Assessment of Natural Resources Use for Sustainable Development - DPSIR Framework for Case Studies in Portsmouth and Thames Gateway, U.K.

This chapter reports on the uses of the DPSIR framework to assess the sustainability of the intertidal environments within the two UK case study areas, Portsmouth and Thames Gateway. It focuses on statutory conservation areas dominated by intertidal habitats. Two are located in Portsmouth (Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours) and four in the Thames Gateway (Benfleet Marshes, South Thames Estuary, Medway Estuary and the Swale in the Thames Gateway). Based on the reduction of a number of pressures and impacts observed in recent decades and the improvement of overall environmental quality, all six SSSIs are considered to be sustainable in the short and medium term. In the future, it is possible that the impacts of climate change, especially sea-level rise, might result in further reduction in the area and/or quality of intertidal habitats. Further integration between conservation and planning objectives (both for urban development and management of flood risk) at local level is needed to support the long-term sustainability of intertidal habitats

Lupus anticoagulant identifies two distinct groups of patients with different antibody patterns

Background: Whether antibodies directed to β2-Glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) are responsible for LA activity is not well defined. However, in the absence of such antibodies the molecule responsible for LA phenomenon is unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was the biochemical identification of the target antigen epitope of aPL responsible of LA activity in the absence of aβ2GPI antibodies together with the biological and clinical characteristics of these patients in comparison with classical triple positive patients. Patients/methods: A comparison of patients with LA without (LA+/aβ2GPI−) and those with (LA+/aβ2GPI+) associated aβ2GPI antibodies was performed. Size exclusion chromatography and analytical chromatography were used to identify the molecule with LA activity in patients LA+/aβ2GPI-. Results and conclusions: Analytical size-exclusion chromatography revealed a peak of 996Kd with LA activity perfectly overlapping that of IgM anti phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT) antibodies. Similarly, all the 25 LA+/aβ2GPI− patients were positive for aPS/PT antibodies. LA+/aβ2GPI− compared to 33 LA+/aβ2GPI+ patients turned out to be significantly older, with a lower rate of previous thromboembolic events and a weaker LA activity. Search for aPS/PT and aβ2GPI antibodies in patients with LA is useful to identify two subgroups of LA at different risk of thromboembolic event

Teores de aminoácidos e fenóis em plântulas de algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. 'IAC-17') sob ação de reguladores vegetais

This research deals with the effects of exogenous growth regulators on dry weight, contents of aminoacids and phenolic compounds in leaves of cotton plants. To study the influence of the chemicals, cotton seeds were immersed during 22 hours in water solutions of (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) at concentration of 2000 ppm, succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide 4000 ppm,gibberellic acid 100 ppm, indolylacetic acid (IAA) 100 ppm, and water as check treatment. CCC 2000 ppm increased the dry weight in the leaves of cotton plants. This growth retardant increased the content of free aminoacids in cotton leaves. IAA 100 ppm reduced the concentration of aminoacids in the treated plants. The contents of phenolic compounds in leaves of cotton was increased by CCC, in relation to check treatment.Verificaram-se os efeitos da aplicação de reguladores de crescimento na porcentagem de materia seca, aminoácidos livres totais e compostos fenólicos nas folhas de algodoeiro 'lAC-l7'. Para se estudar a ação dos fitoreguladores, sementes de algodoeiro foram imersas durante 22 horas em soluções aquosas de cloreto (2-cloroetil) trimetilamônio (CCC) na concentração de 2000 ppm, ácido succínico-2,2-dimetilhidrazida 4000 ppm, ácido giberélico 100 ppm, ácido indolilacético (IAA) 100 ppm e água como controle. Plântulas com 33 dias de idade foram coletadas, sendo em seguida realizada a amostragem de folhas em laboratório, para efetuar-se a extração dos compostos. Observou-se que CCC 2000 ppm promoveu aumento no peso seco das folhas de algodoeiro. Esse retardador de crescimento aumentou o conteúdo de aminoácidos livres totais nas folhas estudadas. IAA 100 ppm reduziu a concentração de aminoácidos, nas plantas tratadas. O teor de fenóis totais nas folhas de Gossypium hirsutum foi aumentado por efeito do CCC com relação ao controle

Artificial Intelligence - Based Measurement Systems for Automotive: a Comprehensive Review

The development of ever intelligent systems in various application fields is nowadays a hot research topic. Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques become a key enabler of the transition between classical static, hard-coded algorithms and innovative, flexible ones. Actually, the automotive sector can undoubtedly benefit from the usage of the aforementioned techniques, aiming at building a novel smart automotive industry. Indeed, the application of AI spreads all round the automotive sector, ranging from on-board measuring systems to customer satisfaction analysis and demand prediction. This paper aims to review the possible applications of Artificial Intelligence techniques to the automotive sector, with a special focus on innovative measurement systems and metrology. Indeed the focus will be, between others, on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), in-vehicle IoT systems and intelligent industrial measuring systems, thus allowing to both increase road safety and design accurate predictive maintenance, additive manufacturing systems and, in substance, to build the smart automotive factory of the future

Measurement of α-Fetoprotein, Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Prostate-Speciflc Antigen in Serum and Heparinised Plasma by Enzyme Immunoassay on the Fully Automated Serono SR1™ Analyzer

Peer Reviewe

A Fully Automated Enzyme Immunoassay for the Measurement of Cortisol in Biological Fluids

Peer Reviewe