The Graeme Bell All Stars: Play On

In the golden era of Australian jazz, the Graeme Bell Allstars were icons. From touring the globe to hosting their own television show, they captured the world with their music. Graeme Bell came out of retirement at the age of 88 to reform his band. For over 3 years they enjoyed sold out performances and standing ovations at jazz festivals around Australia, climaxing in one final performance for Graeme\u27s 90th birthday. On tour & at home Graeme & his band reflect on their love of music, their history and their legacy. Accessed from: http://www.nfsa.gov.au/the_collection/ This jazz documentary, screened on ABC TV in 2006 and was made with the assistance of the National Film and Sound Archive. The Graeme Bell All Stars: Play On, focuses on the famous Australian jazz band, and features interviews with a number of Australian jazz stalwarts, including Bob and Len Barnard, Bob Henderson, Kate Dunbar and the legendary Graeme Bell. Marco Ianniello said the film was not intended as a history, but as a celebration of the band, the music and the legacy they are leaving behind . It was filmed in 2004 during Graeme Bell\u27s 90th birthday Reunion Band Tour. Veteran jazz aficionado Bill Haesler has said of the documentary: The film is wonderfully produced and photographed. A real winner, and one of the best jazz docos I\u27ve seen. Accessed from: http://www.afc.gov.au/newsandevents/at_archive/access/jazzdoco/newspage_304.aspx A one hour documentary following the legendary Australian jazz band which screened on the ABC in 2006. Staff and Students of the University of Notre Dame may access this documentary from St Benedict\u27s Library, Sydney

Playing in the Shadows

A group of kids growing up in Wolloomooloo, a notorious public housing estate in the shadow of Sydney\u27s famous skyline, find inspiration after dark when they form a basketball squad to compete in a citywide tournament for underprivileged youth. A film by: Sascha Ettinger Epstein and Marco Ianniello Featuring: Jaidyn, Celine, Ainsley, Jerry and Cesar Bassi Cinematography: Sascha Ettinger Epstein Sound: Marco Ianniello Original Music: Caitlin Ye

Mini-FLOTAC, an Innovative Direct Diagnostic Technique for Intestinal Parasitic Infections: Experience from the Field.

Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa infection are widespread in developing countries, yet an accurate diagnosis is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recently developed mini-FLOTAC method and to compare with currently more widely used techniques for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections in different settings. The study was carried out in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, and in Bukumbi, Tanzania. A total of 180 pupils from two primary schools had their stool analyzed (n = 80 in Dharamsala and n = 100 in Bukumbi) for intestinal parasitic infections with three diagnostic methods: direct fecal smear, formol-ether concentration method (FECM) and mini-FLOTAC. Overall, 72% of the pupils were positive for any intestinal parasitic infection, 24% carried dual infections and 11% three infections or more. The most frequently encountered intestinal parasites were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis, hookworm, (and Schistosoma mansoni, in Tanzania). Statistically significant differences were found in the detection of parasitic infections among the three methods: mini-FLOTAC was the most sensitive method for helminth infections (90% mini-FLOTAC, 60% FECM, and 30% direct fecal smear), whereas FECM was most sensitive for intestinal protozoa infections (88% FECM, 70% direct fecal smear, and 68% mini-FLOTAC). We present the first experiences with the mini-FLOTAC for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths and protozoa. Our results suggest that it is a valid, sensitive and potentially low-cost alternative technique that could be used in resource-limited settings--particularly for helminth diagnosis

Dialogue in Progress - Wissenschaft. Kultur. Gesellschaft. Stimmen aus 20 Karlsruher Gesprächen

20 Jahre, mehrere Hundert Protagonistinnen und Protagonisten aus aller Welt, von New York über Mumbai bis Kairo: Vielstimmig werden die Geschichte und die Gedankengänge der ›Karlsruher Gespräche‹ in dieser Sonderpublikation vergegenwärtigt. Die Veranstaltungsreihe verbindet Lokalität und Globalität, Theorie und Praxis, Wissenschaft und Kunst, Kultur und Gesellschaft. Sie bildet ein Forum für eine Vielfalt an Persönlichkeiten, für Kontroversen und für Synthesen

Biomimetic hydroxyapatite nanocrystals are an active carrier for Salmonella bacteriophages

open access articlePurpose: The use of bacteriophages represents a valid alternative to conventional antimicrobial treatments, overcoming the widespread bacterial antibiotic resistance phenomenon. In this work, we evaluated whether biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals are able to enhance some properties of bacteriophages. The final goal of this study was to demonstrate that biomimetic HA nanocrystals can be used for bacteriophage delivery in the context of bacterial infections, and contribute – at the same time – to enhance some of the biological properties of the same bacteriophages such as stability, preservation, antimicrobial activity, and so on. Materials and methods: Phage isolation and characterization were carried out by using Mitomycin C and following double-layer agar technique. The biomimetic HA water suspension was synthesized in order to obtain nanocrystals with plate-like morphology and nanometric dimensions. The interaction of phages with the HA was investigated by dynamic light scattering and Zeta potential analyses. The cytotoxicity and intracellular killing activities of the phage–HA complex were evaluated in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. The bacterial inhibition capacity of the complex was assessed on chicken minced meat samples infected with Salmonella Rissen. Results: Our data highlighted that the biomimetic HA nanocrystal–bacteriophage complex was more stable and more effective than phages alone in all tested experimental conditions. Conclusion: Our results evidenced the important contribution of biomimetic HA nanocrystals: they act as an excellent carrier for bacteriophage delivery and enhance its biological characteristics. This study confirmed the significant role of the mineral HA when it is complexed with biological entities like bacteriophages, as it has been shown for molecules such as lactoferrin

A highly endemic area of Echinococcus multilocularis identified through a comparative re-assessment of prevalence in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Alto Adige (Italy: 2019-2020)

Surveillance of Echinococcus multilocularis at the edge of its range is hindered by fragmented distributional patterns and low prevalence in definitive hosts. Thus, tests with adequate levels of sensitivity are especially important for discriminating between infected and non-infected areas. In this study we reassessed the prevalence of E. multilocularis at the southern border of its distribution in Province of Bolzano (Alto Adige, northeastern Alps, Italy), to improve surveillance in wildlife and provide more accurate estimates of exposure risk. We compared the diagnostic test currently implemented for surveillance based on coproscopy and multiplex PCR (CMPCR) to a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 235 fox faeces collected in 2019 and 2020. The performances of the two tests were estimated using a scraping technique (SFCT) applied to the small intestines of a subsample (n = 123) of the same foxes as the reference standard. True prevalence was calculated and the sample size required by each faecal test for the detection of the parasite was then estimated. True prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes (14.3%) was markedly higher than reported in the last decade, which was never more than 5% from 2012 to 2018 in the same area. In addition, qPCR showed a much higher sensitivity (83%) compared to CMPCR (21%) and agreement with the reference standard was far higher for qPCR (0.816) than CMPCR (0.298) meaning that for the latter protocol, a smaller sample size would be required to detect the disease. Alto Adige should be considered a highly endemic area. Routine surveillance on definitive hosts at the edges of the E. multilocularis distribution should be applied to smaller geographic areas, and rapid, sensitive diagnostic tools using directly host faeces, such as qPCR, should be adopted

Predictors of lymphocyte count recovery after dimethyl fumarate-induced lymphopenia in people with multiple sclerosis

Background Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral drug approved for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS) patients. Grade III lymphopenia is reported in 5\u201310% DMF-treated patients. Data on lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery after DMF withdrawal following prolonged lymphopenia are still scarce. Objectives To characterize ALC recovery and to identify predictors of slower recovery after DMF interruption. Methods Multicenter data from RMS patients who started DMF and developed lymphopenia during treatment were collected. In patients with grade II\u2013III lymphopenia, ALCs were evaluated from DMF withdrawal until reaching lymphocyte counts > 800/mm3. Results Among 1034 patients who started DMF, we found 198 (19.1%) patients with lymphopenia and 65 patients (6.3%) who discontinued DMF due to persistent grade II\u2013III lymphopenia. Complete data were available for 51 patients. All patients recovered to ALC > 800 cells/mm3 with a median time of 3.4 months. Lower ALCs at DMF suspension (HR 0.98; p = 0.005), longer disease duration (HR 1.29; p = 0.014) and prior exposure to MS treatments (HR 0.03; p = 0.025) were found predictive of delayed ALC recovery. Conclusion ALC recovery after DMF withdrawal is usually rapid, nevertheless it may require longer time in patients with lower ALC count at DMF interruption, longer disease duration and previous exposure to MS treatments, potentially leading to delayed initiation of a new therapy