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Introduction: This research aims to understand the content and nature, and to explore the harm potential, of suspected 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) substances circulating at music festivals in New South Wales. Methods: Across 19 music festivals held between October 2019 and March 2020, 302 substances detected and suspected by police to contain MDMA were selected for quantitative analysis. Results: Five percent of substances contained a drug other than MDMA (n = 13) or no drug (n = 2). The remaining 95.0% (n = 287) contained MDMA. Of this sub‐sample, capsule was the commonest form (83.3%), followed by tablet (7.7%), crystal (6.3%) and powder (2.8%). The median MDMA base‐purity of non‐tablet forms ranged between 73.5% and 75.0%. The median MDMA base‐dose per tablet (116 mg) was higher than per capsule (68 mg). The dose range varied substantially for capsules (14–146 mg) and tablets (24–201 mg). A higher dose (130 mg or greater) was found in 3.5% of MDMA tablets or capsules. Adulterants were identified in 14.1% of MDMA substances but only 1.6% contained a psychoactive adulterant and none presented as dangerous due to their nature or low concentration. Discussion and Conclusions: Dangerous MDMA adulterants or new psychoactive substances in tablet, capsule, powder or crystal forms (whether misrepresented as MDMA or not) were unlikely to be in circulation during the study period. Harm reduction messaging should inform that a key risk‐factor for MDMA‐related harm is the high and wide variation of purity and dose across forms. Market changes may have occurred since COVID‐19, but continued monitoring will ensure messaging remains current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant challenge in fitting metamodels of large-scale simulations with sufficient accuracy is in the computational time required for rigorous statistical validation. This paper addresses the statistical computation issues associated with the Bootstrap and modified PRESS statistic, which yield key metrics for error measurements in metamodelling validation. Experimentation is performed on different programming languages, namely, MATLAB, R, and Python, and implemented on different computing architectures including traditional multicore personal computers and high-power clusters with parallel computing capabilities. This study yields insight into the effect that programming languages and computing architecture have on the computational time for simulation metamodel validation. The experimentation is performed across two scenarios with varying complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A sandwich ELISA has been developed, using an affinity purified monospecific antiserum as a capture antibody, to detect specific IgG and IgG sub-classes to a major antigen (Ag 7) of Aspergillus fumigatus in the sera of patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Significantly elevated levels of specific IgG to Ag 7 were detected in 97% of ABPA sera tested, as compared to control sera and to sera from A. fumigatus skin-prick test positive individuals. IgG sub-class antibody levels to Ag 7 were also determined in a similar sandwich ELISA, but using specific monoclonal antisera instead of the polyclonal anti-IgG. Both Ag 7 specific IgG1 and IgG4 levels were found to be significantly raised in the ABPA sera compared to controls. It is proposed that this antigen-specific ELISA may provide a more specific diagnostic test for IgG antibody detection in sera of ABPA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A second major antigen of Aspergillus fumigatus (Ag 13) has been identified and characterized as a 70 kD, heat-labile component which is able to bind to the lectin, concanavalin A, Ag 13 proved to be identical to the previously recognized C antigen, known to possess chymotryptic activity. A monospecific antiserum to Ag 13 has been affinity purified and used to develop a sandwich ELISA for measuring levels of Ag 13 specific IgG antibodies in patients' sera. Although all ABPA sera (25/25) had significantly raised levels, some aspergilloma sera (2/5) had only very low levels; of the control sera. 10/ 10 fungal atopies were negative, but 5/12 farmer's lung sera had low but positive values of Ag 13 specific IgG, i.e. sensitivity 100%, specificity 80%. Ag 13 is therefore a diagnostically important component of A. fumigatus and the antigen-specific ELISA may be of importance for the improved detection of disease-specific antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A component of Aspergillus fumigatus, Ag 7, previously identified as a major antigen for patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, has been isolated by gel filtration and further purified by affinity chromatography using monospecific antiserum. The antigen, which binds both specific IgG and IgE antibodies, was shown to be a high molecular weight, 150-200 kD, heat-stable glycoprotein, which binds to concanavalin A. suggesting the presence of α-D mannopyrannoside, or α-D glucopyrannoside and residues. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyaerylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) it had a subunit of molecular weight 36 kD (with or without prior reduction), which retained antigenicity and allergenicity when tested with patients" sera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the lack of legal consideration for minors, under the immigration law in Great Britain. The author explains that of the many issues arising from the subject of immigration, the rights and treatment of children should surely warrant more notice than a statement in a newspaper report. She stresses that it must be a matter of great national shame to know that children are being treated in careless ways of any physical or emotional consequences.