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Kinds of Physical Terms modified by Physical Selected AbstractsA study of the criteria used by healthcare professionals, managers and patients to represent and evaluate quality careJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001M. Attree msc, bnurs Aim,To explore the perceptions of and criteria used by healthcare professionals, managers, patients and relatives to represent and evaluate their concept of quality care. Methods A qualitative approach using grounded theory was adopted in thisexploratory descriptive study. Data collected by semi-structured interviews from a purposive sample of nurses, doctors, managers (n = 36), patients (n = 34) and relatives (n = 7) from one acute medical ward, were subjected to content, question and thematic analysis, using an inductive categorizing scheme. Findings Three categories of criteria relating to Care Resources, Processes and Outcomes were identified by healthcare professionals, managers, patients and relatives. Resource criteria included Human Resources: staff numbers, ratio to patients, skill mix; as well as Environmental/Physical and Financial Resources. Process criteria included Care Functions, Practices and Standards as well as Interpersonal Processes. Outcome criteria were either patient-focused: feeling comfort, happy, informed and satisfied; or health-related: maintenance or progress with health problems and goals. Conclusions The criteria used by healthcare stakeholders in this study were notunusual; virtually all were supported by the literature, a proportion of which was evidence-based. The criteria identified in this study are however consensual, agreed upon by healthcare professionals, managers, patients and relatives as representing their view of quality care. These consensual criteria could be used as unifying constructs for the development and testing of more comprehensive, reliable and valid methods of evaluating quality care which represent its multiple dimensions and perspectives. [source] PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND RESUSCITATION PREFERENCES OF AGED PATIENTSJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 1 2005Marja-Liisa Laakkonen MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, and THERMAL CHARACTERIZATION of WHEAT FLOUR MILLING COPRODUCTS,,JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2003Y.S. KIM ABSTRACT Hard red winter (HRW) and hard red spring (HRS) wheat milling coproducts (bran, germ, shorts, and red dog) from three commercial flour mills and the Kansas State University pilot mill were evaluated for differences in physical, chemical, and thermal properties. the ranges of bulk density for bran, germ, and red dog determined at three moisture levels were 146.5 to 205.2 kgm,3, 269.2 to 400.6 kgm,3, and 298.9 to 398.1 kgm,3, respectively. the true density ranking order was: red dog >shorts = germ >bran, independently of the moisture level. Red dog had the smallest geometrical mean diameter with the highest variation (coefficient of variation of 23.8%). There was a significant (P < 0.05) difference among wheat blends and milling flows in the thickness of bran and germ at the same particle separation size. the image analysis study determined that the equivalent projected area diameter of bran at the same separation size was significantly (P < 0.05) larger than that of germ. the ratio between the equivalent projected area diameter and the particle thickness were within ranges of 15.7 to 37.6 for bran and 15.5 to 32.2 for germ particles. the chemical composition (ash, protein, lipids and fiber) ranges were determined for each coproduct. Ranges of thermal conductivity for bran, germ, shorts, and red dog were 0.049 to 0.074, 0.054 to 0.0907, 0.057 to 0.076, and 0.063 to 0.080 W(mK),1, respectively. Specific heat of coproducts, measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, exhibited a wider range [1.08,1.94 kJ(kgK),1] than that observed in whole wheat kernels and wheat flour. the variability observed among the samples was due to the different wheat sources and characteristic milling flows for the flour mills. [source] ANTIMICROBIAL, PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN-BASED FILMS INCORPORATED WITH THYME, CLOVE AND CINNAMON ESSENTIAL OILSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 6 2009M.H. HOSSEINI ABSTRACT Chitosan-based films containing thyme, clove and cinnamon essential oils at 0.5, 1 and 1.5% v/v were prepared to examine their antibacterial, physical and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out to explain structure,property relationships. Films containing thyme essential oil revealed larger inhibition zones than those containing clove and cinnamon essential oils against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested. Films were more effective against gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative. Incorporating thyme and clove essential oils into chitosan-based films increased moisture content (from 17.80,28.38%), solubility in water (25.97,30.62%), water vapor transmission rate (0.00233,0.00571 g/s/m2) and elongation at break (25.31,42.70%) of films. Cinnamon-enriched films had opposite changes such as increase in tensile strength (from 12.2,21.35 MPa) and decrease in moisture content (17.80,9.36%) and solubility in water (25.9,14.21%) of films. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Microbial growth on food surfaces is a major cause of food spoilage. Combining antimicrobial agents such as plant essential oils directly into a food packaging polymer is a form of active packaging. These films possess the potential for improving microbial stability of foods by acting on the food surface upon contact. Because of the effect of direct addition of plant essential oils to food on sensory characteristics of packaged food, incorporation of essential oils into films may have additional applications in food packaging. [source] EFFECTS OF COOKING AND DRYING PROCESSES ON PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF LEGUME BASED BULGURJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 5 2009NERMIN BILGIÇLI ABSTRACT The changes in physical, chemical and sensory properties of common bean (CB) and chickpea (CP) bulgur prepared with different cooking (atmospheric, pressure and microwave) and drying (oven at 60, 70 and 80C; microwave at 350 and 700 W) processes were investigated. Neither the cooking methods nor the drying methods significantly affected the ash and protein contents of CB and CP bulgur. Pressure cooking gave lower phytate phosphorus and higher bulgur yield and volume increase values when compared to the other cooking methods. Average bulgur yields were found as 82% for CB and 84% for CP. Cooking processes decreased the phytic acid content of the bulgurs between 25.2 and 39.5% according to raw legume. Ca, K, Mg, P, Zn, Cu and Fe contents of the bulgurs decreased in variable degrees (8.69,28.5%) when compared to raw materials. Pressure cooked and oven (80C) dried bulgur samples in the case of bulgur pilaf were appreciated by the panelists in terms of overall acceptability. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Bulgur is a valuable cereal product with its high nutritional value and long shelf life. In this research, bulgur process was applied successfully on common bean and chickpea, and new legume-based bulgur products improved. The bulgur yield (BY) of the legumes was above 80%. Pressure cooking increased the nutritional, sensory and technological quality of the legume bulgurs. [source] PEELING AND THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF KIWI FRUITJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 4 2003METIN GULDAS Hand peeling of kiwi fruit has some disadvantages such as difficulty during peeling, increase of loss in weight and nutritional value. Peeling of kiwi fruits with alkali (NaOH) was investigated. Some chemical (acidity, pectin, and chlorophyll) and physical properties (Hunter color value and weight loss) of the fruits were determined after selected alkali peeling methods were used. Peeling methods at 80, 90 or 100C temperatures; in 13, 18 or 23% of NaOH solutions and for 3, 4 or 5 min durations were tested and compared with hand peeling. Weight (fruit tissue) loss in hand peeling was higher than alkali peeling. Peeling with alkali was easier. Nutritional value (ascorbic acid content) of alkali peeled fruits was higher than hand peeled kiwi fruit. Because of less weight loss, better green color and high pectin content the method including 15% of NaOH solution at 95C for 4 min was selected as most advantageous peeling method. [source] PHYSICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES IN POTATO AS INFLUENCED BY ERWINIA CAROTOVORA INFECTIONJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 5 2002F. NOURIAN Bacterial soft rot, caused by Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora (Ecc), is a major disease in stored potatoes. The pathogen causes different physical, physiological and chemical changes in potatoes, which may affect the acceptability of raw and processed products. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of disease severity on different physico-chemical and physiological properties of raw and cooked potatoes and to select the parameters most responsive to disease severity. Potatoes were inoculated with bacteria and incubated at 20C for different lengths of time to produce different levels of disease. As incubation time increased the volume of disease (VDS) increased, which in turn influenced the respiration rate (RR). In both raw and cooked potatoes, the physical changes (texture and color) associated with the progress of disease were reduced hardness, firmness and L value, and increased a and b values and total color difference (,E). The chemical changes were reduced ascorbic acid and pH, and increased reducing sugars, total sugars and titrable acidity along with the activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. The changes in physical and chemical parameters of raw and cooked potatoes during storage were described by fractional conversion equation models. All parameters were quite sensitive to disease except reducing sugars, peroxidase and PPO activity. The correlation matrix indicated that several of the quality parameters were related and thus most of them could be successfully used to predict tuber quality from disease. [source] PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON PHYSICAL AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITIES OF SOME INDIGENOUS AND IMPORTANT RICE CULTIVARS OF NORTH-EASTERN HILL REGION OF INDIAJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 6 2008TH. PREMILA DEVI ABSTRACT The northeastern hills of India are endowed with rich source of rice germplasm, which may be safely estimated about 9,000 accessions, excluding the redundancies. Even though much of the germplasm have been collected, studies on nutritional aspects of these local cultivars are still lacking. Fifteen important indigenous rice genotypes collected from different rice growing ecosystem of this region were studied for physical and nutritional qualities. Kernel color of the genotypes varied from white to dark purple. All the genotypes except Manipuri were of bold-grain type. Most of the genotypes studied have fat contents more than 2.0%. The protein content was found higher in Chahou angouba and Naga special. Five cultivars were identified as high-protein cultivars of rice, with 10,12.07% protein content. Amylose content varied from 2.27 to 24.5%. Most of long-grained genotypes recorded lesser amylose than short grained. Chahou varieties were found aromatic and glutinous, which demand higher market prices in local market. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The north-eastern hills of India are endowed with rich source of rice germplasm, and much of the germplasm have been collected, but studies on basic and advanced nutritional aspects of these local cultivars are still lacking. This part of India has valuable rice genotypes of strong aroma, glutinous characters and slender grains with high amount of protein, fat and fiber. Having not known to the rest of the world and even to indigenous end users, some of such cultivars have already been lost, and some more are at the verge of extinction. Quality evaluation done in the present study provided useful information on their commercial exploitation and utilization in breeding programs of nutritional enhancement of rice to fight malnutrition among rice-consuming population, which is largest in the world. [source] PHYSICAL AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF MEATSTICK PRODUCTS AS AFFECTED BY FORMULATION AND DRYING: SENSORY-INSTRUMENTAL RELATIONSHIPSJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 6 2002ANN BARRETT Shelf-stable meats are of interest to industry and are important in military ration development. Stability is commonly achieved through control of pH and water activity. However, reduction in moisture as a means to lower aw can significantly affect texture. Other ingredients, such as fat, can also potentially affect texture and possibly mitigate hardening due to lowered moisture. Meatsticks dried to three water activities, 0.88, 0.90, and 0.92, each from batters at three fat levels, 14, 17, and 21%, were produced, yielding products varying in both moisture and fat content. Products were subjected to mechanical and sensory testing and image and color analysis. Meatstick modulus, shear force, L* value, and percent of area of cut surfaces covered by separated fat were correlated with sensory assessments of interior hardness, hardness with skin, color, and visual fat, respectively. These parameters were significantly influenced by composition, particularly fat and protein contents and fat-protein interaction. [source] PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND SENSORY QUALITY OF MICROWAVE-BLANCHED SNOW PEASJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 6 2001S. BEGUM ABSTRACT Snow peas were blanched using four methods [conventional boiling water (BW); steam (ST); microwave (MW); and microwave blanched in heat sealable bags (MWB)], then held frozen at (,18C) for four weeks. Immediately after blanching, MWB-blanched snow peas retained more reduced ascorbic acid (RAA; 72%), than other treatments. Blanching treatment had no effect on lightness [L* value). With the exception of BW-blanched peas, blanching significantly altered color. After frozen storage, MWB- and MW-blanched samples both contained about 26 mg/100 g RAA, significantly more RAA than other treatments. MWB-blanched peas generally had as high or higher sensory appearance, aroma, flavor, texture and general acceptability scores than other treatments. These results imply that blanching snow peas in a heat-sealable microwave bag, prior to frozen storage, produces a product of equivalent sensory quality and superior nutritional quality compared with more conventional blanching methods. [source] NUTRITIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS CHOCOLATE-FLAVORED PEANUT,SOY BEVERAGE FORMULATIONSJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 2 2005R.P. DESHPANDE ABSTRACT Mixture design and pilot-plant scale processing protocol were developed to obtain the best chocolate-flavored peanut,soy beverage formulation. Twenty-eight formulations were evaluated for nutritional (lysine content), physical (viscosity [,], visual stability index [VSI]) and nine sensory (consumer liking) attributes. Lysine contents (mg/g protein) (44.1,57.1) were close to the reference (51.0) and in the desirable range observed for other peanut-based beverages. Higher viscosity indicated lower consumer liking, but lower viscosity resulted in lower VSI. Formulation ,8 having 43.9% peanut, 36.3% soy protein isolate (SPI) and 19.8% chocolate syrup had the highest consumer liking and the best balance of physical properties (, = 41.5 mPa·s; VSI = 0.99). As compared to commercial chocolate milk (6 = slightly like to 7 = moderately like), it was rated higher for appearance (7.0), color (6.8) and sweetness (6.4). Two SPI formulations (,6 and ,7) and a soy flour formulation (,14) were rated highest for aroma (6.2), color (7.0) and flavor (6.0), respectively. [source] PHYSICAL, SENSORY AND FLOW PROPERTIES OF WHEAT STARCH,DAIRY BY-PRODUCT SPRAY-DRIED PEKMEZ MIXTURESJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 2 2008DURMU ABSTRACT Pekmez, also known as a concentrated grape juice, was spray dried in a laboratory-type pilot drying unit to obtain pekmez powder (PP). The flow characteristics of PP, wheat starch (WS) and some dairy by-products (whey powder, skim milk powder, calcium caseinate and sodium caseinate) systems as binary and ternary mixtures were studied. The empirical power law model fitted the apparent viscosity,rotational speed data. PP,dairy by-product and WS,dairy by-product mixed solutions exhibited a shear-thinning behavior at 21C with flow behavior index (n) values of 0.86 , n , 0.92 and 0.06 , n , 0.27, respectively. WS,dairy by-product mixed solutions showed high shear-thinning behavior with the highest consistency index (k = 25,425,180,599 mPa·sn). However, PP,WS and PP,WS,dairy by-product mixed solutions at the same temperature exhibited the shear-thickening behavior with flow behavior index (n) values of 1.05 , n , 1.18. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Pekmez has become popular as a healthy food product; therefore, its rheologic properties were extensively studied by some researchers. However, pekmez powder (PP) is a new product and has not been produced yet in the food industry. Spray drying of foods has been spread recently in almost all food industry branches because it provides some advantages such as extending the shelf life, storage stability, decreasing the storage costs of the food products, etc. For this reason, production technology is first developed; PP is produced and studied in this study. There is no published data informing the rheologic, physical and sensory properties of pekmez or PP as binary and ternary mixtures with other components such as wheat starch (WS) and any dairy by-product. The purpose of this study was mainly to characterize the rheologic behavior of the PP,WS,dairy by-product mixed solutions and determine their physical and sensory properties. [source] PHYSICAL, SENSORY AND CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF COOKED SPAGHETTIJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 6 2007CRISTINA S. MARTINEZ ABSTRACT The objectives of this research were to estimate the ability of chemical analysis, cooking properties, sensory evaluation and instrumental texture assays as descriptive quality parameters, and to evaluate the association between sensory and instrumental measurements on commercial pasta samples. Five commercial samples, Com1 to Com5, were analyzed. Moisture, protein and ash contents were determined from raw materials, while cooking loss, water absorption and leached amylose were measured in cooked samples. Color parameters (L*, a* and b*) were determined spectrophotometrically and color scores were calculated from raw and cooked samples. Three instrumental texture assays by a texture analyzer (TA-xT2i) and seven sensory parameters were evaluated. Chemical analysis, cooking properties, sensory evaluation and texture measurement were found to be sensitive quality parameters. From the analysis of the results, Com1 showed the best quality. A significant relationship between the sensory and instrumental measurements according to Pearson correlation and the principal component analysis was also observed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In this work, the quality of different commercial pastas was assessed by means of chemical analysis, cooking properties, sensory evaluation and instrumental texture. The goal of this study was to identify the most important determinations related to pasta quality, and it allowed the establishment of the relationship between the sensory properties and texture measurements. [source] MULTISCALE INFLUENCES ON PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL STREAM CONDITIONS ACROSS BLUE RIDGE LANDSCAPES,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 5 2002Mark C. Scott ABSTRACT: Streams integrate biogeochemical processes operating at broad to local spatial scales and long term to short term time scales. Humans have extensively altered those processes in North America, with serious consequences for aquatic ecosystems. We collected data on Upper Tennessee River tributaries in North Carolina to: (1) compare landuse and landscape geomorphology with respect to their ability to explain variation in water quality, sedimentation measures, and large woody debris; (2) determine if landscape change over time contributed significantly to explaining present stream conditions; and (3) assess the importance of spatial scale in examining landuse influences on streams. Stream variables were related to both landuse and landscape geomorphology. Forest cover accounted for the most variation in nearly all models, supporting predictions of nutrient enrichment, thermal pollution, and sedimentation caused by landscape disturbance. Legacy effects from past catchment disturbance were apparent in sedimentation measures. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, as well as stream temperature, were lower where riparian buffers had reforested. Models of stream physicochemistry fit better when predictors were catchment wide rather than more localized (i.e., within 2 km of a site). Cumulative impacts to streams due to changes in landuse must be managed from a watershed perspective with quantitative models that integrate across scales. [source] PHYSICAL AND METAPHYSICAL NECESSITYPACIFIC PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2007STEPHEN LEEDS One result of this reconceptualization is that the Descartes-Kripke argument against naturalism need no longer trouble us. I end by relating the difference between my view and the standard view to the question, whether there could have been a different world than ours. [source] Immersive Integration of Physical and Virtual EnvironmentsCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2004Henry Fuchs We envision future work and play environments in which the user's computing interface is more closely integrated with the physical surroundings than today's conventional computer display screens and keyboards. We are working toward realizable versions of such environments, in which multiple video projectors and digital cameras enable every visible surface to be both measured in 3D and used for display. If the 3D surface positions were transmitted to a distant location, they may also enable distant collaborations to become more like working in adjacent offices connected by large windows. With collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Advanced Network and Services, and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, we at Chapel Hill have been working to bring these ideas to reality. In one system, depth maps are calculated from streams of video images and the resulting 3D surface points are displayed to the user in head-tracked stereo. Among the applications we are pursuing for this tele-presence technology, is advanced training for trauma surgeons by immersive replay of recorded procedures. Other applications display onto physical objects, to allow more natural interaction with them "painting" a dollhouse, for example. More generally, we hope to demonstrate that the principal interface of a future computing environment need not be limited to a screen the size of one or two sheets of paper. Just as a useful physical environment is all around us, so too can the increasingly ubiquitous computing environment be all around us -integrated seamlessly with our physical surroundings. [source] Subjective quality of life aspects predict depressive symptoms over time: results from a three-wave longitudinal studyACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009C. Kuehner Objective:, Little is known about predictive effects of quality of life aspects on the course of depressive symptoms in clinical and non-clinical settings. This study examines longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and subjective quality of life (QOL) dimensions using a parallel sample of depressed patients and community controls. Method:, Eighty-two depressed patients were investigated 1, 6, and 42 months after hospital discharge together with 76 community controls regarding depressive symptoms measured by Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and QOL (WHOQOL-BREF). Data analysis included time-lagged linear models. Results:, Physical, psychological, environmental and overall QOL, controlled for depressive symptoms, predicted future depression levels. Group status did not moderate these associations. Depressive symptoms predicted future QOL levels only regarding social relations. Conclusion:, Our study suggests that subjective QOL domains have prognostic value for the course of depressive symptoms over time, both in patient and community samples. Respective self-perceptions should therefore be directly addressed by therapeutic and preventive interventions. [source] Victimization: a newly recognized outcome of prematurityDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2004Line Nadeau PhD Victimization by peers affects 10 to 20% of school children under the age of 12 years. Physical, verbal, and psychological victimization (being pushed, hit, called names, teased, being the target of rumours, theft, extortion) is associated with short- and long-term adjustment problems, such as peer rejection, social withdrawal, low self-esteem, anxiety, loneliness, and depression, as well as academic problems and school drop-out. Research on populations of school children (primary and secondary) has associated victimization with personal risk factors (the victim's characteristics and behaviour) and interpersonal risk factors (social relationships between peers). Studies on the social adjustment of preterm children at school age show that, even in the absence of a major motor or cognitive disability, this population has several personal risk factors associated with victimization. The objective of this study was to compare the level of victimization experienced by a group of 96 seven-year-old children born extremely preterm (EP, <29 weeks of gestation; 49 females) against that experienced by a group of 63 term children (34 females) matched for age and sex, maternal level of education, and family socioeconomic status. The children born EP had a mean gestational age of 27.3 weeks (SD 1.2) and a mean birthweight of 1001.1g (SD 223) and normal birth weight children had a mean gestational age of 39.5 weeks (SD 1.5) and a mean birthweight of 3468.7g (SD 431). Physical and verbal victimization were assessed in a school setting by peers with individual sociometric interviews (Modified Peer Nomination Inventory). After controlling for physical growth (height and weight) at the age of 7 years, the data indicate two independent effects: males were more victimized than females, and children born preterm experienced more verbal victimization by their peers than their term classmates, even when participants with a visible motor, intellectual, or sensory disability were excluded. Several hypotheses are presented to account for the higher incidence of verbal victimization of preterm children. [source] Injecting and non-injecting cocaine use in Sydney, Australia: physical and psychological morbidityDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2004SHARLENE KAYE Abstract This study aimed to examine the physical and psychological harms of cocaine use and investigate the role of injecting versus non-injecting routes of administration in the severity of such harms. Two hundred and twelve cocaine users from inner-city and southwestern Sydney were administered a structured interview containing sections on demographics, drug treatment history, drug use history, cocaine use patterns, cocaine dependence and physical and psychological problems associated with cocaine use. Serious physical and psychological symptoms were prevalent among both injecting and non-injecting cocaine users. The prevalence and extent of symptoms was greater among injecting cocaine users, however route of administration did not prove to be a significant independent predictor of harm when other factors, such as frequency of use and level of dependence, were taken into account. While the level of physical and psychological harm was greater among cocaine injectors, it would appear that factors engendered by injecting, such as more frequent use and higher levels of dependence, result in higher levels of harm, rather than the route of administration per se. Physical and psychological problems were also reported among infrequent users, suggesting that cocaine can cause harm irrespective of frequency or method of use. Harm reduction initiatives should be targeted towards all cocaine users, not just those who seek treatment for dependence or present with acute medical complications. [source] Physical and chemical cues influencing the oviposition behaviour of Aphidius erviENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 3 2000Donatella Battaglia Abstract The oviposition behaviour of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday is influenced by both chemical and physical cues. Oviposition attack responses were elicited by paint pigments sealed into the tip of a glass capillary tube. Parasitoids reacted to yellow pigments with repeated oviposition attack responses, but they did not react to green pigments. The spectrum of reflected light from the yellow pigments was very similar to that from the ,green' natural host Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), with a high proportion of the total radiation energy being emitted in the yellow-orange wavebands (580,660 nm). Pea aphid cornicle secretion also elicited oviposition attack responses, which were not exclusively induced by its pale yellow-green colour. In fact, the oviposition attack response to capillary tips coated with cornicle secretion remained evident under red light conditions, which, in contrast, nearly completely suppressed the response to yellow pigments. Chemical compounds from cornicle secretion do not appear to be involved in parasitoid orientation, even though they stimulate intense oviposition attack responses. Olfactometer experiments showed that the putative kairomone involved acts only at very short range or on contact. Host exuviae, which also elicited strong and persistent oviposition reactions from A. ervi females, appear to be a good alternative source of ovipositional kairomone(s). This work confirms the existence of an aphid cuticular kairomone. [source] Plasma sex steroid concentrations and gonadal aromatase activities in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) from South AfricaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2004Markus Hecker Abstract Adult African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) were collected from a corn-growing region (CGR) and a non-corn-growing region (NCGR) with different exposure profiles for atrazine and related triazines. Physical, chemical, and biological parameters from the catchment areas were also measured. Frogs were surveyed for possible effects of exposure to triazine herbicides on plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) titers, gonadal aromatase activity, and gonad growth (GSI). Concentrations of both T and E2 varied among locations and were correlated to some accessory factors, such as pH, several ions, and metals. Greatest median plasma T concentrations (males: 19 ng/ml; females: 16 ng/ml) occurred in frogs inhabiting NCGR as compared to those from the CGR (males: 4 ng/ml; females: 1 ng/ml). Median E2 concentrations were also greater in frogs collected from the NCGR (males: 3 ng/ml; females: 28 ng/ml) than those in frogs from the CGR (males: 2 ng/ml; females: 5 ng/ml). Because some exposure to agricultural chemicals at both regions occurred, as did simultaneous exposures to multiple chemicals, a regression analysis was employed. Negative correlations were observed between plasma T concentrations and concentrations of atrazine, deisopropylatrazine, deethylatrazine, and tertbuthylazine in females and between T and diaminochlorotriazine in males. Estradiol in females exhibited a significant negative correlation with atrazine and deethylatrazine. No correlations were observed between gonadal aromatase activity or GSI and any of the agricultural chemicals measured. Median aromatase activities in ovaries varied among sampling sites ranging from 7 to >3,000 times greater than those in males when measurable. Testicular aromatase activity was below the detection limit of the assay in male frogs at most of the sites. Although exposure to agricultural inputs did not affect aromatase activities, effects of atrazine or coapplied pesticides on sex steroid homeostasis cannot be excluded at this point. [source] Depression and Altered Quality of Life in Women with Epilepsy of Childbearing AgeEPILEPSIA, Issue 1 2004Ettore Beghi Summary: Purpose: To calculate the prevalence of depression in a referral population of women of childbearing age, to define the factors associated with depression, and to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the same population. Methods: The 642 consecutive women with epilepsy aged 18,55 years were enrolled by 40 neurologists over an 8-month period and asked to give details on selected demographic and clinical features regarding the disease, any associated clinical condition, and any drug treatment. Depression was diagnosed by using the Hamilton depression scale and HRQOL was measured through the SF-36 form. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic risk factors for depression were searched for within the study population. Results: Depression (any severity) was present at interview in 242 women, giving a prevalence rate of 37.7%[95% confidence interval (CI), 33.9,41.6]. Mild depression was reported by 18.5% of women, moderate depression by 8.6%, major depression by 10.3%, and severe depression by 0.3%. Factors found to be independently associated with depression (any severity) included treatment of associated conditions [relative risk (RR), 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2,1.8), concurrent disability (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0,1.6), seizures in the preceding 6 months (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1,1.7), and being unemployed or a housewife (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0,1.5). Factors associated with moderate to severe depression included treatment for associated conditions (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4,2.7), seizures in the preceding 6 months (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2,2.5), and being unemployed or a housewife (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1,2.2). Compared with normal women of similar age, patients with epilepsy tended to present lower scores for each HRQOL domain (mostly Role Physical, General Health, Social Functioning, and Role Emotional). However, when the analysis was limited to nondepressed women with epilepsy, any difference disappeared. Conclusions: Women with epilepsy of childbearing age are at high risk of depression. Factors associated with depression include lack of occupation, the presence of an underlying disabling condition (with treatment), and the severity of epilepsy. Compared with the general population, depressed women have greater impairment of HRQOL with epilepsy, which reflects the physical, social, and emotional implications of the disease. [source] Endothelial markers in chronic heart failure: training normalizes exercise-induced vWF releaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 9 2004L. W. E. Sabelis Abstract Background, Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterized by endothelial dysfunction. Vascular endothelium is important for control of haemostasis and vasoregulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate plasma levels of several endothelial markers and the exercise-induced changes on these plasma levels in CHF patients. Subsequently, the effect of a 6-month training programme on these markers is described. Materials and methods, Twenty-nine male CHF patients (NYHA II/III, age 60 ± 8 year, body mass index 26·7 ± 2·3 kg m,2, left ventricular ejection fraction 26·3,7·2%; mean ± SD) participated. Patients were randomly assigned to a training or control group. Training (26 weeks; combined strength and endurance exercises) was four sessions/week: two sessions supervised and two sessions at home. Before and after intervention, anthropometry, endothelial markers (haemostasis and vasoregulation), maximal workload and peak oxygen uptake were assessed. Results, Physical training positively affected maximal workload. Plasma levels of endothelial markers were not affected by physical training and not related to exercise tolerance. After training, stimulated (maximal exercise) plasma von Willebrand Factor (vWF) release was present, whereas at baseline this release was absent. Conclusion, Physical training led to normalization of the stimulated plasma vWF release. Plasma levels of other endothelial markers were not affected by physical training either at rest or under stimulated (maximal exercise) conditions. [source] Cerebellar tumour presenting with pathological laughter and gelastic syncopeEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2007G. Famularo There is no report of patients in whom pathological laughter, a rare condition characterized by uncontrollable episodes of laughter usually triggered by unrelated stimuli, was ever closely associated with a loss of consciousness overtly linked with the onset of such uncontrollable laughter, also referred to as a gelastic syncope. A 53-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of syncope following intense and uncoordinated laughter. Physical and neurological examination was normal and the patient had no other typical cerebellar signs. We found a mass in the cerebellar vermis abutting the floor of the fourth ventricle, which upon histological examination after surgery proved to be an ependymoma. We emphasize that pathological laughter and gelastic syncope could represent unique and sole features of a cerebellar disorder. [source] Physical and Numerical Simulation of Cold Rolling of an AlFeSi Alloy in Consideration of Static Recovery,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 3 2010Christoph Heering The influence of static recovery on the yield stress of AA8079 was investigated in lab-scale cold rolling experiments. The yield stress of AA8079 in the cold rolling process is affected by static recovery, but the softening caused by static recovery is completely compensated in the subsequent cold rolling pass. Thus, the effect of static recovery on the yield stress of the final product is of minor importance. For the TPM, the kinetics of static recovery of the AlFeSi alloy AA8079 were determined for different temperatures and strain rates. The measured softening kinetics were then implemented in the physically based flow stress model 3IVM+. This flow stress model was extended with an empirical approach for static recovery to enable the through-process modeling of cold-rolled aluminum in consideration of static recovery. Future work will focus on physically based modeling of static recovery without using empirical approaches. [source] Physical and Biological Properties of a Novel Hydrogel Composite Based on Oxidized Alginate, Gelatin and Tricalcium Phosphate for Bone Tissue Engineering,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 12 2007K. Cai A novel hydrogel composite is reported in this study, which was derived from oxidized alginate, gelatin and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). The physical and biological properties of these hydrogel composites prepared with oxidized sodium alginate with different oxidation degrees were investigated. The drug delivery potential of this hydrogel composite as a carrier was evaluated by using Vitamin B2 as a model drug as well. An in vitro investigation with encapsulation of osteoblast revealed that these composites were biocompatible. This hydrogel composite presented here may be utilized for the fabrication of potential injectable systems for tissue engineering, drug delivery and other medical applications. [source] The influence of pelagic habitat selection and interspecific competition on productivity of juvenile walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) in the Gulf of AlaskaFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2010ELIZABETH A. LOGERWELL Abstract Here we investigate processes affecting productivity of capelin and walleye pollock in the Gulf of Alaska. We examine pelagic habitat selection by comparing the distribution of juvenile fish and their prey with oceanographic properties and we evaluate the potential for interspecific competition by comparing diets and measures of foraging. The primary field study was conducted in Barnabus Trough, Kodiak Island, Alaska, during September 2005. The distribution of fish was assessed acoustically and trawls were used to collect individual fish for stomach content analyses. Physical and biological data were collected with conductivity,temperature,depth probes and zooplankton tows. Age-0 pollock were distributed in cool waters offshore of a mid-trough front, coincident with the distribution of euphausiids, their preferred prey. In contrast, capelin and their prey (copepods) were distributed throughout the trough. We observed that sympatric capelin (occurring with pollock) often had reduced foraging success compared to allopatric capelin (occurring alone). Results of a bioenergetic model also suggest that the exclusion of capelin from foraging on euphausiids can have negative consequences for capelin growth. [source] Phytoplankton communities and antecedent conditions: high resolution sampling in Esthwaite WaterFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2006G. MADGWICK Summary 1. The succession of a phytoplankton community was investigated through an intensive period of sampling and related to physical, chemical and biological conditions sampled at an equal, or higher, temporal resolution. 2. Phytoplankton samples were taken on a weekly basis from June to September 2004 and analysed for diversity, species composition, and contribution of different functional groups to total biomass. Physical and chemical data were collected on the sampling days, and physical environmental factors were also logged continuously throughout the period by automatic measuring stations. This continuous logging allowed community structure to be compared with physical data averaged over periods from a day to a week before each sampling date. 3. The Schmidt stability of the lake, a measure of the strength of stratification calculated from thermal data, showed a negative correlation with phytoplankton species diversity. This is consistent with the hypothesis that mixing was preventing exclusion by species that would otherwise dominate in stratified conditions. 4. At a functional level, stress tolerant (S-type) species dominated during the stratified summer conditions, with small, colonising species (C types) and ruderal, disturbance tolerant species (R types) contributing little to the overall biomass. Of the stress tolerant species, the faster growing (SC) phytoplankters were significantly favoured by more stable, stratified conditions and higher solar radiation. Increased abundance of this group resulted in decreased species diversity. Correlations were generally strongest when using the 6- to 7-day averaged physical data, stressing the importance of continuous measurements of these drivers in phytoplankton studies. [source] Physical and functional interaction between mortalin and Mps1 kinaseGENES TO CELLS, Issue 6 2007Masayuki Kanai Mortalin is a member of Hsp70 chaperoning protein family involved in various cellular functions. Through the search of the kinases that mortalin physically interact with, we identified Mps1 as such a kinase. Mps1 kinase has been implicated in the regulation of centrosome duplication and mitotic checkpoint response. Mortalin binds to Mps1, and is phosphorylated by Mps1 on Thr62 and Ser65. The phosphorylated mortalin then super-activates Mps1 in a feedback manner. Mortalin has been previously shown to localize to centrosomes, and to be involved in the regulation of centrosome duplication. We found that centrosomal localization of mortalin depends on the presence of Mps1. Moreover, Mps1-associated acceleration of centrosome duplication depends on the presence of mortalin and super-activation by the Thr62/Ser65 phosphorylated mortalin. [source] Geoarchaeological study of the Phoenician cemetery of Tyre-Al Bass (Lebanon) and geomorphological evolution of a tomboloGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008Pilar Carmona The geoarchaeological record of the Phoenician necropolis of Al Bass (Lebanon) provides information concerning the geomorphological evolution of a late Holocene tombolo. Physical and chemical analysis of sediments indicates that the cemetery (9th century B.C.) was located near a littoral lagoon, between the dunes of a cuspate spit pointing toward the island of Tyre. From the sea apex of this spit, the moles mentioned in historical chronicles were constructed. Once mainland and island were connected, at the northern coast (where the port of Sidon was located), a sediment trap was formed, which quickly filled with silt. Afterwards, an extensive field of sand dunes buried all the archaeological remains from Phoenician to Roman times. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] |