As the number falls,alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number method: A review

This review examines the application, limitations, and potential alternatives to the Hagberg–Perten falling number (FN) method used in the global wheat industry for detecting the risk of poor end-product quality mainly due to starch degradation by the enzyme α-amylase. By viscometry, the FN test indirectly detects the presence of α-amylase, the primary enzyme that digests starch. Elevated α-amylase results in low FN and damages wheat product quality resulting in cakes that fall, and sticky bread and noodles. Low FN can occur from preharvest sprouting (PHS) and late maturity α-amylase (LMA). Moist or rainy conditions before harvest cause PHS on the mother plant. Continuously cool or fluctuating temperatures during the grain filling stage cause LMA. Due to the expression of additional hydrolytic enzymes, PHS has a stronger negative impact than LMA. Wheat grain with low FN/high α-amylase results in serious losses for farmers, traders, millers, and bakers worldwide. Although blending of low FN grain with sound wheat may be used as a means of moving affected grain through the marketplace, care must be taken to avoid grain lots from falling below contract-specified FN. A large amount of sound wheat can be ruined if mixed with a small amount of sprouted wheat. The FN method is widely employed to detect α-amylase after harvest. However, it has several limitations, including sampling variability, high cost, labor intensiveness, the destructive nature of the test, and an inability to differentiate between LMA and PHS. Faster, cheaper, and more accurate alternatives could improve breeding for resistance to PHS and LMA and could preserve the value of wheat grain by avoiding inadvertent mixing of high- and low-FN grain by enabling testing at more stages of the value stream including at harvest, delivery, transport, storage, and milling. Alternatives to the FN method explored here include the Rapid Visco Analyzer, enzyme assays, immunoassays, near-infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging.     

National-scale implementation of mandatory freshwater farm plans: a mechanism to deliver water quality improvement in productive catchments in New Zealand?

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Reducing agriculturally derived diffuse contaminant losses (via non-point sources) from land to water has proven difficult for decades. Owing to the diversity...     

Cell-free Stem Cell-Derived Extract Formulation for Regenerative Medicine Applications

Stem cells for regenerative medicine purposes offer therapeutic benefits, but disadvantages are still ill defined. The benefit of stem cells may be attributed to their secretion of growth factors (GFs), cytokines (CKs), and extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes. We present a novel cell-free stem cell-derived extract (CCM), formulated from human progenitor endothelial stem cells (hPESCs), characterized for biologically active factors using ELISA, nanoparticle tracking analysis and single particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensing. The effect on fibroblast proliferation and ability to induce stem cell migration was analyzed using Alamar Blue proliferation and Transwell migration assays, respectively. GFs including IGFBP 1, 2, 3, and 6, insulin, growth hormone, PDGF-AA, TGF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1RA were detected. Membrane enclosed particles within exosome size range and expressing exosome tetraspanins CD81 and CD9 were identified. CCM significantly increased cell proliferation and induced stem cell migration. Analysis of CCM revealed presence of GFs, CKs, and EVs, including exosomes. The presence of multiple factors including exosomes within one formulation, the ability to promote cell proliferation and induce stem cell migration may reduce inflammation and pain, and augment tissue repair.     

Experimental study of diffusivity of hexane in bitumen-saturated porous media under high temperature/pressure conditions

Solvent mass transfer plays a key role in a thermal gravity drainage process involving solvent. The diffusion coefficients of solvent in such a process are not well studied. This article presents the effective diffusion coefficients of solvent in bitumen-saturated sands under high temperature/pressure conditions measured using a CT scanning technique. Experimental results show that the effective diffusion coefficient of n-hexane in bitumen-saturated sands varied with the solvent concentration or with the viscosity of solvent–bitumen mixture (i.e., D_e ∝ c^0.4 or D_e ∝ μ_m^−0.46). The solvent concentration weighted diffusion coefficient of n-hexane in the bitumen under the condition 160–170°C/1,900 kPa had an order of magnitude of about 10⁻⁵ cm²/s for solvent volume concentration less than 0.2. The penetration distance of n-hexane in bitumen-saturated sands depended on the nonlinearity of diffusion and had a value of −2 cm after 1-day diffusion. The stronger the nonlinearity of diffusion, the shorter the penetration distance.     

Experiencing visual impairment in a lifetime home: an interpretative phenomenological inquiry

Lifetime home standards (LTHS) are a set of standards aimed at making homes more accessible. Previous research, however, indicates that LTHS do not adequately meet the needs of those with sensory impairments. Now, with visual impairment set to increase globally and acknowledging the recognised link between quality of dwelling and wellbeing, this article aims to examine the experiences of visually impaired people living in lifetime homes. The objectives are to investigate existing lifetime homes and to identify whether LTHS meet occupants’ needs. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out with six visually impaired people living in homes designed to LTHS in Northern Ireland. Collected data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis identifying three super-ordinate themes: (1) living with visual impairment; (2) design considerations and (3) coping strategies. A core theme of balance between psychological and physical needs emerged through interconnection of super-ordinate themes. Although there are benefits to living in lifetime homes, negative aspects are also apparent with occupants employing several coping strategies to overcome difficulties. Whilst residents experience negative emotions following visual impairment diagnoses, results suggest that occupants still regard their homes as key places of security and comfort in addition to then highlighting the need for greater consideration of specific individual needs within general guidelines.     

Planning and designing for the multiple use role of habitats in urban/suburban landscapes in the Great Basin

Most researchers agree that preserving, creating, and restoring urban wildlife habitats has to be an interdisciplinary undertaking if it is to succeed. Ecologists and wildlife biologists must be key participants. The culturally modified context of most urban habitats suggests that landscape architects also have a primary role to play.Open space in the urban/suburban environment is a scarce and valuable resource. Private and public sector pressure to convert these spaces to commercial or intensive recreational uses are immediate and intense. Presenting arguments to preserve or restore urban open space solely as habitat for wildlife is seldom successful. Decision makers are more likely to support urban wildlife habitat programs if other uses are also accommodated.There is a growing body of research data that suggests that wildlife are being adversely impacted by multiple uses of urban habitats. The challenge for planners and designers is to minimize adverse impacts and capitalize on those attributes of other uses that enhance habitat value. Planning for the temporal as well as spatial dimensions of site uses is required if the needs of wildlife are to be met.The paper presents three general areas in which landscape architects have traditionally contributed to an interdisciplinary approach to urban wildlife habitat planning: contextual perspective, problem solving process, and design/technical execution.Reflecting back on his past 10 years of experience as a landscape architect planning urban wildlife habitats, the author presents several case study projects in which: (A) accommodation of multiple use objectives, including wildlife habitat, was required; (B) interdisciplinary teams participated in the planning and design process; (C) key principles from the fields of landscape ecology, conservation biology and wildlife biology were applied to facility and activity location, habitat configuration, and management.Plans of completed projects are used to illustrate how habitat values were preserved or enhanced and multiple uses accommodated in public open spaces. The paper concludes with a brief summary of keys to success common to each project.     

A design method for flaming fire detection

The scientific basis of a design method for the detection of flaming fires is reviewed. The equations required to calculate detector spacings are included and the selection of appropriate design input parameters is discussed. Limitations of the method and areas for further research are identified. The design method has been implemented and proposed for inclusion in NFPA Standard 72E-1984 as Appendix C by the 72E-M Committee. Center for Fire Safety Studies Worcester Polytechnic Institute     

Book reviews

Housing in Scotland. Hector Currie & Alan Murie (Eds). Chartered Institute of Housing. Policy and Practice Series, £15.00 paperback. ISBN 0 901607 91 6.

The Home: Words, Interpretations, Meanings and Environments. D. Benjamin (Ed.). Avebury, Aldershot 1995, £37.00 hardback. ISBN 1 856628 8889.

Rethinking Local Democracy. Desmond King & Gerry Stoker (Eds). Macmillan, London, 1996, 233 pp, £13.95, paperback. ISBN 8039 8864 8.

An Introduction to Social Housing. Paul Reeves. Arnold, London, 1996, 273 pp, £13.99, paperback. ISBN 0 340 661976.

Representing the City: Ethnicity, Capital and Culture in the Twenty‐First Century Metropolis. Anthony D. King (Ed.). Macmillan Press, London, 1996, £13.99, paperback. ISBN 0 333601920.

Homeless. Gerald Daly. Routledge, London, 1996, 293 pp., £14.95. ISBN 0415 12029 2.

The Environmental Impact of Land and Property Management. Yvonne Rydin (Ed.). Wiley, Chichester, 1996, 196 pp., £45.00 hardback. ISBN 0 471966126.

Conservation and the City. Peter Larkham. Routledge, London, 1996, 329 pp., £17.99 paperback. ISBN 0 415 079478.