Effect of hydrogen/air flow rates and scan rate on the flame ionisation detection response of phopholipids, and their quantitative and qualitative analysis by Iatroscan (Mark‐6s) TLC‐FID

The combined effect of scan speed, hydrogen and air flow rates on the flame ionization detection (FID) peak response of phospholipid classes has been studied to determine the optimum levels of these parameters. The phospholipid composition of different types of commercial lecithins, as well as lecithins combined with fish oils, has been analyzed by Iatroscan TLC‐FID Mark‐6s under optimized conditions. An air flow rate of 2 L/min, a hydrogen flow rate of 150–160 mL/min, and a scan speed of 30 s/rod seem to be the ideal conditions for scanning phospholipids with complete pyrolysis in the flame in the Mark‐6 model. Increasing the scan speed rapidly decreased the FID response. A hydrogen flow rate as high as 170 mL/min could be used at relatively low air flow rates (&#x003C2 L/min) and the response declined when both air flow rate and hydrogen flow rate increased simultaneously. Both linear and curvilinear relationships had highly significant correlations (p&#x003C0.01) with the sample load. Time course reactions, including the hydrolysis of phosphatidylserine using enzymes, can be successfully monitored by the Iatroscan TLC‐FID Chromarod system.

The weight of the thing left its mark

The weight of the thing left its mark imagines and abstracts a domestic situation where the relationships are under constant negotiation and held by what has been left unsaid. Framed by the unexpected use of kitchen cutlery the performance has a loosely knit structure that makes the dancing immediate and the quality of attention very alive.

'Waltzing Matilda' - registrable as a trade mark or not? (first instance decision)

In brief: The Federal Court has ruled against an application to register the trade mark 'WALTZING MATILDA' for a variety of foods and associated services. It found that the Winton Shire Council and the Waltzing Matilda Centre Limited (also in Winton, Queensland) had the better rights to ownership of the Australian icon – despite them not having coined the term 'Waltzing Matilda'.

Progress report : 'Waltzing Matilda' trade mark case (appeal decision)

In brief: In our August 2002 Bulletin, we reported on the decision of a single judge in the Federal Court that the Winton Shire Council in Queensland and the Waltzing Matilda Centre Limited (also in Winton) had better rights to ownership of the Australian icon 'WALTZING MATILDA', based on prior trade mark use, than the original applicant for the trade mark, Brenda Lomas. Ms Lomas has now won an appeal against this decision in the Full Court of the Federal Court.

Health service systems and comorbidity: stepping up to the mark

Clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders are not well served in traditional health care systems where specialist services offer segregated interventions and the client is left to negotiate required treatment across both systems. In recent years, policy change guiding the treatment of dual diagnosis in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere has triggered the development of diverse models of treatment, each of which function at different points on a continuum from serial to fully integrated care. This paper outlines key models and provides examples, while considering their potential for appropriately addressing the needs of this client group. Consideration is given to the benefits of an interaction between stepped care and the chosen model, as a means of enhancing care efficiency while retaining the focus on positive outcomes.

Examination of the stability and consistency of investigative interviewer performance across similar mock interview contexts

Purpose. Three studies examined the degree to which investigative interviewers’ adherence to best-practice guidelines is consistent across similar mock interviews.
Method. In each study, two interviews were administered within a period of several hours. Further, group and individual stability of interviewer performance was analysed, and performance was measured by calculating the proportion of open-ended and leading questions as well as the presence of predetermined problem behaviours. The studies varied depending on the type of interview paradigm employed. Interviewer performance in Study 1was measured in a group context where participants rotated between the role of interviewer, child respondent, and observer. In Study 2, an adult played the role of a child recalling abuse but this occurred in isolation (participants did not observe others or play the child). Study 3 was similar to Study 2 except that in each interview an unfamiliar child aged 5–7 years recalled an innocuous event.
Results. Interviewer performance was relatively stable across tasks, although the strength of the relationship between measures varied across analyses. Improvement in open-ended question usage occurred in Study 1 but not Studies 2 and 3. Irrespective of the assessment context, the dichotomous rating scale yielded greater consistency than when questions were tallied. Further, group stability overestimated individual stability. The practical implications of these findings for trainers and researchers are discussed.

Examination of the consistency of interviewer performance across three distinct interview contexts

The current study examined the consistency of investigative interviewers' performance (n=31) across three distinct interview paradigms: (a) a mock interview where an adult actor played the role of a child recalling abuse, (b) a mock interview where a school child recalled an innocuous event that was staged at the child's school, and (c) a field interview where the interviewer elicited a statement of abuse from a child. Performance was measured by calculating the proportion of open-ended and leading questions, and by eliciting expert ratings of the presence of a range of problem behaviours commonly exhibited by interviewers. Overall, the performance of individual interviewers was relatively stable across the tasks. Heterogeneity in stability, however, differed according to the type of question and the nature of the event being examined. In particular, the mock interview paradigm where the adult acted the role of an alleged child abuse victim produced a measure of performance that was more similar to the field interview than the interview where a school child recalled an innocuous event. The implications of the findings for trainers, and directions for future research, are discussed.