The development of a proanthocyanidin (PAC) treatment, along with the understanding of its mechanism of action, would provide an alternative method of preventing attachment to and colonization of surfaces by microorganisms, as well as potentially disrupting preexisting biofilms. The purpose of this research is to examine the role a cranberry proanthocyanidin plays in the primary attachment of Bacillus cereus to an abiotic surface. This technology could be employed in food processing plants where a premium is placed on maintaining a sanitized work environment to prevent product contamination. A biofilm assay showed that a surface treated with proanthocyanidins actually promoted rather than prevented the attachment of Bacillus cereus. This was further made evident by the fact that the surface hydrophobicities of B. cereus cells grown in media supplemented with proanthocyanidins were greater than those grown in its absence. In addition, light microscopy analysis showed a greater degree of sporulation of B. cereus cells when grown on TSA plates supplemented with PACs. These results suggest that proanthocyanidins may be inducing endospore formation in Bacillus cereus leading to increased attachment and surface hydrophobicity values.

A functional beverage, designed to be cardio-protective, was formulated, using a blend of juices of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon L), blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton.), apple (Malus domestica L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and selected cardio-protective ingredients. Membrane filtration enhanced the antioxidant properties of the fruit juices. Ultrasound-assisted water extract of ginger showed potential antioxidant activities. The selected fruit juice combination, 50% blueberry; 12.5% cranberry; and 37.5% apple, showed higher consumer acceptability. Incorporation of functional ingredients at 10% RDI and 2% (v/v) ginger extract did not affect the sensory properties of the beverage. Phenolic concentration, FRAP value, and % LDL oxidation inhibition of the formulation were 1024 mg GAE/L, 3114 mg TE/L and 45%, respectively. Diet supplementation with the formulation resulted in lower serum and liver lipid levels in spontaneously hypotensive rats. Blood pressure was reduced by the formulation after two but not four weeks supplementation.

The overall aim of the thesis was to investigate whether patient safety can be improved for patients with hip fracture by nutritional intervention and by pharmacological treatment with cranberry concentrate. Another aim was to describe the patients’ experience of involvement in their care. The thesis includes results from four studies that include both quantitative and qualitative design. Studies I and II were intervention studies with a quasi-experimental design, with intervention and comparison groups. Study III was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with intervention and control groups. Study IV took a qualitative approach. Study I showed that when patients with hip fracture received nutritional supplementation according to nutritional guidelines, from admission until five days postoperatively, fewer patients developed pressure ulcers. Study II showed that it is possible to objectively evaluate a short-term nutritional intervention through the nutritional biochemical marker IGF-1, as it was affected by a five-day high-energy regimen. The randomised controlled trial, Study III, showed that a short-term treatment from admission until five days postoperatively with cranberry as capsules does not seem to be useful in preventing positive urine cultures in female patients with hip fracture and a urinary catheter. Finally, Study IV showed that patients with hip fracture reported experiencing very little involvement in their nursing care, to the extent that fundamental aspects of nursing care went unfulfilled. Patients did not feel valued by the nurses and unbearable pain that affected rehabilitation was reported. Positive interactions with nurses, however, did encourage patients to be more active. It is possible for every nurse to improve patient safety at bedside when caring for patients with hip fracture. Simply by increasing caloric/energy intake, it is possible to prevent pressure ulcers. It is also important to involve patients in nursing care, since the patients have experienced low or almost no involvement in care. Nurses need to see each patient as a whole person with different wishes and needs. However, certain prerequisites have to be in place to give nurses the opportunity to increase patient safety at bedside for patients with hip fracture.

In cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) cultivation, farmers typically rent colonies of honey bee (Apis mellifera) for pollination. However, the efficiency of this bee at pollinating cranberries in Oregon, as in other regions, is questionable. Bumble bees (Bombus sp.) are reportedly effective in other regions, but their impact in Oregon is unknown. My objectives were to: (i) Compare bumble bee and honey bee pollination efficiencies under caged conditions; (ii) Estimate the abundance of bumble bees, honey bees, and other pollinators on an Oregon cranberry farm; and iii) Analyze and compare sources of pollen collected by bumble bees and honey bees in Oregon cranberries. In comparing pollination efficiencies of bumble bees and honey bees under caged conditions, the analysis of variance of data from the cage study indicated that bumble bee and honey bee pollinated plants yielded statistically equivalent average numbers of cranberries (1421 ± 302.5 and 1405 ± 347.6 berries/m², respectively) and weight of berries (11.5 ± 2.42 and 11.5 ± 2.77g/m²). However, bumble bees may have increased fruit set in honey bee treatments. On one occasion, bumble bees were found in the honey bee treatment, and may have contributed to the pollination of flowers in these plots. To estimate the abundance of pollinators, visual observations and were blue vane traps were utilized. Thirty-four timed visual observations in transects of cranberry beds were performed over on four dates during cranberry bloom. Blue vane traps were set-up on five occasions during bloom for two day periods. In the visual observations, honey bees (3.5 ± 0.58/min) were observed more frequently than bumble bees (1.2 ± 0.20/min). Bumble bees of four species made up 69.1% of trapped bees while honey bees made up 16.6% of bees caught in blue vane traps. On an Oregon cranberry farm during bloom periods in 2009, 2010 and 2011, pollen was collected from honey bee colonies using pollen traps. In 2010 and 2011, pollen was hand collected from reared bumble bee (B. vosnesenkii) colonies at the same farm. A total of 2937 honey bee pollen loads and 171 bumble bee pollen samples (137 scopal pollen loads, and 34 samples from with the colony) were individually acetolyzed and compared to a reference collection using light microscopy. Each pollen load was homogenized and 100 pollen grains were identified and counted to determine the percentage of each pollen type. Pollen collected by honey bees consisted of 29.1 ± 1.4% (2009), 18.3 ± 2.4% (2010), and 23.0 ± 1.1% (2011) cranberry pollen. Cranberry pollen contributed a higher percentage (56.0 ± 6.1%, and 70.4 ± 4.3% in 2010, and 2011, respectively) in bumble bee collected pollen. Both bee species collected pollen from non-target plants including those in the following families: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Roseaceae. Native bumble bees (B. vosnesenskii) collected more cranberry pollen than pollen from non-target plants, and consistently collected a higher proportion of cranberry pollen than honey bees. The results of these studies suggest that native bumble bees may be adequate for cranberry pollination in Curry County, Oregon. However, the size of bumble bee populations may vary from year to year due to climactic conditions, availability of nesting sites, and forage before and after cranberry bloom. Thus the dependability and consistency pollination services rendered to cranberry crops by bumble bees needs to be further investigated in relation to population fluxuations. / Graduation date: 2012

Orientador: Paulo Roberto Kawano / Resumo: Introdução: Embora a LTU seja conhecida pela humanidade desde a antiguidade, o real mecanismo envolvido na formação do cálculo renal ainda não foi completamente esclarecido. Trata-se de um processo complexo, envolvendo uma doença multifatorial resultante de interações entre fatores ambientais, predisposição genética e distúrbios metabólicos. Alterações nos fatores dietéticos têm sido propostas para prevenir ou minimizar o risco da litíase recorrente. Dentre estes fatores, o cranberry tem sido sugerido como potencial agente terapêutico capaz de atenuar os efeitos da hiperoxalúria, porém com resultados ainda controversos. Objetivo: Avaliar as eventuais repercussões metabólicas e histológicas decorrentes da suplementação oral da dieta com cranberry, sobre as alterações morfológicas e urinárias secundárias à hiperoxalúria provocada por agentes indutores, em um modelo experimental em ratos. Métodos: Foram utilizados 40 ratos machos da raça Sprague-Dawley, randomicamente distribuídos em quatro grupos: GRUPO 1 (G1: n=7) controle clínico; GRUPO 2 [G2: Etileno glicol (EG) a 0,5%+vitamina D3 (VD3), n=11] no qual a hiperoxalúria foi induzida a partir da administração de EG diluído em água e ofertado em associação com a VD3 (Colecalciferol) na dose de 0,5 μM; GRUPO 3 [G3: EG 0,5%+VD3+Cranberry); n=11] no qual os animais receberam as mesmas drogas ofertadas ao G2 acrescido de xarope de cranberry na dose de 800mg/kg peso/dia; GRUPO 4 (G4, n=11) animais suplementados apenas com a cranberry ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

V. macrocarpon (canneberge) est traditionnellement associé à la prévention des IU, les mécanismes restant mal élucidés. L'effet d'une préparation commerciale de canneberge sur l'adhésion d'E.coli UTI89 aux cellules urothéliales T24, a montré l'importance de pré-incuber les bactéries avec le composé pour obtenir une inhibition dose-dépendante et réversible de l'adhésion. L'étude du transcriptome (E.coli Gene expression microarray, AgilentTechnologies) montre un effet puissant portant sur de nombreux gènes liés aux adhésines (sauf les fimbriae P), au chémotactisme et au flagelle. L'étude en microscopie électronique confirme un effet sur la taille et les structures de surface (adhésines, flagelles), l'étude de la mobilité en microscopie à champ large montre de moindres capacités de déplacement (distances, linéarité). Chez la souris C57BL/6, la pré-incubation n'a pas d'effet significatif sur la colonisation des vessies, ni sur l'adhésion ex vivo aux cellules T24, des bactéries récupérées dans les vessies. Un modèle intégratif d'étude de V.macrocarpon, basé sur des tests simples in vitro (adhésion, swarming, microscopie à champ large) est défini. / V.macrocarpon (cranberry) is traditionally associated with the prevention of urinary tract infections although the mechanisms of action remaining poorly elucidated. Preincubation of E.coli UTI89 strain with commercial extracts of V.macrocarpon inhibited adhesion to T24 human urothelial cell line in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. Transcriptomic assay (E.coli Gene expression microarray, Agilent Technologies) highlighted a strong impact on most genes related to adhesion, but P fimbriae, chemotactism and flagella. Electron microscopy study confirmed V.macrocarpon-induced alterations on UTI89 size and surface structures (fimbriae, flagella). In keeping, broad field microscopy (ImarisTrack) evidenced alterations in E.coli motility (track displacement length, duration, speed & straightness). In C57BL/6 mice, pre-incubation of UTI89 with V.macrocarpon extracts failed to impact bladder colonization after intravesical instillations and adhesion to T24 cells of bacteria recovered 3days after instillation. A simple, in vitro model based on adhesion and swarming assays and broad field microscopy is described to evaluate cranberry activity.

The American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) represents a vital sector of the economy of southeastern Massachusetts. Due to the hydrogeological and edaphic characteristics of peatlands, variations in soil drainage and soil moisture represent major management challenges for growers in Massachusetts. An emerging trend of upland (mineral soil) cranberry farms planted with new hybrid cultivars has the potential to enhance the profitability and long-term viability of cranberry production in Massachusetts. However, sparse data exist on soil moisture characteristics of peatland and upland cranberry farms. The purpose of this research was to elucidate the differences in soil moisture between upland and peatland cranberry farms, to evaluate the soil temperature-moisture relationship and its use for inferring soil moisture, and to explore the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as a soil moisture management tool in cranberry agriculture.In this thesis, we found that volumetric soil water content (qv) in upland farms ranged from 5-15%, contrasting with values of 10-40% for peatland farms. In general, soil moisture in upland farms was two times drier and four times more uniform than peatlands farms. Our results suggest that open ditches should be dredged to at least 50 cm to obtain irrigation setpoints of -5 to -2 kPa for Massachusetts cranberry farms. We found that soil temperature and near-surface temperature were accurate predictors of soil moisture but were also strongly dependent on the magnitude of differences between air and water temperature. Soil and near-surface temperatures were also better predictors of moisture in soils with lower vegetation coverage and organic matter content. Near-surface temperature collected with a UAS was consistent with field measurements of qv, suggesting that UAS could be used to assist Massachusetts cranberry farmers by predicting large-scale variation in q v and offering management insights.

Dodder (Cuscuta gronovii Willd.) is a weed of serious concern to cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) growers. It develops vigorously and has a long-lived seed bank. Cranberries are a perennial crop and therefore strategies available to growers of annual crops are not practical. Herbicides, the primary management tool for dodder, although effective, have a narrow window of application and extended seedling emergence after applications can result in escapes. This project examined the effect of water temperature on dodder seed germination and the use of short-term floods (less than 72 hr) for dodder management. Experiments investigated the effect of water temperature on dodder seed germination. Studies, ran twice, submerged dodder seed in water for 0 to 48 hr at 10, 15, and 20 C in one experiment (simulating spring water temperatures) and 0 to 48 hr at 15, 20, and 25 C in a separate experiment (simulating summer water temperatures). In Run 1, the effect of temperature on percent seed germination varied by flood duration; and by temperature alone in Run 2. Percent seed germination however, always fell within normal ranges (35-59%), indicating that flooding may not impact seed germination. Two 1-yr field studies were conducted to evaluate the use of short-term floods (24 to 48 hr) for managing dodder in cranberries. Two scenarios were simulated: cranberry beds with no emergent weed populations (cranberries alone) and cranberries with emergent weed populations (cranberries with additional host). There were three flood durations (0, 24, and 48 hr) and four flood initiations (1 to 4 wk after first seedling emergence). In 2006, mean percent germination from seeds incubated in Petri dishes was lower for seeds submerged 3 and 4 wk after first emergence (AFE) for the 48-hr flood durations. In 2007, mean percent germination for seeds submerged for 24 and 48-hr decreased for floods initiated at 4 wk AFE. Flooding 4 wk AFE resulted in lowest mean attachment ratings in both years and lowest mean dodder biomass on cranberry in the 2007 cranberry and tomato study, suggesting later flood initiation may provide better dodder management.

No description available.

An alternative method for extraction of therapeutically beneficial compounds such as sterols, fatty acids, and tocopherols from cranberry seeds with pure SF CO2 has been provided. The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) operating conditions such as extraction temperature, pressure of CO2, extraction time, and CO2 flow rate were optimized to maximize the extraction yield. The amount and type of SF extractables (pure CO₂) have been compared with Soxhlet extractables (hexane) to evaluate the feasibility of SFE as an alternative extraction method. The extractables obtained via hexane and SF CO₂, which were derivatized and identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), contained mostly methylated fatty acids. / Master of Science