bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamical Mean Field approximation of a canonical cortical model for studying inter-population synchrony
Authors: Martínez-Cancino Ramón , Sotero Diaz Roberto Carlos 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThe goal of this paper is twofold. We propose and explore a model to study the synchronization among populations in the canonical model of the neocortex proposed previously by (R.J. Douglas, K.A.C. Martin, A functional microcircuit for cat visual cortex. J.Physiol. 440(1991) 735–769). For this, a model describing N synapses of each m-population (m = 1, 2,3) is proposed. Each synapse is described by a system of 2 stochastic differential equations (SDEs). Then, by using the dynamical mean field approximation (DMA) (H. Hasegawa, Dynamical mean-field theory of spiking neuron ensembles: Response to a single spike with independent noises, Phys. Rev. E. (2003)1-19.) the system of several SDEs is reduced to 12 ordinary differential equations for the means and the second-order moments of global variables. The connectivity among populations is obtained by summarizing in the canonical model the detailed information from a quantitative description of the circuits formed in cat area 17 given in (T.Binzegger, R.J. Douglas, K.A. Martin, A Quantitative Map of the Circuit of Cat Primary Visual Cortex, J. Neurosci. 24 (2004) 8441- 8453). In the framework of the used DMA we propose a measure for inter-population synchronization. Simulations are carried out for exploring how inter-population synchrony is related to the variation of firing frequency of each population. Our results suggest that superficial pyramidal clusters appear to have a predominant influence on the synchronization process among pyramidal populations as well as put forward the active role of inhibition in the rest of the synchronizations between populations.
Effects of Frying and Microwave Heating on Decomposition of Benzoyl Peroxide in Flour
Authors: Liu Chunye , Zhang Jian , Qin Bei , Miao Yanqing , Yang Liyan 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACTEffects of frying and microwave heating on the decomposition of benzoyl peroxides (BPO) in flour were studied. First, BPO and its main decomposition product, benzoic acid (BA), were extracted from different flour products by ultrasonication in ethanol. Next, three samples of commercial flour, two fried foods, and two microwave foods were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrum (MS). Results revealed that the BPO content decreased after frying and microwave heating treatments. Furthermore, the existence of biphenyl in fried food was successfully verified by HPLC‐MS. Biphenyl that decomposed from BPO may be one source of toxicity in fried foods. In contrast to fried food, new components made through the special heating module were not found in microwave food.
Restoration of Breadmaking Properties to Frozen Dough by Addition of Sugar and Yeast and Subsequent Processing
Authors: Morimoto N. , Seguchi M. 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACTWe prepared bread dough A (a mixture of wheat flour, sugar, salt, and water), bread dough B (a mixture of bread dough A and yeast), and bread dough C (first‐proofed, molded, and second‐proofed bread dough B) and froze them at –20°C for six days. They were thawed at 4°C for 16 hr and subjected to their breadmaking processes. The results indicated that breadmaking properties (bread height [mm] and specific volume [cm3/g]) after bread dough A and B processes were the same as those of control bread dough (unfrozen dough). However, in the case of bread dough C, the resulting bread showed depression of the properties. The amount of centrifuged liquid from thawed bread dough C increased. Sugar was added to thawed bread dough C (bread dough C‐1), and then yeast was further added to bread dough C‐1 (bread dough C‐2), and they were subjected to the breadmaking process. The results showed that the breadmaking properties of bread dough C‐2 were the same as those of the control. It was further found that when the first proof step in the bread dough C‐2 process was omitted, the breadmaking properties were depressed. Frozen and thawed bread dough C was packed into a plastic tube, and extension of the dough was compared with that of control dough under reduced pressure. Bread dough C extended to 50 mm, compared with 70 mm for control dough. First proof, mold, and second proof steps of dough C‐2 caused it to extend to the same height as control dough. It was concluded that the increased amount of the separated liquid in thawed dough C caused depression of breadmaking properties resulting from lack of water in the appropriate places to provide the expected properties, but these properties could be restored to the levels of control bread dough by the addition of sugar and yeast following the first proof, mold, and second proof steps.
First Report of Target Spot of Tobacco Caused by Rhizoctonia solani (AG-3) in Massachusetts
Authors: LaMondia J. A. , Vossbrinck C. R. 
Published: January 2011

In June 2010, shade-grown cigar wrapper tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants in Hampshire County, Massachusetts were observed with leaf lesion symptoms that ranged from small (2 to 3 mm) water-soaked spots to larger (2 to 3 cm) lesions. Lesions had a pattern of concentric rings, necrotic centers and tears in the centers, and margins that often resulted in a shot-hole appearance. Some lesions had chlorotic halos. Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (Thanatephorus cucumeris A.B. Frank) was isolated from lesions and identified on the basis of mycelial characteristics including multinucleate cells, septate hyphae wider than 7 μm and hyphal branches occurring at approximately right angles, and constricted at the base (3). Eight-week-old, potted tobacco plants were each inoculated either by spraying with a mycelial suspension (1 × 105 CFU) (five plants) or by placing colonized half-strength potato dextrose agar (PDA) plugs (0.2 cm) of an isolate of R. solani recovered from tobacco onto leaves (five plants) or with water or half-strength PDA plugs alone (five plants each). The plants were placed in plastic bags in a 24°C growth chamber and misted. After 2 days, the bags were removed and the potted plants were placed in trays filled with water to a depth of 1 cm in the growth chamber. After 8 days, the pathogen was reisolated from inoculated plants exhibiting water-soaked spots as disease symptoms. Leaves inoculated with water or half-strength PDA plugs alone were not diseased. DNA was extracted from the R. solani isolate and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. HQ241274). The ITS sequence confirmed our identification of this new isolate as R. solani anastomosis group (AG) 3. This disease had been previously reported on tobacco from South America, South Africa, the southern United States (1), and Canada (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of this disease in cigar wrapper tobacco in New England. The humid environmental conditions under which shade tobacco is grown make this new disease a significant threat for the Massachusetts and Connecticut growing area. References: (1) J. S. Johnk et al. Phytopathology 83:854, 1993 (2) R. D. Reeleder et al. Plant Dis. 80:712, 1996. (3) B. Sneh et al. Identification of Rhizoctonia species. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1991.
First Report of Cane Blight on Blackberry Caused by Diaporthe eres in Croatia
Authors: Vrandecic K. , Jurkovic D. , Cosic J. , Postic J. , Riccioni L. 
Published: January 2011

A cane disease of blackberry (Rubus sp.) cv. Thornfree was observed in May and June 2010 in two growing regions in the eastern part of Slavonia in Croatia. Symptoms consisted of bleached areas between and around cane nodes with some canes showing wilt symptoms. Infected areas were covered with numerous, black pycnidia immersed in the epidermal tissue. Disease occurrence in orchards growing cv. Thornfree ranged between 1 and 15%. Thirty disease samples were collected, disinfected (1 min in 70% ethanol and 2 min in 1% NaOCl), and placed in a moist chamber for 4 days. Fungal sporulating structures were then picked off and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal isolates obtained were identified as a Phomopsis sp., the conidial state of Diaporthe (3), on the basis of cultural and morphological characteristics. Alpha conidia were unicellular, hyaline, fusiform, sometimes tapering toward one or both ends, biguttulate (sometimes with several guttules), and 5.2 to 9.7 × 1.4 to 2.7 μm (average 6.5 × 2.1 μm). Beta conidia were hyaline, aseptate, filiform, hamate, and 16.6 to 28.2 × 0.5 to 1.5 μm (average 24.0 × 1.1 μm). The teleomorph was not observed. Biomolecular analysis was performed to identify the fungal species by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region spanning ITS 1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS 2 of two isolates (Phk1 and Phk2). The amplified product was sequenced (GenLab-Enea, Rome, Italy) and a BLAST search of the NCBI nucleotide database was performed. Sequences from Phk1 and Phk2 (GenBank Accession Nos. HQ533144 and HQ533143, respectively) were identical to authentic and vouchered Diaporthe eres Nitschke (GenBank DQ491514, BPI 748435, and CBS 109767) ITS sequences in GenBank. Fungal isolates for pathogenicity tests were grown on PDA at 25°C for 7 days (12 h light/dark regimen). Inoculations were made on 30 to 40 cm long green shoots of potted plants of the blackberry cv. Thornfree. One-centimeter long wounds were made with a sterile scalpel and mycelia of D. eres were placed in the wounds. Inoculation sites were covered with a piece of wet cotton wool and aluminum foil to retain moisture. Three replications of 10 plants each were inoculated and these plus 10 control plants (inoculated with plugs of PDA only) were maintained in a growth chamber at 25°C. After 25 days, lesions developed on all 30 inoculated plants that averaged 15 mm long and control plants remained symptomless. D. eres was reisolated from inoculated plants, thus completing Koch's postulates. Phomopsis spp. have previously been reported on blackberry canes in Serbia (1) and Yugoslavia (2,4), however, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of D. eres (anamorph P. oblonga) on blackberry in Croatia. References: (1) M. Arsenijevic. Biljni Lekar 34:117, 2006. (2) M. Muntanola-Cvetkovic et al. Zast. Bilja 36:325, 1985. (3) B. C. Sutton. Page 569 in: The Coelomycetes. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1980. (4) M. Veselic et al. Zast. Bilja 49:76, 1998.
Interest rate sensitivity of US property/liability insurer stock returns
Authors: Park Jin , Paul Choi B. 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate interest rate sensitivity of the US property/liability (P/L) insurers stock returns using various return generating process models incorporating different interest rate changes such as actual interest rate changes, unexpected interest rate changes and orthogonalized market returns.Design/methodology/approachThe study follows the 1974 two‐index model by Stone. In the two‐index model, three different interest rate indices are tested one at a time to examine if interest rate sensitivity of the insurers stock returns, if any, is vulnerable to an interest rate index used.FindingsIt is found that the US P/L insurers' stock returns are sensitivity to interest rate changes. The impact of actual interest rate changes on the stock returns is little different from that of unexpected interest rate changes, which is consistent with findings in the banking literature. When orthogonalized market returns are used in the models in lieu of actual market returns, the statistical significance on the estimated interest rate sensitivity of the returns improves. Consistent with extant studies of financial institution's interest rate sensitivity, the paper also reports that the interest rate sensitivity of insurer stock returns is time varying.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the data availability, the period studied is between 1992 and 2001. However, the sample period does not weaken the findings of the study. In addition, future research could incorporate the insurers' balance sheet items to investigate which balance sheet items (i.e. investment in bonds, stocks and other items on asset side and reserves and other items on liability side) explain most interest rate sensitivity.Practical implicationsInvestors can adopt the findings of this study in creating or adjusting their portfolio with the US P/L insurers in it. The insurers stock returns are more sensitive to changes in long‐term interest rate when the underwriting profit increases and the stock returns are more sensitive to changes in short‐term interest rate when the underwriting profit decreases.Social implicationsAlthough generalization is difficult and the conclusion is not as convincing as it could be because only one underwriting cycle is sampled, it is still noteworthy to recognize that the insurers' interest rate sensitivity is closely related to the insurance industry's underwriting cycle or performance.Originality/valueThis is the first study reporting the association between the interest rate sensitivity of the US stock returns and the underwriting performance.
How much trust should risk managers place on “Brownian motions” of financial markets?
Authors: Borna Shaheen , Sharma Dheeraj 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the recent global economic downturn. Particularly, the study explores the utilization of the concept of Brownian motion in financial risk management in organizations in the USA.Design/methodology/approachThe three assumptions, namely, independence, stationarity, and normal distribution that underlie the concept of Brownian motion are examined.FindingsIt is concluded that the widely used risk management strategies predicated on Brownian motion fail to provide a rational understanding of financial turmoil. Consequently, prescriptive insights are offered to aid the industry in developing an apposite mechanism for risk management.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper offers new and improved risk management strategies that need to be undertaken to augment our understanding and prediction of financial scenarios.Practical implicationsThe paper is useful for managers in all financial organizations, which employ computer models using Brownian motions. Specifically, this study contends that static models are unsuitable and dynamic models are more useful for risk assessment.Originality/valueThe paper reveals the weaknesses of the key assumptions of the risk management models used in financial organizations, namely, normal distribution of stock market price fluctuations, statistical stationarity, and efficient market assumption. Valuable guidelines are provided for financial managers who either do not have the inclination or time to sift through the voluminous literature related to the risk management models and computer software designed on these models.
Near‐patient platelet function testing in patients undergoing coronary artery surgery: a pilot study*
Authors: Reece M. J. , Klein A. A. , Salviz E. A. , Hastings A. , Ashworth A. , Freeman C. , Luddington R. J. , Nair S. , Besser M. W. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryPlatelet dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass contributes to microvascular bleeding and is associated with blood transfusion and resternotomy. Platelet count can be readily performed, but currently there are no standardised, reproducible, rapidly available platelet function tests. We studied platelet function as measured by multiple electrode platelet aggregometery (multiplate) and light transmission aggregometry in 44 patients undergoing routine coronary artery surgery. Platelet aggregation as measured by multiplate was reduced during and after cardiopulmonary bypass compared with baseline with evidence of partial recovery by the time of transfer to ITU. In patients transfused blood, platelet aggregation measured by multiplate was reduced during chest closure with adenosine diphosphate (18 U vs 29 U, p = 0.01) and thrombin receptor agonist peptide‐6 agonist (65 U vs 88 U, p = 0.01) compared with patients not transfused. This suggests that multiplate, a new point of care analyser, can detect platelet dysfunction in this setting.
South‐east Asian ovalocytosis and the cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis show virtually indistinguishable cation permeability defects
Authors: Guizouarn Hélène , Borgese Franck , Gabillat Nicole , Harrison Penny , Goede Jeroen S. , McMahon Corrina , Stewart Gordon W. , Bruce Lesley J. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryThe hereditary stomatocytoses are a group of dominantly inherited conditions in which the osmotic stability of the red cell is compromised by abnormally high cation permeability. This report demonstrates the very marked similarities between the cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis and the common tropical condition south‐east Asian ovalocytosis (SAO). We report two patients, one showing a novel cryohydrocytosis variant (Ser762Arg in SLC4A1) and a case of SAO. Both cases showed a mild haemolytic state with some stomatocytes on the blood film, abnormal intracellular sodium and potassium levels which were made markedly abnormal by storage of blood at 0°C, increased cation ‘leak’ fluxes at 37°C and increased Na+K+ pump activity. In both cases, the anion exchange function of the mutant band 3 was destroyed. Extensive electrophysiological studies comparing the cation leak and conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the two mutant genes showed identical patterns of abnormality. These data are consistent with the cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis and we conclude that the cation leak in SAO is indistinguishable from that in cryohydrocytosis, and that SAO should be considered to be an example of hereditary stomatocytosis.
Association between short sleep duration and the risk of sensitization to food and aero allergens in rural Chinese adolescents
Authors: Zhang S. , Liu X. , Kim J. S. , Ouyang F. , Wang B. , Li Z. , Tang G. , Liu X. , Xu X. , Pongracic J. A. , Wang X. 
Published: January 2011

Cite this as: S. Zhang, X. Liu, J. S. Kim, F. Ouyang, B. Wang, Z. Li, G. Tang, X. Liu, X. Xu, J. A. Pongracic and X. Wang, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 547–555.SummaryBackground
Both long and short sleep duration have been associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, there have been no previous studies investigating the potential relationship between altered sleep duration and allergen sensitization.Objective
To explore the association between sleep duration and sensitization to food and aeroallergens.Methods
This study includes 1534 rural Chinese adolescent twins aged 12–21 years who completed standard sleep questionnaires and skin prick tests (SPTs) to nine food and five aeroallergens. Total sleep time was defined as the interval from bedtime to wake‐up time minus sleep latency. Sensitization was defined as having at least one positive SPT.Results
Compared with individuals with the highest (third) tertile of sleep duration, those who slept less were more likely to be sensitized to any food allergen with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–2.7] and 1.4 (95% CI: 1.0–1.9) for the first and second tertiles (trend test Ptrend=3 × 10−4), respectively. The corresponding ORs for sensitization to any aeroallergen were 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1–2.0) and 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0–1.7) (Ptrend=8 × 10−3). These associations were independent of percent body fat. In addition, we observed a significant dose–response association between the number of positive SPTs and percentage of shortest sleep duration (first tertile) (Ptrend=1 × 10−3).Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
In this sample of relatively lean rural Chinese adolescents, we found that short sleep duration was associated with increasing risk of sensitization to food and aeroallergens, independent of percent body fat. Longitudinal studies are needed to further determine the temporal and causal relationships. If short sleep duration indeed is one of the risk factors for allergic sensitization, the global burden of allergic diseases could be dramatically reduced by providing appropriate guidance on sleep duration for youth.
The CC16 A38G polymorphism is associated with the development of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Ku M.‐S. , Sun H.‐L. , Lu K.‐H. , Sheu J.‐N. , Lee H.‐S. , Yang S.‐F. , Lue K.‐H. 
Published: January 2011

Cite this as: M.‐S. Ku, H.‐L. Sun, K.‐H. Lu, J.‐N. Sheu, H.‐S. Lee, S.‐F. Yang and K.‐H. Lue, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 794–800.SummaryBackground
Although asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are considered to be one syndrome, many questions remain unanswered. Why do some AR patients develop asthma but others do not, and which factors play a role in the development of asthma that have so far not been clearly elucidated.Objective
We hypothesize that children with AR who have the Clara cell secretory protein (CC16, secretoglobin 1A1) 38A/38A genotype (rs3741240) have an increased likelihood of developing asthma.Methods
The study sample included 117 children, with AR, but no asthma diagnosed within the following 5 years, as the control group. Cases group (n=202) included age‐ and gender‐matched children with AR first, and asthma developed 3–5 years later, as the study group. The CC16 genotype was determined by PCR and Sau96I restriction digestion of PCR products. The serum CC16 levels were measured by ELISA. Total serum IgE, allergen specific IgE, eosinophil count and pulmonary function were also measured.Results
In children with rhinitis who develop asthma, the frequencies of the AA genotype were significantly higher than those who did not develop asthma [odds ratio (OR)=2.527; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.571–4.065; P<0.01]. Serum CC16 levels in the children with rhinitis who develop asthma and carry the AA genotype were significantly lower than those who carry the non‐AA genotype and those who did not develop asthma.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Results of this study suggest that CC16 38A/38A genotype plays a role in the development of early asthma in children with AR. Early identification of rhinitis children at risk may assist in designing preventative approach to asthma development.
Specific immunotherapy in asthma: efficacy and safety
Authors: Passalacqua G. , Canonica G. W. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryThe use of specific immunotherapy (SIT) to treat asthma has been, and still is, a matter of debate, and there are no clear or unequivocal indications in the official documents. This is partly due to the fact that there are few studies specifically designed to assess asthma, that none of such studies had a formal sample size calculation, and that objective parameters of pulmonary function have been assessed only sporadically. Nonetheless, there are good quality studies for both subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) where asthma symptoms were evaluated, and showing positive results. Moreover, several favourable meta‐analyses are available, although their validity is limited by the great heterogeneity of the trials included. The disease modifying effect of SIT, that is the capacity of preventing asthma onset should be also taken into account. Concerning the safety, fatalities seem to be an exceptional event and in Europe no fatality has been reported over the last two decades. Uncontrolled asthma is universally recognized as the most important risk factor for severe adverse events. In conclusion both SLIT and SCIT can be used in asthma associated with rhinitis (which is the most common condition), provided that asthma is adequately controlled by pharmacotherapy. In such case, a measurable clinical benefit on asthma symptoms can be expected. On the other hand, SIT cannot be presently recommended as single therapy when asthma is the unique manifestation of respiratory allergy. Cite this as: G. Passalacqua and G. W. Canonica, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1247–1255.