Oxidative Stability of Polyunsaturated Edible Oils Mixed With Microcrystalline Cellulose

The oxidative stability of mixtures of edible oils containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was investigated. The mixtures studied consisted of oils of either camelina (CAM), cod liver (CLO), or salmon (SO) mixed with either colloidal or powdered MCC. A 50:50 (w/w) ratio of oil:MCC resulted in an applicable mixture containing high levels of PUFA edible oil and dietary fiber. The oxidative stability of the formulated mixtures and the pure oils was investigated over a period of 28 days. The peroxide value (PV) was assessed as a parameter for primary oxidation products and dynamic headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analyze secondary volatile organic compounds (VOC). CAM and the respective mixtures were oxidatively stable at both 4 and 22 °C during the storage period. The marine oils and the respective mixtures were stable at 4 °C. At 22 °C, an increase in hydroperoxides was found, but no increase in VOC was detected during the time-frame investigated. At 42 °C, prominent increases in PV and VOC were found for all oils and mixtures. Hexanal, a common marker for the degradation of n-6 fatty acids, propanal and 2,4-heptadienal (E,E), common indicators for the degradation of n-3 fatty acids, were among the volatiles detected in the headspace of oils and mixtures. This study showed that a mixture containing a 50:50 ratio of oil:MCC can be obtained by a low-tech procedure that does not induce oxidation when stored at low temperatures during a period of 1 month

Choice of observational study design impacts on measurement of antipsychotic risks in the elderly: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotics are frequently and increasingly prescribed to treat the behavioural symptoms associated with dementia despite their modest efficacy. Evidence regarding the potential adverse events of antipsychotics is limited and little is known about the longer-term safety of these medicines in the elderly. The aim of this review was to determine the impact of the choice of observational study design and methods used to control for confounding on the measurement of antipsychotic risks in elderly patients. METHODS: We searched PUBMED and the Cochrane controlled trials register for double-blind randomised controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses and published observational studies of antipsychotics. RESULTS: Forty four studies were identified for the endpoints; death, cerebrovascular events, hip fracture and pneumonia. RCTs found a 20% to 30% increased risk of death, or an absolute increase of 1extra death per 100 patients with atypical antipsychotics compared to non-use. Cohort and instrumental variable analyses estimated between 2 to 7 extra deaths per 100 patients with conventional compared to atypical antipsychotics. RCTs found a 2 to 3 times increased risk of all cerebrovascular events with atypical antipsychotics compared to placebo and no association with serious stroke that required hospitalisation. Observational studies using cohort and self-controlled case-series designs reported similar results; no association where the endpoint was stroke causing hospitalisation and a doubling of risk when minor stroke was included. No RCTs were available for the outcome of hip fracture or pneumonia. Observational studies reported a 20% to 40% increased risk of hip fracture with both antipsychotic classes compared to non-use. The risk of pneumonia was a 2 to 3 times greater with both classes compared to non-use while a self-controlled case-series study estimated a 60% increased risk. Conventional antipsychotics were associated with a 50% greater hip fracture risk than atypical antipsychotics, while the risk of pneumonia was similar between the classes. CONCLUSIONS: Choice of observational study design is critical in studying the adverse effects of antispychotics. Cohort and instrumental variable analyses gave more consistent results to clinical studies for mortality outcomes as have self-controlled case-series for the risk of cerebrovascular events and stroke. Observational evidence has highlighted the potential for antipsychotics to be associated with serious adverse events that were not reported in RCTs including hip fracture and pneumonia. Good quality observational studies are required, that employ appropriate study designs that are robust towards unmeasured confounding, to confirm the potential excess risk of hip fracture and pneumonia with antipsychotics.Nicole Pratt, Elizabeth E. Roughead, Amy Salter and Philip Rya

Evaluation of body mass index (bmi) of children aged 7-12 primary school pupils in Siedlce

Background: The occurrence of overweight and obesity in childhood promote many diseases, causing complications both in childchood and in adulthood. Objective. The aim of study was to evaluate body mass index (BMI) of children aged 7-12 from primary schools in Siedlce (city in Poland) and determining the risk of obesity in this group. Material and methods. Subjects were 450 primary school children aged 7-12 years living in Siedlce, studied between 2017-2018, and consisted of 269 (59.7%) girls and 181 boys (40.3%). The BMIs were determined and total body composition was measured by a SC-240 Analyzer. Result were compared with percentile grids elaborated in the OLAF study. Results. The average BMI for 7-year-olds was 16.6, (16.8 for girls, c50=15.6 and 16.2 for boys, c50=15.8), whilst for 12-year-olds they were 19.0, (19.7 for girls, c50=18 and 19.1 for boys, c50=18). Despite 70.2% of average BMI values being correct, individually abnormal clusters were observed within the girl and boy grouping. We found that 5.8% children were underweight (6.7% girls and 4.4% boys), whilst 16.7% were overweight (19.7% girls and 12.1% boys), and those obese were 7.3% (8.2% girls and 6.1% boys). Conclusions. The BMI to height ratio was found to be correct in most subjects, nevertheless it was 12% higher in boys than girls. Abnormal BMIs were found in 1/3 of children, wherein overweight and obesity were more frequent than those being underweight. Excessive body mass was found in 24% of all children, with the highest rates being in 9-year-old girls (30.2%) and 12-year-old boys (29.4%). It is necessary to constantly monitor the BMI among school children.Wprowadzenie: Występowanie nadwagi i otyłości w dzieciństwie zwiększa ryzyko wielu chorób i powikłań zdrowia zarówno w wieku rozwojowym, jak i w wieku dorosłym. Cel. Celem badań była ocena stanu odżywienia dzieci w wieku 7-12 lat w aspekcie występowania nadwagi i otyłości. Materiał i metody. Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2017-2018 wśród uczniów szkół podstawowych w Siedlcach w wieku 7-12 lat. Przebadano 450 dzieci: 269 dziewczynek (59,7%) i 181 chłopców (40,3%). Wyznaczono BMI, skład ciała badano metodą elektrycznej bioimpedancji analizatorem Tanita SC-240. Wyniki porównano z siatkami centylowymi z projektu OLAF. Wyniki interpretowano statystycznie. Wyniki. BMI u dzieci w wieku 7 lat wynosił średnio 16,6 (16,8 dziewcząt c50=15,6; 16,2 chłopy c.50=15,8), a w wieku 12 lat – 19,0 (19,7 dziewcząt c50=18; 19,10 chłopcy c50=18). Mimo prawidłowych średnich wartości BMI (70,2%), rozkład indywidualny wśród dziewcząt i chłopców ujawnił nieprawidłowości. Niedobór masy ciała stwierdzono u 5,8% dzieci (6,7% dziewcząt i 4,4% chłopców); nadwagę u 16,7% (19,7% dziewcząt, 12,1% chłopców), a otyłość u 7,3% (8,2% dziewcząt, 6,1% chłopców). Wnioski. Dla większości badanych dzieci wykazano prawidłową proporcją masy ciała do wysokości, jednak w grupie chłopców odsetek ten był wyższy o 12% niż wśród dziewcząt. Nieprawidłowa masa ciała wstępowała u co trzeciego dziecka w wieku 7-12 lat, przy czym częściej występowała nadwaga i otyłość niż zbyt niska masa ciała. Wśród dzieci z nadmierną masą ciała najwyższy odsetek stwierdzono wśród dziewcząt – 29,4% i wśród 9 letnich chłopców – 30,0%. Konieczne jest stałe monitorowanie wskaźnika BMI wśród dzieci szkolnych

Real time search algorithm for observation outliers during monitoring engineering constructions

Real time monitoring of engineering structures in case of an emergency of disaster requires collection of a large amount of data to be processed by specific analytical techniques. A quick and accurate assessment of the state of the object is crucial for a probable rescue action. One of the more significant evaluation methods of large sets of data, either collected during a specified interval of time or permanently, is the time series analysis. In this paper presented is a search algorithm for those time series elements which deviate from their values expected during monitoring. Quick and proper detection of observations indicating anomalous behavior of the structure allows to take a variety of preventive actions. In the algorithm, the mathematical formulae used provide maximal sensitivity to detect even minimal changes in the object’s behavior. The sensitivity analyses were conducted for the algorithm of moving average as well as for the Douglas-Peucker algorithm used in generalization of linear objects in GIS. In addition to determining the size of deviations from the average it was used the so-called Hausdorff distance. The carried out simulation and verification of laboratory survey data showed that the approach provides sufficient sensitivity for automatic real time analysis of large amount of data obtained from different and various sensors (total stations, leveling, camera, radar)

DOPPLER SHIFT IN X-RAY SPECTRUM FOR LASER-IMPLODED SPHERICAL MICROSHELLS

Doppler shifts due to plasma motion have been observed in the space resolved X-ray spectra for the laser-imploded spherical microshells. The analysis of the X-ray spectrum makes it possible to study the ablation process from the microshell surface

Versatility of Terpyridine-Functionalised Aryl Tetrazoles: Photophysical Properties, Ratiometric Sensing of Zinc Cations and Sensitisation of Lanthanide Luminescence

© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Four new tetrazole-containing species, in conjugation with terpyridine moieties through phenyl or pyridyl linkers, have been synthesised and characterised. In the series, the tetrazole functional groups are either in their acidic form or are alkylated at the N2 position with a methyl group. The photophysical properties of the species reveal moderate UV or efficient blue fluorescent emission, with photoluminescence quantum yields of around 30 % and 80 % for UV and blue emission, respectively. The spectral profiles can be reversibly modulated through protonation/deprotonation, with changes being consistent with an increase of the electron density on the tetrazole rings upon deprotonation or a decrease of the electron density on the terpyridines through protonation. The tetrazole-containing species were also investigated for fluorescence sensing of biologically and environmentally important metal ions, highlighting a ratiometric response to the presence of Zn 2+ . Furthermore, this ratiometric response could be well discriminated from that of interfering Cd 2+ ions. Lastly, the species have been investigated as ligands for Eu 3+ and Yb 3+ cations, revealing efficient sensitisation, to give typical red and near-infrared emissions, respectively