Evaluation of packaging films to extend storage life of indigenous Australian vegetables and herbs

A study undertaken in Hervey Bay, Queensland, investigated the potential of creating an indigenous agribusiness opportunity based on the cultivation of indigenous Australian vegetables and herbs. Included were warrigal greens (WG) (Tetragonia tetragonioides), a green leafy vegetable and the herb sea celery (SC) (Apium prostratum); both traditional foods of the indigenous population and highly desirable to chefs wishing to add a unique, indigenous flavour to modern dishes. Packaging is important for shelf life extension and minimisation of postharvest losses in horticultural products. The ability of two packaging films to extend WG and SC shelf life was investigated. These were Antimisted Biaxial Oriented Polypropylene packaging film (BOPP) without perforations and Antifog BOPP Film with microperforations. Weight loss, packaging headspace composition, colour changes, sensory differences and microbial loads of packed WG and SC leaves were monitored to determine the impact of film oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and film water vapour transmission (WVT) on stored product quality. WG and SC were harvested, sanitised, packed and stored at 4°C for 16 days. Results indicated that the OTR and WVT rates of the package film significantly (PKLEINERDAN0.05) influenced the package headspace and weight loss, but did not affect product colour, total bacteria, yeast and mould populations during storage. There was no significant difference (PGROTERDAN0.05) in aroma, appearance, texture and flavour for WG and SC during storage. It was therefore concluded that a shelf life of 16 days at 4°C, where acceptable sensory properties were retained, was achievable for WG and SC in both packaging films.

Ultrasonic velocities and thermal expansion coefficients of amorphous Se80Te20 and Se90Te10 alloys near glass transitions

Precise measurements of the ultrasonic velocities and thermal expansivities of amorphous Se80Te20 and Se90Te10 alloys are reported near the glass transition. The samples are produced by liquid quenching. The longitudinal and transverse velocities are measured at 10 MHz frequency using the McSkimin pulse superposition technique. The thermal expansivities,agr, are measured using a three-terminal capacitance bridge. Theagr-values show a sharp maximum near the glass transition temperature,T g. The ultrasonic velocities also show a large temperature derivative, dV/dT nearT g. The data are discussed in terms of existing theories of the glass transition. The continuous change inagr shows that the glass transition is not a first-order transition, as suggested by some theories. The samples are found to be deformed by small loads nearT g. The ultrasonic velocities and dV/dT have contributions arising from this deformation.

3,3',5,5'-Tetrabromophenolsulfonphthalein (bromphenol blue), C19H10Br4O5S

M r=670.02, monoclinic, C2/c, a= 31.003(4), b=11.037(2), c=21.183(3)A, fl= 143.7 (1) °, V= 4291.2/k 3, D,n = 2.06, D x = 2.07Mgm -3, Z=8, MoKa, 2=0.7107/k, /~=7.45 mm -1, F(000) = 2560, T= 293 K, R = 0.061 for 1697 observed reflections. The bromphenol blue molecule consists essentially of three planar groupings: the sulfonphthalein ring system and two dibromophenol rings attached to the tetrahedral C atom of the five-membered ring of the sulfonphthalein system. The dibromophenol rings are inclined with resPect to each other at 73 ° whereas they make angles of 85 and 68 ° with respect to the sulfonphthalein system. The molecules aggregate into helical columns with the non-polar regions of the molecules in the interior and the polar regions on the surface. The columns are held together by a network of hydrogen bonds.

Dihydrofolate reductase from soybean seedlings: A fluorescence and circular dichroism study

The fluorescence emission spectrum of soybean dihydrofolate reductase suggests that the emitting tryptophan residues are situated in a hydrophobic microenvironment. The dissociation constants determined from fluorescence and circular dichroism data reveal that the soybean enzyme has a lower affinity for substrates and substrate analogs than that determined for dihydrofolate reductases isolated from other sources. The binding of methotrexate to the soybean enzyme does not affect the binding of NADPH. Similarly, the binding of NADPH has no effect on subsequent methotrexate binding. Polarimetric study indicates that the enzyme has a low (ca. 5%) α-helical content. Addition of dihydrofolate to the soybean enzyme results in the generation of a positive ellipticity band at 298 nm with a molar ellipticity, [θ], of 186,000, whereas the binding of folate induces a negative ellipticity band at 280 nm with [θ] of −181,000. The qualitative and quantitative differences in the circular dichroism of the enzyme-dihydrofolate and enzyme-folate complexes indicate that the mode of binding of these ligands may be different. The formation of an enzyme-NADPH complex is accompanied by a negative Cotton effect at 270 nm. These studies indicate that the binding of substrates or inhibitors causes significant conformational changes in the enzyme and also leads to the formation of a number of spectroscopically identifiable complexes.

Studies on the metabolism of β-carotene and apo-β-carotenoids in rats and chickens

1. (1) The relative abilities of the various cell fractions of rat and chicken liver to oxidize and reduce retinal and 8'- and 12'-apo-β-carotenal were investigated and it has been shown that, while retinal is exclusively oxidized by the soluble fraction, the apocarotenals are mostly oxidized by the particulate fractions of the homogenate. 2. (2) Addition of NAD+ or NADP+ markedly activated the oxidation of the apocarotenals, but not of retinal by the particulate fractions. 3. (3) Considerable amounts of retinal and 8'-, 10'- and 12'-apo-β-carotenal were isolated from the intestine of chickens fed β-carotene and these apocarotenoids were conclusively identified. 4. (4) Significant amounts of 8'-, 10'- and 12'-apo-β-carotenoic acids were isolated from the intestine of rats given 8'-apo-β-carotenal and these apocarotenoic acids were also conclusively identified. 5. (5) In the light of these observations it is suggested that during conversion to vitamin A, the β-carotene molecule is simultaneously attacked by the dioxygenase at several double bonds, the primary attack being at the central double bond and a tentative scheme for the mechanism of conversion is proposed.

Environmental applications of inorganic-organic clays for recalcitrant organic pollutants removal: Bisphenol A

Bisphenol-A (BPA) adsorption onto inorganic-organic clays (IOCs) was investigated. For this purpose, IOCs synthesised using octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (ODTMA, organic modifier) and hydroxy aluminium (Al13, inorganic modifier) were used. Three intercalation methods were employed with varying ODTMA concentration in the synthesis of IOCs. Molecular interactions of clay surfaces with ODTMA and Al13 and their arrangements within the interlayers were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface area and porous structure of IOCs were determined by applying Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) method to N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Surface area decreased upon ODTMA intercalation while it increased with Al13 pillaring. As a result, BET specific surface area of IOCs was considerably higher than those of organoclays. Initial concentration of BPA, contact time and adsorbent dose significantly affected BPA adsorption into IOCs. Pseudo-second order kinetics model is the best fit for BPA adsorption into IOCs. Both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applicable for BPA adsorption (R2 > 0.91) for IOCs. Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity for IOCs was as high as 109.89 mg g‒1 and it was closely related to the loaded ODTMA amount into the clay. Hydrophobic interactions between long alkyl chains of ODTMA and BPA are responsible for BPA adsorption into IOCs.

Designing Dense Radar Networks for Weather Surveillance in Tropical Regions.

Design considerations are presented for a dense weather radar network to support multiple services including aviation. Conflicts, tradeoffs and optimization issues in the context of operation in a tropical region are brought out. The upcoming Indian radar network is used as a case study. Algorithms for data mosaicing are briefly outlined.

Natural recovery from cannabis use in people with psychosis: A qualitative study

- Objective There is rapidly growing evidence of natural recovery from cannabis use in people with psychosis, but little is known about how it occurs. This qualitative study explores what factors influence the decision to cease cannabis use, maintain cessation, and prevent relapse. - Methods Ten people with early psychosis and lifetime cannabis misuse, who had been abstinent for at least a month, were recruited from public adult mental health services. These six men and four women participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview assessing reasons for addressing cannabis use, effective change strategies, lapse contexts, and methods used to regain control. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify themes in their responses. - Results Participants had a mean age of 23 years (SD = 3.7), started using cannabis at age 13.7 (SD = 1.6), began daily use at 17 (SD = 3.1), and had abstained from cannabis for 7.9 months (SD = 5.4). Awareness of the negative impact of substance use across multiple domains and the presence of social support for cannabis cessation were seen as vital to sustained success, as was utilization of a combination of coping strategies. The ability to address pressure from substance-using peers was commonly mentioned. - Conclusions Maximally effective treatment may need to focus on eliciting a range of benefits of cessation and control strategies and on maximizing both support for change and resistance to peer pressure. Further research might focus on comparing perceived effective strategies between individuals who obtain sustained cessation versus those who relapse.

Beyond fractional derivatives: local approximation of other convolution integrals

Dynamic systems involving convolution integrals with decaying kernels, of which fractionally damped systems form a special case, are non-local in time and hence infinite dimensional. Straightforward numerical solution of such systems up to time t needs O(t(2)) computations owing to the repeated evaluation of integrals over intervals that grow like t. Finite-dimensional and local approximations are thus desirable. We present here an approximation method which first rewrites the evolution equation as a coupled in finite-dimensional system with no convolution, and then uses Galerkin approximation with finite elements to obtain linear, finite-dimensional, constant coefficient approximations for the convolution. This paper is a broad generalization, based on a new insight, of our prior work with fractional order derivatives (Singh & Chatterjee 2006 Nonlinear Dyn. 45, 183-206). In particular, the decaying kernels we can address are now generalized to the Laplace transforms of known functions; of these, the power law kernel of fractional order differentiation is a special case. The approximation can be refined easily. The local nature of the approximation allows numerical solution up to time t with O(t) computations. Examples with several different kernels show excellent performance. A key feature of our approach is that the dynamic system in which the convolution integral appears is itself approximated using another system, as distinct from numerically approximating just the solution for the given initial values; this allows non-standard uses of the approximation, e. g. in stability analyses.

Separation of Metallic and Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Through Fluorous Chemistry

Separation of metallic from semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes has been a major challenge for some time and some previous efforts have resulted in partial success. We have accomplished the separation effectively by employing fluorous chemistry wherein the diazonium salt of 4-heptadecafluorooc tylaniline selectively reacts with the metallic nanotubes present in the mixture of nanotubes. The resulting fluoroderivative was extracted in perfluorohexane leaving the semiconducting nanotubes in the aqueous layer. The products have been characterized by both Raman and electronic absorption spectroscopy. The method avoids the cumbersome centrifugation step required by some other procedures.

Corporate accountability in relation to human rights: Have RIOs done enough?

This chapter focuses on the development of corporate human rights standards since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, better known as the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. One of the important agendas for this Summit was human rights (apart from the climate change issue). This chapter provides a critical evaluation of institutional change in human rights guidelines and associated corporate (non) accountability in relation to human rights in line with the RIO summit. Based on a review of the media reports, archival documents and a case study, we argue that while there are a number of international organisations working towards the creation of corporate accountability in relation to human rights, there is limited real change in corporate action when faced with no government regulation. A radical (reform-based) approach, such as mandatory monitoring (compliance audit) and disclosure requirements is necessary to ensure corporate accountability in relation to human rights.

Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Mood, Cognition and Fatigue Following Stroke practice guidelines, update 2015

Every year, approximately 62 000 people with stroke and transient ischemic attack are treated in Canadian hospitals, and the evidence suggests one-third or more will experience vascular-cognitive impairment, and/or intractable fatigue, either alone or in combination. The 2015 update of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Mood, Cognition and Fatigue Module guideline is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations for clinicians in a range of settings, who provide care to patients following stroke. The three consequences of stroke that are the focus of the this guideline (poststroke depression, vascular cognitive impairment, and fatigue) have high incidence rates and significant impact on the lives of people who have had a stroke, impede recovery, and result in worse long-term outcomes. Significant practice variations and gaps in the research evidence have been reported for initial screening and in-depth assessment of stroke patients for these conditions. Also of concern, an increased number of family members and informal caregivers may also experience depressive symptoms in the poststroke recovery phase which further impact patient recovery. These factors emphasize the need for a system of care that ensures screening occurs as a standard and consistent component of clinical practice across settings as stroke patients transition from acute care to active rehabilitation and reintegration into their community. Additionally, building system capacity to ensure access to appropriate specialists for treatment and ongoing management of stroke survivors with these conditions is another great challenge.

Spotless decided per incuriam? - A contrary view

The article considers the implications of the decision of the High Court in Spotless Services Pty Ltd (1996) 141 ALR 92; 34 ATR 183. It argues in particular that the decision was made per incuriam.

Theoretical Studies of Hard Filling in Loop Heat Pipes

Loop heat pipe is a passive two-phase heat transport device that is gaining importance as a part of spacecraft thermal control systems and also in applications (such as in avionic cooling and submarines). Hard fill of a loop heat pipe occurs when the compensation chamber is full of liquid. A theoretical study is undertaken to investigate the issues underlying the loop beat pipe hard-fill phenomenon. The results of the study suggest that the mass of charge and the presence of a bayonet have significant impact on the loop heat pipe operation. With a largern mass of charge, a loop heat pipe hard fills at a lower heat load. As the heat load increases, there is a steep rise in the loop heat pipe operating temperature. In a loop heat pipe with a saturated compensation chamber, and also in a hard-filled loop heat pipe without a bayonet, the temperature of the compensation chamber and that of the liquid core are nearly equal. When a loop heat pipe with a bayonet hard fills, the compensation chamber and the evaporator core temperatures are different.

Atrial remodeling in atrial fibrillation : Epidemiological, clinical and magnetocardiographic aspects

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia requiring treatment. This Thesis investigated atrial fibrillation (AF) with a specific emphasis on atrial remodeling which was analysed from epidemiological, clinical and magnetocardiographic (MCG) perspectives. In the first study we evaluated in real-life clinical practice a population-based cohort of AF patients referred for their first elective cardioversion (CV). 183 consecutive patients were included of whom in 153 (84%) sinus rhythm (SR) was restored. Only 39 (25%) of those maintained SR for one year. Shorter duration of AF and the use of sotalol were the only characteristics associated with better restoration and maintenance of SR. During the one-year follow-up 40% of the patients ended up in permanent AF. Female gender and older age were associated with the acceptance of permanent AF. The LIFE-trial was a prospective, randomised, double-blinded study that evaluated losartan and atenolol in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Of the 8,851 patients with SR at baseline and without a history of AF 371 patients developed new-onset AF during the study. Patients with new-onset AF had an increased risk of cardiac events, stroke, and increased rate of hospitalisation for heart failure. Younger age, female gender, lower systolic blood pressure, lesser LVH in ECG and randomisation to losartan therapy were independently associated with lower frequency of new-onset AF. The impact of AF on morbidity and mortality was evaluated in a post-hoc analysis of the OPTIMAAL trial that compared losartan with captopril in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and evidence of LV dysfunction. Of the 5,477 randomised patients 655 had AF at baseline, and 345 patients developed new AF during the follow-up period, median 3.0 years. Older patients and patients with signs of more serious heart disease had and developed AF more often. Patients with AF at baseline had an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio (HR) of 1.32) and stroke (HR 1.77). New-onset AF was associated with increased mortality (HR 1.82) and stroke (HR of 2.29). In the fourth study we assessed the reproducibility of our MCG method. This method was used in the fifth study where 26 patients with persistent AF had immediately after the CV longer P-wave duration and higher energy of the last portion of atrial signal (RMS40) in MCG, increased P-wave dispersion in SAECG and decreased pump function of the atria as well as enlarged atrial diameter in echocardiography compared to age- and disease-matched controls. After one month in SR, P-wave duration in MCG still remained longer and left atrial (LA) diameter greater compared to the controls, while the other measurements had returned to the same level as in the control group. In conclusion is not a rare condition in either general population or patients with hypertension or AMI, and it is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, atrial remodeling that increases the likelihood of AF and also seems to be relatively stable has to be identified and prevented. MCG was found to be an encouraging new method to study electrical atrial remodeling and reverse remodeling. RAAS-suppressing medications appear to be the most promising method to prevent atrial remodeling and AF.