Change in schools it’s more like sort of turning an oil tanker : creating readiness for health promoting schools

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to add to the evidence of best practice in the implementation of the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework by examining the process of creating readiness for change in a large international school in South-East Asia. Using a settings-based approach and guided by readiness for change theory the data collected reflects which factors were most influential in the decision of the leadership team (LT) to adopt a comprehensive HPS model. It follows the process of creating readiness in the early stages of adopting a HPS approach and captures the critical factors effecting leader’s beliefs and support for the program. Design/methodology/approach – This research is a case study of a large pre-K-12 international school in South-East Asia with over 1,800 students. A mixed methods qualitative approach is used including semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The participants are the 12 members of the LT. Findings – Readiness for change was established in the LT who adopted a HPS approach. That is, they adopted a comprehensive model to address health-related priorities in the school and changed the school’s mission and accountability processes to specifically include health. Uncovering the reasons why the LT supported this change was the primary focus of this research. Building the motivation to change involved establishing a number of key beliefs three of which were influential in bringing about readiness for change in this case study. These included the belief that leadership support existed for the proposed change, a belief that there was a need for change with a clear discrepancy in the present and preferred operations in relation to addressing the health issues of the school and the belief that HPS was the appropriate solution to address this discrepancy. Research limitations/implications – Adopting a HPS approach is the first phase of implementation. Long-term research may show if the integrity of the chosen model is maintained as implementation continues. The belief construct of valence, that is, the belief that the change will benefit the change recipient, was not reliably assessed in this research. Further research needs to be conducted to understand how this construct is interpreted in the school setting. The belief construct of valence was not reliably assessed in this research. Further research needs to be done to understand how this construct fits in the school setting. Practical implications – This paper provides a promising example of how health can be integrated into the school’s Mission and Strategic Learning Plan. The example presented here may provide strategies for others working in the field of HPS. Originality/value – Creating readiness is an often over-looked stage of building sustainable change. International schools cater to more than three million students are a rarely researched in regards to health education. It is predicted that the numbers of students in international schools will grow to more than six million in the next ten years.

Metabolic fate (absorption, β-oxidation and deposition) of long-chain n-3 fatty acids is affected by sex and by the oil source (krill oil or fish oil) in the rat

The effects of krill oil as an alternative source of n-3 long-chain PUFA have been investigated recently. There are conflicting results from the few available studies comparing fish oil and krill oil. The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability and metabolic fate (absorption, β-oxidation and tissue deposition) of n-3 fatty acids originating from krill oil (phospholipid-rich) or fish oil (TAG-rich) in rats of both sexes using the whole-body fatty acid balance method. Sprague-Dawley rats (thirty-six male, thirty-six female) were randomly assigned to be fed either a krill oil diet (EPA+DHA+DPA=1·38 mg/g of diet) or a fish oil diet (EPA+DHA+DPA=1·61 mg/g of diet) to constant ration for 6 weeks. The faeces, whole body and individual tissues were analysed for fatty acid content. Absorption of fatty acids was significantly greater in female rats and was only minimally affected by the oil type. It was estimated that most of EPA (>90 %) and more than half of DHA (>60 %) were β-oxidised in both diet groups. Most of the DPA was β-oxidised (57 and 67 % for female and male rats, respectively) in the fish oil group; however, for the krill oil group, the majority of DPA was deposited (82-83 %). There was a significantly greater deposition of DPA and DHA in rats fed krill oil compared with those fed fish oil, not due to a difference in bioavailability (absorption) but rather due to a difference in metabolic fate (anabolism v. catabolism).

The perceptual and anti-Inflammatory effects of oleocanthal, an olive oil phenolic

 Oleocanthal a virgin olive oil phenolic produces varying intensities of irritation in the oropharanx in individuals and is also a naturally occuring NSAID effective in reducing inflammatory markers and increasing protein synthesis in skeletal muscle cells. There may be a link between the variation in throat sensitivity to oleocanthal and its effects on muscle growth processes and inflammation.

Selective, spontaneous one-way oil-transport fabrics and their novel use for gauging liquid surface tension

Thin porous materials that can spontaneously transport oil fluids just in a single direction have great potential for making energy-saving functional membranes. However, there is little data for the preparation and functionalities of this smart material. Here, we report a novel method to prepare one-way oil-transport fabrics and their application in detecting liquid surface tension. This functional fabric was prepared by a two-step coating process to apply flowerlike ZnO nanorods, fluorinated decyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, and hydrolyzed fluorinated alkylsilane on a fabric substrate. Upon one-sided UV irradiation, the coated fabric shows a one-way transport feature that allows oil fluid transport automatically from the unirradiated side to the UV-irradiated surface, but it stops fluid transport in the opposite direction. The fabric still maintains high superhydrophobicity after UV treatment. The one-way fluid transport takes place only for the oil fluids with a specific surface tension value, and the fluid selectivity is dependent on the UV treatment time. Changing the UV irradiation time from 6 to 30 h broadened the one-way transport for fluids with surface tension from around 22.3 mN/m to a range of 22.3-56.7 mN/m. We further proved that this selective one-way oil transport can be used to estimate the surface tension of a liquid simply by observing its transport feature on a series of fabrics with different one-way oil-transport selectivities. To our knowledge, this is the first example to use one-way fluid-transport materials for testing the liquid surface tension. It may open up further theoretical studies and the development of novel fluid sensors.

Synthesis and performance of itaconic acid/acrylamide/sodium styrene sulfonate as a self-adapting retarder for oil well cement

This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry. A novel self-adapting retarder itaconic acid/acrylamide/sodium styrene sulfonate (IA/AM/SSS, hereinafter referred to as PIAS) was synthesized by free-radical, aqueous-solution polymerization and characterized by FTIR and TG. The optimum reaction conditions of polymerization were obtained from orthogonal experiments (L3³) and subsequent data analysis. According to the evaluation as a retarder, the PIAS made it possible to obtain both a long thickening time and a swift compressive strength development for cement slurry, and therefore the applicable range of bottom hole circulation temperatures to the cement slurry has been widened to 60-180°C. Moreover, the working mechanism of the self-adapting retarder PIAS was found to rely on the change of spatial structure of the molecules to retard the hydration of the cement. This paper also expounds that the delayed coagulation of the cement slurry is attributed to adsorption, chelation and "poisoning" effects of the PIAS molecules on the surface of hydrated particles or ions through XRD and SEM analyses.

Microencapsulation of tuna oil fortified with the multiple lipophilic ingredients vitamins A, D3, E, K2, curcumin and coenzyme Q10

Complex coacervates of gelatin and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) was used to microencapsulate tuna oil fortified with the multiple functional lipophilic ingredients, vitamin A, D3, E, K2, curcumin and coenzyme Q10. An emulsion homogenization speed of 15,000 rpm for 15 min resulted in low surface oil content (0.08%), high encapsulation efficacy (99.84%) and encapsulation yield (96.59%), with a significantly enhanced oxidative stability index (6.23 h). The Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that there was no observable oxidation of the oil during microencapsulation. This study shows that microencapsulation using complex coacervation is suitable for stabilizing multiple bioactive lipophilic ingredients.

Using otolith microchemistry and shape to assess the habitat value of oil structures for reef fish

Over 7500 oil and gas structures (e.g. oil platforms) are installed in offshore waters worldwide and many will require decommissioning within the next two decades. The decision to remove such structures or turn them into reefs (i.e. 'rigs-to-reefs') hinges on the habitat value they provide, yet this can rarely be determined because the residency of mobile species is difficult to establish. Here, we test a novel solution to this problem for reef fishes; the use of otolith (earstone) properties to identify oil structures of residence. We compare the otolith microchemistry and otolith shape of a site-attached coral reef fish (Pseudanthias rubrizonatus) among four oil structures (depth 82-135 m, separated by 9.7-84.2 km) on Australia's North West Shelf to determine if populations developed distinct otolith properties during their residency. Microchemical signatures obtained from the otolith edge using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) differed among oil structures, driven by elements Sr, Ba and Mn, and to a lesser extent Mg and Fe. A combination of microchemical data from the otolith edge and elliptical Fourier (shape) descriptors allowed allocation of individuals to their 'home' structure with moderate accuracy (overall allocation accuracy: 63.3%, range: 45.5-78.1%), despite lower allocation accuracies for each otolith property in isolation (microchemistry: 47.5%, otolith shape: 45%). Site-specific microchemical signatures were also stable enough through time to distinguish populations during 3 separate time periods, suggesting that residence histories could be recreated by targeting previous growth zones in the otolith. Our results indicate that reef fish can develop unique otolith properties during their residency on oil structures which may be useful for assessing the habitat value of individual structures. The approach outlined here may also be useful for determining the residency of reef fish on artificial reefs, which would assist productivity assessments of these habitats.

A computational search for lipases that can preferentially hydrolyze long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil triacylglycerols

Consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is known to decrease the risk of major cardiovascular events. Lipases, a class of triacylglycerol hydrolases, have been extensively tested to concentrate omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, under mild enzymatic conditions. However, no lipases with preference for omega-3 fatty acids selectivity have yet been discovered or developed. In this study we performed an exhaustive computational study of substrate-lipase interactions by docking, both covalent and non-covalent, for 38 lipases with a large number of structured triacylglycerols containing omega-3 fatty acids. We identified some lipases that have potential to preferentially hydrolyze omega-3 fatty acids from structured triacylglycerols. However omega-3 fatty acid preferences were found to be modest. Our study provides an explanation for absence of reports of lipases with omega-3 fatty acid hydrolyzing ability and suggests methods for developing these selective lipases.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces by smoke deposition and application in oil-water separation

 Utilizing the smoke emitted by discarded silicone combustion, a simple method of smoke deposition is presented for fabricating a superhydrophobic surface with outstanding water repellence, which exhibited a water contact angle of 164 ± 0.8° and a sliding angle of lower than 1°. In addition, the as-prepared surface possesses favourable heat, water impact and water immersion stabilities. Oil leakages seriously endanger both the environment and the social economy. By this simple smoke deposition method, a selective-wettability copper mesh has been fabricated to separate oil-water mixtures. The smoke-deposited mesh achieved a high separation efficiency of over 93% for various oils, and showed excellent reusability, maintaining a high separation efficiency over 10 cycles. The water repellence of the used mesh can be refreshed by recoating with silicone and smoke deposition. This work provides a new strategy to utilize discarded silicone to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces and oil-water separation meshes.

Lipid profiles, in vitro digestion and oxidative stability of mutton bird oil

The lipid profile, in vitro digestion and oxidative stability of mutton bird oil were investigated. Wax ester, triacylglycerol and sterol were the major lipids present as determined using capillary chromatography with flame ionisation detector (Iatroscan). Fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography (GC) showed that wax esters had a higher total omega-3 fatty acids content including EPA, DPA and DHA than TAGs (31 % and 24 %, respectively). In TAGs, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data showed that EPA was statistically positioned at sn-1,3 and sn-2, while DHA was preferentially at sn-2. In vitro digestion using porcine pancreatic lipase resulted in 75 % of TAG and 10 % wax ester hydrolysis in 120 min. As reflected in the measured conjugated dienes (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values during accelerated oxidation at 60 °C for 5 days, the oil was relatively stable against oxidation considering its high omega-3 content.

Marginal efficiencies of long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acid use by barramundi (Lates calcarifer) when fed diets with varying blends of fish oil and poultry fat

An experiment was conducted with barramundi (Lates calcarifer) juveniles to examine the marginal efficiency of utilisation of long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). A series of five diets with blends of fish (anchovy) oil and poultry fat (F100:P0, F60:P40, F30:P70, F15:P85, F0:P100) were fed to 208. ±. 4.1. g fish over a 12-week period. The replacement of fish oil with poultry fat had no impact on growth performance (average final weight of 548.3. ±. 10.2. g) or feed conversion (mean = 1.14. ±. 0.02). Analysis of the whole body composition showed that the fatty acid profile reflected that of the fed diet. However it was also shown that there was a disproportional retention of some fatty acids relative to others (notably LOA, 18:2n-6 and LNA, 18:3n-3). By examining the body mass independent retention of different fatty acids with differential levels of intake of each, the marginal efficiencies of the use of these nutrients by this species were able to be determined. The differential retention of fatty acids in the meat was also examined allowing the determination of oil blending strategies to optimise meat n-3 LC-PUFA levels.

Bead milling for lipid recovery from thraustochytrid cells and selective hydrolysis of Schizochytrium DT3 oil using lipase

Marine microalgae present a renewable alternative source for sustainable production of omega-3 fatty acids, as compared to conventional sources such as krill oil and fish oil. In this study, we optimised a method for lipid extraction from marine thraustochytrids using a bead mill and enzymatic concentration of omega-3 fatty acids from the thraustochytrid oil. The optimised lipid extraction conditions were, bead size 0.4-0.6μm, 4500rpm, 4min of processing time at 5g biomass concentration. The maximum lipid yield (% dry weight basis) achieved at optimum conditions were 40.5% for Schizochytrium sp. S31 (ATCC) and 49.4% for Schizochytrium sp. DT3 (in-house isolate). DT3 oil contained 39.8% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as a percentage of lipid, a higher DHA percentage than S31. Partial hydrolysis of DT3 oil using Candida rugosa lipase was performed to enrich omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the glyceride portion. Total omega-3 fatty acid content was increased to 88.7%.

An anti-biodegradable hydrophobic sulfonate-based acrylamide copolymer containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxy for enhanced oil recovery

We report here a novel anti-biodegradable hydrophobic acrylamide copolymer that was prepared from acrylamide, acrylic acid, sodium 3-(allyloxy)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate and N-allyl-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetamide using the 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamide) dihydrochloride initiation system. Subsequently, the copolymer was characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, TG-DTG and water-solubility. And the biodegradability test indicated that the copolymer was not deemed to be readily biodegradable via a closed bottle test established by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 301 D). Meanwhile the copolymer could significantly enhance the viscosity of the aqueous solution in comparison with partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide. A viscosity retention of 51.9% indicated the result of a dramatic improvement of temperature tolerance. And then the excellent salt resistance, shear resistance, viscoelasticity, long-term stability of the copolymer could be obtained, which provides a good theoretical foundation for the application in enhanced oil recovery. In addition, this copolymer exerted stronger mobility control ability with a resistance factor of 22.1 and a residual resistance factor of 5.0, and superior ability for enhanced oil recovery of 12.9%. Hence, the copolymer has potential application for enhanced oil recovery in high-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs.

A novel water-soluble hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide based on oleic imidazoline and sulfonate for enhanced oil recovery

3-(2-(2-Heptadec-8-enyl-4,5-dihydro-imidazol-1-yl)ethylcarbamoyl)acrylic acid (NIMA), 3-(diallyl-amino)-2-hydroxypropyl sulfonate (NDS), acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) were successfully utilized to prepare novel acrylamide-based copolymers (named AM/AA/NIMA and AM/AA/NDS/NIMA) which were functionalized by a combination of imidazoline derivative and/or sulfonate via redox free-radical polymerization. The two copolymers were characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), viscosimetry, pyrene fluorescence probe, thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG). As expected, the polymers exhibited excellent thickening property, shear stability (viscosity retention rate 5.02% and 7.65% at 1000 s-1) and salt-tolerance (10:000 mg L-1 NaCl: viscosity retention rate up to 17.1% and 10.2%) in comparison with similar concentration partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM). The temperature resistance of the AM/AA/NDS/NIMA solution was also remarkably improved and the viscosity retention rate reached 54.8% under 110 °C. According to the core flooding tests, oil recovery could be enhanced by up to 15.46% by 2000 mg L-1 of the AM/AA/NDS/NIMA brine solution at 80 °C.