Characterisation of the British honey bee metagenome

Numerous microbial symbionts, both commensal and pathogenic, are associated with honey bees. Here, the authors genomically characterize this ‘metagenome’ of the British honey bee, identifying a diversity of commensal microbes as well as known and putative pathogen

An approximation of phosphorescence decay kinetics of ideal phosphors by a general order kinetics model

The phosphorescence of ideal phosphors has been investigated using a general order kinetics model. The regions where the model describes the phosphorescence processes exactly and approximately have been identified. In order to characterize these processes. the mean value of the kinetics order has been defined for the part of the curve of immediate interest. It has been shown that the value of the order of kinetics for ideal phosphors in the transition region cannot have a unique physical interpretation. The general order kinetics model enables theoretical explanation of some important physical characteristics of TL processes for the ideal phosphors. For the theoretical curves, obtained by the band model, the parameters of phosphorescence curves have been determined using the general order kinetics model. The results differ from the exact values by 3%. We conclude that the general order kinetics model enables a better understanding of the physical processes. and an approximate determination of the phosphorescence decay parameters. This points out the theoretical and practical value of the model. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Fitting the glow curve and calculating TL parameters

A new glow curve fitting method using the Gauss-Lorentz asymmetric function is suggested. By calculating the thermoluminescence (TL) parameters it is shown that this is compatible with a general-order kinetics model. The relations between TL parameters and fitting function parameters are determined. The new fitting method is tested by computer simulated glow curves. The coefficients of Chens interpolation-extrapolation formula for calculation of TL parameters are presented in an analytical form. It is shown that the Chen method is a special case of the integral method of TL parameter calculation

Calculation of parameters from glow curves for the mixed-order kinetics

A new method for the calculation of parameters is proposed. The method is based on determination of the glow curve maximum and effective values of the half-width and part of the half-width on the higher temperature side. A relation between the symmetry factor as a function of the corresponding constant alpha = n(0)(h + n(0)) and the correction factor Delta is obtained. An approximate symmetry factor function is derived, which enables analytical calculation of the parameters: activation energy E, constant alpha, and pre-exponential factor s ((h)). An iterative procedure is developed for more precise calculation of these parameters. The new method is checked for some characteristic values of the parameters. The connection between the models of general and mixed-order kinetics has been described theoretically

On the general-order kinetics of the thermoluminescence glow peak and the calculation of parameters from glow curves

It has been shown by a new approach that the equation which describes general-order kinetics is an interpolating function between analogous equations for first- and second-order kinetics. A new method for calculation of parameters is proposed. The method is based on the determination of the glow curve maximum, and the effective values of half-width and part of the half-width on the higher temperature side. The relation for the symmetry factor as a function of the corresponding order of kinetics I and the correction factor Delta is obtained. Approximate symmetry factor function is derived which enables analytical calculation of the parameters: activation energy E, order of kinetics I, and preexponential factor s((t)). An iterative procedure is developed for more precise calculation of these parameters. The new method for calculation of these parameters is checked for some characteristic values of the parameters. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

‘An apple a day’?: psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists report poor literacy for nutritional medicine: international survey spanning 52 countries /

Nutritional interventions have beneficial effects on certain psychiatric disorder symptomatology and common physical health comorbidities. However, studies evaluating nutritional literacy in mental health professionals (MHP) are scarce. This study aimed to assess the across 52 countries. Surveys were distributed via colleagues and professional societies. Data were collected regarding self-reported general nutrition knowledge, nutrition education, learning opportunities, and the tendency to recommend food supplements or prescribe specific diets in clinical practice. In total, 1056 subjects participated in the study: 354 psychiatrists, 511 psychologists, 44 psychotherapists, and 147 MHPs in-training. All participants believed the diet quality of individuals with mental disorders was poorer compared to the general population (p < 0.001). The majority of the psychiatrists (74.2%) and psychologists (66.3%) reported having no training in nutrition. Nevertheless, many of them used nutrition approaches, with 58.6% recommending supplements and 43.8% recommending specific diet strategies to their patients. Only 0.8% of participants rated their education regarding nutrition as ‘very good.’ Almost all (92.9%) stated they would like to expand their knowledge regarding ‘Nutritional Psychiatry.’ There is an urgent need to integrate nutrition education into MHP training, ideally in collaboration with nutrition experts to achieve best practice care