237 research outputs found
Methodologies for extraction, isolation, characterisation, and quantification of bioactive compounds.
No full textSince it is widely recognized that the beneficial influence of fruit on human health is linked with the presence of specific phytochemicals, determining the nature of these compounds in different commodities, and the influence of preharvest, postharvest and processing treatments, have been major areas ofresearch (Espin et al., 2007; Frankel, 2007). Antioxidants can be measured as individual compounds or as a total capacity, yet some methods used to quantify total antioxidant activity are thought to take into account compounds not classed as antioxidants, for instance, reducing sugars (Huang et al., 2005). This chapter summarizes the wide variety of extraction and characterization techniques used to quantify individual or total antioxidants, as well as other bioactive compounds.Fil: Cools, Katherine. University Of Cranfield; Reino UnidoFil: Vicente, Ariel Roberto. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. University Of Cranfield; Reino UnidoFil: Terry, Leon. University Of Cranfield; Reino Unid
Large Time Step and DC Stable TD-EFIE Discretized with Implicit Runge-Kutta Methods
No full textThe time domain-electric field integral equation (TD-EFIE) and its differentiated version are widely used to simulate the transient scattering of a time dependent electromagnetic field by a perfect electric conductor (PEC). The time discretization of the TD-EFIE can be achieved by a space-time Galerkin approach or, as it is considered in this contribution, by a convolution quadrature using implicit Runge-Kutta methods. The solution is then computed using the marching-on-in-time (MOT) algorithm. The differentiated TD-EFIE has two problems: 1) the system matrix suffers from ill-conditioning when the time step increases (low frequency breakdown) and 2) it suffers from the DC instability, i.e., the formulation allows for the existence of spurious solenoidal currents that grow slowly in the solution. In this article, we show that 1) and 2) can be alleviated by leveraging quasi-Helmholtz projectors to separate the Helmholtz components of the induced current and rescale them independently. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated by numerical examples including benchmarks and real-life applications.Numerical Analysi
Mediterranean diet cools down the inflammatory milieu in type 2 diabetes: the MÉDITA randomized controlled trial
No full textMediterranean-style diets provide cardiovascular benefits and increase insulin sensitivity. There is little evidence that adherence to Mediterranean diet may influence the levels of the inflammatory milieu in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess whether Mediterranean diet influences both C-reactive protein (CRP) and adiponectin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and whether adherence to Mediterranean diet affects their circulating levels. In a two-arm, single-center trial, 215 men and women with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were randomized to a Mediterranean diet (n = 108, 54 males and 54 females) or a low-fat diet (n = 107, 52 males and 55 females), with a total follow-up of 8.1 years. At baseline visit and at 1 year, body weight, HOMA index, CRP, and adiponectin and its fractions were assessed. Adherence to the diets was assessed by calculating the Mediterranean-diet score. At 1 year, CPR fell by 37 % and adiponectin rose by 43 % in the Mediterranean diet group, while remaining unchanged in the low-fat diet group. The pattern of adiponectin fractions (high and non-high molecular weight) showed a response similar to that of total adiponectin. Diabetic patients with the highest scores (6–9 points) of adherence to Mediterranean diet had lower circulating CRP level and higher circulating total adiponectin levels than the diabetic patients who scored <3 points on the scale (P = 0.001). The results of this randomized controlled trial demonstrate that Mediterranean diet cools down the inflammatory milieu of type 2 diabetes
Literature and the nugget of knowledge : an interview with Derek Attridge and Peter Lamarque
No full textAbstract: The idea of an interview with Peter Lamarque and Derek Attridge on the cognitive value of literary fiction arose in the wake of an aesthetics course on the relation between literature and truth at the University of Antwerp. In Spring 2015 Peter Lamarque contributed to this course with the lecture \u201cThe Opacity of Narrative and Fine-grained Reading\u201d. In Spring 2017 Derek Attridge elaborated his view on the relation between literature and truth in his lecture \u201cThe Event of Truth : Literature\u2019s Singular Relation to Knowledge\u201d. After each lecture, we had the occasion to discuss with the author the stakes of the debate and we were rapidly convinced by the many points of convergences between their views. We intended to explore these similarities and differences through a face to face interaction and were happy that both philosophers accepted our invitation for an interview. This interview was conducted by Arthur Cools and Leen Verheyen in York on 9 July 2018
The Antwerp Jesuit Cornelius Hazart as an author of dialogue pamphlets
No full textThe Antwerp Jesuit Cornelius Hazart as an author of dialogue pamphlets
Cornelius Hazart (1617-1690) was a prolific author. Amongst many another things, he published a monumental four volume Church History (De Kerckelyke Historie vanden Gheheelen Wereldt, 1667-1671) and dozens of pamphlets in which he argued that only roman Catholics could expect salvation and that their church was by far superior to the various competing protestant institutions (Martens, 2012). Many of these pamphlets were presented as imaginary, but seemingly realistic dialogues between various characters.
In recent years, Dutch scholars have paid attention to the genre of dialogue pamphlets (Dingemanse 2008). They have argued that such dialogue pamphlets were a typical feature of the ‘discussion culture’ that characterized the Dutch Republic (Frijhoff and Spies, 1999). In the Habsburg Netherlands power relations were more vertically structured than in the Dutch Republic. But just as in the Republic, literacy levels in these regions remained high and a reading culture was firmly rooted amongst urban populations (Jacobs and Verberckmoes, 2006). Therefore authorities made use of pamphlets to win over public opinion. Due to their realistic settings, dialogue pamphlets were particularly suited to enact power relations and to enhance the confessionalisation process.
In this paper, I shall analyze Hazart’s dialogue pamphlets. As a preacher of the Antwerp St Ignatius church he was a well-known polemicist. In particular, after the Peace of Munster, when relationships with the Dutch Republic were restored, Hazart used this form. Apparently, he and his fellow clergymen feared that Catholics, who had frequent contacts with northerners, would be lured into Protestantism. Not surprisingly, a detailed reading of Hazart’s dialogue pamphlets reveals that he emphasized the catholic stance on controversial points of doctrine. Moreover, and maybe more importantly, he ridiculed his counterparts, the protestant ministers. Thereby he created powerful stereotypes that would be deeply rooted in the collective imagery of the post Tridentine Catholic Netherlands.
Source material
A corpus of dialogue pamphlets by Cornelius Hazart has been compiled by searches into the STCV-database.
Basic references
C. Dingemanse, Rap van tong, scherp van pen: Literaire discussiecultuur in Nederlandse praatjespamfletten (circa 1600-1750). (Hilversum, 2008).
W. Frijhoff and M. Spies, 1650. Bevochten eendracht (The Hague, 1999).
M. Jacobs and J. Verberckmoes, ‘Populair drukwerk’ in P. Janssens ed. België in de 17de eeuw. De Spaanse Nederlanden en het Prinsbisdom Luik. Band II: Cultuur en Leefwereld (Brussels and Gent, 2006) 106-110.
B. Martens, ‘Nederlandse religieuze controversepublicaties en de kunst van het argumenteren in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden (ca. 1591-c. 1688)’, in Trajecta, 19-20 (2012), 241-272.status: Publishe
Performances of the HL (Hyperloop) transport system
No full textThis paper deals with an analysis of performances of the HL (Hyperloop) transport system considered as an advanced transport alternative to the existing APT (Air Passenger Transport) and HSR (High Speed Rail) systems. The considered performances are operational, financial, social and environmental. The operational performance include capacity and quality of service provided to the system’s users-passengers with attributes such as door-to-door travel time consisting of the access and egress time, schedule delay, in-vehicle time, and interchange time. The economic performances embrace the costs and revenues of operating the system. The costs include that for infrastructure, vehicles, traffic management facilities and equipment, and employees. The revenues embrace earnings from pricing users/passengers. The environmental performances include energy consumption and related emissions of GHGs (Green House Gases), and land use. The social performances are considered to be noise and safety. The analytical models of indicators of these performances are developed and applied to the scenario of operating the HL system on the short- to medium-haul travel distances/routes. These are then compared to the corresponding performances of the HSR and APT. This comparison has shown that the HL system may possess some advantages but also disadvantages regarding particular performances.Transport and PlanningOLD Urban and Regional Developmen
Return to sport criteria post glenohumeral joint stabilisation in male contact and collision athletes
No full textBackground
The path of return to contact and collision sports after glenohumeral joint stabilisation (GHJS) varies significantly among athletes. There are high rates of re-injury and associated fear and anxiety, especially among young male contact and collision athletes. Return-to-sport (RTS) decision-making can be complex for clinicians and physicians, with no consensus on the use of outcome measures following surgery for this cohort of athletes. In this thesis, I explore a battery of objective measures and psychological factors to aid RTS decision-making.
Methods
This thesis incorporates the work from four research questions (Chapters 3, 5, and 6) and a systematic review of the use of outcome measures following shoulder stabilisation in the athletic population (Chapter 2). The research comprises of observational cross-sectional and prospective longitudinal studies. For this thesis, I recruited un-injured and post-surgical stabilisation male contact and collision athletes. Data collection included force plate capture of upper quadrant performance tests, angle-specific isokinetic shoulder rotational strength, and psychological and shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measures.
Results
The outcome variables of three upper quadrant performance tests (the countermovement push-up, press jump and drop box land) performed on dual force plates and angle-specific isokinetic shoulder rotational strength can be reliability measured in the male collision and contact athlete. Compared to an uninjured cohort, I identified strength and power deficits that persist post-GHJS in male contact and collision athletes. These results highlight the need to assess upper limb strength and power parameters post-GHJS, provide rehabilitation targets following surgery and could help reduce re-injury risk, although this needs further exploring. Finally, I demonstrated that psychological responses and self-reported outcome measures assessed before surgery and early recovery were not associated with time to RTS. However, at six months, lower psychological readiness scores identified athletes who returned to sport longer than 12 months.
Conclusion
This thesis adds novel insights into the use of strength and power measures and self-reported psychological outcome measures following GHJS in male contact and collision athletes. Targeting these outcomes may enhance rehabilitation and could play a role in injury prevention as athletes RTS
- …
