bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Structured Approach to the Presentation of Research Theses: Commentary
Authors: Uncles Mark
Published: July 2010

(1) Students writing their theses need to address specific research questions, and take clear positions with respect to these questions. (2) They should strive to present, validate and discuss their own research contributions, and in so doing demonstrate how they have made distinct contributions to knowledge. (3) An appropriate structure for this purpose is to start at the end, by writing the thesis around key findings. (4) Throughout, the aim should be to communicate effectively, so that the evidence and position with respect to the research questions is crystal clear and unambiguous. (5) Academic or institutional conventions which impede these goals should be firmly challenged.
Pioneer Brand Advantage in Japan
Authors: Onzo Naoto , Alpert Frank
Published: July 2010

Until now there had never been an empirical study on pioneer brand advantage in Japan. A survey research study including some of Japan's largest consumer products companies found evidence that pioneer brand advantage does exist in Japan, possibly even stronger than in the USA, and the longer the lag before follower brands the higher the pioneer brand market share tends to be. Key factors contributing to the success of pioneer brands in Japan are identified, and also key factors with a positive impact on the market share of follower brands.
International Marketing Ethics: A Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Quester Pascale G. , Simpson Josie
Published: July 2010

Ethics in marketing is a contentious issue, particularly in the international context where culture may affect perceptions and interpretations of ethical behaviours. Moreover, research in this area uses two distinct methodologies, making a synthesis of empirical findings difficult. This study explores whether culture influences managers’ perceptions of ethical situations and whether findings from two different methodologies can be aggregated into one single body of knowledge.
The Determinants of Successful Relationships in International Business
Authors: Ahmed Farid , Patterson Paul , Styles Chris
Published: July 2010

What makes an international business partnership successful? While it is accepted in the literature that relational exchange theory has a pivotal role to play in marketing, little research has been done to determine its impact in an international setting. By synthesising six complementary theories on inter-firm relationships and some initial findings from exploratory research, this paper proposes a conceptual framework of the key drivers of success in international business partnerships. Methodological issues associated with investigating such partnerships are also discussed.
Value Transformation in Relationship Marketing
Authors: Tzokas Nikolaos , Saren Michael
Published: July 2010

Based on the principle that customer value is a key concept in the marketing discipline, this paper presents a review and critique of current knowledge in this field. Customer value is a dynamic and transformational higher level construct, which should not be reduced to a low-level operational measurement. The paper develops the idea that value is located in the competitive and collaborative acts of the consumers and transformed by means of a dialogue in the relationships between the firm and its customers. Thus, consumers’ and firms’ full interests can only be realised through the relationship between them and dialogue is the necessary mechanism for the creation of unique inter-experiences and hence trans-formational value for both parties. The paper concludes with a number of implications for both the theory and practice of consumer behaviour, marketing management and relationship marketing.
Data Equivalence in Cross-Cultural Research: A Comparison of Classical Test Theory and Latent Trait Theory Based Approaches
Authors: Salzberger Thomas , Sinkovics Rudolf R. , Schlegelmilch Bodo B.
Published: July 2010

Given the increasing importance of international business, cross-cultural research becomes more and more relevant to marketing academics and practitioners. This paper illustrates the difficulties in achieving equivalence when conducting marketing research across borders. It opens with a general typology of equivalence issues in cross-cultural research and, subsequently, focuses specifically on data equivalence. Recent studies either disregard data equivalence at all or they predominantly suggest the use of simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for establishing data equivalence. The Latent Trait Theory (LTT), based on a different measurement paradigm, offers an alternative which promises to overcome many of the problems inherent in CFA. This paper contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches and illustrates their application by means of a simulated data set. In conclusion, a call is made for the incorporation of equivalence issues in scale development by quantitative as well as qualitative analyses.
How Well do Firms Implement Strategy When They Design Internet Web Pages?
Authors: Yu Hans Liangjian , Koslow Scott
Published: July 2010

Why do firms design web sites the way that they do? The internet literature has suggested several thing that should affect web site design. Firms may have strategic motivations to use the internet. For example these may include to reduce costs, increase sales, or enhance image. A web page may also have certain functional roles it might play like selling or communicating. All of these should impact web page design and this is tested via an on-line survey and a content analysis of web sites. The authors find no relationship between actual content of web sites and strategic motivations to use the internet or functional roles of internet web sites. Therefore, the authors conclude we have much to learn about effective advertising on the web and we call for more empirical research.
Effects of different dietary protein sources on expression of genes related to protein metabolism in growing rats
Authors: Luo Junqiu , Chen Daiwen , Yu Bing
Published: July 2010

Protein metabolism is known to be affected by dietary proteins, but the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the changes in protein metabolism are unclear. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of feeding growing rats with balanced diets containing soya protein isolate, zein and casein as the sole protein source on the expression of genes related to protein metabolism responses in skeletal muscle. The results showed that feeding a zein protein diet to the growing rats induced changes in protein anabolic and catabolic metabolism in their gastrocnemius muscles when compared with those fed either the reference protein casein diet or the soya protein isolate diet. The zein protein diet increased not only the mRNA levels and phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), but also the mRNA expression of muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1), as well as the forkhead box-O (FoxO) transcription factors involved in the induction of the E3 ligases. The amino acid profile of proteins seems to control signalling pathways leading to changes in protein synthesis and proteolysis.
Two novel cytochrome P450 genesCYP6CS1andCYP6CW1fromNilaparvata lugens(Hemiptera: Delphacidae): cDNA cloning and induction by host resistant rice
Authors: Yang Z. , Zhang Y. , Liu X. , Wang X.
Published: July 2010

Two novel full-length P450 cDNAs,CYP6CS1andCYP6CW1, were cloned from the fourth instar nymphs of brown planthopperNilaparvata lugensStål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) reared on its susceptible rice variety Taichung Native 1 (TN1) plants. The deduced proteins are typical microsomal P450s sharing conserved structural and functional domains with other insect CYP6 members. Temporal expression analysis by northern blot hybridization indicated pre-exposure toN.lugensmoderately resistant rice Minghui 63 (MH63) seedlings caused a time course-dependent induction ofCYP6CS1which peaked after 24 h of treatment; in contrast,CYP6CW1was induced and remained at a constant time course from 0–72 h.CYP6CS1andCYP6CW1are dramatically induced in gut tissues and, slightly upregulated in carcass and fat bodies as revealed in spatial gene expression analysis. Whole mountin situhybridizaion revealed that the two genes are expressed at a basal level in gut tissue and Malpighian tubules in nymphs fed with TN1 rice. After exposure to MH63, the expression ofCYP6CW1was found to be high in the whole gut, including Malpighian tubules. Expression ofCYP6CS1was significantly increased in midgut, and slightly increased in foregut, hindgut and Malpighian tubules. These data suggest a potential role of the two P450s in determining patterns ofN. lugens-rice relationships through allelochemical detoxification.
Agronomic performance and nutritive value of forage legumes in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass under different defoliation systems
Authors: KLEEN J. , TAUBE F. , GIERUS M.
Published: July 2010

Protein in forage legumes is often poorly utilized by ruminants and high nitrogen (N) losses are expected. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of forage legumes (white clover, WC; red clover, RC; lucerne, LG; and birdsfoot trefoil, BT) in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass (G) under different defoliation systems (silage, simulated grazing and grazing) on agronomic performance and forage quality. A high proportion of legumes may favour dry matter (DM) yield and the defoliation system may reduce the persistence of certain forage legumes, with a negative influence on the energy and N yield. Annual DM yield under grazing was highest for WC mixtures (WC+G, 1059·2 g DM/m²) compared to all other mixtures, confirming its adaptation to grazing. Mixtures with RC (RC+G) and LG (LG+G) performed similarly to WC+G, whereas BT mixtures (BT+G) were less competitive under more intensively used systems. Analyses of crude protein, cell wall characterization and protein fractionation showed a three-way interaction between year, mixture and defoliation system. RC and BT resulted in a positive protein quality of the mixtures, probably due to their content of secondary plant compounds. In conclusion, different forage legumes did not perform equally in the cutting and grazing systems, and both legume species and defoliation systems interacted in the production of forage of high protein quality for ruminant nutrition.
Decay of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence at low magnetic Reynolds number
Authors: BURATTINI P. , ZIKANOV O. , KNAEPEN B.
Published: July 2010

We report a detailed numerical investigation of homogeneous decaying turbulence in an electrically conducting fluid in the presence of a uniform constant magnetic field. The asymptotic limit of low magnetic Reynolds number is assumed. Large-eddy simulations with the dynamic Smagorinsky model are performed in a computational box sufficiently large to minimize the effect of periodic boundary conditions. The initial microscale Reynolds number is about 170 and the magnetic interaction parameter N varies between 0 and 50. We find that except for a short period of time when N = 50, the flow evolution is strongly influenced by nonlinearity and cannot be adequately described by any of the existing theoretical models. One particularly noteworthy result is the near equipartition between the rates of Joule and viscous dissipations of the kinetic energy observed at all values of N during the late stages of the decay. Further, the velocity components parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field decay at different rates, whose value depends on the strength of the magnetic field and the stage of the decay. This leads to a complex evolution of the Reynolds stress anisotropy ellipsoid, which goes from being rod-shaped, through spherical to disc-shaped. We also discuss the possibility of the power-law decay, the comparison between computed, experimental and theoretical decay exponents, the anisotropy of small-scale fluctuations, and the evolution of the spectral energy distributions.
IPA NEWS
Authors: Kohler Klaus J. , Lewis Jack Windsor
Published: July 2010

As prescribed in the by-laws of the Association and the Permanent Council for the Organisation of the International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, a call for nominations to elect the new IPA Council (2011–2015) and the IPA-elected representatives to the Permanent Council will start in August 2010. Both parts of the election will be held in November 2010. Twenty members of the IPA Council will be elected in November. The Council-elect will elect 10 additional members in March 2011. The new Council (30 members) will elect the Executive Committee in June 2011.
Temne
Authors: Kanu Sullay M. , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: July 2010

Temne belongs to the South Atlantic Group of Niger-Congo (formerly the Southern Branch of the Atlantic Group of Niger-Congo; Blench 2006, Childs 2010) spoken in the northern part of Sierra Leone. According to Ethnologue (ISO 639–3: tem, Lewis 2009), Temne has a population of about 1.2 million native speakers. Like other South Atlantic languages, Temne is a tonal language with a noun class system, prefixed noun class markers and agreeing prefixes on dependent elements. Features determining class membership include number and animacy. Temne also features extension suffixes which alter the valency or the semantic structure of simple verb stems. The basic word order is Subject–Verb–Object.
The Flemish-Brabant dialect of Orsmaal-Gussenhoven
Authors: Peters Jörg
Published: July 2010

Orsmaal-Gussenhoven is a small village in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant with about one thousand residents. It is located halfway between the towns of Tienen (Brabant) in the west and St.-Truiden (Limburg) in the east, and about 12 km north of the Dutch–French language border, which separates the northern part of Belgium (Flanders) from its southern part (Wallonia). No systematic description of the local dialect is available (for a toponymic study, see Kempeneers 2004). A dictionary including a short grammar is available for the dialect of Melkwezer, 2.5 km to the north of Orsmaal-Gussenhoven (Hondshoven 2003). However, the sound systems of the two dialects are not identical.
Containing the Kantian revolutions: a theoretical analysis of the neo-conservative critique of global liberal governance
Authors: DROLET JEAN-FRANÇOIS
Published: July 2010

This article examines the neo-conservative critique of global liberal governance. It provides a theoretically oriented assessment of the neo-conservative case against international law and human rights regimes, and draws out the main political and ethical implications for American democracy and American foreign policy. It is argued that the neo-conservative critique of global governance rests upon an interpretation of the normative order that weaves together democracy, individual rights and national autonomy through a volatile identity politics which is fundamentally at odds with both the pluralist character of ‘Westphalian diplomacy’ and the universal order of rights envisaged by advocates of global governance. More than just the policy autonomy of the US, what is really at stakes in those debates for neo-conservatives is the whole structure of cultural and socio-economic interests that is tied to the substantive interpretation of democracy upon which their domestic commitments to neo-liberal capitalism and liberal freedoms are predicated.
Comparative theory, China, and the future of East Asian regionalism(s)
Authors: BRESLIN SHAUN
Published: July 2010

Despite the development of an increasingly sophisticated literature on comparative regional integration drawing from a variety of cases, the European experience remains the most often used benchmark against which other integrative processes are judged; there is still an often implicit expectation that ‘successful’ processes of regionalism will end up looking something like the European Union. While it is correct to move away from such a ‘Euro-dominance’, the theoretical lessons learned continue to have salience when applied to emerging and competing forms of integrative processes in East Asia. In particular, when economic considerations dominate regional relations – at times of economic crises – then integrative logics and strategies come to the fore. In more ‘normal’ times when geo-strategic considerations reassert themselves, then the consensus over region building and the very nature of the region itself is weakened and cooperation is replaced by competing visions and the over-supply of region.
Autoethnographic International Relations: exploring the self as a source of knowledge
Authors: BRIGG MORGAN , BLEIKER ROLAND
Published: July 2010

Research is all about a person's engagement with an issue. But most approaches to International Relations actively discourage personal involvement by the researcher. We question the adequacy of this norm and the related scholarly conventions. Instead, we explore how the personal experience of the researcher can be used as a legitimate and potentially important source of insight into politics. But we also note that simply telling the story of the researcher is inadequate. We engage the ensuing dilemmas by discussing how to both appreciate and evaluate autoethnographic insights. Rather than relying on pre-determined criteria, we argue that methodological uses of the self should be judged within knowledge communities and according to their ability to open up new perspectives on political dilemmas. We then advance two related suggestions: one advocates conceptualising research around puzzles; the other explores the methodological implications of recognising that producing knowledge is an inherently relational activity.
The role of input frequency and semantic transparency in the acquisition of verb meaning: evidence from placement verbs in Tamil and Dutch
Authors: NARASIMHAN BHUVANA , GULLBERG MARIANNE
Published: July 2010

We investigate how Tamil- and Dutch-speaking adults and four- to five-year-old children use caused posture verbs (‘lay/stand a bottle on a table’) to label placement events in which objects are oriented vertically or horizontally. Tamil caused posture verbs consist of morphemes that individually label the causal and result subevents (nikka veyyii ‘make stand’; paDka veyyii ‘make lie’), occurring in situational and discourse contexts where object orientation is at issue. Dutch caused posture verbs are less semantically transparent: they are monomorphemic (zetten ‘set/stand’; leggen ‘lay’), often occurring in contexts where factors other than object orientation determine use. Caused posture verbs occur rarely in Tamil input corpora; in Dutch input, they are used frequently. Elicited production data reveal that Tamil four-year-olds use infrequent placement verbs appropriately whereas Dutch children use high-frequency placement verbs inappropriately even at age five. Semantic transparency exerts a stronger influence than input frequency in constraining children's verb meaning acquisition.
Use and variation of French diacritics on an Internet dating site
Authors: VAN COMPERNOLLE RÉMI A.
Published: July 2010

This article explores sociolinguistic variation in the use of French accents and diacritics—where they would be expected in the formal written language—in electronic personals posted on an Internet dating site. Results of a series of VARBRUL analyses show both age (i.e., 18–25 years vs. 36–45 years) and gender to be significant social variables in accent/diacritic variation. Three potential explanations of the variation are addressed: (i) the eventual loss of accents and diacritics in computer-mediated French, (ii) stable variation with differences between ‘digital natives’ and ‘digital immigrants’, and (iii) a change in progress whereby accents and diacritics are becoming ‘prestige variants’ in computer-mediated contexts.
Multiple histone site epigenetic modifications in nuclear transfer andin vitrofertilized bovine embryos
Authors: Wu Xia , Li Yan , Xue Lian , Wang Lingling , Yue Yongli , Li Kehan , Bou Shorgan , Li Guang-Peng , Yu Haiquan
Published: July 2010

During mammalian embryonic development, DNA methylation and histone modifications are important in gene expression regulation and epigenetic reprogramming. In cloned embryos, high levels of DNA methylation and abnormal demethylation were widely observed during the preimplantation period. Little is known whether there is a difference in histone modifications betweenin vitrofertilization (IVF) and cloned embryos during preimplantation development. In the present study, the distributions and intensity patterns of acetylations in H3 lysine 9, 18 and H4 lysine 8, 5 and tri-methyl lysine 4 and dimethyl-lysine 9 in histone H3 were compared in cloned and IVF bovine preimplantation embryos by using indirect immunofluorescence and scanning confocal microscopy. The results showed that the acetylation and methylation levels of H3K9ac, H3K18ac, H4K5ac, H4K8ac, H3K4me3 and H3K9me2 were abnormally high in the cloned embryos from the pronuclear to the 8-cell stage. H4K8ac and H4K5ac in the cloned embryos were particularly abnormal when compared with the IVF controls. At the blastocyst stage differences dissipated between cloned and IVF embryos and the distribution and intensity patterns of all histone modifications showed no obvious difference. These results suggest that somatic cells in recipient oocytes produced aberrant histone modifications at multiple sites before the donor cell genome is activated. After zygotic genome activation, distributions and intensity patterns of histone modifications were comparable with both cloned and IVF embryos.
Incorporating User Perspectives in the Design of an Online Intervention Tool for People with Visible Differences: Face IT
Authors: Bessell Alyson , Clarke Alex , Harcourt Diana , Moss Tim P. , Rumsey Nichola
Published: July 2010

Background:Individuals with visible differences can experience social anxiety in relation to their appearance. Social skills-based psychosocial interventions have to date shown only limited effectiveness at addressing their concerns.Aims:To incorporate user perspectives in the development of an online psychosocial intervention, known as Face IT.Method and Results:Study one consisted of a needs assessment with 12 individuals with a visible difference and six health professionals in order to identify the difficulties experienced by those with visible difference and obtain feedback on the proposed content of Face IT. The findings demonstrated support for the social skills model and the use of an online intervention. Study two consisted of an empirical usability evaluation of Face IT with 14 potential users and 14 health professionals. Based on feedback from the participants, changes were made to the graphics and navigation of the programme. The clinical content has been made more acceptable.Conclusions:The findings indicate support for the importance of social skills-based psychosocial interventions for addressing the needs of those with a visible difference, and have allowed modifications to be made to Face IT ahead of a randomized controlled trial of effectiveness.
Cognitive test performance predicts change in functional status at the population level: The MYHAT Project
Authors: GANGULI MARY , BILT JONI VANDER , LEE CHING-WEN , SNITZ BETH E. , CHANG CHUNG-CHOU H. , LOEWENSTEIN DAVID A. , SAXTON JUDITH A.
Published: July 2010

In the community at large, many older adults with minimal cognitive and functional impairment remain stable or improve over time, unlike patients in clinical research settings, who typically progress to dementia. Within a prospective population-based study, we identified neuropsychological tests predicting improvement or worsening over 1 year in cognitively driven everyday functioning as measured by Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Participants were 1682 adults aged 65+ and dementia-free at baseline. CDR change was modeled as a function of baseline test scores, adjusting for demographics. Among those with baseline CDR = 0.5, 29.8% improved to CDR = 0; they had significantly better baseline scores on most tests. In a stepwise multiple logistic regression model, tests which remained independently associated with subsequent CDR improvement were Category Fluency, a modified Token Test, and the sum of learning trials on Object Memory Evaluation. In contrast, only 7.1% with baseline CDR = 0 worsened to CDR = 0.5. They had significantly lower baseline scores on most tests. In multiple regression analyses, only the Mini-Mental State Examination, delayed memory for visual reproduction, and recall susceptible to proactive interference, were independently associated with CDR worsening. At the population level, changes in both directions are observable in functional status, with different neuropsychological measures predicting the direction of change. (JINS, 2010, 16, 761–770.)
Production of atypical category exemplars in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: BRÉBION GILDAS , BRESSAN RODRIGO A. , OHLSEN RUTH I. , PILOWSKY LYN S. , DAVID ANTHONY S.
Published: July 2010

Previous studies have revealed semantic memory impairments in patients with schizophrenia, and suggested that certain of these impairments were related to thought disorganization. One explanation offered for this is a broadening of the boundaries of semantic categories in schizophrenia. We selected 16 semantic categories, and required a sample of 41 schizophrenia patients and 43 healthy control subjects to produce one exemplar from each category. The typicality of the subjects’ responses was rated. The exemplars produced by the patients were on average less typical than those produced by the healthy controls. No significant association between typicality of the response and thought disorganization was revealed in the patient sample. Affective flattening, alogia, and anhedonia were significantly and inversely associated with the typicality score, that is, higher ratings of these symptoms were associated with more typical responses. Our results suggest that a broadening of semantic category boundaries is observed in patients with schizophrenia, but is unrelated to thought disorganization. This semantic abnormality is not a feature of the patients with high ratings of certain negative symptoms. (JINS, 2010, 16, 822–828.)
Changing human–ecological relationships and drivers using the Quesungual agroforestry system in western Honduras
Authors: Ayarza Miguel , Huber-Sannwald Elisabeth , Herrick Jeffrey E. , Reynolds James F. , García-Barrios Luis , Welchez Luis A. , Lentes Peter , Pavón Jellin , Morales Jairo , Alvarado Anabel , Pinedo Mario , Baquera Noemí , Zelaya Sergio , Pineda Rolando , Amézquita Edgar , Trejo Marco
Published: July 2010

Development of sustainable agricultural production systems in the tropics is challenging in part because the local and external conditions that affect sustainability are constantly in flux. The Quesungual agroforestry system (QSMAS) was developed in response to these changing conditions. The history and potential future of the QSMAS provide an opportunity to consider the factors affecting small-scale agricultural production systems on marginal lands throughout the world. We evaluated the QSMAS in Honduras in the context of the five principles of the Drylands Development Paradigm (DDP) during three periods: pre-QSMAS, QSMAS adoption and the future. The first two periods provided lessons that could be relevant to other regions. The QSMAS system in Honduras must continue to evolve, if long-term benefits are to be realized. We conclude that while the DDP was a useful framework for systematically identifying the critical drivers and processes determining the sustainability of QSMAS in Honduras, it is ultimately no more able to predict the future than the collective knowledge of those who choose to apply it. The DDP, however, can facilitate the integration and application of knowledge.
Accurate Judgment by Dementia Patients of Neutral Faces with Respect to Trustworthiness and Valence
Authors: Blessing Andreas , Zöllig Jacqueline , Dammann Gerhard , Martin Mike
Published: July 2010

The present study investigates whether dementia patients can make accurate social and affective judgments of face stimuli. We used verbal material as a control condition to see whether dementia patients are capable of using the rating scales the same way as controls. We compared the trustworthiness, valence, and arousal ratings of dementia patients with those from a healthy control group. Participants rated pictures of young and old, female and male neutral faces and two fictitious biographies. The results indicate that dementia patients make accurate judgments of unfamiliar faces with respect to trustworthiness and valence. Results concerning arousal ratings suggest that the corresponding scale might be difficult to use for dementia patients and possibly for older participants as well.
Are Older Adult German Women Satisfied with Their Lives?
Authors: Albert Isabelle , Labs Katrin , Trommsdorff Gisela
Published: July 2010

Along with increased life expectancy, successful aging and possibilities for increasing well-being in old age have become important research topics in recent years. The present study (a) examines the relationship between satisfaction in several life domains (with respect to family, friendships, and health) and general life satisfaction of older adult women in Germany, and (b) determines which factors moderate the importance of satisfaction in these different life domains for the evaluation of general life satisfaction. More precisely, we examine the role of partnership status and self-construal. The sample consisted of 98 German women between the age of 58 and 83 years (M = 69.6 years; SD = 5.9 years) who were interviewed in the framework of the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural Value of Children Study. Results showed that for women living with a partner, satisfaction with family was most important for their general life satisfaction, whereas for women without a partner, satisfaction with friendships and with socioeconomic status had prominent roles. In addition, the kind of self-construal moderated the relations between (1) satisfaction with family and general life satisfaction and (2) satisfaction with health and general life satisfaction. Family satisfaction was less important for the general life satisfaction of women who were highly independently oriented; for women who had a strongly pronounced self-construal (either independent or interdependent), satisfaction with health was less important for general life satisfaction.
Physical Activity and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Weih Markus , Degirmenci Ümüt , Kreil Sebastian , Kornhuber Johannes
Published: July 2010

The association between physical activity and Alzheimer’s disease is of major interest. We performed a Medline search for cohort studies. Studies on cognitive decline, case-controls, or studies without clear descriptions and duplicate publications were excluded. Overall, we included 6 cohorts of high quality (most studies were performed in elderly patients) in the overall analysis, which investigated 10,380 participants in total with 271 cases of Alzheimer’s disease. The calculated pooled odds ratio of the dichotomized endpoint physical activity Yes or High vs. No or Low and Alzheimer’s disease was 0.59 (0.50–0.69). Our results suggest that physical activity is inversely associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Future studies should address the impact of midlife physical activity on development of Alzheimer’s disease in later life.
A comparison of extreme rainfall characteristics in the Brazilian Amazon derived from two gridded data sets and a national rain gauge network
Authors: Clarke Robin T. , Bulhoes Mendes Carlos Andre , Costa Buarque Diogo
Published: July 2010

Two issues of particular importance for the Amazon watershed are: whether annual maxima obtained from reanalysis and raingauge records agree well enough for the former to be useful in extending records of the latter; and whether reported trends in Amazon annual rainfall are reflected in the behavior of annual extremes in precipitation estimated from reanalyses and raingauge records. To explore these issues, three sets of daily precipitation data (1979‐2001) from the Brazilian Amazon were analyzed (NCEP/NCAR and ERA‐40 reanalyses, and records from the raingauge network of the Brazilian water resources agency – ANA), using the following variables: (1) mean annual maximum precipitation totals, accumulated over one, two, three and five days; (2) linear trends in these variables; (3) mean length of longest within‐year “dry” spell; (4) linear trends in these variables. Comparisons between variables obtained from all three data sources showed that reanalyses underestimated time‐trends and mean annual maximum precipitation (over durations of one to five days), and the correlations between reanalysis and spatially‐interpolated raingauge estimates were small for these two variables. Both reanalyses over‐estimated mean lengths of dry period relative to the mean length recorded by the raingauge network. Correlations between the trends calculated from all three data sources were small. Time‐trends averaged over the reanalysis grid‐squares, and spatially‐interpolated time trends from raingauge data, were all clustered around zero. In conclusion, although the NCEP/NCAR and ERA‐40 gridded data‐sets may be valuable for studies of inter‐annual variability in precipitation totals, they were found to be inappropriate for analysis of precipitation extremes.
Sea breeze forcing of estuary turbulence and air‐water CO2 exchange
Authors: Orton Philip M. , McGillis Wade R. , Zappa Christopher J.
Published: July 2010

The sea breeze is often a dominant meteorological feature at the coastline, but little is known about its estuarine impacts. Measurements at an anchored catamaran and meteorological stations along the Hudson River and New York Bay estuarine system are used to illustrate some basic characteristics and impacts of the feature. The sea breeze propagates inland, arriving in phase with peak solar forcing at seaward stations, but several hours later at up‐estuary stations. Passage of the sea breeze front raises the water‐to‐air CO2 flux by 1–2 orders of magnitude, and drives turbulence comparable to spring tide levels in the upper meter of the water column, where most primary productivity occurs in this highly turbid system. Modeling and observational studies often use remotely‐measured winds to compute air‐water fluxes (e.g., momentum, CO2), and this leads to a factor of two flux error on sea breeze days during the study.
Impact of open sea deep convection on sediment remobilization in the western Mediterranean
Authors: Martín Jacobo , Miquel Juan‐Carlos , Khripounoff Alexis
Published: July 2010

The northwestern Mediterranean is known to be a privileged area of deep water formation via dense shelf water cascading and offshore convection. The impact of the former in the sedimentary dynamics of the deep basin has been highlighted in recent years, while open sea convection has been solely studied from a hydrological perspective. Particle fluxes and hydrodynamics were monitored at the DYFAMED site (Ligurian Sea, western Mediterranean) at 200, 1000 m and near the seafloor (2350 m depth) during winter 2005–2006. From February to April 2006, and in coincidence with an unusual episode of deep water formation, a notable intensification of currents was observed in the entire water column and near‐bottom particle flux increased up to two orders of magnitude. These observations suggest that offshore convection must be taken into account together with cascading as a major driving force for sedimentary dynamics in the deep western Mediterranean.
Ecogenomics and genome landscapes of marine Pseudoalteromonas phage H105/1
Authors: Duhaime Melissa Beth , Wichels Antje , Waldmann Jost , Teeling Hanno , Glöckner Frank Oliver
Published: July 2010

Marine phages have an astounding global abundance and ecological impact. However, little knowledge is derived from phage genomes, as most of the open reading frames in their small genomes are unknown, novel proteins. To infer potential functional and ecological relevance of sequenced marine Pseudoalteromonas phage H105/1, two strategies were used. First, similarity searches were extended to include six viral and bacterial metagenomes paired with their respective environmental contextual data. This approach revealed ‘ecogenomic’ patterns of Pseudoalteromonas phage H105/1, such as its estuarine origin. Second, intrinsic genome signatures (phylogenetic, codon adaptation and tetranucleotide (tetra) frequencies) were evaluated on a resolved intra-genomic level to shed light on the evolution of phage functional modules. On the basis of differential codon adaptation of Phage H105/1 proteins to the sequenced Pseudoalteromonas spp., regions of the phage genome with the most ‘host’-adapted proteins also have the strongest bacterial tetra signature, whereas the least ‘host’-adapted proteins have the strongest phage tetra signature. Such a pattern may reflect the evolutionary history of the respective phage proteins and functional modules. Finally, analysis of the structural proteome identified seven proteins that make up the mature virion, four of which were previously unknown. This integrated approach combines both novel and classical strategies and serves as a model to elucidate ecological inferences and evolutionary relationships from phage genomes that typically abound with unknown gene content.
Clostridiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae as active fermenters in earthworm gut content
Authors: Wüst Pia K , Horn Marcus A , Drake Harold L
Published: July 2010

The earthworm gut provides ideal in situ conditions for ingested heterotrophic soil bacteria capable of anaerobiosis. High amounts of mucus- and plant-derived saccharides such as glucose are abundant in the earthworm alimentary canal, and high concentrations of molecular hydrogen (H2) and organic acids in the alimentary canal are indicative of ongoing fermentations. Thus, the central objective of this study was to resolve potential links between fermentations and active fermenters in gut content of the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based stable isotope probing, with [13C]glucose as a model substrate. Glucose consumption in anoxic gut content microcosms was rapid and yielded soluble organic compounds (acetate, butyrate, formate, lactate, propionate, succinate and ethanol) and gases (carbon dioxide and H2), products indicative of diverse fermentations in the alimentary canal. Clostridiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were users of glucose-derived carbon. On the basis of the detection of 16S rRNA, active phyla in gut contents included Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes and Verrucomicrobia, taxa common to soils. On the basis of a 16S rRNA gene similarity cutoff of 87.5%, 82 families were detected, 17 of which were novel family-level groups. These findings (a) show the large diversity of soil taxa that might be active during gut passage, (b) show that Clostridiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae (fermentative subsets of these taxa) are selectively stimulated by glucose and might therefore be capable of consuming mucus- and plant-derived saccharides during gut passage and (c) indicate that ingested obligate anaerobes and facultative aerobes from soil can concomitantly metabolize the same source of carbon.
Mass Spectrometry and Nutrition Research
Authors: Kuksis Arnis , Dolnikowski Gregory , Wolfender Jean - Luc , Matthews Dwight , Oresic Matej , German Bruce , Corradini Claudio , Packer Nicole , Affolter Michael
Published: July 2010

Mass spectrometry has developed into a platform for the assessment of health, sensory, quality and safety aspects of food. Current nutrition research focuses on unravelling the link between acute or chronic dietary and nutrient intake and the physiological effects at cellular, tissue and whole body level. The bioavailability and bioefficacy of food constituents and dose-effect correlations are key to understanding the impact of food on defined health outcomes. To generate this information, appropriate analytical tools are required to identify and quantify minute amounts of individual compounds in highly complex matrices (such as food or biological fluids) and to monitor molecular changes in the body in a highly specific and sensitive manner. Mass spectrometry has become the method of choice for such work and now has broad applications throughout all areas of nutrition research. This book focuses the contribution of mass spectrometry to the advancement of nutrition research. Aimed at students, teachers and researchers, it provides a link between nutrition and analytical biochemistry. It guides nutritionists to the appropriate techniques for their work and introduces analytical biochemists to new fields of application in nutrition and health. The first part of the book is dedicated to the assessment of macro- and micro-nutrient status with a view to making dietary recommendations for the treatment of diet-related diseases. The second part shows how mass spectrometry has changed nutrition research in fields like energy metabolism, body composition, protein turnover, immune modulation and cardiovascular health.
Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Milk Oligosaccharides
Authors: Kolarich Daniel , Packer Nicolle H.
Published: July 2010

Mass Spectrometry (MS) has emerged as an indispensable tool for the analysis of biomolecules due to its sensitivity, versatility and ease of applicability to complex samples. Nevertheless, the analysis of free oligosaccharides and protein bound sugars in secretions such as milk poses certain challenges. In this review, the benefits and limitations of different sample preparation approaches for the mass spectrometric analysis of free oligosaccharides and glycoproteins are discussed. Appropriate sample preparation is the first crucial step for successful mass spectrometric analysis. Different MS techniques and instrument combinations already successfully applied to the analysis of milk oligosaccharides are also introduced. Available tandem and MSn applications for the differentiation of structural isomers are described and their limitations discussed. This review is intended to give an overview on the available MS methodology and technology available for analysing various kinds of oligosaccharides in milk.
Lipidomics and Metabolomics of Dietary Lipid Peroxidation
Authors: Kuksis Arnis
Published: July 2010

Dietary fats containing polyunsaturated fatty acids are readily peroxidized during isolation, storage and food preparation. The unsaturated acids serve also as substrates for endogenous peroxidation. Both exogenous and endogenous peroxidation proceed through free radical intermediates. The present review summarizes recent lipidomic and metabolomic evidence for the formation and absorption of bioactive dietary lipid oxidation products, and for the isolation and identification of their lipid, protein and nucleic acid adducts, which accumulate in tissues during chronic disease and ageing. The use of chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods to identify and quantify the entire spectrum of lipid oxidation products, along with the loss of substrate, has greatly advanced these investigations, which have now progressed from a hypothesis–driven approaches to a holistic and systematic collection of sound analytical evidence at large scale. The review identifies overloading with dietary polyunsaturates and exhaustion of endogenous antioxidants and other protective mechanisms as the main facilitators of the aldehyde attack on proteins and nucleic acids, which eventually contributes to cell death, disease and shortening of life span.
Mass Spectrometry in Phytonutrient Research
Authors: Wolfender Jean-Luc , Violette Aude , Fay Laurent B.
Published: July 2010

Phytonutrients are often non-essential food components that are found in vegetables, fruits, spices and traditional ingredients. Whether as food, spices, traditional ingredients or medicinal plants, a large number of phytonutrients are consumed by individuals in their normal, everyday lives. Phytonutrient rich foods have the potential to provide consumers with health beneficial effects and during the last 15 years, research on the effects of dietary phytonutrients on human health has developed considerably providing significant evidences supporting a role in the prevention of degenerative diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The structural complexity of phytonutrients is extremely vast from simple phenols and phenolic acids to complex high-molecular-weight compounds, such as the tannins and proanthocyanidins It is therefore difficult to provide mass spectrometric rules common to all types of phytonutrients since they have all specific physicochemical properties. Based on the main type of natural products for which health beneficial claims exist we will present a summary of the main mass spectrometric techniques used for their detection, quantification and identification in both their original matrices and in biological fluids. We will also review few food products and their efficacy on disease-risk reduction due to their content in phytonutrients, mainly polyphenols as this class of chemical is by far the most documented through clinical evidences.
Mass Spectrometry, Diet and Cardiovascular Disease: What will They Mean for Food?
Authors: German J. Bruce
Published: July 2010

Mass spectrometry has emerged as the central analytical platform in life science research at the same time that cardiovascular disease has been the greatest challenge to the applications of life science. This is no coincidence. The analytical power of mass spectrometry has provided much of the insights into the mechanisms underlying this disease, the diagnostics being developed to identify those suffering from, even predicting those at risk of, the disease and the therapeutics being discovered to resolve it. Cardiovascular disease is in turn such a complex and pervasive problem to human health that its incidence has propelled the scientific community to continuously innovate with instrumentation platforms of unprecedented analytical power, efficiency, sensitivity and accuracy. This chapter will address those aspects of mass spectrometry that have been instrumental in developing the knowledge of how diet relates to the risk for and protection from heart disease. In particular examples will focus on those aspects of the science in which specific diagnostics of risk have been associated with dietary interventions now considered to be valuable to the declining incidence of the disease throughout the world. It is also important to recognize that science is far from solving this disease. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death and future developments in mass spectrometry will be necessary to finally solving it. Mass spectrometry will continue to be at the heart of health research and will be a central analytical platform as personal measurements become a core element of routine health care.