Effect of Tocopherol Extract, Staphylococcus carnosus Culture, and Celery Concentrate Addition on Quality Parameters of Organic and Conventional Dry-Cured Sausages

The effects of the addition to sausage mix of tocopherols (200 mg/kg), a conventional starter culture with or without Staphylococcus carnosus, celery concentrate (CP) (0.23% and 0.46%), and two doses of nitrate (70 and 140 mg/kg expressed as NaNO(3)) on residual nitrate and nitrite amounts, instrumental CIE Lab color, tocol content, oxidative stability, and overall acceptability were studied in fermented dry-cured sausages after ripening and after storage. Nitrate doses were provided by nitrate-rich CP or a chemical grade source. The lower dose complies with the EU requirements governing the maximum for ingoing amounts in organic meat products. Tocopherol addition protected against oxidation, whereas the nitrate dose, nitrate source, or starter culture had little influence on secondary oxidation values. The residual nitrate and nitrite amounts found in the sausages with the lower nitrate dose were within EU-permitted limits for organic meat products and residual nitrate can be further reduced by the presence of the S. carnosus culture. Color measurements were not affected by the CP dose. Product consumer acceptability was not affected negatively by any of the factors studied. As the two nitrate sources behaved similarly for the parameters studied, CP is a useful alternative to chemical ingredients for organic dry-cured sausage production.

Personality traits are associated with acute major depression across the age spectrum.

Objectives: Psychological predictors, such as personality traits, have aroused growing interest as possible predictors of late-life depression outcome in old age. It remains, however, unclear whether the cross-sectional relationship between personality traits and depression occurrence reported in younger samples is also present in the elderly. Methods: Comparisons amongst 79 outpatients with DSM-IV major depression and 102 healthy controls included assessment of the five-factor model of personality (NEO PI-R), socio-demographic variables, physical health status, as well as depression features. Two sub-groups were considered, defined as young (25-50 years) and old (60-85 years) patients. Results: Depressed patients showed significantly higher levels of Neuroticism and lower levels of Extraversion, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness compared to controls. Sequential logistic regression models confirmed that the combination of increased physical burden, levels of dependency, and increased Neuroticism strongly predicts the occurrence of acute depressive symptoms. In contrast, the levels of Neuroticism did not allow for differentiating late-life from young age depression. Increased physical burden and decreased depression severity were the main predictors for this distinction. Conclusion: Our data indicate that personality factors and depression are related, independently of patients' age. Differences in this relationship are mainly due to the intensity of depressive symptoms rather than the patients' life period. They also stress the need to consider physical health, level of dependency and severity of symptoms when studying the relationship between personality traits and mood disorders.

Personality traits, behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive decline in patients at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease

The aim of this doctoral thesis was to study personality characteristics of patients at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and more specifically to describe personality and its changes over time, and to explore its possible links with psychological and symptoms (BPS) and cognitive level. The results were compared to those of a group of participants without cognitive disorder through three empirical studies. In the first study, the findings showed significant personality changes that follow a specific trend in the clinical group. The profil of personality changes showed an increase in Neuroticism and a decrease in Extraversion, Openess to experiences, and Conscientiousness over time. The second study highlighted that personality and BPS occur early in the cours of AD. Recognizing them as possible precoce signs of neurodegeneration may prove to be a key factor for early detection and intervention. In the third study, a significant association between personality changes and cognitive status was observed in the patients with incipient AD. Thus, changes in Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were linked with cognitive deterioration, whereas decreased Openness to experiences and Conscientiousness over time predicted loss of independence in daily functioning. Other well-known factors such as age, education level or civil status were taken into account to predict cognitive decline. The three studies suggested five important implications: (1) cost-effective screening should take into account premorbid and specific personality changes; (2) psycho-educative interventions should provide information on the possible personality changes and BPS that may occur at the beginning of the disease; (3) using personality traits alongside other variables in the future studies on prevention might help to better understand AD's etiology; (4) individual treatment plans (psychotherapeutic, social, and pharmacological) might be adapted to the specific changes in personality profiles; (5) more researches are needed to study the impact of social-cultural and lifestyle variables on the development of AD.

Isolation, culture and characterisation of human endothelial progenitor cells

Temps de parole: 30 minutes

El Fons documental de Jordi Verrié i Faget, una aportació a la història de l'educació catalana

El febrer de 2001 moria a Santa Cristina d’Aro Jordi Verrié i Faget, personatge polifacètic que al llarg de la seva vida s’havia dedicat a diferents tasques sempre en defensa i reconeixement de la cultura i la pedagogia catalanes. Investigador incansable, ens deixava un important llegat fruit de la seva passió pels llibres i del seu interès per la nostra història educativa, una part del qual era donat a la Universitat de Girona. Aquest fons documental és el punt de partida d’aquest estudi, que vol aprofundir en la figura de Verrié, contextualitzar el seu fons i valorar què significa per la nostra pedagogia. Aquest és un reconeixement a Jordi Verrié i a la seva tasca, que representa una important aportació a la història de l’educació catalana

The role of culture in international students' image formation: the emergence of expected and perceived university image

Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, vaikuttaako kansainvälisen opiskelijan kulttuuritausta opiskelijan odotetun ja koetun yliopistoimagon muodostumiseen. Jotta kulttuurin vaikutuksia yliopistoimagoon voitiin tutkia, tutkimuksessa tunnistettiin yliopistoimagon muodostumiseen oleellisesti vaikuttavat tekijät. Kulttuurin roolia organisaation imagon muodostumisessa ei ole tutkittu aiemmissa tieteellisissä julkaisuissa. Näin ollen tämän tutkimuksen voidaan katsoa edistäneen nykyistä imagotutkimusta. Tutkimuksen kohdeyliopistona oli Lappeenrannan teknillinen yliopisto (LTY). Tutkimuksen empiirinen osa toteutettiin kvantitatiivisena Internet - pohjaisena kyselytutkimuksena tilastollisen analyysin menetelmin. Otos (N=179) koostui kaikista Lappeenrannan teknillisessä yliopistossa lukuvuonna 2005-2006 opiskelleista kansainvälisistä opiskelijoista. Kyselyyn vastasi 68,7 % opiskelijoista. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, että kulttuurilla ei ole merkittävää vaikutusta yliopistoimagon muodostumiseen. Tutkimuksessa saatiin selville, että yliopiston Internet-sivujen laatu vaikuttaa positiivisesti odotetun yliopistoimagon muodostumiseen, kun taas koettuun yliopistoimagoon vaikuttavat positiivisesti odotettu yliopistoimago, pedagoginen laatu sekä opetusympäristö. Markkinoinnin näkökulmasta tulokset voidaan vetää yhteen toteamalla, että yliopistojen ei tarvitsisi räätälöidä tutkimuksessa tunnistettuja imagoon vaikuttavia tekijöitä eri kulttuureistatulevia opiskelijoita varten.

Evaluation of the integrity of human corneal epithelium maintained in organ-culture during eye banking using Corneamax®

Purpose: Mediums have been developed to conserve corneal endothelium in organ-culture during eye banking. CorneaMax® is used by 25% of Eye Bank in Europe. Only little is known about conservation of corneal epithelium with this medium during banking. Its preservation could be of interest in clinic to cure corneal disease with stem cells deficiency. Therefore, we wanted to examine the integrity of human corneal epithelium maintained in CorneaMax®. Methods: Human corneas, considered unsuitable for transplantation, were obtained from the Eye Bank in Lausanne. Average post-mortem time was 14 hours. Cornoscleral rings were maintained in organ-culture in Corneamax® at 32°C. Samples were formalin-fixed after period ranging from 0 (D0) to 35 days (D35, N=5 for each time points) and stained with H&E. Proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by immunostaining with antibody against Ki67 and Caspase3 respectively. Results: Corneas, which were not in organ-cultured (D0), showed different morphology, including intact epithelium with 5 to 7 layers, but also completely denuded basement membrane. In two cases, at D0, the epithelium lost its adherence to the basal lamina of the cornea creating a large epithelial sheet. During the two first days, corneas and limbus area lost totally their epithelium, except for some remaining limbal basal cells. From day 2 to day 10, regeneration of the epithelium took place, starting from the limbal region in direction to the central cornea. From day 10 to day 35, corneal epithelium appeared as an atrophic epithelium, consisting of only two cell layers. Proliferation happened in the whole cornea during the 35 days of organ-culture, as shown by Ki67 positive cells. Apoptosis was rarely detected in the corneal epithelium. Conclusions: Corneas maintained in CorneaMax® showed a complete disappearance of the corneal epithelium during the two first days and a conservation of limbal basal cells in the limbal region. These remaining cells allowed a full regeneration of the tissue, leading to an atrophic epithelium, composed of only two cell layers. This atrophic epithelium could be seen in all the organ-cultured corneas during the 35 days of conservation. This study is a first step to develop medium in organ-culture in order to conserve corneal epithelial cells.

Forensic science culture

Heretofore the issue of quality in forensic science is approached through a quality management policy whose tenets are ruled by market forces. Despite some obvious advantages of standardization of methods allowing interlaboratory comparisons and implementation of databases, this approach suffers from a serious lack of consideration for forensic science as a science. A critical study of its principles and foundations, which constitutes its culture, enables to consider the matter of scientific quality through a new dimension. A better understanding of what pertains to forensic science ensures a better application and improves elementary actions within the investigative and intelligence processes as well as the judicial process. This leads to focus the attention on the core of the subject matter: the physical remnants of the criminal activity, namely, the traces that produce information in understanding this activity. Adapting practices to the detection and recognition of relevant traces relies on the apprehension of the processes underlying forensic science tenets (Locard, Kirk, relevancy issue) and a structured management of circumstantial information (directindirect information). This is influenced by forensic science education and training. However, the lack of homogeneity with regard to the scientific nature and culture of the discipline within forensic science practitioners and partners represents a real challenge. A sound and critical reconsideration of the forensic science practitioner's roles (investigator, evaluator, intelligence provider) and objectives (prevention, strategies, evidence provider) within the criminal justice system is a means to strengthen the understanding and the application of forensic science. Indeed, the whole philosophy is aimed at ensuring a high degree of excellence, namely, a dedicated scientific quality.

In vitro culture of Spondias mombin L. nodal segments

Spondias mombin L. shoot cultures were initiated from nodal explants taken from plants propagated by seeds. Explants coming from 4-6 months old plants, previously disinfected, were cultivated on WPM medium supplemented with a wide range of concentrations of BAP (0.0, 0.22, 0.44, 2.22 and 4.44 muM) and NAA (0.0, 0.27 and 2.70 muM). After four weeks, the responses obtained were axillary shoot and root formation. The first response were preferentially induced with the medium containing only BAP, regardless of the BAP concentration. The addition of NAA on medium reduced significantly axillary shoot formation and induced rhizogenesis. Roots were formed on nodal explant basis, preferentially on medium supplemented with 4.44 muM NAA. The medium supplemented with BAP reduced significantly root formation.

Organisaatiokulttuurin muutos teleyhtiön sopeuttamisessa toimialamuutokseen

Työssä tarkasteltiin paikallisen teleyhtiön muutos- ja sopeuttamisprosessia vanhanaikaisesta puhelinyhtiöstänykyajan moderniksi teletoimijaksi. Selvitettiin, miten kaikki on saanut alkunsa ja minkälainen yritys on tänä päivänä. Yrityksen kehitykseen vaikuttaa väkisinkin organisaatiokulttuuri ja sen muuttuminen yrityksen toiminnan laajentuessa jamuuttuessa. Käytiin läpi orgäanisaatioteoriaa sekä siihen olennaisena osana liittyvää yrityksen arvomaailmaa ja yrityskuvaa. Tutkimus suoritettiin aikasarjana.Tutkimuksessa suoritettiin lyhyt historiakuvaus, jonka avulla selvitettiin tämän päivän kehitykseen vaikuttavat tekijät. Niitä olivat pääsääntöisesti yleinen teleliikennetoimialan kehittyminen ja viranomaisvalvonta. Asiaa tutkittiin kulttuurin kasvu- ja kehitysvaiheet menetelmää avuksi käyttäen. Empiirisenä aineistonakäytettiin paikallisen teleyhtiön vuosikertomuksia, otoksia julkisista lehti- ja internetartikkeleista sekä paikallisesta teleyhtiöstä ja yleisesti telealasta kertovaa kirjallisuutta. Lisäksi käytettiin hyväksi tutkijan omaa kokemusta pitkään telealalla työskennelleenä. Tutkimuksessa päädyttiin siihen tulokseen, että paikallisen teleyhtiön pitäisi näkyä enemmän valtakunnallisesti. Henkilöstön sopeuttaminen uuteen tilanteeseen tulee olemaan yritysjohdolle tärkein tehtävä. Tässä asiassa edesauttaa se, että yritysjohdolta löytyisi hyvät muutos-johtamisen ja vuorovaikuttamisen taidot. Viestinnän merkitys nousee myös erittäin tärkeäksi.Sen pitää toimia kumpaankin suuntaan, henkilöstön ja yritysjohdon välillä pitääolla kahdensuuntaista viestintää. Lisäksi todettiin, että todennäköisesti tapahtuu fuusioitumista joko niin, että isommat paikalliset teleyhtiöt ostavat pieniäyhtiöitä, ja markkinoille jää vain muutama iso paikallinen teleyhtiö, tai sitten kaikki paikalliset teleyhtiöt fuusioituvat yhteen isoon yhtiöön. Tulevaisuudessa kilpailun kiristyminen tulee luomaan tämänkaltaisia paineita. Tuote- ja palvelukehitykseen pitää tulevaisuudessa panostaa huomattavasti enemmän. Telealalla saadaan myös tottua siihen, että EU:n alueella tullaan vaatimaan kilpailun täyttävapautumista. Lisäksi viranomaiset tulevat seuraamaan telealaa jatkossakin erittäin tarkasti.