This book contains a selection of lectures from the first Summer School organized by the Center for Functional nanostructures (CFN) at the University of Karlsruhe. The mission of the CFN is to carry ...out research in the following areas: nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, molecular nanostructures and nanostructured materials. The aim of the summer schools is mainly to exchange new ideas and illustrate emerging research methodologies through a series of lectures. This is reflected by both the selection of topics addressed in the present volume as well as the tutorial aspect of the contributions.
In total, 2 pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) that were 5 years old were presented with pruritus, erythema, alopecia, and crusting of the ventral abdomen. Skin scrapings revealed multiple nematode ...larvae, identified as Pelodera strongyloides based on morphologic characteristics. Treatment consisted of systemic ivermectin and fenbendazole in addition to topical benzoyl peroxide application. P. strongyloides is a free-living saprophytic nematode, which is ubiquitously present in any decaying organic material, such as soil or feed. The nematode is capable of invading mammalian skin, resulting in pruritic dermatitis. Diagnosis of the nematode induced skin disease is based on history, including husbandry, presence of a ventrally distributed dermatitis, and demonstration of larvae in skin scrapings. Dermal peloderosis cases have been reported in different animal species, including dogs, cattle, horses, sheep, and a laboratory housed guinea pig. This is the first description of P. strongyloides dermatitis in pet guinea pigs. P. strongyloides dermatitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for alopecic and crusty skin lesions in guinea pigs.
Coral reefs are in decline. The basic functional unit of coral reefs is the coral metaorganism or holobiont consisting of the cnidarian host animal, symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, and a ...specific consortium of bacteria (among others), but research is slow due to the difficulty of working with corals. Aiptasia has proven a tractable model system to elucidate the intricacies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses, but characterization of the associated bacterial microbiome and the underlying genomic features relevant for bacterial selection and control is required to provide a complete and integrated understanding of holobiont function. In this work, we characterize and analyze the microbiome of aposymbiotic and symbiotic Aiptasia and show that bacterial associates are distinct in both conditions. We further show that key microbial associates can be cultured without their cnidarian host. Our results suggest that bacteria play an important role in the symbiosis of Aiptasia with Symbiodinium, a finding that underlines the power of the Aiptasia model system where cnidarian hosts can be analyzed in aposymbiotic and symbiotic states. The characterization of the native microbiome and the ability to retrieve culturable isolates contributes to the resources available for the Aiptasia model system. This provides an opportunity to comparatively analyze cnidarian metaorganisms as collective functional holobionts and as separated member species. We hope that this will accelerate research into understanding the intricacies of coral biology, which is urgently needed to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of environmental change.
Background:
There is a need for patients to be able to adjust their insulin doses accurately and independently during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy in order to avoid ...glycemic excursions and improve glycemic control. Use of new technology has the potential to aid patients in visualizing their circadian patterns and improving their understanding of data provided by self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) measurements.
Methods:
A 24-week crossover study was performed in 25 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus using CSII and SMBG. Patients were randomized either to entering blood glucose data into handwritten logbooks or to using the Accu-Chek SmartPix information management system (IMS) coupled with instructions from a training manual to aid interpretation of the IMS readings. Patients analyzed these chart readings every 2 weeks, and outpatient visits were scheduled for both arms every 6 weeks.
Results:
There was a significantly lower mean overall blood glucose level with the IMS compared with use of a logbook (139 ± 16.2 versus 150 ± 19.8 mg/dl; Δ = 10.8 mg/dl; p < .01), and a significantly higher proportion of blood glucose values was in the target range compared with use of a logbook (43.6% versus 38.5%; p < .001). Hypoglycemic events were also significantly lower with the IMS compared with logbooks (3.7 fewer events/6 weeks; p < .05). There was no significant difference between groups in the daily frequency of SMBG measurements.
Conclusions:
The use of an IMS, coupled with an easily understood training manual, enables patients to improve glycemic control by performing accurate and timely self-adjustments to their insulin regimens.
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