Large-sample hypothesis tests for stratified group-testing data

Insect-vectored plant diseases impact the agricultural community each year by affecting the economic value, the quantity, and the quality of crops. Controlling the spread of disease is an important area in risk assessment, and understanding the dynamics of vector populations helps researchers to develop effective treatments. In this article, we consider an experimental design commonly used by researchers who study plant disease and examine large-sample, likelihood-based hypothesis tests that can be used to characterize disease-transmission behavior in a stratified population. Small-sample size and power results along with design considerations are provided. We illustrate our testing procedures using two real data examples and provide recommendations for plant-disease researchers in the field.     

不同雨强和坡度条件下紫色土养分流失规律研究

采用室内模拟降雨装置,研究了三峡库区紫色土在不同雨强和坡度条件下的养分流失规律。结果表明,紫色土坡面流失养分主要由径流和泥沙携带,其中径流养分含量与雨强和坡度无关,但与产流过程一致。泥沙中养分含量与雨强无关,但随坡度增加而降低;泥沙养分含量与产沙量过程无关,但其流失量与产沙量过程一致。泥沙中各养分含量略大于降雨前表土养分含量,远大于径流养分含量,但由于径流中以速效养分为主,故径流携带的养分流失量不容忽视。     

Vitamin C,provitamin A carotenoids,and other carotenoids in high-pressurized orange juice during refrigerated storage

Vitamin C, provitamin A carotenoids, and other carotenoids were measured in freshly squeezed juices from oranges (Citrus sinensis L. var. Valencia late) that were subjected to high-pressure (HP) treatment. Also, the stability of these compounds was studied during refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. HP treatment is an alternative to heat preservation methods for foods; therefore, it is essential to assess the impact of HP on bioactive compounds. Several processes that combine HP treatment with heat treatment for various time periods were assayed: T0, fresh juice (without treatment); T1, 100 MPa/60 degrees C/5 min; T2, 350 MPa/30 degrees C/2.5 min; T3, 400 MPa/40 degrees C/1 min. Fresh and treated samples were kept refrigerated (4 degrees C) over 10 days. After application of HP and during the refrigeration period, the qualitative and quantitative determination of vitamin C, provitamin A carotenoids (beta- and alpha-carotene; beta- and alpha-cryptoxanthin), and the xanthophylls zeaxanthin and lutein was achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography. T1 and T3 juices showed a decrease in ascorbic acid and total vitamin C just after HP treatment (D0) compared with T0 juices. On the contrary, T2 juices, just after HP treatment (D0), had the same levels of both compounds compared to untreated juices. T1, T2, and T3 treatments led to an increase in the extraction of carotenoids and provitamin A carotenoids. Total carotenoid content after the 10-day refrigerated storage period resulted in no significant quantitative changes in T1 juices, whereas in T2 and T3 juices small losses were found at the end of the storage period (20.56 and 9.16%, respectively). These losses could be influenced by the depleted protection of vitamin C toward carotenoid oxidation during the same period. A similar trend was found in provitamin A carotenoids for the different treated juices.     

Toward the recognition of structure-function relationships in galactomannans

In this paper the determination of the physical/rheological characteristics is described for a series of commercial galactomannans of which the structural details have been reported previously. Both solubility of the galactomannans and rheological properties of galactomannan solutions and galactomannan/xanthan mixtures were determined. Using a statistical analysis approach an attempt was undertaken to recognize correlations between structural and rheological data. The best correlation found was between the abundance of galactose substituents at a regular distance (type of galactomannan) and the storage modulus (G') of mixed galactomannan/xanthan gels, underscoring the hypothesis that branching hinders the formation of a network with xanthan gum. Also, the G' for the group of locust bean gums correlated with the degree of blockiness, that is, the size and occurrence of nonsubstituted regions on the mannose backbone. In addition, galactomannans displayed an apparent decrease in gelling ability with increasing average molecular weight. That G' also relates to the type of galactomannan can therefore partly be attributed to differences in average molecular weight for the various galactomannan types. However, within the series of locust bean gums tested, also an increase of G' with molecular weight was observed. This can be explained by the decreasing number of loose ends of the polymers and the concomitant increasing efficiency in network participation with increasing molecular weight.     

堆渣边坡生态棒护坡措施的水土保持效益

[目的]探究堆渣边坡生态棒防护措施的综合防护效果,为露天采石场裸露边坡的生态修复提供依据。[方法]利用人工降雨模拟试验,收集不同降雨强度下地表层和矿渣层的产流量、产沙量,并建立综合贡献度模型。[结果]随着坡度的增加地表层的径流总量和泥沙总量呈递增趋势,而矿渣层的径流总量和泥沙总量呈递减趋势,与径流总量相比泥沙总量变化趋势不明显;对照组与生态棒防护措施下,地表层的产流—产沙相关性均高于矿渣层;当降雨强度为30和120mm/h时,生态棒防护边坡在坡度为15°时具有较佳的防护效果,当降雨强度为60mm/h时,径流量和泥沙量受坡度变化的影响不显著。[结论]生态棒防护措施具有拦蓄坡面径流和泥沙的功能,与对照组相比可以更有效地防治坡面水土流失。     

Alteration profonde preglaciaire d'un gneiss a Charlesbourg,Quebec (Canada)

A saprolite derived from a gneiss has been sampled in a fault zone at Charlesbourg, near Quebec city. The weathering largely exceeding 6 m in depth and a till overburden suggest preglacial alteration under warmer climatic conditions. This is further supported by the presence of high (up to 15% ) percentages of crystalline iron oxides (goethite and lepidocrocite). Four different facies were defined in the saprolite. Mineralogical analyses were performed on the clay fractions and the following associations were found: swelling minerals + kaolinite, kaolinite, kaolinite + gibbsite, swelling minerals + kaolinite.The degree of weathering of 2:1 minerals into kaolinite seemed to be related to internal drainage conditions. Cation exchange capacity of the saprolite was adequately explained by the clay and silt fraction contributions.     

An application of the mixed linear model and the dirichlet process prior in veterinary medicine research

This article applies Bayesian nonparametric techniques of analysis to the mixed linear model. The distribution of the random effects is specific as a nonparametric prior. A Dirichlet process prior is specified on the space of prior distributions. A modified Dirichlet process is described and applied using a Gibbs sampler. The approach is demonstrated in an investigation of the changes over time of packed cell volume in two breeds of cattle.     

Influence of oil type on the amounts of acrylamide generated in a model system and in French fries

Acrylamide formation was studied by use of a new heating methodology, based on a closed stainless steel tubular reactor. Different artificial potato powder mixtures were homogenized and subsequently heated in the reactor. This procedure was first tested for its repeatability. By use of this experimental setup, it was possible to study the acrylamide formation mechanism in the different mixtures, eliminating some variable physical and chemical factors during the frying process, such as heat flux and water evaporation from and oil ingress into the food. As a first application of this optimized heating concept, the influence on acrylamide formation of the type of deep-frying oil was investigated. The results obtained from the experiments with the tubular reactor were compared with standardized French fry preparation tests. In both cases, no significant difference in acrylamide formation could be found between the various heating oils applied. Consequently, the origin of the deep-frying vegetable oils did not seem to affect the acrylamide formation in potatoes during frying. Surprisingly however, when artificial mixtures did not contain vegetable oil, significantly lower concentrations of acrylamide were detected, compared to oil-containing mixtures.     

Development of a potentiometric method to measure the resistance to oxidation of white wines and the antioxidant power of their constituents

This work describes a new potentiometric method to evaluate the resistance to oxidation of white wines. Reduction and oxidation titrations were made, and coefficient of variation obtained were 10.87 and 2.65%, respectively. The antioxidant powers of ascorbic acid (Aas) and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) were evaluated by this method, SO(2) proving to be much less active in this respect than ascorbic acid. The two agents did not demonstrate any antioxidant synergy. A relationship between oxygen present and ascorbic acid was found by the proposed method (1 mmol of O(2) <--> 0.84 mmol of Aas). This method enables the distinction of different wines on the basis of their resistance to oxidation.     

Characterization and quantitation of antioxidant constituents of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. Vergasa have been studied at four maturity stages (immature green, green, immature red, and red). The individual phenolics (hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids), vitamin C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid), and individual carotenoids were characterized and quantified. Five hydroxycinnamic derivatives and 23 flavonoids were characterized and quantified from the pericarp of sweet pepper by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Identification was carried out by their UV spectra, chromatographic comparisons with authentic markers, identification of hydrolysis products, and tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Hydroxycinnamic derivatives, O-glycosides of quercetin, luteolin, and chrysoeriol, and a large number of C-glycosyl flavones have been characterized. Some of these compounds were found for the first time in nature. Clear differences in the individual and total phenolic content were detected between the different maturity stages. Immature green pepper had a very high phenolic content while green, immature red, and red ripe peppers showed a 4-5-fold reduction. Ascorbic acid was the main form of vitamin C, and its content increased as the pepper reached maturity. The red ripe stage had a relevant impact on the carotenoids content. Thus, immature green peppers showed the highest content of polyphenols, while red ripe fruits had the highest content of vitamin C and provitamin A.