Development of a solid phase dispersion-pressurized liquid extraction method for the analysis of suspected fragrance allergens in leave-on cosmetics

A new method based on solid phase dispersion-pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed for the determination of 26 suspected fragrance allergens (all the regulated in the EU Cosmetics Directive amenable by GC, as well as pinene and methyleugenol) in cosmetic samples. The effects of the temperature, extraction time and solvent, and dispersing sorbent, affecting the whole proposed procedure, have been evaluated using a multifactor strategy. The optima conditions after the analysis of main and second order effects entailed the extraction at 120°C for 15 min, using hexane/acetone as solvent, and florisil as dispersing sorbent. The method performance has been studied, showing good linearity (R≥0.996) as well as good precision (RSD≤10%). Detection limits (S/N=3) ranged from 0.000001 to 0.0002% (w/w), values far below the established restrictions as regard labelling in the European Cosmetics Regulation. Reliability was demonstrated through the quantitative recoveries of all the studied compounds. The absence of matrix effects allowed quantification of the compounds by calibration with standard solutions. The analysis of 10 samples (several moisturizing and anti-wrinkle creams and lotions, hand creams, and sunscreen and after-sun creams), covering very different matrices, showed the presence of suspected allergens in all the analyzed samples; in fact, half of the samples contained an elevated number of them. Although the ubiquity of these compounds was demonstrated, labelling was in all cases in consonance with the European Cosmetics Regulation.     

Luminance adaptation model for increasing the dynamic range of an imaging system based on a CCD camera

We propose a luminance adaptation model (LAM) to increase the dynamic range of an imaging system when scenes containing areas of low and high illumination are imaged. The LAM that we developed is based on capturing images at different exposure times to obtain digital levels within the linear response zone for all the pixels in the image. The levels are subsequently transformed to a reference exposure time that is common to all pixels. We use a linear transformation whose coefficients are determined by the digital levels obtained for a set of flat-spectrum samples. In this study, the LAM is applied to a multispectral imaging system that is based on a CCD camera used for color measurements and spectral reconstructions. It is shown to be a very useful method for increasing the dynamic range of the system, whilst maintaining its accuracy.     

Dipolar and quadrupolar detection using an FT-ICR MS setup at the MPIK Heidelberg

Dipolar and single-phase two-electrode quadrupolar detection schemes have been investigated at a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) setup built for the KATRIN experiment at the Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) in Heidelberg. We present first experimental results of ⁷Li^?+? signals from a cylindrical Penning trap configuration for both detection schemes. While the prominent signal of the conventional dipolar detection scheme marks the reduced cyclotron frequency, the main signal for the quadrupolar detection appears at the sum of the reduced cyclotron frequency and the magnetron frequency. For ideal trapping fields, this sum frequency equals the ion cyclotron frequency ?? _c ?=?qB/(2??m). Sidebands due to the combined motions of the cyclotron mode and magnetron mode are observed by quadrupolar detection which allows the determination of the respective combinations of eigenfrequencies.     

Thermodynamics of the hot BIon

We investigate the thermodynamics of the recently obtained finite temperature BIon solution of [G. Grignani, T. Harmark, A. Marini, N.A. Obers, M. Orselli, Heating up the BIon, arXiv:1012.1494 [hep-th]], focusing on two aspects. The first concerns comparison of the free energy of the three available phases for the finite-temperature brane-antibrane-wormhole configuration. Based on this we propose a heuristic picture for the dynamics of the phases that involves a critical temperature below which a stable phase exists. This stable phase is the finite temperature analogue of the thin throat branch of the extremal brane-antibrane-wormhole configuration. The second aspect that we consider is the possibility of constructing a finite temperature generalization of the infinite spike configuration of the extremal BIon. To this end we identify a correspondence point at the end of the throat where the thermodynamics of the D3-F1 blackfold configuration can be matched to that of k non-extremal black fundamental strings.     

Seasonality and idiosyncratic risk in mutual fund performance

This paper examines the relationship between seasonality, idiosyncratic risk and mutual fund returns using multifactor models. We use a large sample containing the return histories of 728 UK mutual funds over a 23-year period to measure fund performance. We present evidence that idiosyncratic risk cannot be eliminated, we also find evidence of seasonality in all fund categories. Specifically, we find a close relation between the seasonality and the end of the tax-year. We document that the idiosyncratic risk puzzle cannot explain seasonality in fund performance in the UK. Although, we do find that idiosyncratic risk can account for the seasonality in the month of April. Thus, the results show a link between the tax-loss selling hypothesis in April and idiosyncratic risk in that month. Finally, we report evidence that idiosyncratic risk is negatively related to expected returns for most fund classes.     

Dual Lukacs regressions for non-commutative variables

Dual Lukacs type characterizations of random variables in free probability are studied here. First, we develop a freeness property satisfied by Lukacs type transformations of free-Poisson and free-binomial non-commutative variables which are free. Second, we give a characterization of non-commutative free-Poisson and free-binomial variables by properties of first two conditional moments, which mimic Lukacs type assumptions known from classical probability. More precisely, our result is a non-commutative version of the following result known in classical probability: if U, V   are independent real random variables, such that E(V(1−U)|UV)$\mathbb{E}(V(1-U)|UV)$ and E(V²(1−U)²|UV)$\mathbb{E}(V^2{(1-U)}^2|UV)$ are non-random then V has a gamma distribution and U has a beta distribution.     

MCQ4Structures to compute similarity of molecule structures

Comparison of molecular structures in order to identify their similarity is an important step in solving various problems derived from computational biology, like structure alignment and modelling, motif search or clustering. Thus, there is a constant need for the development of good measures to determine distances between the structures and tools to display these distances in an easily interpretable form. In the paper we present MCQ4Structures, a new method and tool for structural similarity computation based on molecule tertiary structure representation in torsional angle space. We discuss its unique features as compared with the other measures, including RMSD and LGA, and we show its experimental use in comparison of a number of 3D structures as well as evaluation of models predicted within RNA-Puzzles contest. MCQ4Structures software is available as a free Java WebStart application at: http://www.cs.put.poznan.pl/tzok/mcq/. The source code licensed under BSD can be downloaded from the same website.     

The logic Ł•

The algebraic category is the image of MV, the category whose objects are the MV‐algebras, by the equivalence (cf. 7 , 8 ). In this paper we define the logic ?^? whose Lindenbaum algebra is an MV‐algebra (object of ), and establish a link between ?^? and the infinite valued ?ukasiewicz logic ?. We define U‐operators, that have properties of universal quantifiers, and establish a bijection that maps an MV‐algebra endowed with a U‐operator (cf. 20 - 22 ) into an MV^?‐algebra endowed with a U‐operator. This map extends to a functor that is a categorical equivalence.     

Influence of polymer molecular weight on the chemical modifications induced by UV laser ablation

This paper investigates the influence of polymer molecular weight (M(W)) on the chemical modifications of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, and polystyrene, PS, films doped with iodonaphthalene (NapI) and iodophenanthrene (PhenI), following irradiation at 248 nm (KrF excimer laser, 20 ns fwhm and hybrid excimer-dye laser, 500 fs fwhm) and at 308 nm (XeCl excimer laser, 30 ns fwhm). The changes of intensity and position of the polymer Raman bands upon irradiation provide information on cleavage of the polymer bonds. Degradation of PMMA, which is a weak absorbing system at 248 nm, occurs to a higher extent in the case of a larger M(W), giving rise to the creation of unsaturation centers and to degradation products. For highly absorbing PS, no degradation is observed upon irradiation with a KrF laser. Consistently irradiating doped PS at 308 nm, where the absorption is low, induces degradation of the polymer. Results provide direct support for the bulk photothermal model, according to which ejection requires a critical number of broken bonds. In the case of irradiation of doped PMMA with pulses of 248 nm and 500 fs, neither degradation nor dependence with polymer M(W) are observed, indicating that mechanisms involved in the femtosecond laser ablation differ from those operating in the case of nanosecond laser ablation. Participation of multiphoton/avalanche processes is proposed.     

Dysregulation of chemo-cytokine production in schizophrenic patients versus healthy controls

Background  

The exact cause of schizophrenia is not known, although several aetiological theories have been proposed for the disease, including developmental or neurodegenerative processes, neurotransmitter abnormalities, viral infection and immune dysfunction or autoimmune mechanisms. Growing evidence suggests that specific cytokines and chemokines play a role in signalling the brain to produce neurochemical, neuroendocrine, neuroimmune and behavioural changes. A relationship between inflammation and schizophrenia was supported by abnormal cytokines production, abnormal concentrations of cytokines and cytokine receptors in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid in schizophrenia. Since the neuropathology of schizophrenia has recently been reported to be closely associated with microglial activation we aimed to determined whether spontaneous or LPS-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell chemokines and cytokines production is dysregulated in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy subjects. We enrolled 51 untreated first-episode schizophrenics (SC) and 40 healthy subjects (HC) and the levels of MCP-1, MIP-1α, IL-8, IL-18, IFN-γ and RANTES were determined by Elisa method in cell-free supernatants of PBMC cultures.