Development of capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of phenolics and glucoraphanin in Brassica oleracea

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been used increasingly more over the last decade in the area of food analysis. Numerous food products and food components have been analysed using this technique because of its high efficiency and short separation times. However, the inherent lack of detection sensitivity in CE combined with the complex matrices present in many food samples, especially those of plant origins, is one of the contributing factors to the limited development on CE in this particular area of food analysis. In this project, the potential of CE as a tool in the analysis of vegetables belonging to the family Brassica oleracea was investigated. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), the most frequently used CE mode in food analysis, has been employed to quantitatively determine the phenolic acids present in vegetables of B. oleracea. A simple and rapid CZE method for the baseline resolution of four hydroxycinnamic acids was developed. Peak efficiencies and separation time were optimised by adjustment of the borate buffer concentration (15 mM sodium tetraborate pH 9.13) with the optimum method having a separation time of 7 min with detection limits ranging from 1.1 to 2.3 mg/kg of vegetables. The developed CZE method was applied to resolve the key flavonoids in broccoli extracts, however, detection sensitivity was poor for these compounds. To overcome this limitation an online pre-concentration method, large volume sample stacking (LVSS), was used to enable quantitative determination of flavonols in broccoli. This LVSS-CZE method allowed for the separation of two flavonols, kaempferol and quercetin, within 8 min with average enhancement factors of approximately 20 when compared to the original CZE method, giving detection limits of 0.6 and 0.9 mg/kg of broccoli. Resolution of the two flavonols was optimised by varying the borate buffer concentration and pH (the optimum values are 10 mM sodium tetraborate pH 8.40) and by using a longer capillary (85 cm). Different LVSS parameters including stacking voltage and sample injection times were also investigated. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), the second most commonly employed CE mode in food analysis, was used for the quantitative determination of glucoraphanin, a predominant glucosinolate in broccoli. A MEKC system was developed in which the surfactant, sodium cholate was used as the pseudo stationary phase and separation of glucoraphanin was achieved in less than 5 min with detection limits ranging from 0.1 to 4 mg/100g of vegetables or seeds. Furthermore, and as a direct result of the requirement for a glucoraphanin standard, a preparative HPLC experiment was devised for the undergraduate chemistry program within Edith Cowan University. All the developed CE methods were validated with repeatability studies and linearity measurements and then successfully applied to the quantitative determination of the target analytes in a range of B. Oleracea vegetables and seeds. The accuracy of the CE quantitative data was ascertained by comparison to those from HPLC analysis

An empirical investigation of fiscal policy in New Zealand

This paper examines the effects of fiscal policy, measured by changes in government spending and net tax (government tax revenue less transfer payments), on New Zealand GDP. The framework of analysis is a structural vector autoregression (VAR) model of the New Zealand economy, employing and extending estimation techniques used by Blanchard and Perotti (2002). This model is then used to examine the dynamic effects of changes in government spending, taxes and transfers on GDP and the contributions of discretionary fiscal policy to New Zealand business cycles.Fiscal policy, business cycle fluctuations, vector autoregression

Evaluating the Enzymatic Activity of Transformed X. cucurbitae

Introduction The United States’ pumpkin industry exceeds one billion dollars [1], with Illinois contributing to over 90% of processing pumpkin production. Pumpkin growers face a rising concern due to the increasing occurrence of Xanthomonas cucurbitae , the pathogen that causes bacterial spot disease in cucurbits, including pumpkins. X. cucurbitae infection leads to the appearance of small, sunken, beige spots on cucurbit fruits and leaves. Over time, the bacterium can compromise fruit integrity by breaking down the epidermis and cuticle. • Bacterial spot disease also creates opportunities for other bacteria and fungi to infiltrate the affected fruits, leading to fruit rot in both field and storage [2]

Sensitivity Analysis of Interdependency Parameters Using Probabilistic System Models

Comprehensive models of infrastructure networks feature many parameters characterizing the complex interdependencies that exist between systems. Most of these parameters are uncertain. Conducting sensitivity analyses is one way to characterize uncertainty in estimations of system-level performance based on component and interdependency parameters. Doing so provides an assessment of the importance of varying parameters and informs how to achieve targeted system outcomes through component- and system-level changes. To do this over interdependent infrastructure networks, we conduct inference over probabilistic Bayesian network-based models of these systems. We have developed a framework along with accompanying algorithms to conduct computationally tractable exact inference over the network model. Through a series of these analyses, we are able to analyze the impacts of changes in parameters on estimations of system-level performance. We apply the framework to a water distribution system including its dependencies with power and transportation networks. The results of the analyses show the effect of varying system parameters on probabilities of providing service across the network. We investigate the impacts on system performance of adding redundant power supplies, changing link configurations, and increased or reduced probabilities of component failures. The use of the sensitivity analysis results to support performance-based design based on system-level reliability measures is discussed

Development and Pilot of a Checklist for Management of Acute Liver Failure in the Intensive Care Unit

Introduction Acute liver failure (ALF) is an ideal condition for use of a checklist. Our aims were to develop a checklist for the management of ALF in the intensive care unit (ICU) and assess the usability of the checklist among multiple providers. Methods The initial checklist was developed from published guidelines and expert opinion. The checklist underwent pilot testing at 11 academic liver transplant centers in the US and Canada. An anonymous, written survey was used to assess the usability and quality of the checklist. Written comments were used to improve the checklist following the pilot testing period. Results We received 81 surveys involving the management of 116 patients during the pilot testing period. The overall quality of the checklist was judged to be above average to excellent by 94% of users. On a 5-point Likert scale, the majority of survey respondents agreed or agreed strongly with the following checklist characteristics: the checklist was easy to read (99% agreed/agreed strongly), easy to use (97%), items are categorized logically (98%), time to complete the checklist did not interfere with delivery of appropriate and safe patient care (94%) and was not excessively burdensome (92%), the checklist allowed the user the freedom to use his or her clinical judgment (80%), it is a useful tool in the management of acute liver failure (98%). Web-based and mobile apps were developed for use of the checklist at the point of care. Conclusion The checklist for the management of ALF in the ICU was shown in this pilot study to be easy to use, helpful and accepted by a wide variety of practitioners at multiple sites in the US and Canada

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody-Associated Glomerulonephritis as a Possible Side Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination.

Vaccination is the principal tool aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic that has, so far, affected tens of millions of individuals in the United States. The two available mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna possess high efficacy in preventing infection and illness severity. However, there are multiple side effects associated with these vaccines, some impacting different organs. Renal pathology is variable, with increasing cases of glomerulonephritis being observed. We report a rare acute kidney injury case due to antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-mediated glomerulonephritis after administering a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Aggravation and/or development of autoimmunity after mRNA vaccination may involve multiple immune mechanisms leading to de novo and recurrent glomerular diseases with an autoimmune basis