GROND—a 7-Channel Imager Greiner, J.; Bornemann, W.; Clemens, C. ...
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,
04/2008, Letnik:
120, Številka:
866
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We describe the construction of GROND, a 7-channel imager, primarily designed for rapid observations of gamma-ray burst afterglows. It allows simultaneous imaging in the Sloan
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bands. GROND was commissioned at the MPI/ESO 2.2 m telescope at La Silla (Chile) in April 2007, and first results of its performance and calibration are presented.
Trenchless methods for pipe rehabilitation have been increasing in popularity in recent years. Among the different advantages they have (e.g. less indirect costs) the paper deals with the ...environmental impact. In particular, the concept of carbon footprint is used to assess the environmental advantage in the use of CIPP and, among the different technologies presently available for this method, to indicate the more environmental friendly. The methods for calculation of carbon emissions are shown and then a simple analysis, for a theoretical case first, and then for a real case, are carried out. Critical considerations are finally presented.
Samples of two marine bird species, European shag (
Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and common eider (
Somateria mollissima) sampled at a remote coastal site in Norway were analysed for POPs and PFCs. ...Additionally samples of common eider were analysed from two other locations in Norway, representing a gradient from “densely populated” to “remote”. The variety, concentration and distribution of lipophilic POPs in comparison to PFCs were investigated. PCBs were the dominating group of contaminants in the analysed egg samples. Shag eggs had median sumPCBs levels of 4580
ng/g l.w. in 2004. Six different PBDE congeners could be detected in the shag eggs. BDE 47 and 100 were the main contributors with 24 and 27
ng/g l.w. respectively, sumPBDEs was 90
ng/g l.w. Relatively high concentrations of chlordanes were found with a total sum of 903
ng/g l.w. Of other OCs, toxaphene 26 and 52 together (sum 657
ng/g l.w.) and HCB (165
ng/g l.w.) were contributing majorly to the egg burden. Sum HCHs were low; only 54
ng/g l.w. PFOS was the main PFC in egg, plasma and liver samples. Similar median levels of 29, 32 and 27
ng/g w.w. were observed. PFOSA, PFHxS, and PFDcA were observed additionally in all shag samples at minor concentrations with the exception of elevated levels observed in liver for PFOSA and PFDcA with median levels of 7.6 and 7.9
ng/g w.w., respectively. In common eider eggs, the POP concentrations decreased up to 1/8th along the sampled spatial gradient from suburban to remote. Of the 9 detected PFCs, PFOS dominated all samples by one order of magnitude, followed by PFOA. SumPFC concentrations were twice as high at the two fjord sites compared to the remote site. Shorter chained PFCAs like PFOA and PFNA could be detected in the eider eggs whilst being absent in shag eggs.
Background
The issue of patient volume related to trauma outcomes is still under debate. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between number of severely injured patients treated and ...mortality in German trauma hospitals.
Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of the TraumaRegister DGU® (2009–2013). The inclusion criteria were patients in Germany with a severe trauma injury (defined as Injury Severity Score (ISS) of at least 16), and with data available for calculation of Revised Injury Severity Classification (RISC) II score. Patients transferred early were excluded. Outcome analysis (observed versus expected mortality obtained by RISC‐II score) was performed by logistic regression.
Results
A total of 39 289 patients were included. Mean(s.d.) age was 49·9(21·8) years, 27 824 (71·3 per cent) were male, mean(s.d.) ISS was 27·2(11·6) and 10 826 (29·2 per cent) had a Glasgow Coma Scale score below 8. Of 587 hospitals, 98 were level I, 235 level II and 254 level III trauma centres. There was no significant difference between observed and expected mortality in volume subgroups with 40–59, 60–79 or 80–99 patients treated per year. In the subgroups with 1–19 and 20–39 patients per year, the observed mortality was significantly greater than the predicted mortality (P < 0·050). High‐volume hospitals had an absolute difference between observed and predicted mortality, suggesting a survival benefit of about 1 per cent compared with low‐volume hospitals. Adjusted logistic regression analysis (including hospital level) identified patient volume as an independent positive predictor of survival (odds ratio 1·001 per patient per year; P = 0·038).
Conclusion
The hospital volume of severely injured patients was identified as an independent predictor of survival. A clear cut‐off value for volume could not be established, but at least 40 patients per year per hospital appeared beneficial for survival.
No clear volume cut‐off
The Plasmodium falciparum parasite is the only human malaria that produces the histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 (HRP2/3) antigens. Currently, HRP2/3 are widely used in malaria rapid diagnostic tests ...(RDTs), but several global reports have recently emerged showing genetic deletion of one or both of these antigens in parasites. Deletion of these antigens could pose a major concern for P. falciparum diagnosis in Haiti which currently uses RDTs based solely on the detection of the HRP2/3 antigens.
From September 2012 through February 2014, dried blood spots (DBS) were collected in Haiti from 9317 febrile patients presenting to 17 health facilities in 5 departments throughout the country as part of a bed net intervention study. All DBS from RDT positive persons and a random sampling of DBS from RDT negative persons were assayed for P. falciparum DNA by nested and PET-PCR (n = 2695 total). All PCR positive samples (n = 331) and a subset of PCR negative samples (n = 95) were assayed for three malaria antigens by a multiplex bead assay: pan-Plasmodium aldolase (pAldo), pan-Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), and HRP2/3. Any samples positive for P. falciparum DNA, but negative for HRP2/3 antigens were tested by nested PCR for Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 gene deletions.
Of 2695 DBS tested for Plasmodium DNA, 345 (12.8%) were originally found to be positive for P. falciparum DNA; 331 of these had DBS available for antigen detection. Of these, 266 (80.4%) were positive for pAldo, 221 (66.8%) positive for pLDH, and 324 (97.9%) were positive for HRP2/3 antigens. Seven samples (2.1%) positive for P. falciparum DNA were not positive for any of the three antigens by the bead assay, and were investigated for potential Pfhrp2/3 gene deletion by PCR. These samples either successfully amplified Pfhrp2/3 genes or were at an estimated parasite density too low for sufficient DNA to perform successful genotyping.
Malaria positive samples in multiple Haitian sites were found to contain the HRP2/3 antigens, and no evidence was found of Pfhrp2/3 deletions. Malaria RDTs based on the detection of the HRP2/3 antigens remain a reliable P. falciparum diagnostic tool as Haiti works towards malaria elimination.
Following our recent report that phagocytic cells (neutrophils, PMNs, and macrophages) are newly discovered sources of catecholamines, we now show that both epinephrine and norepinephrine directly ...activate NFkappaB in macrophages, causing enhanced release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6). Both adrenal-intact (AD+) and adrenalectomized (ADX) rodents were used, because ADX animals had greatly enhanced catecholamine release from phagocytes, facilitating our efforts to understand the role of catecholamines released from phagocytes. Phagocytes isolated from adrenalectomized rats displayed enhanced expression of tyrosine-hydroxylase and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, two key enzymes for catecholamine production and exhibited higher baseline secretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine. The effects of upregulation of phagocyte-derived catecholamines were investigated in two models of acute lung injury (ALI). Increased levels of phagocyte-derived catecholamines were associated with intensification of the acute inflammatory response, as assessed by increased plasma leak of albumin, enhanced myeloperoxidase content in lungs, augmented levels of proinflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and elevated expression of pulmonary ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. In adrenalectomized rats, development of ALI was enhanced and related to alpha(2)-adrenoceptors engagement but not to involvement of mineralocorticoid or glucocorticoid receptors. Collectively, these data demonstrate that catecholamines are potent inflammatory activators of macrophages, upregulating NFkappaB and further downstream cytokine production of these cells. In adrenalectomized animals, which have been used to further assess the role of catecholamines, there appears to be a compensatory increase in catecholamine generating enzymes and catecholamines in macrophages, resulting in amplification of the acute inflammatory response via engagement of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors.
Blood stream infections pose a major challenge for clinicians as the immediate application of an appropriate antibiotic treatment is the vital factor to safe the patients' lives. This preliminary ...study compares three different systems promising fast pathogen identification and susceptibility testing in comparison to conventional blood culture (BC): (i) the rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing protocol according to EUCAST in combination with the Sepsityper® kit (sRAST), (ii) the direct inoculation method on the VITEK®2 system (dVIT) and (iii) testing with the Accelerate Pheno® system (AccPh). All methods were assessed in terms of accuracy, time to result and usability. Twenty‐three BC samples obtained from patients suffering from proven sepsis were analysed in detail. Pathogen identification was successful in 95·6, 91·3 and 91·3% in sRAST, dVIT and AccPh, respectively. Categorical agreement in antimicrobial susceptibility testing was 89·5, 96 and 96·6%, respectively. Time to result from sample entry to reporting ranged from an average of 4·6 h for sRAST and 6·9 h for AccPh to 10·6 h for dVIT. These results imply a significant shortening of reporting times at considerably high agreement rates for these new diagnostic approaches.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Timely reporting of pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility is crucial for patients suffering from sepsis. New approaches promising short turnaround times compared to conventional workup of blood cultures are seeking their way to routine laboratory implementation. This pilot study evaluates novel techniques for pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing directly from positive blood cultures. The data indicate a considerable expediting in microbiological sepsis diagnosis without compromising result quality.
Background
Muscle wasting and weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes severe locomotor limitations and early death due in part to respiratory muscle failure. Given that current clinical ...practice focuses on treating secondary complications in this genetic disease, there is a clear need to identify additional contributions in the aetiology of this myopathy for knowledge‐guided therapy development. Here, we address the unresolved question of whether the complex impairments observed in DMD are linked to elevated mitochondrial H2O2 emission in conjunction with impaired oxidative phosphorylation. This study performed a systematic evaluation of the nature and degree of mitochondrial‐derived H2O2 emission and mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction in a mouse model of DMD by designing in vitro bioenergetic assessments that attempt to mimic in vivo conditions known to be critical for the regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics.
Methods
Mitochondrial bioenergetics were compared with functional and histopathological indices of myopathy early in DMD (4 weeks) in D2.B10‐DMDmdx/2J mice (D2.mdx)—a model that demonstrates severe muscle weakness. Adenosine diphosphate's (ADP's) central effect of attenuating H2O2 emission while stimulating respiration was compared under two models of mitochondrial‐cytoplasmic phosphate exchange (creatine independent and dependent) in muscles that stained positive for membrane damage (diaphragm, quadriceps, and white gastrocnemius).
Results
Pathway‐specific analyses revealed that Complex I‐supported maximal H2O2 emission was elevated concurrent with a reduced ability of ADP to attenuate emission during respiration in all three muscles (mH2O2: +17 to +197% in D2.mdx vs. wild type). This was associated with an impaired ability of ADP to stimulate respiration at sub‐maximal and maximal kinetics (−17 to −72% in D2.mdx vs. wild type), as well as a loss of creatine‐dependent mitochondrial phosphate shuttling in diaphragm and quadriceps. These changes largely occurred independent of mitochondrial density or abundance of respiratory chain complexes, except for quadriceps. This muscle was also the only one exhibiting decreased calcium retention capacity, which indicates increased sensitivity to calcium‐induced permeability transition pore opening. Increased H2O2 emission was accompanied by a compensatory increase in total glutathione, while oxidative stress markers were unchanged. Mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunctions were associated with induction of mitochondrial‐linked caspase 9, necrosis, and markers of atrophy in some muscles as well as reduced hindlimb torque and reduced respiratory muscle function.
Conclusions
These results provide evidence that Complex I dysfunction and loss of central respiratory control by ADP and creatine cause elevated oxidant generation during impaired oxidative phosphorylation. These dysfunctions may contribute to early stage disease pathophysiology and support the growing notion that mitochondria are a potential therapeutic target in this disease.
The locomotion comfort of dairy cows depends on the floor of the walking alleys. Optimal locomotion comfort is given when cows walk on pasture, allowing freedom from discomfort and pain and the ...expression of normal behavior. This study examined the characteristics of locomotion behavior on pasture (gold standard with optimal locomotion comfort) and compared it with behaviors of cows walking on mastic asphalt or solid rubber mats before and after a routine claw trimming session. Our hypotheses were (1) that gait variables were different on pasture versus mastic asphalt and on mastic asphalt versus rubber, and (2) that claw trimming had an effect on gait variables of cows walking on mastic asphalt. Twenty-four dairy cows kept in a tiestall facility were enrolled in this experimental trial. The pedogram was measured using 2 standalone 3-dimensional accelerometers (400 Hz), attached to the metatarsus of both hind limbs. The extracted pedogram variables included temporal events (kinematic outcome = gait cycle and stance-phase and swing-phase durations) and peaks (kinetic outcome = foot load, toe-off). The cows were further video-recorded to calculate walking speed and stride length. Locomotion score was performed on mastic asphalt to enroll only nonlame cows (locomotion score <3). For comparison between different floor types, repeated-measures ANOVA was performed with the cow as a subject variable, session time of measurement as within-subject variable, and flooring type as a fixed effect. Three separate analyses were performed: pasture versus mastic asphalt (analysis I), solid rubber versus mastic asphalt (analysis II), and the effect of claw trimming on the kinematic and kinetic variables on mastic asphalt (analysis III). All tested gait variables were significantly different between pasture and mastic asphalt floor. The optimal characteristics of locomotion comfort on pasture included shorter duration of gait cycle, longer stance-phase duration, shorter swing-phase duration, higher walking speed, longer stride length, and higher peaks of foot load and toe-off. However, gait variables of cows walking on rubber mats did not show any significant difference compared with the mastic asphalt floor; only stride length tended to be longer on rubber mats. In addition, the stance- and swing-phase durations significantly improved shortly after trimming. The left–right differences of the stance- and swing-phase durations tended to decrease after claw trimming when cows walked on asphalt floor. The results of this study show that solid rubber flooring does not result in significant improvement of the evaluated variables of locomotion comfort compared with mastic asphalt.
After severe trauma, the resulting excessive inflammatory response is countered by compensatory anti‐inflammatory mechanisms. The systemic inflammatory response to trauma enhanced by inappropriately ...timed surgical second hits may be detrimental for the patient. On the other hand, overwhelming anti‐inflammatory mechanisms may put patients at increased risk from secondary local and systemic infections. The ensuing sepsis and organ dysfunction due to immune dysregulation remain the leading causes of death after injury. To date, there are no clinically applicable techniques to monitor the pro‐/anti‐inflammatory immune status of the patients and the remaining ability to react to microbial stimuli. Therefore, in the present study, we used a highly standardized and easy‐to‐use system to draw peripheral whole blood from polytraumatized patients (ISS ≥ 32, n = 7) and to challenge it with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Secreted cytokines were compared with those in samples from healthy volunteers. We observed a significant decrease in the release of monocyte‐derived mediators. Surprisingly, we detected stable or even increased concentrations of cytokines related to T cell maturation and function. For clinical practicability, we reduced the incubation time before supernatants were collected. Even after an abbreviated stimulation period, a stable release of almost all analysed parameters in patient blood could be detected. In conclusion, the data are indicative of a clinically well‐applicable approach to monitor the immune status in severely injured patients in a short time. This may be used to optimize the timing of necessary surgical interventions to avoid a boost of proinflammation and reduce risk of secondary infections.
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