Characterisation of campylobacter concisus strains from South Africa using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) profiling and a genomospecies-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay: Identification of novel genomospecies and correlation with clinical data

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) profiling was used to evaluate the distribution of phenotypically indistinguishable, but genetically distinct, among Campylobacter concisus strains from South Africa. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay described for identifying strains belonging to Genomospecies 1 and 2 was applied in this study. Forty-seven C. concisus strains were studied in total, of which 42 were of South African origin. Forty of the South African isolates were assigned to the major existing genomospecies typified by the type strain of oral origin (GS1), and reference strains from bloody diarrhoea (GS2). Eighteen South African isolates were distributed in the GS1 cluster including two oral strains. Twenty-two faecal South African isolates clustered with reference GS2 strains. Two novel genomospecies (GS 5 and 6) were inferred by their AFLP profile characteristics. Use of an existing PCR assay first described for identification of GS1 and GS2 strains generally indicated that the tool was accurate, although the novel genomospecies described here yielded an amplicon in the GS2 assay. No consistent clinical pattern among the diarrhoea South African strains could be discerned. The study extends the known genetic diversity among C. concisus, elucidates the presence of multiple genomospecies in South Africa, and confirms for the first time an association of GS1 with diarrhoea as well as the utility (with caveats) of a PCR assay for identifying GS1 and GS2 strains

Comparison of the collagen haemostat Sangustop(R) versus a carrier-bound fibrin sealant during liver resection; ESSCALIVER-study

Background: Haemostasis in liver surgery remains a challenge despite improved resection techniques. Oozing from blood vessels too small to be ligated necessitate a treatment with haemostats in order to prevent complications attributed to bleeding. There is good evidence from randomised trials for the efficacy of fibrin sealants, on their own or in combination with a carrier material. A new haemostatic device is Sangustop(R). It is a collagen based material without any coagulation factors. Pre-clinical data for Sangustop(R) showed superior haemostatic effect. This present study aims to show that in the clinical situation Sangustop(R) is not inferior to a carrier-bound fibrin sealant (Tachosil(R)) as a haemostatic treatment in hepatic resection. Methods: This is a multi-centre, patient-blinded, intra-operatively randomised controlled trial. A total of 126 patients planned for an elective liver resection will be enrolled in eight surgical centres. The primary objective of this study is to show the non-inferiority of Sangustop(R) versus a carrier-bound fibrin sealant (Tachosil(R)) in achieving haemostasis after hepatic resection. The surgical intervention is standardised with regard to devices and techniques used for resection and primary haemostasis. Patients will be followed-up for three months for complications and adverse events. Discussion: This randomised controlled trial (ESSCALIVER) aims to compare the new collagen haemostat Sangustop(R) with a carrier-bound fibrin sealant which can be seen as a "gold standard" in hepatic and other visceral organ surgery. If non-inferiority is shown other criteria than the haemostatic efficacy (e.g. costs, adverse events rate) may be considered for the choice of the most appropriate treatment. Trial Registration: NCT0091861

A hard x ray split and delay unit for the HED experiment at the European XFEL

For the High Energy Density HED experiment [1] at the European XFEL [2] an x ray split and delay unit SDU is built covering photon energies from 5 keV up to 20 keV [3]. This SDU will enable time resolved x ray pump x ray probe experiments [4,5] as well as sequential diffractive imaging [6] on a femtosecond to picosecond time scale. Further, direct measurements of the temporal coherence properties will be possible by making use of a linear autocorrelation [7,8]. The set up is based on geometric wavefront beam splitting, which has successfully been implemented at an autocorrelator at FLASH [9]. The x ray FEL pulses are split by a sharp edge of a silicon mirror coated with multilayers. Both partial beams will then pass variable delay lines. For different photon energies the angle of incidence onto the multilayer mirrors will be adjusted in order to match the Bragg condition. For a photon energy of h amp; 957; 20 keV a grazing angle of amp; 952; 0.57 has to be set, which results in a footprint of the beam 6 amp; 963; on the mirror of l 98 mm. At this photon energy the reflectance of a Mo B4C multi layer coating with a multilayer period of d 3.2 nm and N 200 layers amounts to R 0.92. In order to enhance the maximum transmission for photon energies of h amp; 957; 8 keV and below, a Ni B4C multilayer coating can be applied beside the Mo B4C coating for this spectral region. Because of the different incidence angles, the path lengths of the beams will differ as a function of wavelength. Hence, maximum delays between 2.5 ps at h amp; 957; 20 keV and up to 23 ps at h amp; 957; 5 keV will be possibl

Electron Rearrangement Dynamics in Dissociating I 2 n Molecules Accessed by Extreme Ultraviolet Pump Probe Experiments

The charge rearrangement in dissociating In 2 molecules is measured as a function of the internuclear distance R using extreme ultraviolet pulses delivered by the free electron laser in Hamburg. Within an extreme ultraviolet pump probe scheme, the first pulse initiates dissociation by multiply ionizing I2, and the delayed probe pulse further ionizes one of the two fragments at a given time, thus triggering charge rearrangement at a well defined R. The electron transfer between the fragments is monitored by analyzing the delay dependent ion kinetic energies and charge states. The experimental results are in very good agreement with predictions of the classical over the barrier model demonstrating its validity in a thus far unexplored quasimolecular regime relevant for free electron laser, plasma, and chemistry application

Toward Human-Carnivore Coexistence: Understanding Tolerance for Tigers in Bangladesh

Fostering local community tolerance for endangered carnivores, such as tigers (Panthera tigris), is a core component of many conservation strategies. Identification of antecedents of tolerance will facilitate the development of effective tolerance-building conservation action and secure local community support for, and involvement in, conservation initiatives. We use a stated preference approach for measuring tolerance, based on the ‘Wildlife Stakeholder Acceptance Capacity’ concept, to explore villagers’ tolerance levels for tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans, an area where, at the time of the research, human-tiger conflict was severe. We apply structural equation modeling to test an a priori defined theoretical model of tolerance and identify the experiential and psychological basis of tolerance in this community. Our results indicate that beliefs about tigers and about the perceived current tiger population trend are predictors of tolerance for tigers. Positive beliefs about tigers and a belief that the tiger population is not currently increasing are both associated with greater stated tolerance for the species. Contrary to commonly-held notions, negative experiences with tigers do not directly affect tolerance levels; instead, their effect is mediated by villagers’ beliefs about tigers and risk perceptions concerning human-tiger conflict incidents. These findings highlight a need to explore and understand the socio-psychological factors that encourage tolerance towards endangered species. Our research also demonstrates the applicability of this approach to tolerance research to a wide range of socio-economic and cultural contexts and reveals its capacity to enhance carnivore conservation efforts worldwide