Biomimetic norfloxacin sensors made of molecularly-imprinted materials for potentiometric transduction

A biomimetic sensor for norfloxacin is presented that is based on host-guest interactions and potentiometric transduction. The artificial host was imprinted into polymers made from methacrylic acid and/or 2-vinyl pyridine. The resulting particles were entrapped in a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix. The sensors exhibit near-Nernstian response in steady state evaluations, and detection limits range from 0.40 to 1.0 μg mL−1, respectively, and are independent of pH values at between 2 and 6, and 8 and 11, respectively. Good selectivity was observed over several potential interferents. In flowing media, the sensors exhibit fast response, a sensitivity of 68.2 mV per decade, a linear range from 79 μM to 2.5 mM, a detection limit of 20 μg mL−1, and a stable baseline. The sensors were successfully applied to field monitoring of norfloxacin in fish samples, biological samples, and pharmaceutical products.

Molecularly-Imprinted Materials for Potentiometric Transduction: Application to the Antibiotic Enrofloxacin

Enrofloxacin (ENR) is an antimicrobial used both in humans and in food producing species. Its control is required in farmed species and their surroundings in order to reduce the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Thus, a new biomimetic sensor enrofloxacin is presented. An artificial host was imprinted in specific polymers. These were dispersed in 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether and entrapped in a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The potentiometric sensors exhibited a near-Nernstian response. Slopes expressing mV/Δlog([ENR]/M) varied within 48–63. The detection limits ranged from 0.28 to 1.01 µg mL−1. Sensors were independent from the pH of test solutions within 4–7. Good selectivity was observed toward potassium, calcium, barium, magnesium, glycine, ascorbic acid, creatinine, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. In flowing media, the biomimetic sensors presented good reproducibility (RSD of ± 0.7%), fast response, good sensitivity (47 mV/Δlog([ENR]/M), wide linear range (1.0 × 10−5–1.0 × 10−3 M), low detection limit (0.9 µg mL−1), and a stable baseline for a 5 × 10−2 M acetate buffer (pH 4.7) carrier. The sensors were used to analyze fish samples. The method offered the advantages of simplicity, accuracy, and automation feasibility. The sensing membrane may contribute to the development of small devices allowing in vivo measurements of enrofloxacin or parent-drugs.

Trimethoprim-selective electrodes with molecularly imprinted polymers acting as ionophores and potentiometric transduction on graphite solid-contact

This work proposes a new biomimetic sensor material for trimethoprim. It is prepared by means of radical polymerization, having trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as cross-linker, benzoyl peroxide as radicalar iniciator, chloroform as porogenic solvent, and methacrylic acid and 2-vinyl pyridine as monomers. Different percentages of sensor in a range between 1 and 6% were studied. Their behavior was compared to that obtained with ion-exchanger quaternary ammonium salt (additive tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate or tetraphenylborate). The effect of an anionic additive in the sensing membrane was also tested. Trimethoprim sensors with 1% of imprinted particles from methacrylic acid monomers showed the best response in terms of slope (59.7 mV/decade) and detection limit (4.01 × 10− 7 mol/L). These electrodes displayed also a good selectivity towards nickel, manganese aluminium, ammonium, lead, potassium, sodium, iron, chromium, sulfadiazine, alanine, cysteine, tryptophan, valine and glycine. The sensors were not affected by pH changes from 2 to 6. They were successfully applied to the analysis of water from aquaculture.

New sensing materials of molecularly-imprinted polymers for the selective recognition of Chlortetracycline

As a result of the stressful conditions in aquaculture facilities there is a high risk of bacterial infections among cultured fish. Chlortetracycline (CTC) is one of the antimicrobials used to solve this problem. It is a broad spectrum antibacterial active against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Numerous analytical methods for screening, identifying, and quantifying CTC in animal products have been developed over the years. An alternative and advantageous method should rely on expeditious and efficient procedures providing highly specific and sensitive measurements in food samples. Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) could meet these criteria. The only ISE reported in literature for this purpose used traditional electro-active materials. A selectivity enhancement could however be achieved after improving the analyte recognition by molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). Several MIP particles were synthesized and used as electro-active materials. ISEs based in methacrylic acid monomers showed the best analytical performance according to slope (62.5 and 68.6 mV/decade) and detection limit (4.1 × 10−5 and 5.5 × 10−5 mol L−1). The electrodes displayed good selectivity. The ISEs are not affected by pH changes ranging from 2.5 to 13. The sensors were successfully applied to the analysis of serum, urine and fish samples.

Colesteatoma em idade pediátrica: análise retrospectiva de 12 anos de experiência do Hospital Fernando Fonseca

Objectivo: revisão de casos de colesteatoma em idade pediátrica do HFF durante um período de 12 anos. Desenho do estudo: retrospectivo. Material e métodos: análise de 30 casos de cirurgia para colesteatoma em doentes dos 0 - 18 anos de Janeiro de 2000 a Dezembro de 2011. Resultados: o colesteatoma inicial foi extenso na maioria dos casos. Realizou-se mastoidectomia com técnica aberta (66,7%), mastoidectomia com técnica fechada (26,7%), aticomia transmeática (3,3%) e remoção de colesteatoma da membrana timpânica (3,3%). O GAP pós-operatório médio foi de 22,5 dB, com GAP 0-10dB em 16,7%, GAP 11-20dB em 10%, GAP 21-30 dB em 30%, mais de 30dB em 16,7% e desconhecido em 26,7%. A taxa de recorrência de colesteatoma foi de 23,3% Conclusões: Na nossa amostra o colesteatoma foi extenso e agressivo. Realizámos mastoidectomia com técnica aberta na maioria dos casos. Para obter bons resultados a abordagem deverá ser individualizada, atendendo a factores clínicos, anatómicos e capacidade de adesão à terapêutica.

The impact of talent management practices on employee retention: The moderator effect of leader-member exchange and role modeling

Organizations are undergoing serious difficulties to retain talent. Authors argue that Talent Management (TM) practices create beneficial outcomes for individuals and organizations. However, there is no research on the leaders’ role in the functioning of these practices. This study examines how LMX and role modeling influence the impact that TM practices have on employees’ trust in their organizations and retention. The analysis of two questionnaires (Nt1=175; Nt2=107) indicated that TM only reduced turnover intentions, via an increase in trust in the organization, when role modeling was high and not when it was low. Therefore, we can say that leaders are crucial in the TM context, and in sustaining a competitive advantage for organizations.

Enterprise risk management adoption: An empirical investigation of its effects on firm performance

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is gaining relevance among financial and non-financial companies but its benefits still are uncertain. This paper aims at investigating the relationship between ERM adoption and firm performance based on a sample of 1130 non-financial companies belonging to the STOXX® index. A content analysis of individual accounts is performed to distinguish adopters, and a regression analysis explores the effect of ERM adoption on firm performance, proxied by Tobin’s Q. The findings suggest that there is a statistical significant positive effect of ERM adoption on firm performance, meaning that firms are benefiting from the implementation of this process.

Human effector CD8+ T lymphocytes express TLR3 as a functional coreceptor.

TLR are evolutionarily conserved molecules that play a key role in the initiation of innate antimicrobial immune responses. Through their influence on dendritic cell maturation, these receptors are also thought to indirectly shape the adaptive immune response. However, no data are currently available regarding both TLR expression and function in human CD8+ T cell subsets. We report that a subpopulation of CD8+ T cells, i.e., effector, but neither naive nor central memory cells, constitutively expresses TLR3. Moreover, the ligation of the receptor by a specific agonist in TLR3-expressing CD8+ T cells increased IFN-gamma secretion induced by TCR-dependent and -independent stimulation, without affecting proliferation or specific cytolytic activity. These results thereby suggest that TLR3 ligands can not only indirectly influence the adaptive immune response through modulation of dendritic cell activation, but also directly increase IFN-gamma production by Ag-specific CD8+ T cells. Altogether, the present work might open new perspectives for the use of TLR ligands as adjuvants for immunotherapy.

Secretory IgA's complex roles in immunity and mucosal homeostasis in the gut.

Secretory IgA (SIgA) serves as the first line of defense in protecting the intestinal epithelium from enteric toxins and pathogenic microorganisms. Through a process known as immune exclusion, SIgA promotes the clearance of antigens and pathogenic microorganisms from the intestinal lumen by blocking their access to epithelial receptors, entrapping them in mucus, and facilitating their removal by peristaltic and mucociliary activities. In addition, SIgA functions in mucosal immunity and intestinal homeostasis through mechanisms that have only recently been revealed. In just the past several years, SIgA has been identified as having the capacity to directly quench bacterial virulence factors, influence composition of the intestinal microbiota by Fab-dependent and Fab-independent mechanisms, promote retro-transport of antigens across the intestinal epithelium to dendritic cell subsets in gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and, finally, to downregulate proinflammatory responses normally associated with the uptake of highly pathogenic bacteria and potentially allergenic antigens. This review summarizes the intrinsic biological activities now associated with SIgA and their relationships with immunity and intestinal homeostasis.

Puolustusvoimien palkkausjärjestelmä

Puolustusvoimissa on siirrytty työn vaativuuden arviointiin ja työssä suoriutumiseen perustuvaan palkkausjärjestelmään viimeisen vuosikymmenen kuluessa. Muutoksella on tavoiteltu organisaation tuloksellista toimintaa ja johtamista sekä pyritty luomaan oikeudenmukaiset ja kannustavat palkkasuhteet, joiden perusteet ovat henkilöstön tiedossa ja sen hyväksymiä. Muutoksen on lisäksi katsottu edistävän miesten ja naisten samapalkkaisuutta. Aikaisempi tutkimus kuitenkin osoittaa, että palkkauksellista epätasa-arvoa koetaan Puolustusvoimissa niin miesten ja naisten kuin myös henkilöstöryhmien välillä. Tutkimuksessa on selvitetty Puolustusvoimien palkkausjärjestelmän rakenteellista toimivuutta sekä työn vaativuuden arviointia osana järjestelmän rakennetta. Opinnäyte on tapaustutkimus. Laadullisen sisällönanalyysin ja tilastollisten tunnuslukujen avulla kuvataan tutkimuksen kohde ja siinä tapahtunut muutos. Yhteensopivuusteorian mukaisesti palkitsemisjärjestelmän ja palkkarakenteen tulee olla yhteensopivia organisaation strategian kanssa, jotta ne tukevat organisaation tavoitteiden saavuttamista. Tutkimuksessa arvioidaan vaativuudenarviointijärjestelmän ja palkkauksen rakenteellista yhteensopivuutta sekä palkitsemisjärjestelmän yhteensopivuutta organisaation palkkapolitiikkaan. Palkkauksellista tasa-arvoa ja oikeudenmukaisuuden toteutumista arvioidaan sukupuolten ja henkilöstöryhmien välisen palkkauksellisen tasa-arvon näkökulmasta. Näiden periaatteiden toteutumista arvioidaan työn vaativuuden arvioinnin tuloksena muodostuneiden tehtävien vaativuusrakenteen sekä palkkaporrastuksen avulla. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että epätasa-arvoon johtava ongelma ei ole niinkään vaativuudenarvioinnin toimivuudessa, vaan vaativuusportaiden yhdistämisessä oikeudenmukaiseksi palkkarakenteeksi. Palkkauksen tason Puolustusvoimien palkkausjärjestelmässä määrittää ensisijaisesti sovellettava vaativuudenarviointijärjestelmä. Tehtävien vaativuudenarvioinnin avulla voidaan saavuttaa järjestelmien kesken johdonmukainen vaativuusrakenne, mutta tämä ei johda keskinäisesti oikeudenmukaiseen palkkarakenteeseen, vaan aiheuttaa sukupuolten, henkilöstöryhmien ja sopimusalojen välistä epätasa-arvoa. Palkkarakenteen kehittyminen ei ole parantanut järjestelmien välistä yhteensopivuutta ja tasa-arvoisuutta. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että palkkausjärjestelmän rakenteelliset ominaisuudet ovat merkittävin este sen sisäiselle ja ulkoiselle yhteensopivuudelle sekä tasa-arvon ja oikeudenmukaisuuden toteutumiselle.

Karta öfver Finland (Sektionen E1)

1 kartta :, vär. ;, 51,4 x 42,9 cm, lehti 58,2 x 50,5 cm

Karta öfver Finland (Sektionen E4)

1 kartta :, vär. ;, 51,4 x 43,1 cm, lehti 58 x 50,4 cm

Karta öfver Finland (Sektionen E3)

1 kartta :, vär. ;, 51,3 x 43,1 cm, lehti 58 x 50,3 cm

Karta öfver Finland /

1 kartta :, käsinpiirros, vär. ;, 71,5 x 52,5 cm, lehti 76 x 58 cm

Karta öfver Finland (Sektionen F4)

1 kartta :, vär. ;, 51 x 43,1 cm, lehti 58 x 50,3 cm