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Selected AbstractsSex differences in songbirds 25 years later: What have we learned and where do we go?MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 6 2001Gregory F. Ball Abstract About 25 years ago, Nottebohm and Arnold reported that there are profound male-biased sex differences in volume in selected nuclei in telencephalic portions of the song control system. This review focuses on issues related to the cellular bases of these sex differences in volume and comparative studies that might elucidate the function of this variation between the sexes. Studies utilizing a variety of neurohistological methods in several different species to define the boundaries of two key telencephalic song nuclei HVc and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) all tend to find a sex difference in volume in agreement with Nissl-defined boundaries. Sex differences in volume in nuclei such as HVc and RA are associated with differences in cell size and cell number. Other attributes of the phenotype of cells in these nuclei are also different in males and females such as the number of cells expressing androgen receptors. Comparative studies have been employed to understand the function of these sex differences in the brain. In some songbird species, females sing rarely or not at all, and the brain nuclei that control song are many times larger volume in males than females. In other species, males and females sing approximately equally, and the brain nuclei that control song are approximately equal between the sexes. Recently, statistical methods have been employed to control for phylogenetic effects while comparing the co-evolution of traits. This analysis indicates that the evolution of sex differences in song has co-evolved with the evolution of sex differences in singing behavior in songbird species. Future studies should focus on the function of the smaller song control nuclei of females and investigate the role these nuclei might play in perception as well as in production. Microsc. Res. Tech. 54:327,334, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Social Networks and Corporate GovernanceEUROPEAN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2008Avanidhar Subrahmanyam G30; G34 Abstract We analyse frameworks that link corporate governance and firm values to governing boards' social networks and innovations in technology. Because agents create social networks with individuals with whom they share commonalities along the dimensions of social status and income, among other attributes, CEOs may participate in board members' social networks, which interferes with the quality of governance. At the same time, social connections with members of a board can allow for better evaluation of the members' abilities. Thus, in choosing whether to have board members with social ties to management, one must trade off the benefit of members successfully identifying high ability CEOs against the cost of inadequate monitoring due to social connections. Further, technologies like the Internet and electronic mail that reduce the extent of face-to-face networking cause agents to seek satisfaction of their social needs at the workplace, which exacerbates the impact of social networks on governance. The predictions of our model are consistent with recent episodes that appear to signify inadequate monitoring of corporate disclosures as well as with high levels of executive compensation. Additionally, empirical tests support the model's key implication that there is better governance and lower executive compensation in firms where networks are less likely to form. [source] Aroma volatiles of ,a la Piedra' TurrónFLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008Laura Vázquez-Araújo Abstract ,A la piedra' turrón is a typical Spanish confection prepared from toasted almonds, sugar, lemon peel and cinnamon; it is the simplest version of turrón. To date, no information has been available on aroma profiles of any type of turrón. The aroma profiles of ,a la piedra' turrón from two different manufacturing companies were studied. A total of 66 compounds were detected, including terpenes (21), terpenoids (16), aldehydes (8), pyrazines (5), furans (3), pyrroles (2), aromatic hydrocarbons (7) and others (4). The predominant volatile compounds were those originated from the lemon peel (,30%), the most characteristic and important ingredient of this food from a flavour point of view. However, descriptive sensory analysis proved that other attributes, such as toasted, nutty, cinnamon, sweet and aftertaste, were also of importance. The low levels of pyrazines (the chemical group most characteristic of toasted nuts) were probably related to a deficient and not optimized toasting process. Thus, further studies are needed to optimize the roasting conditions of almonds. Finally, this study proved that the flavour of this type of turrón was dominated by the lemon peel and cinnamon notes, and that low-toasted almonds were used in its manufacture. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Community effects of invasive macrophyte control: role of invasive plant abundance and habitat complexityJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Katya E. Kovalenko Summary 1. The control of invasive species has become a widespread management practice, yet information on the community effects of such efforts is very limited, there is no unified framework for monitoring their success and no guidelines exist to help minimize potential adverse impacts. 2. This study was conducted to determine how long-term efforts to control a widespread invasive macrophyte, Eurasian watermilfoil, affect native macrophytes, fish and macroinvertebrates. In addition, we examined how members of the aquatic fauna respond to changes in invasive macrophyte abundance and habitat complexity to understand the mechanisms underlying any potential community response. 3. Selective control of the invasive macrophyte had minor effects on habitat complexity due to timely recolonization by native macrophytes and it did not affect littoral fish richness and abundance. Macroinvertebrate communities were highly variable and some of that variation could be attributed to characteristics of the macrophyte community. Fish and macroinvertebrates were more affected by habitat complexity than by other attributes of the macrophyte assemblage. 4.Synthesis and applications. Management plans to control invasive species need to prioritize selective removal and timely restoration of the native assemblage. In this study, the invasive macrophyte was used by aquatic fauna, which emphasizes the need for immediate restoration of the native macrophyte community to mitigate for the lost habitat after invasive plant control efforts. As both fish and macroinvertebrates were more affected by complexity than other attributes of the macrophyte assemblage, re-establishment of habitat complexity appears to be a promising restoration strategy. On a more general note, we highlight the importance of assessing community response to the habitat provided by the invader and invader's function in the community when evaluating strategies to control invasive species. [source] Using support vector machines for prediction of protein structural classes based on discrete wavelet transformJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2009Jian-Ding Qiu Abstract The prediction of secondary structure is a fundamental and important component in the analytical study of protein structure and functions. How to improve the predictive accuracy of protein structural classification by effectively incorporating the sequence-order effects is an important and challenging problem. In this study, a new method, in which the support vector machine combines with discrete wavelet transform, is developed to predict the protein structural classes. Its performance is assessed by cross-validation tests. The predicted results show that the proposed approach can remarkably improve the success rates, and might become a useful tool for predicting the other attributes of proteins as well. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009 [source] Usefulness of the discrete choice methodology for marketing decision-making in new product development: an example from the European functional foods marketAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Athanasios Krystallis Understanding consumer needs should be a high-priority strategic objective in new product development (NPD). Despite their importance, however, NPD processes do not take full advantage of the consumer survey methodologies available. The authors investigate+ parents" preferences for three new functional children's snacks marketed in Greece. Using a very simple discrete choice experimental design, the authors aim (a) to provide an example of consumer research implementation in food-related NPD and to assess its marketing value, and (b) to evaluate the quality of the acquired consumer-related information for marketing decision-making in food consumer-led NPD processes against a number of criteria set in the relevant literature. "Functionality" is found to be a statistically significant attribute for all three children's snacks of the research design compared to other attributes such as flavor and price. Parents seem to perceive the functional snack alternative as offering greater utility as compared to its conventional (i.e., nonfunctional) counterpart. Overall, the authors conclude that, despite some inherent weaknesses, the advantage of the discrete choice methodology in connection with consumer-led food NPD lies in its ability to describe current consumer needs and desires realistically and to contribute to the optimization of existing products. [EconLit Classification: M310, C920, C930, D100]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Effects of Fat on Temporal Cooling by Menthol in LozengesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2001A-M.A. Allison ABSTRACT: Ingredients such as fat may suppress or enhance menthol cooling in a finished product. In this study, trained descriptive sensory panelists tested oral and nasal cooling, oral burn, and other attributes in lozenges with various concentrations of fat (0 to 5%) and menthol (0 to 0.4%). Increasing fat content reduced oral and nasal cooling and burn. Linear increases in menthol resulted in linear responses to nasal cooling and oral burn and nonlinear responses to oral cooling. Residual oral and nasal cooling and burn illustrated that the effect of fat became less important after the lozenge was expectorated. [source] A LEXICON FOR FLAVOR DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF GREEN TEAJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 3 2007JEEHYUN LEE ABSTRACT A lexicon for describing green tea was developed using descriptive analysis methods. A highly trained, descriptive sensory panel identified, defined and referenced 31 flavor attributes for green tea. One-hundred and thirty-eight green tea samples from nine countries , China, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania and Vietnam , were selected to represent a wide range of green teas. Attributes could be categorized as "Green" (asparagus, beany, Brussels sprout, celery, parsley, spinach, green beans, green herb-like); "Brown" (ashy/sooty, brown spice, burnt/scorched, nutty, tobacco); "Fruity/Floral" (fruity, floral/perfumy, citrus, fermented); "Mouthfeel" (astringent, tooth-etching); "Basic Tastes" (overall sweet, bitter); and other attributes (almond, animalic, grain, musty/new leather, mint, seaweed, straw-like). Some attributes, such as green, brown, bitter, astringent and tooth-etching, were found in most samples, but many attributes were found in only a few samples. Green tea processors, food industry, researchers and consumers will benefit from this lexicon with precise definitions and references that reliably differentiate and characterize the sensory attributes of green teas. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Green tea (and white tea) processors, food industrialists, researchers and consumers will benefit from this lexicon with precise definitions and references that reliably differentiate and characterize the sensory attributes of green tea. [source] Case studies in novel narial anatomy: 2.JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 4 2004The enigmatic nose of moose (Artiodactyla: Cervidae: Alces alces) Abstract The facial region of moose Alces alces is highly divergent relative to other cervids and other ruminants. In particular, the narial region forms an expanded muzzle or proboscis that overhangs the mouth. The nose of moose provides a case study in the evolution of narial novelty within a phylogenetically well-resolved group (Cervidae). The function of the nasal apparatus of moose remains enigmatic, and new hypotheses are proposed based on our anatomical findings. Head specimens of moose and outgroup taxa were subjected to medical imaging (CT scanning), vascular injection, gross anatomical dissection, gross sectioning, and skeletonization. Moose noses are characterized by highly enlarged nostrils accompanied by specialized musculature, expanded nasal cartilages, and an increase in the connective-tissue pad serving as the termination of the alar fold. The nostrils are widely separated, and the rhinarium that encircles both nostrils in outgroups is reduced to a tiny central patch in moose. The dorsal lateral nasal cartilage is modified to form a pulley mechanism associated with the levator muscle of the upper lip. The lateral accessory nasal cartilage is enlarged and serves as an attachment site for musculature controlling the aperture of the nostril, particularly the lateralis nasi, the apical dilatators, and the rectus nasi. Bony support for narial structures is reduced. Moose show greatly enlarged nasal cartilages, and the entire osseocartilaginous apparatus is relatively much larger than in outgroups. The nasal vestibule of moose is very large and houses a system of three recesses: one rostral and one caudal to the nostrils, and one associated with the enlarged fibrofatty alar fold. As a result of the expanded nasal vestibule, osseous support for the nasal conchae (i.e. turbinates) has retracted caudally along with the bony nasal aperture. The nasoturbinate and its mucosal counterparts (dorsal nasal concha and rectal fold) are reduced. The upturned maxilloturbinate, however, is associated with an enlarged ventral nasal concha and alar fold. Moose are the only species of cervid with these particular characteristics, indicating that this anatomical configuration is indeed novel. Although functional hypotheses await testing, our anatomical findings and published behavioural observations suggest that the novel narial apparatus of moose probably has less to do with respiratory physiology than with functions pertaining specifically to the nostrils. The widely separated and laterally facing nostrils may enhance stereolfaction (i.e. extracting directional cues from gradients of odorant molecules in the environment), but other attributes of narial architecture (enlarged cartilages, specialized musculature, recesses, fibrofatty pads) suggest that this function may not have been the evolutionary driving force. Rather, these attributes suggest a mechanical function, namely, an elaborated nostril-closing system. [source] Analysis of consumers' preferences and behavior with regard to horse meat using a structured survey questionnaireANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Woon Yong OH ABSTRACT In this study, a structured survey questionnaire was used to determine consumers' preferences and behavior with regard to horse meat at a horse meat restaurant located in Jeju, Korea, from October 1 to December 24, 2005. The questionnaire employed in this study consisted of 20 questions designed to characterize six general attributes: horse meat sensory property, physical appearance, health condition, origin, price, and other attributes. Of the 1370 questionnaires distributed, 1126 completed questionnaires were retained based on the completeness of the answers, representing an 82.2% response rate. Two issues were investigated that might facilitate the search for ways to improve horse meat production and marketing programs in Korea. The first step was to determine certain important factors, called principal components, which enabled the researchers to understand the needs of horse meat consumers via principal component analysis. The second step was to define consumer segments with regard to their preferences for horse meat, which was accomplished via cluster analysis. The results of the current study showed that health condition, price, origin, and leanness were the most critical physical attributes affecting the preferences of horse meat consumers. Four segments of consumers, with different demands for horse meat attributes, were identified: origin-sensitive consumers, price-sensitive consumers, quality and safety-sensitive consumers, and non-specific consumers. Significant differences existed among segments of consumers in terms of age, nature of work, frequency of consumption, and general level of acceptability of horse meat. [source] Separation Anxiety in Parents of Adolescents: Theoretical Significance and Scale DevelopmentCHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2001Ellen Hock Parents of adolescents commonly face separation-related issues associated with children's increasing independence and imminent leave-taking. The aims of this investigation were (1) to develop a reliable and valid measure of parental emotions associated with separation and (2) to validate the measure by relating it to other attributes (attachment relationship quality, parent , child communication, and parent , adolescent differentiation) assessed in mothers, fathers, and their adolescents. The newly constructed, 35-item Parents of Adolescents Separation Anxiety Scale (PASAS) was administered to 686 parents of teenagers in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 or college-bound freshmen and seniors. Factor analyses supported formation of two subscales: Anxiety about Adolescent Distancing (AAD) and Comfort with Secure Base Role (CSBR); both subscales showed distinctive patterns of change with child age. Parents' reports indicated that healthy adult attachment styles were associated with lower AAD and higher CSBR scores; children of parents who had higher AAD scores reported lower quality of attachment to both mothers and fathers. [source] | ||||||||||||||||