Kytococcus aerolatus sp. nov., isolated from indoor air in a room colonized with moulds

A Gram-positive, coccoid bacterial isolate (02-St-019/1(T)), forming beige pigmented colonies was obtained from an indoor air sample. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies it was determined that this isolate 02-St-019/1(T) belonged to the genus Kytococcus, showing sequence similarties of 98.6% to Kytococcus schroeteri DSM 13884(T) and 98.3% to Kytococcus sedentarius DSM 20547(T), respectively. The diagnostic diaminoacid of the peptidoglycan was lysine, cell wall sugars were ribose and xylose. The major menaquinones detected were MK-7 and MK-8. The polar lipid profile consisted of the major phospholipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. Fatty acid patterns were composed of major amounts of the iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids anteiso C(17:0), iso C(15:0) and iso C(17:0) and unsaturated fatty acids (C(17:1) omega8c, iso C(17:1) omega9c, and C(17:1) omega8c) with smaller amounts of the straight-chain fatty acids C(15:0), C(16:0) and C(17:0). The results of DNA-DNA hybridizations and physiological and biochemical tests clearly allowed a genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 02-St-019/1(T) from the two described Kytococcus species. On the basis of these results a novel species to be named Kytococcus aerolatus sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain 02-St-019/1(T) (=DSM 22179(T)=CCM 7639(T))

Jets plus Missing Energy with an Autofocus

Jets plus missing transverse energy is one of the main search channels for new physics at the LHC. A major limitation lies in our understanding of QCD backgrounds. Using jet merging we can describe the number of jets in typical background channels in terms of a staircase scaling, including theory uncertainties. The scaling parameter depends on the particles in the final state and on cuts applied. Measuring the staircase scaling will allow us to also predict the effective mass for Standard Model backgrounds. Based on both observables we propose an analysis strategy avoiding model specific cuts which returns information about the color charge and the mass scale of the underlying new physics.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

Establishing jet scaling patterns with a photon

Staircase and Poisson scaling are two typical patterns we observe for the exclusive number of jets at high energy hadron colliders. We examine these scaling properties for photon plus jets production at the LHC and find that this channel is well suited to study these features. We illustrate and discuss when to expect each of the two patterns, how to induce a transition through kinematic cuts, and how photons are related to heavy gauge bosons. Measurements of photon+jets production is therefore providing valuable information on exclusive jet scaling, which is going to help to eventually understand the theoretical origin of exclusive jet scaling properties in more detail

From Jet Counting to Jet Vetoes

The properties of multi-jet events impact many LHC analysis. The exclusive number of jets at hadron colliders can be described in terms of two simple patterns: staircase scaling and Poisson scaling. In photon plus jets production we can interpolate between the two patterns using simple kinematic cuts. The associated theoretical errors are well under control. Understanding such exclusive jet multiplicities significantly impacts Higgs searches and searches for supersymmetry at the LHC.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of XX International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects, 26th-30th March 2012, University of Bon

Actinopolyspora saharensis sp. nov., a novel halophilic actinomycete isolated from a Saharan soil of Algeria

A novel halophilic actinomycete, strain H32T,was isolated froma Saharan soil sample collected in El-Oued province, south Algeria. The isolate was characterized by means of polyphasic taxonomy. Optimal growth was determined to occur at 28–32°C, pH 6.0–7.0 and in the presence of 15–25 %(w/v) NaCl. The strain was observed to produce abundant aerial mycelium, which formed long chains of rod-shaped spores at maturity, and fragmented substrate mycelium. The cell wall was determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and the characteristic whole-cell sugars were arabinose and galactose. The predominant menaquinoneswere found to beMK-10(H4) andMK-9(H4). The predominant cellular fatty acids were determined to be anteiso C17:0, iso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. The diagnostic phospholipid detected was phosphatidylcholine. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that this strain formed a distinct phyletic line within the radiation of the genus Actinopolyspora. The 16S rRNAgene sequence similarity indicated that strain H32T was most closely related to ‘Actinopolyspora algeriensis’ DSM 45476T (98.8 %) and Actinopolyspora halophila DSM 43834T (98.5 %). Furthermore, the result of DNA–DNA hybridization between strain H32T and the type strains ‘A. algeriensis’ DSM45476T, A. halophila DSM 43834T and Actinopolyspora mortivallis DSM 44261T demonstrated that this isolate represents a different genomic species in the genus Actinopolyspora. Moreover, the physiological and biochemical data allowed the differentiation of strain H32T from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, it is proposed that strain H32T represents a novel species of the genus Actinopolyspora, for which the name Actinopolyspora saharensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H32T (=DSM 45459T=CCUG 62966T)

Diet of common diving-petrels (Pelecanoides Urinatrix Urinatrix) in Southeastern Australia during chick rearing

Unlike conspecifics in the subantarctic region, which typically begin breeding in mid-spring to summer, Common Diving-petrels Pelecanoides urinatrix urinatrix in southeastern Australia (towards the northern limit of the species\u27 distribution) commence breeding mid winter. Knowledge of the foraging ecology of this species is crucial to understanding the factors that influence its timing of breeding in the region, yet there is currently little information available. Analysis of 43 stomachs of breeding adults, collected opportunistically after they were killed in a fire which burned through their colony, indicated that their diet was dominated by two taxa: a euphausiid Nyctiphanes australis which comprised 87% of the diet by number; and a hyperiid amphipod Themisto australis which constituted a further 12.5%. Mean lengths (&plusmn;SE) of N. australis (n = 39) and T. australis (n = 41) were 12 mm (&plusmn;0.3) and 5.2 mm (&plusmn;0.2), respectively. The importance of N. australis in the diet of Common Diving-petrels is discussed in relation to their timing of breeding and the euphausiid\u27s potential role in the Bass Strait pelagic ecosystem.<br /

Parametric Testing of Launch Vehicle FDDR Models

For the safe operation of a complex system like a (manned) launch vehicle, real-time information about the state of the system and potential faults is extremely important. The on-board FDDR (Failure Detection, Diagnostics, and Response) system is a software system to detect and identify failures, provide real-time diagnostics, and to initiate fault recovery and mitigation. The ERIS (Evaluation of Rocket Integrated Subsystems) failure simulation is a unified Matlab/Simulink model of the Ares I Launch Vehicle with modular, hierarchical subsystems and components. With this model, the nominal flight performance characteristics can be studied. Additionally, failures can be injected to see their effects on vehicle state and on vehicle behavior. A comprehensive test and analysis of such a complicated model is virtually impossible. In this paper, we will describe, how parametric testing (PT) can be used to support testing and analysis of the ERIS failure simulation. PT uses a combination of Monte Carlo techniques with n-factor combinatorial exploration to generate a small, yet comprehensive set of parameters for the test runs. For the analysis of the high-dimensional simulation data, we are using multivariate clustering to automatically find structure in this high-dimensional data space. Our tools can generate detailed HTML reports that facilitate the analysis

Postoperatives Outcome nach perkutaner Achillessehnennaht mit dem Dresdner Instrument

Fragestellung: In der Behandlung der frischen Achillessehnenruptur haben sich neben der offenen Achillessehnennaht und der konservativen Behandlung minimalinvasive Nahttechniken mittlerweile etabliert, wie die perkutane Naht mit dem Dresdner Instrument. Ziel der Studie war es, das klinische Outcome und die postoperative Funktion von Patienten zu ermitteln, die aufgrund einer frischen Achillessehnenruptur mit dem Dresdner Instrument versorgt wurden, sowie die chirurgischen Komplikationen zu erfassen. Methodik: Insgesamt wurden 121 Patienten (102 männlich, 19 weiblich) im Alter von 44,5 ± 10,2 Jahren (24–73) mit einer durchschnittlichen Follow-up-Zeit von 33,5 ± 21,6 Monaten (7–80) nachuntersucht. In der klinischen Untersuchung wurden OSG-Beweglichkeit (ROM), Wadenatrophie sowie Komplikationen, wie Rerupturen, Wundheilungsstörungen, Infekte und Suralisläsionen erfasst. Ferner wurden folgende klinische Scores ermittelt: AOFAS-Score, 100-Punkte-Score nach Thermann, Achilles-Tendon-Rupture-Score (ATRS) und Trillat-Score. Die Schmerzintensität und die Funktionseinschränkung wurden mittels der Visuellen Analogskala (VAS Schmerz/Funktion) evaluiert. Ergebnisse: Die funktionelle Untersuchung der ROM ergab im Vergleich zur nicht-operierten Seite folgende Werte: Plantarflexion 46,1 ±8,6 /47,9 ±8,2° und Dorsalextension 14,5 ±4,6°/14,9 ±4,9°. Die Wadenumfangsdifferenz betrug im Seitenvergleich: operierte Seite 36,4±2,9cm, nicht-operierte Seite 37,6±2,6cm. Drei Rerupturen (2,4%) wurden festgestellt. Suralisläsionen und Wundinfektionen wurden nicht beobachtet. Im AOFAS-Score und im 100-Punkte-Score nach Thermann lag die durchschnittliche Punktzahl bei 95,3±6,6 (74–100) resp. 85,2±12,1 (25–100). Der ATRS lag bei einem Mittelwert von 85,4±14,8 (19–100). Anhand des Trillat-Score wurden 49,2% der Patienten als „sehr gut“ und 40,7% als „gut“ eingestuft. Auf der Visuellen Analogskala (0–10) beurteilten die Patienten ihr postoperatives Ergebnis: Schmerz 0,6±1,0 (0–7) resp. Funktionseinschränkung 1,4 ± 1,5 (0–8). Schlussfolgerung: Vor dem Hintergrund der überwiegend sehr guten und guten klinischen objektiven und subjektiven Ergebnisse, der Patientenzufriedenheit sowie der geringen Rerupturrate stellt die perkutane Achillessehnennaht mit dem Dresdner Instrument eine berechtigte Alternative in der Therapie der frischen Achillessehnenruptur dar.Introduction: The acute Achilles tendon rupture may be treated conservatively, by open suture or by minimal invasive percutaneous suture techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome and postoperative function of patients treated for an acute Achilles tendon rupture via percutaneous suture using the Dresden instruments. Methods: One hundred and twenty one patients (102 men, 19 women; mean age 45 years) treated for acute Achilles tendon rupture with percutaneous suture using the Dresden instruments were followed for an average period of thirty-four months. Postoperative assessment was focused on surgical complications such as re-ruptures, wound infections and nerve lesions and on the functional outcome including range of motion (ROM) in the upper ankle joint, calf atrophy and patient-based assessment of postoperative pain and functional deficit using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Additional clinical scoring occurred by use of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS), the Thermann Score, the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) and the Trillat Score. Results: Three re-ruptures occurred, with no incidence of wound infections or nerve lesions. In comparison to the healthy contralateral side, ROM for plantar flexion was 46.1 ±8.6° vs. 47.9 ±8.2°, with dorsiflexion 14.5 ±4.6° vs. 14.9 ±4.9°. The difference in calf-circumference was significant (36.4±2.9cm vs. 37.6±2.6cm, p=0.001). Patient-based assessment of postoperative pain was 0.6±1 (0–7), and functional deficit was determined to be 1.4.±1.5 (0–8). Clinical scoring resulted in an AOFAS-Score of 95.3±6.6 (74–100), a Thermann Score of 85.2±12.1 (25–100) and an ATRS score of 85.4±14.8 (19–100). As measured by the Trillat Score 49.2% of the patients reached a very good, and 40.7% a good result after the surgery. Conclusion: The minimal invasive repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture by percutaneous suture using the Dresden instruments has a low incidence of re-rupture, wound infections or nerve lesions with offering excellent functional results and high patient satisfaction