bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
E47 is required for V(D)J recombinase activity in common lymphoid progenitors
Authors: Borghesi Lisa , Aites Jennifer , Nelson Shakira , Lefterov Preslav , James Pamela , Gerstein Rachel
Published: December 2005

Common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) are the first bone marrow precursors in which V(D)J recombinase activity is up-regulated. Here, we show that loss of the transcription factor E47 produces a reduced CLP population that lacks V(D)J recombinase activity and D-JH rearrangements in vivo. Apart from a profound arrest before the pro–B cell stage, other downstream lymphoid progeny of CLPs are still intact in these mice albeit at reduced numbers. In contrast to the inhibition of recombinase activity in early B lineage precursors in E47-deficient animals, loss of either E47 or its cis-acting target Erag (enhancer of rag transcription) has little effect on recombinase activity in thymic T lineage precursors. Taken together, this work defines a role for E47 in regulating lineage progression at the CLP stage in vivo and describes the first transcription factor required for lineage-specific recombinase activity.
Functionally distinct NKT cell subsets and subtypes
Authors: Seino Ken-ichiro , Taniguchi Masaru
Published: December 2005

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a population of autoreactive cells that mediate both protective and regulatory immune functions. NKT cells comprise several subsets of cells, but it has been unclear whether these different NKT cell subsets possess distinct functions in vivo. New studies now demonstrate that subsets of NKT cells are indeed functionally distinct and that the specific functions of these cells may be dictated in part by organ-specific mechanisms.
The Banking Exposure to International Lending: Regional Differences or Common Fundamentals?
Authors: Kalotychou Elena , Staikouras Sotiris K.
Published: December 2005

The present study unveils the importance of regional characteristics of sovereign debt crises in Latin America and South East Asia. It proposes and empirically corroborates a refinement of the logit approach, for assessing sovereign risk, which draws upon a region‐specific parameterization—composite estimator. The analysis identifies some common features of debt crises that largely reflect domestic solvency, liquidity factors and, to a lesser extent, trade‐balance variables and external shocks. Nonetheless, heterogeneity effects and regional signals point towards the use of region‐specific models. Such approach depicts specific risk factors such as openness and debt burden for Latin America and reserves, output and government expenditure for Asia, thereby suggesting distinctive aspects to debt crises. Out‐of‐sample forecast comparisons further support the use of the composite estimator. The latter outperforms the simple pooled and random effects approach on the basis of various criteria, albeit slightly biased towards false non‐crises predictions.
Ownership, Governance, and Bank Performance:  Korean Experience
Authors: Choi Sungho , Hasan Iftekhar
Published: December 2005

The paper examines the effect of ownership and governance on firm performance. Tracing the post financial crisis experience, 1998–2002, of the Korean commercial bank industry, the paper investigates whether the involvement of foreign investors in the ownership structure had any significant effect on the banks’ performance i.e., return and risk measures. Further, it examines the effects of the presence of outside directors, especially directors from foreign countries, in the corporate board structure impacts banks performance. Evidence indicates that the extent of the foreign ownership level, not the mere existence of foreign ownership, has a significant positive association with the bank return and a significant negative association with the bank risk. The number of outside board of directors does not have any significant affect on performance however the presence of a foreign director on that board is significantly associated with bank return and risk. These findings are relatively robust under the different specifications of performance measures.
A Review of the Review
Authors: Davies Howard
Published: December 2005

In 1997 a process started to review the 1988 Basel I Accord, which ultimately led to the Basel II Accord of June 2004. In this paper Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics and Former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, provides an analysis of this review process. Several issues related to the complexity and implementability of the Accord are discussed. Although the author thinks that Basel II has many appealing aspects (such as the three‐pillar framework), he argues that the outcome is very complicated, it took a very long time, and needs to be adapted in ways not originally envisaged. He calls for a “Review of the Review” to see what lessons can be learnt from the review process which might be helpful for the future.
Implementation of Basel II
Authors: Caruana Jaime
Published: December 2005

In this article Jaime Caruana, Governor of the Bank of Spain and Chairman of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, first discusses the current status of the Basel II Accord. Next, he offers his perspective on macroeconomic issues related to the capital framework, focusing especially on pro‐cyclicality. Finally, he discusses three important Basel II implementation issues, namely calibration, validation, and cross‐border supervision.
Implementing Basel II: Is the Game Worth the Candle?
Authors: Herring Richard
Published: December 2005

In this article the author provides an extensive analysis of the various aspects of the Basel II Accord. Notwithstanding the gains from adoption of Basel II, he argues that these gains are unlikely to outweigh the costs of implementation and compliance: Basel II will be very costly for banks, home and host country supervisors, and, to the extent that it exacerbates macroeconomic cycles, to the broader economy as well.
Basel II vs. Prompt Corrective Action: Which Is Best for Public Policy?
Authors: Kaufman George
Published: December 2005

This paper evaluates Basel II as a tool for achieving public policy objectives relative to structured early intervention and resolution (SEIR) and prompt corrective action (PCA) in the U.S. It concludes that Basel II compares poorly in terms of maintaining a safe and sound banking system. Rather, Basel II resembles a “best practices” guide for banks in managing their credit risk. However, it may do damage through encouraging some large banks in the U.S. to successfully pressure their regulators to lower the capital trigger ratio for “adequately‐capitalized” status in order to benefit from any lower regulatory capital requirement that Basel II may give them.
Basel II and the Need for Bank Distress Resolution Procedures*
Authors: Wihlborg Clas
Published: December 2005

It is argued that without increased market discipline Basel II is not likely to resolve the regulatory problem caused by explicit and implicit guarantees of depositors and other creditors of banks. One way to enhance market discipline is to implement proposals for mandatory subordinated debt. For these proposals to achieve their objective, the non‐insurance of holders of subordinated debt must be credible. Increased credibility of non‐insurance of one or several groups of creditors could be enhanced if distress resolution procedures for banks were pre‐specified, and if they made possible bank failures without serious disruption of the financial system. The existence of rules for dealing with banks in distress not only enhances the credibility of non‐insurance of some creditors, it also allows for predictability of distress resolution costs for shareholders and management of banks. Such costs—if predictable—reduce the moral hazard incentives caused by deposit insurance schemes.
Hyperglycaemia acutely decreases circulating dehydroepiandrosterone levels in healthy men
Authors: Boudou P. , Sobngwi E. , Ibrahim F. , Porcher R. , Vexiau P. , Calvo F. , Gautier J.‐F.
Published: December 2005

Objective  This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of glucose‐insulin homeostasis on adrenal steroids and was designed to separate the effects of hyperglycaemia from those of insulin.

Design  Eight healthy men aged 22·6 ± 3·4 (SD) underwent an 80 mU/m2/min hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic 100‐min clamp, a 200‐min graded glucose infusion at 2–16 mg/kg/min and a measurement of fat mass.

Measurements  Circulating glucose, insulin and adrenal steroid levels including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were determined before and during both infusion tests. Steroid variations in relation to insulinaemia and glycaemia were analysed using univariate, multivariate tests and nonlinear mixed models.

Results  Hyperinsulinaemia induced no significant modification of adrenal steroid levels. By contrast, hyperglycaemia decreased all adrenal steroids except DHEA‐sulphate by 47–66%. The drop occurred early, averaging 51% for 17OH pregnenolone and 57% for DHEA at the 80th minute of glucose infusion, whereas blood glucose was 7·1 ± 1·2 mmol/1. This effect was independent of insulinaemia, fat mass and waist circumference. Thus, we estimated models that could best predict steroid variations according to blood glucose. At thresholds defining impaired fasting glycaemia and diabetes, the estimated decrease in DHEA was 40% and 45%, respectively, culminating at 60% at 9·3 mmol/1 glycaemia, with no detectable further decrease.

Conclusions  Our data suggest that hyperglycaemia dramatically decreases adrenal androgen levels in men, possibly by acting at early steps of synthesis, independently of insulinaemia and fat mass.
Serum ghrelin concentrations in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis
Authors: Iglesias Pedro , Díez Juan J. , Fernández‐Reyes María J. , Codoceo Rosa , Alvarez‐Fidalgo Pilar , Bajo María A. , Aguilera Abelardo , Selgas Rafael
Published: December 2005

Background   Ghrelin is a recently discovered protein hormone mainly synthesized in the gastric endocrine cells. This hormone not only is a potent growth hormone secretagogue but also is involved in the regulation of food ingestion and energy metabolism. Derangements in ghrelin secretion in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have not been fully evaluated.

Objective   Our aim has been to quantify serum concentrations of total ghrelin in a group of patients with CRF on chronic therapy with both haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in comparison with a group of patients on conservative management (predialysis).

Patients and measurements   We studied 68 CRF patients treated by HD (n = 30, 16 men, age 61·2 ± 1·8 years) and PD groups (n = 38, 21 men, age 54·4 ± 1·7 years). A group of 19 uraemic patients on conservative management served as the control. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, insulin, IGF I and GH were measured in all subjects.

Results   Patients undergoing HD showed similar concentrations of ghrelin in comparison with the control group (9491 ± 787 vs 9280 ± 918 pg/ml, NS). However, PD patients exhibited baseline ghrelin concentrations significantly lower than those found in patients on conservative management (3230 ± 216 pg/ml, P < 0·0001). Men and women showed similar serum ghrelin levels in both HD (9845·9 ± 1071 vs 9085 ± 1194 pg/ml) and PD patients (3214 ± 297 vs 3250 ± 324 pg/ml). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus did not influence ghrelin levels. Serum GH levels were positively correlated with serum ghrelin concentrations in both HD (r = 0·46, P < 0·05) and PD (r = 0·53, P < 0·001) patients; however, no relationships between ghrelin, leptin, insulin and IGF I were found.

Conclusions   These results suggest that PD is accompanied by a striking decrement in baseline ghrelin concentrations in comparison with values found both in HD and control patients. Further studies are necessary to determine mechanisms involved in ghrelin regulation in uraemic patients.
Assessing the HPA axis in patients with pituitary disease: a UK survey
Authors: Reynolds Rebecca M. , Stewart Paul M. , Seckl Jonathan R. , Padfield Paul L.
Published: December 2005

Objective   Assessing the integrity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis following pituitary surgery is necessary to determine the requirement for glucocorticoid replacement therapy, but there remains controversy about the optimum way to measure this.

Design and measurements  Postal questionnaire survey among UK endocrinologists to evaluate the current methods used.

Results   The response rate was low (81 out of 598 questionnaires mailed), although 85% were consultants. Fifty‐five percent measured 9:00 h plasma cortisol in the immediate postoperative phase. Most carried out definitive testing between 4 and 12 weeks: 36% routinely used the insulin tolerance test (ITT), 59% used the short synacthen test (SST). The 30‐min cortisol value was used by 67% as a ‘pass’ when interpreting the results. Others included cortisol measurement at 60 min (17%) or incremental value (7%). For long‐term follow‐up of patients not rendered ACTH‐deficient by surgery, 64% used the SST for patients who had received radiotherapy. If patients had not had radiotherapy, 42% used the SST, whereas 33% did no routine testing unless the patient was symptomatic or there was evidence of tumour recurrence on imaging. If patients were symptomless but ‘failed’ the chosen test, 28% still treated the patient with glucocorticoid replacement, 38% retested before treatment and 24% recommended glucocorticoid cover for when unwell or ‘stressed’. Fifty‐six percent used hydrocortisone at doses of 20 mg/day as replacement therapy.

Conclusion   Thus, assessment of the HPA axis remains controversial. Although the SST is becoming more popular, there is still considerable variation in the interpretation of results and, in particular, the decision of whether or not to treat with lifelong glucocorticoid replacement therapy.
Potato wart disease survey in Turkey
Authors: Çakır E. , Duran H. , Altın N. , Akba H. R. , Yeşilova Ö. , Çolak A. , Uçkun A. , Aydın H. , Güler B.
Published: December 2005

Synchytrium endobioticum was first detected in Turkey in 2003, in two areas remote from each other: two potato fields at Ordu and Giresun in the Black Sea region and adjacent potato fields at Nevşehir and Niğde in Central Anatolia. After an extensive survey carried out in the whole potato‐growing areas of Turkey, the disease was found only in these places. The disease was present in areas of 1999.7, 54.2, 9.2 and 1.5 ha in Nevşehir, Niğde, Ordu and Giresun provinces respectively in 2004. This comprises 1.8% of the total potato‐growing area.
Emergence en Tunisie de nouveaux pathotypes de Verticillium tricorpus pouvant attaquer la tomate, l’aubergine et la pomme de terre
Authors: Jabnoun‐Khiareddine H. , Daami‐Remadi M. , El Mahjoub M.
Published: December 2005

Durant les campagnes agricoles 2002/2003 et 2003/2004, plusieurs isolats de Verticillium, différents de ceux de V. dahliae et de V. albo‐atrum, ont été obtenus. Ils ont été isolés à partir de plants de tomate, situés dans la région de Chott‐Mariem, montrant des symptômes typiques d’une maladie vasculaire. Ces isolats ont été identifiés comme étant Verticillium tricorpus en se basant sur leurs caractéristiques morphologiques. Ils montrent une pigmentation jaune en début d’incubation sur milieu potato dextrose agar et possèdent trois formes de conservation: chlamydospores, mycélium noir et microsclérotes. L’optimum thermique de leur croissance mycélienne est de 20°C. Leur virulence a été vérifiée chez trois solanées maraîchères: tomate, aubergine et pomme de terre. Ces nouveaux pathotypes ont montré un pouvoir pathogène élevé, surtout chez l’aubergine et la tomate. Ils ont entraîné non seulement le flétrissement et l’altération du feuillage des plants inoculés mais aussi une réduction de la croissance végétative, comparativement aux témoins sains. Ces résultats confirment la présence pour la première fois en Tunisie de nouveaux pathotypes de V. tricorpus pouvant attaquer aussi bien la tomate que l’aubergine et la pomme de terre.
Facilitating trade in fresh fruits and vegetables by developing disinfestation protocols: a case study
Authors: Gupta K. , Khetarpal R. K.
Published: December 2005

The export of horticultural produce, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, has been on the increase in India. There is an increased realization and implementation of pre‐ and post‐harvest pest management practices, leading to increased production, quality and shelf life while meeting WTO requirements. Several countries prohibit imports from India owing to the presence of quarantine pests, particularly commodities that are host plants of Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera cucurbitae. However, once a complete disinfestation technique has been established and approved, importation can be permitted. In the past, specific imports of fresh fruits have already been allowed on the basis of agreed treatments. Appropriate disinfestation protocols for other fresh fruits are currently being developed in India, particularly with respect to fruit flies, to allow prohibitions of export to Japan and other countries to be lifted.
Phytosanitary importance of Heterodera glycines for South‐east Asian countries
Authors: Rajan  , Lal Arjun
Published: December 2005

Heterodera glycines is not known to occur in South‐east Asian countries except in Indonesia. Specific surveys carried out recently in central India indicate absence of the nematode. The region has a large area under cultivation of soybean, and also other crop and wild hosts. H. glycines causes annual yield losses of about half a million metric tons in 10 major soybean‐growing countries. Asia has to import half its demand of soybeans, mainly from North America and Brazil, where H. glycines occurs. Spread is mainly through soil mixed with seeds, or by spillage of grain. A preliminary pest risk analysis suggests that the South‐east Asian region is suitable for the introduction and spread of H. glycines. Management practices are suggested to delay its introduction.
Détection de deux pathotypes d’Erwinia causant la maladie de la pourriture molle sur la betterave à sucre dans la plaine du Gharb au Maroc
Authors: Snaiki J. , Nadif A. , Ouhssine M.
Published: December 2005

L’année 2001 a été caractérisée par l’apparition pour la première fois, chez la betterave sucrière de la plaine du Gharb (Maroc), de bactéries causant la maladie dite pourriture molle. Ces bactéries ont été isolées sur des racines dont la pourriture est généralisée. Leur pouvoir pathogène a été déterminé par inoculation des feuilles de tabac, des tranches de carotte et de pomme de terre. L’utilisation du test ELISA direct (méthode sandwich) à permis pour la première fois l’identification des deux bactéries, Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica et Erwinia chrysanthemi, dans 31% des échantillons pathogènes provenant des 3 zones productrices de la betterave à sucre dans la plaine du Gharb.
First record of the grapevine aphid Aphis illinoisensis in the island of Kriti, Greece
Authors: Tsitsipis J. A. , Angelakis E. , Margaritopoulos J. T. , Tsamandani K. , Zarpas K. D.
Published: December 2005

The grapevine aphid Aphis illinoisensis was recently recorded in several areas on grapevine in the island of Kriti in Greece. It was found in Greece less than three years after the first record of the aphid outside the American continent in south Turkey, and it is likely that it will spread to other Mediterranean countries.
The influence of visual and tactile stimulation on growth and metamorphosis in anuran larvae
Authors: ROT‐NIKCEVIC I. , DENVER R. J. , WASSERSUG R. J.
Published: December 2005

Sensory modalities that allow tadpoles to assess their environment, and subsequently mediate their development, are not well understood.

By putting clay model tadpoles into the tanks with live tadpoles we have enhanced tactile and visual stimuli for tadpoles of three species (Rana sylvatica, Bufo americanus and Xenopus laevis) in a controlled fashion. The goal was to determine whether visual and tactile cues in the absence of chemical signals influenced tadpole growth and development.

The response to enhanced visual and tactile stimuli was strong in Rana, intermediate in Xenopus, but absent in Bufo tadpoles. Rana tadpoles that experienced both stimuli enhanced developed the fastest and metamorphosed at the smallest body size. Development was slower in the treatments with only one stimulus enhanced, and slowest in the controls.

Our results suggest that tadpoles use both vision and mechanoreception for environment assessment, and that they are able to modify their growth and developmental rates in response to sensory enrichment.

Tadpoles exposed to the combination of visual and tactile stimulation showed the highest whole‐body content of the stress hormone corticosterone, suggesting that the enhanced stimuli were experienced as stressful. Corticosterone is known to synergize with thyroid hormone to promote metamorphosis.
Role of DNA polymerase θ in tolerance of endogenous and exogenous DNA damage in mouse B cells
Authors: Ukai Akiko , Maruyama Takako , Mochizuki Shigenobu , Ouchida Rika , Masuda Keiji , Kawamura Kiyoko , Tagawa Masatoshi , Kinoshita Kazuo , Sakamoto Akemi , Tokuhisa Takeshi , O‐Wang Jiyang
Published: December 2005

DNA polymerase θ (Polθ) is a family A polymerase that contains an intrinsic helicase domain. To investigate the function of Polθ in mammalian cells, we have inactivated its polymerase activity in CH12 mouse B lymphoma cells by targeted deletion of the polymerase core domain that contains the catalytic aspartic acid residue. Compared to parental CH12 cells, mutant cells devoid of Polθ polymerase activity exhibited a slightly reduced growth rate, accompanied by increased spontaneous cell death. In addition, mutant cells showed elevated sensitivity to mitomycin C, cisplatin, etoposide, γ‐irradiation and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Interestingly, mutant cells were more sensitive to the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) than parental cells. This elevated MMS sensitivity relative to WT cells persisted in the presence of methoxyamine, an inhibitor of the major base excision repair (BER) pathway, suggesting that Polθ is involved in tolerance of MMS through a mechanism that appears to be different from BER. These results reveal an important role for Polθ in preventing spontaneous cell death and in tolerance of not only DNA interstrand cross‐links and double strand breaks but also UV adducts and alkylation damage in mammalian lymphocytes.
Gene order in human α‐globin locus is required for their temporal specific expressions
Authors: Tang Yi , Wang Zhao , Huang Yue , Liu De‐pei , Liu Guang , Shen Wei , Tang Xiaobin , Feng Dongxiao , Liang Chih‐chuan
Published: December 2005

The human α‐globin cluster represents a unique model of transcriptional regulation and provides challenges to the current understanding of interactions between distal and proximal regulatory elements. Although the gene proximal regions are believed to possess almost all the necessary elements for temporal and spatial specificity of gene transcription, it is still not clear whether the relative distance of embryonic ζ‐ and fetal/adult α‐genes to their distal regulatory element α‐URE plays any role in transcriptional switching. To investigate the role of gene order in regulating temporal expression, we inverted the entire structure gene region of human α‐globin locus in a BAC clone bringing α‐genes closest to α‐URE and ζ‐gene the farthest away. Expression analysis of the reverted locus in transgenic mice showed that α‐globin genes, now relocated closer to α‐URE, maintained their expression levels through all developmental stages. However, the ζ‐globin gene suffered a total loss at both embryonic and fetal/adult stages. It indicates that proximal location of ζ‐globin gene to α‐URE is necessary for its normal embryonic expression and necessary to prevent embryonic expression of the α‐globin gene. We proved that, in the human α‐globin gene cluster, the normal order of structural genes relative to α‐URE plays a crucial role in the regulation of developmental switching.
Orange peel degradation and enzyme recovery in the enzymatic peeling process
Authors: Pagán Axel , Conde Josep , Ibarz Albert , Pagán Jordi
Published: December 2005

A detailed study was carried out on enzymatic peeling of oranges in a reactor using an enzyme preparation. This work was focused on determining the changes that happen in the peel albedo of Navelina oranges. Thus, the conditions of temperature and concentration of the enzymatic preparation were optimized in order to produce the maximum weight loss, which indicates good peeling efficiency. Experiments to study the efficiency of the reactor effluents by reusing them for successive enzymatic peelings were also carried out with the aim of diminishing the cost of the process. Finally, the recovery of the enzymes after use in multiple enzymatic peelings by means of ultrafiltration was tested and an increment in their enzymatic activity was observed.
Kavut, a traditional Turkish cereal product: production method and some chemical and sensorial properties
Authors: Karaoǧlu Mehmet Murat , Kotancilar Halis Gürbüz
Published: December 2005

Kavut is a cereal‐based product made from wholemeal wheat and barley flour, milk or milk powder, fat and sugar. In this study, the best processing method and formulation were investigated by analysing different formulations and processing methods for the kavut. Four different flour combinations (100% wheat without barley, 75% wheat + 25% barley, 50% wheat + 50% barley, 25% wheat + 75% barley), two shortening (butter and margarine) and three different roasting periods (1, 1.5, 2 min) at 250 °C were used in the study. Significant changes were observed in the physical and chemical properties of the cereal by heat treatment in the kavut production. Increase of barley flour in the mixture decreased protein content, softness, altered L colour values, appearance, texture, mouth‐feel, and general acceptance and increased ash content, +a and the absorbance value of kavut. While the longer roasting period resulted in reduced softness and colour (L‐value) of kavut, roasting period did not significantly affect the general acceptance of kavut. Kavut made from only whole wheatflour was most preferred by the panellists.
Effect of black tea, garlic and onion on corn oil stability and fatty acid composition under accelerated oxidation
Authors: Navas Petra Beatriz , Carrasquero‐Durán Armando , Flores Iraima
Published: December 2005

Fresh black tea, garlic bulbs and onion skin were macerated in refined corn oil to evaluate their antioxidant properties and the effect of heat on oil stability and fatty acid composition in accelerated oxidation experiments at 55 ° and 140 °C. At the lowest temperature control and onion treatments showed an induction time of 3 days with maximum peroxide values of 62 and 45 meq kg−1, respectively. Addition of black tea and garlic increased oil stability with peroxide values of 5 meq kg−1, without appreciable changes in the fatty acid composition. Heating at 140 °C for 48 h produced an accelerated deterioration of corn oil in all treatments. A reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids of about 40% was observed, with high concentrations of non‐eluted materials which contained thermo‐oxidized substances. It was found that natural extract of black tea and garlic were effective to preserve corn oil under accelerated oxidation at 55 °C which simulates oil behaviour during storage, but cannot reduce the rate of oxidation at frying temperatures.
Relationship between gluten strength and pasta firmness in Indian durum wheats
Authors: Oak Manoj D. , Sissons Mike , Egan Narelle , Tamhankar Shubhada A. , Rao V. Suryaprakasa , Bhosale Suresh B.
Published: December 2005

Selected Indian durum wheats including five newly released varieties and seven landraces were studied for their grain quality, gluten strength (sodium dodecyl sulphate‐sedimentation and mixograph) and pasta making properties. Landraces were found to have good grain size, protein content, and gluten strength but they had lower test weight and semolina yield than released varieties. As protein composition affects gluten strength, landraces having combination of low molecular weight (LMW‐GS) with 5, 12, 15 and 19 linked to Gli‐B1 43.5 and high molecular weight (HMW‐GS) 2*, 14 + 15 provide a dough strength comparable with the 7 + 8 and LMW‐GS 2, 4, 6, 12, 15 and 19 (caa) allelic pattern, typically associated with good gluten strength. Landraces have rare combinations of glutenins and gliadins, which are not seen in commercial Indian durums, and in some cases, these rare alleles seem to favour good gluten strength and pasta firmness. Introduction of these alleles through breeding should improve the gluten strength and pasta making properties of Indian durum cultivars.
A study on the acceptability and consumer attitude towards parboiled rice
Authors: Heinemann Riana Jordão Barrozo , Behrens Jorge Herman , Lanfer‐Marquez Ursula Maria
Published: December 2005

Despite nutritional claims and other advantages that parboiled rice possesses, its consumption is still low in Brazil mainly because of the local preference for milled rice. In the first part of this study, the acceptability of five commercial brands of parboiled and milled rice was assessed by 100 consumers and similar acceptance levels were observed, evidencing that consumers might not reject parboiled rice for its sensory properties. In the second part, 286 consumers were surveyed about their eating habits and attitude towards rice, focusing especially the nutritional value, sensory and convenience aspects of parboiled rice. In the survey 35% of the respondents were unaware of parboiled rice. Cluster analysis performed on data grouped consumers in one segment with positive attitude and in two other segments with negative attitude towards parboiled rice. Segmentation was mainly because of negative beliefs about the sensory characteristics of the product, although its nutritional claims were unknown to most respondents, revealing the need of marketing efforts focused on informing consumers the health benefits and convenience of eating parboiled rice.
The effect of drying conditions on the development of the hard‐to‐cook defect in steam‐treated cowpeas
Authors: Affrifah Nicole S. , Chinnan Manjeet S.
Published: December 2005

A three‐factor–three‐level Box–Behnken design was used to evaluate the effect of drying time, temperature and humidity on textural and physicochemical characteristics during storage of steamed cowpeas. The treatment significantly improved cooked texture and prevented hardening during storage under severe conditions (42 °C/80% relative humidity, RH). Before storage, the cooked texture of treated samples was between 535–628 and 602 N for the untreated control, and between 516–649 and 1394 N after storage at 42 °C/80% RH. The peak force of stored cowpeas significantly decreased as the drying temperature increased. Steaming and drying reduced phytase activity to 59–64% of the original activity and decreased phytate content from 0.133% to 0.074–0.105%. Drying time had a significant effect on phytase activity whereas all drying parameters significantly affected phytate concentration and water absorption. The drying conditions applied after steaming significantly influences seed characteristics; therefore, selection of optimum drying conditions may be used to control seed quality, especially texture.
Effects of lipoxygenase and of chemical oxidising agent potassium iodate on rheological properties of durum dough
Authors: Borrelli Grazia M. , Ficco Donatella B. M. , Di Fonzo Natale , Fares Clara
Published: December 2005

To study the involvement of lipoxygenase (LOX) and oxidising agent potassium iodate (KIO3) in rheological behaviour of dough, mixograph and alveograph tests were performed using durum cultivars differing for quality and endogenous levels of LOX. Both tests were done in standard condition and with the adding of KIO3 and of LOX and/or its substrate, utilised singly or in different combinations. The effects of these treatments were related to change of ‐SH and S–S content in relative mixograph dough. The mixograph and alveograph responses showed that the KIO3 had an improving effect on dough tenacity and that the adding of LOX system enhanced this trend; on the contrary, the LOX system alone seemed not affect mixing stability. No relation was found between rheological responses and ‐SH and S–S content in the mixograph doughs. The results obtained could suggest that in durum wheat the main effect of LOX could be ascribable to bleaching action because of the co‐oxidation of carotenoid pigments.
A model‐based reconstruction of Holocene treeline dynamics in the Central Swiss Alps
Authors: HEIRI C. , BUGMANN H. , TINNER W. , HEIRI O. , LISCHKE H.
Published: December 2005

We used the forest succession model ForClim to simulate Holocene treeline dynamics along an elevational transect in the Central European Alps, in order to explore the extent and cause of changes in treeline altitude and composition.

A temperature reconstruction independent of vegetation proxies was used to drive the model, and the simulation results were compared with Holocene pollen and macrofossil records from a nearby site close to the present‐day treeline.

The simulation results yielded treeline fluctuations of about ± 100 m (2375–2600 m a.s.l.), confirming earlier palaeoecological studies and quantitatively corroborating the interpretation of most palaeoecologists that decadal‐ to centennial‐scale Holocene fluctuations of pollen and plant macrofossil frequencies reflect treeline shifts rather than productivity changes alone.

The simulated changes in species composition and treeline position show general agreement with palaeobotanical data between 11 000 and 4500 calibrated radiocarbon years BP. In the late Holocene, however, palaeobotanical evidence indicates a distinct lowering of the treeline, while simulation projected continuous forest cover up to an altitude of 2400 m a.s.l.

Our results indicate that changes in temperature alone can account for changes in treeline elevation for the first half of the Holocene. The discrepancy between simulation results and palaeobotanical records since 4500 cal. BP supports the hypothesis of a strong human influence on the Alpine treeline during the late Holocene.

Combining palaeoecological methods with vegetation modelling can disentangle climatic effects and early human impacts on long‐term vegetation dynamics. Forest succession models may not only help palaeoecologists to achieve a better understanding of the factors driving past vegetation changes, but their validation with long‐term empirical data is also an important step towards applying these models to the assessment of future vegetation dynamics in a changing climate.
A biotic agent promotes large‐scale catastrophic change in the coastal marshes of Hudson Bay
Authors: JEFFERIES ROBERT L. , JANO ANDREW P. , ABRAHAM KENNETH F.
Published: December 2005

Herbivores may initiate small changes to plant–soil systems that trigger positive feedbacks leading to rapid catastrophic shifts in vegetative states, including irreversible changes in soil properties. In the coastal marshes of Hudson and James bays, foraging by increasing numbers of lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescensA.O.U.) has led to loss of vegetation, and exposure and partial erosion of sediment.

Multi‐temporal analysis of LANDSAT data has been carried out to detect vegetation change from 1973 to 1999 or later at nine sites in the coastal marshes of these bays where staging and/or breeding geese are present annually.

Images were co‐registered, and for each image NDVI (Normalized Differential Vegetation Index) channels were generated. For each location, pairwise normalized differences were calculated between these NDVI images for each successive period defined by the imagery acquisition dates. The resulting secondary NDVI difference images expressed changes in NDVI values for each time interval and yielded three well‐defined classes: water, vegetation decline and no detectable change in vegetation.

At the nine widely separated study sites, the intertidal saltmarsh (an ecological sere) has been lost (to a total of 35 000 ha) and an alternative stable state (exposed sediment) established. Similar changes have occurred elsewhere along the 2000‐km coastline where the geese breed or stage.

Re‐vegetation of these coastal marshes will take decades because of near‐irreversible changes in soil properties that require erosion and re‐deposition of unconsolidated sediment before large‐scale plant colonization can occur, and because large numbers of geese continue to forage annually producing this dramatic top‐down effect.
The effects of inbreeding, outbreeding and long‐distance gene flow on survivorship in North American populations of Silene vulgaris
Authors: BAILEY MAIA F. , McCAULEY DAVID E.
Published: December 2005

Silene vulgaris was introduced from Europe to North America prior to 1800. We evaluated the influence of the resulting population structure on traits related to fitness in a two generation series of glasshouse crosses. Plants were either self‐fertilized, outcrossed within local populations, outcrossed between local populations or outcrossed between three geographical regions separated by > 150 km.

Inbreeding depression following self‐fertilization occurred in nearly every maternal lineage studied but its magnitude varied among geographical regions, especially when the fitness component compared was seed germination.

The consequences of long‐distance gene flow varied among geographical regions: crosses between some pairs of regions resulted in fitter offspring than within region outcrosses (i.e. heterosis), whereas other pairs of regions showed outbreeding depression (offspring of more distant crosses were less fit).

Individuals derived from self‐fertilization of F1 individuals were fitter if the first crosses had been made between populations or regions rather than within populations, both in terms of seed germination and seedling survivorship. The benefits of gene flow therefore persist for at least one generation beyond that created by the gene flow event.

The fitness of offspring of crosses between F1 individuals and their maternal population did not depend on the relatedness of the parents of the F1. Thus, there was no evidence of outbreeding depression following recombination within F1 individuals whose creation involved gene flow.

Our results imply that alteration of the rate of self‐fertilization or the rate of gene flow between populations of S. vulgaris could affect the demographic characters that influence population establishment and persistence in this species.
Inferring differential evolutionary processes of plant persistence traits in Northern Hemisphere Mediterranean fire‐prone ecosystems
Authors: PAUSAS J. G. , KEELEY J. E. , VERDÚ M.
Published: December 2005

Resprouting capacity (R) and propagule‐persistence (P) are traits that are often considered to have evolved where there are predictable crown fires. Because several indicators suggest a stronger selective pressure for such traits in California than in the Mediterranean Basin, we hypothesize that plant species should have evolved to become R+ and P+ more frequently in California than in the Mediterranean Basin.

To test this hypothesis we studied the phylogenetic association between R and P states in both California and the Mediterranean Basin using published molecular phylogenies.

The results suggest that R and P evolved differently in the two regions. The occurrence of the states differs significantly between regions for trait P, but not for trait R. The different patterns (towards R+ and P+ in California and towards R+ and P– in the Mediterranean Basin) are reflected in the higher abundance and the wider taxonomic distribution of species with both persistence traits (R+P+ species) in California.

The differential acquisition of fire persistence mechanisms at the propagule level (P+) supports the idea that fire selective pressures has been higher in California than in the Mediterranean Basin.

Our comparative phylogenetic‐informed analysis contributes to an understanding of the differential role of the Quaternary climate in determining fire persistence traits in different Mediterranean‐type ecosystems and, thus, to the debate on the evolutionary convergence of traits.
Near‐field scanning optical microscopy and near‐field induced photocurrent investigations of buried heterostructure multiquantum well lasers
Authors: ACKLAND M. P. , DUNSTAN P. R. , REES P.
Published: December 2005

Buried heterostructure multiquantum well laser devices are investigated utilizing a near‐field scanning optical microscope to characterize and correlate the surface topography, optical output and electronic properties of the device. Near‐field photocurrent imaging has been used to accurately measure the unbiased buried heterostructure multiquantum well device in cross‐section, successfully revealing the distribution of pn‐junctions and their associated fields. Moreover, this has been accurately correlated with the physical structure of the device determined by simultaneous shear‐force imaging of the surface. Topographic structure is manifested as a result of strain relaxation (∼10−10 m) of the cleaved cross‐section. These imaging modes are similarly correlated with the optical output of the operational device mapped with 50 nm lateral resolution. The collection‐mode measurements detected electroluminescence external to the active region, highlighting the existence of carrier recombination away from the multiquantum well device region. The combination and correlation of different near‐field scanning optical microscope imaging modes proved powerful in the analysis of the buried heterostructure multiquantum well device, and was shown to assist in the identification of current leakage pathways within the structure.
Segmentation of intestinal gland images with iterative region growing
Authors: WU H.‐S. , XU R. , HARPAZ N. , BURSTEIN D. , GIL J.
Published: December 2005

A region growing algorithm for segmentation of human intestinal gland images is presented. The initial seeding regions are identified based on the large vacant regions (lumen) inside the intestinal glands by fitting with a very large moving window. The seeding regions are then expanded by repetitive application of a morphological dilate operation with a much smaller round window structure set. False gland regions (nongland regions initially misclassified as gland regions) are removed based on either their excessive ages of active growth or inadequate thickness of dams formed by the strings of goblet cell nuclei sitting immediately outside the grown regions. The goblet cell nuclei are then identified and retained in the image. The gland contours are detected by applying a large moving round window fitting to the enormous empty exterior of the goblet cell nucleus chains in the image. The assumptions based on real intestinal gland images include the closed chain structured goblet cell nuclei that sit side‐by‐side with only small gaps between the neighbouring nuclei and that the lumens enclosed by the goblet cell nucleus chains are most vacant with only occasional run‐away nuclei. The method performs well for most normal and abnormal intestinal gland images although it is less applicable to cancer cases. The experimental results show that the segmentations of the real microscopic intestinal gland images are satisfactorily accurate based on the visual evaluations.
Apparent versus true density for the volume‐to‐weight transformation in coal blends
Authors: ALVAREZ D. , BORREGO A. G.
Published: December 2005

This work reviews the procedures involved in the conversion of the petrographic characterization data of blended coals into weight percentages of the single coals in the blends, the selection of the most suitable parameter for describing the density of the coals being critical. First, the fundamentals of the volume‐to‐weight transformation of the petrographic data were developed by means of mathematical formulae. This part of the procedure highlighted the need to use a density value adapted to the resolving power of the optical microscope. It was found that mercury penetration at 5 MPa, as determined by mercury porosimetry, was best suited for this purpose. A literature survey of published coal density data revealed that the use of correlations between coal density and rank was not an accurate enough procedure to deal with the relatively low corrections involved in the transformation of petrographic data. In the end, three binary blends were prepared from six carefully selected coals and polished particulate blocks of these blends were petrographically analysed to determine their compositions on a volume per cent basis. The best fit of these volume percentages with the weight percentages used in the formulation of the blends was found for a density correction based on mercury penetration at 5 MPa, in agreement with the empirical analysis.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and the management of HBV‐infected health care workers
Authors: Van Der Eijk A. A. , De Man R. A. , Niesters H. G. M. , Schalm S. W. , Zaaijer H. L.
Published: December 2005

Summary.  Different guidelines exist for the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected health care workers (HCWs). Various HBV DNA levels are used as a cutoff level to determine whether an HBV‐infected HCW is allowed to perform exposure‐prone procedures (EPPs) or not. In this paper we discuss the factors that determine HBV DNA levels and the implications of different HBV DNA cutoff levels for EPP performing HCWs. If the level of HBV DNA in the serum of HCWs is used to determine acceptability for the conduct of EPPs, it is necessary to take into account the variability in time of HBV DNA levels in HBV carriers and the reliability and reproducibility of the molecular diagnostic test involved. The issue of standardization has to be addressed, before a universal, maximum level of viraemia for EPP performing HCWs can be introduced.
Combination hepatitis C virus antigen and antibody immunoassay as a new tool for early diagnosis of infection
Authors: Ansaldi F. , Bruzzone B. , Testino G. , Bassetti M. , Gasparini R. , Crovari P. , Icardi G.
Published: December 2005

Summary. Reduction of the window period of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents an important goal in the transfusional and diagnostic setting. A prototype assay designed to simultaneously detect circulating HCV antigen and anti‐HCV, has been developed. Aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of this new assay in terms of specificity and sensitivity and to compare its efficacy with commercial assays. To evaluate the specificity of the assay, 400 samples from the general population and 100 ‘difficult’ sera, negative for anti‐HCV, were tested. To assess sensitivity, the new test was used on 76 PCR‐positive and anti‐HCV negative sera, seven natural or commercial seroconversion panels that included 17 RNA‐positive and anti‐HCV negative sera and 31 anti‐HCV positive sera, 20 weak anti‐HCV positive sera, 80 viraemic and anti‐HCV‐positive sera from patients infected with different subtypes and 10 sera from patients with HBV–HCV or HIV–HCV co‐infections. Of 500 anti‐HCV negative samples, 499 (99.8%) were negative with a cut‐off index <0.5, while one sample was within the grey zone. Of the 93 HCV‐RNA positive and anti‐HCV negative sera from patients and panels, 85 (91.4%) resulted positive, and one had the cut‐off index in the grey zone. The reduction in the diagnostic window period observed with the new test and HCV‐RNA assays were equal, on average, to 24 and 34.4 days respectively. All anti‐HCV positive sera were positive. The new assay shows high sensitivity and specificity and could be a useful tool not only in the diagnostic setting, where procedures to reduce the window period, such as antigen or HCV‐RNA detection, are not currently recommended, but also in the screening of blood donations, when nucleic acid technologies is not feasible because of costs, organization, emergency and/or logistic difficulties.