Ecosystem services in smallholder coffee farming systems: a case study in Uganda using chemical soil indicators

Farmers in coffee producing countries may not be aware of the economic, social and ecological benefits available through organic agriculture. At a local, regional and global scale, smallholder coffee farmers can discover that organic production methods are linked to provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting ecosystem services. It is assumed that organic agriculture has a significant influence on soil parameters, and by association, on ecosystem services. Differences between farming systems in soil chemical properties reveal advantages for coffee farmers and shows the ecosystem services derived through organic agriculture at a local level. Benefits discovered in organic coffee systems are higher inputs of organic matter, higher biodiversity of soil microorganisms, less soil erosion, and the potential for higher aggregate stability and superior nutrient circulation

Quantity and quality of conflict of interest policies at German medical schools - a cross sectional study and survey

Objectives: To assess the quantity and evaluate the quality of policies and curricula focusing on conflicts of interests (COI) at medical schools across Germany. Design: Cross-sectional study, survey of medical schools, standardised web search. Setting: Medical schools, Germany. Participants: 38 German medical schools. Interventions: We collected relevant COI policies, including teaching activities, by conducting a search of the websites of all 38 German medical schools using standardised keywords for COI policies and teaching. Further, we surveyed all medical schools’ dean’s offices. Finally, we adapted a scoring system for results we obtained with 13 categories based on prior similar studies. Main outcomes and measures: Presence or absence of COI-related policies, including teaching activities at medical school. The secondary outcome was the achieved score on a scale from 0 to 26, with high scores representing restrictive policies and sufficient teaching activities. Results: We identified relevant policies for one medical school via the web search. The response rate of the deans’ survey was 16 of 38 (42.1%). In total, we identified COI-related policies for 2 of 38 (5.3%) German medical schools, yet no policy was sufficient to address all COI-related categories that were assessed in this study. The maximum score achieved was 12 of 26. 36 (94.7%) schools scored 0. No medical school reported curricular teaching on COI. Conclusions: Our results indicate a low level of action by medical schools to protect students from undue commercial influence. No participating dean was aware of any curriculum or instruction on COI at the respective school and only two schools had policies in place. The German Medical Students Association and international counterparts have called for a stronger focus on COI in the classroom. We conclude that for German medical schools, there is still a long way to go

High throughput data streaming of individual longitudinal electron bunch profiles in a storage ring with single-shot electro-optical sampling

The development of fast detection methods for comprehensive monitoring of electron bunches is a prerequisite to gain comprehensive control over the synchrontron emission in storage rings with their MHz repetition rate. Here, we present a proof-of-principle experiment with at detailed description of our implementation to detect the longitudinal electron bunch profiles via single-shot, near-field electro-optical sampling at the Karlsruhe Research Accelerator (KARA). Our experiment is equipped with an ultra-fast line array camera providing a high-throughput MHz data stream. We characterize statistical properties of the obtained data set and give a detailed description for the data processing as well as for the calculation of the charge density profiles, which where measured in the short-bunch operation mode of KARA. Finally, we discuss properties of the bunch profile dynamics on a coarse-grained level on the example of the well-known synchrotron oscillation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Adhesive Hydrogels for Maxillofacial Tissue Regeneration Using Minimally Invasive Procedures

Minimally invasive surgical procedures aiming to repair damaged maxillofacial tissues are hampered by its small, complex structures and difficult surgical access. Indeed, while arthroscopic procedures that deliver regenerative materials and/or cells are common in articulating joints such as the knee, there are currently no treatments that surgically place cells, regenerative factors or materials into maxillofacial tissues to foster bone, cartilage or muscle repair. Here, hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels are developed, which are suitable for use in minimally invasive procedures, that can adhere to the surrounding tissue, and deliver cells and potentially drugs. By modifying HA with both methacrylate (MA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) groups using a completely aqueous synthesis route, it is shown that MA-HA-Dopa hydrogels can be applied under aqueous conditions, gel quickly using a standard surgical light, and adhere to tissue. Moreover, upon oxidation of the Dopa, human marrow stromal cells attach to hydrogels and survive when encapsulated within them. These observations show that when incorporated into HA-based hydrogels, Dopa moieties can foster cell and tissue interactions, ensuring surgical placement and potentially enabling delivery/recruitment of regenerative cells. The findings suggest that MA-HA-Dopa hydrogels may find use in minimally invasive procedures to foster maxillofacial tissue repair.</p

Single-shot temporal characterization of XUV pulses with duration from ~10 fs to ~350 fs at FLASH

Ultra-short extreme ultraviolet pulses from the free-electron laser FLASH are characterized using terahertz-field driven streaking. Measurements at different ultra-short extreme ultraviolet wavelengths and pulse durations as well as numerical simulations were performed to explore the application range and accuracy of the method. For the simulation of streaking, a standard classical approach is used which is compared to quantum mechanical theory, based on strong field approximation. Various factors limiting the temporal resolution of the presented terahertz streaking setup are investigated and discussed. Special attention is paid to the cases of very short (similar to 10 fs) and long (up to similar to 350 fs) pulses.We want to acknowledge the work of the scientific and technical team at FLASH. NMK acknowledges the hospitality and financial support from DESY and from the theory group in cooperation with the SQS research group of the European XFEL (Hamburg). KW and MD acknowledge support by the SFB925-A1. UF and AD acknowledge support by the excellence cluster `The Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging-Structure, Dynamics and Control of Matter at the Atomic Scale' (DFG)-EXC 1074 project ID 194651731. SW acknowledges support by the DFG Forschergruppe FOR 1789. Editoria

Dissection of the Role of PfEMP1 and ICAM-1 in the Sensing of Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes by Natural Killer Cells

BACKGROUND: Host innate immunity contributes to malaria clinical outcome by providing protective inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ, and by shaping the adaptive immune response. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the etiologic agent of the most severe forms of human malaria. Natural Killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are the first effectors to produce interferon-γ in response to Pf. However, the molecular bases of Pf-NK cell recognition events are unknown. Our study focuses on the role of Pf erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), a major Pf virulence factor. PfEMP1 is expressed on parasitized-erythrocytes and participates to vascular obstruction through the binding to several host receptors. PfEMP1 is also a pivotal target for host antibody response to Pf infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using genetically-engineered parasite mutant strains, a human genetic deficiency, and blocking antibodies, we identified two receptor-ligand pairs involved in two uncoupled events occurring during the sensing of Pf infection by NK cells. First, PfEMP1 interaction with one of its host receptor, chondroitin sulfate A, mediates the cytoadhesion of Pf-infected erythrocytes to human NK cell lines, but is not required for primary NK cell activation. Second, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), another host receptor for PfEMP1, is mandatory for NK cell interferon-γ response. In this case, ICAM-1 acts via its engagement with its host ligand, LFA-1, and not with PfEMP1, consistent with the obligatory cross-talk of NK cells with macrophages for their production of interferon-γ. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: PfEMP1-independent but ICAM-1/LFA-1-dependent events occurring during NK cell activation by Pf highlight the fundamental role of cellular cooperation during innate immune response to malaria

A pig model of acute Staphylococcus aureus induced pyemia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sepsis caused by <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>constitutes an important cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, and the incidence of this disease-entity is increasing. In this paper we describe the initial microbial dynamics and lesions in pigs experimentally infected with <it>S. aureus</it>, with the aim of mimicking human sepsis and pyemia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted in anaesthetized and intravenously inoculated pigs, and was based on bacteriological examination of blood and testing of blood for IL-6 and C-reactive protein. Following killing of the animals and necropsy bacteriological and histological examinations of different organs were performed 4, 5 or 6 h after inoculation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Clearance of bacteria from the blood was completed within the first 2 h in some of the pigs and the highest bacterial load was recorded in the lungs as compared to the spleen, liver and bones. This probably was a consequence of both the intravenous route of inoculation and the presence of pulmonary intravascular macrophages. Inoculation of bacteria induced formation of acute microabscesses in the lungs, spleen and liver, but not in the kidneys or bones. No generalized inflammatory response was recorded, i.e. IL-6 was not detected in the blood and C-reactive protein did not increase, probably because of the short time course of the study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrates the successful induction of acute pyemia (microabscesses), and forms a basis for future experiments that should include inoculation with strains of <it>S. aureus </it>isolated from man and an extension of the timeframe aiming at inducing sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.</p