bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Analysts’ Dropped Coverage Decision: The Role of Analyst Incentives, Experience, and Accounting Fundamentals
Authors: Shon John , Young Susan M.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  After controlling for economic performance (i.e., stock returns), we find that several proxies for analyst incentives as well as accounting‐based fundamentals are related to an analyst's decision to drop coverage of a firm. When we separately consider the drop decisions of analysts with High vs. Low Experience, we find that Low Experience analysts place more weight on firm risk and decreases in liquidity when making their drop decision, while High Experience analysts place higher weights on accounting losses and decreasing SG&A margins. Lastly, when High (Low) Experience analysts initiate dropped coverage, their Low (High) Experience peers mimic the dropped coverage fairly quickly (fairly slowly).
The health implications of birth by Caesarean section
Authors: Hyde Matthew J. , Mostyn Alison , Modi Neena , Kemp Paul R.
Published: August 2011

Since the first mention of fetal programming of adult health and disease, a plethora of programming events in early life has been suggested. These have included intrauterine and postnatal events, but limited attention has been given to the potential contribution of the birth process to normal physiology and long‐term health. Over the last 30 years a growing number of studies have demonstrated that babies born at term by vaginal delivery (VD) have significantly different physiology at birth to those born by Caesarean section (CS), particularly when there has been no exposure to labour, i.e. pre‐labour CS (PLCS). This literature is reviewed here and the processes involved in VD that might programme post‐natal development are discussed. Some of the effects of CS are short term, but longer term problems are also apparent. We suggest that VD initiates important physiological trajectories and the absence of this stimulus in CS has implications for adult health. There are a number of factors that might plausibly contribute to this programming, one of which is the hormonal surge or “stress response” of VD. Given the increasing incidence of elective PLCS, an understanding of the effects of VD on normal development is crucial.
A longitudinal twin study on the association between ADHD symptoms and reading
Authors: Greven Corina U. , Rijsdijk Frühling V. , Asherson Philip , Plomin Robert
Published: August 2011

Background:  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading disability commonly co‐occur because of shared genetic risk factors. However, the stability and change of these genetic influences and the predictive relationships underlying this association longitudinally remain unclear.

Methods:  ADHD symptoms and reading were assessed as continuous dimensions in a UK general population sample of approximately 7,000 twin pairs. Parent ratings of ADHD symptoms and teacher ratings of reading were obtained at two ages: middle childhood (ages 7–8 years) and early adolescence (ages 11–12 years). Cross‐lagged quantitative genetic analyses were applied.

Results:  ADHD symptoms and reading significantly predicted each other over time. However, ADHD symptoms were a significantly stronger predictor of reading than vice versa. Inattentive and hyperactive‐impulsive symptoms of ADHD both contributed to the prediction of reading, but inattentiveness was a significantly stronger predictor. Furthermore, ADHD symptoms and reading were highly heritable, and their association was primarily attributable to shared genetic influences. Despite notable genetic innovation for each trait, genetic factors involved in the association of ADHD symptoms and reading over time were highly stable.

Conclusions:  ADHD symptoms may put children at increased risk for reading problems and vice versa. Moreover, enduring genetic mechanisms appear to be important in the association of ADHD symptoms and reading over time.
Correlates of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in children and adolescents cared for in community settings
Authors: Nugent Katie L. , Daniels Amy M. , Azur Melissa J.
Published: August 2011

Background:  This study examined the prevalence and correlates of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) among a national sample of 9006 children.

Methods:  Clinician‐assigned diagnoses were used to divide the sample into two groups: children with SSD and children with other Axis I disorders.

Results:  Three percent of the sample had a SSD diagnosis. African American (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.65) and Hispanic race/ethnicity (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.94), a greater number of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses (three diagnoses, OR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.31), a history of attempting suicide (OR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.02), and past residential treatment (OR=1.59; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.28) were all associated with increased odds of SSD diagnosis.

Conclusions:  Although schizophrenia spectrum disorders in youth are rare, children with these disorders present with a distinct risk profile that may inform service planning and delivery and assist in identifying individuals early in the course of their illness.
Lost in translation: conflicting views of deforestation, land use and identity in western Madagascar
Authors: SCALES IVAN R
Published: August 2011

This paper focuses on the interplay between environmental narratives, identity politics and the management of forest resources in Madagascar. While efforts to conserve the island's biological diversity have centred primarily on the designation of protected areas, policies have increasingly focused on local communities. The experiences of the last 20 years have shown that community‐based approaches to conservation offer considerable challenges due to the complex politics of natural resource use, which involve multiple and diverse stakeholders, often with very different and sometimes conflicting values. In this paper, I focus on the environmental perceptions and values of two groups in the Central Menabe region of western Madagascar – conservation organisations and rural households – revealing a contrasting set of views regarding the region's forest. I show that the conservation discourse has changed over time, increasingly emphasising the biological diversity of the region's tropical dry‐deciduous forest and prioritising non‐consumptive uses of natural resources. Although policy has changed in response to changing values, I show that it has been underpinned by the notion that hatsake (‘slash‐and‐burn’ agriculture) is an irrational practice driven by necessity rather than choice. Policy has thus sought to provide livelihood alternatives, firstly through forestry, then through changes in cultivation and increasingly through tourism. This misunderstands the local view of the forest, which sees hatsake as a way to make the land productive, as long as it is carried out responsibly according to local fady (taboos). As well as facing problems of translating conservation goals into local values and misunderstanding the motives for forest clearance, policy has been based on a narrative that attaches particular land use practices to ethnic identities. I argue that this ignores the history and fluid reality of both identity and land use.
Societal transformations for a sustainable economy
Authors: Jackson Tim
Published: August 2011

This paper explores some social aspects of the transition to a sustainable economy. Starting from basic premises of ecological limits and social justice, the author examines the complex relationship between income and human well‐being and argues that the rich world has a responsibility to “make room for growth” where it matters most in terms of improved well‐being; that is, in the poorest nations. The paper argues that this cannot be achieved simply through efficiency improvements or material “decoupling”. A simple scenario analysis is used to illustrate the heroic nature of the assumptions that decoupling can achieve global carbon targets. Even if such assumptions are technically justifiable, economic incentives and social logic conspire against technological improvements of this magnitude. Instead, there is a need for profound transformation of the economic system itself, for which the rich nations must take a primary responsibility. This transformation has implications for incentive structures, ownership patterns, investment portfolios, the organisation of financial markets, and the structure of economic activities and for expectations of economic growth. It also demands a new economics, informed by a broader — and more realistic — vision of human nature.
Shaping agricultural innovation systems responsive to food insecurity and climate change
Authors: Brooks Sally , Loevinsohn Michael
Published: August 2011

Climate change and variability present new challenges for agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers who continue to be the mainstay of food production in developing countries. Recent global food crises have exposed the structural vulnerability of globalized agri‐food systems, highlighting climate change as just one of a complex set of environmental, demographic, social and economic drivers generating instability and food insecurity, the impacts of which disproportionately affect poorer groups in marginal environments. Rather than search for single causes, there is a need to understand these changes at a systemic level. Improved understanding of and engagement with the adaptive strategies and innovations of communities living in conditions of rapid change provides an appropriate starting point for those seeking to shape agricultural innovation systems responsive to food insecurity and climate change. This paper draws lessons from selected country experiences of adaptation and innovation in pursuit of food security goals. It reviews three cases of systems of innovation operating in contrasting regional, socio‐economic and agro‐ecological contexts, in terms of four features of innovation systems more likely to build, sustain or enhance food security in situations of rapid change: (i) recognition of the multifunctionality of agriculture and opportunities to realize multiple benefits; (ii) access to diversity as the basis for flexibility and resilience; (iii) concern for enhancing capacity of decision makers at all levels; and (iv) continuity of effort aimed at securing the well‐being of those who depend on agriculture. Finally, implications for policymakers and other stakeholders in agricultural innovation systems are presented.
The policy challenges for green economy and sustainable economic development
Authors: Barbier Edward
Published: August 2011

Green growth, the promotion of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies and sustainable development are frequently viewed as complementary goals by international policymakers. This paper argues that green growth will not ensure sustainable economic development as long as global ecosystem degradation and loss means that the world continues to face worsening problems of ecological scarcity — the loss of myriad benefits, or “services”, as these systems are exploited for human use and activity. Overcoming this problem requires addressing further sustainability and funding challenges. The sustainability challenge is to overcome a vast array of market, policy and institutional failures that prevents recognition of the economic significance of this scarcity. The funding challenge is to bridge the shortfall between the global benefits that humankind receives from ecosystems and what we are willing to pay to maintain and conserve them. Improving economic and scientific analysis of ecological scarcity, valuing the loss in benefits, and translating the implications into policy are the key steps for addressing the sustainability challenge. Exploring and implementing a range of innovative financing mechanisms, from international payments for ecosystem services to financial and currency transactions taxes to international financing facilities are possibilities for alleviating the funding challenge.
Synthesis and spectroscopic investigation of cationic donor‐(π‐bridge)‐acceptor dye, 4‐[N‐(5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroisoquinolinium‐5‐ylidene)methyl]‐N,N‐dialkylaniline iodide
Authors: Jędrzejewska Beata , Michalak Barbara
Published: August 2011

The synthesis and fundamental spectroscopic properties of eight hemicyanine (HC) dyes are presented. The dyes were prepared by the condensation of N‐methyl‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroisoquinolinium iodide with p‐(N,N‐dialkylamino)benzaldehydes. The compounds were characterised by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and their purity was checked with the use of thin‐layer chromatography. The spectroscopic properties of the dyes were determined in three organic solvents. The electronic absorption spectra of the dyes demonstrate moderate sensitivity to the nature of the substituent present in the aromatic ring and low solvent polarity dependence. In contrast to this, the positions of fluorescence bands are affected by the structure of an electron donor and solvent polarity. The 4‐[N‐(5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroisoquinolinium‐5‐ylidene)methyl]‐N,N‐dialkylaniline iodides were applied as fluorescent probes for the monitoring of the progress of free radical polymerisation. The study on the changes in the fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shifts of the dyes was carried out during thermally initiated polymeriszation of methyl methacrylate. The purpose of these studies was to find a relationship between the changes in the shape and intensity of probe fluorescence and the degree of monomer conversion into polymer.
Neutral dyeing of wool and wool/polyester blend fabrics using sulphatoethylsulphone reactive‐disperse dyes
Authors: Mousa A A , Youssef Y A , Farouk R , Ayiesh T M , Arief M H
Published: August 2011

Two models of temporarily anionic sulphatoethylsulphone reactive disperse dyes were applied to wool, polyester and wool/polyester blend fabrics at different dyeing pH. Maximum exhaustion values and colour yield were observed at pH 7. The results showed that reactive disperse dyes containing bis‐sulphatoethylsulphone reactive groups were more convenient for neutral dyeing of wool and wool/polyester blend fabrics if compared with a dye containing a mono‐sulphatoethylsulphone group. Excellent to very good wet fastness properties on all dyed fabrics were achieved.
Electrode Defects in Multilayer Capacitors Part II: Finite Element Analysis of Local Field Enhancement and Leakage Current in Three‐Dimensional Microstructures
Authors: Samantaray Malay M. , Gurav Abhijit , Dickey Elizabeth C. , Randall Clive A.
Published: August 2011

Multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), owing to their processing conditions, can exhibit microstructure defects, such as electrode porosity and roughness. The effect of such extrinsic defects on the electrical performance of these devices needs to be understood to achieve successful miniaturization. To understand the influence of microstructural defects on field distributions and leakage current, the three‐dimensional (3‐D) microstructure of a local region in MLCCs is reconstructed using a serial‐sectioning technique in the focused ion beam. This microstructure is then converted into a finite element model to simulate the perturbations in electric field due to the presence of electrode defects. The electric field is significantly enhanced in the vicinity of such defects, and this is expected to have a bearing on the leakage current density of these devices. To simulate the scaling effects, the dielectric layer thickness is reduced in the 3‐D microstructure keeping the same electrode morphology. It is seen that the effect of microstructure defects is more pronounced as one approaches thinner layers, leading to higher local electric field concentrations and a concomitant drop in insulation resistance.
Caries experience of institutionalized elderly and its association with dementia and functional status
Authors: Philip P , Rogers C , Kruger E , Tennant M
Published: August 2011

To cite this article
 
Int J Dent Hygiene 10, 2012; 122–127  DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2011.00525.x

Philip P, Rogers C, Kruger E, Tennant M. Caries experience of institutionalized elderly and its association with dementia and functional status.

Abstract:  Objectives:  The aim of this study was to assess the caries experience of the elderly residing in residential aged care facilities in Perth, Western Australia, and its association with dementia and functional status.

Methods:  Oral examinations were conducted in a sample of institutionalized aged persons. This study was carried out over a period of 7 years, between 2002 and 2008.

Results:  A total of 205 residents were examined. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth index score was 25.9 for all residents. Residents with dementia did not have significantly different levels of caries experience than those without. The mean number of active caries and retained decayed roots, however, was higher among residents with dementia. There was a significant difference in the mean number of active decay and carious retained roots among residents based on their Activities of Daily Living Oral Health score and their status of assistance received with brushing.

Conclusion:  Caries experience among the institutionalized elderly is associated with disability, and oral care is lacking among the institutionalized elderly in this study. Appropriate preventive measures (as well as interventional activities) should be undertaken to control oral disease among residential aged care residents.
CONSUMING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
Authors: Labaree David F.
Published: August 2011

In this essay David Labaree examines the tension between two competing visions of the purposes of education that have shaped American public schools. From one perspective, we have seen schooling as a way to preserve and promote public aims, such as keeping the faith, shoring up the republic, or promoting economic growth. From the other perspective, we have seen schooling as a way to advance the interests of individual educational consumers in the pursuit of social access and social advantage. In the first half of the essay Labaree shows the evolution of the public vision over time, from an emphasis on religious aims to political ones to economic ones and, finally, to an embrace of individual opportunity. In the second half, he shows how the consumerist vision of schooling has not only come to dominate in the rhetoric of school reform but also in shaping the structure of the school system.
CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC SCHOOLING TODAY: DERISION, MULTICULTURALISM, NATIONALISM
Authors: Parker Walter C.
Published: August 2011

In this article, Walter Parker brings structure and agency to the foreground of the current tumult of public schooling in the United States. He focuses on three structures that are serving as rules and resources for creative agency. These are a discourse of derision about failing schools, a broad mobilization of multiculturalism, and an enduring nationalism. Drawing on Anthony Giddens's structuration theory, Parker examines how these discourses figure in redefining school reform, redefining school curricula, and requiring schools once again to serve nationalistic purposes.
THE PRIVATIZED PUBLIC: ANTAGONISM FOR A RADICAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICS IN SCHOOLS?
Authors: Boyles Deron
Published: August 2011

In an extended era of privatization initiatives, when accountability principles and competitive business logics pervade school discourse and practice, what is left of the “public” part of public schooling? When market rationality privileges individualism and competition and provides much of the justification for the aims of U.S. schools, how is the notion of the public good evidenced? In this essay Deron Boyles makes the claim that public schools inordinately function as private markets—as places where a unidirectional narrative of “givens” reinforce individualism, competition, and corporatization under the guise of merit, testing, and school‐business partnerships.
Isolation and characterization of type I antifreeze proteins from cunner,Tautogolabrus adspersus, order Perciformes
Authors: Hobbs Rod S. , Shears Margaret A. , Graham Laurie A. , Davies Peter L. , Fletcher Garth. L.
Published: August 2011

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are produced by many species of teleost fish that inhabit potentially lethal ice‐laden seawater and afford them protection from freezing. To date type I AFPs have been fully characterized in two teleost orders: Pleuronectiformes and Scorpaeniformes. In this study, we report the isolation and complete characterization of a type I AFP present in fish from a third order: cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), order Perciformes (family Labridae). This protein was purified from blood plasma and found to belong to what is now known as classical type I AFP with their small size (mass 4095.16 Da), alanine richness (> 57 mol%), high α‐helicity (> 99%) with the ability to undergo reversible thermal denaturation, 11 amino acid (ThrX10) repeat regions within the primary structure, the capacity to impart a hexagonal bipyramidal shaping to ice crystals and the conservation of an ice‐binding site found in many of the other type I AFPs. Partialde novosequencing of the plasma AFP accounted for approximately half of the peptide mass. Sequencing of a combined liver and skin cDNA library indicated that the protein is produced without a signal sequence. In addition the translated product of the AFP cDNA suggests that it codes for the AFP isolated from plasma. These results further solidify the hypothesis that type I AFPs are multiphyletic in origin and suggest that they represent remarkable examples of convergent evolution within three orders of teleost fish.
Distribution of human leucocyte antigen‐A, ‐B and ‐DR alleles and haplotypes at high resolution in the population from Jiangsu province of China
Authors: Qin Qin P. , Su F. , Xiao Yan W. , Xing Z. , Meng P. , Chengya W. , Jie S.
Published: August 2011

The frequencies of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐A, ‐B and ‐DRB1 alleles and haplotypes were statistically analysed among 3238 donors from Chinese Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) Jiangsu Branch. All donors were typed using polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐based typing (PCR‐SBT) method or polymerase chain reaction–reverse sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR‐rSSOP) method. As a result, a total of 46 A, 85 B and 51 DRB1 alleles were found in Jiangsu population. The first three frequent alleles in HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐DRB1 loci respectively were A*11:01(16.52%), A*24:02(15.10%) and A*02:01(13.02%); B*13:02(11.60%), B*46:01(8.89%) and B*58:01(7.12%); and DRB1*07:01(15.78%), DRB1*09:01(15.26%) and DRB1*15:01(9.76%). The top two frequent A‐B‐DRB1 haplotypes were A*30:01‐B*13:02‐DRB1*07:01(8.87%) and A*02:07‐B*46:01‐DRB1*09:01(2.79%); the top three A‐B haplotypes were A*33:03‐B*58:01‐DRB1*03:01(2.59%), A*30:01‐B*13:02(9.92%) and A*33:03‐B*58:01(5.48%); the top two B‐DRB1 haplotypes were B*13:02‐DRB1*07:01(10.23%) and B*46:01‐DRB1*09:01(4.61%); the top two A‐DRB1 haplotypes were A*30:01‐DRB1*07:01(8.96%) and A*33:03‐DRB1*13:02(3.95%). These findings provided useful information in the study of genetics and anthropology in Chinese Han population. It also served as a basic guide for selection of future donors in CMDP Jiangsu Branch.
Nurse practitioners’ inability to prescribe buprenorphine: Limitations of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000
Authors: O’Connor Alane B.
Published: August 2011

Purpose: To identify the limitations of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) and to discuss the merits of one possible solution: granting nurse practitioners (NPs) the authority to prescribe buprenorphine.

Data sources: The DATA 2000 and related literature.

Conclusions: Abuse of prescription opioid medications is a significant economic and public health burden. Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication that is used in the outpatient treatment of opioid‐dependent patients. However, the DATA 2000 permits only physicians to prescribe this medication, substantially reducing patient access to potentially life‐sustaining treatment.

Implications for practice: Like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, addiction is a chronic condition that can be treated with lifestyle modifications, patient education, and appropriate medication. NPs are highly effective caregivers to patients with chronic disease. Granting NPs prescriptive authority for buprenorphine will improve access to treatment and patient outcomes. It will also enhance NP autonomy and authority, especially in states in which NPs practice independently.
Behavior changes in patients with diabetes and hypertension after experiencing shared medical appointments
Authors: Dickman Kathleen , Pintz Christine , Gold Kathleen , Kivlahan Coleen
Published: August 2011

Purpose: This project examined recently implemented shared medical appointments (SMAs) at a free clinic for patients with diabetes and/or hypertension. Changes in patients' self‐managing behaviors, specifically exercise and goal‐setting activity, were explored after participating in SMAs for 4 months.

Data sources: The study employed a pretest‐posttest quasi‐experimental design. Participants completed a questionnaire of their self‐managing behaviors and a behavioral action plan at each SMA. The SMAs were facilitated in English, Spanish, and bilingually (English and Spanish) with a total of 37 participants.

Conclusions: Descriptive analysis showed a significant increase in exercise time with a mean increase of 86 min per week at post‐SMA (p= .002, 95% confidence interval [CI]). Each participant identified a measurable goal, and 97% of participants reported achieving or almost achieving their goals. Males reported a significantly (p= .002, 95% CI) larger increase in exercise time than women. Variance of self‐managing behaviors among the English, Spanish, and bilingual SMAs was statistically not significant.

Implications for practice: Though much evidence exists demonstrating that SMAs provide effective quality care, literature is lacking in examining patients' self‐managing behaviors after participation in language‐specific SMAs. Understanding patients' response to programs that address the needs of the individual leads to more effective programs.
On‐land habitat preferences of female New Zealand sea lions at Sandy Bay, Auckland Islands
Authors: Augé Amélie A. , Chilvers B. Louise , Mathieu Renaud , Moore Antoni B.
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Terrestrial habitat is important for breeding in most pinnipeds. On land, most species remain near the shore, but New Zealand (NZ) sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri, often rest inland up to 1.5 km from the sea. Only three breeding areas of NZ sea lions exist today after the species was extirpated from its historical range (NZ mainland). The study was conducted at the Sandy Bay breeding colony, Auckland Islands, between December 2002 and March 2003. We used daily Global Positioning System locations of breeding females with pups and mapping in a Geographic Information System to determine terrestrial habitat use and preferences. Slopes less than 20° were preferred throughout the study. Females chose nursing sites with a seasonal change, preferentially based on the distance from the sea and habitat type. Comparisons with the other breeding colonies of NZ sea lions are presented and data are discussed in the context of the recolonization of the NZ mainland. Overall, the most suitable terrestrial habitat configuration for a breeding aggregation of NZ sea lions appears to be a sandy beach, with a wide area above high tide and moderate intertidal zone (for breeding), backed with vegetated sand dunes and forest on primarily flat terrain (for later dispersion).
A Brief Review of the Occurrence, Use, and Safety of Food‐Related Nanomaterials
Authors: Magnuson Bernadene A. , Jonaitis Tomas S. , Card Jeffrey W.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Nanotechnology and nanomaterials have tremendous potential to enhance the food supply through novel applications, including nutrient and bioactive absorption and delivery systems; ingredient functionality; improved colors and flavors; microbial, allergen, and contaminant detection and control; and food packaging properties and performance. To determine the current state of knowledge regarding the safety of these potential uses of nanomaterials, an appraisal of the published literature on the safety of food‐related nanomaterials was undertaken. A method of assessment of reliability of toxicology studies was developed to conduct this appraisal. The review of the toxicology literature on oral exposure to food‐related nanomaterials found that the number of studies is limited. Exposure to nanomaterials in the human food chain may occur not only through intentional uses in food manufacturing, but also via uses in agricultural production and carry over from use in other industries. Although a number of analytical methods are useful in physicochemical characterization of manufactured nanomaterials, new methods may be needed to more fully detect and characterize nanomaterials incorporated into foods and in other media. There is a need for additional toxicology studies of sufficient quality and duration on different types of nanomaterials to further our understanding of the characteristics of nanomaterials that affect safety of oral exposure resulting from use in various food applications.
Effect of Food Azo Dye Tartrazine on Learning and Memory Functions in Mice and Rats, and the Possible Mechanisms Involved
Authors: Gao Yonglin , Li Chunmei , shen Jingyu , Yin Huaxian , An Xiulin , Jin Haizhu
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Tartrazine is an artificial azo dye commonly used in human food and pharmaceutical products. The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effect of tartrazine on the learning and memory functions in mice and rats. Animals were administered different doses of tartrazine for a period of 30 d and were evaluated by open‐field test, step‐through test, and Morris water maze test, respectively. Furthermore, the biomarkers of the oxidative stress and pathohistology were also measured to explore the possible mechanisms involved. The results indicated that tartrazine extract significantly enhanced active behavioral response to the open field, increased the escape latency in Morris water maze test and decreased the retention latency in step‐through tests. The decline in the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as a rise in the level of malonaldehyde (MDA) were observed in the brain of tartrazine‐treated rats, and these changes were associated with the brain from oxidative damage. The dose levels of tartrazine in the present study produced a few adverse effects in learning and memory functions in animals. The mechanisms might be attributed to promoting lipid peroxidation products and reactive oxygen species, inhibiting endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes and the brain tissue damage.

Practical Application:  Tartrazine is an artificial azo dye commonly used in human food and pharmaceutical products. Since the last assessment carried out by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in 1964, many new studies have been conducted. However, there is a little information about the effects on learning and memory performance. The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effect of tartrazine on the learning and memory functions in animals and its possible mechanism involved. Based on our results, we believe that more extensive assessment of food additives in current use is warranted.
Physical Changes in White and Brown Rice during Simulated Gastric Digestion
Authors: Kong Fanbin , Oztop Mecit Halil , Singh R. Paul , McCarthy Michael J.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Previous studies have shown that brown rice generates lower glycemic responses than white rice, a trait that may be beneficial in the dietary management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The objective of this study was to investigate influence of rice digestion on the physical properties of the gastric digesta that may further impact intestinal absorption. A dynamic stomach model, human gastric simulator, was used to simulate the gastric digestion of white and brown rice. The pH, solids content, and rheological properties of the gastric digesta, as well as the size distribution of particles were studied. Static soaking was conducted to reveal the changes in moisture absorption and texture in rice kernels during simulated gastric digestion, as affected by shaking and the acid in gastric juice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to image the diffusion of gastric juice into the rice kernels. The results indicate that the bran layer on brown rice had a profound effect in digestion, as it inhibited the absorption of moisture and acid leading to decreased texture degradation, thus delaying the rice disintegration as well as dissolution and slowing emptying of solids. MRI is effective in exhibiting the diffusion of gastric juice as affected by gastric acid and the influence of bran. This study provided quantitative evidence regarding the manner in which structural differences between white and brown rice affect their gastric digestion.

Practical Application:  The study presented in this paper focuses on how the structural differences in white and brown rice affect their gastric digestion. This information may help consumers to better understand the health benefits associated with eating brown rice.
Color of Whole‐Wheat Foods Prepared from a Bright‐White Hard Winter Wheat and the Phenolic Acids in Its Coarse Bran
Authors: Jiang Hongxin , Martin Joe , Okot‐Kotber Moses , Seib Paul A.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  The color of wheat kernels often impacts the color and thereby the value of wheat‐based foods. A line of hard white winter wheat (B‐W HW) with bright appearing kernels has been developed at the Kansas State Agricultural Research Center. The objective of this study was to compare the color of several foods made from the B‐W HW wheat with those of 2 hard white wheat cultivars, Trego and Lakin. The B‐W HW kernels showed higher lightness (L*, 57.6) than Trego (55.5) and Lakin (56.8), and the increased lightness was carried over to its bran and whole‐wheat flour. Alkaline noodle and bread crumb made from the B‐W HW whole‐wheat flour showed slightly higher lightness (L*) than those made from Trego and Lakin. The sum of soluble and bound phenolics extracted from the 3 wheat brans, which had not been preextracted to remove lipids, was found to be 17.22 to 18.98 mg/g. The soluble phenolic acids in the brans were principally vanillic, ferulic, and syringic. The bound phenolic acids in the brans were dominated by ferulic, which accounted for 50.1% to 82.2% of total identified bound phenolic acids. Other bound phenolic acids were protocatechuic, caffeic, syringic, trans‐cinnamic, p‐hydroxybenzoic, p‐coumaric, and vanillic. The lightness (L*) values of coarse wheat brans correlated positively with their levels of bound protocatechuic (r = 0.72, P < 0.01) and p‐hydroxybenzoic acids (r = 0.75, P < 0.01).
Oxygen Consumption Rate of Permeabilized Cells and Isolated Mitochondria from Pork M. Masseter and Liver Examined Fresh and after Freeze‐Thawing at Different pH Values
Authors: Phung Vinh T. , Sælid Elise , Egelandsdal Bjørg , Volden Jon , Slinde Erik
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of 2 types of permeabilized tissues and their corresponding isolated mitochondria from porcine M. masseter and liver, resulting in 4 systems, was studied at different pH values (5.0 to 7.1) using fresh samples and samples frozen directly in liquid nitrogen (N2) or air‐frozen at −20°C. A protocol with the additive sequence rotenone–succinate–ADP (adenosine diphosphate)–cytochrome c–FCCP (carbonyl cyanide p‐trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone) was used to study respiration changes. The OCR of liver respiring on succinate (OCRS) was higher than that of muscle tissue. pH had a larger effect on OCRS than freeze‐thawing. Low pH was associated with reduced OCRS. The OCRS of isolated muscle mitochondria appeared to be an underestimated relative to the OCRS of permeabilized muscle cells. Increasing pH, following prior subjection to pH 5.0, showed partial reversibility of the OCRS. The freeze‐thaw cycle increased the OCRS when muscle systems were frozen and examined above pH 6.0; this effect was less apparent for liver tissue. A response to cytochrome c addition, indicating a defective outer mitochondrial membrane, was observed for all 4 systems. The response was, however, lowest for permeabilized cells. The ADP/FCCP additive pair indicated partial coupling for isolated liver and muscle mitochondria. These additives gave weak responses for the permeabilized liver cells while the OCR seemed to be inhibited for permeabilized muscle fibers when ADP/FCCP was added.

Practical Application:  The mitochondrial state is believed to be important for myoglobin reduction, development of flavor, and possibly other meat qualities. By monitoring the oxygen consumption in mitochondria and meat we can better understand and control such processes following freezing and thawing.
Effect of Extrusion on the Antioxidant Capacity and Color Attributes of Expanded Extrudates Prepared from Purple Potato and Yellow Pea Flour Mixes
Authors: Nayak Balunkeswar , Berrios Jose De J. , Powers Joseph R. , Tang Juming
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Foods with antioxidant capacity provide protection against cardio‐vascular, certain forms of cancers, and Alzheimer's diseases caused by oxidative damages and contribute health benefits. The effect of extrusion cooking on the antioxidant capacity and color attributes of extruded products prepared from 3 selected formulations of purple potato and yellow pea flours using a co‐rotating twin screw extruder were studied. Expansion ratios of the extruded products varied from 3.93 to 4.75. The total antioxidant capacities (TAC) of the extruded products, using DPPH assay, were 3769 to 4116 μg trolox equivalent/g dry weight sample and not significantly different (P > 0.05) from their respective raw formulations. The total phenolic contents (TP) of the extruded products varied from 2088 to 3766 μg of gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight sample and retained 73% to 83% of the TP from the raw formulations after extrusion. The total anthocyanins contents (TA) in the extrudates were 0.116 to 0.228 mg of malvidin‐3‐glucosides/g dry weight sample. Compared with their raw formulations, significant losses (60% to 70%) of the TA in the extruded products occurred due to extrusion cooking. Browning indices and color attributes such as brightness, chroma, and hue angle agreed with degradation of anthocyanins in the extruded products. However, extrusion cooking retained antioxidant capacities of the raw formulations in the extruded products either in their natural forms or degraded products with radical scavenging activity. This study demonstrated the potential for the production of puffed extruded food products with the improved antioxidant content from colored potatoes and pulse formulations.
A Novel β‐Glucosidase from Sporidiobolus pararoseus: Characterization and Application in Winemaking
Authors: Baffi Milla A. , Tobal Thaise , Henrique João , Lago G. , Leite Rodrigo S.R. , Boscolo Maurício , Gomes Eleni , Da‐Silva Roberto
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  For the first time, the production of an extracellular β‐glucosidase (Sp‐β‐gl) by a Sporidiobolus pararoseus yeast strain is reported. The Sp‐β‐gl activity was quantified, characterized, and assessed for its efficiency in releasing aroma‐enhancing compounds in wines. The maximum enzymatic synthesis was after 72 h of growth in a complex media with 20 g/L of cellobiose. The optimal pH and temperature were 5.5 and at 50 °C, respectively. It showed a wide range of pH stability and exhibited quite high thermostability at low temperatures. In addition, this β‐glucosidase revealed tolerance to wine‐associated inhibitory compounds (sugars and ethanol), showing suitable characteristics for all the stages of alcoholic fermentation. The hydrolysis of the glycosidic terpenes by Sp‐β‐gl was studied by gas chromatography, and its ability to efficiently release free terpenols has been demonstrated. The concentrations of geraniol, linalool, α‐terpineol, and nerol were significantly increased in treated wines. These results suggest the potential application of this new yeast β‐glucosidase as an aroma‐enhancing enzyme in winemaking.

Practical Application:  The search for new β‐glucosidase from yeast sources is important to improve the quality of wines. In this work, an S. pararoseus yeast strain has shown to be capable to produce a β‐glucosidase with suitable combination of properties for functionality in wines and with potential to increase the concentration of free aroma compounds, showing good prospects for an industrial application.
Innovative Composite Films of Chitosan, Methylcellulose, and Nanoparticles
Authors: Mura Stefania , Corrias Francesco , Stara Giuseppe , Piccinini Massimo , Secchi Nicola , Marongiu Daniela , Innocenzi Plinio , Irudayaraj Joseph , Greppi Gian F.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Plastic is readily available and inexpensive, so it is becoming the main material for packaging. Unfortunately plastics do not biodegrade and, if reduced in small pieces, contaminate soil and waterways. In the present work, natural films composed of chitosan, methylcellulose, and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were developed as new packaging materials. The effect of the incorporation of NPs into the polymeric film matrix was evaluated. An excellent improvement of the mechanical properties was obtained for nanostructured films with a composition of CH:MC 50:50 and NPs 1% w/v that make these materials able to replace plastics and derivatives, reducing environmental pollution.
Desalination of Fish Sauce by Electrodialysis: Effect on Selected Aroma Compounds and Amino Acid Compositions
Authors: Chindapan Nathamol , Devahastin Sakamon , Chiewchan Naphaporn , Sablani Shyam S.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Fish sauce is an ingredient that exhibits unique flavor and is widely used by people in Southeast Asia. Fish sauce, however, contains a significant amount of salt (sodium chloride). Recently, electrodialysis (ED) has been successfully applied to reduce salt in fish sauce; however, no information is available on the effect of ED on changes in compounds providing aroma and taste of ED‐treated fish sauce. The selected aroma compounds, amino acids, and sensory quality of the ED‐treated fish sauce with various salt concentrations were then analyzed. The amounts of trimethylamine, 2,6‐dimethylpyrazine, phenols, and all carboxylic acids except for hexanoic acid significantly decreased, whereas benzaldehyde increased significantly when the salt removal level was higher. The amounts of all amino acids decreased with the increased salt removal level. Significant difference in flavor and saltiness intensity among ED‐treated fish sauce with various salt concentrations, as assessed by a discriminative test, were observed.

Practical Application:  Information obtained in this work can serve as a guideline for optimization of a process to produce low‐sodium fish sauce by ED. It also forms a basis for further in‐depth sensory analysis of low‐sodium fish sauce.
Phenolics and Antioxidant Capacity of Table Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Cultivars Grown in Chile
Authors: Lutz Mariane , Jorquera Katterin , Cancino Beatriz , Ruby Rene , Henriquez Carolina
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) possess health‐promoting effects attributed to their supply of a wide variety of bioactive phenolics. Juice and skin fractions of 4 varieties of table grapes: Red Globe, Crimson Seedless, Autumn Royal, and Ribier were prepared to determine and compare their total phenolics content, antioxidant capacity (DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC), anthocyanins, and specific phenolics (caffeic acid, gallic acid, resveratrol, and catechin) content, since a series of positive health benefits are expected from the intake of any of these fractions. Higher amounts of total phenolics and antioxidant capacity were observed in the skin fractions (P < 0.05). Blue grapes (Autumn Royal and Ribier) exhibited higher phenolics content and antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05) than red grapes. The most abundant phenolic compound observed was catechin (P < 0.05). Significant correlations between the antioxidant capacity and total phenolics were observed in grape juice and skin fractions. Autumn Royal juice provides a very high amount of phenolics, anthocyanins, and exhibits the highest antioxidant capacity, offering the best health promoting properties compared with the other grape varieties studied.

Practical Application:  Grapes possess health‐promoting effects attributed to their supply of a wide variety of bioactive phenolics. Grape juice made with blue grapes (Autumn Royal, Ribier) exhibit higher phenolics content and antioxidant capacity than juice elaborated with red grapes (Red Globe, Crimson Seedless). The skin is a good source of phenolics and has a high antioxidant capacity. Specific health‐promoting phenolics are more abundant in blue grapes, mainly in their skin fraction, which should not be discarded.
Genetic differentiation of Wolffia globosa in China
Authors: YUAN Jun‐Xia , PAN Jin , WANG Bao‐Sheng , ZHANG Da‐Ming
Published: August 2011

Abstract  Wolffia Horkel ex Schleid. (Lemnaceae) includes the world's smallest angiosperms. Morphologically, their bodies are extremely simplified, making classification difficult and long‐disputed. No reports about the genetic structure of these clonal‐dominant aquatic plants have been published until now. In this study, of 247 samples from 42 populations spanning representative locations in China, two chloroplast haplotypes (glo‐cp and un‐cp) and 66 amplified fragment length polymorphism genotypes were identified. Based on wide sampling, cpDNA haplotypes, and amplified fragment length polymorphism profiles, we found that there are two genetic lineages (glo‐ and un‐ lineages) of Wolffia species in China. Genotypic and genetic diversity of Wolffia species are high compared with other clonal plants (Simpson's index, D= 0.97; Nei's diversity, H= 0.1835). Different spatial structure patterns were detected between glo‐ and un‐ lineages. Positive autocorrelation at short distances (<400 km) and slightly negative autocorrelations at larger distances (>1500 km) were detected within the glo‐lineage, but no significant spatial genetic structure was detected beyond 100 km within the un‐lineage. Overall, spatial genetic analysis of W. globosa revealed significant autocorrelation within short distances, indicating that restricted gene flow might be one of the most important factors in shaping genetic structure.
Successful closed reduction of an atlantoaxial luxation in a mature Warmblood horse
Authors: Gerlach K. , Muggli L. , Lempe A. , Breuer J. , Brehm W.
Published: August 2011

A 5‐year‐old Warmblood mare was presented to the clinic 8 h after being found by the owners with luxation of the second cervical vertebra. Clinically, the horse showed an extended posture and reduced movement of the head and neck. A defined lateral swelling of the neck at the level of the first cervical vertebrae was evident. Successful reduction was achieved with the horse under general anaesthesia in lateral recumbency using an electrically powered hand pallet truck. The mare showed no neurological disorders before or after reduction. Seven months after the incident the mare could be ridden and exhibited no functional abnormalities relating to the neck.