bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New markets and technological change for the traditional cereals in semiarid sub‐Saharan Africa: the Malian case
Authors: Vitale Jeffrey D. , Sanders John H. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractDuring the last three decades in sub‐Saharan Africa, development and research resources have concentrated on the higher‐rainfall and irrigated regions, especially on export crops and the principal food crops grown there. There has been much less concern and investment in semiarid regions without irrigation. Another negative factor has been the lack of public policy concern with the profitability of the basic food crops. With good weather, prices collapse. With bad weather, governments and NGOs dispense food crops as food aid or at subsidized prices. This article documents the importance of the demand side to facilitate diffusion of new technologies for the basic food commodities of semiarid regions—the traditional cereals. With farm programming models aggregated into a sector model, the combination of technological change and demand shifts for sorghum are evaluated in one semiarid region where the traditional cereals are concentrated. It focuses on combining policies to increase the prices farmers receive after introduction of technologies that use higher input levels. It also compares benefits of a strategy that focuses on yield and demand increases for a traditional cereal of the semiarid region, sorghum, with two alternative strategies for the higher‐rainfall zone.
Risk preference and optimal enterprise combinations in Kahuro division of Murang'a district, Kenya
Authors: Nyikal Rose A. , Kosura Willis O. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractFinancing smallholder farming has been one of the major concerns of Kenya's agricultural development efforts. Many credit programs have evolved over the years but with dismal performance. In a study that sought to find the best way to finance smallholder agriculture, it became necessary to analyze and document, in the first place, the farmers' preferred enterprise patterns. Any financial innovations would hence address the preferred patterns. Of particular interest was the effect of risk preference on such patterns, which had been ignored in many previous farm management studies. Murang'a district was chosen as a typical smallholder district. Sample farmers, obtained through cluster sampling, were visited and structured questionnaires administered to cover farm events and physical resources of short rains 1995 to long rains 1996. This formed a basis for formulating the farm patterns. A quadratic programming model was used to analyze observed farm plans. The model incorporates farmers' risk preferences, revenue fluctuations, and resource and subsistence restrictions. The results showed that: (1) changes in risk preference do affect the optimal crop combinations; (2) the typical cropping pattern is rational as the farmer meets both food and cash under modest variability of income; (3) insisting on producing most subsistence food requirements by the farmers reduces efficiency and limits the feasible plans.
Yield and income risk‐efficiency analysis of alternative systems for rice production in the Guinea Savannah of Northern Ghana
Authors: Langyintuo Augustine S. , Yiridoe Emmanuel K. , Dogbe Wilson , Lowenberg‐Deboer James 
Published: August 2010

AbstractRisk efficiency of rice grain yield and returns to farm operators' household resources generated from an improved short‐duration cover crop fallow system were compared with (traditional) natural bush fallow, and continuous rice‐cropping systems. The improved fallow system involved maintaining Calopogonium mucunoides, seeded into a natural bush fallow for 2 years before planting to rice. With no chemical fertilizer application, which reflects farmers' practice in the area, average grain yield for continuous rice (1,185 kg/ha) and the cropping sequence incorporating a natural bush fallow (1,175 kg/ha) did not differ, but were higher for the improved fallow system (1,304 kg/ha). This suggests that nutrient contribution from the leguminous cover crop made up for critical crop N requirements in the improved fallow. Stochastic dominance of grain yield distributions from the improved fallow system, relative to the other two cropping systems, was more dramatic with no N fertilizer application compared to treatments with 30 kg/ha N. Average returns were highest for the improved fallow system, followed by the natural bush fallow‐cropping system, and then continuous rice, under the no N fertilizer treatment regime. With 30 kg/ha N fertilizer, income risk efficiency was less clear (compared to treatments with no N fertilizer), especially between continuous rice and the improved fallow treatment, because of faster N mineralization effects on continuous rice. In contrast, the improved cover crop fallow system completely dominated the natural bush fallow treatment under both fertilizer regimes. Rice production systems that incorporated the leguminous cover crop fallow were superior to the natural bush fallow system, based on both grain yield and average farm income risk‐efficiency considerations.
Farmers' perceptions of benefits and factors affecting the adoption of improved dual‐purpose cowpea in the dry savannas of Nigeria
Authors: Kristjanson P. , Okike I. , Tarawali S. , Singh B. B. , Manyong V. M. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThis study links participatory research methods, geographic information systems (GIS) techniques, village and household‐level surveys, and a tobit analysis to examine the adoption and impact issues related to a new technology, improved varieties of dual‐purpose cowpea (IDPC), developed by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and recently released in Nigeria. The article analyzes factors affecting the adoption and impact of the technology across different socioeconomic domains as defined by degree of market access and population density. The results show multiple benefits from this flexible leguminous crop, many of which relate to the fodder and soil fertility‐enhancing aspects of IDPC rather than higher grain yields per se. The intensity of adoption was affected by different village‐ and household‐level factors in each socioeconomic domain, allowing more sharply defined recommendation domain‐targeting strategies. The multiple research approaches taken also provided useful lessons at different system levels regarding the benefits of, and perceived problems with, this technology for researchers, development practitioners, and policy makers. The collaborative research approaches taken in this study are helping to close the “feedback loop” from farmers back to researchers and others attempting to disseminate the technology, and by doing so, should contribute to faster and more widespread uptake of this technology.
Neurotrophins exert immunomodulatory functions on peripheral blood eosinophils in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Raap U. , Deneka N. , Goltz C. , Bruder M. , Renz H. , Kapp A. , Wedi B. 
Published: August 2010

Recently, the functional role of neurotrophins on eosinophils in allergic asthma has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of BDNF, NT‐3, NT‐4 and NGF on peripheral blood eosinophils in atopic dermatitis (AD). AD patients were defined according to the criteria of Hanifin and Rajika. Peripheral blood eosinophils were purified by CD16‐negative selection (purity >98%) and stimulated with BDNF, NT‐3, NT‐4 (10, 50 and 100 ng/ml), or NGF (100, 500 and 1000 ng/ml) for 24 up to 120 h. Apoptotic eosinophils were investigated by determining their hypodiploid DNA peak and Annexin V method, respectively. Chemotactic index was assessed in a modified Boyden chamber assay and respiratory burst by lucigenin‐dependent chemiluminescence. Stimulation with BDNF, NT‐3 and NGF significantly inhibited the programmed cell death of AD eosinophils (P < 0.05–0.01) at each time point (24 h up to 120 h in culture). Chemotactic index was significantly increased in AD eosinophils after stimulation with BDNF, NT‐3 and NT‐4 (P < 0.05–0.01). Respiratory burst of AD eosinophils was not modified after stimulation with BDNF, NT‐3, NT‐4 or NGF. To summarize, BDNF, NT‐3 and NGF significantly inhibited the programmed cell death of AD eosinophils. However, BDNF, NT‐3, NT‐4 and NGF did not modulate respiratory burst of AD peripheral blood eosinophils. On the other hand, BDNF, NT3 and NT‐4 significantly induced AD eosinophil chemotaxis. Taken together, neurotrophins have a functional role on peripheral blood eosinophils revealing neuro–immunological interactions in AD.Supported by HILF grant.
The potential role of acetylcholine receptors in acne inversa (HS) pathogenesis
Authors: Kurzen Hjalmar , Hana Anisa , Frongia Giovanni , Goerdt Sergij , Gratchev Alexei 
Published: August 2010

Acne inversa is a chronic inflammatory disorder that has been shown to be influenced by tobacco smoking, which may represent a ‘natural’ model of exogenous nicotine‐mediated activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR). In previous works, we have provided a concise mapping of AChR present in normal skin and have demonstrated a crucial role of AChR in terminal differentiation and barrier formation. In addition, several studies suggest a role for the non‐neuronal cholinergic system in immunomodulation. To date, the AChR composition of the cells involved in the pathogenesis of acne inversa has not yet been characterized.Using immunohistochemistry and RT – PCR, we could show that nicotinic α3, α5, α7 and α9 AChR as well as muscarinic M1–M5 AChR are produced in lesional epidermis in a pattern comparable with normal epidermis. In vitro and in lesional skin, we could demonstrate the presence of α3, α5 and α7 nAChR as well as M1–M5 mAChR in variable amounts on macrophages. In lesional epidermis, the choline‐acetyltransferase (ChAT)‐reactivity was particularly pronounced in the epidermal basal layer, while in the sinus tracts, ChAT reactivity was extended to all epithelial layers. High levels of ChAT especially in the hair follicle infundibulum indicate that endogenously produced ACh may act synergistically with tobacco‐delivered nicotine in aggravating infundibular hyperkeratosis. ChAT could not be detected in macrophages in vitro or in vivo indicating that macrophages do not actively contribute to ACh signalling in acne inversa but may rather be targets of ACh, and hence nicotine induced immunomodulation.
The role of stem cells in suppurative environments
Authors: Herreros Dolores , García‐Arranz Mariano , Pascual Isabel , García‐Olmo Damián 
Published: August 2010

Purpose: The management of suppurative perianal lesions presents an extremely challenging problem. Stem cells (SC) extracted from certain tissues, such as adipose tissue, can differentiate into various cell types. Therefore, we have tried to use such cells to stimulate healing in a purulent environment. Methods: In the beginning, we designed a phase I clinical trial, involving five patients with Crohn's disease. We inoculated nine fistulas in four patients with autologous adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSC) and were followed at least 8 weeks. Seventy‐five percent became healed, and 25% showed a decrease in output flow. No adverse effects were observed in any patient. This study evidenced that such cells are safe. Then, we started a research line using SC in different suppurative environments. During the course of these studies, we had the opportunity to treat a patient with perianal hidradenitis suppurativa using our current protocol of ADSC transplantation. Eight weeks after injection, patient had no perianal suppuration, and a year later remains well. Discussion: The biological mechanism that underlies the therapeutic success of ADSC transplantation is unknown. Cell differentiation, secretion of growth factors or immunomodulatory effects have been suggested. No ethical conflicts were identified by our Ethics Committee, because the cells were autologous. Conclusions: Our study shows that ADSC are safe for the treatment of suppurative processes. The actual number of patients included and the uncontrolled nature of these pilot studies do not allow demonstration of the effectiveness of the treatment. However, the results encourage the performance of further studies.
Indices of condition in tropical ruminants*
Authors: SINCLAIR A. R. E. , DUNCAN P. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryBone marrow dry weight expressed as a percentage of its fresh weight was found to be a good indication of its fat content in wildebeest, kongoni, and buffalo. The calculated regression equations were similar enough to suggest a more general formula for the larger ruminants.Bone marrow fat is mobilized after the kidney fat and hence is a better measure of condition when an animal is under more extreme stresses. Fluctuations in kidney fat reflect physiological events related to reproduction.Visual estimates of bone marrow were found to reflect true differences in fat content, and the method is useful when marrow samples cannot be collected readily. It is pointed out that estimates of condition of naturally dying wild animals must be obtained before primary and secondary causes can be identified.
Clinical trial: the combination of rifaximin with partially hydrolysed guar gum is more effective than rifaximin alone in eradicating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Authors: Furnari M. , Parodi A. , Gemignani L. , Giannini E. G. , Marenco S. , Savarino E. , Assandri L. , Fazio V. , Bonfanti D. , Inferrera S. , Savarino V. 
Published: August 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther2010;32:1000–1006SummaryBackground Abnormal intestinal clearance is involved in the pathogenesis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It is known that partially hydrolysed guar gum affects intestinal motility. Eradication therapy of SIBO is based on antibiotic treatment: no data are available on the role of fibre supplementation in eradicating SIBO.Aim To assess whether the combination of partially hydrolysed guar gum and rifaximin is more effective than rifaximin alone in the treatment of SIBO.Methods A 50 g‐glucose breath test was given to 500 consecutive patients. Patients with a positive glucose breath test and predisposing conditions to SIBO entered into the study, and were randomized to receive rifaximin 1200 mg/day or rifaximin 1200 mg/day plus partially hydrolysed guar gum 5 g/day for 10 days. Patients completed a symptom questionnaire and glucose breath test both in basal condition and 1 month after withdrawal of therapy.Results Seventy‐seven patients had SIBO. Eradication rate of SIBO was 62.1% in the rifaximin group (both on per‐protocol and intention‐to‐treat analyses), and 87.1% (per‐protocol,P = 0.017) and 85.0% (intention‐to‐treat,P = 0.036) in the rifaximin‐plus‐partially hydrolysed guar gum group. Clinical improvement was observed in 86.9% and 91.1% of eradicated cases in rifaximin and rifaximin‐plus‐partially hydrolysed guar gum groups respectively (P = 0.677).Conclusion The combination of rifaximin with partially hydrolysed guar gum seems to be more useful in eradicating SIBO compared with rifaximin alone.
Cortisol response to individualised graded insulin infusions: a reproducible biomarker for CNS compounds inhibiting HPA activation
Authors: Chen Christopher L. H. , Willis Brian A. , Mooney Louise , Ong Guan Koon , Lim Chay Ngee , Lowe Stephen L. , Tauscher‐Wisniewski Sitra , Cutler Jr Gordon B. , Wiss Stephen D. 
Published: August 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • The insulin tolerance test (ITT) is commonly used to induce cortisol release in response to physiological stress. This methodology can be employed in studies evaluating the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical axis. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • An exploration of the threshold for cortisol release in response to blood glucose lowering, indicating that the induction of hypoglycaemia with significant symptoms is not required for a highly reproducible maximal cortisol response.AIMTo determine the potential of cortisol secretion, in response to a physiological stressor, as a biomarker for centrally active compounds targeting the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical (HPA) axis.METHODSCortisol response to hypoglycaemia was measured in 26 healthy males in two stages: firstly to derive an algorithm for individualized, graded insulin infusion rates to achieve defined hypoglycaemic targets over 3 h and secondly to determine the inter‐ and intra‐subject variability of cortisol response to hypoglycaemia over two identical periods by measuring the maximum (tmax), time to maximum (Cmax) response and cortisol area under the response curve (AUC).RESULTSHypoglycaemia induced a consistent cortisol response starting at approximately 1 h, corresponding to blood glucose concentrations of approximately 3.3 mmol l−1, and peaking approximately 3 h after the start of infusion. The inter‐ and intra‐subject coefficients of variation (CVs) of cortisol response were approximately 19 and 19% (AUC), 15 and 19 % (Cmax) and 10 and 14% (tmax), respectively. The intra‐subject CVs for the ratio of maximum cortisol response to baseline concentration and rate of initial cortisol response between study days were more variable (32.8% and 59.0%, respectively). The blood glucose‐cortisol response model derived from the study was predictive of the individual observed cortisol responses, and estimated a blood glucose EC50 associated with onset of the cortisol response of 3.3 mmol l−1.CONCLUSIONSGradual hypoglycaemia is an effective, reproducible and well‐tolerated method of stimulating a cortisol response and may therefore be useful in assessing the neuroendocrine response to HPA axis inhibitors, such as corticotropin‐releasing hormone‐1 (CRH‐1) antagonists.
Iron availability from intermediate moisture beef
Authors: OBANU Z. A. , BIGGIN RUTH J. , NEALE R. J. , LEDWARD D. A. , LAWRIE R. A. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe availability of the iron present in intermediate moisture beef before and during storage at 38°C was evaluated in both normal and anaemic rats. Irrespective of the marked chemical changes that occur in the nature of the haemoproteins during storage the availability, in all samples, was as good as that in freshly cooked beef.
Composition, stability and acceptability of different vegetable oils used for frying peanuts
Authors: Ryan Liliana C. , Mestrallet Marta G. , Nepote Valeria , Conci Silvia , Grosso Nelson R. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe purpose of this work was to determine the chemical stability of vegetable oils in the frying process and the consumer acceptance of fried‐salted peanuts prepared in different vegetable oils. Fatty acids composition was determined in sunflower, corn, soybean, peanut and olive oils. A chemical study (free fatty acid and p‐anisidine values) of these oils at frying temperature (170 °C) was developed during 96 h. Consumer test of fresh products was performed on fried‐salted peanuts prepared in the different oils. Peanut oil and virgin olive oil presented oleic acid as predominant fatty acid (44.8% and 64.2%, respectively), making it more resistant to lipid oxidation at frying temperature than the other refined vegetable oils (sunflower, corn and soybean oils). Virgin olive and peanut oils showed less increment of free fatty acids and p‐anisidine value than the other oils along the heating essay. In addition, fried‐salted peanuts prepared with refined peanut oil showed higher consumer acceptance than those prepared with other vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, soybean and olive oils. Peanut oil could be used to fry peanuts obtaining products with higher consumer acceptance and shelf‐life, thus preventing loss of their sensory and nutritional quality.
Thermal processing of prawn ‘kuruma’ in retortable pouches and aluminium cans
Authors: Mohan Chitradurga O. , Ravishankar Chandraairi N. , Srinivasa Gopal Teralandur K. , Bindu Jagannath 
Published: August 2010

SummaryPrawn ‘kuruma’ was prepared from Indian white shrimp (Fenneropenaeus indicus), packed in conventional 301 × 206 and 401 × 411 aluminium cans and in thin profile retort pouches having a three‐layer configuration of 12.5 μ polyester, 12.5 μ aluminium foil and 85 μ cast polypropylene of size 16 × 20 cm and 17 × 30 cm. The physico‐chemical tests conducted on these containers showed their suitability for thermal processing. Prawn to kuruma ratio of 65:35 was maintained in all the containers and heat processed to equal lethality in an over pressure autoclave with the facility to record the time–temperature data, F0 value and cook value. The process time was calculated by using formula method. The processing in 16 × 20 cm and 17 × 30 cm retortable pouch resulted in 35.67% and 56.56% reduction in process time compared with 301 × 206 and 401 × 411 cans, respectively, with equal pack weight. The amino acid content did not vary considerably in both containers. In the canned samples the reduction of sulfhydryl content was 50.54% more when compared with the pouched product. Products packed in pouches were found to be superior to canned products with regard to sensory and textural attributes such as colour, firmness, hardness, chewiness, and overall acceptability.
Chemical synthesis of tricaproin, trienantin and tricaprylin
Authors: Da Rocha Ataide Terezinha , De Lima Maria Raquel Ferreira , Valentim Iara Barros , Pinheiro Denise Maria , Sant'Ana Antônio Euzébio Goulart 
Published: August 2010

SummaryIn the present work, we optimised the glycerol + caproic acid/enantic acid/caprylic acid esterification conditions, using chemical routes, in order to get tricaproin, trienantin and tricaprylin in a medium solely composed of reagents. The option for cleaner conditions, without catalyst and solvent was preferred. The best conditions for tricaprylin and trienantin chemical synthesis were 6 h of contact, with a temperature around 160 ± 5 °C, followed by a 20 h of contact using higher temperatures (around 200 ± 5 °C). The volatility of caproic acid impeded the prolonged use of higher temperatures and this limited the yield of tricaproin that could be obtained. The synthesis of these triacylglycerols in the absence of both solvent and catalyst is of importance in consideration of the possible nutritional use of the products so formed.
Synergistic effect of chemical preservatives with ethanol on the microbial shelf life of bread by factorial design
Authors: Katsinis George , Rigas Fotis , Doulia Danae 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe shelf life, particularly the mould‐free shelf life (MFSL) of bread, was evaluated either by adding a conventional chemical preservative or by spraying the surface of bread, in which a chemical preservative was added. As bread making is a complex process and bread is a multicomponent system, the investigation was based on statistical design experiments. Using first‐order factorial designs, reliable models were constructed, revealing the effects of some common ingredients of bread (such as salt, sugar, glycerol, potassium sorbate, calcium propionate) and their interactions on the MFSL (optimisation parameter) with and without ethanol surface spraying. The effectiveness of preservation was ranked as potassium sorbate + ethanol > calcium propionate + ethanol > potassium sorbate > calcium propionate. Ethanol addition led to MFSL prolongation of 43.5% and 38.5% compared with MFSL of potassium sorbate and calcium propionate, respectively, when all the factors were fixed to their basic levels.