bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of the Gulf of Guinea in the inter‐annual variability of the West African monsoon: what do we learn from CMIP3 coupled simulations?
Authors: Joly Mathieu , Voldoire Aurore 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe surface ocean explains a significant part of the inter‐annual variability of the West African monsoon (WAM). The present paper explores the role of Gulf of Guinea sea surface temperatures (SST): how is the ocean–atmosphere observed relationship reproduced by state‐of‐the‐art coupled models? The ‘Atlantic Niño’ is the main mode of inter‐annual variability in the Gulf of Guinea. SST anomalies are maximum in June–July, and are associated with a convective anomaly in the marine Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which spreads over the Guinean coast. In most of the studied CMIP3 simulations, the inter‐annual variability of SST is very weak in the Gulf of Guinea, especially along the Guinean Coast. As a consequence, the influence on the monsoon rainfall over the African continent is hardly reproduced. Interestingly, many models exhibit a dipolar response of the marine ITCZ to the Atlantic Niño. In the observations and reanalyses, the absence of any evident shift in the position of the monsoon rainbelt is associated with a collapse of the correlations between Gulf of Guinea SST and Sahel rainfall at the end of the twentieth century. It is suggested that this may be due to the counteracting effects of the Pacific and Atlantic basins over the last decades. In CMIP3 simulations, the Atlantic Niño is often correlated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, only one simulation catches the observed evolution of the Pacific–Atlantic relationship at the end of the century. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Constructing a non‐linear relationship between the incoming solar radiation and bright sunshine duration
Authors: Lee Khil‐Ha 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThis paper reports the application of a non‐linear relationship between the incoming shortwave solar radiation and bright sunshine duration. The newly suggested equation is a modified form of the existing Angstrom equation. Measurements of solar radiation and sunshine radiation from 1997 to 2006 at 21 meteorological stations were used to calibrate and validate the suggested equation. The model parameters required to specify the nature of the relationship between solar radiation and sunshine duration were determined by automatically minimizing the difference between the modelled and measured solar radiation. At the 21 meteorological stations, the absolute error (AE) is in the range of −0.126–0.158 MJm−2 day−1 for the original Angstrom equation, while it is in the range of −0.089–0.154 MJm−2 day−1 for the modified equation. The root mean square error (RMSE) is also improved by 7–8% for the modified method. The results show that the newly suggested equation generally provides better performance than the existing Angstrom equation. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Zinc and copper availability in herbage and soil of a Pinus radiata silvopastoral system in Northwest Spain after sewage‐sludge and lime application
Authors: Rosa Mosquera‐Losada M. , Lourdes López‐Díaz M. , Rigueiro‐Rodríguez Antonio 
Published: October 2009

AbstractSilvopastoral systems are ancient farming systems in the world, consisting of the combination of a woody component (trees or shrubs) and crops and/or animals within the same land‐management unit. In various European Union (EU) countries, the possibility of using sewage sludge as a fertilizer is under consideration as a viable method of disposal, considering the increase in sewage‐sludge production in recent years and the restrictions imposed by European policy on the usual methods of disposal. The concern is the concentration of heavy metals, which can reach humans through the food chain. In Spain, R.D. 1310/1990, as well as European Directive 86/278, limit the total in‐soil heavy‐metal concentration, but not the solubility changes, which directly affect plant absorption and leaching of heavy metals throughout the soil profile. The objective of this experiment was to compare, in a silvopastoral system over a period of 3 years, the effect of applying three doses of sewage sludge combined with and without liming, on total and available soil Zn and Cu and their concentration in plants. Liming did not affectct Zn and Cu availability; however, sewage sludge increased Zn and Cu availability, though total in‐soil Zn was increased only in November 2000. In‐plant Zn concentration was increased by sewage sludge in the last 2 years of the study. In all cases, the quality of forage obtained and measured with regard to the concentrations of Zn and Cu was adequate for animal consumption. With respect to sewage‐sludge application as a fertilizer, the management of heavy‐metal availability must be included in the policy, because environmental risk could then be adequately evaluated.
A critical assessment of the suitability of phosphite as a source of phosphorus
Authors: Ratjen Arne M. , Gerendás Jóska 
Published: October 2009

AbstractMarketing of phosphite‐containing preparations for foliar application, together with recent reports of positive yield responses, has revived the question as to whether phosphite (HPO$ _3^- $) is a suitable P source for plants. Two experiments using zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. convar. giromontina) have been conducted to evaluate the P‐nutritional effect of phosphite either provided via the substrate or as a foliar spray. Plants grown in a P‐deficient substrate were severely damaged when phosphite was applied as foliar fertiliser and more drastically when provided via the substrate. Growth of P‐deficient plants receiving phosphite as a foliar spray was impaired in a dose‐dependent manner after foliar P application (concentrations 0.0, 0.9, 2.7, and 4.5 g P L–1), while foliar provision of phosphate improved plant growth and yield. In the youngest leaves of phosphite‐treated plants, which had developed after foliar spray, phosphite accumulated to considerable extent, reaching a similar concentration as phosphate at tissue level. These results confirm that P‐deficient plants are very sensitive to phosphite, which represents a nutritionally ineffective form of P. It should thus not be considered as a form of P suitable for fertiliser manufacture.
Influence of nighttime electrical conductivity of substrate solution on fruit cracking and blossom‐end rot of greenhouse tomato in the tropics
Authors: Max Johannes F. J. , Horst Walter J. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe influence of the electrical conductivity (EC) of the substrate solution during the night, i.e., moderately high EC (“HEC”, 3.0 dS m–1, full solution) and low EC (“LEC”, 0.5 dS m–1, CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2 and H3BO3), on the incidences of blossom‐end rot (BER) and fruit cracking (FC) in greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was investigated and compared with a control without additional nighttime fertigation (NTF). In three consecutive experiments conducted in Central Thailand between November 2005 and March 2007, additional NTF cycles were applied for 1 h after the regular daytime fertigation (EC 1.5/1.8 dS m–1, prior to/after the first harvest). In the first experiment (dry season 2005/06), two cultivars with either low (FMTT 260) or high (King Kong 2) susceptibility to BER and FC were used. The total amount of fruits affected by FC or BER was 4‐ and 10‐fold, respectively, higher in King Kong 2, but the relative response to NTF was similar in both cultivars. Therefore, in the following experiments only FMTT 260 was planted. In all experiments, NTF exerted significant effects on the uptake and allocation of water and mineral elements to the fruits and the proportions of fruits affected by BER and FC. The overall proportion of nonmarketable fruits was not significantly reduced, neither through LEC nor HEC because a decrease in BER by LEC and in FC by HEC was counteracted by enhanced FC in LEC and BER in HEC. It is concluded that under the tropical climate conditions of Central Thailand leading to high losses of marketable fruit yield through BER and FC, an integrated approach is required combining an optimized management of the fertigation system and particularly the selection of genotypes highly tolerant of BER and FC.
Friction evaluation of elastomers in lubricated contact
Authors: Simmons Gregory F. , Mofidi Mohammadreza , Prakash Braham 
Published: October 2009

AbstractFriction testing of elastomers in lubricated contact is discussed with a focus on developing experimental arrangements that can produce worthwhile results. Practical issues unique to elastomers are covered as well as their solutions, including contact mechanics, material response to loading, contact edges, oil absorption, cleaning and specimen geometry. A critique of reciprocating laboratory testing machines, including high‐frequency short stroke and low‐frequency long stroke friction and wear machines, is conducted for their usefulness, as is critical analysis of a wide variety of specimen configurations with the aim of helping the laboratory experimenter to overcome many of the pitfalls associated with testing of elastomers in lubricated conditions. Results from experiments using various testing arrangements are analysed, and it is found that the synthetic ester and mineral oil used produced similar results. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of acrylamide formation on bakery products using a crust‐like model
Authors: Açar Özge Ç. , Gökmen Vural 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBaking is a complex process where a temperature gradient occurs within the product as a result of simultaneous heat and mass transfers. This behaviour makes the physical parameters (baking temperature and product dimensions) as effective as the chemical parameters on the rate of acrylamide formation in bakery foods. In this study, the change of temperature in different locations of the sample was shown as influenced by the product thickness. The temperature values were close to each other in the sample having thickness of 1 mm (crust model). The product temperature rapidly increased to the oven temperature. A temperature gradient was recorded in the sample having a thickness of 10 mm. As a result, the product temperature did not exceed 100°C within a baking time of 30 min. The product thickness significantly influenced the rate of acrylamide formation during baking. Acrylamide concentration rapidly increased to 411±49 ng/g within 8 min in the crust model sample. However, no acrylamide was detected in the thicker sample within 15 min under the same conditions, because the moisture content was still above 10%. The crust model was considered useful to test the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies in bakery foods.
Peanut varieties with reduced Ara h 1 content indicating no reduced allergenicity
Authors: Krause Susanne , Latendorf Ties , Schmidt Hendrik , Darcan‐Nicolaisen Yasemin , Reese Gerald , Petersen Arnd , Janssen Ottmar , Becker Wolf‐Meinhard 
Published: October 2009

AbstractPeanut allergy is a major cause of food‐induced severe anaphylactic reactions. To date, no medical care is available to prevent and treat peanut allergy and therefore hypoallergenic peanut varieties are of considerable health political and economic interest. Major allergens that induce IgE‐responses in peanut‐sensitive patients are Ara h 1, Ara h 2 and Ara h 3/4. In order to identify hypoallergenic peanuts, commercially locally available peanut varieties were screened for their allergen content. Ara h 1‐deficient peanuts from Southeast Asia were identified by SDS‐PAGE, immunoblotting, inhibition assays and ELISA. 2‐D PAGE analyses demonstrated the different compositions of the tested extracts and revealed a number of variations of the allergen patterns of peanuts from different varieties. Mediator release experiments of these peanut extracts demonstrated similar allergenicities as compared with standard peanut extract. These results indicate that the allergenicity of peanuts with reduced Ara h 1 content might be compensated by the other allergens, and thus do not necessarily cause a reduction of allergenicity.
Repeated oral administration modulates the pharmacokinetic behavior of the chemopreventive agent phenethyl isothiocyanate in rats
Authors: Konsue Nattaya , Kirkpatrick Jo , Kuhnert Nikolai , King Laurie J. , Ioannides Costas 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe principal objective of this study was to evaluate whether repeated oral administration influences the pharmacokinetic behavior of the chemopreventive agent phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in rat. Animals were treated orally with 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg of the isothiocyanate for 4 days, and plasma levels at various times post‐administration were determined by LC/MS after the first and last day. To determine absolute bioavailability, a group of animals was treated with a single (0.5 mg/kg) intravenous dose of PEITC. Following single oral dose administration, PEITC was rapidly absorbed, peak plasma concentrations being attained within the hour, and achieved an absolute bioavailability of 77%, but displayed dose‐dependent pharmacokinetics, with bioavailability decreasing and clearance increasing moderately with dose;Cmaxvalues did not rise proportionately to the dose and volume of distribution increased. At the higher doses of 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg, repeated administration led to higher PEITC plasmaCmaxconcentrations and decreased plasma clearance of the isothiocyanate leading to enhanced bioavailability.
Vitamin E tocotrienols improve insulin sensitivity through activating peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors
Authors: Fang Fang , Kang Zhanfang , Wong Chiwai 
Published: October 2009

AbstractVitamin E is comprised of two classes of compounds: tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocotrienol‐enriched palm oil has been shown to help reduce blood glucose levels in patients and preclinical animal models. However, the mechanistic basis for tocotrienol action is not well established. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors α, γ, and δ (PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARδ) are ligand‐regulated transcription factors that play essential roles in energy metabolism. Importantly, synthetic PPARα and PPARγ ligands are currently used for treating hyperlipidemia and diabetes. In this study, we present data that tocotrienols within palm oil functioned as PPAR modulators. Specifically, both α‐ and γ‐tocotrienol activated PPARα, while δ‐tocotrienol activated PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARδ in reporter‐based assays. Tocotrienols enhanced the interaction between the purified ligand‐binding domain of PPARα with the receptor‐interacting motif of coactivator PPARγ coactivator‐1α. In addition, the tocotrienol‐rich fraction of palm oil improved whole body glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity of diabetic Db/Db mice by selectively regulating PPAR target genes. These lines of evidence collectively suggested that PPARs represent a set of molecular targets of tocotrienols.
Dietary apple polyphenols have preventive effects against lengthening contraction‐induced muscle injuries
Authors: Nakazato Koichi , Ochi Eisuke , Waga Toshiaki 
Published: October 2009

AbstractWe examined whether polyphenols from dietary apple have protective effects against exercise‐induced muscle strain injury. Sixteen male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into the apple polyphenol (APP; N=8) and control (CON; N=8) groups. The APP and the CON groups were fed diets with and without 5% APP, respectively. After a 3‐wk feeding period, the gastrocnemii of the animals were subject to lengthening contractions with electrical stimulation and forced ankle dorsiflexion. Isometric torques were measured before and after the lengthening contractions and on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 after the contractions. On day 7, the animals were sacrificed and the gastrocnemii harvested. Thiobarbituric‐acid‐reactive substances, protein carbonyl, and mRNA of antioxidative proteins in the muscles were quantified. The APP group had significantly lower torque deficits than the CON group on days 3, 5, and 7 after the eccentric contractions. The thiobarbituric‐acid‐reactive substances and protein carbonyl levels in the case of the APP group were significantly lower than those in the case of the CON group. The APP group had significantly higher glutathione‐S‐transferase α1 mRNA levels than the CON group. Therefore, we conclude that dietary APPs have protective effects against lengthening contraction‐induced muscle injury.
Synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the solid‐phase extraction of betulin and betulinic acid from plane bark
Authors: Claude Berengere , Viron‐Lamy Cecile , Haupt Karsten , Morin Philippe 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIntroduction – Plant extracts are usually complex mixtures of various polarity compounds and their study often includes a purification step, such as solid‐phase extraction (SPE), to isolate interest compounds prior analytical investigations. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a new promising type of SPE material which offer tailor‐made selectivity for the extraction of trace active components in complex matrices. Numerous specific cavities that are sterically and chemically complementary of the target molecules, are formed in imprinted polymers. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesised in order to trap a specific class of triterpene, including betulin and betulinic acid from a methanolic extract of plane bark.Methodology – Imprinted polymers were synthesised by thermal polymerisation of betulin as template, methacrylic acid (MAA) or acrylamide (AA) as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinking agent and chloroform as porogen. Afterwards, MAA‐ and AA‐MIPs were compared with their non‐imprinted polymers (NIPs) in order to assess the selectivity vs betulin and its derivatives. Recovered triterpenes were analysed by HPLC during MIP‐SPE protocol.Results – After SPE optimisation, the MAA‐imprinted polymer exhibited highest selectivity and recovery (better than 70%) for betulin and best affinity for its structural analogues. Thus, a selective washing step (chloroform, acetonitrile) removed unwanted matrix compounds (fatty acids) from the SPE cartridge. The elution solvent was methanol. Finally, the MAA‐MIP was applied to fractionate a plane bark methanolic extract containing betulin and betulinic acid.Conclusion – This study demonstrated the possibility of direct extraction of betulin and its structural analogues from plant extracts by MIP technology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolic profiling of maize mutants deficient for two glutamine synthetase isoenzymes using 1H‐NMR‐based metabolomics
Authors: Broyart Caroline , Fontaine Jean‐Xavier , Molinié Roland , Cailleu Dominique , Tercé‐Laforgue Thérèse , Dubois Frédéric , Hirel Bertrand , Mesnard François 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIntroduction – Maize mutants deficient for the expression of two genes encoding cytosolic glutamine syntehtase (GS) isoenzymes GS1.3 and GS1.4 displayed reduced kernel number and kernel size, respectively, the effect of the mutation being cumulative in the double mutant. However, at maturity, shoot biomass production was not modified in all the mutants, indicating that the reaction catalysed by the enzyme is specifically involved in the control of grain yield.Objective – To examine the physiological impact of the GS mutations on the leaf metabolic profile during the kernel filling period, during which nitrogen is remobilised from the shoots to be further exported to the kernels.Methodology – An 1H‐NMR spectroscopy metabolomic was applied to the investigation of metabolic change of the gln1.3, gln1.4 and gln1.3/1.4 double mutant.Results – In the three GS mutants, an increase in the amount of several N‐containing metabolites such as asparagine, alanine, threonine and phophatidylcholine was observed whatever the level of nitrogen fertilisation. In addition, we found an accumulation of phenylalanine and tyrosine, two metabolites involved the primary steps of the phenylpropanoid pathway.Conclusion – Changes in the metabolic profile of the GS mutants suggest that, when cytosolic GS activity is strongly reduced, either alternative metabolic pathways participate in the reassimilation of ammonium released during leaf protein remobilisation or that premature leaf senescence is induced when kernel set and kernel filling are affected. The accumulation of phenylalanine and tyrosine in the mutant plants indicates that lignin biosynthesis is altered, thus possibly affecting ear development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolomic analysis of host plant resistance to thrips in wild and cultivated tomatoes
Authors: Mirnezhad Mohammad , Romero‐González Roman R. , Leiss Kirsten A. , Choi Young Hae , Verpoorte Robert , Klinkhamer Peter G. L. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIntroduction – Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) are among the most serious crop pests worldwide. Control of thrips mainly depends on pesticides, excessive use of which leads to human health risks and environmental contamination. As an alternative, we study host plant resistance to thrips.Objective – To apply nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) metabolomics to study host plant resistance to thrips in wild and cultivated tomatoes.Methodology – Ten wild species and 10 cultivated tomato lines were compared. Five replicates of each species and lines were used for a thrips bioassay while another five replicates were used for the metabolomic analysis. The three most resistant and susceptible wild species, and cultivated lines, as identified by the thrips bioassay, were used for the metabolomics, performed by 1H NMR spectroscopy followed by principal component analysis.Results – Wild and cultivated tomatoes differed significantly in thrips resistance. Only wild tomatoes were thrips‐resistant, among which Lycopersicon pennellii and L. hirsutum exhibited the lowest thrips damage. Their 1H NMR‐based metabolomic profiles were significantly different from those of thrips‐susceptible tomatoes. Thrips‐resistant tomatoes contained acylsugars, which are known for their negative effect on herbivores.Conclusion – The identification of acylsugars as a resistance factor for thrips in tomato proves that NMR‐based metabolomics an important tool to study plant defences, providing fundamental information for the development and realisation of herbivore resistance breeding programmes in agricultural crops. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dangers of diagnostic labels in patients with mental health issues
Authors: Robinson A 
Published: October 2009

AbstractProgress is pleased to bring readers key articles from the charity Primary Care Mental Health and Education (Primhe), which covers issues relating particularly to mental health in the primary care setting. On our website, www.progressnp.com, this month Dr Robinson, a GP with a special interest in mental health,describes how an encounter with a patient led her to re‐evaluate her approach to patients with mental health issues. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Should neurologists wait and see or see and treat RRMS?
Authors: Bates David , Isaacs John 
Published: October 2009

AbstractEarly and aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is now regarded as best practice to limit irreversible joint damage. However, in the case of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), current guidelines recommend that disease modifying therapy should only be initiated in patients with evidence of actively progressing disease. Here, the authors present the key findings of the Programme Identifying and Observing Novel Therapy Adoption in Chronic Diseases (PIONEER) study to examine the reasons for these different management approaches. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd