Secular Trends in Nosocomial Bloodstream Infections: Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Increase the Total Burden of Infection

In this international study, we demonstrate that increasing rates of nosocomial bloodstream infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria do not replace infections caused by antibiotic-susceptible bacteria, but occur in addition to these infections, thereby increasing the total burden of diseas

How Emission Certificate Allocations Distort Fossil Investments: The German Example

Despite political activities to foster a low-carbon energy transition, Germany currently sees a considerable number of new coal power plants being added to its power mix. There are several possible drivers for this dash for coal, but it is widely accepted that windfall profits gained through free allocation of ETS certificates play an important role. Yet the quantification of allocation-related investment distortions has been limited to back-of-the envelope calculations and stylized models so far. We close this gap with a numerical model integrating both Germany's particular allocation rules and its specific power generation structure. We find that technology specific new entrant provisions have substantially increased incentives to invest in hard coal plants compared to natural gas at the time of the ETS onset. Expected windfall profits compensated more than half the total capital costs of a hard coal plant. Moreover, a shorter period of free allocations would not have turned investors' favours towards the cleaner natural gas technology because of preexisting economic advantages for coal. In contrast, full auctioning of permits or a single best available technology benchmark would have made natural gas the predominant technology of choice

Enzymatic Mechanisms Involved in Evasion of Fungi to the Oxidative Stress: Focus on Scedosporium apiospermum

The airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are frequently colonized by various filamentous fungi, mainly Aspergillus fumigatus and Scedosporium species. To establish within the respiratory tract and cause an infection, these opportunistic fungi express pathogenic factors allowing adherence to the host tissues, uptake of extracellular iron, or evasion to the host immune response. During the colonization process, inhaled conidia and the subsequent hyphae are exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) released by phagocytic cells, which cause in the fungal cells an oxidative stress and a nitrosative stress, respectively. To cope with these constraints, fungal pathogens have developed various mechanisms that protect the fungus against ROS and RNS, including enzymatic antioxidant systems. In this review, we summarize the different works performed on ROS- and RNS-detoxifying enzymes in fungi commonly encountered in the airways of CF patients and highlight their role in pathogenesis of the airway colonization or respiratory infections. The potential of these enzymes as serodiagnostic tools is also emphasized. In addition, taking advantage of the recent availability of the whole genome sequence of S. apiospermum, we identified the various genes encoding ROS- and RNS-detoxifying enzymes, which pave the way for future investigations on the role of these enzymes in pathogenesis of these emerging species since they may constitute new therapeutics targets

Perspektiven der nationalen Politik zum Klimaschutz – Herausforderungen und Langfristszenarien für Deutschland

Innerhalb der internationalen Staatengemeinschaft und der Europäischen Gemeinschaft verfolgt Deutschland anspruchsvolle Ziele zum Klimaschutz. Zur Umsetzung der nationalen Klimaschutzpolitik sind deshalb in den vergangenen Jahren unterschiedliche Instrumente eingesetzt worden, die zum Teil bereits sichtbare Erfolge gezeigt haben. Dennoch müssen die Anstrengungen zum Klimaschutz künftig verstärkt werden, wobei es insbesondere gilt, den energiebedingten Ausstoß an Treibhausgasen weiter zu vermindern. Nach vorliegenden Modellrechnungen könnten Erhöhungen der Energieeffizienz und Veränderungen der Energieträgerstruktur in Deutschland wesentlich dazu beitragen, längerfristig auch hochgesteckte Ziele des Klimaschutzes mit vertretbaren gesamtwirtschaftlichen Kosten zu erreichen. Die Verwirklichung solcher Szenarien setzt allerdings voraus, dass die klimaschutzpolitischen Maßnahmen mit zunehmender Intensität fortgesetzt werden. Dabei dürften ökonomische Instrumente und internationale flexible Mechanismen an Bedeutung gewinnen. Abstract Within the international and European framework of climate change policy Germany aims high. In recent years a series of policies and measures have been implemented in order to achieve the objectives of the national climate change strategy. This policy has shown visible success. Nevertheless, Germany must enforce its efforts for climate protection, in particular with regard to the abatement of energy related greenhouse gas emissions. According to the results of model calculations, further improvements of energy efficiency and changes of the energy structure could significantly contribute to achieving ambitious emission reduction targets at economically justifiable cost. However, the realization of these scenarios requires an even intensified continuation of climate change policy in the future. As an integral part of the necessary policy mix economic instruments and the use of international flexible mechanisms will gain importance