A potentiometric biosensor for rapid on-site disease diagnostics

Quantitative point-of-care (POC) devices are the next generation for serological disease diagnosis. Whilst pathogen serology is typically performed by centralized laboratories using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA), faster on-site diagnosis would infer improved disease management and treatment decisions. Using the model pathogen Bovine Herpes Virus-1 (BHV-1) this study employs an extended-gate field-effect transistor (FET) for direct potentiometric serological diagnosis. BHV-1 is a major viral pathogen of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), the leading cause of economic loss ($2 billion annually in the US only) to the cattle and dairy industry. To demonstrate the sensor capabilities as a diagnostic tool, BHV-1 viral protein gE was expressed and immobilized on the sensor surface to serve as a capture antigen for a BHV-1-specific antibody (anti-gE), produced in cattle in response to viral infection. The gE-coated immunosensor was shown to be highly sensitive and selective to anti-gE present in commercially available anti-BHV-1 antiserum and in real serum samples from cattle with results being in excellent agreement with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and ELISA. The FET sensor is significantly faster than ELISA (<10 min), a crucial factor for successful disease intervention. This sensor technology is versatile, amenable to multiplexing, easily integrated to POC devices, and has the potential to impact a wide range of human and animal diseases.

Life history of turbot in Icelandic waters: Intra- and inter-population genetic diversity and otolith tracking of environmental temperatures

The stock structure of turbot was investigated between samples from S-Norway, the Irish Sea and the Kattegat, using 12 microsatellite loci and compared to the turbot caught in Icelandic waters. Highly significant genetic differentiation was observed between samples from Kattegat and other areas. Significant genetic differentiation was also observed between the Irish Sea sample on one hand and Iceland and S-Norway on the other hand. No significant genetic differentiation was observed between Iceland and S-Norway. Otoliths of 25 turbot, age ranging from 3 to 19 years, were subjected to nearly 300 mass spectrometry determinations of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes. Oxygen isotope composition (δ¹⁸O) in the otolith samples was used to estimate ambient temperature at time of otolith accretion, and yielded estimated temperatures experienced by the turbot ranging from 3 to 15°C. Overall, the genetic analysis indicates panmixia between turbot in Icelandic and Norwegian waters. While the extensive migration of larvae between Norway and Iceland is unlikely, passive drift of turbot larva from other areas (e.g. Ireland) cannot be ruled out. 

A two-site, population-based study of barriers to cataract surgery in rural china.

PURPOSE: China has among the lowest cataract surgical rates in Asia. This study was conducted to identify barriers to cataract surgery in rural China. METHODS: All subjects having undergone cataract surgery and persons with presenting visual acuity <or=6/60 (in Yangjiang) or <or=6/18 (in Handan) in >or=1 eye due to nonsurgically treated cataract were identified in two population-based studies in southern (Yangjiang) and northern (Handan) China. The subjects were administered a questionnaire assessing attitudes in four areas constituting potential barriers to surgery: knowledge about cataract, perceptions of local surgical quality, transportation and cost, and available resources. RESULTS: Interviews were completed on 71% to 86% of eligible subjects in both sites. Interviewed subjects did not differ significantly from nonrespondents with regard to age, sex, and presenting acuity in the better-seeing eye. A total of 214 (80.4%) nonsurgical and 131 (76.6%) surgical participants were interviewed, with a mean age of 71.8 +/- 8.0 and 73.7 +/- 7.4 years, respectively (P > 0.1). Among the nonsurgical subjects, 67.8% were blind (presenting vision, <or=6/60) in >or=1 eye due to cataract, whereas among the surgical participants, 25.2% remained blind in the eye that had undergone surgical removal of the cataract. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and site, increased knowledge and higher estimates of the quality of surgery were associated with having had surgery, whereas cost and transportation scores were not. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of knowledge about cataract and concerns about the quality of local services appear to be the principal barriers to cataract surgery in rural China.

Continuing the fight in reducing the risk of surgical site infections in the perioperative environment

Assessing risk has become part of the process of supporting patients andmaintaining safety in the healthcare setting. The risk of healthcare associatedinfections (HCAIs) has long been well documented and surgical site infection (SSI)is recognised as one of the most prevalent (Tanner & Khan 2008, Wilson 2013a).

Project Management within an Urban Site Context: Issues considering External Stakeholders

Large construction projects create numerous hazards, making it one of the most dangerous industries in which to work. This element of risk increases in urban areas and can have a negative impact on the external stakeholders associated with the project, along with their surrounding environments. The aim of this paper is to identify and document, in an urban context, the numerous issues encountered by on-site project managers from external stakeholders and how they affect a construction project. In addressing this aim, the core objective is to identify what issues are involved in the management of these stakeholders. In order to meet this requirement, a qualitative methodology encompassing an informative literature review followed by five individual case study interviews. The data gathered is assessed qualitatively using mind mapping software. A number of issues are identified which have an impact on the external stakeholders involved, and also how they affected proceedings on site. Collectively the most commonly occurring issues are environmental, legal, health and safety and communication issues. These ranged from road closures and traffic disruption to noise, dust and vibrations from site works. It is anticipated that the results of this study will assist and aid project managers in identifying issues considering external stakeholders, particularly on urban construction projects. A wide range of issues can develop depending on the complexity and nature of each project, but this research will illustrate and reinforce to project managers, that identifying issues early, effective communication and appropriate liaising can be used to manage the issues considering external stakeholders.

Feasibility of Undertaking Off-Site Infant Eye-Tracking Assessments of Neuro-Cognitive Functioning in Early-Intervention Centres

Recent work suggests that differences in functional brain development are already identifiable in 6- to 9-month-old infants from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds. Investigation of early SES-related differences in neuro-cognitive functioning requires the recruitment of large and diverse samples of infants, yet it is often difficult to persuade low-SES parents to come to a university setting. One solution is to recruit infants through early intervention children’s centres (CCs). These are often located in areas of high relative deprivation to support young children. Given the increasing portability of eye-tracking equipment, assessment of large clusters of infants could be undertaken in centres by suitably trained early intervention staff. Here, we report on a study involving 174 infants and their parents, carried out in partnership with CCs, exploring the feasibility of this approach. We report the processes of setting up the project and participant recruitment. We report the diversity of sample obtained on the engagement of CC staff in training and the process of assessment itself.We report the quality of the data obtained, and the levels of engagement of parents and infants. We conclude that this approach has great potential for recruiting large and diverse samples worldwide, provides sufficiently reliable data and is engaging to staff, parents and infants.

Stochastic ground motion simulation with geological site effects in damage asessment

Damage assessment of structures with a mechanical non linear model demands the representation of seismic action in terms of an accelerogram (dynamic analysis) or a response spectrum (pushover analysis). Stochastic ground motion simulation is largely used in regions where seismic strong-motion records are available in insufficient number. In this work we present a variation of the stochastic finite-fault method with dynamic corner frequency that includes the geological site effects. The method was implemented in a computer program named SIMULSIS that generate time series (accelerograms) and response spectra. The program was tested with the MW= 7.3 Landers earthquake (June 28, 1992) and managed to reproduce its effects. In the present work we used it to reproduce the effects of the 1980’s Azores earthquake (January 1, 1980) in several islands, with different possible local site conditions. In those places, the response spectra are presented and compared with the buildings damage observed.

GIS on tourism planning: preventing the impacts caused by the developing tourism activity in a specific site

The environment is one of the greatest concerns of humankind. Nowadays, the activities which improve or destroy it must be assessed and controlled by efficient means which should permit the control of environmental impact caused by the development of these activities. This document presents an information system implementation, as a Decision Support system, allowing the Decision Maker to evaluate, foresee and control the future environmental impact of Tourism through consultation, the management and the presentation of decision schemes based on defined measures of a regional tourism planning.

Androgens and Mating Systems in Fish: Intra- and Inter-specific Analysis

One of the predictions of the ‘challenge hypothesis’ (Wingfield et al., 1990) is that androgen patterns during the breeding season should vary among species according to the parenting and mating system. Here we assess this prediction of the challenge hypothesis both at the intra- and at the inter-specific level. To test the hypothesis at the inter-specific level, a literature survey on published androgen pat- terns from teleost fish with different mating systems was carried out. The results confirm the predicted effect of mating system on andro- gen levels. To test the hypothesis at an intra-specific level, a species with flexible reproductive strategies (i.e. monogamy vs. polygyny), the Saint Peter’s fish was studied. Polygynous males had higher 11- ketotestosterone levels. However, males implanted with methyl-tes- tosterone did not became polygynous and the variation of the ten- dency to desert their pair mates was better explained by the repro- ductive state of the female partner. This result stresses the point that the effects of behaviour on hormones cannot be considered without respect to the social context.

Efeitos do tipo de web site, conteúdo VS. contexto, no fluxo percepcionado, na avaliação do produto e na experiência virtual com o produto

Cada vez mais a experiência dos utilizadores num ambiente virtual deve ser alvo de novas investigações. A crescente evolução da tecnologia, a modernização da forma como comunicamos e recebemos informações, bem como realizamos as nossas compras em novos ambientes online, constituem um novo espaço de pesquisa. A Experiência de Fluxo online, descrita como um estado em que o utilizador se sente cognitivamente eficiente, motivado e feliz, parece contribuir para a navegação dos utilizadores num site, maximizando a eficácia comercial de um produto apresentado nesse mesmo site. Nós acreditamos que no mundo virtual da internet, a experiência de fluxo dos utilizadores pode ser potenciada através da melhor interação humano-computador, nos sites em que o utilizador navega, oferecendo aos utilizadores experiências virtuais mais envolventes com um produto. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo verificar em que modelo de site, conteúdo versus contexto, os visitantes experienciam níveis mais elevadores de fluxo online, com implicações a nível da sua experiência de consumo, aceitação do próprio produto, experiência virtual e intenção comportamental de uso para com o produto. Características individuais dos utilizadores, como a sua inovação na disponibilidade para a tecnologia também serão alvo de estudo. O produto tecnológico utilizado foram os Óculos da Google. Foram utilizados estudantes em laboratório, de ambos os géneros, num plano experimental 2 (site conteúdo versus site contexto) que foram solicitados a responder a um questionário após a navegação num destes sites, sempre imersos num ambiente virtual. Os resultados mostram que no site de contexto, os participantes experienciaram maiores níveis de fluxo online, sentimentos mais agradáveis durante a sua navegação, uma maior utilidade percebida do produto, avaliaram mais positivamente os Óculos da Google, manifestaram uma atitude ao uso do produto tendencialmente maior e navegaram durante mais tempo neste site em detrimento do site de conteúdo. Os resultados revelaram ainda existir um efeito de interação entre a inovação na disponibilidade para a tecnologia e o tipo de site para com a intenção de uso do produto, com aplicações a nível do marketing e publicidade online.

The intra-industry effects of going concern withdrawn audit reports

Dissertação de mestrado, Finanças Empresariais, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Algarve, 2014