Assessing agro-ecological practices using a combination of three sustainability assessment tools

This paper is based on results from the research project UNISECO, which is funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 773901.We would like to thank all the farmers, farm organisations and stakeholders of the multi-actor platforms of the UNISECO project who contributed to the data collection. We also like to thank Andreas Basler whose corrections improved the comprehensibility of the paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Additive manufacturing by solvent jetting on granule beds

A "Solvent on Granule" 3D-Printing technique has been developed, which consists in the spreading of a powder-polymer granule bed, followed by the selective jetting of a solvent (which softens the polymer contained in the granules), and layer consolidation after solvent evaporation. The granules are prepared by wet blending, drying, milling and sieving. The granule layer thickness can be set between 50 μm and 200 μm, and the volume of the solvent droplets is about 10 pL. A summary of preliminary results obtained with 17-4PH stainless steel parts in a former prototype device is presented. A new concept of table-top machine is developed in this work and its essential components and functions are described

Analysis of an unusual cluster of systemic reactions to subcutaneous specific immunotherapy with respiratory allergens in one allergy center

Systemic reactions to subcutaneous immunotherapy occur despite all necessary precautions and experienced staff and should prompt a search for causative factors. We present an analysis of 11 reactions, 8 of them within a short period. The patients and reactions were evaluated regarding extract errors (composition, concentration), dosing errors, ignored contraindications to specific subcutaneous immunotherapy, introductions versus maintenance phase and accidental intravascular injection. No single or common cause could be identified. Statistical analysis suggests that exceptional clusters of systemic reactions such as these may be just random cumulations without identifiable caus

Close geographic association of human neoehrlichiosis and tick populations carrying Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Eastern Switzerland

Neoehrlichiosis caused by Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging zoonotic disease. In total, 6 patients have been described in Europe with the first case detected in 2008 and 7 patients in China published in October 2012. In 2009, we diagnosed the first human case of C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis infection in the Zurich area (Switzerland). Here, we report two additional human cases from the same region, which were identified by broad-range 16S rRNA gene PCR. Both patients were immunocompromised and presented with a similar clinical syndrome including fever, malaise and weight loss. A diagnostic multiplex real-time PCR was developed for specific detection of C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis infections. The assay is based on the signature sequence of a 282-bp fragment of the C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis 16S rRNA gene and incorporates a C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis species, a Neoehrlichia genus and an Anaplasmataceae family probe for simultaneous screening. The analytical sensitivity of was determined to be below 5 copies of the C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis 16S rRNA gene. Our results show that the assay is suitable for the direct detection of C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA in clinical samples like blood and bone marrow. In addition, it allows for monitoring treatment response during antibiotic therapy. Using the same assay, DNA extracts from 1916 ticks collected in four forests in close proximity to the patients' residences (<3 km) were screened. At all sampling sites, the minimal prevalence of C. Neoehrlichia mikurensis was between 3.5-8% in pools of either nymphs, males or females, showing a strong geographic association between the three patients and the assumed vector

Rhinitis in Swiss adults is associated with asthma and early life factors, but not second hand tobacco smoke or obesity

Background: Second hand tobacco smoke (SHS) and overweight/obesity are risk factors for asthma and lower airway respiratory symptoms. We investigated whether SHS or overweight/obesity were also associated with allergic or non-allergic rhinitis. Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained during the second SAPALDIA Study. Interviewer administered questionnaires were completed by 8047 participants from 8 communities in Switzerland. Blood was collected from 5841 participants and tested for allergen specific IgE. Allergic rhinitis was defined as nasal symptoms with detectable IgE. Data were analysed by multinomial logistic regression with four outcome categories defined according to the presence or absence of rhinitis and/or atopy. Results: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 885 (15.2%) and non-allergic rhinitis 323 (5.5%). The risk of allergic rhinitis was increased in subjects with physician diagnosed asthma (Relative Risk Ratio 6.81; 95%CI 5.39, 8.6), maternal atopy (1.56; 1.27, 1.92) and paternal atopy (1.41; 1.11, 1.79). Older subjects were at lower risk (0.96; 0.95,0.97 per year), as were those raised on a farm (0.64; 0.49,0.84), with older siblings (0.92; 0.86,0.97 per sib) or from rural areas. The risk of non-allergic rhinitis was also increased in subjects with physician diagnosed asthma (4.02; 2.86, 5.67), reduced in males (0.59; 0.46, 0.77), but not associated with upbringing on a farm or older siblings. There were no significant associations of SHS or overweight/obesity with either form of rhinitis. Conclusions: Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis have different risk factors apart from asthma. There are significant regional variations within Switzerland, which are not explained by the factors examined