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Preparation and characterization of gliadin-based core-shell microcapsules by three antisolvent approaches
Get PDFGliadin, a versatile wheat-derived protein, has great potential in the creation of nanostructured delivery systems for encapsulating various hydrophobic bioactive substances. Despite gliadin's well-established potential in creating nanostructured delivery systems for hydrophobic substances, its utilization for encapsulating hydrophilic compounds remains a relatively unexplored domain. This study investigated the feasibility of preparing gliadin-based core-shell microcapsules using different antisolvent methods and assessed their controlled release capabilities for hydrophilic compounds. It employed three commonly used food polysaccharides, alginate, κ-carrageenan, and agar, as hydrophilic microbeads and selected thiamine and ethyl maltol as model compounds. The microcapsules were constructed by two steps: 1) The microbeads were prepared by a water-in-oil emulsion template under different gelling conditions; 2) The microbeads were dispersed into aqueous ethanol/urea/acetic acid gliadin solutions, during which the slow migration of water from inside the microbeads to the outer gliadin solution decreased the solubility of gliadin and promoted the deposition of gliadin onto the surface of the microbeads, finally leading to the formation of the core-shell structure. The resulting core-shell microcapsules exhibited adjustable particle sizes from 80.0 to 850.0 μm in diameter and shell thickness ranging from 8.0 to 30.0 μm. Moreover, the microcapsules exhibited controlled release behavior for hydrophilic compounds, with only 20.0% of thiamine being released after 90 min, and this release rate can be finely tuned by controlling the shell thickness. These gliadin-based core-shell microcapsules are considered as promising carriers for the controlled delivery of hydrophilic compounds
Creativity in Art, Design and Technology
Get PDFHuman creators are capable of great feats of imagination and inventive-ness. History and tradition testify to the masterpieces that have been produced over the centuries. Most of these have been created in human time with the tools that were available. The current digital revolution is providing a new set of tools and environ-ments that creators can use, but this does raise issues such as to how best to preserve traditions and esthetic values that have been built up over many generations. Tech-nology can provide both continuity and discontinuity which has both opportunities and challenges. A number of the factors influencing creativity are summarized, and suggestions made for evaluating the outcomes of the creative process. Mixed inter-disciplinary environments offer opportunities for the production of creative works. The rise of commercial art for the Internet and interactive gaming is noted
Views on minimum unit pricing for alcohol before its introduction among people with alcohol dependence in Scotland: A qualitative interview study
Get PDFIntroduction: Scotland implemented a minimum price per unit of alcohol (MUP) of £0.50 in May 2018 (1 UK unit = 10ml/8g ethanol). Some stakeholders expressed concerns about the policy having potential negative consequences for people with alcohol dependence. This study aimed to investigate anticipated impacts of MUP on people presenting to alcohol treatment services in Scotland before policy implementation.
Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 people with alcohol dependence accessing alcohol treatment services in Scotland between November 2017 and April 2018. Interviews examined respondents’ current and anticipated patterns of drinking and spending, effects on their personal life, and their views on potential policy impact. Interview data were thematically analysed using a constant comparison method.
Results: Three key themes were identified: 1) Strategies used to manage the cost of alcohol and anticipated responses to MUP; 2) Broader effects of MUP and 3) Awareness and preparedness for MUP. Respondents expected to be impacted by MUP, particularly those on low incomes and those with more severe dependence symptoms. They anticipated using familiar strategies including borrowing and reprioritising spending to keep alcohol affordable. Some respondents anticipated negative consequences. Respondents were sceptical about the short-term benefits of MUP for current drinkers but felt it might prevent harm for future generations. Respondents had concerns about the capacity of treatment services to meet support needs.
Discussion and Conclusions: People with alcohol dependence identified immediate concerns alongside potential long-term benefits of MUP before its introduction. They also had concerns over the preparedness of service providers
Examining the Diagnosis and Treatment Experiences of People Living With Autoimmune Gastritis and Pernicious Anemia
Get PDFThere is limited research evaluating the diagnosis and treatment of patients with autoimmune gastritis (AIG) and pernicious anemia (PA). We used a 2-phase data collection process to examine the literature and individual patient accounts. Phase one comprised a systematically conducted literature review focusing on diagnosis and treatment, relationships with healthcare practitioners and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Phase two involved analysis of individual accounts via posts in online patient forums. We identified 6 main themes: the diagnosis journey, seeking treatment, patient-provider relationships, HRQOL, patient disempowerment, and the "expert patient." Our findings confirm significant knowledge gaps concerning AIG/PA across the healthcare community. These have a cascading effect starting with delays in diagnosis and poor treatment protocols and often lead to complete withdrawal from care seeking. The establishment of standard consensus guidelines and improved clinical awareness should be urgently addressed. Interventions that better help patients understand their illness are also needed to improve psychological health. Without these changes disengagement from health systems, and poor health outcomes, will continue for this population group
Conversion of Conventional Switching Mode Power Supply into a Photovoltaic Array Emulator
Get PDFThe paper discusses the development of a solar photovoltaic array emulator based on the conversion of a conventional switching mode power supply. The current-voltage characteristic of the power supply is adjusted according to the photovoltaic array model due to the injection of current into the junction of the feedback voltage divider circuit through an additional resistor. NI data acquisition device and Lab View software are used to build the emulator control system. The photovoltaic array model was implemented into the software algorithm as a look-up table to reduce the processing time and improve the system response. An “off-the-shelf” switching mode power supply having the flyback architecture and 230V ac input was selected for the practical experiment. The proposed approach to emulator development ensures rapid system prototyping at a low cost
A power budget analysis of an electrical uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) flying a basic mission profile
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to determine the feasibility of developing a medium sized Uncrewed Air Vehicle, of 4.4m wingspan, for flight-testing electrical motors, drive units and ancillary equipment. The objectives of this initial study were to select a candidate airframe for the purpose of conducting this initial analysis, to define a mission profile that would enable the safe autonomous flight to be achieved and to estimate the power required for each of the flight phases of the mission and the electrical current consumption. The results were assessed to determine whether such an endeavour could be achieved using existing lithium-ion battery technology and to provide information about the flight endurance that could be expected of such an aircraft. In conducting this study an aircraft weight breakdown analysis has been accomplished and wing geometry and performance characteristics have been established. The outcome of the study indicated that a test UAV could be successfully designed and constructed which would enable practical autonomous flying of basic flight circuits to be conducted at a designated airfield, although it would have limited flight endurance
A test rig for thermal analysis of heat sinks for power electronic applications
Get PDFThis paper discusses the design and manufacture of a test rig for practical thermal analysis of the temperature distribution across forced air-cooled heat sinks. High-temperature gradients across power electronic modules that have a large area of semiconductor structure can result in premature failure of the components due to mechanical stress-related fatigue. Computer modelling and simulations predict the temperature distribution across the heat sink, but physical temperature measurements are required to validate these results. In order to acquire these temperature readings, a bespoke test rig is designed and manufactured. Temperature readings obtained using this test rig are applied for comparison to those obtained by computer simulation and, hence provide validation of the computer simulation results
Using Radical Pedagogy to Promote Social Justice in Higher Education
Get PDFYouth Work and informal education are founded on the principles of anti-oppressive practice focusing on transformative action (Jemal and Bussey, 2018) to counteract social injustice (Crooks, 1992) based on the belief that society does not afford all people the same opportunities. This inequality is exacerbated by societal institutions and structures such as traditional education settings and practices (Freire, 1970; Butters and Newell 1978) creating the need for progressive educators, like Youth and Community Workers, to address the oppressions induced and enforced by society to create change and equality (Chouhan, 2009; Thompson, 2016). Informal education provides the means for transformative action, its focus on association and experiential learning (Smith, 2013) through conversation encourages diligence, critique and an enquiring mind (Freire, 1998) from the educator and the learner. This process of ‘raising critical consciousness’ (Freire, 1972) enables participation in democratic processes, promoting empowerment and social change.
The Youth and Community Work academic team at Wrexham Glyndŵr University (WGU) have been piloting a research project that brings together students, academics, and professional staff with a view to raising critical consciousness of personal, structural and cultural oppression by sharing their lived experiences and research on topics relating to race, sexuality and gender, disability and ableism. The project is called “The Conversation: Creating Change One Voice at a Time” and is made up of webinars, a narrative library and evaluation. This chapter will demonstrate how Youth Work methodology can be applied to effect change in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Specifically, it will show how informal education pedagogy can be applied as methodology to address structural oppressions by creating a bottom-up approach to transformational action that challenges unseen and unknown inequalities at a personal and cultural level (Thompson, 2016). The chapter will offer finding from the research pilot and offer a way for university communities to work together to promote social justice in organisations and how transformational action does not have to be led from the top down (Ledwith, 2020)
Assessing the Impact of Minimum Pricing for Alcohol on the Wider Population of Drinkers – Interim Findings
Get PDFIn May 2018, Welsh Government issued a specification for an evaluation that would assess the process and impact of the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol (MPA) in Wales. The contract was split into four ‘lots’: (1) a contribution analysis, (2) work with retailers, (3) qualitative work with services and service users, and (4) an assessment of impact on the wider population of drinkers.
Three of the contracts (Lots 1, 3 and 4) were awarded to a consortium of researchers based at the University of South Wales, Glyndwr University Wrexham and Figure 8 Consultancy1
. Lot 2 was awarded to the National Centre for Social
Research. This report focuses on the assessment of impact on the wider population of drinkers and presents findings from research conducted two years postimplementation of the legislation. The findings provide an important interim
assessment of the impact of MPA on the wider population of drinkers in Wales.
This report is based on data gathered from drinkers across Wales using an online questionnaire survey and through in-depth qualitative interviews
Rethinking China: Perceptions from Africa. A survey of Nigeria University students
Get PDFThis article studies the sources from which Nigerian university students receive information about China. The awareness of the Nigerian youth about China's initiatives such as 'One Belt One Road' and 'Forum on China-Africa Cooperation' further discloses the perception of the students on the rise of China and its influence on global affairs. In addition, the study reveals how African students perceive China as a trade partner. The results indicate the internet and social media are major sources of awareness. Some students are somewhat aware of the Chinese initiatives, but others have never heard about these initiatives. The students think that China has influence in the World and African affairs and are neutral about the responsible behavior of China as a global power. Students are positive about the Chinese development model and are concerned about the influx of Chinese labor in Nigeria