The effect of raw and processed vegetables on colonocyte dna damage.

Cruciferous vegetables and their bioactive constituents have been shown to inhibit chemically-induced colon cancer (IARC, 2004). However, the results of epidemiological studies have been inconsistent (IARC, 2004). This may reflect a lack of sensitivity of such studies. One factor that is often overlooked by epidemiological studies is the effect of processing. Processing may alter the content of the bioactive compounds present in cruciferous vegetables or their bioavailability. Cruciferous vegetables contain numerous bioactive compounds, but their anticarcinogenic properties have been attributed mainly to their content of glucosinolates (GLS). The breakdown of GLS into their bioactive products is largely dependent on the plant enzyme myrosinase; in contrast, the profile of products formed depends on the parent GLS, conditions of hydrolysis and the presence of a cofactor - epithiospecifier protein (ESP). Thermal processing may deactivate myrosinase and ESP, thereby altering both the location and extent of GLS breakdown within the GI tract, and also the profile of breakdown products formed. This in turn may determine whether cruciferous vegetables exert beneficial or detrimental effects. A pig-feeding trial was conducted in order to investigate the effect of blanch-freezing on the ability of broccoli (600 g/d; 12 d) to influence putative intermediary biomarkers of colon cancer. These biomarkers included DNA damage in colonocytes, the xenobiotic metabolising enzyme (XME) system, the colonic microflora and SCFA concentrations. The consumption of raw broccoli (cv. Marathon) caused a significant 27% increase in DNA strand breakage (measured by the "comet assay") in colonocytes (P = 0.025), whereas blanch-frozen broccoli had no significant effect. Both broccoli diets had no significant effect on XME or the concentration of SCFA, but they did cause an increase in the ratio of lactobacilli to coliforms of borderline significance (P = 0.065). A second trial was conducted to further investigate the effect of raw broccoli consumption. Pigs were fed a different cultivar of raw broccoli (cv. Monaco) or raw carrots (cv. Nairobi). Carrots were used in order to explore whether a raw vegetable that was high in antioxidants but devoid of GLS would influence colonocyte DNA damage. Results were similar to the first experiment. Raw broccoli caused a significant 54% increase in DNA strand breakage (P < 0.001), whereas raw carrots had no significant effect; both raw vegetables caused a significant increase in the ratio of lactobacilli to coliforms (P < 0.001, broccoli; P = 0.002, carrots), but had no effect on other measures. These studies appear to be the first to report that raw broccoli consumption causes an increase in DNA strand breakage in colonocytes. Collectively, they suggest that the consumption of high intakes of raw broccoli may not be advisable

Strongly non embeddable metric spaces

Enflo constructed a countable metric space that may not be uniformly embedded into any metric space of positive generalized roundness. Dranishnikov, Gong, Lafforgue and Yu modified Enflo's example to construct a locally finite metric space that may not be coarsely embedded into any Hilbert space. In this paper we meld these two examples into one simpler construction. The outcome is a locally finite metric space $(\mathfrak{Z}, \zeta)$ which is strongly non embeddable in the sense that it may not be embedded uniformly or coarsely into any metric space of non zero generalized roundness. Moreover, we show that both types of embedding may be obstructed by a common recursive principle. It follows from our construction that any metric space which is Lipschitz universal for all locally finite metric spaces may not be embedded uniformly or coarsely into any metric space of non zero generalized roundness. Our construction is then adapted to show that the group $\mathbb{Z}_\omega=\bigoplus_{\aleph_0}\mathbb{Z}$ admits a Cayley graph which may not be coarsely embedded into any metric space of non zero generalized roundness. Finally, for each $p \geq 0$ and each locally finite metric space $(Z,d)$, we prove the existence of a Lipschitz injection $f : Z \to \ell_{p}$.Comment: 10 page

Rebekah Lynn Anthony in a Senior Soprano Recital

This is the program for the senior soprano recital of Rebekah Lynn Anthony. Ms. Anthony was accompanied on the piano by Louis Menendez. This recital took place on April 4, 2013, in the McBeth Recital Hall in the Mabee Fine Arts Center

Evaluation of fertilizer and irrigation production systems for large nursery containers

Container-grown woody ornamentals require high volumes of water and sufficient nutrients to develop into healthy, high quality plants. The increased awareness of possible contamination of ground and surface water resources from nursery runoff has forced growers to implement higher water use efficiency techniques to maximize fertilizer efficiency and reduce nutrient and irrigation runoff. Components of a large container production system that could affect irrigation volume, substrate nutrition levels and runoff include fertilizer placement, irrigation frequency and irrigation method. Irrigation and fertilization components were evaluated in two experiments to determine which would maximize growth, minimize effluent and reduce the amount of nutrient loss from container substrate. Treatments tested included fertilizer placement (incorporated and topdressed), irrigation frequency [once daily (1x) and three times daily (3x)] and irrigation method (drip rings and spray stakes). In the first experiment, Ulmus parvifolia Jacq. (Chinese elm) trees were grown for a year and new trees were planted the second year. In the second experiment, Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei \u27Acoma\u27 (\u27Acoma\u27 crape myrtle) trees were grown for two consecutive years. Incorporated fertilizer produced higher growth indices and maintained higher substrate nutrient content (N, P and K) in chinese elms compared to topdressed fertilizer. Similar results where found in crape myrtle with the exception of P substrate content, where no significant differences occurred. In the chinese elm experiment, the 3x irrigation treatments resulted in higher growth indices and less effluent compared to 1x irrigation. Conversely, 3x irrigation resulted in higher growth indices but no differences in effluent in the crape myrtle experiment. Spray stake treatments resulted in less effluent in the elm study. Drip ring treatments produced larger growth indices in the crape myrtle study. These results suggest a grower could maximize growth and greatly reduce runoff by incorporating fertilizer, practicing cyclic irrigation methods and using drip rings in a large container production system. These results could be used to improve the nursery best management practices in a container nursery production setting

Characterization of Whole Pine Tree Substrates for Adventitious Rooting of Cuttings and Initial Growth of Seedlings

Processed whole pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees have been extensively evaluated to supplement peatmoss and pine bark usage in container substrates for greenhouse and nursery crop production. The suitability of whole pine tree (WPT) substrates for crop propagation has not been investigated. Demonstrating the versatility of WPT substrates is essential to expanding their commercial availability and use. The objective of this work was to evaluate WPT substrates for stem cutting and seed propagation of ornamental crops, and to identify factors affecting root development. Stem cutting and seedling root development was evaluated in WPT and traditional (peatmoss and pine bark) substrates. In the first study, stem cuttings of Chrysanthemum, Cupressocyparis, Euonymus, Evolvulus, Ligustrum, Persicaria, Rosa, and Salvia were set in whole pine tree and pine bark substrates. Rooting percentage was similar among substrates for each species, but root growth increased with the addition of peatmoss. In the second study, a phytotoxicity assessment of aged and fresh WPT substrates was conducted using a Phytotoxkit and a seedling growth test. Using the Phytotoxkit, seed germination rate and seedling root growth was similar for aged WPT and peatmoss. Fresh pine needles had an inhibitory effect on seed germination and seedling growth. Using the seedling growth test, lettuce, oat, and tomato seed emergence rate was similar for aged WPT and a peatmoss substrate. Root development was greatest in a peatmoss substrate compared with pine bark and aged and fresh WPT. In the final study, the effect of WPT particle size on seedling and stem cutting root development was evaluated. Processing WPT into finer particle sizes resulted in decreased air space and increased container capacity, but did not affect stem cutting or seedling root growth. Overall, root development was greater in peatmoss substrates compared with WPT substrates. Whole pine tree substrates can be used for germinating seeds and rooting stem cuttings. Differences in seed germination/emergence rate and seedling root length could not be attributed to phytotoxic compounds in WPT substrates. Nutrient availability and retention properties of WPT substrates during propagation should be further evaluated

Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction: Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis associated with several comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Cherries, which are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative bioactive compounds, are proposed to be efficacious in preventing and treating gout, but recommendations to patients are conflicting. Cherry consumption has been demonstrated to lower serum urate levels and inflammation in several small studies. One observational case cross-over study reported that cherry consumption was associated with reduced risk of recurrent gout attacks. This preliminary evidence requires substantiation. The proposed randomised clinical trial aims to test the effect of consumption of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks. Methods and analysis: This 12-month, parallel, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial will recruit 120 individuals (aged 18–80 years) with a clinical diagnosis of gout who have self-reported a gout flare in the previous year. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group, which will receive Montmorency tart cherry juice daily for a 12-month period, or a corresponding placebo group, which will receive a cherry-flavoured placebo drink. The primary study outcome is change in frequency of self-reported gout attacks. Secondary outcome measures include attack intensity, serum urate concentration, fractional excretion of uric acid, biomarkers of inflammation, blood lipids and other markers of cardiovascular risk. Other secondary outcome measures will be changes in physical activity and functional status. Statistical analysis will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been granted ethical approval by the National Research Ethics Service, Yorkshire and The Humber—Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (ref: 18/SW/0262). Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration number: NCT03621215

Prospective Minority Students\u27 Perceptions of Application Packets for Professional Psychology Programs: A Qualitative Study

This article reports the results of a qualitative study designed to determine issues salient in Black and Hispanic American students\u27 review and evaluation of program-application packets in professional psychology. The study served as an extension to the Yoshida et al. (1989) quantitative investigation. Students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in counseling or school psychology (N = 22) served as the sample. The qualitative methodology incorporated a think-aloud procedure and semistructured interviews. A theme analysis of transcribed interviews identified both major and minor themes central to participants\u27 evaluation of the packets. Major themes included financial aid, program requirements and course descriptions, demography of the student body, and the quality and clarity of application material. Specific suggestions on developing an application packet to send to inquiring prospective students are put forth. It is recommended that such a packet could serve as a cost-effective minority-recruitment strategy

Minority Student Perceptions of Professional Pscyhology Application Packets: A Qualitative Study

This article reports the results of a qualitative study designed to determine issues salient in Black and Hispanic American students\u27 review and evaluation of program-application packets in professional psychology. The study served as an extension to the Yoshida et al. (1989) quantitative investigation. Students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in counseling or school psychology (N = 22) served as the sample. The qualitative methodology incorporated a think-aloud procedure and semistructured interviews. A theme analysis of transcribed interviews identified both major and minor themes central to participants\u27 evaluation of the packets. Major themes included financial aid, program requirements and course descriptions, demography of the student body, and the quality and clarity of application material. Specific suggestions on developing an application packet to send to inquiring prospective students are put forth. It is recommended that such a packet could serve as a costeffective minority-recruitment strategy