Fats and oils in cookery. Cooking temperatures, 14:47

At head of title: ... Department of Household Science

Analysis of externally loaded bolted joints : analytical, computational and experimental study

The behaviour of a simple single-bolted-joint under tensile separating loads is analysed using conventional analytical methods, a finite element approach and experimental techniques. The variation in bolt force with external load predicted by the finite element analysis conforms well to the experimental results. It is demonstrated that certain detailed features such thread interaction do not need to be modelled to ensure useful results. Behaviour during the pre-loading phase of use agrees with previous long-standing studies. However, the pre-loading analysis does not carry over to the stage when external loading is applied, as is normally assumed and it is shown that the current, conventional analytical methods substantially over-predict the proportion of the external load carried by the bolt. The basic reason for this is shown to be related to the non-linear variation in contact conditions between the clamped members during the external loading stage

Inflammation in Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body disease and Alzheimer’s disease

Background Abstract Inflammation appears to play a role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about inflammation during early stages of cognitive decline or whether this differs in different disease groups. We sought to investigate this by assessing the inflammatory profile in patients with Parkinson’s disease with the early stages of cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), patients with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (MCI-AD), prodromal Lewy Body disease (MCI-LB) and controls. Methods We obtained venous blood samples from participants with PD-MCI (n = 44), PD-normal cognition (n = 112) MCI-LB (n = 38), MCI-AD (n = 21) and controls (n = 84). We measured 10 cytokines using Meso Scale Discovery V-Plex Plus including interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-1beta, IL- 2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. High-sensitivity C–reactive protein was measured. Results There was a higher level of inflammation in patients with MCI-AD and MCI-LB compared with controls. PD non-cognitively impaired had higher inflammatory markers than controls but there was no difference between PD-MCI and controls. There was a decrease in inflammatory markers with increasing motor severity based on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Conclusions Inflammation may be involved in the onset of cognitive decline in patients with MCI-AD and MCI-LB but appears to be less prominent PD-MCI albeit in a small data set. This suggests that anti- inflammatory medications may have most benefit at the earliest stages of neurodegenerative diseases. For PD cases, this might be in advance of the development of MCI.The LewyPro work was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre in Lewy Body Dementia based at Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University and The Royal College of Psychiatrists Pathfinder Fellowship. ICICLE-PD was funded by Parkinson’s UK (J-0802, G-1507). The research was supported by the Lockhart Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund, the academy of Medical Sciences UK, the Rosetrees Trust, and the Stevenage Biosciences Catalyst, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Unit based at Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. CWG is supported by a Clinician Scientist Fellowship from the MRC

Knowing when to stop: Rhythms of locomotor activity in the high-shore limpet, Cellana grata Gould

The high shore limpet, Cellana grata, forages whilst awash, moving upshore with the rising tide and retreating downshore on the ebbing tide to become inactive in refuges. Spraying inactive, emersed individuals with seawater at low tide invokes a locomotory response, with limpets moving up the shore. Controlled laboratory experiments under continuous white or red light (to simulate light or dark periods respectively) and continuous emersion, immersion or seawater spray showed that C. grata possesses a free-running endogenous rhythm of locomotor activity. This rhythm was maintained over 30. days in continuous seawater spray and white light. Maximum entropy spectral analysis (MESA) revealed two major components to this rhythm, at 7.2. h and 12.4. h. The 12.4. h component is of a circatidal nature and appears to initiate activity, allowing individuals to anticipate immersion by the incoming tide, although this clock can be over-ridden by strong wave splash or spraying vigorously with seawater. The 7.2. h period, however, was the most significant component and is suggested to act as a stopwatch enabling the limpet to assess the duration of each foraging excursion in order to prevent being stranded at the wrong height on the shore. The environmental stimulus for both components of the endogenous rhythm in C. grata appears to be the time of first exposure to wave wash from the incoming tide. C. grata, therefore, has behavioural rhythms entrained to initiate and also terminate activity, which play a role in the limpet maintaining a fixed vertical level on the shore when inactive. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.postprin

PROFITABILITY OF GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY

Agribusiness,

Book reviews compilation: Open access books on open scholarly communications

In the spirit of the focus of this thematic issue of the African Journal of Information and Communication, we explore the increasing number of open access books dealing, from a variety of perspectives, with the question of access to knowledge in a digital age in a composite book review. The books in this review article have been selected both for their broad relevance to scholarly communications and access to knowledge (A2K), as well as for practising what they preach in that they make their full texts available online for free download, alongside print versions provided for sale. They provide examples, therefore, not only of the increased access that can be provided by Open Licences (of particular importance in resource-starved African universities), but also demonstrate the success of new business models, in which openness and free access are perceived to be compatible with conventional print publication. It is particularly encouraging to note the presence of several leading academic presses now adopting this publishing model

Field and laboratory measurement of heart rate in a tropical limpet, Cellana grata

Heart rate of the tropical limpet Cellana grata was monitored on the shore (Cape d'Aguilar, Hong Kong) and in the laboratory using a non-invasive technique. Individual field measurements performed on inactive limpets, in a variety of thermal conditions during a diurnal low tide, showed a general increase in heart rate with increasing body temperature. This relationship was not always evident when monitoring individual responses over a diurnal low tide period, since under some circumstances, heart rate of individuals decreased with increasing the temperature of the substrate and foot. A factorial laboratory experiment showed that heart rate was faster at higher temperatures but slower in larger animals. The combined evaluation of field and laboratory data suggests that limpets in some habitats may be able to regulate their metabolic rate when resting on hot rock substrates.published_or_final_versio

The use of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) within the homeless population: Motivations, harms and the implications for developing an appropriate response

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) have become increasingly associated with a range of physical, mental health and societal harms. In response, several countries have introduced legislation aimed at restricting the supply and use of SCRAs. While these legislative changes have led to a decrease in SCRA use within the general population, SCRAs remain popular within vulnerable populations, in particular the homeless. Drawing on 84 face-to-face interviews (with 53 homeless users of SCRAs, and 31 key stakeholders), this article presents the first in-depth qualitative study of SCRA use within the homeless population. It highlights the distinct set of motivations for SCRA use within this population, along with the specific harms associated with their use. In doing so, this article makes an important and timely contribution to the current evidence base and discourse on how governments and service providers should respond to SCRA use within the homeless population. The article concludes by arguing that the most appropriate way to address the continued use of SCRAs within the homeless population is through the development of a more appropriate service response rather than further legislative change