Oxidative stability of structured lipids produced from sunflower oil and caprylic acid

Traditional sunflower oil (SO), randomized lipid (RL) and specific structured lipid (SL), both produced from SO and tricaprylin/caprylic acid, respectively, were stored for up to 12 wk to compare their oxidative stabilities by chemical and sensory analyses. Furthermore, the effect of adding a commercial antioxidant blend Grindox 117 (propyl gallate/ citric acid/ascorbyl palmitate) or gallic acid to the SL was investigated. The lipid type affected the oxidative stability: SL was less stable than SO and RL. The reduced stability was most likely caused by both the structure of the lipid and differences in production/ purification, which caused lower tocopherol content and higher initial levels of primary and secondary oxidation products in SL compared with RL and SO. Grindox 117 and gallic acid did not exert a distinct antioxidative effect in the SL oil samples during storage.     

A review of faults detectable by gas-in-oil analysis intransformers

IEC Publication 60599 provides a coded list of faults detectable by dissolved gas analysis (DGA): PD = partial discharges; D1 = discharges of low energy; D2 = discharges of high energy; T1 = thermal faults of temperature < 300°C; T2 = thermal faults of temperature 300°C < T < 700°C; T3 = thermal faults of temperature > 700°C. The IEC TC10 databases of DGA results corresponding to faults identified by visual inspection of faulty transformers in service have been presented in a previous paper (see IEEE Elec. Insulation Mag., vol. 17, no. 2, p.31-41, 2001). The present paper reviews these DGA results in a more user-friendly graphical form. It also reviews the DGA results of laboratory models attempting to simulate these faults, as published in the scientific literature or technical reports. The specific case of on-load tap changers (OLTC) is reviewed much more extensively, and separately, since DGA interpretation in this case must take into account the large background of residual gases resulting from the normal current-breaking operation of the OLTC. Particular attention is also given to DGA results related to PDs and low-temperature thermal faults     

Profitability of sparse district heating

The expansion of district heating into areas of low heat densities (heat sparse areas) constitutes a challenge due to the higher distribution costs. The profitability of sparse district heating has been analysed from actual investments in 74 areas with 3227 one-family houses connected to district heating between 2000 and 2004 in Göteborg, Sweden. The profitability was estimated from a probable price model, a typical marginal heat generation cost, and the investments from the actual connections made. The analysis identified factors as the linear heat density and heat sold per house explaining the main variations in profitability. The profitability analysis was concluded with a competition analysis. The main conclusion is that sparse district heating is possible when reaching low investment costs for the local distribution network and low marginal costs for the heat generation. In Sweden, the general competitiveness of sparse district heating is facilitated by the high consumption taxes for fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity. Hence, it should be more difficult to introduce sparse district heating in other countries with low energy taxes.     

Efficacy of the plant phototoxinα-terthienyl againstAedes intrudens and effects on nontarget organisms

The botanical phototoxin, -terthienyl (-T) was spray applied to natural or artificial pools containing mosquito (Aedes intrudens) larvae and nontarget invertebrates (caddisfly, damselfly, midge, shrimp,Daphnia, snail) and one vertebrate (trout) at concentrations varying from 0.01 to 1 kg/hectare, under field and laboratory conditions. All field-treated nontarget invertebrates survived -T treatment better thanA. intrudens which can be controlled at doses as low as 0.01 kg/hectare within one week. Under laboratory conditions, snails and trout survived -T and UV treatments up to 10 kg/ hectare. These results compare favorably with organophosphates and pyrethroid insecticides currently used for mosquito control. The results confirm that -T is a highly effective larvicide with acceptable nontarget effects.     

"Evolutionary" stable strategy of handedness in major league baseball.

Evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) theory was tested on the handedness composition of major league baseball (MLB) players. The throwing handedness of pitchers and the hitting handedness of batters were sampled over 110 yrs and their proportions analyzed over decades. Then, to predict steady-state laterality levels, ESS equations were derived from a payoff matrix of hitting performances for left-right pitcher-batter confrontations (J. Thorn and P. Palmer, 1985). The equations successfully predicted a pitcher-batter invasion in which left-handed pitchers would stabilize at about 31% of the population. For batters, the predictions were 27% left-handed, 11% bats with both hands, and 63% right-handed, accurate within a 3% margin of error. These successful predictions, based on nonarbitrary common-currency values in the payoff matrix, support the validity of ESS, while the use of handedness, a behavior influenced by phylogenetic, ontogenetic, and cultural factors, establishes its generality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clonal relationships among high-level penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States

Emu antibody responses to avian influenza virus (AIV) infection were evaluated by the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA), agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. All birds infected with AIV H5N1, H5N3, or H7N7 developed antinucleoprotein (NP) antibodies as early as 7 days postinfection as detected by the C-ELISA. The responses lasted 49 days for the emus receiving H5N3 and at least 56 days for emus receiving the other two viruses. By evaluating 50 emu field serum samples, the C-ELISA was found more sensitive than the AGID test for the detection of anti-NP antibodies. This study indicates that emus experimentally infected with AIV developed antibody responses that can be detected by C-ELISA, AGID, and HI tests. The results from this and our previous studies demonstrate the use of the C-ELISA as a substitute for the AGID test in a routine serodiagnostic screening for detection of antibodies to AIV infection in multiple avian species.     

Parental perceptions of child behavior problems, parenting self-esteem, and mothers' reported stress in younger and older hyperactive and normal children.

40 parents of younger and older hyperactives (Hs; aged 5 yrs 1 mo and 8 yrs 4 mo, respectively) and 51 parents of age-matched normal controls completed measures of hyperactivity and child behavior, parenting self-esteem (PSE), and parenting stress. PSE was lower in parents of Hs than in parents of controls. Self-esteem related to skill/knowledge as a parent was age related, with parents of older Hs reporting the lowest levels; self-esteem related to valuing/comfort in the parenting role was not related to the child's age. Mothers of Hs, especially younger ones, reported markedly higher levels of stress associated with both child characteristics and their own feelings, such as depression, self-blame, and social isolation. Consistent inverse relationships were found between PSE and perceptions of child problems, whereas ratings of child disturbance and maternal stress were positively correlated. Findings are discussed in terms of the social contexts surrounding hyperactivity and the need for multidimensional assessments and interventions in families of Hs. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Models for clinically relevant research.

Contends that the ideal program of research to maximize clinical relevance combines 4 models of strategies. These are (1) convergent/convergent, (2) divergent/divergent, (3) divergent-theory/convergent-method, and (4) convergent-theory/divergent-method, and all are employed nomothetically at the level of theory and idiographically at the level of method. Model 1 serves to expand theoretical and procedural possibilities, giving clinicians the flexibility they need when working with individuals in service-delivery settings. Model 2 controls theoretical expansion. Model 3 controls procedural expansion. Model 4 may be used to provide preliminary demonstrations of feasibility that are then used to stimulate other forms of more directly relevant investigation. The products of this overall program of research will increasingly represent a useful body of tested theoretical and procedural possibilities and alternatives that clinicians can use for explaining and treating individual clients and for evaluating treatment outcomes in individually relevant terms. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)