Measuring the Coherent Synchrotron Radiation Far Field with Electro-Optical Techniques

For measuring the temporal profile of the coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) a setup based on electro-optical spectral decoding (EOSD) will be installed as part of the sensor network at the KIT storage ring KARA (Karlsruhe Research Accelerator). The EOSD technique allows a single-shot, phase sensitive measurement of the complete spectrum of the CSR far field radiation at each turn. Therefore, the dynamics of the bunch evolution, e.g. the microbunching, can be observed in detail. Especially, in synchronized combination with the already established near-field EOSD, this method could provide deeper insights in the interplay of bunch profile and CSR generation for each individual electron bunch. For a successful implementation of the EOSD single shot setup, measurements with electro-optical sampling (EOS) are performed. With EOS the THz pulse shape is scanned over several turns by shifting the delay of laser and THz pulse. In this contribution different steps towards the installation of the EOSD far field setup are summarized

Emergence of novel methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in a tertiary care facility in Tiyadh, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: There is a need for continuous surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to identify emergence of new strains. We hypothesize that MRSA strains are evolving with ongoing acquisition of SCCmec elements. This study was carried out to evaluate the evolution of MRSA at a tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia. Methods: MRSA isolates associated with invasive clinical infection, which were identified in 2017 at the microbiology laboratory, King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were studied. The molecular characterization of isolates was carried out using StaphyType DNA microarray (Alere Technologies GmbH/Abbott, Jena, Germany). Results: The 125 MRSA isolates studied belonged to 18 clonal complexes (CC) which were distributed into 32 strain assignments. The predominant CC were CC5 (n=30), CC6 (n=17), CC80 (n=13), CC22 (n=12), CC361 (n=12). The findings demonstrated the first identification of CC152, CC361 and CC1153 MRSA as well as ST5-MRSA-[I+fus], “Geraldine Clone”, CC6-MRSA-IV (PVL+) and CC88-MRSA-V (PVL+), WA MRSA-117 in Saudi Arabia. Four novel variants were identified: CC5-MRSA-[VI+fus+tirS], CC22-MRSA-[V/VT+fus](PVL+), CC152-MRSA-[V+fus](PVL+) and CC361-MRSA-[VT+fus]. Fifty-four isolates (n/N=54/125; 43.2%) including the novel strains carried the Q6GD50 SCCfusC gene while the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes were present in 30.4% (n/N=38/125). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate an expanding MRSA repertoire in our setting including emergence of previously unreported clonal complexes and novel strains. The high carriage of fusC gene suggests a role for fusidic acid misuse in driving the evolution of the MRSA genome and underscores the need for increased monitoring of antibiotic use.Purpose: There is a need for continuous surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to identify emergence of new strains. We hypothesize that MRSA strains are evolving with ongoing acquisition of SCCmec elements. This study was carried out to evaluate the evolution of MRSA at a tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia. Methods: MRSA isolates associated with invasive clinical infection, which were identified in 2017 at the microbiology laboratory, King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were studied. The molecular characterization of isolates was carried out using StaphyType DNA microarray (Alere Technologies GmbH/Abbott, Jena, Germany). Results: The 125 MRSA isolates studied belonged to 18 clonal complexes (CC) which were distributed into 32 strain assignments. The predominant CC were CC5 (n=30), CC6 (n=17), CC80 (n=13), CC22 (n=12), CC361 (n=12). The findings demonstrated the first identification of CC152, CC361 and CC1153 MRSA as well as ST5-MRSA-[I+fus], “Geraldine Clone”, CC6-MRSA-IV (PVL+) and CC88-MRSA-V (PVL+), WA MRSA-117 in Saudi Arabia. Four novel variants were identified: CC5-MRSA-[VI+fus+tirS], CC22-MRSA-[V/VT+fus](PVL+), CC152-MRSA-[V+fus](PVL+) and CC361-MRSA-[VT+fus]. Fifty-four isolates (n/N=54/125; 43.2%) including the novel strains carried the Q6GD50 SCCfusC gene while the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes were present in 30.4% (n/N=38/125). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate an expanding MRSA repertoire in our setting including emergence of previously unreported clonal complexes and novel strains. The high carriage of fusC gene suggests a role for fusidic acid misuse in driving the evolution of the MRSA genome and underscores the need for increased monitoring of antibiotic use

EBI2 is highly expressed in multiple sclerosis lesions and promotes early CNS migration of encephalitogenic CD4 T cells

Arrival of encephalitogenic T cells at inflammatory foci represents a critical step in development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for multiple sclerosis. EBI2 and its ligand, 7{alpha},25-OHC, direct immune cell localization in secondary lymphoid organs. CH25H and CYP7B1 hydroxylate cholesterol to 7{alpha},25-OHC. During EAE, we found increased expression of CH25H by microglia and CYP7B1 by CNS-infiltrating immune cells elevating the ligand concentration in the CNS. Two critical pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-23 (IL-23) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1{beta}), maintained expression of EBI2 in differentiating Th17 cells. In line with this, EBI2 enhanced early migration of encephalitogenic T cells into the CNS in a transfer EAE model. Nonetheless, EBI2 was dispensable in active EAE. Human Th17 cells do also express EBI2, and EBI2 expressing cells are abundant within multiple sclerosis (MS) white matter lesions. These findings implicate EBI2 as a mediator of CNS autoimmunity and describe mechanistically its contribution to the migration of autoreactive T cells into inflamed organs

The impact of regional and neighbourhood deprivation on physical health in Germany: a multilevel study

Voigtländer S, Berger U, Razum O. The impact of regional and neighbourhood deprivation on physical health in Germany: a multilevel study. BMC Public Health. 2010;10(1): 403.Background There is increasing evidence that individual health is at least partly determined by neighbourhood and regional factors. Mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood, and evidence from Germany is scant. This study explores whether regional as well as neighbourhood deprivation are associated with physical health and to what extent this association can be explained by specific neighbourhood exposures. Methods Using 2004 data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) merged with regional and neighbourhood characteristics, we fitted multilevel linear regression models with subjective physical health, as measured by the SF-12, as the dependent variable. The models include regional and neighbourhood proxies of deprivation (i.e. regional unemployment quota, average purchasing power of the street section) as well as specific neighbourhood exposures (i.e. perceived air pollution). Individual characteristics including socioeconomic status and health behaviour have been controlled for. Results This study finds a significant association between area deprivation and physical health which is independent of compositional factors and consistent across different spatial scales. Furthermore the association between neighbourhood deprivation and physical health can be partly explained by specific features of the neighbourhood environment. Among these perceived air pollution shows the strongest association with physical health (-2.4 points for very strong and -1.5 points for strong disturbance by air pollution, standard error (SE) = 0.8 and 0.4, respectively). Beta coefficients for perceived air pollution, perceived noise and the perceived distance to recreational resources do not diminish when including individual health behaviour in the models. Conclusions This study highlights the difference regional and in particular neighbourhood deprivation make to the physical health of individuals in Germany. The results support the argument that specific neighbourhood exposures serve as an intermediary step between deprivation and health. As people with a low socioeconomic status were more likely to be exposed to unfavourable neighbourhood characteristics these conditions plausibly contribute towards generating health inequalities

Successful placement or displacement in the transition from school to vocational training: the case of lower secondary school pupils

A system of qualification options has evolved that is complementary to companybased and school-based vocational training. Thus far, these alternatives have been largely disregarded by vocational education research. Yet with respect to the number of annual entries, those alternatives are currently nearly as significant as conventional vocational training. However, the question remains still unanswered if those alternatives are to be regarded as opportunities or rather as risk factors in respect of the vocational training or occupational integration of youth entering it. Based on a longitudinal study, the German Youth Institute’s so-called ‘transition panel’ about the causes and effects of educational and vocational training-related pathways upon the occupational integration of young people leaving Hauptschule, the article aims at further investigation of the functions of those alternatives with regard to the integration into vocational training over the course of time

Processing Management Tools for Earth Observation Products at DLR-DFD

During the next years more than 50 processing systems for earth observation data are to be integrated into the Data Information and Management System (DIMS) at DLR-DFD. DIMS is a multi-mission processing and archiving and distribution facility for earth observation products. It is a development of DFD. Processing systems developed by various research groups are to be integrated successively. They will be operated for years. Thus, it seems to us to be crucial that operating is efficient and homogeneous. And it can be expected that the processing systems will themselves go through the usual software evolution processes. Experiences from earlier archiving system developments let us decide to provide tools and frameworks for processing systems right from the beginning of DIMS development. These tools are the DIMS Processing System Management (PSM) and the DIMS Operating Tool (OT). Technically speaking, the PSM provides an interface between the implemented processing algorithms on one side and the processing and archiving facility of DIMS on the other. At the DIMS side, two components are involved: DIMS Production Control that controls what to process on which processing system, and DIMS Product Library that serves input products and receives processing results for cataloguing, long term archiving or short term storage. Processing systems are heterogeneous. They vary in programming languages and platforms used, and they range from simple one step input-output systems to complex distributed multi-step systems with user interaction and elaborated workflow control. Examples of complex cases are among those for the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) or for the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME). Simpler cases are the raw data processing for the Challenging Minisatellite Payload mission for gravity and magnetic field measurements (CHAMP). But there is also a lot in common among these systems, and that is what we address with the tools. For a family of products ranging from raw data received from a downlink up to high level or value added products there usually is a corresponding family of processing systems that process them. What is common to almost any family of products is that the scenarios change over time: first product "ingestion" of low level products where the inputs come from sources outside of the DIMS Product Library, then systematic processing of some levels, finally production on (user order) request only, and post-processing. All three scenarios are supported by DIMS and the PSM. Not only processing systems but also their developers are heterogeneous. It is a task to introduce certain integration procedures or guidelines. They shall help to mediate between processing algorithm know-how and the requirements of integration and operation. We do not have stable experiences with the establishment of procedures and guidelines up to now. But we know that they are necessary. This "standardisation" issue is also supported by the fact that sometimes systems tend to reside in an institution longer than their developers. So, it is a challenge to support a modular processing system design and a homogeneous user interface, by tools and by procedures. We concentrate on the tools in this paper