Search

For many years, concern about the environmental and social consequences of global production and trade was not very high on the public agenda. The collapse of once abundant natural resources, such as the Grand Bank cod fishery in 1992, the disaster at Rhana Plaza in April 2013 that led to the deaths of more than one thousand workers in the garment industry, and many other examples have increased awareness among consumers and industry. They have realised that global production and trade have unintended environmental and social effects that need to be controlled. Sustainability standards are broadly accepted as an instrument to mitigate or avoid these effects. The compliance with certain standards has become, in many sectors, a de facto ‘licence to operate’. Thus, it is not a surprise that environmental and social standards ‘pop up’ all over the world and in nearly every sector: as of October 2019, the Ecolabel Index lists 463 ecolabels in 25 industry sectors, around two thirds of which emerged in the last decade (Poynton 2015). They are set by different organisations, build on different system architectures, and often reflect individual histories. On the demand side, the need for transparent and secure value chains has become so high that a completely new business segment has developed: the offer for certification, auditing, and consultancy services around standard implementation has developed into a highly competitive and steadily growing market.

Optical sources that deterministically produce single photons with a high suppression of multi-photon emission and a negligible background component are promising candidates for standard sources for quantum metrology, quantum communication and foundations of quantum mechanics. In this paper, the photon number distribution of non-classical light emitted by nitrogen vacancy (NV) centres in nano-diamonds is studied by three different experimental techniques. The photon number resolving transition edge sensor (TES) detector and the On/Off detection method are applied to determine the diagonal elements of the optical density matrix. From the data measured by the two methods the second order correlation function at time delay zero is calculated and compared with the g2(0)-values obtained by Hanbury Brown?Twiss (HBT) interferometric measurements. Among the g2(0)-values evaluated with the three techniques, we found good agreement in the results for a single photon emitter with a g2(0)-value close to zero and a multi-photon source with a g2(0)-value of approximately 0.5.

In this work we report on the optical investigation of Zn doped GaN films fabricated by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The samples show bright emission in the blue spectral range around 2.9 eV when Si codoping is provided. This emission is suggested to be used for single-photon emission, thus the density of the Zn-Si pairs was drastically reduced leading to a decrease of the blue luminescence. For electrically excited single-photon sources these Zn-Si pairs have to be incorporated into LEDs, therefore we fabricated GaN-based nano-LEDs which show electroluminescence at 430 nm (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A widespread use of various relative calibration techniques is established in order to realize reliable and low uncertainty measurements of the detection efficiency, which is one key parameter characterizing single photon detectors. In the following paper we will present an approach to evaluate the relative detection efficiency of single photon avalanche photo diode (SPAD) detectors compared to a standard detector. This calibration technique is based upon the fiber-coupled relative efficiency calibration of analogue detectors, used in fiber-optic communication. For the first time, to our knowledge, an intrinsic single photon source based on the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond was used for this purpose. Furthermore, the possible influence of different photon statistics, arising from different irradiation sources like thermal sources or lasers on the calibration results for the fiber exchange method has been theoretically studied.

The native precursors E/Z-1a to E/Z-1e and 2a–2e of the antifungally active benzoxepines E/Z-1 and 2 have been isolated from intact fruiting bodies of Mycena galopus. These precursors turned out to be fatty acid esters of the benzoxepines (pterulones) E/Z-1 and 2. Metabolic profiling of ethyl acetate extracts from intact fruiting bodies, from the latex and from mechanically wounded fruiting bodies revealed that the known antifungally active benzoxepines E/Z-1 and the previously unknown benzoxepines 2 are only present in injured fruiting bodies. Intact fruiting bodies and the latex, however, exclusively contain the corresponding ester derivatives E/Z-1a to E/Z-1e and 2a–2e. Unlike the antifungally active benzoxepines E/Z-1 and 2, the esters E/Z-1a to E/Z-1e present in intact fruiting bodies turned out to be inactive. Upon injury the inactive esters E/Z-1a to E/Z-1e are cleaved by a putative esterase, and the bioactive benzoxepines E/Z-1 and 2 are released, suggesting a wound-activated defence mechanism of M. galopus against yeasts and parasitic fungi. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

Four so far unknown red alkaloid pigments, haematopodin B (1) and the mycenarubins D (3), E (5) and F (6), were isolated from fruiting bodies of Mycena haematopus. The structures of these pyrroloquinoline alkaloids were established by 2D NMR spectroscopic and MS (ESI) methods. Their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of their CD spectra with that of haematopodin (2) or mycenarubin A (4). Metabolic profiling of the red pigments of intact and injured fruiting bodies revealed that the known degradation product haematopodin (2) originates from haematopodin B (1), which is the native main pigment of M. haematopus.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

Two previously unknown blue alkaloid pigments, sanguinone A (1) and sanguinone B (2), and one new red indoloquinone alkaloid, sanguinolentaquinone (3), have been isolated from Mycena sanguinolenta fruiting bodies. In addition, decarboxydehydrosanguinone A (4) was identified as an oxidative decarboxylation artifact of 1. The structures of these alkaloids have been established by 2D NMR and ESIMS methods. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by comparison of their CD spectra with the CD spectrum of mycenarubin A (5), which we isolated recently from fruiting bodies of the mushroom Mycena rosea. The sanguinones are structurally related not only to the mycenarubins A (5) and B but also to a large number of marine alkaloids such as the discorhabdins.

Two previously unknown red alkaloid pigments, mycenarubin A (1), and a dimer thereof, mycenarubin B (6), have been isolated from fruiting bodies of Mycena rosea and the structures of these pyrroloquinoline alkaloids have been established by 2D NMR and ESI-MS methods. Their absoluteconfigurations were determined by comparison of their CD spectra with the CD spectrum of a synthetic model compound. The fungal pigments are structurally related to the damirones, isolated from a marine sponge, and may be biosynthetically derived from tryptophan and S-adenosylmethionine.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)

Three new chlorinated phenols have been isolated from mycelial cultures of the mushroom Mycena alcalina. Their structures were determined by mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Addition of bromide to the medium resulted in the production of the corresponding brominated phenols. In addition, small amounts of the nonhalogenated precursor were also isolated, indicating that the halogenated metabolites are generated by a regioselectively operating halogenase.

Das Ziel dieser Studie war die klinische Evaluation von Patienten mit Tieftonrestgehor, die fur die kombinierte, ipsilaterale elektrisch akustische Stimulation (EAS) des auditorischen Systems mit einem Kochleaimplantat versorgt wurden. 18 Patienten mit Tieftonrestgehor wurden mit einem MED-EL-Combi-40+-Kochleaimplantat versorgt. Eine modifizierte chirurgische Implantationstechnik zum Erhalt des Restgehors wurde bei allen Patienten angewandt. Die Elektrodeneinfuhrtiefe betrug 18–22 mm (360°). Reintonaudiometrische Schwellen wurden pra- und postoperativ gemessen. Umfangreiche sprachaudiometrische Untersuchungen wurden an 2 Patienten durchgefuhrt. Bei 16 von 18 Patienten (88,9%) konnte das Restgehor zumindest teilweise erhalten werden. Ein kompletter Erhalt des Restgehors war in 7 Fallen (38,9%), und ein partieller Horerhalt bei 9 Patienten (50,0%) moglich. Sprachaudiometrische Untersuchungen bei 2 Patienten mit Langzeiterfahrungen zeigen einen synergistischen Effekt fur die kombinierte, ipsilaterale elektrisch-akustische Stimulation gegenuber der alleinigen elektrischen Stimulation mit dem Kochleaimplantat. Bei Verwendung einer atraumatischen Implantationstechnik kann bei einer Einfuhrtiefe von 18–22 mm (360°) der MED-EL-Elektrode das Tieftonrestgehor mit groser Wahrscheinlichkeit erhalten werden. Sprachdiskriminationstests zeigen einen synergistischen Effekt der kombinierten elektrisch-akustischen Stimulation, vor allem im Storschall. Durch eine 360°-Insertion wird eine vollwertige Implantatfunktion erreicht. Mit dem Kochleaimplantat allein zeigten die EAS-Patienten Sprachdiskriminationswerte, die uber dem Durchschnitt von regular implantierten Kochleaimplantatpatienten liegen.

BACKGROUND Tissue microarrays (TMAs) are still seldom used in oncological research, especially that involving otorhinolaryngology, although the benefit of this method has often been reported. METHODS We prepared ten different tumor probes from patients with head and neck cancer for immunohistochemistry and performed ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining on the usual paraffin sections as well as on TMAs consisting of the same tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We conclude that investigation by means of TMA makes oncological research, and especially the screening of tumor probes, much more efficient since a high correlation ( r>0.7, P

We present some Quantum Tomography related results recently obtained in the Quantum Optics labs of the National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM). Initially we describe the first experimental implementation of a new protocol for the reconstruction of a photon-number-resolving (PNR) detector’s POVM (Positive Operator-Valued Measure): such a protocol, exploiting the strong quantum correlations of an ancillary state, results more robust and efficient than its classical counterparts. The second part of the paper focuses on the quantum characterization of a transition-edge sensor (TES) based PNR detector, i.e. the experimental tomography of the POVM of a TES, with a method based on a quorum of coherent probes: we show the reconstruction of the POVM elements up to 11 detected photons and 100 incoming photons, demonstrating the linearity of such a device. Finally, we present a method for the experimental reconstruction of the modal structure of multimode optical fields exploiting a single measurement of higher-order photon number autocorrelation functions. We show our reconstructions of up to three different modes per optical state, demonstrating the excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions and the robustness of our method itself.

We present a simple method to reconstruct the mode distribution of multimode classical and nonclassical optical fields using a single measurement of higher-order photon number correlation functions. Knowing the underlying number and structure of occupied modes of a light field plays a crucial role in minimizing loss and decoherence of quantum information. Typically, full characterization of the mode structure involves a series of several separate measurements in spatial, temporal, frequency, and polarization domains. We experimentally demonstrate reconstruction of up to three modes with excellent agreement and study the robustness of our method in experimentally realizable regimes.

We report on the single photon emission of bunched NV-centres by focusing on different spatial fractions of the emission spot, which shows that g(2)(0)

One key element in further development of quantum information processing systems is the ability to prepare single photon states, which in practice is still difficult. While attenuated lasers obey Poissonian statistics, current single photon sources are imperfect, because their second order correlation function g(2)(t = 0) is non-zero, implying residual multiphoton emission [1]. Various experimental method has been developed to analyse an unknown quantum state using i.e. photon number resolving detectors, quantum homodyne tomography as well as techniques based on e.g. the reconstruction of the optical density matrix providing information on the photon number distribution [2].

Over the past ten years an increasing interest for improved single photon technology has been come up in research fields as diverse as optical quantum information technology, laser ranging, remote sensing, astronomy or biomedical imaging. In this context metrological validation of single photon sources and detectors are expected to have an immediate impact on further industrial needs of prospective standards and certifications from national metrology institutes (NMIs). Worldwide research programs for absolute single photon detector calibration exist at several NMIs, preferably dealing with parametric down-conversion [1]. Despite of this, a widespread use of various relative calibration techniques is established in order to realise reliable and low uncertainty measurements of the detection efficiency, which is one key parameter characterising single photon detectors.

Four so far unknown red alkaloid pigments, haematopodin B (1) and the mycenarubins D (3), E (5) and F (6), were isolated from fruiting bodies of Mycena haematopus. The structures of these pyrroloquinoline alkaloids were established by 2D NMR spectroscopic and MS (ESI) methods. Their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of their CD spectra with that of haematopodin (2) or mycenarubin A (4). Metabolic profiling of the red pigments of intact and injured fruiting bodies revealed that the known degradation product haematopodin (2) originates from haematopodin B (1), which is the native main pigment of M. haematopus.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

The proto-oncogene pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) is described as abundantly over-expressed in a variety of neoplasms with impact on neovascularization and tumor invasiveness. Based on these findings, we raised the question as to whether PTTG is a target for an anti-tumor therapy.To investigate the impact of PTTG depletion on the human cervical cancer cell line HELA-S3, we used antisense-oligodesoxynucleotides (antisense-ODNs) and subjected them to in vitro transfection experiments. The PTTG mRNA level was determined by RT-PCR (45 cycles) and PTTG protein levels were determined by Western blot experiments. The impact of PTTG depletion on cell growth was determined 24, 48 and 72 hours post transfection by the trypan blue exclusion method.We found an antisense-ODN effective in down-regulation of PTTG mRNA and protein level. Furthermore, transfection resulted in a significant growth inhibitory effect as well as an increased level of apoptotic figures.Our studies revealed an anti-tumor potential for this target in cancer therapy.

Recent studies on polychemotherapy of head and neck cancer showed an improved remission rate on adding taxanes to the standard cytotoxic drugs cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Moreover, for enhancing the response rate of chemotherapy today, a series of biological response modifiers are of interest, including modulators of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Therefore we investigated whether the addition of monoclonal antibodies against the EGFR could enhance the response rate of cisplatin, 5-FU and docetaxel. Squamous cell cancer lines were transplanted into nude mice. After tumors had begun to grow, they were treated either with cisplatin, 5-FU or docetaxel alone or in combination with escalating doses of a humanized monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody.

To evaluate the possibility of preservation of low-frequency hearing in atraumatic cochlear implant electrode insertion procedures for combined, ipsilateral electric and acoustic stimulation.A total of 21 patients were implanted with a MED EL C40+ cochlear implant using an atraumatic electrode insertion technique to preserve residual low-frequency hearing. Pure-tone audiometric thresholds were measured pre- and postoperatively to evaluate the degree of preserved hearing. Speech discrimination tests in quiet and with background noise were performed in a patient with successful hearing preservation.Using the atraumatic electrode insertion procedure with an insertion depth of 360 degrees (18-24 mm), hearing preservation could be achieved in 18/21 patients (85.7%). Three patients (14.3%) lost their residual low-frequency hearing after the implantation. Residual hearing was preserved completely in 13 patients (61.9%) and partial hearing preservation was possible in 5 (23.8%). Preliminary speech discrimination tests showed a dramatic benefit for the combined electric and acoustic stimulation mode compared to cochlear implantation alone.Preservation of low-frequency hearing in cochlear implantation is possible in patients implanted because of profound high-frequency deafness. With the development of new, more atraumatic electrode designs, preservation of residual hearing should be further improved.

Recent studies on polychemotherapy of head and neck cancer have shown an improved remission rate on adding taxanes to the standard cytotoxic drugs cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Moreover, for enhancing the response rate of chemotherapy today, a series of biological response modifiers are of interest including modulators of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Therefore we investigated whether the addition of monoclonal antibodies against the EGFR could enhance the response rate of cisplatin, 5-FU and docetaxel. Squamous cell cancer lines were transplated on nude mice. After tumors had begun to grow, they were treated either with cisplatin, 5-FU and docetaxel alone or in combination with escalating doses of a humanized monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody. Comparing with controls, docetaxel alone as well as the combination of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-FU resulted in a significant tumor growth delay. The antibody alone also slowed down the tumor growth significantly at each concentration. Nevertheless, neither chemotherapy agents nor antibody alone yielded complete tumor remissions over an observation period up to 6 weeks. Only the combination of cisplatin, 5-FU, docetaxel and the antibody resulted in highly significant complete tumor remissions. Therefore we can show for the first time that the effect of TPF, which is now used as a novel Phase II protocol for induction chemotherapy in head and neck cancer, could be highly significantly enhanced through the addition of anti-EGFR antibodies. Because we did not observe an increased toxicity in the animal experiments, TPF/anti-EGFR therapy may define a new strategy in the induction treatment of head and neck carcinomas.

Recent studies on polychemotherapy of head and neck cancer showed an improved remission rate on adding taxanes to the standard cytotoxic drugs cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Moreover, for enha

Objectives: Evaluation was made of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in nasal secretion for measuring the degree of nasal inflammation and monitoring response to therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Symptoms and findings in regard to ECP levels before and after treatment were described. Study Design: Study was prospective, with 21 CF patients aged 4 to 19 years; 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. Collection of nasal secretion by a sponge was performed, and blood samples were obtained for serum. Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were classified according to nasal symptoms and findings. Methods: ECP was measured by fluoro-immunoassay. Age, sex, nasal symptoms, and endoscopic and histological findings were obtained, and examinations were conducted before and after treatment ; recurrences were recorded. Results: In CF patients with chronic nasal inflammation, increased nasal levels of ECP were detected when compared with asymptomatic CF patients or healthy nonatopic subjects. ECP concentrations were strongly related to the extent of nasal disease; patients with nasal polyps had higher levels than those without. Checked at 1 and 4 months after treatment, ECP levels declined with regression of symptoms, and in patients with exacerbation of nasal disease, ECP levels rose. Conclusions: According to our study, there is a relationship between levels of ECP in nasal secretions and the degrees of nasal inflammation. In addition, the measurement of ECP could be useful in monitoring nasal disease in CF patients.

The cover picture shows the mushroom Mycena rosea whose fruiting bodies contain two new red pyrroloquinoline alkaloids named mycenarubin A and B. So far, pyrroloquinoline alkaloids are mainly known from marine sources. The new secondary metabolites have been detected by means of a comparative HPLC profiling of the fruiting bodies and the mycelial cultures. The absolute configuration of the mycenarubins was established by a stereoselective synthesis of the model compound (S)-4-carboxydamirone C and comparison of its CD spectrum with the CD spectra of the mycenarubins. Details are discussed in the article by S. Peters and P. Spiteller on p. 1571 ff.

Knowing the mode structure of light aids in minimizing loss and decoherence of quantum information. We present and experimentally implement reconstruction of the mode distributions of classical and non-classical light using measured photon number distributions.