Growth and proximate composition of tropical marine Chaetoceros calcitrans and Nannochloropsis oculata cultured outdoors and under laboratory conditions

The growth and proximate composition of two marine microalgae, Chaetoceros calcitrans and Nannochloropsis oculata, cultured outdoors under shade (24 to 36°C, 140 μmol/m2/s) and laboratory conditions (environmental chamber, 23°C for C. calcitrans and 20°C for N. oculata, 150 μmol/m2/s) were compared. Outdoor cultures of both C. calcitrans and N. oculata had significantly higher (p < 0.05) biomass, cell count, optical density and specific growth rate compared to the cultures grown under laboratory conditions. Lipid content was significantly higher in C. calcitrans grown outdoors, whereas, protein and carbohydrate composition did not show any significant differences (p > 0.05) between the outdoor and laboratory cultures. In the case of N. oculata, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in protein and lipid composition, but carbohydrate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the outdoor culture. In addition, the results showed that both C. calcitrans and N. oculata cultures grew faster outdoors, producing more biomass within a shorter period of time. This study illustrated that outdoor culture of microalgae was viable despite the fluctuating environmental conditions.Key words: Growth, proximate composition, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Nannochloropsis oculata, outdoor culture

Correction: Signatures of inflammation and impending multiple organ dysfunction in the hyperacute phase of trauma: A prospective cohort study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002352.]

Hyperprolactinaemia is associated with a higher prevalence of pituitary-adrenal dysfunction in non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma

In non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFMA), hyperprolactinaemia (hyperPRL) is considered to be a sign of hypothalamic-pituitary dysregulation, but it is unknown whether hyperPRL is associated with an increased frequency of pituitary hormone deficiencies. Forty consecutive patients with histology-proven NFMA were studied and hyperPRL was defined as serum prolactin (PRL) >200 mIU/l in men and >600 mIU/l in women. The pituitary-adrenal axis was evaluated by measurement of urinary free cortisol (N=38), peak cortisol to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia (IIH, N=36) and to human corticotrophin-releasing hormone (hCRF, N=40) and by urinary tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol (H4S, N=39), plasma androstenedione increment (N=39) and serum 11-deoxycortisol (N=1) after metyrapone. Central hypothyroidism, gonadotrophin deficiency and growth hormone (GH) reserve were also assessed. Twenty patients had hyperPRL (serum PRL 331 (223-1120) mIU/l (median, range) in men and 932 (660-3927) mIU/l in women); urinary free cortisol excretion (

Educational technology on a turning point: curriculum implementation in Flanders and challenges for schools

In this essay, we state that establishing technology curricula by national governments causes a shift in the policy actions of educational technology support: from a technical rationale with a main focus on funding and resources to a pedagogical rationale with a main focus on student competencies. We illustrate our point of view by describing the formal educational technology curriculum recently administered by the government in Flanders. This curriculum is written in terms of attainment targets and has clear implications on the nature of educational technology which is no longer dependent on teachers' individual efforts or willingness, but is becoming compulsory at the school level. Furthermore, we present two levers that facilitate the integration process of educational technology in general and the realization of technology curricula in particular. Technology coordinators should act more as curriculum managers and change agents, and schools should jointly establish a technology policy plan

Signatures of Inflammation and Impending Multiple Organ Dysfunction in the Hyperacute Phase of Trauma

CPC, DW, and MRB were funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as part of the portfolio of translational research of the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. This project was enabled through access to the MRC eMedLab Medical Bioinformatics infrastructure, supported by the Medical Research Council [grant number MR/L016311/1]. JM was funded in part by the NIHR [academic clinical fellowship]. JMS is funded by the Wellcome Trust and Department of Health [grant numbers 101012/Z/13/Z and HICFR7405]. HDT was funded by grants from Barts and The London Charity and the Royal College of Surgeons of England. MBP is funded by an MRC-DTP PhD fellowship in Translational Immunology [grant number 1797139]. The Centre for Trauma Sciences received funding from Barts Charity [grant number 753/1722]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript