Microsporum audouinii tinea capitis in a Swiss school: assessment and management of patients and asymptomatic carriers

We report three cases involving 7- to 8-year-old children from a Swiss school who had refractory tinea capitis due to an unusual strain of Microsporum audouinii which perforates hair in vitro. The patients showed no response to modern oral antifungal drugs like terbinafine and fluconazole. After switching to oral griseofulvin, two of the patients had a complete recovery, while the third was cured after the introduction of oral itraconazole. Given the high potential for contagion of this anthropophilic dermatophyte, all family members and three entire school classes were screened using the ‘toothbrush technique'. Three family members and five class-mates were found to be asymptomatic carriers of M. audouinii and were consequently treated to avoid further transmission or reinfection of the treated patients. This is the first report of an outbreak of M. audouinii in Switzerland and underlines the importance of screening all contacts of patients with M. audouinii tinea capitis. Further, the effectiveness of griseofulvin in Microsporum tinea capitis has been corroborated, while newer antimycotic drugs like fluconazole or terbinafine faile

Benefits and Costs of Diversification in the European Natural Gas Market

Die Dissertationsschrift thematisiert die Frage nach den Kosten und Nutzen einer Diversifikationsstrategie im europäischen Erdgasmarkt und gliedert sich in neun Kapitel. In einer Vorbetrachtung beschreiben die Kapitel eins bis vier die Ausganglage mit Blick auf Angebots- und Nachfragestrukturen sowie der Gasinfrastruktur. Unsicherheiten in Bezug auf die Entwicklung der Nachfrage, Importverfügbarkeit und Preisniveaus werden diskutiert. In einem analytischen Rahmen wird das Thema Diversifikation in den Kontext der Energiesicherheit eingeordnet. Die Kapitel fünf bis sieben befassen sich mit der Beschreibung und der Analyse des europäischen Gasmarkts. Dafür wird ein lineares Modell, GAMAMOD-EU, entwickelt, welches als stochastische Optimierung den Ausbau der Erdgasinfrastruktur unter Einbezug von drei Unsicherheitsdimensionen in den Jahren 2030 und 2045 abbildet. Zusätzlich werden drei Diversifikationsstrategien in Hinblick auf Infrastrukturentwicklung und Versorgungssicherheit analysiert. In einer Erweiterung wird der Import Grüner Gase in die Betrachtung einbezogen. Kapitel acht stellt das deutsche Gasnetzmodell GAMAMOD-DE mit einer Fallstudie vor, die die Versorgungslage im kalten Winter 2012 nachmodelliert. Im abschließenden Kapitel neun werden die zu Beginn aufgeworfenen Forschungsfragen beantwortet, politische Handlungsempfehlungen gegeben und der weitere Forschungsbedarf skizziert.:Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Abbreviations Country Codes Nomenclature: GAMAMOD-EU Nomenclature: GAMAMOD-DE 1 Introduction 2 Uncertainties in Gas Markets 3 Diversification in Gas Markets to Ensure Security of Supply 4 Natural Gas Infrastructure 5 The European Natural Gas Market Model (GAMAMOD-EU) 6 Results on Security of Supply in the European Gas Market 7 Impact of Green Gas Imports on Infrastructure Investments 8 The German Natural Gas Market Model (GAMAMOD-DE) 9 Conclusion and Outlook Laws and Communication Papers References AppendixThe dissertation addresses the question of the costs and benefits of a diversification strategy in the European natural gas market and is divided into nine chapters. In a preliminary analysis, chapters one to four describe the initial situation with regard to supply and demand structures as well as the gas infrastructure. Uncertainties regarding the development of demand, import availability and price levels are discussed. In an analytical framework, the topic of diversification is placed in the context of energy security. Chapters five to seven deal with the description and analysis of the European gas market. For this purpose, a linear model, GAMAMOD-EU, is developed, which maps the expansion of the natural gas infrastructure as a stochastic optimisation, taking into account three uncertainty dimensions in the years 2030 and 2045. In addition, three diversification strategies are analysed with regard to infrastructure development and security of supply. In an extension, the import of green gases is included in the analysis. Chapter eight presents the German gas grid model GAMAMOD-DE with a case study, which models the supply situation in the cold winter of 2012. In the concluding chapter nine, the research questions raised at the beginning are answered, political recommendations for action are given and the need for further research is outlined.:Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Abbreviations Country Codes Nomenclature: GAMAMOD-EU Nomenclature: GAMAMOD-DE 1 Introduction 2 Uncertainties in Gas Markets 3 Diversification in Gas Markets to Ensure Security of Supply 4 Natural Gas Infrastructure 5 The European Natural Gas Market Model (GAMAMOD-EU) 6 Results on Security of Supply in the European Gas Market 7 Impact of Green Gas Imports on Infrastructure Investments 8 The German Natural Gas Market Model (GAMAMOD-DE) 9 Conclusion and Outlook Laws and Communication Papers References Appendi

NON-LINEAR ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE BEAMS WITH MINIMAL MODELLING AND CALCULATION EFFORT FOR STRAIN-LIMITED DESIGN

In the following, an analysis method is presented that enables the modelling of composite beams in commercial programs with minimum effort, considering non-linear material behaviour and nonlinear flexibility of the composite joint. A particular focus is placed on the deformations, especially those of the composite joint in horizontal and vertical directions. A detailed insight into the necessary accuracy of the material modelling is presented. The model is subsequently verified by means of comparative analyses of real beam tests

Science Slams as Edutainment: A Reception Study

Science slams are a prominent form of science communication especially in Germany that seeks to entertain. While some view science slams as an excellent vehicle for disseminating knowledge, others argue that the imperative to entertain undermines the scientific value of this form of presentation. Drawing on empirical data from three science slam events, this explorative study examines how audiences and presenters perceive the science slam, particularly as it relates to entertainment and the communication of scientific knowledge. Our multi-method analysis includes audience surveys (n = 469), an eye-tracking study, and interviews with science slammers (n = 18). Our results show that the main reason audiences attend a science slam is for entertainment, yet they also have a strong interest in scientific content. Assessing the slammers’ aspirations concerning the audience, we find entertainment to be an important part, but the motivation to impart scientific knowledge is key for most. When asked to evaluate individual presentations (n = 20), spectators tended to rate both the entertainment and scientific value of the presentations as high. However, in terms of visual attention within individual presentations, spectators spent more time considering scientific content than entertainment content. Overall, we do not find evidence for the common claim that the focus on entertainment undermines the scientific value of science slam presentations—rather, entertainment and scientific content are combined to produce “edutainment” in a positive sense

Science Slams as Edutainment: A Reception Study

Science slams are a prominent form of science communication especially in Germany that seeks to entertain. While some view science slams as an excellent vehicle for disseminating knowledge, others argue that the imperative to entertain undermines the scientific value of this form of presentation. Drawing on empirical data from three science slam events, this explorative study examines how audiences and presenters perceive the science slam, particularly as it relates to entertainment and the communication of scientific knowledge. Our multi-method analysis includes audience surveys (n = 469), an eye-tracking study, and interviews with science slammers (n = 18). Our results show that the main reason audiences attend a science slam is for entertainment, yet they also have a strong interest in scientific content. Assessing the slammers’ aspirations concerning the audience, we find entertainment to be an important part, but the motivation to impart scientific knowledge is key for most. When asked to evaluate individual presentations (n = 20), spectators tended to rate both the entertainment and scientific value of the presentations as high. However, in terms of visual attention within individual presentations, spectators spent more time considering scientific content than entertainment content. Overall, we do not find evidence for the common claim that the focus on entertainment undermines the scientific value of science slam presentations—rather, entertainment and scientific content are combined to produce “edutainment” in a positive sense

Immunoblot analysis of the seroreactivity to recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antigens, including VlsE, in the long-term course of treated patients with Erythema migrans

Objective: We evaluated whether immunoblotting is capable of substantiating the posttreatment clinical assessment of patients with erythema migrans ( EM), the hallmark of early Lyme borreliosis. Methods: In 50 patients, seroreactivity to different antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was analyzed by a recombinant immunoblot test (IB) in consecutive serum samples from a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. Antigens in the IgG test were decorin- binding protein A, internal fragment of p41 (p41i), outer surface protein C (OspC), p39, variable major protein-like sequence expressed (VlsE), p58 and p100; those in the IgM test were p41i, OspC and p39. Immune responses were correlated with clinical and treatment-related parameters. Results: Positive IB results were found in 50% before, in 57% directly after therapy and in 44% by the end of the follow-up for the IgG class, and in 36, 43 and 12% for the IgM class. In acute and convalescence phase sera, VlsE was most immunogenic on IgG testing 60 and 70%), and p41i (46 and 57%) and OspC (40 and 57%) for the IgM class. By the end of the follow-up, only the anti-p41i lgM response was significantly decreased to 24%. Conclusions: No correlation was found between IB results and treatment-related parameters. Thus, immunoblotting does not add to the clinical assessment of EM patients after treatment. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

A Clean Industry Package for the EU

A CLEAN INDUSTRY PACKAGE FOR THE EU A Clean Industry Package for the EU / Sartor, Oliver (Rights reserved) ( -