Fractional Factorial Design Study for the Extraction of Cannabinoids from CBD-Dominant Cannabis Flowers by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

The optimization of the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of cannabinoids, using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), was investigated in a fractional factorial design study. It is hypothesized that four main parameters (temperature, pressure, dry flower weight, and extraction time) play an important role. Therefore, these parameters were screened at predetermined low, medium, and high relative levels. The density of scCO2 was used as a factor for the extraction of cannabinoids by changing the pressure and temperature. The robustness of the mathematical model was also evaluated by regression analysis. The quantification of major (cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA-A)) and minor (cannabidivann (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivann (THCV), cannabigerolic acid (CBG), cannabigerol (CBGA), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabichomere (CBC)) cannabinoids in the scCO2 extract was performed by RP-HPLC analysis. From the model response, it was identified that long extraction time is a significant parameter to obtain a high yield of cannabinoids in the scCO2 extract. Higher relative concentrations of CBD(A) (0.78 and 2.41% w/w, respectively) and THC(A) (0.084 and 0.048% w/w, respectively) were found when extraction was performed at high relative pressures and temperatures (250 bar and 45 °C). The higher yield of CBD(A) compared to THC(A) can be attributed to the extract being a CBD-dominant cannabis strain. The study revealed that conventional organic solvent extraction, e.g., ethanol gives a marginally higher yield of cannabinoids from the extract compared to scCO2 extraction. However, scCO2 extraction generates a cleaner (chlorophyll-free) and organic solvent-free extract, which requires less downstream processing, such as purification from waxes and chlorophyll.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Estimates among US Department of Defense Adult Beneficiaries over Four Consecutive Influenza Seasons: A Test-Negative Design Study with Different Control Groups

A test-negative design study with different control groups (influenza test-negative controls, non-influenza virus positive controls, and pan-negative controls) was conducted to assess inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in adults aged ≥18 years, 2016–2017 through 2019–2020 influenza seasons. A database was developed from the US Department of Defense Global Respiratory Pathogen Surveillance Program. VE was estimated using a generalized linear mixed model with logit link and binomial distribution, adjusted for confounding effects. A total of 7114 adults including 2543 medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza-positive cases were identified. Using influenza test-negative controls, the adjusted VE in adults was 40% [95% confidence interval (CI): 33–46%] overall, including 46% (95% CI: 36–55%) for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 32% (95% CI: 19–42%) for influenza A(H3N2), and 54% (95% CI: 44–62%) for influenza B. The age-stratified analysis showed that VE estimates against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (34%; 95% CI: −29–66%) and influenza A(H3N2) (6%; 95% CI: −60–45%) were low and non-significant for elderly adults ≥65 years of age. Overall VE estimates against any influenza or by influenza (sub)types in adults were consistent when using influenza test-negative controls, non-influenza virus positive controls, and pan-negative controls. Inactivated influenza vaccination provided moderate protection against influenza virus infection, based on the analysis from a large number of adults aged ≥18 years over multiple influenza seasons.

Assessing the Availability and Application of E-Learning Resources in Schools of Midwifery in Anambra State

This study assessed the availability and application of e-learning resources in schools of midwifery in Anambra State. This descriptive survey design study was guided by two research questions. 88 midwife tutors in the five schools of Midwifery in Anambra State made-up the population. The sample is the same as the population as the population is of manageable size. Checklist was used to obtain data and the data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The validation of the instrument was done by three specialists. Cronbach alpha method was used to test the reliability and the alpha coefficients of 0.73 and 0.75 respectively were gotten for sections A and B. The findings revealed that few e-learning resources were available and utilized in schools of midwifery in Anambra State. The implications of the study were highlighted and it was recommended that government should organize seminars and workshops to train nurse tutors on the usage of e- resources to improve learning in nursing schools. Also suggestions for further studies were made.

CONCEPT DESIGN FOR A SUEZMAX TANKER POWERED BY A 70MW SMALL MODULAR REACTOR

This paper describes a preliminary concept design study for a Suezmax tanker that is based on a conventional hull form with alternative arrangements for accommodating a 70MW Small Modular Reactor (SMR) propulsion plant. Emerging nuclear technology concepts, associated design risks and technical options available are outlined within the context of risk based ship design. It is concluded that the concept is feasible and the adoption of the technology would be compatible with the target application. However, further maturity of nuclear technology solutions and the development and harmonisation of the regulatory framework will be necessary before implementation of the ideas presented would be viable.

CHOOSING THE STYLE OF A NEW DESIGN - THE KEY SHIP DESIGN DECISION

As a former senior designer of naval vessels and, more recently, a leading researcher in ship design, the author has previously presented a description of the ship design process in terms of the important decisions a ship designer makes in concept exploration. Such decision are made consciously or unconsciously in order to produce a new design or, preferably, any design option. It has been contended in many publications that the first real decision that a ship designer makes, in order to proceed, is the selection of the “style” of the design study or of a specific design option. This term was adopted in order to cover, not just a host of design issues and standards implicit in a given study, but also, at this very initial step, the overall characteristics of any particular study. So the term style could be said to be doubly important. The current paper considers the nature of the early ship design process for complex multi-functional vessels and then retraces the origins of the particular use of the term, where it was seen as the last of the five elements in Brown and Andrews’ 1980 encapsulation of the ship design issues that matter to the naval architect, incorporated in the term “S to the 5th”. This leads on to consideration of the various aspects of design style, many of which could be considered “transversals” as they apply across the naval architectural sub-disciplines and to the component material sub-systems comprising a ship. One of the distinctive advantages of the architecturally driven ship synthesis or Design Building Block approach is that it can address many of these style issues in the earliest descriptions of an emergent design study. Examples, drawing on a range of built Royal Navy ship designs, are presented to show their top-level style characteristics, followed by a series of ship design research studies illustrating how the impact of specific component style aspects can be investigated in early stage ship design, using the UCL Design Building Block approach. Finally, recent research led investigations into integrating ship style into early stage ship design are summarized to demonstrate why the choice of “style” is seen to be The Key Ship Design Decision.

Generous and inviting interfaces revisited

For some decades, institutions such as galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (often abbreviated as GLAM institutions) have digitized numerous archival documents and made at least parts of these documents publicly available online. However, there is still a shortage of user-friendly and easily accessible interfaces for various user groups, especially regarding collections based on text sources. After a brief introduction to the research area and the project, this paper discusses a visualization and design study based on a selection of digitized archival material from the Ernst von Glasersfeld estate. We present a conceptual outline of this work and examples concerning discourse mapping, the analysis of argumentative structures as well as some didactical approaches. In so doing, conceptual backgrounds, educational material and design principles are outlined. The paper concludes with critical considerations as regards the limitations of the approaches discussed.