Quantitative analysis of triglyceride species of vegetable oils by high performance liquid chromatography via a flame lonization detector

A method for the quantitative analysis of triglyceride species composition of vegetable oils by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) via a flame ionization detector (FID) is described. Triglycerides are separated into molecular species via Zorbax chemically bonded octadecylsilane (ODS) columns using gradient elution with methylene chloride in acetonitrile. Identification of species is made by matching the retention times of the peaks in the chromatogram with the order of elution of all of the species that could be present in the sample on the basis of a random distribution of the fatty acids and comparision of experimental and calculated theoretical carbon numbers (TCN). Quantitative analysis is based on a direct proportionality of peak areas. Differences in the response of individual species were small and did not dictate the use of response factors. The method is applied to cocoa butter before and after randomization, soybean oil and pure olive oil.     

Genetic Correlational Analyses of Ethanol Reward and Aversion Phenotypes in Short-Term Selected Mouse Lines Bred for Ethanol Drinking or Ethanol-Induced Conditioned Taste Aversion.

Short-term selective breeding created mouse lines divergent for ethanol drinking (high drinking short-term selected line [STDRHI], low drinking [STDRLO]) or ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA; high [HTA], low [LTA]). Compared with STDRLO, STDRHI mice consumed more saccharin and less quinine, exhibited greater ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), and showed reduced ethanol stimulation and sensitization under some conditions; a line difference in ethanol-induced CTA was not consistently found. Compared with LTA, HTA mice consumed less ethanol but were similar in saccharin consumption, sensitivity to ethanol-induced CPP, and ethanol-induced locomotor stimulation and sensitization. These data suggest that ethanol drinking is genetically associated with several reward-and aversion-related traits. The interpretation of ethanol-induced CTA as more genetically distinct must be tempered by the inability to test the CTA lines beyond Selection Generation 2. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychophysiological Mediators of Caregiver Stress and Differential Cognitive Decline.

The authors examined relationships between chronic stress and cognitive decline and whether such relationships were mediated by psychophysiological factors. Ninety-six caregivers of spouses with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were compared with 95 similar noncaregiver spouses. All were free of diabetes. Although the groups started similarly, over 2 years caregivers declined by a small but significant amount (1 raw score point and 4 percentile points, each p     

The Experiment of Modulated Toroidal Current on HT-7 and HT-6M Tokamak

The Experiments of Modulated Toroidal Current were done on the HT-6M tokamak and HT-7 superconducting tokamak. The toroidal current was modulated by programming the Ohmic heating field. Modulation of the plasma current has been used successfully to suppress MHD activity in discharges near the density limit where large MHD m = 2 tearing modes were suppressed by sufficiently large plasma current oscillations. The improved Ohmic confinement phase was observed during modulating toroidal current (MTC) on the Hefei Tokamak-6M (HT-6M) and Hefei superconducting Tokamak-7 (HT-7). A toroidal frequency-modulated current, induced by a modulated loop voltage, was added on the plasma equilibrium current. The ratio of A.C. amplitude of plasma current to the main plasma current △Ip/Ip is about 12% ～ 30%. The different formats of the frequency-modulated toroidal current were compared.     

Topological improvement procedures for quadrilateral finite element meshes

This paper presents a set of procedures for improving the topology of unstructured quadrilateral finite element meshes. These procedures are based on the topology of the finite element mesh, and all operations act only on local regions of the mesh. The goal is to optimize the topology such that the smoothing process can produce the best possible element quality. Topological improvement procedures are presented both for elements that are interior to the mesh and for elements connected to the boundary. Also presented is a discussion of efficiency and optimal ordering of the procedures. Several example meshes are included to show the effectiveness of the current approach in improving element qualities in a finite element mesh.     

The role of induced contrast in images obtained using the environmental scanning electron microscope

Generation of contrast in images obtained using the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) is explained by interpretation of images acquired using the gaseous secondary electron detector (GSED), ion current, and the Everhart-Thornley detector. We present a previously unreported contrast component in GSED and ion current images attributed to signal induction by changes in the concentration of positive ions in the ESEM chamber during image acquisition. Changes in positive ion concentration are caused by changes in electron emission from the sample during image acquisition and by a discrepancy between the drift velocities of negative and positive charge carriers in the imaging gas. The proposed signal generation mechanism is used to explain contrast reversal in images produced using the GSED and ion current signals and accounts for discrepancies in contrast observed, under some conditions, in these types of images. Combined with existing models of signal generation in the ESEM, the proposed model provides a basis for correct interpretation of ESEM images.     

Housing policy in remote Indigenous communities: how politics obstructs good policy

Abstract

When it comes to issues of housing policy, remote Indigenous housing often presents the extreme case. The failures of housing policy are most acute in remote Indigenous Australia, but despite the need to learn from the policy mistakes of the past, there has been little detailed analysis of the policy history. Through documentary and empirical analysis, we show that policies have either failed to be adapted to cultural and geographic contexts or, when they have been culturally responsive, they have lacked attention to the complexities of service delivery. Despite differences in policy settings, the long view is one of the normalization of Indigenous communities, although research points to the need for culturally appropriate arrangements. We argue that rather than politically motivated short-termism, governments need to develop a medium- to long-term approach that approaches policy solutions incrementally, builds capacity within the state and Indigenous communities, and is based on the evidence.     

Investigating fuel-cell transport limitations using hydrogen limiting current

Reducing mass-transport losses in polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is essential to increase their power density and reduce overall stack cost. At the same time, cost also motivates the reduction in expensive precious-metal catalysts, which results in higher local transport losses in the catalyst layers. In this paper, we use a hydrogen-pump limiting-current setup to explore the gas-phase transport losses through PEFC catalyst layers and various gas-diffusion and microporous layers. It is shown that the effective diffusivity in the gas-diffusion layers is a strong function of liquid saturation. In addition, it is shown how the catalyst layer unexpectedly contributes significantly to the overall measured transport resistance. This is especially true for low catalyst loadings. It is also shown how the various losses can be separated into different mechanisms including diffusional processes and mass-dependent and independent ones, where the data suggests that a large part of the transport resistance in catalyst layers cannot be attributed to a gas-phase diffusional process. The technique is promising for deconvoluting transport losses in PEFCs.     

A case for information theory-based modelling of human multitasking performance

Technological advances have led to increased prevalence of human multitasking. Traditionally, multitasking performance is measured for each individual task, utilising multiple performance metrics. Recently, the human operator informatic model (HOIM) has been developed as a quantitative model of human–machine interaction capable of measuring multitasking performance with a single metric. In this study, we investigated the performance effects of both a different number of tasks and five different task combinations while maintaining a constant level of overall difficulty. Results indicate that, at a constant difficulty level, neither number of tasks nor task combination significantly affects multitasking performance, indicating the reliability of input baud rate as a measure of system complexity. No task interaction effects were found among the different tasks. This study demonstrates the application of information theory for modelling of human multitasking performance and makes a case for the use of the HOIM in future studies of human information processing.     

Multi-breath dry powder inhaler for delivery of cohesive powders in the treatment of bronchiectasis

A series of co-engineered macrolide–mannitol particles were successfully prepared using azithromycin (AZ) as a model drug. The formulation was designed to target local inflammation and bacterial colonization, via the macrolide component, while the mannitol acted as mucolytic and taste-masking agent. The engineered particles were evaluated in terms of their physico-chemical properties and aerosol performance when delivered via a novel high-payload dry powder Orbital^? inhaler device that operates via multiple inhalation manoeuvres. All formulations prepared were of suitable size for inhalation drug delivery and contained a mixture of amorphous AZ with crystalline mannitol. A co-spray dried formulation containing 200?mg of 50:50?w/w AZ: mannitol had 57.6%?±?7.6% delivery efficiency with a fine particle fraction (≤6.8?µm) of the emitted aerosol cloud being 80.4%?±?1.1%, with minimal throat deposition (5.3?±?0.9%). Subsequently, it can be concluded that the use of this device in combination with the co-engineered macrolide–mannitol therapy may provide a means of treating bronchiectasis.