Analysis of Milk Powder by Direct Nebulization into Inductively-coupled Plasma

Sample preparation has always been a tedious but important step in analysis involving Inductively Coupled plasma emission spectrometry. In addition, it may also be a source of sample contamination. The present work attempts to overcome these problems by nebulizing milk powder suspensions directly into the plasma. Various infant and full cream milk powders were dispersed in water as well as 0.5% triton-X solution. The suspensions were then analysed for calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and sodium. These elements were successfully determined using inorganic standards with the addition of an internal standard to correct for the difference in viscosities

Orthogonal Designs from Negacyclic Matrices

We study the use of negacyclic matrices to form orthogonal designs and hence Hadamard matrices. We give results for all possible tuple for order 12, all but 3 for order 20 and all but 3 for order 28

The Impact of Physical Activity on Food Reward: Review and Conceptual Synthesis of Evidence from Observational, Acute, and Chronic Exercise Training Studies

Purpose of Review This review brings together current evidence from observational, acute, and chronic exercise training studies to inform public debate on the impact of physical activity and exercise on food reward. Recent Findings Low levels of physical activity are associated with higher liking and wanting for high-energy food. Acute bouts of exercise tend to reduce behavioral indices of reward for high-energy food in inactive individuals. A dissociation in liking (increase) and wanting (decrease) may occur during chronic exercise training associated with loss of body fat. Habitual moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with lower liking and wanting for high-fat food, and higher liking for low-fat food. Summary Food reward does not counteract the benefit of increasing physical activity levels for obesity management. Exercise training appears to be accompanied by positive changes in food preferences in line with an overall improvement in appetite control

Differentiation of Klebsiella Enterobacter Serratia organisms

ArticleThe original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaDifferentiation of 625 strains of bacteria which fulfilled the requirements laid down for the definition of Klebsielleae was carried out using 6 biochemical tests. 546 strains were identified as members of the genus Klebsiella, 46 of the genus Enterobacter and 33 of the genus Serratia.South African Medical Research CouncilPublishers' versio

Time trends in survival and readmission following coronary artery bypass grafting in Scotland, 1981-96: retrospective observational study

Improvements in coronary revascularisation techniques and an increase in the use of percutaneous interventions1 have led to a rise in the number of coronary artery bypass grafting operations in older patients with more severe cardiac disease and worse comorbidity and who have previously undergone revascularisation procedures. 2 3 Advances in surgical and anaesthetic techniques have prevented a worsening risk profile from being translated into an increase in perioperative deaths. 2 3 The aim of our study was to examine time trends in major outcomes up to two years after coronary artery bypass grafting

Short-term and long-term outcomes in 133 429 emergency patients admitted with angina or myocardial infarction in Scotland, 1990-2000: population-based cohort study

Objective: To analyse short- and long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in a large population-based cohort of unselected patients with a first emergency admission for suspected acute coronary syndrome between 1990 and 2000 in Scotland. Methods: All first emergency admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and all first emergency admissions for angina (the proxy for unstable angina) between 1990 and 2000 in Scotland (population 5.1 million) were identified. Survival to five years was examined by Cox multivariate modelling to examine the independent prognostic effects of diagnosis, age, sex, year of admission, socioeconomic deprivation and co-morbidity. Results: In Scotland between 1990 and 2000, 133 429 individual patients had a first emergency admission for suspected acute coronary syndrome: 96 026 with AMI and 37 403 with angina. After exclusion of deaths within 30 days, crude five-year case fatality was similarly poor for patients with angina and those with AMI (23.9% v 21.6% in men and 23.5% v 26.0% in women). The longer-term risk of a subsequent fatal or non-fatal event in the five years after first hospital admission was high: 54% in men after AMI (53% in women) and 56% after angina (49% in women). Event rates increased threefold with increasing age and 20–60% with different co-morbidities, but were 11–34% lower in women. Conclusions: Longer-term case fatality was similarly high in patients with angina and in survivors of AMI, about 5% a year. Furthermore, half the patients experienced a fatal or non-fatal event within five years. These data may strengthen the case for aggressive secondary prevention in all patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome

Interpretation and Social Explanation

In this article I focus on those aspects of Keith Dowding’s book that are most concerned with interpretive approaches to the study of politics. I argue that, in ways not adequately captured by Dowding’s descriptions, the historical study of political concepts tells us something about their historical political effects and for this reason has a distinct value for how we think about and study politics. Furthermore, I argue, concepts of and about politics, including the concepts of political science, cannot be fully separated from the political contexts of which they are a part. Concepts which function as generalisable explanations at one point in time can shape the thinking and behaviour of political actors and thus be very particular causes. A philosophy or method of political science unaware of or inattentive to this dimension of politics and political science is incomplete

Associations between the rate, amount and composition of weight loss as predictors of spontaneous weight regain in adults achieving clinically significant weight loss: a systematic review and meta-regression

Weight regain following weight loss is common although little is known regarding the associations between amount, rate, and composition of weight loss and weight regain. Forty-three studies (52 groups; n = 2379) with longitudinal body composition measurements were identified in which weight loss (≥5%) and subsequent weight regain (≥2%) occurred. Data were synthesized for changes in weight and body composition. Meta-regression models were used to investigate associations between amount, rate, and composition of weight loss and weight regain. Individuals lost 10.9% of their body weight over 13 weeks composed of 19.6% fat-free mass, followed by a regain of 5.4% body weight over 44 weeks composed of 21.6% fat-free mass. Associations between the amount (P < 0.001) and rate (P = 0.049) of weight loss and their interaction (P = 0.042) with weight regain were observed. Fat-free mass (P = 0.017) and fat mass (P < 0.001) loss both predicted weight regain although the effect of fat-free mass was attenuated following adjustment. The amount (P < 0.001), but not the rate of weight loss (P = 0.150), was associated with fat-free mass loss. The amount and rate of weight loss were significant and interacting factors associated with weight regain. Loss of fat-free mass and fat mass explained greater variance in weight regain than weight loss alone

The geology of the A9 corridor between Luncarty and Ballinluig

This report is an initial review of data from a resurvey of the superficial geology of the A9 corridor between Luncarty and Ballinluig. The resurvey was conducted to improve understanding of the superficial deposits and ground conditions along a vital transport route linking southern and northern Scotland. During the resurvey, information from historic geological maps was supplemented by data from field surveys conducted in 2013 and analysis of borehole records from the BGS archive. Preliminary geological maps and cross-sections are included in this report. The production of new 1:10,000 scale digital geological maps based on these data is ongoing. Note this report was originally released as an internal report in 2014, and reissued as an open report in 2019