Seeing the light : diet related variation in the vision of Platycercus elegans

 Poster Presentation

The ranking of factors influencing the behaviour of light structures on expansive soils in Victoria, Australia

In this paper a Neural Network Model was used to develop a ranking of the potential damage influences for light structures on expansive soils in Victoria. These influences include geology, Thornthwaite moisture index, vegetation covers, construction foundation type, construction wall type, geographical region and age of building when first inspected. Approximately 400 cases of damage to light structures in Victoria, Australia were considered in this study. Feedforward Backpropagation was adopted to train the data. The ranking of importance was estimated using connection weight approach and then compared to results calculated from sensitivity analysis. From the analysis, the ranking of importance for potential damage factor was noted.<br />

'Traffic-light' nutrition labelling and 'junk-food' tax : a modelled comparison of cost-effectiveness for obesity prevention

<b>Introduction:b> Cost-effectiveness analyses are important tools in efforts to prioritise interventions for obesity prevention.<br />Modelling facilitates evaluation of multiple scenarios with varying assumptions. This study compares the cost-effectiveness of<br />conservative scenarios for two commonly proposed policy-based interventions: front-of-pack ‘traffic-light’ nutrition labelling<br />(traffic-light labelling) and a tax on unhealthy foods (‘junk-food’ tax).<br /><b>Methods:b> For traffic-light labelling, estimates of changes in energy intake were based on an assumed 10% shift in consumption<br />towards healthier options in four food categories (breakfast cereals, pastries, sausages and preprepared meals) in 10% of adults. For the ‘junk-food’ tax, price elasticities were used to estimate a change in energy intake in response to a 10% price increase in seven food categories (including soft drinks, confectionery and snack foods). Changes in population weight and body mass index by sex were then estimated based on these changes in population energy intake, along with subsequent impacts on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Associated resource use was measured and costed using pathway analysis, based on a health sector perspective (with some industry costs included). Costs and health outcomes were discounted at 3%. The cost-effectiveness of each intervention was modelled for the 2003 Australian adult population.<br /><b>Results:b> Both interventions resulted in reduced mean weight (traffic-light labelling: 1.3 kg (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 1.2;<br />1.4); ‘junk-food’ tax: 1.6 kg (95% UI: 1.5; 1.7)); and DALYs averted (traffic-light labelling: 45 100 (95% UI: 37 700; 60 100);<br />‘junk-food’ tax: 559 000 (95% UI: 459 500; 676 000)). Cost outlays were AUD81 million (95% UI: 44.7; 108.0) for traffic-light<br />labelling and AUD18 million (95% UI: 14.4; 21.6) for ‘junk-food’ tax. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed both interventions were<br />‘dominant’ (effective and cost-saving).<br /><b>Conclusion:b> Policy-based population-wide interventions such as traffic-light nutrition labelling and taxes on unhealthy foods are<br />likely to offer excellent ‘value for money’ as obesity prevention measures.<br />

The influence of climate change on Thorthwaite moisture index on the design of light structures

Significant long term changes in the earth’s climate have occurred in the past but recently there has been more severe climate fluctuation than have occurred in the past few centuries. The effect of this climate change on the foundation conditions of roads and low-rise buildings is costing several hundred billion dollars world-wide. A method which tracks this climate change will be of great value for companies and governments. C.W. Thornthwaite (1948) defined the Thornthwaite Moisture Index (TMI) as the first base for his climate classification system and mapping in the United States. There are 3 important factors to predict ground movement: (a) the degree of moisture index change (b) the depth at which this change occurs and (c) the foundation soil type. The water budget model was used by Thornthwaite (1948) to calculate the moisture index. This paper also discusses two typical examples of the use of this model. Originally TMI’s were mainly used to map soil moisture conditions for agriculture but soon became a method to predict environmental and pavement foundation changes.

Light-intensity physical activity and cardiometabolic biomarkers in US adolescents

Polystyrene-b-poly(oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-bpolystyrene triblock copolymers as potential carriers for hydrophobic drugs

A simple and effective method is introduced to synthesize a series of polystyrene-b-poly(oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-b- polystyrene (PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt) triblock copolymers. The structures of PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt copolymers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the copolymer were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Furthermore£ the self-assembling and drug-loaded behaviours of three different ratios of PSt-b-POEOMA-b-PSt were studied. These copolymers could readily self-assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. The vitamin E-loaded copolymer micelles were produced by the dialysis method. The micelle size and core-shell structure of the block copolymer micelles and the drug-loaded micelles were confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal properties of the copolymer micelles before and after drug-loaded were investigated by different scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that the micelle size is slightly increased with increasing the content of hydrophobic segments and the micelles are still core-shell spherical structures after drug-loaded. Moreover, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polystyrene is reduced after the drug loaded. The drug loading content (DLC) of the copolymer micelles is 70%-80% by ultraviolet (UV) photolithography analysis. These properties indicate the micelles self-assembled from PSt-b- POEOMA-b- PSt copolymers would have potential as carriers for the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs.

Are food brands that carry light claims different?

Little is known about the market performance of brands that carry light claims (for example low fat, low sugar) in comparison to their regular counterparts. In order to fill this gap, we explore whether light brands perform similarly to regular brands in terms of (a) brand performance measures (BPMs), such as market share (MS) and penetration, (b) loyalty levels, and (c) customer sharing. We analyse three product categories (cola, flavoured carbonated beverages and margarine) using UK household panel data provided by Kantar. The results show that when considering standard BPMs (that is MS, penetration and purchase frequency), regular brands receive higher BPMs than light brands. However, when considering repeat purchase loyalty, light brands achieve greater levels of loyalty than their regular counterparts. Finally, light brands share their buyers more with each other than expected, suggesting the existence of market partitions, although these are not isolated as buyers of these brands still buy regular brands. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Fabrication and visible-light photocatalytic behavior of perovskite praseodymium ferrite porous nanotubes

Perovskite praseodymium ferrite (PrFeO3) porous nanotubes are prepared by electrospinning of the precursor solution into nanofibers, subsequently by annealing the precursor fibers at a low temperature (e.g. 40 °C) and finally by calcination at a high temperature. The low temperature annealing treatment is found to play a key role in the formation of porous nanotube. The porous tubes show a perovskite-type PrFeO3 crystal characteristic with high optical absorption in the UV-visible region and an energy band gap of 1.97 eV. When compared with PrFeO3 porous nanofibers and PrFeO3 particles, the PrFeO3 porous nanotubes show better visible-light photo-catalytic ability to degrade Rhodamine B in aqueous phase because of the increased surface area and more active catalytic sites on the inner walls and outer surfaces.

Influence of light exposure during early life on the age of onset of bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND: Environmental conditions early in life may imprint the circadian system and influence response to environmental signals later in life. We previously determined that a large springtime increase in solar insolation at the onset location was associated with a younger age of onset of bipolar disorder, especially with a family history of mood disorders. This study investigated whether the hours of daylight at the birth location affected this association. METHODS: Data collected previously at 36 collection sites from 23 countries were available for 3896 patients with bipolar I disorder, born between latitudes of 1.4&nbsp;N and 70.7&nbsp;N, and 1.2&nbsp;S and 41.3&nbsp;S. Hours of daylight variables for the birth location were added to a base model to assess the relation between the age of onset and solar insolation. RESULTS: More hours of daylight at the birth location during early life was associated with an older age of onset, suggesting reduced vulnerability to the future circadian challenge of the springtime increase in solar insolation at the onset location. Addition of the minimum of the average monthly hours of daylight during the first 3 months of life improved the base model, with a significant positive relationship to age of onset. Coefficients for all other variables remained stable, significant and consistent with the base model. CONCLUSIONS: Light exposure during early life may have important consequences for those who are susceptible to bipolar disorder, especially at latitudes with little natural light in winter. This study indirectly supports the concept that early life exposure to light may affect the long term adaptability to respond to a circadian challenge later in life.

Purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a new Lys49-PLA2 from B-jararacussu

BjVIII is a new myotoxic Lys49-PLA2 isolated from Bothrops jararacussu venom that exhibits atypical effects on human platelet aggregation. To better understand the mode of action of BjVIII, crystallographic studies were initiated. Two crystal forms were obtained, both containing two molecules in the asymmetric unit (ASU). Synchrotron radiation diffraction data were collected to 2.0 angstrom resolution and 1.9 angstrom resolution for crystals belonging to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) (a = 48.4 angstrom, b = 65.3 angstrom, c = 84.3 angstrom) and space group P3(1)21 (a = b = 55.7 angstrom, c = 127.9 angstrom), respectively. Refinement is currently in progress and the refined structures are expected to shed light on the unusual platelet aggregation activity observed for BjVIII.

The effect of increased light intensity on the aggressive behavior of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Animals show behavioral and physiological changes that emerge in response to environmental perturbations (i.e., emergency life-history stages). In this study, we investigate the effects of light intensity on aggressive encounters and social stability in groups of adult male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). The study compared the behavior observed under low (280.75 ± 50.60 lx) and high (1394.14 ± 520.32 lx) light intensities, with 12 replicates for each treatment. Adult fish were isolated in 36-L aquaria for 96 hours, and three males were grouped for 11 days in 140-L aquaria. Agonistic behavior was video-recorded (10 min/day) on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th day to quantify aggressive interactions and social stability. There was an effect of light intensity and day of observation on the total number of agonistic behaviors performed by the fish group. Besides, increased frequency of aggressive interactions (the sum of the four sessions) by the alpha, beta and gamma fish occurred at the higher light intensity. The dominance ranks of the fish remained unchanged across the observation sessions under both the low and high light intensities. We concluded that enhanced light intensity has a cumulative effect that increases the aggressiveness of the Nile tilapia but that this effect is not sufficiently strong to destabilize the social hierarchy.

Effect of ion concentration of ionomer in electron injection layer of polymer light-emitting devices

Polymer light-emitting devices (PLEDs) with poly(2-methoxy-5-hexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene (OC1OC6-PPV) as the emissive layer were studied with an electron injection layer of ionomers consisting of copolymers of styrene and methylmethacrylate (PS/PMMA) with 3, 6 and 8 mol% degree of sulfonation. The ionomers were able to form very thin films over the emissive layer, with less than 30 nm. Additionally, the presence of ion pairs of ionomer suppresses the tendency toward dewetting of the thin film of ionomer (similar to 10 nm) which can cause malfunction of the device. The effect of the ionomers was investigated as a function of the ion content. The devices performance, characterized by their current density and luminance intensity versus voltage, showed a remarkable increase with the ionomer layer up to 6 mol% of ionic groups, decreasing after that for the 8 mol% ionomer device. The study of the impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 0.1 to 10(6) Hz showed that the injection phenomena dominate over the transport in the electroluminescent polymer bulk. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Polymer light emitting devices with Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films: Enhanced performance due to an electron-injecting layer of ionomers

Polymer light-emitting devices (PLEDs) have been produced with Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films from poly(2-methoxy-5-hexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene (OC1OC6-PPV) as the emissive layer and an ionomer of a copolymer of styrene and methylmethacrylate (PS/PMMA) as an electron-injection layer. The main features of such devices are the low operating voltages, obtainable firstly due to the good quality of the ultrathin LB films that allows PLEDs to be produced reproducibly and secondly due to the improved electrical and luminance properties brought by the electron-injection layer. Also demonstrated is the superior performance of an all-LB device compared to another one produced with cast films of the same materials. Published by Elsevier B.V.