Identification and quantification of phenolics in aromatic bitter and cherry liqueur by HPLC with electrochemical detection

An HPLC-based method with electrochemical detection was optimized for quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in an aromatic bitter and a cherry liqueur, which are different types of alcoholic beverages with a high phenolic content. The method requires only filtering of samples prior to the HPLC analysis and is recommended for routine analysis. Two slightly different gradients were needed for the analysis of the two beverages. Eleven and eight different phenolic compounds (cinnamic acid derivatives, benzoic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols, flavanons, and eugenol) were identified and quantified in the bitter and the cherry liqueur, respectively.     

Antioxidative and prooxidative effects of extracts made from cherry liqueur pomace

The effect of phenolics extracted from cherry liqueur pomace on the Fenton reaction was tested in a model system, where hydroxyl radicals from iron (II) reduction of H₂O₂ reacted with ethanol, forming 1-hydroxyl radicals. The extent of the radical formation was monitored by electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of spin adducts formed from 1-hydroxyethyl radicals and 4-pyridyl-1-oxide-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN). Small phenol–iron ratios gave low amounts of detected radicals, indicating an antioxidative effect of the extracts, whereas high phenol–iron ratios gave high levels of radicals, indicating decreasing antioxidant or dominating prooxidant effects. Extracts made with pure solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, acetone or 2-propanol) gave higher antioxidant effects than extracts made with 70% aqueous solvent mixtures. The prooxidant effect of the extracts increased with the polarity of the extraction solvent. Gallic acid gave a prooxidative effect, p-coumaric acid only an antioxidative effect, while epicatechin gave an antioxidative effect at low concentrations and a prooxidative effect at high concentrations.     

Use of Al2O3 as inter-poly dielectric in a production proven 130 nm embedded Flash technology

We have successfully integrated 2 Mb arrays with SiO₂/Al₂O₃ stacks as inter-poly dielectric (IPD) fabricated in a proven 130 nm embedded Flash technology. Gate stack write/erase high voltages (HV) can be reduced by 3 V. Write/erase distributions show evidence of bit pinning which can be explained by barrier lowering along Al₂O₃ grain boundaries. Reliability assessment of the 2 Mb array reveals promising data retention and cycle endurance, indicating the absence of charge trapping in the high-k IPD. Despite several integration issues, these results demonstrate the high potential of Al₂O₃ IPDs in embedded Flash technologies.     

Parental smoking cessation and children's smoking: mediation by antismoking actions.

The present study investigated whether parents' antismoking actions mediated the prospective relationship between parental smoking cessation and children's smoking. Smoking status of parents (predictor) was assessed when their children were in 3rd grade, parental antismoking actions (mediators) were assessed when their children were in 11th grade, and children's smoking status (outcome) was assessed when they were in 12th grade. In 20 Washington state school districts, data were collected from 1,600 children (49% female, 91% White) and from their parents. Results showed that children's odds of daily smoking were reduced by 39% (95% CI = 24%-51%) for those whose parents had quit smoking, compared with those whose parents were current smokers. Asking to sit in nonsmoking sections of public establishments was a significant (p<.01) mediator that explained 64% of the association between parental smoking cessation and children's smoking. However, not allowing smoking in the home and asking others not to smoke around them were not significant mediators (p = .10, and p = .06, respectively). In conclusion, asking to sit in a nonsmoking section of a public establishment substantially mediates the relationship between parental smoking cessation and children's smoking.     

Lifetimes of organic photovoltaics: photochemistry, atmosphere effects and barrier layers in ITO-MEHPPV:PCBM-aluminium devices

Large area polymer photovoltaic cells based on poly[(2-methoxy-5-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were prepared. The lifetimes of the photovoltaic cells were studied in terms of the atmosphere, handling, electrode treatment, mode of preparation and barrier layers by recording the short circuit current as a function of time. Two exponential fits to the decay curves allowed for the extraction of the time constants for different degradation processes. For the periods of time studied here (24–300 h), the decay curves could be fitted with two exponential functions. Common to the preparations were that the first half-life remained short and was independent of the presence of oxygen. When fullerenes were employed by sublimation of a layer of C₆₀ or as the soluble PCBM, the first half-life was an order of magnitude longer and depended on the presence of oxygen. By employing different barrier layers, we found the first half-life to be linked to the aluminium polymer interface and ascribe it to a photochemical reaction between the organic material and the reactive aluminium at the interface. The second and longer half-life was found to depend on the presence of oxygen. We also discuss our findings of the short lifetimes for organic photovoltaics under AM1.5 illumination in the context of future applications.     

Amenity development in the Norwegian mountains: Effects of second home owner environmental attitudes on preferences for alternative development options

Second home development is increasing rapidly in the Norwegian mountains, reflecting global patterns in mountain amenity attractions. Currently around 6000 new second homes are built in Norway annually sustaining an economic sector of several billion euros. Environmental and social impacts resulting from this activity are only partly identified. Second home owners comprise diverse groups of people who in different ways become affected by the growth in infrastructure and usage of the mountain regions. In this paper we explore the role of more basic environmental attitudes or ecocentrism, measured according to the New Environmental Paradigm scale, on perception of impacts, attitudes toward second home development, preferences for facilities and activities, and long term changes in mountain second home areas. There is a distinct relationship between econcentrism and attitudes toward second home development. In general, second home owners who express a strong degree of environmental orientation are consistently less in favor of development of further infrastructure, services and facilities. Ecocentrism is also positively correlated with sensitivity toward impacts and skepticism toward long term future changes.     

Parents' and older siblings' smoking during childhood: changing influences on smoking acquisition and escalation over the course of adolescence.

This study investigated prospectively the change in the influence of parents' and older siblings' smoking at the start of the childhood and adolescent smoking acquisition period (i.e., 3rd grade, or age 8) on the initiation and escalation of smoking over the course of adolescence. In a sample of 5,520 individuals in 3rd grade, we measured parents' and older siblings' smoking. Individuals' smoking data were provided at four grade intervals over the course of adolescence. The influence of parents' smoking, measured at 3rd grade, was stable and significant for the transition to trying smoking and increased over the course of adolescence for the transition from monthly to daily smoking (p = .001). In contrast, we found no evidence that influence of older siblings' smoking, measured at 3rd grade, changed (p>.05) across the grade intervals for any adolescent smoking transition. The results suggest that the influence of parents' smoking on smoking initiation is stable and enduring whereas it increases substantially for smoking escalation occurring over the course of adolescence.     

RCT of a psychological intervention for patients with cancer: I. Mechanisms of change.

Little is known about the therapeutic processes contributing to efficacy of psychological interventions for patients with cancer. Data from a randomized clinical trial yielding robust biobehavioral and health effects (B. L. Andersen et al., 2004, 2007) were used to examine associations between process variables, treatment utilization, and outcomes. Novel findings emerged. Patients were highly satisfied with the treatment, but their higher levels of felt support (group cohesion) covaried with lower distress and fewer symptoms. Also, specific treatment strategies were associated with specific outcomes, including lower distress, improved dietary habits, reduced symptomatology, and higher chemotherapy dose intensity. These data provide a comprehensive test of multiple therapeutic processes and mechanisms for biobehavioral change with an intervention including both intensive and maintenance phases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interlaboratory Comparison of Reference Surface Temperature Apparatus at NMIs

During 2001 and 2002, the first international comparison of surface temperature measurements at national metrology institutes (NMIs) was organized under EUROMET Project No 635. The coordinator for this project was the National Office of Measures (OMH) in Hungary. Among the participants were the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute (SP) from Sweden, the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation (MIKES) in Finland, and Justervesenet (JV) in Norway. The comparison showed a need for better apparatus to reduce the differences in the results from the different laboratories. As a result, a new apparatus was designed at SP and MIKES made some changes to their apparatus. To test the new and modified apparatus, SP took the initiative to arrange and coordinate a new comparison. In this recent comparison, measurements were made at temperatures from 50 to 300°C on surfaces of aluminum and stainless steel. The comparison was arranged and performed during 2005 and 2006. Participants in the comparison were OMH, MIKES, RISOE, JV, and SP. The comparison results using the newly developed apparatus show improved agreement with the earlier EUROMET intercomparison, but also indicate a need for a more standardized calibration method and apparatus to be able to perform calibrations in different laboratories with good agreement.     

Double blind randomised controlled trial of effect of metoprolol on myocardial ischaemia during endoscopic cholangiopancreatography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of metoprolol, a beta adrenergic blocking drug, on the occurrence of myocardial ischaemia during endoscopic cholangiopancreatography. DESIGN: Double blind, randomised, controlled trial. SETTING: University Hospital. SUBJECTS: 38 (two groups of 19) patients scheduled for endoscopic cholangiopancreatography. INTERVENTIONS: Metoprolol 100 mg or placebo as premedication two hours before endoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation by continuous pulse oximetry, ST segment changes during endoscopic cholangiopancreatography (an ST segment deviation > 1 mV was defined as myocardial ischaemia), electrocardiogram monitored continuously with a Holter tape recorder. RESULTS: All patients had increased heart rate during endoscopy compared with rate before endoscopy, but heart rate during endoscopy was significantly lower in the metoprolol group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.0002). Twenty one patients (16 placebo, 5 metoprolol; P = 0.0008) developed tachycardia (heart rate > 100/min) during the procedure, and 11 patients (10 placebo, 1 metoprolol; P = 0.003) developed myocardial ischaemia. One patient in the placebo group had an acute inferolateral myocardial infarction. In the 10 other patients with signs of myocardial ischaemia during endoscopy the ST deviation disappeared when the endoscope was retracted. In all patients myocardial ischaemia was related to increases in heart rate, and 10 of the 11 patients had tachycardia coherent with myocardial ischaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Metoprolol prevented myocardial ischaemia during endoscopic cholangiopancreatography, probably through lowering the heart rate. Thus, tachycardia seems to be a key pathogenic factor in the development of myocardial ischaemia during endoscopy.