Cannabinoids and metabolites in expectorated oral fluid after 8 days of controlled around-the-clock oral THC administration

Oral fluid (OF) is an increasingly accepted matrix for drug testing programs, but questions remain about its usefulness for monitoring cannabinoids. Expectorated OF specimens (n = 360) were obtained from 10 adult daily cannabis smokers before, during, and after 37 20-mg oral Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) doses over 9 days to characterize cannabinoid disposition in this matrix. Specimens were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with electron-impact ionization for THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, cannabidiol, and cannabinol, and negative chemical ionization for 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH). Linear ranges for THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, and cannabidiol were 0.25–50 ng/mL; cannabinol 1–50 ng/mL; and THCCOOH 5–500 pg/mL. THCCOOH was the most prevalent analyte in 344 specimens (96.9%), with concentrations up to 1,390.3 pg/mL. 11-hydroxy-THC, cannabidiol, and cannabinol were detected in 1, 1, and 3 specimens, respectively. THC was detected in only 13.8% of specimens. The highest THC concentrations were obtained at admission (median 1.4 ng/mL, range 0.3–113.6) from previously self-administered smoked cannabis. A total of 2.5 and 3.7% of specimens were THC-positive at the recommended Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2 ng/mL) and Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Alcohol and Medicines (DRUID) (1 ng/mL) confirmation cutoffs, respectively. THC is currently the only analyte for monitoring cannabis exposure in OF; however, these data indicate chronic therapeutic oral THC administration and illicit oral THC use are unlikely to be identified with current guidelines. Measurement of THCCOOH may improve the detection and interpretation of OF cannabinoid tests and minimize the possibility of OF contamination from passive inhalation of cannabis smoke.     

Surface reaction and transport in mixed conductors with electrochemically-active surfaces: a 2-D numerical study of ceria

A two-dimensional, small-bias model has been developed for describing transport through a mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) with electrochemically-active surfaces, a system of particular relevance to solid oxide fuel cells. Utilizing the h-adaptive finite-element method, we solve the electrochemical potential and flux for both ionic and electronic species in the MIEC, taking the transport properties of Sm(0.15)Ce(0.85)O(1.925-δ) (SDC15). In addition to the ionic flux that flows between the two sides of the cell, there are two types of electronic fluxes: (1) cross-plane current that flows in the same general direction as the ionic current, and (2) in-plane current that flows between the catalytically-active MIEC surface and the metal current collectors. From an evaluation of these fluxes, the macroscopic interfacial resistance is decomposed into an electrochemical reaction resistance and an electron diffusion-drift resistance, the latter associated with the in-plane electronic current. Analysis of the experimental data for the interfacial resistance for hydrogen electro-oxidation on SDC15 having either Pt or Au current collectors (W. Lai and S. M. Haile, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2005, 88, 2979-2997; W. C. Chueh, W. Lai and S. M. Haile, Solid State Ionics, 2008, 179, 1036-1041) indicates that surface reaction rather than electron migration is the overall rate-limiting step, and suggests furthermore that the surface reaction rate, which has not been directly measured in the literature, scales with pO2(-1/4). The penetration depth for the in-plane electronic current is estimated at 0.6 μm for the experimental conditions of interest to SDC15, and is found to attain a value as high as 4 μm within the broader range of computational conditions.     

Development of PCR internal controls for DNA profiling with the AmpFℓSTR® SGM Plus® amplification kit

Forensic DNA profiling uses a series of commercial kits that co‐amplify several loci in one reaction; the products of the PCR are fluorescently labelled and analysed using CE. Before CE, an aliquot of the PCR is mixed with formamide and an internal lane size standard. Using the SGM Plus amplification kit, we have developed two internal non‐amplified controls of 80 bp and 380 bp that are labelled with ROX fluorescent dye and added to the PCR. Combined with two internal amplification controls of 90 bp and 410 bp, they provide additional controls for the PCR, electrokinetic injection, and CE and also function as an internal size standard.     

On changing highest weight theories for finite W-algebras

A highest weight theory for a finite W-algebra $U(\mathfrak{g},e)$ was developed in Brundan et al. (Int. Math. Res. Not. 15:rnn051, 2008). This leads to a strategy for classifying the irreducible finite dimensional $U(\mathfrak{g},e)$ -modules. The highest weight theory depends on the choice of a parabolic subalgebra of $\mathfrak{g}$ leading to different parameterizations of the finite dimensional irreducible $U(\mathfrak{g},e)$ -modules. We explain how to construct an isomorphism preserving bijection between the parameterizing sets for different choices of parabolic subalgebra when $\mathfrak{g}$ is of type A, or when $\mathfrak{g}$ is of types C or D and e is an even multiplicity nilpotent element.     

A fractional differential equation for a MEMS viscometer used in the oil industry

A mathematical model is developed for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) instrument that has been designed primarily to measure the viscosity of fluids that are encountered during oil well exploration. It is shown that, in one mode of operation, the displacement of the device satisfies a fractional differential equation (FDE). The theory of FDEs is used to solve the governing equation in closed form and numerical solutions are also determined using a simple but efficient central difference scheme. It is shown how knowledge of the exact and numerical solutions enables the design of the device to be optimised. It is also shown that the numerical scheme may be extended to encompass the case of a nonlinear spring, where the resulting FDE is nonlinear.     

Teaching scenario planning: Lessons from practice in academe and business

In this paper, we engage with O’Brien’s [O’Brien, F.A., 2004. Scenario planning – lessons for practice from teaching and learning. European Journal of Operational Research 152, 709–722] identification of both pitfalls in teaching scenario planning and proposed remedies for these. We consider these remedies in relation to our own experience – based on our practice in both the academic and business arenas – and we highlight further pitfalls and proposed remedies. Finally, we propose the use of “hard” multi-attribute decision analysis as a complement to “soft” scenario planning, in order to allow a more formal method of strategy evaluation against a range of constructed scenarios, This approach is intended to remedy biases that are associated with holistic evaluations – such as lexicographic ranking – where undue attention is paid to particular strategic objectives at the expense of others. From this discussion, we seek to contribute to cumulative refinement of the scenario process.     

The photophysics of some intramolecular ternary complexes formed between aryl and amino groups

The fluorescence properties of (3)–(6) in solvents of varying polarity have been examined and the conclusion reached that in non-polar solvents they exhibit fluorescence (low quantum yield) from an intramolecular ternary complex. In polar solvents very little fluorescence is observable. Although each compound exhibits extensive intramolecular fluorescence quenching, the quantum yield of localised triplet naphthalene in non-polar solvents remains relatively high indicating that intersystem crossing occurs in the non-relaxed exciplex.