Development of a novel immunobiosensor method for the rapid detection of okadaic acid contamination in shellfish extracts

The mouse bioassay is the methodology that is most widely used to detect okadaic acid (OA) in shellfish samples. This is one of the best-known toxins, and it belongs to the family of marine biotoxins referred to as the diarrhetic shellfish poisons (DSP). Due to animal welfare concerns, alternative methods of toxin detection are being sought. A rapid and specific biosensor immunoassay method was developed and validated for the detection of OA. An optical sensor instrument based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon was utilised. A polyclonal antibody to OA was raised against OA-bovine thyroglobulin conjugate and OA-N-hydroxy succinimide ester was immobilised onto an amine sensor chip surface. The assay parameters selected for the analysis of the samples were: antibody dilution, 1/750; ratio of antibody to standard, 1:1; volume of sample injected, 25 mu l min(-1); flow rate, 25 mu l min(-1). An assay action limit of 126 ng g(-1) was established by analysing of 20 shellfish samples spiked with OA at the critical concentration of 160 ng g(-1), which is the action limit established by the European Union (EU). At this concentration of OA, the assay delivered coefficient of variations (CVs) of

Why and how FDI stocks are a biased measure of MNE affiliate activity

Many international business (IB) studies have used foreign direct investment (FDI) stocks to measure the aggregate value-adding activity of multinational enterprises (MNE) affiliates in host countries. We argue that FDI stocks are a biased measure of that activity, because the degree to which they overestimate or underestimate affiliate activity varies systematically with host-country characteristics. First, most FDI into countries that serve as tax havens generate no actual productive activity; thus FDI stocks in such countries overestimate affiliate activity. Second, FDI stocks do not include locally raised external funds, funds widely used in countries with well-developed financial markets or volatile exchange rates, resulting in an underestimation of affiliate activity in such countries. Finally, the extent to which FDI translates into affiliate activity increases with affiliate labor productivity, so in countries where labor is more productive, FDI stocks also result in an underestimation of affiliate activity. We test these hypotheses by first regressing affiliate value-added and affiliate sales on FDI stocks to calculate a country-specific mismatch, and then by regressing this mismatch on a host country's tax haven status, level of financial market development, exchange rate volatility, and affiliate labor productivity. All hypotheses are supported, implying that FDI stocks are a biased measure of MNE affiliate activity, and hence that the results of FDI-data-based studies of such activity need to be reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monte Carlo radiation hydrodynamics:Methods, tests and application to Type Ia supernova ejecta

In astrophysical systems, radiation-matter interactions are important in transferring energy and momentum between the radiation field and the surrounding material. This coupling often makes it necessary to consider the role of radiation when modelling the dynamics of astrophysical fluids. During the last few years, there have been rapid developments in the use of Monte Carlo methods for numerical radiative transfer simulations. Here, we present an approach to radiation hydrodynamics that is based on coupling Monte Carlo radiative transfer techniques with finite-volume hydrodynamical methods in an operator-split manner. In particular, we adopt an indivisible packet formalism to discretize the radiation field into an ensemble of Monte Carlo packets and employ volume-based estimators to reconstruct the radiation field characteristics. In this paper the numerical tools of this method are presented and their accuracy is verified in a series of test calculations. Finally, as a practical example, we use our approach to study the influence of the radiation-matter coupling on the homologous expansion phase and the bolometric light curve of Type Ia supernova explosions. © 2012 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2012 RAS.

Long-term neuropsychological and psychosocial outcomes of decompressive hemicraniectomy following malignant middle cerebral artery infarctions

Purpose: This study examines long-term neuropsychological and psychosocial outcomes of survivors of malignant middle cerebral artery infarction treated via decompressive hemicraniectomy. Method: A case series design facilitated a detailed analysis of the outcomes among five participants. Neuropsychological domains assessed included premorbid and current IQ, sustained, selective and divided attention, visual and auditory memory, executive functioning and visuo-spatial ability. Psychosocial domains assessed included self-rated depression, anxiety and quality of life. Participants and their main carer were asked about their retrospective view of surgery. Results: All participants showed neuropsychological impairments in multiple cognitive domains, with preserved ability in others. Effects of laterality of brain function were evident in some domains. Clinically significant depression was evident in two participants. Overall quality of life was within average limits in three of four assessed participants. Four participants retrospectively considered surgery as having been a favourable course of action. Conclusion: While neuropsychological impairments are highly likely post-surgery, preserved abilities and social support may serve a protective function against depression and an unacceptably poor quality of life. Results do not support the suggestion that decompressive hemicraniectomy following malignant middle cerebral artery infarction necessarily leads to unacceptable neuropsychological or psychosocial outcomes.

Clinical and experimental links between diabetes and glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness. It is a multifactorial condition, the risk factors for which are increasingly well defined from large-scale epidemiological studies. One risk factor that remains controversial is the presence of diabetes. It has been proposed that diabetic eyes are at greater risk of injury from external stressors, such as elevated intraocular pressure. Alternatively, diabetes may cause ganglion cell loss, which becomes additive to a glaucomatous ganglion cell injury. Several clinical trials have considered whether a link exists between diabetes and glaucoma. In this review, we outline these studies and consider the causes for their lack of concordant findings. We also review the biochemical and cellular similarities between the two conditions. Moreover, we review the available literature that attempts to answer the question of whether the presence of diabetes increases the risk of developing glaucoma. At present, laboratory studies provide robust evidence for an association between diabetes and glaucoma.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for patients with intermediate-risk localised prostate cancer: 2-year patient-reported outcomes of the randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 CHHiP trial

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) might detect more toxic effects of radiotherapy than do clinician-reported outcomes. We did a quality of life (QoL) substudy to assess PROs up to 24 months after conventionally fractionated or hypofractionated radiotherapy in the Conventional or Hypofractionated High Dose Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer (CHHiP) trial.

METHODS: The CHHiP trial is a randomised, non-inferiority phase 3 trial done in 71 centres, of which 57 UK hospitals took part in the QoL substudy. Men with localised prostate cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy were eligible for trial entry if they had histologically confirmed T1b-T3aN0M0 prostate cancer, an estimated risk of seminal vesicle involvement less than 30%, prostate-specific antigen concentration less than 30 ng/mL, and a WHO performance status of 0 or 1. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a standard fractionation schedule of 74 Gy in 37 fractions or one of two hypofractionated schedules: 60 Gy in 20 fractions or 57 Gy in 19 fractions. Randomisation was done with computer-generated permuted block sizes of six and nine, stratified by centre and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk group. Treatment allocation was not masked. UCLA Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI), including Short Form (SF)-36 and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P), or Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) and SF-12 quality-of-life questionnaires were completed at baseline, pre-radiotherapy, 10 weeks post-radiotherapy, and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-radiotherapy. The CHHiP trial completed accrual on June 16, 2011, and the QoL substudy was closed to further recruitment on Nov 1, 2009. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. The primary endpoint of the QoL substudy was overall bowel bother and comparisons between fractionation groups were done at 24 months post-radiotherapy. The CHHiP trial is registered with ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN97182923.

FINDINGS: 2100 participants in the CHHiP trial consented to be included in the QoL substudy: 696 assigned to the 74 Gy schedule, 698 assigned to the 60 Gy schedule, and 706 assigned to the 57 Gy schedule. Of these individuals, 1659 (79%) provided data pre-radiotherapy and 1444 (69%) provided data at 24 months after radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 50·0 months (IQR 38·4-64·2) on April 9, 2014, which was the most recent follow-up measurement of all data collected before the QoL data were analysed in September, 2014. Comparison of 74 Gy in 37 fractions, 60 Gy in 20 fractions, and 57 Gy in 19 fractions groups at 2 years showed no overall bowel bother in 269 (66%), 266 (65%), and 282 (65%) men; very small bother in 92 (22%), 91 (22%), and 93 (21%) men; small bother in 26 (6%), 28 (7%), and 38 (9%) men; moderate bother in 19 (5%), 23 (6%), and 21 (5%) men, and severe bother in four (<1%), three (<1%) and three (<1%) men respectively (74 Gy vs 60 Gy, ptrend=0.64, 74 Gy vs 57 Gy, ptrend=0·59). We saw no differences between treatment groups in change of bowel bother score from baseline or pre-radiotherapy to 24 months.

INTERPRETATION: The incidence of patient-reported bowel symptoms was low and similar between patients in the 74 Gy control group and the hypofractionated groups up to 24 months after radiotherapy. If efficacy outcomes from CHHiP show non-inferiority for hypofractionated treatments, these findings will add to the growing evidence for moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules becoming the standard treatment for localised prostate cancer.

FUNDING: Cancer Research UK, Department of Health, and the National Institute for Health Research Cancer Research Network.

Academia de jovens com necessidades educativas especiais: espaço de integração de todo o cidadão

Relatório de estágio apresentado para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em educação e Comunicação Multimédia

A cultura como objeto de controlo turístico

Com este artigo pretende-se sistematizar algumas mudanças na função seminal da cultura, associadas aos seus modos de apropriação pela intermediação turístico-cultural.

L'Écho de Paris

1888/03/04 (Numéro 1444).

Recueil de copies de pièces concernant les amortissements, le règlement des finances, la chambre des comptes, de Philippe le Hardi à Louis XI.

Contient : 1 « Extraict fait en la chambre des comptes du roy nostre sire de certaines ordonnance et articles faisans mencion des admortissemens faitz par gens de (sic) glise, soubz certaines condicions, ledit extraict fait de plusieurs registres et livres des memoriaulx estans en icelle chambre, par le commandement et ordonnances d'icelle, en la manière qui s'ensuit » ; a « Premièrement s'ensuit la teneur d'unes lectres d'ordonnances du roy » CHARLES V, « par lesquelles il mande et enjoinct expressement aux audiencier et contrerolleur de son audience à Paris, non delivrer lectres d'admortissemens se elles ne sont passées et delivrées par la chambre des comptes ; icelles lectres enregistrées » et adressées à « Me Eustace de Moicens » et à « Jehan de Colombes ». Paris, 21 juillet 1368 ; b « Item s'ensuit la teneur d'un article contenu en certaines ordonnances faictes par le roy CHARLES Ve, données à Paris le Ve jour de novembre 1370, enregistrées en lad. chambre, le fol. CII, par lesquelles il ordonna que toutes gens de glise (sic) pour leur (sic) acquisitions faictes depuis XL ans, quocumque titulo, feussent contrains à les mectre hors de leurs mains, dedans ung an, à paier finance » ; c « Item autres lectres du roy CHARLES Ve, enregistrées en lad. chambre » des comptes « le O fol. VXXXV, données à S. Denis, le 24e jour de fevrier l'an 1372, par lesquelles led. seigneur avoit mandé que toutes possessions acquises par gens de (sic) glise depuis XL ans sans avoir esté admorties par lectres de luy ou de ses predecesseurs, veriffiées en la chambre des comptes, feussent mises en la main dud. seigneur et les fruiz d'iceulx levez à son prouffit » ; d « Autres lectres du roy CHARLES Ve, données à Paris, ou castel du Louvre, le 25e jour de nouvembre, l'an ... 1372, enregistrées libro O fol. VIXXXII, par lesquelles il avoit declairé et declairoit que pour quelque composicion ou finance qui ont esté faicte (sic) ou temps passé des acquisicions faictes par gens de glise (sic) et communaultez les choses ainsi acquises ne soient tenues pour admorties se des acquisicions ilz n'ont lectres de admortissemens passées, expediées et veriffiées par la chambre des comptes » ; e « Item s'ensuit autres ordonnances sur le fait des fiefz, des acquitz » : e. 1. « Ordinacio vetus super feudis acquisitis facta in parlamento omnium sanctorum... post natale Domini » 1275. Acte de PHILIPPE LE HARDI. En latin. (Fol. 4.) e. 2. Acte de PHILIPPE LE BEL. « In parlamento omnium sanctorum, anno Nativitatis Domini » 1291. En latin. (Fol. 5) ; f « Instructions sur les finances des acquestz par les eglises et personnes non nobles en France. Et est l'entente que les plus grans finances qui pourront estre prinses soient prinses non pas mendrées que celles qui s'ensuivent en nulle manière » ; g « Ou livre signé A est enregistrée certaine renonciacion faicte par le roy PHELIPPE LE BEL de tous commissaires sur le fait des nouveaulx acquestz, excepté ceulx qui depuis au paravant y avoient esté commis, fol. VIII°, dont la teneur s'ensuit... ». Paris, 25 juillet 1310. En latin ; h « Item oud. livre signé : A, fol. CV, sont enregistrées autres lectres du roy PHILIPPE, dit LE LONG, par lesquelles il mande que toutes manières de gens de (sic) glise qui n'auroient mis hors de leurs mains dedans l'an les acquisicions qu'ilz possidoient, comme par autres ordonnances leur avoit esté autresfois enjoinct et ilz n'avoient riens fait, feussent contrains reaulment et de fait à luy rendre les fruiz qu'ilz avoient prins et receuz, depuis les commandemens à eulx faiz, desquelles lectres la teneur s'ensuit... ». Paris, 24 fevrier 1316-1317. En latin ; i « Item ou livre signé : E, fol. IIIIXX XIII est enregistré ce qui s'ensuit... ». Acte de CHARLES VI du 11 février 1385-1386 ; j « Item ou livre des memoriaulx, signé : G., fol. XX°, en certaines instructions et ordonnances sur le fait des fiefz est escript et contenu les articles qui s'ensuivent : Item et ne pourront les commissaires sur ce ordonnez ou à ordonner, lever ne exiger finances quelxconques desd. gens de (sic) glise pour leursd. acquisicions non admorties, mais seront contrains à les mectre hors de leurs mains... » ; 2 « Touchant les admortissemens », mémoire ; 3 « La table des fiefz des bailliaiges de Rouen et Caen » ; 4-8 Actes de CHARLES VII ; 4 « Ordonnances faictes par le roy, sur le fait de la distribucion et gouvernement de toutes ses finances », tant ordinaires que extraordinaires, « de Languedoil et de Languedoc ». Saumur, 25 septembre 1443 ; 5 « Autres ordonnances adjouxtées au devant escriptes ». Nancy, 11 février 1444-1445 ; 6 « Autres ordonnances faictes à Bourges », le 26 novembre 1447 ; 7 « Ordinaciones per regem edite Maduni supra Ebram », le 23 décembre 1454, « super ordine et regimine camere compotorum et officiariorum ibi » ; 7 bis Ordonnance portant : « que se doresnavant aucuns dons d'amendes, forfaictures, aubenaiges, confiscacions, quintz, arrierequintz, rachaptz ou autres choses quelzconques appartenans à noz receptes ordinaires estoient par vous faictz, soient lectres signées de nostre main, ou autrement en quelque manière que se soit, ilz ne soient donnez sinon que premierement gaiges d'officiers, fiefz et aumosnes et autres charges ordinaires soient entièrement fourniz et payez sur les receptes ausquelles » appartiendront « lesdictes choses ainsi par nous données ... Donné près Sainct Pourçain, le XXXe jour de janvier » 1455-1456 ; 8 Ordonnance portant défense aux trésorier de France et changeur du Trésor de ne lever ni souffrir être levées « aucunes descharges » audit trésorier, « pour quelque cas ne occasion que se soit », sur aucune des recettes ordinaires trop chargées de fiefs et aumônes. « Donné aux Roches Tranche Lion », le 22 avril après Pâques 1460 ; 9 « Ordinatio pro necessitatibus camere » compotorum « solvendis, facta per dominos ad burellum », 16 février 1459-1460 ; 10 « Ou livre T, fol. IIII V°, est escript ce qui s'ensuit : Du vendredi VIe jour d'avril » 1491 « avant Pasques, ou conseil du roy, tenu au bureau, en sa chambre des comptes, à Paris, ouquel monseigneur le chancellier, messieurs desd. comptes, tresoriers, Me Pierre Sacierges, esleu evesque de Lusson... sur ce qui a esté mis en deliberacion et pour le bien du roy, de sa justice et de ses finances, et pour obvier aux abuz qui par cy devant ont esté faiz touchant plusieurs lectres tant reliefvemens en cas d'appel que autres qui souventesfoiz et au desceu de mond. Sr le chancellier, comme il est vraysemblable, se baillent en la chancellerie ou prejudice et diminucion des droiz et demaine et des deniers des finances dud. Sr et de l'auctorité et jurisdicion de lad. chambre... a esté par mesd. Srs conclud, advisé et determiné les points et articles cy après escrips, et ordonné iceulx estre doresenavant entretenuz... en la manière qui s'ensuit... Lesquelles ordonnances ont esté veues et publiées en la chancellerie par l'ordonnance et en la presence de mond. Sr le chancellier, moy Jehan de Reilhac, maistre desd. comptes cy dessoubz soubzscript present et envoyé par mesd. Sgrs des comptes devers mond. seigneur le chancellier pour lad. cause. Fait le IXe jour d'avril M.CCCC. IIII XX XI. Ainsi signé : de Reilhac »

Chroniques de Saint-Denis.

Contient : Début : « Ce qui s'ensieut a esté prins du croniqueur de Saint-Denis, et se continuera sa cronique jusques en l'an cincquanle que les fais de la guerre de Flandres, c'est-à dire des Gantois, sera enserrée avec ceste cy et pluiseurs autres besongnes faittes en France et en Angleterre comme il appara cy après jusques en l'an LXXI » ; Fin : « Donné.., en nostre cité de Cantorbery, le XXIXe jour de may l'an LXXI. Ainsy signé : Edouard » ; On lit le nom de « Lalaing » d'une main du XVIe siècle

Français 824

Contient : 1° « Le Pelerinage de vie humaine » [par GUILLAUME DE DEGUILLEVILLE] ; 2° « Le Pelerinage de l'ame », par « GUILLERMUS DE DEGUILEVILLA » ; 3° « Le Pelerinage de Nostre Signeur Jhesu Crist », du même ; 4° « L'Aucteur parle et fait sa priere »