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Popular culture is irrevocably implicated in the political constitution of borders, geographical space and identity. Whether this takes the form of re-affirming, or challenging the borders and identities that have reached a hegemonic status will depend, amongst other things, on power, knowledge, subjectivity and ethics. Recently, a monumental struggle has been taking place in the UK over precisely these questions, with a view to deciding the nation-state's future as either situated within or outside the European Union. This article seeks to contribute to the themes briefly outlined here by analysing how the ‘Mac’ cartoons in the Daily Mail newspaper have approached the issue of (im)migration. A central focus will be placed on the ostensible use of metaphor and irony in these cultural items, which are used to constitute contingent concepts as literal and as ‘real’: for instance the UK border, the British identity and the (im)migrant Other identity. Yet more than that, this article seeks to contribute to existing studies on editorial cartoons by drawing attention to how ‘Mac’ not only denigrates the (im)migrant Other identity, but concurrently constitutes the British Self as ‘complacent,’ ‘passive’ ‘ignorant’ and even ‘foolish.’ This is carried out as ‘Mac’ puts forward his case for stronger UK border controls.

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Two Guillemot carcases were dissected, each providing 12 discrete tissue samples and 3 samples of partially digested food. One hundred and five PCBs from the 209 PCBs determined by GCxGC-ToFMS were detected. The relative proportions of individual PCBs did not vary greatly within tissue types, although the PCB profile from undigested food could be distinguished. Enantiomer fractions (EFs) were determined for CB-95, CB-136 and CB-149 by GC-HRqToFMS. EFs in the partially digested food were near racemic, with high levels of enrichment for E1 CB-95 in the kidneys and liver (EF of 0.80 and 0.84 respectively). This provides some of the clearest evidence to date that fractionation takes place in the organs where metabolic biotransformation and elimination of PCBs occurs. Our findings also confirm the ability of non-lethal sampling techniques, such as collection of small ( < 1 g) blood samples, to provide PCB signatures that are representative of an individual organism.

Light in canopies is highly dynamic since the strength and composition of incoming radiation is determined by the wind and the Sun's trajectory and by canopy structure. For this highly dynamic environment, we mathematically defined sunflecks as periods of high irradiance relative to the background light environment. They can account for a large proportion of the light available for photosynthesis. Based on high-frequency irradiance measurements with a CCD array spectroradiometer, we investigated how the frequency of measurement affects what we define as sunflecks. Do different plant canopies produce sunflecks with different properties? How does the spectral composition and strength of irradiance in the shade vary during a sunfleck? Our results suggest that high-frequency measurements improved our description of light fluctuations and led to the detection of shorter, more frequent and intense sunflecks. We found that shorter wind-induced sunflecks contribute most of the irradiance attributable to sunflecks, contrary to previous reports from both forests and crops. Large variations in sunfleck properties related to canopy depth and species, including distinct spectral composition under shade and sunflecks, suggest that mapping canopy structural traits may help us model photosynthesis dynamically.

Passive samplers are useful tools for monitoring hydrophobic, persistent, and potentially bioaccumulative contaminants in the environment. In this study, low density polyethylene passive samplers were deployed in urban-influenced and background nearshore freshwaters of northwestern Lake Ontario and analyzed for a broad range of both legacy halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs) and halogenated flame retardants (HFRs). Non-targeted analysis was conducted for screening additional halogenated substances. For most compounds, concentrations were greatest in the industrialized Hamilton Harbour and more generally at sites that have stronger influences of wastewater effluent discharges and stormwater run-off through rivers and creeks. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) remain the dominant class of HOCs in water, with dissolved-phase concentrations ranging from 10 to 4100 pg/L (ΣPCBs), followed by polybrominated diphenylethers (ΣPBDEs; 14–960 pg/L) and the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; 22–290 pg/L). Several non-PBDE brominated flame retardants (nBFRs) and chlorinated Dechlorane-related compounds were detected, with hexabromocyclododecanes (ΣHBCDD; sum of 3 diastereoisomers) the most abundant (1.0–21 pg/L). Non-targeted screening of samples by high resolution mass spectrometry using Kendrick mass defect plots for data analysis indicated that several other halogenated compounds were present in waters at relatively high abundances compared to the flame retardants, based on semi-quantitative estimates. These included methyl-triclosan, four halogenated anisoles (2,4,6-tribromoanisole, dimethyl-trichloroanisole, pentachloroanisole, and pentachlorothioanisole), and pentachloro-aniline. Dissolved-phase methyl-triclosan was estimated to contribute up to approximately 40% of the summed target HOC concentrations. Polyethylene passive samplers provided an excellent medium for both non-targeted screening of HOCs not currently included in monitoring programs and tracking brominated and chlorinated chemicals slated for reductions in uses and emissions through international (Stockholm Convention) and binational (Great Lakes) agreements.

One of the most widespread consequences of climate change is the disruption of trees’ phenological cycles. The extent to which tree phenology varies with local climate is largely genetically determined, and while a combination of temperature and photoperiodic cues are typically found to trigger bud burst (BB) in spring, it has proven harder to identify the main cues driving leaf senescence (LS) in autumn. We used 925 individual field-observations of BB and LS from six Fagus sylvatica provenances, covering the range of environmental conditions found across the species distribution, to: (i) estimate the dates of BB and LS of these provenances; (ii) assess the main drivers of LS; and (iii) predict the likely variation in the growing season length (GSL; defined by BB and LS timing) across populations under current and future climate scenarios. To this end, we first calibrated linear mixed-effects models for LS as a function of temperature, insolation and BB date. Secondly, we calculated the GSL for each provenance as the number of days between BB and LS. We found that: i) there were larger differences among provenances in the date of LS than in the date of BB; ii) the temperature through September, October and November was the main determinant of LS in beech, although covariation of temperature with daily insolation and precipitation-related variables suggests that all three variables may affect LS timing; and iii) GSL was predicted to increase in northern beech provenances and to shrink in populations from the core and the southern range under climate change. Consequently, the large differences in GSL across beech range in the present climate are likely to decrease under future climates where rising temperatures will alter the relationship between BB and LS, with northern populations increasing productivity by extending their growing season to take advantage of warmer conditions.

Introduction: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is sensitive to ALK inhibitors, but resistance develops. This study assessed the maximum-tolerated dose, safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and antitumor activity of ceritinib, a novel ALK inhibitor (ALKi), in Japanese patients with ALK-rearranged malignancies. Methods: This phase I, multicenter, open-label study (NCT01634763) enrolled adult patients with ALK-rearranged (by fluorescence in situ hybridization and/or immunohistochemistry) locally advanced/metastatic malignancy that had progressed despite standard therapy. The study comprised two parts: dose escalation and dose expansion. Ceritinib (single-dose) was administered orally in the 3-day PK run-in period, then once daily, in 21-day cycles. Adaptive dose escalations were guided by a Bayesian model. Results: Twenty patients (80% with ALKi treatment history [ALKi-pretreated]; 19 NSCLC; one inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor) received ceritinib 300 to 750 mg (19 during dose escalation, one in dose expansion). Two dose-limiting toxicities occurred: grade 3 lipase increase (600 mg); grade 3 drug-induced liver injury (750 mg). The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal (nausea: 95%; diarrhea, vomiting: 75%). Ceritinib PK profile was dose proportional across 300 to 750 mg dosages; steady state was reached by day 15. Overall response rate was 55% (11 of 20 patients). Among patients with NSCLC, partial response was observed in two of four ALKi-naive patients, five of nine crizotinib-pretreated patients, two of four alectinib-pretreated patients, and one of two crizotinib and alectinib/ASP3026 pretreated patients. The ASP3026-pretreated inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor patient achieved partial response. Conclusions: Ceritinib maximum-tolerated dose was 750 mg once daily in Japanese patients. Antitumor activity was observed irrespective of prior ALKi treatment history. Dose expansion, examining the activity of ceritinib in alectinib-resistant patients, is ongoing.

This study examined the temporal and spatial trends in wet deposition of 19 legacy and emerging brominated flame retardants (14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB)) at 9 sites in the Canadian Great Lakes between 2004 and 2010. Concentrations of BDE-209 in wet deposition declined significantly. This indicates that the voluntary actions taken to phase out the use of BDE 209 in North America are having an immediate effect on its environment concentrations. The analysis also revealed the presence of 22 short-term high concentration events that dominated overall wet deposition loadings of current-use BFRs to the lakes. For instance, one sample in 2007 was responsible for 37% of the total loadings of HBCD to Lake Huron over the entire six-year sampling period. This questions the current paradigm of how we believe such pollutants enter the environment.

The interactive effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on plants’ acclimation to ultraviolet (UV) radiation were examined under field conditions in two barley varieties (Barke, Bonus). Plants, pre-treated under UV exclusion and low PAR intensities, were subsequently exposed to four radiation treatments representing the combination of low [−] and high [+] UV and PAR intensities. Selective UV and PAR filters were used for UV exclusion and reduction of PAR to ca 25% of ambient irradiance. A system of modulated lamps was used to enhance UV to ca 200% of ambient. Changes in flavonol and chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, gas-exchange and leaf hyperspectral reflectance were studied during seven days of acclimation to the new treatments. At the end of this period morphological analysis of aboveground biomass was carried out. The [UV+PAR−] treatment significantly reduced the photosynthetic activity of barley leaves; the reduction was more pronounced in old than young leaves and greater in the variety Barke than Bonus. Whereas, [PAR+] treatment triggered photoprotective mechanisms which partially ameliorated the UV effects on photochemistry and carbon assimilation. The [PAR+] treatment induced accumulation of flavonols, mainly in young leaves, whereas in old leaves UV-induced accumulation was more pronounced. An inverse proportion was found between flavonol content and specific leaf area irrespective of barley variety and UV/PAR treatment. Enhanced UV radiation reduced the final leaf length, particularly in [PAR−] plants, in young leaves and in variety Barke. However, [PAR+] mitigated the morphological effects induced by the [UV+] treatment, particularly changes in SLA.

Polyurethane foam (PUF) passive air samplers (PAS) are a common and highly useful method of sampling persistent organic pollutants (POP) concentrations in air. PAS calibration is necessary to obtain reasonable and comparable semi-quantitative measures of air concentrations. Various methods are found in the literature concerning PAS calibration. 35 studies on PAS use and calibration are examined here, in conjunction with a study involving 10 PAS deployed concurrently in outdoor air with a low-volume air sampler in order to measure the sampling rates of PUF-PAS for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polycyclic musks (PCMs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Based on this analysis it is recommended that (1) PAS should be assumed to represent bulk rather than gas-phase compound concentrations due to the sampling of particle-bound compounds, (2) calibration of PAS sampling rates is more accurately achieved using an active low-volume air sampler rather than depuration compounds since the former measures gas- and particle-phase compounds and does so continuously over the deployment period of the PAS, and (3) homolog-specific sampling rates based on K OA groupings be used in preference to compound/congener-specific or single sampling rates.

Ingestion of indoor dust has been highlighted as an important pathway of exposure to brominated flame retardants. Hence, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in indoor dust from homes in Amarillo/Austin, TX, USA (n=20; median concentration=200 ng Sigma PCB g(-1)); Birmingham, UK (n=20; 48 ng Sigma PCB g(-1)); Toronto, Canada (n=10; 260 ng Sigma PCB g(-1)); and Wellington, New Zealand (n=20; 46 ng Sigma PCB g(-1)). Concentrations in Canadian and US samples were statistically indistinguishable, but exceeded significantly (p

Surface soils and sediments were collected in Toronto, Canada to investigate the concentrations and enantiomeric signatures of urban versus rural locations. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs). In soils, the sum of 10 PCB congeners (Sigma PCB 28, 52, 95, 101, 118, 136, 138, 149, 153, 180) and 15 PAHs (Sigma PAHs) ranged from 0.76-58 to 58-3200 ng g(-1), respectively. The most abundant OCs detected were DDTs, followed by chlordanes and endosulfans. Sigma PAHs exhibited an urban-rural gradient of up to 60 times but a gradient was not observed for Sigma PCBs and OCs which may reflect local sources of these chemicals. In sediments, Sigma PCBs and Sigma PAHs ranged from 0.03-23 ng g(-1) to 42-3300 ng g(-1), respectively. Sigma PCBs, Sigma PAHs, chlordanes and DDTs exhibited weak urban-rural gradients. Chiral signatures of PCB 95, 136, 149, trans-chlordane (TC), cis-chlordane (CC) and o,p-DDT were characterized to study the enantiomeric degradation in urban versus rural areas and its relation to contaminant levels. Supplementary to these data, we also report on the chiral signatures of PCBs in UK lake sediments from a variety of urban and rural locations. The extent of enantiomeric degradation was expressed as the enantiomeric excess (EE%) which is defined as 100x(E1-E2)/(E1+E2), where E1 is always the most abundant enantiomer and E2 is the least abundant enantiomer. The EE% of PCB 149 in the UK sediments was negatively correlated (p0.05) with Sigma PAHs suggesting either more recent emissions of this PCB congener in the more contaminated urban locations and hence a more racemic signature or less enantiomeric degradation of the congener in more contaminated urban soils. However, no significant correlation was observed between EE% of any of the chiral chemicals and contaminant levels in the Toronto soils.

The WFD has introduced an international commitment to assess the ecological status of transitional waters (TWs), within which fish communities are a key biological monitoring component. The Transitional Fish Classification Index (TFCI) outlined in this paper uses 10 ecological measures to analyse fish populations caught from various ecological niches using a variety of gear types within the Thames estuary. These reach and method-specific communities are then compared to a reference population created from a 'healthy' population from TWs of a similar type. The results indicate a progressive downstream increase the quality of fish communities, consistent with previous work; variation between methods can be accounted for by gear selectivity. Overall, the TFCI is an effective communication tool for converting ecological information into an easily understood format for managers, policy makers and the general public.

Chiral signatures of PCB#s 95 and 149 are reported for indoor air, grass, omnivorous and vegan duplicate human diet homogenates, and human faeces. Comparison of chiral signatures of both congeners in grass with those reported previously for outdoor air (measured at a height of 1.5 m) and soil at the same location suggest that volatilisation of PCBs present in soil may exert a significant influence on concentrations in grass. Duplicate diet homogenates display racemic signatures for both congeners. Alongside the racemic signatures in both outdoor and indoor air, this implies that human intake via diet and inhalation is racemic, and that the previously observed variation between individuals in the extent of enantioselective degradation in human liver samples indicates possible inter-individual variation in ability to metabolise PCBs. Chiral signatures of PCB# 95 in the 10 human faecal samples analysed indicate 8 to be racemic, but 2 to display an excess of the 2nd eluting enantiomer. This is consistent with the excess of the 1st eluting enantiomer reported elsewhere for human liver samples, as it implies enantioselective excretion of the 2nd eluting enantiomer. However, the racemic residues for PCB# 95 in the majority of faecal samples are a possible indication that enantioselective interaction of chiral PCBs with cytochrome P450 occurs slowly. The racemic or near-racemic signatures observed for PCB# 95 and 149 in indoor air match closely those in outdoor air, but differ from those in soil, adding to the weight of evidence that ventilation of indoor air is a far more significant contributor to outdoor air concentrations than volatilisation of PCBs from soil.

River-length patterns in the chemistry and biology of the Charlton Brook, an unclassified watercourse in Sheffield, England, have been examined. Five sampling sites for macroinvertebrates and pollutant analysis were used, in conjunction with Environment Agency's General Quality Assessment (GQA) methodologies and hydraulic analysis of the catchment. Sites were strategically located to account for the tributaries and the brook downstream of their confluence, to assess the potential impact from surface water outfalls (SWOs). Variations in GQA parameters indicate a significant drop in quality downstream of the SWOs that discharge to the study watercourse, with a marked drop in biological diversity noted at the onset of urbanisation. The decline in biological quality however is greater than that suggested by physicochemical analysis alone. There was a significant inverse relationship between impermeable area and biological diversity. Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals in sediment from the watercourse showed significant yet irregular variations between sites. The potential toxicity of instream metal concentrations was determined using cumulative criterion unit (CCU) scores, which highlighted cadmium, copper and lead as the major sources of potential chronic instream toxicity. The threshold for likely harm to aquatic life is exceeded at all sites. In the absence of different physical characteristics, comparisons of the chemical and biological data indicate that the benthic macroinvertebrate population of such watercourses are adversely affected by the stormwater inputs.

The peatlands of Tierra del Fuego are subject to increased solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) due to the influence of the Antarctic ‘ozone hole’. Research into the effects of climate change and ozone depletion on peatlands has predominantly focused on the higher plant community and neglected other organisms. In the second 3-year portion of a 6-year experiment, we intensified our investigations of the response of the peatland surface microfaunal community to current and attenuated solar UV-B, and assessed possible links to changes in the microenvironment. Near-ambient UV-B and reduced UV-B treatments were realised by stretching plastic film filters that differentially attenuate UV-B over peatland sample plots. We extracted the microfauna and analysed the dissolved nutrients held within Sphagnum capitula removed from the top 1-cm of the peatland. In line with previous findings in this system, testate amoebae were more abundant under near-ambient UV-B than under reduced UV-B. Populations of the most common genus, Assulina, and other less prominent amoebae species of Heleopera and Euglypha, were consistently increased under near-ambient UV-B. Overall diversity of testate amoebae was also higher under near-ambient UV-B than under reduced UV-B, whereas rotifers, nematodes and mites were less abundant under near-ambient UV-B. Concentrations of DOC and P were generally higher under near-ambient UV-B than under reduced UV-B. These changes, combined with the changes previously reported in the plant and fungal communities, have the potential to influence peatland C storage, and surface nutrient availability. The peatland microfaunal community under near-ambient solar UV-B may be regulated by the plant community through the leaching of nutrients from leaf cells, and changes in Sphagnum morphology that affect the capitulum microenvironment.

The southern part of Tierra del Fuego, in the southernmost tip of South America, is covered by dense Nothofagus spp. forests and Sphagnum-dominated peat bogs, which are subjected to the influence of ozone depletion and to increased levels of solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B). Over the last 5 years we have studied some of the biological impacts of solar UV-B on natural ecosystems of this region. We have addressed two general problems: (i) do the fluctuations in UV-B levels under the influence of the Antarctic ozone 'hole' have any measurable biological impact, and (ii) what are the long-term effects of solar (ambient) UV-B on the Tierra del Fuego ecosystems? In this paper, we provide an overview of the progress made during the first 4 years of the project. We highlight and discuss the following results: (1) ambient UV-B has subtle but significant inhibitory effects on the growth of herbaceous and graminoid species of this region (growth reduction < or = 12%), whereas no consistent inhibitory effects could be detected in woody perennials; (2) in the species investigated in greatest detail, Gunnera magellanica, the inhibitory effect of solar UV-B is accompanied by increased levels of DNA damage in leaf tissue, and the DNA damage density in the early spring is clearly correlated with the dose of weighted UV-B measured at ground level; (3) the herbaceous species investigated thus far show little or no acclimation responses to ambient UV-B such as increased sunscreen levels and DNA repair capacity; and (4) ambient UV-B has significant effects on heterotrophic organisms, included marked inhibitory effects on insect herbivory. The results from the experiments summarized in this review clearly indicate that UV-B influences several potentially important processes and ecological interactions in the terrestrial ecosystems of Tierra del Fuego.

Aim: ALK rearranged (ALK+) NSCLC is sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) such as crizotinib and alectinib, but resistance develops. A global Phase I trial (Shaw et al, NEJM 2014) of ceritinib, a novel ALK TKI, established 750 mg daily as MTD, with an ORR of 59%. The primary objective of the present study was to estimate MTD in Japanese pts. Methods: The study enrolled Japanese pts with ALK+ advanced tumors. Adaptive dose escalations were guided by a Bayesian model. Results: 19 pts (18 NSCLC) received ceritinib 300-750 mg QD. The most common AEs were gastrointestinal toxicities (nausea 95%, diarrhea, vomiting 74%). Two DLTs occurred; Grade 3 lipase increase at 600 mg and Grade 3 drug-induced liver injury at 750 mg. ORR was 58% (11/19). In 9 crizotinib- and 3 alectinib-pretreated pts, partial responses were achieved by 5 and 2 pts. One alectinib/crizotinib-pretreated pt with disease progression in the brain had a 43% reduction in target tumor lesions. Conclusions: Ceritinib MTD was 750 mg QD in Japanese pts, with a safety profile comparable to that in the global trial. Antitumor activity was observed in ALK TKI-resistant pts. The dose expansion part to further examine the activity of ceretinib in alectinib resistant pts is ongoing, and preliminary results of this part will be presented. Disclosure: T. Seto: I have received research funding and honoraria from Novartis Pharma K.K; N. Suenaga: Naoko Suenaga is an employee of Novartis Pharma K.K; T. Tajima: Takeshi Tajima is an employee of Novartis Pharma K.K; K. Tokushige: Kota Tokushige is an employee of Novartis Pharma K.K; A.L. Boral: Anthony Boral is a full time employee of Novartis Pharmaceuticals; M. Robson: Matthew Robson is an employee of Novartis Pharma K.K. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.