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Purpose: The model of physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) provides an integrative and interdisciplinary view on the multitude of competencies that are necessary when people want to lead a physically active lifestyle. For further validation of this framework, the goal of the present study was to extend first measurement models on PAHCO (Sudeck & Pfeifer, 2016) and thereby contribute to the development of a standardized assessment tool. Method: In Study 1, a measurement model with five predictors on PAHCO was tested with 341 COPD patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. In Study 2, data from 745 apprentices were used to create an extended eight-factor measurement model. We undertook reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the validity of the models. Results: The analyses showed good results for the reliability and discriminant validity of the factors. Accordingly, the CFA revealed satisfactory overall fits for the five-factor as well as for the extended eight-factor measurement model. In addition, the significant associations with physical activity and physical health parameters indicated criterion validity of almost all PAHCO factors. The explained variance of the multivariate models lay between 9.8% and 10.4% in Study 1 and between 9.5% and 21.3% in Study 2.Conclusion: In the present study, it was possible to extract a well-fitting eight-factor measurement model and accumulate further evidence on the validity of the PAHCO model. Future research should strive for a cross-validation of the measurement model and more deeply investigate the internal structure of the eight factors.

The concept of physical literacy (PL) has gained increasing attention over the last decade and posits that individuals value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life through (a) motivation/confidence, (b) physical competence, and (c) knowledge/understanding. There is a mounting number of articles that have recently transformed the conceptual ideas of PL into interventions. The goal of this pre-registered (PROSPERO CRD42020188926) systematic review was to analyze and summarize PL interventions in terms of design and content. A total of 18 databases were searched drawing on the 2020 preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were English language, publication by November 2020, and interventions based on or inspired by PL. Articles that met these criteria were analyzed in relation to basic delivery characteristics, theoretical foundations, study objectives, intervention content, and potential links between the PL domains (a-c) and content. The multiphase screening process with two independent raters yielded 44 eligible interventions across 46 articles. The analyses of the review demonstrated that the majority of interventions were conducted on children or adolescents and in countries with higher economic development. While 77.3% of the interventions adopted a holistic understanding of PL, only 38.6% formulated study goals or intervention content to cover all the core PL domains. Importantly, only 25.0% of the interventions showed substantial links between PL domains and intervention content and can thus be classified as theory-based. Taken together, most interventions targeted aspects of physical competence (84.1%), whereas knowledge/understanding (59.1%) and motivation/confidence (47.7%) were often neglected. Therefore, future interventions should commit to systematically address all domains of PL simultaneously. PL interventions exposed weaknesses in reporting delivery characteristics and content. Finally, a model is suggested which assumes that practical PL efforts may better harmonize with PL theory and conception if they cultivated a tight interlocking with the three core domains of PL at all stages of the intervention process.

Apprentices in the area of nursing care and automotive mechatronics are exposed to increased health risks. In this context, the promotion of physical activity (PA) is considered an effective strategy for the assurance of work ability. The goal of the PArC-AVE study was therefore to better understand the role of PA for apprentices employed in these two sectors. In an exploratory study, 55 apprentices wore an ActiGraph accelerometer over seven consecutive days and were subject to activity analysis. The objective accelerometer data (18,979 &plusmn, 3780 steps/day, 471.00 &plusmn, 159.75 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA/week), complemented by questionnaire data, indicated that most met the volume-based PA recommendations. Subsequently, we conducted a multicenter study comprising 745 apprentices from six vocational education institutions. Path analyses showed that competencies for health-enhancing PA were significantly related to indicators of work ability (0.180 &le, b &le, 0.452) and psychophysical health (0.139 &le, 0.347), whereas mere volume of PA was not (-0.048 &le, 0.080). In summary, apprentices of nursing care and automotive mechatronics showed high levels of PA. However, the results highlight the importance of competencies for health-enhancing PA. The PAHCO model could provide a useful framework for the conceptualization of effective interventions.

Background: Health-related movement behaviour is multi-layered including sedentary behaviour and physical activities (PA) in different intensities. Objective: One aim of the STAR-study (Stay active after rehabilitation) was to identify objective patterns of PA and sitting in patients with COPD prior to rehabilitation (Geidl et al. Trials 2017; 18:396). Methods: 355 persons wore a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X) for one week before the start of their rehabilitation. Sociodemographic and disease-related parameters were assessed at the start of rehabilitation. We applied cluster analysis and compared clusters using univariate variance analyses. Results: Data were available for 326 persons (31.6% women; age o = 58 yr.). Cluster analysis revealed four movement clusters with distinct PA and sedentary time patterns (Figure 1): Couch potatoes (28.5%), highly sedentary (41.7%), sedentary movers (19.6%), and sedentary exercisers (10.1%). The groups differ significantly in GOLD severity, FEV1, CAT, and 6-Min-Walk-Test. Conclusion: People with COPD show very different levels of PA before rehabilitation. However, all clusters display a considerably long sitting time per day. In addition to PA promotion (Spruit et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2013; 188:e13-e64) rehabilitation programs should consider the reduction of sitting time as a valuable goal.

Patient-reported outcomes (PRO’s) are important in clinical decision making. Common PRO’s for COPD may provide limited insight into specific aspects of dyspnea or can be time-consuming to administer. We evaluated the use of 4 Dyspnea Numeric Rating Scales (NRS), measuring intensity and unpleasantness of dyspnea during both rest and activity as a PRO in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) of COPD patients. Patients (n=379, FEV1%=55±17) completed Dyspnea NRS, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Saint-George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), 2 weeks before (T0), at the start (T1) and end (T2) of PR. Spirometry and 6 min walking test (6MWT) was performed at T1 and T2. Global Rating of Change (GRC) was provided at T2. We assessed factor structure, reliability and validity of the NRS, assessed sensitivity to change, and estimated MCID. Single- and 2-factor solutions (rest and activity), explained 69% vs. 93% of variance, and had good internal consistency (αtotal=.85, αrest=.92, αactivity=.93). NRStotal had good test-retest reliability (ICC=.74). Correlations with SGRQ were high (rtotal=.75, rrest=.61, ractivity=.67); comparable to CAT-SGRQ correlations (r=.78). Change in NRS was associated with change in CAT (r=.52) and SGRQ (r=.51). None of the PRO’s correlated with changes in 6MWT or FEV1. NRS, CAT and SGRQ showed similar sensitivity to change (d=.74, .81, .76). Criterion- and reliability-based methods led to similar MCID estimates for NRS (GRC: 3-5, SEM: 4). Dyspnea NRS are easy to use and may provide a more comprehensive assessment of dyspnea compared to other PRO’s and. A 4-point change on the Dyspnea NRS implies reliable and clinically important change during PR in COPD.

Disease-specific fears predict health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their role in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) remains poorly understood and especially longer-term evaluations are lacking. We therefore investigated changes in disease-specific fears over the course of PR and six months after PR, and investigated associations with PR outcomes (COPD assessment test (CAT) and St. Georges respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ)) in a subset of patients with COPD (n = 146) undergoing a 3-week inpatient PR program as part of the STAR study (Clinicaltrials.gov, ID: NCT02966561). Disease-specific fears as measured with the COPD anxiety questionnaire improved after PR. For fear of dyspnea, fear of physical activity and fear of disease progression, improvements remained significant at six-month follow-up. Patients with higher disease-specific fears at baseline showed elevated symptom burden (CAT and SGRQ Symptom scores), which persisted after PR and at follow-up. Elevated disease-specific fears also resulted in reduced improvements in Quality of Life (SGRQ activity and impact scales) after PR and at follow-up. Finally, improvement in disease-specific fears was associated with improvement in symptom burden and quality of life. Adjustment for potential confounding variables (sex, smoking status, age, lung function, and depressive symptoms) resulted in comparable effects. These findings show the role of disease-specific fears in patients with COPD during PR and highlight the need to target disease-specific fears to further improve the effects of PR. ispartof: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE vol:8 issue:9 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Researchers consider motivation a key determinant of physical activity. In physical education (PE) and youth sport, the more children and adolescents evaluate their teachers and coaches to be autonomy supportive, as opposed to controlling, the more self-determined they are in their motivation. Therefore, it appears valuable to help PE teachers and youth sport coaches optimize their interactions with the individuals they work with. This study was designed to systematically review the literature related to autonomy support interventions with PE teachers and youth sport coaches. After relevant databases were searched and duplicates were removed, 1,523 potentially pertinent articles were found. These were subsequently screened based on specific inclusion criteria. This systematic review process helped identify 21 studies that were included for further analyses. Overall, the interventions were frequently successful in enhancing PE teachers’ and youth sport coaches’ behavior. Additional research appears justified to foster self-determined motivation among children and adolescence.

Antibodies are widely used in a large variety of research applications, for diagnostics and therapy of numerous diseases, primarily cancer and autoimmune diseases. Antibodies are binding specifically to target structures (antigens). The antigen-binding properties are not only dependent on the antibody sequence, but also on the discrete antigen region recognized by the antibody (epitope). Knowing the epitope is valuable information for the improvement of diagnostic assays or therapeutic antibodies, as well as to understand the immune response of a vaccine. While huge progress has been made in the pipelines for the generation and functional characterization of antibodies, the available technologies for epitope mapping are still lacking effectiveness in terms of time and effort. Also, no technique available offers the absolute guarantee of succeeding. Thus, research to develop and improve epitope mapping techniques is still an active field. Phage display from random peptide libraries or single-gene libraries are currently among the most exploited methods for epitope mapping. The first is based on the generation of mimotopes and it is fastened to the need of high-throughput sequencing and complex bioinformatic analysis. The second provides original epitope sequences without requiring complex analysis or expensive techniques, but depends on further investigation to define the functional amino acids within the epitope. In this book chapter, we describe how to perform epitope mapping by antigen fragment phage display from single-gene antigen libraries and how to construct these types of libraries. Thus, we also provide figures and analysis to demonstrate the actual potential of this technique and to prove the necessity of certain procedural steps.

Background: The promotion of physical activity (PA) is a central goal of pulmonary rehabilitation. For Germany, data on PA levels of individuals with COPD is rarely available. The aim was to classify the PA and sedentary behaviour of individuals with COPD before rehabilitation. Methods: 334 persons wore a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph wGT3X) for one week before starting rehabilitation. Age, sex, quality of life (COPD Assessment Test: CAT, Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire: SGRQ), and physical functioning (6-Min-Walk-Test) were assessed. Six groups were built based on PA of at least moderate intensity (inactive: Results: 287 persons (32% women; age o = 55.0 years) offered complete accelerometer data. The groups were distributed as: Inactive/low sitting (1.1%), inactive/high sitting (14.5%), somewhat active/low sitting (1.1%), somewhat active/high sitting (24.4%), sufficient active/low sitting (18.7%), sufficient active/high sitting (40.3%). The groups differed significantly for CAT (p Discussion: Before starting pulmonary rehabilitation, almost half of the persons with COPD showed a sedentary, physically inactive lifestyle. The following results of this study will prove the success of pulmonary rehabilitation to promote sustained PA (Geidl et al. Trials 2017; 18:396).

Vulvar carcinoma is a rare disease that accounts for 3–5% of all gynecologic malignancies. Breast represents an unusual site of metastasis and only a few cases are reported. We describe the first case of bilateral metastatic breast carcinoma of vulvar origin, at an 80-year-old female patient. Six months after treatment of her primary disease, she presented with bilateral metastatic squamous cell breast carcinoma. Diagnosis was based on clinical, radiological, and histological facts. Breast although rare is another potential site of metastasis in vulvar cancer and thus mammary gland examination should be considered in the follow-up of these patients. Differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic lesions is of utmost importance for appropriate management.

The recent introduction of integrase inhibitors (INIs) into the HIV treatment armentarium has had a significant impact on HIV treatment. However, at present, raltegravir twice daily is the only licensed INI featuring a lower genetic barrier compared with boosted protease inhibitors. S/GSK1349572 represents a new INI in current development. It is a once-daily, unboosted INI with low pharmacokinetic variability and predictable exposure-response relationship. Phase IIb studies in antiretroviral-naïve patients have demonstrated non-inferiority to efavirenz-based HIV therapy. Phase II studies in INI-experienced patients show partially retained activity in vivo. Overall, the safety profile of S/GSK1349572 in all studies completed has been very favorable.A Pubmed and Medline search was carried out on all articles on S/GSK1349572 from 2005 to 2010, including recent abstract presentations from major HIV conferences (CROI 2010, WAC2010, EACS2009, HIV10 and ICAAC2010). The reader will become acquainted with the unique properties of this new INI and will understand the current promises and challenges of the data available from S/GSK1349572.S/GSK1349572 represents a new, unboosted, once-daily INI in development with distinct pharmacokinetics and resistance profile, which has showed promising potency and tolerability in the first clinical studies.

Numerous investigations have demonstrated efficiencies of different disinfection methods, but until now only little is known about long-term effects on community compositions of drinking water biofilms. Changes in the community structure, especially regrowth of hygienically relevant microorganisms could be critical for the drinking water quality. In this study the long-term effect of disinfection methods on biofilm communities in drinking water systems was analysed. Old drinking water biofilms grown in silicone tubes were exposed to different preparations of disinfectants (free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide combined with fruit acid, silver and silver with peracetic acid, respectively) and subsequently further exposed in the original drinking water. The comparison of the treated and regrown biofilm populations with untreated ones by the DNA-fingerprinting method denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed a considerable population shift caused by the disinfectants. The disinfection methods induced a selection pressure on the biofilm populations depending on the composition and concentrations. The similarities between the treated and untreated biofilms were generally low. Compared to preparations with peracetic acid the disinfection with hydrogen peroxide and silver resulted in higher similarities of the treated and untreated biofilms, but the microbial diversity increased. It can be concluded that the disinfectants have a major impact on the drinking water biofilm communities and that possibly the intervention selects persisters and microorganisms, which can live on the residuals of the dead biofilm cells. For the evaluation of the efficiency of disinfection methods in drinking water installations it is necessary not only to consider reduction of certain bacteria but also to pay attention to the biofilm community.

Previous investigations of biofilms, generated in a silicone tube model have shown that the number of colony forming units (CFU) can reach 10(7)/cm(2), the total cell count (TCC) of microorganisms can be up to 10(8)cells/cm(2). The present study focuses on the situation in in-building distribution systems. Different chemical disinfectants were tested for their efficacy on drinking water biofilms in silicone tubes: free chlorine (electrochemically activated), chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), silver, and fruit acids. With regard to the widely differing manufacturers' instructions for the usage of their disinfectants three different variations of the silicone tube model were developed to simulate practical use conditions. First the continuous treatment, second the intermittent treatment, third the efficacy of external disinfection treatment and the monitoring for possible biofilm formation with the Hygiene-Monitor. The working experience showed that it is important to know how to handle the individual disinfectants. Every active ingredient has its own optimal application concerning its concentration, exposure time, physical parameters like pH, temperature or redox potential. When used correctly all products tested were able to reduce the CFU to a value below the detection limit. Most of the active ingredients could not significantly reduce the TCC/cm(2), which means that viable microorganisms may still be present in the system. Thus the question arises what happened with these cells? In some cases SEM pictures of the biofilm matrix after a successful disinfection still showed biofilm residues. According to these results, no general correlation between CFU/cm(2), TCC/cm(2) and the visualised biofilm matrix on the silicone tube surface (SEM) could be demonstrated after a treatment with disinfectants.

Die Cochlea-Implantat (CI)-Forschung ist ständig bestrebt, CI-Elektroden weiterzuentwickeln sowie neue Implantattypen zu etablieren, um einen immer besseren Höreindruck bei den CI-Patienten zu erzeugen. Ein entscheidendes Ziel in diesem Zusammenhang ist es, chronische Entzündungsprozesse und fibrotische Gewebeproliferationen, die als Reaktion auf den implantierten Fremdkörper in der Cochlea auftreten können, zu minimieren. So können bindegewebige Einkapselungen des Implantates zu einer Erhöhung der Impedanzen an den Elektrodenkontakten und damit zu einer geringeren Spannbreite in der Dynamik, also dem Lautstärkebereich, führen. Weiterhin können die cochleäre Mechanik wie auch die Signaltransduktion zum Hörnerv durch fibrotische Gewebereaktionen beeinträchtigt werden. Darüber hinaus können chronisch inflammatorische Prozesse eine fortschreitende Zerstörung sensorineuraler Strukturen in der Cochlea verursachen. Es gibt verschiedene Ansätze, diesen implantationsbedingten chronischen Entzündungsprozessen und fibrotischen Proliferationen entgegenzuwirken. Eine erfolgversprechende Methode zielt darauf ab, die chemische Zusammensetzung der Materialien auf der Oberfläche des Implantates zu modifizieren. Poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazen] (PTFEP) ist ein hoch biokompatibles, anorganisches Polymer, das bereits erfolgreich als passivierende Oberflächenbeschichtung von kardiovaskulären Stents eingesetzt wird. In dieser in-vivo Studie am Meerschweinchen-Modell wurde PTFEP erstmals als Oberflächenbeschichtung von CIs untersucht. Impedanzuntersuchungen und ABR-Hörmessungen implantierter Meerschweinchen (mit oder ohne Beschichtung) wurden zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten nach der Implantation (Woche 1, 2, 5, 9, 12 und 16) durchgeführt. Ferner wurde 16 Wochen nach der Implantation eine abschließende histologische Untersuchung der Cochleae einschließlich einer immunhistologischen Analyse von degenerierten Spiralganglienzellen (SGN) vorgenommen. Obwohl die Hörmessungen zwar in keinem Frequenzbereich einen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen beiden Gruppen ergaben, zeigten Meerschweinchen mit beschichteten Implantaten dennoch ein zumindest tendenziell besseres Hörvermögen in den hohen Frequenzbereichen (4-32 kHz). Die histologische Untersuchung zeigte bei Cochleae mit beschichteten Implantaten zudem eine signifikant geringere lymphoplasmatische Infiltration der basalen Windung (p = 0,012). Ein überraschendes und zugleich positives Ergebnis war außerdem, dass der SGN-Verlust in der basalen Windung bei beschichteten Implantaten gegenüber unbeschichteten Implantaten nach 16 Wochen signifikant geringer war (p = 0,003). Trotz dieser vielversprechenden Resultate sind dennoch weiterführende Untersuchungen nötig, da bei beiden Implantat-Typen kein signifikanter Unterschied hinsichtlich der Anzahl an Fremdkörperriesenzellen (p = 0,800) zu erkennen war. Weiterhin konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede hinsichtlich der bindegewebigen Proliferationen (p = 0,382) und der Knochenneubildung (p = 0,239) beobachtet werden. Es ist daher davon auszugehen, dass eine PTFEP-Beschichtung keinen direkten Einfluss auf die bindegewebigen Proliferationen um das Implantat hatte und eine Fremdkörperreaktion auf das Implantat in der Cochlea nicht unterdrücken konnte. Ein unerwartetes Ergebnis ergaben auch die Impedanzmessungen. Die Ausgangsmessungen an Tag 0 unmittelbar nach der Implantation zeigten bei beschichteten Implantaten signifikant geringere Impedanzwerte im Vergleich zu unbeschichteten Implantaten (basaler Elektrodenkontakt: p = 0,019, apikaler Elektrodenkontakt: p = 0,024). Ab dem nächsten Messzeitpunkt Woche 1 bis zum Messzeitpunkt Woche 12 jedoch waren die Impedanzen bei den PTFEP-beschichteten Implantaten signifikant größer statt, wie zu erwarten war, kleiner. Die Ursachen für dieses überraschende Ergebnis konnten in dieser Untersuchung allerdings nicht hinreichend geklärt werden und müssen in Folgestudien weiter evaluiert werden. Die Studie konnte zeigen, dass die hoch biokompatible Beschichtung möglicherweise einer mononukleären Infiltration in der basalen Windung und einer Degeneration von Spiralganglienzellen nach der Implantation entgegenwirkt. Diese passive Beschichtung scheint daher ein vielversprechender Ansatz zur Verbesserung künftiger Implantate zu sein, möglicherweise in Kombination mit anti-inflammatorischen, pharmakologisch aktiven Substanzen, wie beispielsweise Glukokortikoiden. Dennoch wird es notwendig sein, weitere Untersuchung durchzuführen, da andere Parameter in der histologischen Untersuchung sowie die Hörmessungen keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen beschichteten und unbeschichteten Implantaten ergaben. Auch führten die Impedanzmessungen zu unerwarteten Ergebnissen und bedürfen einer Evaluation in weiteren Untersuchungen.

Ziel dieser Studie ist die Untersuchung des Effektes von Moxifloxazin auf die zerebrale Inflammation und das neurologische Outcome bei Ratten nach extrakorporaler Zirkulation (EKZ) mit 45 Minuten tief hypothermem Kreislaufstillstand (DHCA). 24 Stunden nach diesem Eingriff zeigen die mit Moxifloxazin behandelten Tiere bei fehlender Infektion zwar eine deutlich reduzierte Inflammationsreaktion im Gehirn, jedoch ohne das histologische Bild oder die neurologische Funktion zu verbessern. Es ist anzunehmen, dass nach EKZ mit DHCA die zerebrale Inflammation an den neurologischen Schädigungen nicht oder nur in geringem Maße beteiligt ist. This study investigated whether moxifloxacine treatment influences cerebral inflammation and neurological outcome after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in rats. At 24 postoperative hours, moxifloxacine treatment improved the cerebral inflammatory reaction in the absence of postoperative infection. The fact that this significantly reduced cerebral inflammation had no impact on histologic or neurological outcome adds another piece of evidence toward the theory that inflammation after CPB is likely an epiphenomenon and not the main culprit in postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction.

Although HIV has become a treatable disease with near to normal life expectancy, the quest for the development of better tolerated drugs with simple dosing schedules and a high barrier to the emergence of drug resistance remains. Vicriviroc is a small-molecule chemokine receptor antagonist that inhibits the binding of R5-tropic HIV-1 to host cells at the CC-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) co-receptor, thus, preventing viral entry. CCR5 inhibitors are believed to possibly decrease inflammation from the immune system and thereby offer additional properties further to their antiretroviral efficacy.This review is based on a PubMed search covering the years 2005 - 2010 for pharmacokinetic, pharmacological and clinical data of vicriviroc.In this review, the pharmacokinetic, pharmacological and clinical data of vicriviroc are presented. Moreover, the potential role of vicriviroc in the growing HIV armamentarium is discussed.Vicriviroc is being developed to be administered in combination with a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor for patients with R5-tropic virus. Early clinical trials have established the safety of vicriviroc in both treatment-naive and -experienced R5-tropic HIV-1 infected individuals. Recently, two Phase III clinical trials in treatment-experienced patients failed to prove its superiority over available HIV medications. Phase III trials for treatment-naive patients are still under planning. Clearly, more favorable study results are needed to move vicriviroc into drug registration and approval.

Helicobacter pylori is a cause of peptic ulcer disease and a causative agent of gastric cancer. Currently, a possible waterborne route of transmission or a possible survival in drinking water biofilms is discussed. H. pylori, like many other bacterial strains, has the ability to enter the viable but nonculturable state (vbnc) in case of unfavorable conditions. Therefore it is necessary to develop new analysis tools for vbnc bacteria. We established a fast and reliable method to detect H. pylori in drinking water biofilms by quantitative real-time PCR which makes it redundant to use difficult cultivation methods for nonculturable bacteria. With this method it was possible to identify water biofilms as a niche for H. pylori. The real-time PCR analysis targets the ureA subunit of the Helicobacter pylori urea gene which showed high specificity and sensitivity. The quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect H. pylori in biofilms of different age, unspiked and spiked with predetermined levels of cells. The drinking water biofilms were generated in a silicone-tube model. The DNA-sequences for probe and primers showed no cross-homologies to other related bacteria and it was possible to detect less than 10 genomic units of H. pylori. This novel method is a useful tool for a fast screening of drinking water biofilms for H. pylori. The results suggest that drinking water biofilms may act as a reservoir for H. pylori which raises new concerns about the role of biofilms as vectors for pathogens like Helicobacter pylori.

The hypothesis that iron toxicity is the result of a multiple nutritional stress (deficiencies in P, K, Ca and Mg) was studied in the greenhouse (pot experiments) using a typical iron toxic soil and the rice varieties IR 22 (susceptible to iron toxicity) and IR 42 (relatively tolerant). During the growth period the effect of N, P, K, Ca + Mg‐fertillzation on Fe(II)‐formation, the total rhizosflora (reflected by the dehydrogenase activity), iron reducing microorganisms (total number and N2‐fixing), Fe‐reducing bacteria) as well as on the sulfate reducing bacteria was investigated by regular sampling. Plant and root samples were analysed for total Fe and N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Though the total number of iron reducing bacteria increased with fertilization, Fe(II)‐formation and dehydrogenase activity was much more intensive in the rhizosphere of the unfertilized treatment transplanted to IR 22. Population densities of the strictly anaerobic N2‐fixing Fe‐ or sulfate reducers in the unfertilized pots were...

To explain the mechanism of iron toxicity, greenhouse and growth chamber (14CO2 atmosphere) experiments were carried out. In pot experiments (with a typical iron-toxic soil and a fertile clay) we studied the effect of N, P, K and Ca+Mg fertilization (alone or in combination) on dehydrogenase activity, Fe++ formation, and the populations of iron-reducing bacteria in the rhizosphere of rice IR22 and IR42. Fe uptake by the plants was measured at regular intervals. Dehydrogenase activity, the number of N2-fixing iron-reducing bacteria, and the formation and uptake of Fe++ decreased with increased supply of K, Ca, and Mg. This effect was clearer with IR22 (susceptible to iron toxicity) than with IR42 (releatively tolerant). Increased exudation and Fe uptake by IR36 at low nutrient and high Fe supply were recorded in a growth chamber experiment. Nutritional conditions, exudation rate (a measure of metabolic root leakage), the iron-reducing activity of the rhizosphere, and Fe++ uptake by wetland rice appear to be clearly related. Iron toxicity is considered a physiological disorder caused by multiple nutritional soil stress rather than by a low pH and high Fe supply per se.

Enth��lt: Ansprache von Pfarrer Harald Marthaler; Ansprache von Herrn Paul Dr. Meyer, Rektor des Progymnasiums; Ansprache von Herrn Regierungsrat L. Merz; Ansprache von Herrn Prof. Dr. Ph. Woker, Pr��sident der Schulkommission des Gymnasiums; Gebet von Herrn Pfr. C. Pestalozzi-Finsler in St. Gallen.

Digiteeritud Euroopa Regionaalarengu Fondi rahastusel, projekti "Eesti teadus- ja õppekirjandus" (2014-2020.12.03.21-0848) raames., https://www.ester.ee/record=b1874249*est

http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2017354~S1*est

The international endeavour to retrieve a continuous ice core, which spans the middle Pleistocene climate transition ca. 1.2–0.9 Myr ago, encompasses a multitude of field and model-based pre-site surveys. We expand on the current efforts to locate a suitable drilling site for the oldest Antarctic ice core by means of 3-D continental ice-sheet modelling. To this end, we present an ensemble of ice-sheet simulations spanning the last 2 Myr, employing transient boundary conditions derived from climate modelling and climate proxy records. We discuss the imprint of changing climate conditions, sea level and geothermal heat flux on the ice thickness, and basal conditions around previously identified sites with continuous records of old ice. Our modelling results show a range of configurational ice-sheet changes across the middle Pleistocene transition, suggesting a potential shift of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to a marine-based configuration. Despite the middle Pleistocene climate reorganisation and associated ice-dynamic changes, we identify several regions conducive to conditions maintaining 1.5 Myr (million years) old ice, particularly around Dome Fuji, Dome C and Ridge B, which is in agreement with previous studies. This finding strengthens the notion that continuous records with such old ice do exist in previously identified regions, while we are also providing a dynamic continental ice-sheet context.