This work presents a validation of three satellite-based radiation products over an extensive network of 313 pyranometers across Europe, from 2005 to 2015. The products used have been developed by the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) and are one geostationary climate dataset (SARAH-JRC), one polar-orbiting climate dataset (CLARA-A2) and one geostationary operational product. Further, the ERA-Interim reanalysis is also included in the comparison. The main objective is to determine the quality level of the daily means of CM SAF datasets, identifying their limitations, as well as analyzing the different factors that can interfere in the adequate validation of the products.The quality of the pyranometer was the most critical source of uncertainty identified. In this respect, the use of records from Second Class pyranometers and silicon-based photodiodes increased the absolute error and the bias, as well as the dispersion of both metrics, preventing an adequate validation of the daily means. The best spatial estimates for the three datasets were obtained in Central Europe with a Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) within 8–13 W/m2, whereas the MAD always increased at high-latitudes, snow-covered surfaces, high mountain ranges and coastal areas. Overall, the SARAH-JRC's accuracy was demonstrated over a dense network of stations making it the most consistent dataset for climate monitoring applications. The operational dataset was comparable to SARAH-JRC in Central Europe, but lacked of the temporal stability of climate datasets, while CLARA-A2 did not achieve the same level of accuracy despite predictions obtained showed high uniformity with a small negative bias. The ERA-Interim reanalysis shows the by-far largest deviations from the surface reference measurements.

Effective PPN is possible in about 50 per cent of inpatients requiring parenteral nutrition. Evidence relating to optimal feed composition, choice of cannula, infusion technique and pharmacological manipulation is discussed, along with practical recommendations for the administration of PPN.

Four techniques of administering peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) were examined prospectively to investigate the role of mechanical trauma in the development of infusion phlebitis. Patients in group 1 (n = 15) were fed via a standard 18-G Teflon cannula which was removed on completion of the infusion and was rotated to the contralateral arm every day. Group 2 patients (n = 15) had a similar catheter sited in each forearm simultaneously, with rotation of the side of infusion each day. Patients in group 3 (n = 17) had a 15-cm Silastic rubber catheter inserted into a forearm vein and a standard cannula sited in the contralateral forearm, with alternation of infusion each day. Those in group 4 (n = 13) had a fine-bore 23-G silicone catheter sited in one arm only. Patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 were fed over 12-h cycles and those in group 4 for a 24-h continuous cycle. A total of 408 patient-days of PPN were given. Mean duration of PPN in groups 1-4 was 7.5, 9, 5.5 and 5 days respectively. Infusion phlebitis was not recorded in patients who had a daily change of cannula (group 1), but occurred in four patients in group 2, eight in group 3 and eight in group 4. Phlebitis scores were 0, 9, 15 and 12 for groups 1-4 respectively. Severe phlebitis and line occlusion occurred more frequently in patients with a 15-cm catheter (group 3) and in those fed continuously over 24 h (group 4). These results suggest that mechanical trauma is an important factor in the aetiology of infusion phlebitis. This can be minimized by reducing the time for which the vein wall is exposed to nutrient infusion and by reducing the amount of prosthetic material within the vein.

Monoclonal antibodies which bind Brucella A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific, M LPS-specific, or cross-reactive epitopes were used as reagents in quantitative dot blot, Western blot (immunoblot), and immunoprecipitation analysis of Brucella whole cells, whole-cell extracts, and purified LPS preparations. This set of monoclonal antibodies detected four unique epitopes on Brucella LPS. The specificity of monoclonal antibodies reactive with Brucella unique (A and M) and common (C and C/Y) LPS epitopes was demonstrated by blot analysis. The serotype specificity of monoclonal antibodies for A LPS of B. abortus 1119.3 or M LPS of Brucella melitensis 16M was confirmed. Type C monoclonal antibodies recognized epitopes on Brucella A and M LPS and did not cross-react with Yersinia enterocolitica 0:9. In Western blots, type C monoclonal antibodies were bound by epitopes on Brucella A and M LPSs ranging in Mrs from 30,000 to 70,000, relative to marker proteins. Type C/Y monoclonal antibodies were cross-reactive with Y. enterocolitica 0:9 and recognized Brucella A LPS epitopes with a restricted Mr ranging only from 40,000 to 50,000, relative to marker proteins. Type C/Y monoclonal antibodies also displayed a more restricted pattern of binding to Brucella M LPS. The monoclonal antibodies were able to detect 5 to 50 pg of a purified A LPS preparation in dot blots. The limits of detection by the monoclonal antibodies of a purified M LPS preparation ranged from 0.05 to 50 pg. Monoclonal antibody analysis of whole-cell preparations also demonstrated quantitative differences in the presence of the respective epitopes. The binding profiles of the monoclonal antibodies to Brucella whole cells varied between acetone-and chloroform-killed organisms as well as between species and strains. The lower limit of detection of any whole-cell preparation by the dot blot technique was 105 CFU. Binding profiles in Western blots and endotoxin activity of immunoprecipitates obtained with these monoclonal antibodies further defined the Brucella LPS antigens. These monoclonal antibodies and the techniques described may be useful in monitoring the antigenic content of Brucella vaccines and diagnostics.