Preparation and characterization of a suite of ephedra-containing standard reference materials.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, are collaborating to produce a series of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for dietary supplements.

Value assignment of nutrient and aflatoxin concentrations in standard reference material 2387 peanut butter.

Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2387 peanut butter was recently issued, and the process used for value assignment of nutrient and aflatoxin concentrations is reported herein. Values were assigned using data provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and collaborating laboratories. SRM 2387 is intended for use as a primary material for assigning values to in-house control materials and for validation of analytical methods for measurements in peanut butter and similar high-fat matrixes.

Fluctuations in granular media.

Dense slowly evolving or static granular materials exhibit strong force fluctuations even though the spatial disorder of the grains is relatively weak. Typically, forces are carried preferentially along a network of "force chains." These consist of linearly aligned grains with larger-than-average force.

Value assignment of nutrient concentrations in standard reference material 2384 baking chocolate.

Standard Reference Material (SRM) Baking Chocolate was recently issued, and the process used for value assignment of nutrient concentrations is reported herein. SRM 2384 is intended for use as a primary control material for assigning values to in-house control materials and for validation of analytical methods for the measurement of fatty acids, proximates, vitamins, and elements in chocolate and similar high-fat matrices. The Certificate of Analysis for SRM 2384 provides assigned values for concentrations of fatty acids, proximates, vitamins, elements, and total dietary fiber, for which product labeling is required by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, as well as for catechins, caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline.