On classifying proper knots in open 3-manifolds

AbstractWe examine proper embeddings of the real line into open 3-manifolds and their proper isotopy classes, i.e., proper knots and their equivalence classes. In particular, for proper knots running between distinct ends of an open 3-manifold M, we give conditions on the structure of the ends of M under which proper homotopy implies proper isotopy. To prove this result, geometric techniques are employed which enable one to properly isotope a proper knot that is wild in the neighbourhood of an end to one that is tame

Survey of current Swiss pig feeding practices and potential for ammonia emission reduction

Controlling potentially harmful and polluting emissions from farms is important in the developed world, where legislation exists in many countries limiting emissions such as ammonia and controlling how manure is disposed of from intensive farming operations. In Switzerland, there are legal agreements concerning controls of ammonia emissions, most especially from farms. Ammonia production from pig farms can be controlled by dietary intervention, such as reducing protein levels, which in turn reduces excretion, mainly via urine. The following paper surveys current practices for nitrogen use on Swiss pig farms, and how feeding strategies may assist in controlling ammonia production from pig production systems. The survey found that 70-75% of all feeds used for pigs of all categories were reduced in protein and nitrogen, with 90% being reduced in protein in high animal density areas. Regression analysis showed that CP levels explained up to 49% of the nitrogen efficiency, suggesting that other factors are important in pollution control. Although piglet diets are more tightly regulated in terms of controlling N input, excessive protein levels in so-called reduced protein diets for finisher pigs and dry sows are common in the market. Hence, there is considerable potential to reduce N-input and ammonia emissions from Swiss pig production, which could be implemented at no or minimal extra cost

First report from the German COVID-19 autopsy registry

BACKGROUND: Autopsies are an important tool in medicine, dissecting disease pathophysiology and causes of death. In COVID-19, autopsies revealed e.g., the effects on pulmonary (micro)vasculature or the nervous system, systemic viral spread, or the interplay with the immune system. To facilitate multicentre autopsy-based studies and provide a central hub supporting autopsy centres, researchers, and data analyses and reporting, in April 2020 the German COVID-19 Autopsy Registry (DeRegCOVID) was launched. METHODS: The electronic registry uses a web-based electronic case report form. Participation is voluntary and biomaterial remains at the respective site (decentralized biobanking). As of October 2021, the registry included N=1129 autopsy cases, with 69271 single data points including information on 18674 available biospecimens gathered from 29 German sites. FINDINGS: In the N=1095 eligible records, the male-to-female ratio was 1·8:1, with peaks at 65-69 and 80-84 years in males and >85 years in females. The analysis of the chain of events directly leading to death revealed COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death in 86% of the autopsy cases, whereas in 14% COVID-19 was a concomitant disease. The most common immediate cause of death was diffuse alveolar damage, followed by multi-organ failure. The registry supports several scientific projects, public outreach and provides reports to the federal health authorities, leading to legislative adaptation of the German Infection Protection Act, facilitating the performance of autopsies during pandemics. INTERPRETATION: A national autopsy registry can provide multicentre quantitative information on COVID-19 deaths on a national level, supporting medical research, political decision-making and public discussion. FUNDING: German Federal Ministries of Education and Research and Health. Hintergrund: Obduktionen sind ein wichtiges Instrument in der Medizin, um die Pathophysiologie von Krankheiten und Todesursachen zu untersuchen. Im Rahmen von COVID-19 wurden durch Obduktionen z.B. die Auswirkungen auf die pulmonale Mikrovaskulatur, das Nervensystem, die systemische Virusausbreitung, und das Zusammenspiel mit dem Immunsystem untersucht. Um multizentrische, auf Obduktionen basierende Studien zu erleichtern und eine zentrale Anlaufstelle zu schaffen, die Obduktionszentren, Forscher sowie Datenanalysen und -berichte unterstützt, wurde im April 2020 das deutsche COVID-19-Autopsieregister (DeRegCOVID) ins Leben gerufen. Methoden: Das elektronische Register verwendet ein webbasiertes elektronisches Fallberichtsformular. Die Teilnahme ist freiwillig und das Biomaterial verbleibt am jeweiligen Standort (dezentrales Biobanking). Im Oktober 2021 umfasste das Register N=1129 Obduktionsfälle mit 69271 einzelnen Datenpunkten, die Informationen über 18674 verfügbare Bioproben enthielten, die von 29 deutschen Standorten gesammelt wurden. Ergebnisse: In den N=1095 ausgewerteten Datensätzen betrug das Verhältnis von Männern zu Frauen 1,8:1 mit Spitzenwerten bei 65-69 und 80-84 Jahren bei Männern und >85 Jahren bei Frauen. Die Analyse der Sequenz der unmittelbar zum Tod führenden Ereignisse ergab, dass in 86 % der Obduktionsfälle COVID-19 die zugrunde liegende Todesursache war, während in 14 % der Fälle COVID-19 eine Begleiterkrankung war. Die häufigste unmittelbare Todesursache war der diffuse Alveolarschaden, gefolgt von Multiorganversagen. Das Register unterstützt mehrere wissenschaftliche Projekte, die Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und liefert Berichte an die Bundesgesundheitsbehörden, was zu einer Anpassung des deutschen Infektionsschutzgesetzes führte und die Durchführung von Obduktionen in Pandemien erleichtert. Interpretation: Ein nationales Obduktionsregister kann multizentrische quantitative Informationen über COVID-19-Todesfälle auf nationaler Ebene liefern und damit die medizinische Forschung, die politische Entscheidungsfindung und die öffentliche Diskussion unterstützen. Finanzierung: Bundesministerien für Bildung und Forschung und für Gesundheit

Grapevine germplasm collections of Switzerland

Special Issu

Quantum teleportation on a photonic chip

Quantum teleportation is a fundamental concept in quantum physics which now finds important applications at the heart of quantum technology including quantum relays, quantum repeaters and linear optics quantum computing (LOQC). Photonic implementations have largely focussed on achieving long distance teleportation due to its suitability for decoherence-free communication. Teleportation also plays a vital role in the scalability of photonic quantum computing, for which large linear optical networks will likely require an integrated architecture. Here we report the first demonstration of quantum teleportation in which all key parts - entanglement preparation, Bell-state analysis and quantum state tomography - are performed on a reconfigurable integrated photonic chip. We also show that a novel element-wise characterisation method is critical to mitigate component errors, a key technique which will become increasingly important as integrated circuits reach higher complexities necessary for quantum enhanced operation.Comment: Originally submitted version - refer to online journal for accepted manuscript; Nature Photonics (2014

Field Observations on the Effect of a Mannan Oligosaccharide on Mortality and Intestinal Integrity of Sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) Infected by Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of a mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the intestinal morphology of sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) reared under commercial conditions. The dietary inclusion rate for MOS was 0.4% and it was used either alone or in combination with a vaccination regime against bacterial diseases (Pasteurella spp. and Vibrio spp.). One week after the start of the experimental period, a natural outbreak of pasteurellosis, caused by Photobacterium damselae subsp.piscicida,occurred in all the groups of fish.A two-way ANOVA showed that only MOS supplementation reduced fish mortality by ca. 8% (P = 0.050). Additionally, light microscopy examination of the intestine revealed that MOS supplementation significantly increased the mucosal folding by 29% (P = 0.016) in the anterior intestinal region and by 33% (P = 0.002) in the posterior intestinal region. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that both MOS supplementation and vaccination significantly increased microvilli density on the enterocyte surfaces in the anterior intestinal regionby 13% (P = 0.028) and 30% (P = 0.001) respectively. In the posterior intestinal region neither MOS supplementation nor vaccination significantly affected the microvilli density (P = 0.005).The present study suggests that dietary MOS supplementation protects the intestinal morphology of infected sole and hinders the development of pathogenic infection, possibly by binding with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida, resulting in reduced mortality of infected fish

Intracranial hemorrhage in COVID-19 patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory failure: a nationwide register study report

BACKGROUND: In severe cases, SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), often treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During ECMO therapy, anticoagulation is crucial to prevent device-associated thrombosis and device failure, however, it is associated with bleeding complications. In COVID-19, additional pathologies, such as endotheliitis, may further increase the risk of bleeding complications. To assess the frequency of bleeding events, we analyzed data from the German COVID-19 autopsy registry (DeRegCOVID). METHODS: The electronic registry uses a web-based electronic case report form. In November 2021, the registry included N = 1129 confirmed COVID-19 autopsy cases, with data on 63 ECMO autopsy cases and 1066 non-ECMO autopsy cases, contributed from 29 German sites. FINDINGS: The registry data showed that ECMO was used in younger male patients and bleeding events occurred much more frequently in ECMO cases compared to non-ECMO cases (56% and 9%, respectively). Similarly, intracranial bleeding (ICB) was documented in 21% of ECMO cases and 3% of non-ECMO cases and was classified as the immediate or underlying cause of death in 78% of ECMO cases and 37% of non-ECMO cases. In ECMO cases, the three most common immediate causes of death were multi-organ failure, ARDS and ICB, and in non-ECMO cases ARDS, multi-organ failure and pulmonary bacterial ± fungal superinfection, ordered by descending frequency. INTERPRETATION: Our study suggests the potential value of autopsies and a joint interdisciplinary multicenter (national) approach in addressing fatal complications in COVID-19. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-022-03945-x

Strengthening Sustainable Northern Food Systems: Federal Policy Constraints and Potential Opportunities

This paper explores how Canadian federal policy and frameworks can better support community-based initiatives to reduce food insecurity and build sustainable food systems in the North. Through an examination of the current state of food systems infrastructure, transportation, harvest, and production in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, we argue in favour of a multi-sector approach that supports diversified food systems, including traditional/country food production and distribution, in a way that values and prioritizes community-led initiatives and Indigenous peoples’ self-determination and self-governance. The challenge of developing sustainable, northern food systems requires made-in-the-North solutions that are attuned to cultural, geographic, environmental, and political contexts. Recent policy developments suggest some progress in this direction, however much more work is needed. Ultimately, sustainable northern food systems must be defined by and for Northerners at community, local, and regional levels, with particular attention paid to treaty rights and the right to self-determination of First Nations and other Indigenous communities.Cet article se penche sur la manière dont les politiques et les cadres de référence fédéraux du Canada peuvent mieux soutenir les initiatives communautaires afin d’atténuer l’insécurité alimentaire et d’édifier des systèmes alimentaires durables dans le Nord. En nous appuyant sur l’examen de l’état actuel de l’infrastructure des systèmes alimentaires, du transport, des récoltes et de la production du Yukon, des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, du Nunavut, du Nunavik et du Nunatsiavut, nous plaidons en faveur d’une approche multisectorielle favorisant des systèmes alimentaires diversifiés, y compris la production et la distribution d’aliments traditionnels ou du terroir, valorisant et priorisant les initiatives communautaires de même que l’autodétermination et l’autonomie gouvernementale des peuples autochtones. Le défi consistant à concevoir des systèmes alimentaires durables dans le Nord nécessite des solutions provenant du Nord, solutions qui tiennent compte des contextes culturel, géographique, environnemental et politique. De récents développements en matière de politiques suggèrent un certain progrès, mais il reste toutefois fort à faire dans ce sens. Au bout du compte, les systèmes alimentaires durables dans le Nord doivent être définis par et pour les gens du Nord à l’échelle communautaire, locale et régionale, en accordant une attention particulière aux droits issus des traités ainsi qu’au droit à l’autodétermination des Premières Nations et d’autres collectivités autochtones