Testwiseness as a factor in readiness test performance of young Mexican-American children.

Assessed the effects of training in test-taking skills on kindergarten children's performance on a school readiness test with a sample of 131 Spanish-speaking children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Half of the Ss were trained in content-free test-taking skills, and half were provided comparable time in nondirected paper/crayon activities. All Ss were tested in both Spanish and English, with order of administration balanced. Trained Ss performed better than untrained Ss in both languages. Males were more influenced by training than were females, but overall females outperformed males. Spanish administration scores were higher than English administration scores. Order of test administration was significant in that performance in English was improved when the test was taken first in Spanish; no influence of English on subsequent performance was found. Findings support the hypothesis that test-wiseness is an important influence on test performance of young children from nonmajority backgrounds and should be taken into account in readiness assessment programs. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linear and widely linear filtering applied to iterative detection of generalized MIMO signals

To suppress the co-antenna interference in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, an iterative receiver with a linear detector for complex symbols is investigated. We show that the considered generalized MIMO system, i.e., a system that transmits complex conjugate repetitions in addition to the pure data, requires the application of a widely linear (wl) detector. Awl detector consists of four real filters which are represented by two complex filters for the received signal and its complex conjugate, respectively. Furthermore, we present approximations of the detector that significantly reduce computational complexity with only little loss in frame-error rate performance. Simulation results show that the proposed MIMO system achieves large gains over standard solutions.     

Algorithmus 20 Ein leistungsfähiger Algorithmus zur Bestimmung von K-kürzesten Wegen in einem Graphen

A computer programming algorithm is presented which is based on Yen's principle [1] for finding the K loopless paths that have the shortest lengths from one fixed node to another in a network. Several modifications and extensions permitted to construct an extremely efficient algorithm, with regard to the number of necessary memory addresses as well as to the need of operations. The computer time increases linearly with K and is mostly less than the time of Hoffman-Pavley's algorithm [2], moreover, each of the generated paths is loopless. The algorithm published in this paper may be one of the best methods available till now for the solution of the K-shortest paths problem.     

Diversity of lactic acid bacteria from Hussuwa, a traditional African fermented sorghum food

The diversity of lactic acid bacteria associated with Hussuwa fermentation, a Sudanese fermented sorghum food, was studied using a polyphasic taxonomical approach. Predominant strains could be well characterised based on a combination of phenotypic tests and genotypic methods such as ARDRA, rep-PCR and RAPD-PCR, as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing of representative strains. Thus, the majority (128 of 220, 58.3%) of strains exhibited phenotypic properties typical of heterofermentative lactobacilli and of these, 100 strains were characterised more closely using the genotyping methods. The majority (97/100) strains could be characterised as Lactobacillus fermentum strains. Seventy-two of 220 strains (32.7%) showed phenotypic properties that are characteristic of pediococci. Of 41 selected strains investigated by genotyping techniques, 38 (92.7%) could be characterised as Pediococcus acidilactici strains, while three (7.3%) could be characterised as Pediococcus pentosaceus strains. The Hussuwa fermentation thus appears to be dominated by L. fermentum strains and P. acidilactici strains. For this reason, we selected representative and predominant strains as potential starter cultures for Hussuwa fermentation. These strains, L. fermentum strains BFE 2442 and BFE 2282 and P. acidilactici strain BFE 2300, were shown on the basis of RAPD-PCR fingerprinting to predominate in a model fermentation when used as starter cultures inoculated at 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g and to lower the pH of the fermentation to below pH 4.0 within 48 h. These cultures should be studied for further development as starter preparations in pilot scale studies in actual field fermentations.     

Caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) in Foods: A Comprehensive Review on Consumption,Functionality, Safety,and Regulatory Matters

ABSTRACT: Caffeine ranks as one of the top most commonly consumed dietary ingredients throughout the world. It is naturally found in coffee beans, cacao beans, kola nuts, guarana berries, and tea leaves including yerba mate. The total daily intake, as well as the major source of caffeine varies globally; however, coffee and tea are the 2 most prominent sources. Soft drinks are also a common source of caffeine as well as energy drinks, a category of functional beverages. Moderate caffeine consumption is considered safe and its use as a food ingredient has been approved, within certain limits, by numerous regulatory agencies around the world. Performance benefits attributed to caffeine include physical endurance, reduction of fatigue, and enhancing mental alertness and concentration. Caffeine has also been recently linked to weight loss and consequent reduction of the overall risks for developing the metabolic syndrome. However, the caloric contribution of caffeine-sweetened beverages needs to be considered in the overall energy balance. Despite all these benefits the potential negative effects of excessive caffeine intake should also be considered, particularly in children and pregnant women.     

Identification of aminoreductones as active components in Maillard reaction mixtures inducing nuclear NF‐κB translocation in macrophages

Coffee, a highly processed food, and Maillard mixtures are able to activate nuclear factor κB translocation in macrophages via generation of hydrogen peroxide. In this study, a substructure library was prepared and used to identify Maillard products that are responsible for this effect. Three different Maillard reaction products with aminoreductone substructure (C₆‐aminoreductone, C₄‐aminoreductone, and aminohexose reductone) strongly induce nuclear factor κB translocation in macrophages. The effect was almost completely blocked by co‐incubation with catalase, indicating that cellular activation was mediated by the ability of the test compounds to generate hydrogen peroxide. The cellular effect of a Maillard mixture, which was produced under conditions favoring aminoreductone formation, could be almost completely related to the presence of C₆‐aminoreductone.     

Modification with Organometallic Compounds Improves Crossing of the Blood–Brain Barrier of [Leu5]‐Enkephalin Derivatives in an In Vitro Model System

Enkephalin peptides are thought to be suitable vectors for the passage of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Modifications that do not alter the amino acid sequence are often used to improve the permeation through living membrane systems. As a new type of modification we introduce organometallic compounds, in particular ferrocene carboxylic acid. Derivatives of [Leu⁵]enkephalin were synthesised and labelled with organometallic compounds by using solid‐phase synthesis techniques. All new metal–peptide bioconjugates were comprehensively characterised by HPLC, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and found to be at least 95 % pure. For the first time, permeation coefficients in a BBB model for organometal–peptide derivatives were determined in this work. The uptake and localisation of fluorescein‐labelled enkephalins was monitored by fluorescence microscopy on three cancer cell lines. Octanol/H₂O partition coefficients of the compounds were measured by HPLC. The introduction of the organometallic moiety enhances the uptake into cells and the permeation coefficient of [Leu⁵]‐enkephalin. This could be due to an increase in lipophilicity caused by the organometallic label. The metal–peptide conjugates were found to be nontoxic up to mM concentrations. The low cytotoxicity encourages further experiments that could take advantage of the selectivity of enkephalin derivatives for opioid receptors.     

Sorbent injection into a slipstream baghouse for mercury control: Project summary

A project led by the Energy and Environmental Research Center to test and demonstrate sorbent injection as a cost-effective mercury control technology for utilities burning lignites has shown effective mercury capture under a range of operating conditions. Screening, parametric, and long-term tests were carried out at a slipstream facility representing an electrostatic precipitator–activated carbon injection–fabric filter configuration (called a TOXECON™ in the United States). Screening tests of sorbent injection evaluated nine different sorbents, including both treated and standard activated carbon, to compare mercury capture as a function of sorbent injection rate. Parametric tests evaluated several variables including air-to-cloth (A/C) ratio, flue gas temperature, cleaning frequency, and dust loading to determine the effect on mercury control and systems operation. Long-term tests (approximately 2 months in duration) evaluated the sustainability of systems operation.     

Cytotoxic Rhodium(III) and Iridium(III) Polypyridyl Complexes: Structure–Activity Relationships,Antileukemic Activity,and Apoptosis Induction

Whereas the cytostatic agents mer‐[RhX₃(DMSO)(pp)] (X=Cl, Br; pp=phen, dpq) are considerably more potent than their facial isomers, this order is reversed for the analogous kinetically more inert Ir^III polypyridyl complexes. The complexes induce specific apoptotic cell death in leukemia and lymphoma cells via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway and cause negligible necrotic damage.

     

Discovery of Riociguat (BAY 63‐2521): A Potent,Oral Stimulator of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase for the Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension

Direct stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of a range of diseases, including the severely disabling pulmonary hypertension (PH). Optimization of the unfavorable DMPK profile of previous sGC stimulators provided riociguat, which is currently being investigated in phase III clinical trials for the oral treatment of PH.