Novel pearl millet couscous process for West African markets using a low-cost single-screw extruder

Traditional West African pearl millet couscous products are popular; however, their preparation is laborious, time-consuming and energy-demanding, involving agglomeration, steaming, drying and sieving steps. In this study, a process was developed to produce millet couscous using a high pressure, high temperature and low-cost single-screw extruder. The innovation was to directly process the cooked low-moisture extrudate to a couscous product by drying and milling to the appropriate particle size (ranging between 1 and 2 mm). Throughput for the traditional process as prepared for commercial sale is 50 kg per day, but with the same amount of labour, the extrusion process yields ~350 kg per day. A consumer sensory study held in Niamey (Niger) showed that the extruded millet couscous was comparable to traditional couscous, though this was dependent on selection of the proper millet variety. This novel extrusion process could stimulate small- to medium-scale manufacturing of couscous and couscous-type products in West Africa.     

Perspectives on Design and Innovation

A series of studies of top European and other firms has revealed patterns of design management associated with commercial success. Firms that invest resources and professional expertise in product and industrial design in traditional and new industries have been commercially more successful than firms that pay less attention to these aspects of design. As an industry matures there is a shift in emphasis from design associated with technological innovation, to designs supporting technical improvements, and then to supporting user needs, fashion and product variants. These issues are illustrated through the history of the evolution of the bicycle.     

A comparison of CCS tandem overload controls

In this paper we analyse issues associated with overloads in tandem switching systems in Common Channel Signalling (CCS) networks. In particular, we examine the need for, and effectiveness of, Automatic Congestion Control (ACC), a CCS mechanism which allows a congested switching system to inform adjacent CCS nodes of its level of overload, and subsequently controls the rate at which traffic is sent to the congested node. We demonstrate the critical need for end-offices and tandem switching systems to implement some form of ACC if network performance is to be maintained during congestion, especially in tandem exchanges. In addition, we find that the presently defined ACC should be expanded to allow more levels of congestion to be reported to adjacent nodes, so that a more effective, finer grained control is produced.     

Heme oxygenase 1 is required for mammalian iron reutilization

Stressed mammalian cells up-regulate heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1; EC 1.14.99.3), which catabolizes heme to biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and free iron. To assess the potential role of Hmox1 in cellular antioxidant defense, we analyzed the responses of cells from mice lacking functional Hmox1 to oxidative challenges. Cultured Hmox1(-/-) embryonic fibroblasts demonstrated high oxygen free radical production when exposed to hemin, hydrogen peroxide, paraquat, or cadmium chloride, and they were hypersensitive to cytotoxicity caused by hemin and hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, young adult Hmox1(-/-) mice were vulnerable to mortality and hepatic necrosis when challenged with endotoxin. Our in vitro and in vivo results provide genetic evidence that up-regulation of Hmox1 serves as an adaptive mechanism to protect cells from oxidative damage during stress.     

Revised cutoff values of serum aminotransferase in detecting viral hepatitis among CAPD patients: experience from Taiwan, an endemic area for hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: To determine the best cutoff values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) in detecting viral hepatitis C infection among patients of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: 90 (44 male and 46 female) CAPD patients and 526 adult controls (266 male, 260 female) were enrolled. Serum AST and ALT were measured by an auto-analyser monthly. Serum HBsAg was examined using a RIA method and anti-HCV by an second-generation EIA method. The best cutoff values of AST and ALT for detecting viral hepatitis were obtained from the ROC (receiver-operating characteristic) curve. RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-HCV(+) was significantly higher in CAPD patients (16.7%) than in normal controls (4.9%), while that of HBsAg(+) was similar in both groups. CAPD patients had significantly lower levels of serum aminotransferases compared to normal controls. Mean AST were 23.8 IU/l in normal control and 18.8 IU/l in the CAPD patients (P < 0.001). Mean ALT were 21.9 IU/l in normal controls and 15.3 IU/l in the CAPD patients (P < 0.001). CAPD patients with HCV infection had higher serum AST and ALT levels than those without. However, HBV infection did not cause significant serum aminotransferase elevation in patients. The conventional cutoff values of AST (40 IU/l) and ALT (40 IU/l) for detecting viral hepatitis yielded only a sensitivity of 27.3 and 18.2% respectively; on the contrary, our revised cutoff values of AST (24 IU/l) and ALT (17 IU/l) had better sensitivities (AST, 72.7%; ALT, 63.6%). For serial aminotransferase values, the sensitivity of AST and ALT for detecting HCV were 36.4 and 27.3% by conventional criteria, and were both 81.8%, by our newly revised criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Serum aminotransferase cutoff values should be modified for screening viral hepatitis in a CAPD population. Our new cutoff criteria had important clinical implications in providing benefits of earlier detection and possible prevention from chronic hepatic deteriorations.     

Early patterning of prelimbic cortical axons to the striatal patch compartment in the neonatal mouse

The striatum receives excitatory input from virtually the entire cerebral cortex. In the adult, this input is segregated into two functionally distinct compartments of the striatum, the patch (striosome) and matrix regions. This study determined whether the patterning of corticostriatal afferents from the prelimbic cortex to the striatal patch compartment develops during the early period of collateral formation or instead at the time of peak synaptogenesis. Initial formation of corticostriatal axon collaterals was observed by embryonic day (E) 19. Quantification of corticostriatal collaterals revealed a significant increase in the number and complexity of collateral branches at postnatal day 6 as compared to E19. Concomitant with the increase in collateral branching, a heterogeneous pattern of collateralization consisting of parallel rows of corticostriatal collaterals was observed in the medial striatum. In addition to the rows, clusters of corticostriatal axons occurred more laterally. These clusters colocalized with patches of dense tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers, a marker for the striatal patch compartment in the neonatal mouse. Together, these data indicate that corticostriatal patterning occurs during the period of early axon collateralization resulting in a segregation of corticostriatal axon collaterals from the prelimbic cortex to the striatal patch compartment.     

Business climate attitudes and company relocation decisions.

A total of 438 manufacturing firms reported their business relocation activity, their overall attitude toward the business climate in Michigan, and their assessment of 34 business climate dimensions. Using a lens model paradigm, we explored reasons for a lack of relation between actual relocation decisions and overall business climate attitudes. Location decisions were most highly correlated with distance and labor considerations, whereas overall business climate was most highly correlated with tax considerations, and secondarily correlated with labor problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guide to conducting a psychological autopsy.

Much of the writing on the psychological autopsy is reviewed. Several writers' opinions about what should be included in a comprehensive behavioral analysis conducted after an individual's death are compiled in an Appendix. Several additional and new areas to be covered in a psychological autopsy are included. The primary emphasis is on the provision of a practical guide for the working professional. Twenty-four separate factors, ranging from reconstruction of events that occurred before the death to the deceased's family death history, are presented. Some legal considerations are examined briefly in order to acquaint the professional with the significant impact that the results can have on family benefits and criminal prosecution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Instructional texts rewritten by five expert teams: Revisions and retention improvements.

700 undergraduates were tested in 3 experiments on original or rewritten versions of 52 instructional texts about Army job tasks, general science, philosophy, and history. Five experts had rewritten various sets of the texts and stated hypotheses about the efficacious features of their revisions. We tested their hypotheses and several others. Recall and recognition tests were given immediately and after a 24-hr delay. Results showed that revisions made by 3 of the 5 experts improved retention of text information. The kind and number of revisions and improvements varied across the text sets. Most expert hypotheses were not supported, and they made many revisions they were declaratively unaware of. Some of our hypotheses about the revision features were supported, but different features were effective for different sets of texts. It was concluded that some experts have effective knowledge about improving instructional text, but it exists primarily in procedural form. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)