First isolation and further characterization of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) O157:H45 strains from cattle

BACKGROUND: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), mainly causing infantile diarrhoea, represents one of at least six different categories of diarrheagenic E. coli with corresponding distinct pathogenic schemes. The mechanism of EPEC pathogenesis is based on the ability to introduce the attaching-and-effacing (A/E) lesions and intimate adherence of bacteria to the intestinal epithelium. The role and the epidemiology of non-traditional enteropathogenic E. coli serogroup strains are not well established. E. coli O157:H45 EPEC strains, however, are described in association with enterocolitis and sporadic diarrhea in human. Moreover, a large outbreak associated with E. coli O157:H45 EPEC was reported in Japan in 1998. During a previous study on the prevalence of E. coli O157 in healthy cattle in Switzerland, E. coli O157:H45 strains originating from 6 fattening cattle and 5 cows were isolated. In this study, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these strains are described. Various virulence factors (stx, eae, ehxA, astA, EAF plasmid, bfp) of different categories of pathogenic E. coli were screened by different PCR systems. Moreover, the capability of the strains to adhere to cells was tested on tissue culture cells. RESULTS: All 11 sorbitol-positive E. coli O157:H45 strains tested negative for the Shiga toxin genes (stx), but were positive for eae and were therefore considered as EPEC. All strains harbored eae subtype α1. The gene encoding the heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) was found in 10 of the 11 strains. None of the strains, however, carried ehx A genes. The capability of the strains to adhere to cells was shown by 10 strains harbouring bfp gene by localized adherence pattern on HEp-2 and Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION: This study reports the first isolation of typical O157:H45 EPEC strains from cattle. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the fact that E. coli with the O157 antigen are not always STEC but may belong to other pathotypes. Cattle seem also to be a reservoir of O157:H45 EPEC strains, which are described in association with human diseases. Therefore, these strains appear to play a role as food borne pathogens and have to be considered and evaluated in view of food safety aspects

Sequential measurements of conjugate observables

We present a unified treatment of sequential measurements of two conjugate observables. Our approach is to derive a mathematical structure theorem for all the relevant covariant instruments. As a consequence of this result, we show that every Weyl-Heisenberg covariant observable can be implemented as a sequential measurement of two conjugate observables. This method is applicable both in finite and infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces, therefore covering sequential spin component measurements as well as position-momentum sequential measurements.Comment: 25 page

On the K-stability of complete intersections in polarized manifolds

We consider the problem of existence of constant scalar curvature Kaehler metrics on complete intersections of sections of vector bundles. In particular we give general formulas relating the Futaki invariant of such a manifold to the weight of sections defining it and to the Futaki invariant of the ambient manifold. As applications we give a new Mukai-Umemura-Tian like example of Fano 5-fold admitting no Kaehler-Einstein metric and a strong evidence of K-stability of complete intersections on Grassmannians.Comment: 19 page

Analýza vlivu mikropilotového deštníku na zajištění stability tunelu a sedání nadloží

The primary objective of this research study was to accurately assess the beneficial impacts of the umbrella arch method (UAM) (as well knows as Forepoling Umbrella System (FUS) or micropile umbrella), on the stability and settlement of the future Poříčí tunnel, located in Czech Republic. In this study, through a comprehensive evaluation, initially, the information on the tunnelling procedure, the umbrella arch method deployment, and the various aspects of staged construction were gathered from Poříčí tunnel project, in consideration of actual field conditions. This information coupled with laboratory derived geotechnical properties of the existing rocks was in turn incorporated into a series of finite element simulation models using the Midas GTS NX software, to find the optimum parameters combination to minimize the internal tunnel deformation. Indeed, by incorporating the umbrella arch method in the tunnel, theoretically, a 42.17% reduction in vertical deformations at the tunnel crown were achieved.Hlavním cílem této výzkumné studie bylo přesně posoudit prospěšné dopady Deštníková Metoda (DM) (známé také jako Deštníkový Systém Hnaného Pažení (DSHP) nebo mikropilotní deštník) na stabilitu a usazování budoucího tunelu Poříčí, nacházejícího se v České republice. V této studii byly zpočátku prostřednictvím komplexní evaluace shromážděny informace o postupu tunelování, nasazení metody deštníkového oblouku a různých aspektech etapové výstavby projektu tunelu Poříčí s ohledem na aktuální terénní podmínky. Tyto informace spolu s laboratorně odvozenými geotechnickými vlastnostmi existujících hornin byly následně začleněny do série simulačních modelů konečných prvků s využitím softwaru Midas GTS NX k nalezení optimální kombinace parametrů pro minimalizaci vnitřní deformace tunelu. Skutečně bylo dosaženo teoretické redukce vertikálních deformací na koruně tunelu o 42,17 % díky začlenění metody deštníkového oblouku do tunelu.224 - Katedra geotechniky a podzemního stavitelstvívýborn

A new approach to nasoseptal fractures: Submucosal endoscopically assisted septoplasty and closed nasal reduction

Background: Nasal bone fracture is the most common among facial bone fractures. The prevalence of concomitant septal and nasal bone fractures fluctuates between 34% and 96.2%. An adequate management of such fractures is essential to prevent complications such as post-traumatic nasal obstruction and nasoseptal deformities. The purpose of the present study is to introduce the submucosal endoscopically assisted septoplasty (SEAS) as an alternative approach for acute septal lesions and to report our experience and outcomes. Methods: Retrospective review including patients with nasal fracture in association with septal fracture (nasoseptal fractures) who underwent to submucosal endoscopically assisted septoplasty and closed nasal reduction. The surgical technique is described and a video is presented. Results: Ninety patients were included; 23% were female and 77% were male, with a mean age of 40 years. All the cases were workplace accidents or commuting accidents. The mean time elapsed between the accident and surgery was 15 days. There were no technique-related intraoperative complications. Three (3.3%) patients suffered a subsequent nasal obstruction and/or deviation of the nasal axis, requiring subsequent secondary open rhinoseptoplasty. Conclusions: Submucosal endoscopically assisted septoplasty and closed nasal reduction for the treatment of nasoseptal fractures is a novel approach that reduces the rate of secondary rhinoseptoplasty as compared to other authors' reports. The technique described is reproducible, cost-effective and has very encouraging outcome

Septoplastia submucosa asistida por endoscopia más reducción nasal cerrada en fracturas nasoseptales: estudio comparativo frente a la técnica tradicional

Resumen Introducción y Objetivos La fractura de los huesos propios nasales es la más frecuente de las fracturas faciales y su hallazgo concomitante con fractura septal varía desde un 34% a un 96.2%. Es necesario un abordaje adecuado para evitar complicaciones como obstrucción nasal y deformidades nasoseptales postraumáticas. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la técnica de asistencia endoscópica como alternativa para el tratamiento de lesiones septales agudas y compararla con los resultados del abordaje tradicional de esta patología. Material y Método Revisión retrospectiva de casos de fracturas nasoseptales entre enero de 2010 y abril del 2014 en los que se realizó reducción nasal cerrada más septoplastia abierta (técnica tradicional) o reducción nasal más septoplastia submucosa asistida por endoscopía (SSAE). Describimos la técnica quirúrgica y presentamos resultados. Resultados Recogimos 123 pacientes: 33 casos con técnica tradicional y 90 casos con SSAE. Todos debidos a accidentes laborales o en el trayecto hacia/desde el trabajo. Ambos grupos fueron comparables. El tiempo promedio transcurrido entre el accidente y la cirugía tradicional fue 11.4 días y para SSAE fue de 15 días. No se presentaron complicaciones intraoperatorias con ninguna de las técnicas. Hubo 5 pacientes (15.15%) operados con técnica tradicional y 3 (3.3%) con SSAE que evolucionaron con obstrucción nasal y/o laterorrinia; requirieron rinoseptoplastia secundaria (diferencia estadísticamente significativa). Conclusiones La SSAE para tratamiento de fracturas nasoseptales supone una innovación que reduce la tasa de rinoseptoplastias secundarias en comparación con la técnica tradicional y lo reportado en la literatura. Es además una técnica reproducible y de bajo costo