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The article reports on a conference on the representation of urban spaces in texts, visual culture, and cartography in comparative perspective, which was held in Münster, Germany, on March 19-20, 2012. Topics discussed included the history of several cities and towns, such as Jerusalem, Paris, and Naples, in the Middle Ages and the early modern period, the history of city marketing, and the representation of urban social problems in the United States in film and television programs.

Honeybee colonies ( Apis mellifera) maintain temperatures of 35–36°C in their brood nest because the brood needs high and constant temperature conditions for optimal development. We show that incubation of the brood at the level of individual honeybees is done by worker bees performing a particular and not yet specified behaviour: such bees raise the brood temperature by pressing their warm thoraces firmly onto caps under which the pupae develop. The bees stay motionless in a characteristic posture and have significantly higher thoracic temperatures than bees not assuming this posture in the brood area. The surface of the brood caps against which warm bees had pressed their thorax were up to 3.2°C warmer than the surrounding area, confirming that effective thermal transfer had taken place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of invasive Candida infection remains challenging because of tests with slow turnaround times or mediocre performance. T2magnetic resonance imaging is a new diagnostic tool. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of the T2Candida panel (T2) in comparison with blood culture (BC) and the SeptiFast (SF) for the detection of five different Candida species among high-risk intensive care unit patients with suspected candidemia. We analysed blood samples collected from patients with suspected candidemia (177 samples from 138 patients) from August 2018 to April 2020. Blood samples were collected and analysed concurrently by BC, SF, and T2Candida. Subsequently, based on clinical and microbiological findings, patient samples were assigned to specific risk categories (proven, probable, and no candidemia). Twenty-two samples from 17 patients were classified as proven candidemia, and 15 samples from 14 patients were classified as probable candidemia. A sensitivity of 68.2% (95% CI, 45–86%) was observed for the BC and the SF, and a sensitivity of 63.6% (95% CI, 41–83%) was observed for the T2 when only cases with proven candidemia were evaluated. For proven and probable candidemia, the sensitivity was 40.5% (95% CI, 23–58%) for BC, 81.1% (95% CI, 65–92%) for SF, and 73.0% (95% CI, 56–86%) for T2. The diagnostic performance of SF and T2 was similar. For samples with proven/probable candidemia, SF and T2 had a higher sensitivity compared to BC. Used in conjunction with other diagnostic methods, T2 can replace the no longer available SF for the diagnosis of candidemia, enabling the timely initiation of targeted antifungal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) are an emerging problem in health care settings. The purpose of the investigation was to assess the extent of the outbreak including environmental contamination and to limit further transmission. Methods: We used retrospective patient and laboratory data including pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing and virulence and resistance gene analysis. For comparison of medians the Mann-Whitney and for comparison of proportions the Fisher exact tests were used. Results: PFGE typing of VRE strains of an outbreak of 15 VRE cases in a solid transplant unit revealed that nine of the cases belonged to one identical pattern (A), which was only found twice in the environment. Eleven further positive environmental samples showed a different, but identical PFGE pattern E. Only one patient was infected with this environmental strain. Two of nine (22.2%) PFGE A, but nine of eleven (81.2%) PFGE E samples were positive for gelatinase E ( p = 0.01), which is described as enhancing biofilm production, suggesting a survival benefit for this strain on inanimate surfaces. Conclusion: Routine disinfection was not able to stop the cluster, but after repeated enforcement of the infection prevention and control (IPC) bundle such as training, strict adherence to hand hygiene and surface disinfection no further cases were observed. We conclude that certain VRE strains predominate in the environment whereas others predominate in humans. Enforcement of the IPC bundle is essential for controlling VRE outbreaks and reducing further transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the need to map research careers, the empirical evidence on career patterns of researchers is limited. We also do not know whether career patterns of researchers can be considered conventional in terms of steady progress or international mobility, nor do we know if career patterns differ between men and women in research as is commonly assumed. We use sequence analysis to identify career patterns of researchers across positions and institutions, based on full career histories of applicants to the European Research Council frontier research grant schemes. We distinguish five career patterns for early and established men and women researchers. With multinomial logit analyses, we estimate the relative likelihood of researchers with certain characteristics in each pattern. We find grantees among all patterns, and limited evidence of gender differences. Our findings on career patterns in research inform further studies and policy making on career development, research funding, and gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key challenge for practical magnesium–sulfur (Mg–S) batteries is to overcome the sluggish conversion kinetics of sulfur cathodes, achieving a high energy density and long‐lasting battery life. To address this issue, a doping strategy is demonstrated in a model Ketjenblack sulfur (KBS) cathode by introducing selenium with a high electronic conductivity. This leads to a significantly enhanced charge transfer in the resultant KBS1−xSex cathodes, giving rise to a higher S utilization and less polysulfide dissolution. Compared to the bare S cathode, the S‐Se composite cathodes exhibit a higher capacity, smaller overpotentials, and improved efficiency, serving as better benchmark compounds for high‐performance Mg–S batteries. First principles calculations reveal a charge transport mechanism via electron polaron diffusion in the redox end‐products, that enhances the reaction kinetics. By suppressing polysulfide dissolution in the electrolyte, the use of the KBS1−xSex cathodes also enables a more uniform anode reaction, and thereby significantly extends the cyclability of the cells. To improve the performance, further efforts are made by implementing a Mo6S8 modified separator into the cell. With an optimized cathode composition of KBS0.86Se0.14, the cell applying modified separator shows an improvement of capacity retention by >50% after 200 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), there are more than 20 recognised subspecies. It is well known that these subspecies differ in their wing venation patterns. However, there is a demand for efficient tools to identify honey bee subspecies, ecotypes, populations or hybrids. The aim of this study was to develop a fast and easy identification method based on analysing forewing vein patterns of honey bees by geometric morphometrics. Reference samples for the subspecies were obtained from the Morphometric Bee Data Bank in Oberursel, Germany. These contained 187 honey bee colonies allocated into 25 subspecies from four evolutionary lineages. The identification of evolutionary lineages of honey bees based on forewing venations proved to be highly reliable, which confirms earlier studies. The accuracy of honey bee subspecies identification was less consistent and ranged from 100 to 50% and was particularly low in African honey bees. The obtained identification data were exported to the IdentiFly computer software, which is freely available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to determine the varroa infestation level with powder sugar method on Anatolian bees in Balıkesir-Marmara Island. This study was performed on Anatolian bees in the years of 2014-2016. The total number of frames with bees, brood and varroa level with powder sugar method were counted and recorded in each colony. The difference between treated and treatedrequeened colonies in 2014 for the total number of frames with bees was significant, brood and varroa percentages were not significant in 2015 summer respectively. The three groups of untreated, treated and treated-requeened colonies were compared for total number of frames with bees, brood, varroa percentage in each colony and differences were not significant for bee frame number and brood in 2015 Summer-Fall. However, the difference for varroa percentage is significant. Treated requeened colonies were found to have low number of varroa and higher number of frames with bees and brood compared to treated colonies. The number of varroa mites were decreased with 38 % with requeening process in the spring instead of summer in 2016. In general, varroa level has been found high in colonies with more brood and bees. However, a few colonies were found to have low level of varroa even though these colonies had high number of frames with bees and brood. The results of this study may be used for breeding studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bu çalışma; bal arısı kolonilerinde Varroa bulaşıklık oranını belirlemede pudra şekeri ve deterjan yöntemlerinin karşılaştırılması amacl ile yapılmıştır. Çalışmada toplam 1 koloniden ortalama 304.72±16.56 adet işçi arı numunesi silkeleme yöntemi ile alınarak pudra şekeri ilavesi ile plastik kutularda 5 dakika çalkalanmış ve arılar üzerinden düşen varroa sayıları tespit edilmiştir. Yöntemin etkinligini tespit için Varroa sayıları belirlenen örnek arılar deterjanlı su içerisinde 5 dakika çalkalanarak kalan varroa sayıları tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak pudra şekeri kullanımı ile ergin arılar üzerinde bulunan varmaların % 94'ünün tespit edilebildigi belirlenmiştir. Pudra şekeri yöntemi lie işçi arıların öldürülmeden kolonilere geri verilmesi, özellikle erken ilkbahar ve geç sonbahar bulaşıklık seviyelerinin belirlenmesinde arıcılar ve araştırmacılar tarafından uygulamada tercih edilebilecegini düşündürmektedir. Yöntemin Varroa bulaşıklık oranlarının belirlenmesinde, saha ilaç denemelerinde ve ıslah çalışmalarında yararlı olacagı önerilmektedir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Western honey bees are of high importance to human food security as they provide valuable contributions through pollination. Unfortunately, high levels of honey bee colony losses have been registered around the world recently. One of the major reasons for these losses is the hybridization with non-native subspecies which leads to the loss of adaptation to local climatic conditions. In fact, it is proven that honey bee subspecies that are native to a certain area subsist better than imported ones. In this study, we investigate the conservation status and the geographic variation of four populations of Apis mellifera sahariensis in south-eastern Morocco using the geometric morphometric approach. The results obtained have indicated that our samples were significantly different from the two subspecies used as reference (Apis mellifera sahariensis, Apis mellifera intermissa) which could be explained by a hybridization phenomenon occurring in the study area. The four populations studied were significantly different in terms of wing shape. These differences were mainly due to the fragmented distribution of the study area. Results of this study can be used in the planning of future strategies for the conservation of the Saharan honey bee in Morocco. In Morocco, there are two well-recognised honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) subspecies: A. m. intermissa in the north and A. m. sahariensis in the south-east. The latter subspecies is found in the arid and semiarid climates of the Sahara Desert. In this study, we used honey bees from four areas of south-eastern Morocco which are, to some degree, isolated by arid zones. We analysed the shape and size of the forewings, using the method of geometric morphometrics. The bees from the four areas of south-eastern Morocco differed significantly in terms of wing shape. Moreover, bees from traditional hives were smaller than those from modern hives. The bees from south-eastern Morocco were clearly different from the reference samples obtained from the Morphometric Bee Data Bank in Oberursel, Germany, representing most of the global variation in honey bees. Surprisingly, the bees were also different from A. m. sahariensis, which should occur in the study area, according to earlier studies. This difference could have been caused by introgression with non-native subspecies imported by beekeepers. The distinct honey bees from south-eastern Morocco deserve to be protected. We provide a method for identifying them, which can help protect them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an effective approach for tracking information on spatial distribution and temporal trends of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the community level. Herein, the development, implementation, and operation of the wastewater monitoring program serving Tyrol – a federal province of Austria – are described. The development of this program was initiated by Tyrolean health authorities at the end of the first phase of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (May 2020). In close co-operation with the water sector and academic institutions, efficient and effective workflows and processes for wastewater surveil- lance were established. The monitoring program went into operation in November 2020. By the end of July 2021, a total of 5,270 wastewater influent samples collected at 43 sites were analyzed. The monitoring program provided valuable insights into the development of the pan- demic situation in Tyrol and fulfilled several tasks that are of importance in different phases of the pandemic. It represented an early-warning system, provided independent confirmation of temporal trends in COVID-19 prevalence, enabled the assessment of the effectiveness of measures, alerted about bursts of disease activity, and provided evidence for the absence of COVID-19. These findings underline the impor- tance of establishing national wastewater monitoring programs as a complementary source of information for efficient and effective pandemic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a less known polyester based on tartaric acid was characterized with respect to its degradation mechanism. Poly(2,3-(1,4-diethyl tartrate)-co-2,3-isopropyliden tartrate) (PTA) differs from commonly used biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(lactides-co-glycolides) (PLGA) by the presence of additional cleavable bonds in the polymer side chains.This modification results in different polymer properties and influences polymer degradation. The hydrolytic degradation of PTA was studied in parallel to PLGA using disc-shape matrices, which were obtained by compression-molding. The discs were incubated in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution at 37 °C. The degraded samples were characterized for percentage mass loss, water absorption, decay of molecular weight and change in glass transition temperature. The results demonstrate that the degradation of PTA proceeds via bulk erosion similar to PLGA. However, the degradation of PTA implants is characterized by a rapid mass loss within a short period of time appearing after a definite lag phase without remarkable mass loss. This makes the polymer promising for pulsatile drug release systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of low molecular weight polymers of d,l-lactic acid has been synthesized. The oligomers were characterized with respect to molecular weight, glass transition temperature and solubility. The number average molecular weight of the oligomers ranged from 290 to 1320 Da. Oligomers with an Mn<800 Da were soluble in buffer at pH 7.4 but insoluble in water and acidic medium.Kinetic studies were performed at pH 1.5, 4.5 and 7.4 using an accelerated in vitro monomer release test. The hydrolytic rate was dependent on molecular weight of oligomer, temperature and pH of the media, with the lowest rate found around pH 4.5. The activation energy was dependent on molecular weight and ranged from 47 to 67 kJ mol−1. Random ester cleavage was identified as mechanism of hydrolysis in basic media whereas in acidic media chain-end cleavage (“unzipping”) was the mode of action. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) require an accurate and fast identification of causative pathogens. Molecular diagnostics, in particular polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches for BSI diagnostics directly from whole blood, suffer from limitations such as inhibition leading to invalid results. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 23 parameters for their potential interference with LightCycler SeptiFast PCR tests (n = 2167) routinely performed at our institution. The overall inhibition rate was 9.1%. Test date, type of ward, procalcitonin levels, high leukocyte counts, and absolute neutrophil count were significantly associated with inhibition. For a subset (n = 448), cut-off values for leukocyte counts of < 5700 cells/μL and ≥ 26,900 cells/μL were significantly associated with a low (5%) and high (67%) inhibition risk. For patients with a moderate to high leukocyte count (5700–26,900 cells/μL), the additional administration of hydrocortisone significantly increased the inhibition risk. Furthermore, freezing of blood samples prior to DNA extraction and SF testing appeared to neutralize inhibitory factors. It remains to be investigated whether other molecular diagnostic tests are susceptible to similar inhibiting parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]