bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Europe and the Loss of Sovereignty
Authors: Schiemann Konrad 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe concept of sovereignty plays too large a part in contemporary discussion. No nation is sovereign in the sense that it is free to do what it wants within its own borders and not subject to influences from outside. It is not self evident either that political systems have to be hierarchically organized or that there should be one final arbiter of law for all decisions. There are advantages in having different centres of power for decisions affecting differing matters. There is a case for the co-existence of overlapping power centres and for sharing in decision-making and being prepared to live with a decision which does not in itself reflect the wishes of your State. There are advantages in being part of a larger conglomerate. The State can then have some influence and control over what goes on outside its boundaries. There is no reason why that conglomerate should itself be a large sovereign State. The European Union offers the hope of transcending the sovereign State rather than simply replicating it in some new superstate. It may prove to be a model and an inspiration.
Extraction, Quantification, and Characterization of Phenolics Extracted with the Aid of Sonication from Rice Bran
Authors: Onofre F. O. , Hettiarachchy N. S. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTPhenolics are phytochemicals extensively distributed among plants that have been receiving great deal of attention for their functionality. Rice bran is a good source of phenolics, especially hydroxycinnamates. Although chemicals are commonly employed to isolate phenolics, the use of physical treatments such as sonication is still limited. This study was conducted to optimize a procedure to isolate phenolics from rice bran using sonication as a preextraction treatment. Sonication was optimized by varying output, time, and temperature. Extraction was optimized by varying solvent, extraction time, temperature, and sample‐to‐solvent ratio. After an optimum procedure was established, HPLC analyses were conducted to identify and quantify the major individual phenolic acids extracted. The optimum conditions for extracting phenolics from rice bran were sonication with water (1:100 sample‐to‐solvent ratio) for 1 min; output intensity of 10; holding at ambient temperature; and autoclave treatment for 20 min at 121°C. This procedure extracted 8.85 ± 0.18 mg of phenolics/g of dried rice bran. Benzoic, p‐coumaric, and trans‐ferulic acids were the major phenolics identified in the extract. The proposed procedure will be valuable in obtaining phenolics for increasing product functionality such as lipid oxidation inhibitors in food systems.
Genomics as a Tool for Cereal Chemistry
Authors: Henry Robert J. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTGenomics is providing a new set of tools for cereal chemistry. Analysis of the DNA of the major cereals is increasing the understanding of the basis of grain quality at the gene level. Differences in the sequence of the gene in different cultivars or differences in the level of expression of the gene may be used to explain differences in processing or end‐use quality characteristics. For example, quantitative analysis of the levels of expression of genes at different stages during seed development in wheat or germination in barley can be used to define the genetic basis of differences in wheat and barley quality. Rice quality traits such as fragrance and gelatinization temperature (cooking temperature) can be explained by DNA sequence differences in specific genes identified using genomics approaches. Rapid and reliable species and cultivar identification based on DNA analysis methods developed using genomics tools can be applied to grain and to food products. This technology has special advantages in the analysis of complex mixtures of cereals. Technologies for very high‐throughput and very low‐cost analysis of large numbers of samples are now available. These may be applied by cereal chemists at many levels: selection in cereal breeding, optimizing processing, and analysis of the identity and composition of grain or food samples.
A Modified Laboratory Method to Remove Outer Layers from Cereal Grains Using a Barley Pearler
Authors: Liu Keshun 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTA variety of nutrients and some undesirable components are found and possibly concentrated in outer layers of cereal grains. There is a need to develop simple, efficient, and inexpensive laboratory methods in decorticating cereal grains for physicochemical and nutritional characterization and end‐use exploration. This study focused on using a Strong‐Scott barley pearler (BP) to abrade barleys and investigated factors that could affect kernel breakage, uniformity of abrading, repeatability, and quality of resulting fractions. Results show that the smaller the sample size, the higher the rate of surface removal. The difference in % removal among pearling times decreased as sample charge size increased. Screens with smaller holes (larger number of mesh per inch) decreased abrading efficiency but reduced kernel breakage significantly. The successive pearling mode (several pearling cycles per sample) not only provided a means to collect different fractions of outer layers and remaining kernels but also minimized kernel breakage and gave more uniform removal of outer layers among seeds as compared with the continuous pearling mode (only one pearling cycle per sample). As pearling progressed, the surface color of both outer layer and abraded kernel fractions became whiter. Subsequent trials with several other cereal grains (wheat, rice, sorghum, and oats) confirmed these findings. In conclusion, when modifications of equipment and procedures are made, the BP can be used as an efficient and inexpensive alternative for abrading various species of cereal grains.
Potato aucuba mosaic virus in Potato in New York State
Authors: Susaimuthu J. , Agindotan B. O. , Miller L. A. , Perry K. L. 
Published: August 2007

Solanum tuberosum cv. Elmer's Blue is one of a number of heritage potato accessions maintained at Cornell University that exhibit virus-like symptoms of stunting and a leaf yellowing or a mottle mosaic. Testing of this cultivar by double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA revealed that it was infected with Potato virus S (PVS) but none of the other common potato viruses screened for in North American potato certification programs (3). Mechanical inoculation of sap from potato cv. Elmer's Blue onto Nicotiana debneyii, N. megalosiphon, N. occidentalis, and N. tabacum produced a range of yellowing and mosaic symptoms (symptomless on N. tabacum), indicating the presence of a transmissible agent, but all these hosts tested negative for PVS. To identify possible viruses, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays involving generic primers for different groups of viruses were performed on the potato and the Nicotiana spp. Degenerate primers specific to members of the genus Potexvirus (4) amplified a 600-bp region from the symptomatic potato and N. debneyii. Nucleotide sequencing of the RT-PCR amplified product from potato cv. Elmer's Blue (Genbank Accession No. EF609120) and comparisons with GenBank sequences revealed the amplified sequence as having 91% identity with the genomic sequence of Potato aucuba mosaic virus (PAMV; Accession No. S73580). The presence of this virus in potato cv. Elmer's Blue and N. debneyii was confirmed by PAMV-specific antibodies (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN) in a DAS-ELISA format. PAMV is reported to occur worldwide, but uncommonly, with most descriptive work from Europe (2). While this virus has been studied in North America (1,2), these reports employed virus stocks from Europe under experimental conditions or virus in tubers obtained directly from Europe; to our knowledge, there are no unambiguous reports of PAMV in naturally infected North American potato cultivars. By contrast, the PAMV-infected cultivar in this report is a selection originally from a Canadian grower, and although not grown commercially, it is maintained in garden and field plots in New York and other states. References: (1) R. H. Bagnall. Phytopathology 50:460, 1960. (2) G. F. Kollmer and R. H. Larson. Res. Bull. Agric. Exp. Stn. Univ. Wis. 223:1, 1960. (3) S. A. Slack. Page 61 in: Potato Health Management. The American Phytopathological Society. St. Paul, MN, 1993. (4) R. A. A. van der Vlugt and M. Berendsen. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 108:367, 2002.
First Report of Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Soybean in Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Ojiambo P. S. , Bandyopadhyay R. , Twizeyimana M. , Lema A. , Frederick R. D. , Pedley K. F. , Stone C. L. , Hartman G. L. 
Published: August 2007

Nigeria (1) and Uganda (3) are the closest countries to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi has been reported. In February 2007, during a disease survey in DRC, soybean (Glycine max) leaves with rust symptoms (tan, angular lesions with erumpent sori exuding urediniospores) were observed in 10 fields in the following areas in Bas Congo Province: Bangu, Kimpese, Kolo-Fuma, Lukala, Mbanza-Ngungu, Mpalukide, Mvuazi, and Ntemo. Rust incidence in these fields ranged from 85 to 100%, while severity ranged between 3 and 35% of the leaf area on infected plants. Urediniospores were hyaline, minutely echinulate, and 23 to 31 × 16 to 20 μm. Within a week of collection, infected leaf samples were sent to the USDA-ARS Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU) for pathogen identification. DNA was extracted from sections of leaves containing sori with the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Valencia, CA), and all 10 field samples amplified in a real-time fluorescent PCR with the P. pachyrhizi-specific primers Ppm1 and Ppa2 (2). Infected leaves of cultivar Vuangi collected from one field each in the INERA Research Station, Kimpese-Crawford, and Kimpese-Ceco were separately washed in sterile water to collect urediniospores that were used to separately inoculate three detached leaves of susceptible cultivar TGx 1485-1D (4). Lesions on inoculated leaves developed 5 days after inoculation (DAI), and pustules (110 to 130 μm) formed 7 DAI and erupted 2 days later exuding columns of urediniospores similar in size to the initially collected isolates. Inoculation of another set of detached leaves with a spore suspension (1 × 106 spores per ml) from the first set of detached leaves resulted in typical rust symptoms. Seedlings of cultivar Williams also showed typical rust symptoms when inoculated separately with urediniospores collected from nine fields (i.e., all except Kimpese-Ceco, which was infective in the detached leaf assay). Inoculation and incubation were carried out at the FDWSRU Plant Pathogen Containment Facility at Fort Detrick as described earlier (2). The PCR assay, morphological characters of the isolates, and pathogenicity tests demonstrate that P. pachyrhizi occurs in DRC. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. pachyrhizi infecting soybean in DRC. References: (1) O. A. Akinsanmi et al. Plant Dis. 85:97, 2001. (2) R. D. Frederick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002. (3) E. Kawuki et al. J. Phytopathol. 151:7, 2003. (4) M. Twizeyimana et al. Online publication. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/ infocenter/topic/soybeanrust/2006/posters/41.asp. Plant Management Network, 2006.
Full participation in harm reduction programmes is associated with decreased risk for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus: evidence from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies among drug users
Authors: Van Den Berg Charlotte , Smit Colette , Van Brussel Giel , Coutinho Roel , Prins Maria 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTObjectives  To investigate the impact of harm‐reduction programmes on HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence among ever‐injecting drug users (DU) from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS).Methods  The association between use of harm reduction and seroconversion for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) was evaluated using Poisson regression. A total of 714 DU were at risk for HIV and/or HCV during follow‐up. Harm reduction was measured by combining its two most important components—methadone dose and needle exchange programme (NEP) use—and looking at five categories of participation, ranging from no participation (no methadone in the past 6 months, injecting drug use in the past 6 months and no use of NEP) to full participation (≥ 60 mg methadone/day and no current injecting or ≥ 60 mg methadone/day and current injecting but all needles exchanged).Results  Methadone dose or NEP use alone were not associated significantly with HIV or HCV seroconversion. However, with combination of these variables and after correction for possibly confounding variables, we found that full participation in a harm reduction programme (HRP) was associated with a lower risk of HIV and HCV infection in ever‐injecting drug users (DU), compared to no participation [incidence rate ratio 0.43 (95% CI 0.21–0.87) and 0.36 (95% CI 0.13–1.03), respectively].Conclusions  In conclusion, we found that full participation in HRP was associated with a lower incidence of HCV and HIV infection in ever‐injecting DU, indicating that combined prevention measures—but not the use of NEP or methadone alone—might contribute to the reduction of the spread of these infections.
Is attributing smoking to genetic causes associated with a reduced probability of quit attempt success? A cohort study
Authors: Wright Alison J. , Aveyard Paul , Guo Boliang , Murphy Michael , Brown Karen , Marteau Theresa M. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTAims  Pharmacogenetic smoking cessation interventions would involve smokers being given information about the influence of genes on their behaviour. However, attributing smoking to genetic causes may reduce perceived control over smoking, reducing quit attempt success. This study examines whether attributing smoking to genetic influences is associated with reduced quitting and whether this effect is mediated by perceived control over smoking.Design  Cohort study.Participants  A total of 792 smokers, participating in a trial of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)‐assisted smoking cessation. Participants were informed that the trial investigated relationships between genetic markers and smoking behaviour, but personalized genetic feedback was not provided.Setting  Primary care in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, UK.Measurements  Perceived control over smoking and perceived importance of genetic factors in causing smoking assessed pre‐quit; abstinence 4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks after the start of treatment.Findings  A total of 515 smokers (65.0%) viewed genetic factors as playing some role in causing their smoking. They had lower perceived control over smoking than smokers who viewed genetic factors as having no role in causing their smoking. Attributing smoking to genetic causes was not associated significantly with a lower probability of quit attempt success.Conclusions  Attributing smoking to genetic factors was associated with lower levels of perceived control over smoking but not lower quit rates. This suggests that learning of one's genetic predisposition to smoking during a pharmacogenetically tailored smoking cessation intervention may not deter quitting. Further research should examine whether the lack of impact of genetic attributions on quit attempt success is also found in smokers provided with personalized genetic feedback.
Okey Lecture 2006: identifying the neurobiological mechanisms of addictive behaviour*
Authors: Schumann Gunter 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTIntroduction  Substance use disorders are extremely costly to the individual and to society, and a substantial proportion of patients do not respond to the therapies offered. To improve existing treatments a better understanding of the neurobiological and genetic basis of addictive behaviour and substance use disorder is warranted. The aim of this lecture is to develop a model of integrated translational addiction research which may result in the establishment of individualized therapeutic approaches for patients with substance use disorders.Methods  The genetic basis of substance use disorders is characterized by a contribution of multiple genes to the clinical phenotype. This genetic complexity is based on poly/oligogenicity and genetic heterogeneity, two parallel mechanisms which are present to varying extents in different substance use disorders. To disentangle the complexity and to identify the genetic and neurobiological basis of addictions an integrated, translational approach involving (functional) genetic analyses, animal behavioural experimentation and neuroimaging studies is proposed.Results  Examples of this approach are provided by describing a line of work which identified the relevance of circadian rhythm genes in regulating alcohol drinking behaviour in animal models and humans, as well as a complementary approach using endophenotypes in human gene‐neuroimaging studies where the effect of single and combined genetic variations on processing of aversive emotional stimuli in the limbic system was demonstrated.Discussion  While the combination of genetic, behavioural and neuroimaging analyses are shown to be useful tools to address oligogenicity and genetic heterogeneity in substance use disorders, the clinical relevance of this approach needs to be developed further. Thus, two current major research projects, the European integrated project ‘IMAGEN’ and the NIHR‐Biomedical Research Centre ‘Mental Health’ in the United Kingdom, which potentially integrate our proposed research strategy with clinically relevant outcomes, will be discussed.
Efficacy of central nervous system stimulant treatment for cocaine dependence: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials
Authors: Castells Xavier , Casas Miguel , Vidal Xavier , Bosch Rosa , Roncero Carlos , Ramos‐Quiroga Josep Antoni , Capellà Dolors 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTAims  To evaluate the efficacy of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants compared with placebo for the treatment of cocaine dependence.Methods  A systematic review and meta‐analysis was carried out. Bibliographic databases were searched, reference lists of retrieved studies were hand‐searched and the first authors of each study were contacted. All randomized controlled clinical trials (RCCT) comparing the efficacy of any CNS stimulant with placebo in cocaine‐dependent patients were included. Quantitative data synthesis was performed for each single CNS stimulant and for all CNS stimulants.Results  Nine RCCT met the inclusion criteria. These RCCT included 640 patients and compared five CNS stimulants: mazindol, dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil and bupropion with placebo. No CNS stimulant improved study retention [RR = 0.94 (0.81–1.09)] or cocaine use [RR = 0.90 (0.79–1.02)]. An exploratory analysis using indirect estimations of cocaine use showed that the proportion of cocaine‐positive urine screens was lower with dexamphetamine than with placebo [RR = 0.73 (0.60–0.90)] and that all CNS stimulants pooled together also suggested a significant decrease of cocaine use [RR = 0.87 (0.77–0.99)]. Data on craving could not be meta‐analysed due to heterogeneity, but no RCCT found differences in cocaine craving between active drug and placebo except one, whose outcome favoured dexamphetamine. No serious adverse event (AE) was reported. Average of AE‐induced dropouts was low and was greater for CNS stimulants than placebo: 4.4% versus 1.3% (P = 0.03).Conclusion  The main outcomes of this study do not support the use of CNS stimulants for cocaine dependence. Nevertheless, secondary analyses provide some hopeful results that encourage further research with these drugs, mainly with dexamphetamine and modafinil.
Association of seed‐borne Fusarium species on Pinus ponderosa with germination and seedling viability in Argentina
Authors: Salerno M. I. , Lori G. A. 
Published: August 2007

Summary Pinus ponderosa seedlots from eight seed orchards in Western Patagonia, Argentina, were evaluated for the presence of Fusarium species, and isolates obtained were subjected to pathogenicity tests. The following species were isolated: Fusariumoxysporum, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium incarnatum, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium proliferatum. With the exception of F. proliferatum and F. graminearum all Fusarium species were recovered from P. ponderosa seedlings with symptoms of damping‐off. Five Fusarium species were re‐isolated from necrotic roots of seedlings showing chlorosis (F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. acuminatum and F. verticillioides). High damping‐off losses occurred in Fusarium‐contaminated seed of P. ponderosa and low disease incidence occurred on less contaminated seed. The role of seed‐borne inoculum in disease spread within forest nurseries is discussed.
Significance of glycosylation patterns of rat Zajdela ascitic hepatocellular carcinoma: Effect of enzymatic removal of surface sialic acid on humoral response
Authors: Sudhakar Cherukuri , Mangamoori Lakshmi N 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Rat Zajdela ascitic hepatocellular carcinoma (ZAH) is a malignant cell type with some properties in common with rat hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the glycosylation patterns of surface glycoproteins of two cell lines C and D of ZAH by lectin binding for identification and characterization of tumor‐specific markers.Methods:  Plasma membrane proteins from these cells were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and probed using radio‐iodinated lectins.Results:  We observed a decrease in the binding of concavalin A, and an increase in the binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to glycoproteins from the tumor cell lines as compared with those from normal liver cells. We showed that the increase in binding of WGA was mainly due to increased sialylation of the surface glycoproteins of the tumor cells. The major sialylated glycoproteins of the tumor cells contained O‐linked carbohydrate chains. It was also shown that removal of surface sialic acid by neuraminidase significantly decreased the lethality of the tumor and led to increased survival of tumor‐bearing animals. The decreased lethality of the tumor appears to be due to increased antigenicity of the desialylated tumor cells.Conclusion:  Taken together, the presence of highly sialylated O‐linked glycosylation of gp120 in ZAH tumor cells and its absence in normal liver cells is of significance with respect to the biological properties of this tumor.
α1‐Antitrypsin deficiency is not an important cause of childhood liver diseases in a multi‐ethnic Southeast Asian population
Authors: Lee Way Seah , Yap Sook Fan , Looi Lai Meng 
Published: August 2007

Aim:  We conducted a prospective study to determine the role of α1‐antitrypsin (α1AT) deficiency in the pathogenesis of neonatal cholestasis and other childhood liver diseases in a multi‐ethnic Southeast Asian population.Methods:  Prospective patients with neonatal cholestasis (group 1), other liver diseases (group 2) and children with other medical conditions (group 3) referred to the Paediatric Unit, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, from May 2002 to June 2005, were screened for α1AT level and phenotype. α1AT level below 80 mg/dL was considered as low.Results:  Of the 114 patients (group 1, n = 53; group 2, n = 42; group 3, n = 19) screened, seven patients (6% of total; group 1, n = 1; group 2, n = 4; group 3, n = 2) had a α1AT level below 80 mg/dL. All had marginally low level (range 57–79 mg/dL), but none had a clinical diagnosis of α1AT deficiency. One patient had PiZ‐ heterozygous phenotype (α1AT level 217 mg/dL) while another patient had PiMS heterozygous.Conclusions:  α1AT deficiency is not an important cause of neonatal cholestasis and childhood liver diseases in Malaysian children. In Malaysian children with neonatal cholestasis or other liver diseases, routine assay for α1AT phenotype is not recommended if there is no family history of neonatal cholestasis of uncertain aetiology, or if α1AT level is above 80 mg/dL.