Evaluation of tRNA intergenic spacer length polymorphism analysis as a molecular method for species identification of streptococcal isolates from bovine mastitis

Sixty-nine bovine mastitis streptococci belonging to the species Str. agalactiae (n = 13), Str. dysgalactiae (n = 16), Str. canis (n = 22), Str. uberis (n = 20) and Str. parauberis (n = 4) and six reference strains of the five streptococcal species were examined for their tRNA gene intergenic length polymorphism (tDNA-ILP) fingerprint pattern. Epidemiologically unrelated isolates from bovine mastitis cases were selected by macrorestriction analysis with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Their results were compared with those obtained from biochemical and serological studies and with those obtained by PCR-mediated identification amplifying species-specific gene segments of the five streptococcal species. According to the present results tDNA-ILP allowed a correct identification of all Str. agalactiae, Str. uberis and Str. parauberis strains investigated also including the reference strains of each species showing species-specific banding pattern. However, all Str. dysgalactiae ssp. dysgalactiae and all Str. canis strains appeared with an undistinguishable pattern which did not allow an identification of the species.     

Laser structuring for back junction silicon solar cells

We demonstrate mask‐free fabrication of a 22·0%‐efficient crystalline Si solar cell by applying laser ablation of Si and by laser ablation of protective coatings. The bulk absorber material is a p ‐type float zone silicon wafer and the designated cell area is 4 cm². While the processing time of our laboratory‐type of laser system is far too slow for industrial processing, we estimate on the basis of our experiments that laser processing of 12·5 × 12·5 cm²‐sized solar cells in just a few seconds is feasible with commercially available equipment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrothermal treatments of two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) varieties: effect of micronisation on physicochemical and structural characteristics

The effects of a hydrothermal treatment consisting of tempering (to 41% moisture) and heating to 153 °C (micronisation) on the structural and physicochemical characteristics of two cowpea varieties were studied. The untreated varieties had similar cooking times, although cooked Bechuana white cowpeas were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) softer and had a higher incidence of splitting than Var. 462 cowpeas. This may be due in part to differences in cotyledon structure affecting water uptake during cooking. The hydrothermal treatment changed the physical structure and chemical properties of the cowpea seeds. This led to significant (P ≤ 0.05) reductions in the cooking time of micronised Bechuana white and Var. 462 cowpeas, by 47 and 36% respectively, as compared with control samples. Micronisation caused physical fissuring of the seed coat and cotyledon and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the bulk density of treated seeds. These changes in the physical structure significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved the initial water uptake during soaking and cooking, increased the enzyme‐susceptible starch and reduced the protein solubility and hydration capacity of the cowpea seeds. Cooked (60 min) micronised cowpeas also had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more splits and a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) softer texture than control samples. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fungi associated with Indonesian dried fish

The mycoflora of dried salted fish from Indonesia was studied, with emphasis on visibly spoiled fish and spoilage fungi. A total of 364 isolates from 74 fish were cultured and identified. The most prevalent fungus was a previously undescribed species, now named Polypaecilum pisce, which was isolated from 42% of the fish examined, in extreme cases appearing as conspicuous white growth over large areas of the fish surface. Other frequently isolated species were Eurotium rubrum (35%), E. repens (26%), E. amstelodami (22%), E. chevalieri (18%), Aspergillus niger (37%), A. flavus (27%), A. sydowii (23%), A. penicilloides (16%) and A. wentii (15%). A variety of Penicillium species and species from 17 other genera were isolated less frequently.     

Quality Improvement of Fresh-Cut Endive (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cichorium endivia</Emphasis> L.) and Recycling of Washing Water by Low-Dose UV-C Irradiation

Superficial short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) treatment (1.2 kJ/m²) of fresh-cut endive was combined with conventional cold (4 °C, 120 s) and innovative warm (45 °C, 120 s) water washing prior to and after irradiation in order to improve its microbial and sensory quality including physiological properties. UV-C doses applied exerted only minor physiological stress on the plant tissue, irrespective of the washing procedure as indicated by largely unaltered headspace gas compositions, chlorophyll fluorescence maximum quantum yields (F _v/F _m), and retention of chlorophylls and β-carotene. Independent of the washing procedure applied, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD) activities were slightly inhibited by UV-C irradiation. As a result of UV-C irradiation, significantly improved microbiological and sensory quality was retained during the entire storage period, particularly, when applied after washing. Being applicable in organic fresh-cut production, UV-C represents a valuable alternative to chlorine application to washing water. The most efficient decontamination (2.1 log₁₀ units) of fresh-cut endive was achieved by combining warm water washing with subsequent UV-C irradiation. Furthermore, when UV-C lamps were integrated into the water tank of a continuous industrial washing machine, the microbial loads of the process water were also significantly lowered. Accordingly, in-line UV-C decontamination of process water may be instrumental in minimizing both fresh water consumption and the risk of cross-contamination.     

Theoretical claims necessitate basic research: Reply to Gawronski, Lebel, Peters, and Banse (2009) and Nosek and Greenwald (2009).

The authors of this reply article note that B. Gawronski, E. P. LeBel, K. R. Peters, and R. Banse (see record 2009-05290-002) (a) expressed agreement in their comment with the analysis put forward in the target article (J. De Houwer, S. Teige-Mocigemba, A. Spruyt, & A. Moors) (see record 2009-05290-001) and (b) pointed to a further implication for the way in which the implicitness of a measure should be examined. The current authors note that B. A. Nosek and A. G. Greenwald (see record 2009-05290-003), on the other hand, raised questions in their comment about the definition of the concept “implicit” in the target article, arguing for a fundamentally different approach to measurement that emphasizes not theoretical understanding but usefulness for predicting behavior. In this reply, the current authors respond to these comments and argue that when theoretical claims are made about measures, these claims should be backed up with appropriate evidence. In the absence of basic research, measures and their relation to behavior can only be described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child maltreatment polyvictimization: Rates and short-term effects on adjustment in a representative Hong Kong sample.

Objective: This article examines the unique effects of multiple forms of victimization, namely child abuse and neglect (CAN) and exposure to parental intimate partner violence (IPV), on children's self-blame, feelings of being threatened, self-esteem, and ability to control anger. Method: The cross-sectional study recruited a population-based sample of 2,062 children aged 12–17 years in Hong Kong. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the children. The prevalence rate of the co-occurrence of exposure to IPV and CAN in the Chinese population, and the unique impacts of exposure to IPV and CAN on children were examined. Results: The results show that 13.1% of the children had experienced CAN, and 6.5% had witnessed parental IPV. Among those families characterized by IPV, 61.1% were involved in child abuse in the preceding year of the study. Participants who had experienced both CAN and exposure to parental IPV reported lower levels of self-esteem and higher rates of being aggressive and violent, and feeling threatened. These children also reported the highest levels of feeling that their well-being was threatened and of blaming themselves for parental violence and parental discipline. Conclusions: The findings reemphasize the important need for public policy on child and youth victimization that encourages social workers and Child Protective Services to screen for child polyvictimization in cases of suspected/reported child abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive and neuropathologic correlates of Stroop Color-Word Test performance in Alzheimer's disease.

The Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT; C. Golden, 1978) was examined in 59 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in 51 demographically comparable normal control (NC) participants. AD patients produced significantly larger Stroop interference effects than NC participants, and level of dementia severity significantly influenced SCWT performance. Principal -components analyses demonstrated a dissociation in the factor structure of the Stroop trials between NC participants and AD patients, suggesting that disruption of semantic knowledge and speeded verbal processing in AD may be a major contributor to impairment on the incongruent trial. Results of clinicopathologic correlations in an autopsy-confirmed AD subgroup further suggest the invocation of a broad network of integrated cortical regions and executive and language processes underlying successful SCWT performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)