Contract Nr Research Articles

Background rates of 41 adverse events of special interest for COVID-19 vaccines in 10 European healthcare databases - an ACCESS cohort study.

In May 2020, the ACCESS (The vACCine covid-19 monitoring readinESS) project was launched to prepare real-world monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines. Within this project, this study aimed to generate background incidence rates of 41 adverse events of special interest (AESI) to contextualize potential safety signals detected following administration of COVID-19 vaccines. A dynamic cohort study was conducted using a distributed data network of 10 healthcare databases from 7 European countries (Italy, Spain, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, France and United Kingdom) over the period 2017 to 2020. A common protocol (EUPAS37273), common data model, and common analytics programs were applied for syntactic, semantic and analytical harmonization. Incidence rates (IR) for each AESI and each database were calculated by age and sex by dividing the number of incident cases by the total person-time at risk. Age-standardized rates were pooled using random effect models according to the provenance of the events. A total number of 63,456,074 individuals were included in the study, contributing to 211.7 million person-years. A clear age pattern was observed for most AESIs, rates also varied by provenance of disease diagnosis (primary care, specialist care). Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia rates were extremely low ranging from 0.06 to 4.53/100,000 person-years for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) with thrombocytopenia (TP) and mixed venous and arterial thrombosis with TP, respectively. Given the nature of the AESIs and the setting (general practitioners or hospital-based databases or both), background rates from databases that show the highest level of completeness (primary care and specialist care) should be preferred, others can be used for sensitivity. The study was designed to ensure representativeness to the European population and generalizability of the background incidence rates. The project has received support from the European Medicines Agency under the Framework service contract nr EMA/2018/28/PE.

Flora and vegetation of forest natural habitats in Natura 2000 protected area Kamchia (BG0000116)

The flora and vegetation in the protected area Kamchia were studied, as part of the European ecological network Natura 2000 within the implementation of the project Mapping and determination of the environmental status of natural habitats and species – phase I. Contract Nr. 04-014/05.04.2011. The paper presents data on the flora and vegetation in five types of forest natural habitats with codes 91E0, 91F0, 91G0, 91M0 and 92A0. Totally 222 high plant species were recorded in the studied habitats and seven of them were with conservation status. All obtained data confirmed the high conservation value of the flora and vegetation of the protected area and need for strict measures for its protection.

Vascular plant biodiversity in the Natura 2000 protected sites Kamchia (BG0000116) and Shkorpilovtsi Beach (BG0000100)

The current state of the vascular plant biodiversity of four natural non-forest habitats in the protected sites Kamchia and Shkorpilovtsi Beach was evaluated. The study was carried out in the framework of the project Mapping and determination of the environmental status of natural habitats and species – phase I. Contract Nr. 04-014/05.04.2011. Totally 96 species of vascular plants were recorded, 47 in Kamchia and 81 in Shkorpilovtsi Beach. Among them fifteen species were with conservation status. Due to the negative impact of the intensive development of tourism and urbanization, construction works, waste, camping and sand thickening, the future permanent monitoring of both sites is strongly recommended.

Pattern Recognition of HER-2 in Whole Blood Samples Using Stochastic Sensors

Chitosan and maltodextrin based diamond paste sensors were design, and characterized for the assay of HER-2 a biomarker for breast cancer. The “signatures” of HER-2 were recorded for each stochastic sensor, and further used to identify these analytes on the patterns obtained when whole blood was screened. Quantitative analysis was also performed using these sensors. The results obtained using the proposed sensors were correlating very well with those obtained using the standard methods used in clinical analysis (e.g., ELISA). Acknowledgements This work was supported by UEFISCDI PNII Program Ideas 2011-2014, Contract nr. 123/05.10.2011 and by ERC-like-3/07.2012 program.

Combined Dot Sensors in the Domain of Food, Pharmaceutical and Biological Areas

Combined dot sensors are new tools in sensors' technology. Different scenarios regarding the innovation, development, design, behaviour, implementation and application of dot sensors will be outlined. They were designed for food, pharmaceutical or biological analysis. Food additives such as colorants and ascorbic acid were determined directly from food and beverages, sildenafil citrate in pharmaceutical formulations and dopamine from pharmaceutical and biological samples. The working dot sensors were based on diamond or carbon paste modified with different porphyrin base or metal-porphyrin complexes. Different electrochemical techniques such as, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used for the assay of the samples. The lower limits of detection obtained allowed the assay of these analytes at levels that do not need preconcentration of the samples.AcknowledgementsThe present work was supported by the Romanian National ProgrammePN II, Ideas, Contract Nr. 100/27.10.2011.

Enantioanalysis of S-Ketoprofen Using Potentiometric and SPR Sensors

Ten enantioselective, potentiometric and SPR sensors based on carbon paste and gold impregnated with alpha-, betta-, carboxymethyl-betta-(as sodium salt), 2-hydroxyl-3-trimethylammoniopropyl -betta-(as chloride salt) and gamma-cyclodextrins, were proposed as a chiral selectors for assay of S-ketoprofen raw materials and in its pharmaceutical formulation Ketoflam capsule. The best response was obtained when betta-cyclodextrin was used for the electrode design. The sensors showed very low detection limits (of 10-8 to 10-9 magnitude orders). Stability constants values were also recorded for the interaction between S-ketoprofen and chiral selectors using SPR method.Acknowledgements This work was supported by UEFISCDI PNII Program Ideas 2011-2014, Contract nr. 123/05.10.2011 and by ERC-like-3/07.2012 program.

The Potential of Sensors and Biosensors for Integrated Process Control in Real-Time. Can They Survive the Environment?

The industry of tomorrow places a heavy demand on more efficient processes that performs in a more fluent cost-saving and sustainable way throughout the whole process production system. These industries need improvements in process monitoring and measurement that is the key for delivering better process control and therefore more sustainable processes. Innovations in process measurement are therefore needed to relate more closely to the full stream process environment to deliver better higher final quality products by allowing better process control and hence substantial cost reduction and a friendlier environment.This will need a complete new approach for the different scenarios regarding the innovation, development, design, behaviour, implementation and application of sensor and biosensors. These type of measuring devices and probes should functioned in temperatures on a continuous basis for extended periods ranging from temperatures around1000 ºC to room temperature and even below and from high pressures to normal pressures depending on the process production system. This talk will look and outlined different types of sensor and biosensor devices currently available and the potential to survive in the environment of integrated process control in real-time.AcknowledgementsThe present work was supported by the Romanian National ProgrammePN II, Ideas, Contract Nr. 100/27.10.2011.

Mechanism of Potential Development for Potentiometric Sensors, Based on Modeling of Interaction Between Electrochemically Active Compounds from the Membrane and Analyte

Modeling of interaction between analyte and electrochemically active compounds represents a new theoretical approach to predict the response and mechanism of potential development for ion-selective membrane electrodes. Therefore, correlations between the parameters (e.g., free energy, HUMO, LUMO, bound lenght) obtained using modeling, and experimental results (e.g., slope, free energy) obtained using ion-selective electrodes will be shown for sensors based on fullerens. The influence of matrix of the ion-selective electrodes on their response and selectivity will be shown.The very first results of this study (a new mechanism of potential development for ion-selective electrodes) were discussed with Professor Buck during his participation to a conference in Constantza, Romania in 1993. He was the first that recognized the value of this theoretical spects, and his comments were extremely valuable for the work I developed until now in the theoretical field of ion-selective membrane electrodes.Acknowledgements This work was supported by UEFISCDI PNII Program Ideas 2011-2014, Contract nr. 123/05.10.2011.

Carbon Nanostructures Used for Screening in Biomedicine

Carbon nanotubes, carbon onions, and C60 fullerenes were used as matrices for stochastic microsensors design. Maltodextrins, cyclodextrins and porphyrins were immobilized in the matrices to improve the stochastic behavior of the microsensors.The “signatures” of HER-1, NSE, leptin, PAI-1 and hormones were recorded using this microsensors in stochastic mode. The “signatures” were used to identify these analytes on the diagrams obtained when whole blood was screened. Quantitative analysis was also performed using these microsensors. The results obtained using the proposed microsensors were correlating very well with those obtained using the standard methods used in clinical analysis.Acknowledgements This work was supported by UEFISCDI PNII Program Ideas 2011-2014, Contract nr. 123/05.10.2011 and by ERC-like-3/07.2012 program.

Perpetual loss and gain: Translation, estrangement and cyclical recurrence of experience based knowledges in public action

The “Knowledge and Policy”11This book article has been published thanks to the support of the European Union's Sixth Framework Programme for Research – Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-based Society theme (contract nr. 028848-2 – project KNOWandPOL). The information and views set out in this article are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. project illuminates several forms of non-standardised knowledge influencing political decision making. Various terms have been employed by the project teams, but in this article we designate “experience based knowledge” as the common denominator of these knowledge forms.The following article stems from the qualitative synthesis of the country reports of the project. After discussing the problems of defining experience based knowledge we discuss its potentials and limits in policymaking. The analysis emphasises the changing and volatile nature of this knowledge: during translation into policy terms it is transformed almost beyond recognisability. This is not however the end of the process – just the beginning of a new cycle.

Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems: An IFT Report Submitted to the FDA, Volume 1: Technical Aspects and Recommendations.

Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food SafetyVolume 9, Issue 1 p. 92-158 Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems: An IFT Report Submitted to the FDA, Volume 1: Technical Aspects and Recommendations First published: 21 December 2009 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2009.00097.xCitations: 56 This work was done under Task Order nr 6 of Contract nr 223-04-2503 with the Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Dept. of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume9, Issue1January 2010Pages 92-158 RelatedInformation

Microchemical investigation of Greek and Roman silver and gold plated coins: coating techniques and corrosion mechanisms

Within the framework of a project financially supported by the European Commission (contract Nr. 509126, acronym PROMET) the metallurgical techniques used by Romans and Greeks for coating the copper core of coins with a thin or thick layer of gold or silver are studied by means of the combined use of scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and optical microscopy (OM) techniques. This approach is utilised to gain further insight into the micro-chemical structure of the external regions of the coins as well as into the bulk metallurgical features. The results indicate that several methods were used by the Greek and Roman craftsmen including the mechanical application of a thin malleable gold or silver foils to be welded via thermal treatment. The analytical approach is also used for investigating the corrosion products grown on the coins during the long-term burial and for identifying degradation mechanisms.

Ultrasonic flaw discrimination by the PPE method (Pulse, Phase, Echo dynamics). (In German, English abstract): Coen, G.; Oberhoff, D. Technical Research Steel, Commission of the European Communities, EUR 11064, 85 pp. (1988). Final report to research contract Nr. 7210-GA/122

Ultrasonic flaw discrimination by the PPE method (Pulse, Phase, Echo dynamics). (In German, English abstract): Coen, G.; Oberhoff, D. Technical Research Steel, Commission of the European Communities, EUR 11064, 85 pp. (1988). Final report to research contract Nr. 7210-GA/122

Formal problems of transportation impact research

FORMAL PROBLEMS IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH Christian Werner University of California, I. Irvine Introduction The subject of this paper is the e m p i r i c a l , inductive approach as a method of determining quantitatively the influence which a transportation s y s - tem e x e r c i s e s on its environment. P r o b l e m s r e f e r r i n g s t r i c t l y to methods of st at i s t i cal analysis have been omitted; they are sufficiently c o v e r e d in t ex t - books on this subject. F u r t h e r m o r e , a specific form of impact, namely, the feedback on the t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m , has not been dealt with. Since some of the m o r e important r e s e a r c h p r o b l e m s have not been t r e a t e d p r o p e r l y or not at all in the impact l i t e r a t u r e , this paper contains t r i v i a l statements in places. Its r e s u l t s are e s s e n t i a l l y crude and p r e l i m i n a r y , but they do provide some f o r m a l organization and suggest improvements of the s c a r c e body of inductive impact r e s e a r c h methods so far available. Transportation impact r e s e a r c h is commonly considered as the study of the effect which transportation phenomena e x e r c i s e on other things. Hence, the raw m a t e r i a l of such a study consists of the description of transportation features and p r o c e s s e s as well as the environment with which they interact. The final goal is the description and explanation of these interactions. Both transportation and environmental phenomena can best be described with the concept of the property space to which the dimensions of space and time are added. Thus, the input information of a transportation impact study can be organized according to the dimensions of space, time and the various p r o p e r - ties (variables). The second step will then be concerned with the determination of interrelationships between transportation and environmental v a r i a b l e s in space and time. If, in addition, the impact study is to develop predictive power, the final section has to be concerned with the extrapolation of the variables and their interrelationships over the dimensions of time, space, and property scales. II. The Variables Since r e a l world phenomena usually display a large degree of complexity, the t e r m variable should be used only for their one-dimensional p r o p e r t i e s . T h e r e is no t h e o r e t i c a l way to d e t e r m i n e always in advance, which t r a n s p o r t a - tion v a r i a b l e s e x e r c i s e influence on their environment, and which en v i r o n m en - tal v a r i a b l e s will be affected. The selection of v a r i a b l e s will t h e r e f o r e be 1The support of the Department of Transportation, F e d e r a l Railroad Administration (Contract Nr. 7-35524), Washington, D. C., is gratefully acknowledged.

SIBLING SPECIES IN ARTEMIA (CRUSTACEA:BRANCHIOPODA).

The species Artemia salina (L.) is composed of a group of differentiated units, which cannot interbreed because of differences in the manner of reproduction (Artom, 1931; Barigozzi, 1944, 1946, 1957). Artemia salina has, therefore, been termed by Artom specie collettiva also taking into consideration the different ploidy degrees. In fact, parthenogenetic females (belonging to indefinitely parthenogenetic stocks) produce only parthenogenetic females if mated with males, even though they have the same number of chromosomes (42 in somatic cells, 21 bivalents in meiosis). Some instances of reproductive isolation within the bisexual group have been described more recently. Kuenen (1939) pointed out that shrimps from California cannot be crossed with bisexual animals from Sardinia. A small morphological difference (presence or absence of abdominal hairs) was found between European and American Artemia and on this ground it has been thought that the California individuals belong to a different species: Artemia gracilis Verril, 1869. According to Lochhead (1941), the morphological difference is not confirmed. The second case, discovered by Barigozzi and Tosi (1959), refers to crosses between Californian and Great Salt Lake (Utah) Artemia, both bisexual. The chromosome number of individuals used for crosses proved to be the diploid one (42) for the Californian Artemia and the nearly tetraploid one for those from the Great Salt Lake. However, as the counts on Artemia of the Great Salt Lake indicate, the situation is very complicated and requires re-examination using a more suitable technique. Nothing is known about morphological differences between the two populations. The third case of reproductive isolation was reported by Gilchrist (1960) who failed to obtain successful crosses between North African and Californian Artemia. Both samples were considered by the author as diploid, although Barigozzi (1944) demonstrated that the California populations can be chromosomally heterogeneous, i.e. heteroploid. Gilchrist observed that between the North African and the American individuals there is a difference in the furca, which is shorter in the former. No cytological check has been made. The fourth example has been reported by Bowen (1965), who found reproductive isolation between American and San Bartolomeo (Cagliari, Sardinia) Artemia, all considered as bisexual diploid. More precisely, Bowen's findings refer to crosses between San Bartolomeo wild type and w/w stock #12 or w/w stock #9 individuals. Both mutant stocks derived from American populations (the former from Quemado, New Mexico, the latter from a cross between Utah and Californian individuals) and gave fertile crosses if mated with specimens from several other American populations. The author did not make any cytological check, but, on the other hand, discovered some morphological differences between American and San Bartolomeo males and females. From these data it can be concluded that, within the Artemia salina species, racesy or units can be distinguished, which are slightly differentiated morphologically, but reproductively fully isolated. This leads to the postulation of genotypic 1 These studies were aided by Contract NR 104-862, between the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, and the Istituto di Genetica (University of Milan).

Muscle membrane as a dynamic structure and its permeability to aldolase.

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 75, Issue 1 p. 227-234 MUSCLE MEMBRANE AS A DYNAMIC STRUCTURE AND ITS PERMEABILITY TO ALDOLASE* Kenneth L. Zierler, Kenneth L. Zierler Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, Baltimore, Md.Search for more papers by this author Kenneth L. Zierler, Kenneth L. Zierler Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, Baltimore, Md.Search for more papers by this author First published: October 1958 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1958.tb36869.xCitations: 75 * The work reported from this laboratory was performed under Contract NR 113–241 between the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C., and The Johns Hopkins University. It was supported further by a grant-in-aid from the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, Inc., New York, N. Y. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the United States government. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume75, Issue1Enzymes in BloodOctober 1958Pages 227-234 RelatedInformation