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Predatory journals pose a significant problem to academic publishing. In the past, a number of attempts have been made to identify them. This blog post presents a novel approach towards a predatory-free academic publishing landscape: Bona Fide Journals.

We propose a research direction into the role of the peak-end rule to engage people into Augmented Play Spaces (APS). The peak(s) and ending of an experience are defining moments for how an experience is remembered afterwards. An important factor contributing to the likelihood of engagement in an APS is a positive previous experience (with the same or a similar system).

Contains fulltext : 198062.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)

Background: Allergy to tree nuts, like hazelnuts, ranks among the most frequently observed food allergies. These allergies can start at early childhood and are, in contrast to other food allergies, not always outgrown by the patient. Tree nut allergy is frequently associated with severe reactions. Diagnosis partially relies on in vivo testing by means of a skin prick test (SPT) using commercially available SPT reagents. Methods: Protein and allergen composition of nine commercial SPT solutions was evaluated using standard protein detection methods and specific immunoassays for measurement of five individual allergens. Diagnostic performance was assessed by SPT in 30 hazelnut-allergic subjects, of which 15 were provocation proven. Results: Protein concentrations ranged from 0.2-14 mg/ml. SDS-PAGE/silver staining revealed clear differences in protein composition. The major allergen Cor a 1 was present in all extracts but concentrations differed up to a factor 50. An allergen associated with severe symptoms, Cor a 8 (lipid transfer protein), was not detected on immunoblot in three products, and concentrations varied by more than a factor 100 as was shown by RAST inhibition. Similar observations were made for profilin, thaumatin-like protein and a not fully characterized 38-kD allergen. Ratios of individual allergens were variable among the nine extracts. SPT showed significant difference, and 6/30 patients displayed false-negative results using 3/9 products. Conclusion: Variability in the composition of products for the diagnosis of hazelnut allergy is extreme. Sometimes, allergens implicated in severe anaphylaxis are not detected by immunoblotting. These shortcomings in standardisation and quality control can potentially cause a false-negative diagnosis in subjects at risk of severe reactions to hazelnuts. Copyright © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The age structure in Europe and other industrialized countries is changing as a result of declining birth rates and continuous rise in life expectancy. This report shows the facts and figures of an ageing workforce. It also describes the predjudices, personnel policies and problems connected to the ageing workforce that might undermine the innovative capacity of companies. New policy approaches are offered which foster the integration of an ageing workforce, like an age-related shaping of work and work organisation; team work in mixed age groups; and the concept of intergenerational personnel policy. Also the growing need to create new employment opportunities for older persones is stressed. The issue of demographic change and the ageing workforce has been taken up by legislation, measures and programme activities in European countries. The report concludes with recommendations for active strategies to be taken by all public, intermediary and private stakeholders.

The dinuclear paramagnetic center of the soluble Cu-A domain of the cytochrome c oxidase from Bacillus subtilis has been studied using H-1 NMR. The spectrum possesses remarkably sharp shifted resonances, Comparison with the spectrum of the Cu-A amicyanin variant provides the spin density distribution in the Cu-A site of cytochrome c oxidase. This represents the first paramagnetic NMR study of the dinuclear Cu-A center from the soluble domain of subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase.