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To create a tool to measure college students' functional, interactive, and critical nutrition literacy.(1) Focus group: item generation, (2) expert review, (3) exploratory factor structure analysis, (4) item refinement and modification, (5) factor structure validation, and (6) criterion validation.Two land-grant college campuses.College students aged between 18 and 24 years.Survey data was used to assess nutrition literacy.Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), item response theory (IRT) analyses, and correlations.One-hundred and twenty-three items were generated and tested in an online survey format. Items were eliminated on the basis of face validity, expert feedback, exploratory factor analysis, and CFA/IRT. The 3 measures (functional, interactive, and critical) were analyzed separately. All 3 measures showed reasonable model fit in the CFA/IRT models. Criterion validity showed small to medium effect sizes between measures and fruit/vegetable intake. Reliability estimates met reasonable standards for each measure.The Young Adult Nutrition Literacy Tool is a novel instrument that measures all 3 domains of nutrition literacy. Strengths include a rigorous 6-step development process, reasonable psychometric properties, and a large breadth of items.

Here we present an approach to measure the surface potential distribution of specimens using scanning tunnelling potentiometry with high potential gradients and relatively low sample bias. A special design of test structures containing pre-patterned electrodes was employed. Material of interest is transferred onto test structures, so that additional material processing during the investigations can be avoided. The utility of this solution is assessed in an investigation of high–strength metallurgical graphene. A maximum potential gradient of 49.2 V/mm was obtained by applying a sample bias of 0.8 V. Values of the resistivity of graphene inclusions up to 450 Ω·μm were observed. The influence of inclusions could be reduced by performing controllable post-transfer annealing. This could remove polymer residue from the graphene surface, but may introduce additional features in the Raman spectra. Work functions of 4.68–4.70 eV were estimated using Kelvin probe force microscopy.

Over 10 days of exposure in 0.05 M NaCl solution, Ni coating with mean crystallite size of 6 nm deposited in ChCl:EG deep eutectic solvent corrodes with diffusion constraints. Native oxide layer (4.7 nm thick) is a mixture of NiO and NiOOH. During exposure, NiO forms on the top of the layer of corrosion products, whose thickness exceeds 15 nm after 10 days. Double layer capacitance increases due to the growth of the active surface. Thickening of the layer and diffusion limitations leads to the increase in charge transfer resistance from teens of kΩ cm2 to 220 kΩ cm2.

Objective To develop and test the validity of program outcome evaluation instruments for cooking, eating, and playing together for obesity prevention during iCook 4-H. Design Instrument development for both youth and adults through pre-post testing of items newly constructed and compiled to address key curriculum constructs. Testing occurred throughout program intervention and dissemination to determine dimensionality, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and validity. Setting A 5-state out-of-school program in cooperative extension and other community sites. Participants Youths aged 9–10 years; adults were main food preparers; the first phase involved 214 dyads and the second phase, 74 dyads. Main Outcome Measure(s) Youth measures were cooking skills, culinary self-efficacy, physical activity, and openness to new foods. Adult measures were cooking together, physical activity, and eating together. Analysis Exploratory factor analysis to determine initial scale structure and confirmatory factor analysis to confirm factor structures. Longitudinal invariance tests to see whether the factor structure held over time. Test-retest reliability was determined by Pearson r and internal consistency was determined by coefficient Ω and Cronbach α. Validity testing was determined by Pearson r correlations. Results Youth cooking skills, openness to new foods, and adult eating together and cooking together showed strong evidence for dimensionality, reliability, and validity. Youth physical activity and adult physical activity measures showed strong evidence for dimensionality and validity but not reliability. The youth culinary self-efficacy measure showed strong evidence for reliability and validity but weaker evidence for dimensionality. Conclusions and Implications Program outcome evaluation instruments for youths and adults were developed and tested to accompany the iCook 4-H curriculum. Program leaders, stakeholders, and administrators may monitor outcomes within and across programs and generate consistent reporting.

The aim of this work was to develop and to validate LC–MS/MS method for tacrolimus (TAC) determination in whole blood samples using two different types of internal standards (IS): an isotope-labeled TAC13C,D2 and a structural analog ascomycin (ASC). Matrix effects (ME) were evaluated to determine their influence on validation parameters. The LC–MS/MS analyses were performed using a 4000 QTRAP® mass spectrometer (AB Sciex) coupled to a HPLC 1260 Infinity system (Agilent Technologies). The [M + NH4]+ adducts were monitored with mass transitions of: 821.5 → 768.4 m/z for TAC, 809.5 → 756.4 m/z for ASC, and 824.6 → 771.5 m/z for TAC13C,D2. Blood samples were treated with 0.1 mol/L zinc sulfate - acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) then extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether. ME evaluations were performed by preextraction addition (n = 6), postextraction addition (n = 8), and repeated measures (n = 8) of reference solutions, separately for both ISs. ME, absolute recovery (AR) and process efficiency (PE) were calculated. Low (1.5 ng/mL) and high (16 ng/mL) TAC concentrations were tested. The method was successfully calibrated in a range of: 0.5–20 ng/mL. Both ISs provided satisfactory imprecision ( An IS ascomycin presented a performance equivalent to TAC13C,D2 in LC–MS/MS method developed for TAC monitoring.

Radiation pressure – RP phenomenon has drawn much interest since the beginning of the 20th century. There are many technologies linked with it and worth mentioning: cavity optomechanics with optical cooling and small forces amplification, single atom trapping, cantilevers spring constant calibration or high-power laser measurement. Nevertheless, the quantitative measurement of the RP is always influenced by many parasitic effects e.g. photothermal effects, which can appear while the beam is absorbed. The goal of the investigations presented in this paper was to design and manufacture a MEMS tool, the so-called RP cantilever, for the reliable interactions studies (i.e. due to radiation pressure) where the photothermal effect is highly reduced. Besides design and manufacturing process we present a set of experiments showing the properties of the proposed technology and its application possibilities.

An original partial discharge generated in oil insulation identification methodology based on simultaneously conducted measurements using electrical method, ultra high frequency method and acoustic emission method is presented in the paper. Three different partial discharge model sources as well as measuring instruments commonly applied for partial discharge detection in electrical power transformers are yielded within a laboratory research. Total of 45 scenarios, including proposed spark gap configurations, selected supply voltage levels and UHF frequencies are analyzed during measurements series. Furthermore, form among total of 93 descriptors assigned for every applied partial discharge model source configuration there are 24 proposed as potentially useful for partial discharge identification applications with their 95% confidence bounds. Attempt of discriminative descriptors selection for partial discharge source analysis in on-site transformer applications as well as a proposal of unique descriptors according to every selected spark gap configuration that could be potentially useful for partial discharge identification purposes are the main purpose of the presented paper. The proposed methodology verification on a real life transformer with particular consideration of the selected descriptors potential utility in the fields of partial discharge detection and identification in electrical power industry applications confirmed a proposed methodology usefulness.

Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are among the most frequent intracranial tumors but their molecular background, including changes in epigenetic regulation, remains poorly understood. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of 34 NFPAs and normal pituitary samples. Methylation status of the selected genomic regions and expression level of corresponding genes were assessed in a group of 75 patients. NFPAs exhibited distinct global methylation profile as compared to normal pituitary. Aberrant DNA methylation appears to contribute to deregulation of the cancer-related pathways as shown by preliminary functional analysis. Promoter hypermethylation and decreased expression level of SFN, STAT5A, DUSP1, PTPRE and FGFR2 was confirmed in the enlarged group of NFPAs. Difference in the methylation profiles between invasive and non-invasive NFPAs is very slight. Nevertheless, invasiveness-related aberrant epigenetic deregulation of the particular genes was found including upregulation of ITPKB and downregulation CNKSR1 in invasive tumors.

Cigarette smoking is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes. When smokers attempt to quit smoking, one of the leading predictors of relapse are cravings. Recent research shows a relationship between positive and negative affect, exercise, and cravings, but the exact nature of this relationship has yet to be understood. This study explored the relationships between positive and negative affect and cravings in a sample of participants with elevated levels of depressive symptoms (N = 202; 68.8% female; mean age = 46.1 years) who were enrolled in a smoking cessation trial to test the efficacy of a 12-week exercise intervention relative to a health education control on smoking outcomes. Data on affect and craving were gathered before weekly study intervention sessions, and data on cravings were gathered again after each session. The results showed that negative affect had a significant and positive association with cravings before an exercise or health education session. After the session, positive and negative affect were not significant predictors of changes in cravings from pre-session. However, regardless of level of positive or negative affect participants in the exercise condition showed greater reductions in craving pre- to post-class than those in the control condition. These findings suggest that negative affect is associated with cravings, but cravings can be mitigated by exercise.

In this paper, the fabrication process and electromechanical properties of novel atomic force microscopy probes utilising single-crystal boron-doped diamond are presented. The developed probes integrate scanning tips made of chemical vapour deposition-grown, freestanding diamond foil. The fabrication procedure was performed using nanomanipulation techniques combined with scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam technologies. The mechanical properties of the cantilever were monitored by the measurement of thermally induced vibration of the cantilever after every fabrication step, allowing the mass changes in range of ng to be estimated. The endurance of the developed probes was tested during hundreds of topography measurements, which corresponds to a scanning length equal to 13.6 m, performed on a test sample in contact and lateral force microscopy modes. Analysis of the roughness parameters confirmed the extremely high wear resistance of the fabricated probes. The linear current voltage response on a highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite sample was recorded.

The goal of the conducted experiments was to evaluate if the increased density of the plasma in High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) argon discharge would give the possibility of obtaining diamond-like films with high sp3 fraction content at room temperature. The magnetron cathode was driven by the self-designed supply. It consisted of high voltage supply, tank capacitors and a set of switches. The tank capacitors and the inductances of connecting wires formed an LC resonant circuit. As a result, each sputtering pulse (duration of 20 μs, peak current of 1500–2200 A) was followed by the inverse pulse (duration of 25 μs, peak current of 400–700 A), both having a sinusoidal shape. The repetition time was 3 s. The silicon substrates were placed 8 cm above the target surface. The sputtering processes of 99.99% pure graphite target were conducted in argon atmosphere at a pressure of 6–8 × 10− 3 hPa. The carbon films obtained after 400 deposition pulses had a thickness of 35 nm. The surface RMS roughness, measured using an optical profiler, was about 2 nm. The refractive index was estimated by means of ellipsometric studies to be 2.45 and 2.3 at 400 and 800 nm, respectively. The sp3 hybridization fraction content of about 70–80% was calculated based on the analysis of Raman Scattering spectra.

The formation of dielectric composites on a target surface (target poisoning) reduces the deposition rate of a reactive magnetron deposition process in comparison to the deposition rate of metals. One way of minimizing this reduction is shifting the magnetron operating point from the dielectric to the transient mode. The goal of this paper is to show that a stable process of efficient aluminium oxide deposition can be carried out in a transient mode. An automated stabilizer driven by the electrical parameter of the magnetron power supply was used for process stabilization. The approach of process stabilization in the transient mode resulted in about seven times higher deposition rate of aluminium oxide than that of a standard dielectric mode and only two times lower than the deposition rate of aluminium. The optical properties of the thus obtained aluminium oxide films were studied by means of ellipsometric analysis. The model of film structure, consisting of stoichiometric aluminium oxide, metallic inclusions and voids, was proposed and dispersion characteristics were calculated. The complex refractive index characteristics were similar to those typical of aluminium oxide deposited during a standard pulsed reactive magnetron sputtering process.

Objectives Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3 – (APS-3), is defined as the coexistence of autoimmune thyroiditis with other non-ovarian autoimmune diseases without primary adrenal insufficiency. Additionally the definition of APS-3 also includes primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) coexistence with autoimmune thyroiditis. The main goal of that study is to assess the prevalence of APS-3 defined as coexistence of autoimmune thyroiditis with POI in population of 46 XX karyotype women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The second goal is to investigate hormonal profile and insulin sensitivity in women with POI and subgroups of women with APS-3 – POI/APS-3(+) and without APS 3 – POI/APS-3(−). Materials and methods Anthropometric measurements, coexistence of autoimmune diseases, androgens, fasting glucose and insulin, glucose and insulin at 60′ and 120′ of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were determine in 98 patients aged between 18 and 39 with spontaneous 46 XX primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), in 33 POI/APS-3(+), 65 POI/APS-3(−), and 75 healthy controls. Results Continuous data were summarized by the mean ± standard deviation (SD), and categorical data by number (percentages). Data were checked for normality using Shapiro–Wilk test, the comparison between groups were performed using non-parametric Mann–Whitney or Kruskall–Wallis test. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationships between parameters. Statistical significance was defined as p values Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) was presented in 33/98 (33.7%) patients with POI. The groups did not differ significantly in respect to age and body mass index (BMI). Women with POI, POI/APS-3(+) and POI/APS-3(−) showed significantly lower serum androgens in comparison to controls. Additionally women with POI/APS-3(+) showed hyperinsulinemia after 1 h of OGTT; No significant differences in serum fasting glucose, insulin and during 2 h OGTT between groups were observed. Conclusions The prevalence of APS-3 is 33.7% in patients with spontaneous 46 XX primary ovarian insufficiency. Women with POI, POI/APS-3(+) and POI/APS-3(−) feature lower testosterone, androstendione, dehydroepiandrostendione sulphate in comparison to controls. Women with POI/APS-3(+) could have hyperinsulinemia and should be carefully evaluated for metabolic disorders.