obtain information on the potential enrichment of salts in continuously stirred tank reactors, cumulative residence time distribution functions were measured using K2CO3 and NaHCO3 tracers and phenol as a reference.
Cationic Heteroleptic Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes with 1‐Pyridylimidazo[1,5‐α]pyridine Ligands: Exploitation of an Efficient Intersystem Crossing
Authors: Volpi Giorgio , Garino Claudio , Salassa Luca , Fiedler Jan , Hardcastle Kenneth I. , Gobetto Roberto , Nervi Carlo
Published: May 2009

Luminescent ligands in IrIII cyclometalated complexes. The photophysical and photochemical properties of Ir‐cyclometalated complexes containing luminescent ligands are evaluated (see figure). Significant admixture between Ir and ligand orbitals induces an efficient intersystem crossing. Photochemical reactions performed in the presence of oxygen lead to new Ir‐cyclometalated complexes containing N(amido) groups directly bound to Ir.

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A series of phosphorescent cyclometalated heteroleptic iridi um(III) phenylpyridinato (ppy) complexes containing luminescent 1‐pyridylimidazo[1,5‐α]pyridine (pip) ligands, namely [Ir(ppy)2(pip)]+, have been synthesised, characterised and their electrochemical, photophysical and electronic properties studied. Seven X‐ray structures have been resolved. Excitation of [Ir(ppy)2(pip)]+ in acetonitrile at room temperature results in a dual luminescence, strongly quenched by O2. Four complexes show, in absence of O2, a high‐energy emission (assigned to a 3MLLCT transition) with two maxima in the blue region of the visible spectra, and a second structured emission (assigned largely to a 3LC π–π* transition) centred around λ=555 nm. Lifetimes of high‐energy emissions are between 0.6 and 1.3 μs. Time‐dependent density functional calculations combined with the conductor‐like polarisable continuum model method, with acetonitrile as solvent, have been used to calculate a series of ground and excited states of the derivatives under investigation, and the transitions compared with the experimental UV/Vis absorption spectra. A quick and efficient photochemical reaction has been observed for these iridium derivatives that leads to the formation of a new class of cyclometalated iridium complexes containing a stable deprotonated amide unusually coordinated to the metal through a nitrogen bond. The synthesis of a 15N enriched selected ligand has been performed to investigate, by means of NMR, the particular facile route to these new set of derivatives. The electrochemical behaviour of all complexes is also reported.
Synthesis and Structure of an Extremely Air‐Stable Binuclear Hafnocene Perfluorooctanesulfonate Complex and Its Use in Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Reactions
Authors: Qiu Renhua , Zhang Guoping , Zhu Yuyang , Xu Xinhua , Shao Lingling , Li Yinhui , An Delie , Yin Shuangfeng
Published: May 2009

Stable complexes: An extremely air‐stable μ2‐hydroxy‐bridged binuclear hafonocene perfluorooctanesulfoante complex shows high catalytic efficiency in Lewis acid‐catalyzed reactions, such as esterification, Friedel–Crafts acylation, the Mukaiyama aldol reation, and the allylation of aldehyde (see scheme).

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An extremely air‐stable μ2‐hydroxy‐bridged binuclear hafonocene perfluorooctanesulfoante complex was successfully synthesized. This complex showed high catalytic efficiency in the esterification of alcohols, phenol, thiol, and amines, in the Friedel–Crafts acylation of alylaryl ethers, in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and in the allylation of aldehydes and could be reused.
Color Tuning in New Metal‐Free Organic Sensitizers (Bodipys) for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Kumaresan Duraisamy , Thummel Randolph P. , Bura Thomas , Ulrich Gilles , Ziessel Raymond
Published: May 2009

Fun in the sun! A strategy has been devised for functionalizing and solubilizing boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy) dyes at the central boron atom and changing the color by increasing delocalization on the central core. This approach leads to the formation of stable BC≡C and pyrroleCC linkages suitable for use in TiO2‐sensitized devices (see figure).

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I/O scheduling and performance analysis on multi‐core platforms
Authors: Liu Zhaobin , Qu Wenyu , Li Haitao , Ruan Min , Zhou Wanlei
Published: May 2009

Multi‐core platforms are being widely used in many technology areas. These technology shifts not only provide a compute‐intensive service, but also require us to improve the I/O‐intensive service in performance. However, the existing I/O scheduling approaches lack either quantitative analysis or workload adaptability. These approaches become worse when the application scenarios have either diverse I/O tasks or heterogeneous multi‐cores. Based on the analysis of traditional software pipelining technology, we first propose a reverse interleaved pipelining scheduling strategy to decrease the total I/O execution time and balance the workloads of homogeneous processors in this paper. Theoretical analysis shows that this balancing strategy is fair. As for the heterogeneous processors' circumstance, a Self‐adaptive scheduling method is presented for selecting one of the most‐appropriate multi‐core services for the expected I/O tasks. Simulation studies show that the performance of this scheduling strategy self‐adapts to application and multi‐core diversity well. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Generation of red fluorescent protein transgenic dogs
Authors: Hong So Gun , Kim Min Kyu , Jang Goo , Oh Hyun Ju , Park Jung Eun , Kang Jung Taek , Koo Ok Jae , Kim Teoan , Kwon Mo Sun , Koo Bon Chul , Ra Jeong Chan , Kim Dae Yong , Ko CheMyong , Lee Byeong Chun
Published: May 2009

Red fluorescent protein expression in the paws of the first transgenic dogs generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer. See the paper by Hong et al. in this issue.
Improved Synthesis and Isolation of 2′‐O‐Methyladenosine: Effective and Scalable Enzymatic Separation of 2′/3′‐O‐Methyladenosine Regioisomers
Authors: Martínez‐Montero Saúl , Fernández Susana , Rodríguez‐Pérez Tatiana , Sanghvi Yogesh S. , Wen Ke , Gotor Vicente , Ferrero Miguel
Published: May 2009

An efficient separation of a mixture of 2′/3′‐O‐methyladenosine regioisomers (1 + 2; 1:1) has been developed by selective enzymatic acylation using immobilized Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PSL‐C) in combination with acetonoxime levulinate as acyl donor. The 3′‐hydroxy group of 2′‐O‐methyladenosine (1) was acylated with high selectivity (ca. 70 %), whereas an equal amount of 3′‐O‐methyladenosine (2) in the same solution resulted in minor acylation of 5′‐hydroxy group (ca. 8 %). The differential behavior of both regioisomers towards enzymatic acylation allowed to develop a separation protocol. Upon extraction of the acylated products, the 3′‐O‐methyladenosine was isolated in 81 % yield and 97 % purity from the aqueous layer. Hydrolysis of acylated products in organic layer furnished 2′‐O‐methyladenosine in 67 % yield and 99 % purity. The separation process was successfully applied to the crude reaction mixture of methylated products (ca. 3:1 of 1/2) on 5‐g scale. We also report on the use of methyl p‐toluenesulfonate as a safe reagent for 2′‐O‐methylation of adenosine.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)