Chronologie des EHEC O104:H4 Ausbruchsgeschehens bis zur Gründung der l?nderübergreifenden Task Force EHEC aus Sicht der Lebensmittelüberwachung in Schleswig-Holstein am Beispiel des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg

Im Folgenden wird über die Chronologie der Ereignisse im Rahmen des EHEC O104:H4 Ausbruchsgeschehen aus Sicht der Lebensmittelüberwachung in Schleswig-Holstein bis zur Gründung der nationalen Task Force EHEC berichtet. Am Beispiel des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg wird die Zusammenarbeit und der Informationsaustausch zwischen Gesundheitsbeh?rde und Lebensmittelüberwachung dargestellt. Die erste Information über einen Anstieg an Erkrankungen mit blutigem Durchfall und HUS-Symptomatik in den Kreisen anliegend an und aus Hamburg erhielt das Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und l?ndliche R?ume des Landes Schleswig-Holstein am 19. Mai 2011. Der Fachdienst Veterin?rmedizin und Verbraucherschutz des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg wurde ebenfalls am 19. Mai 2011 über eine solche H?ufung im Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg in Kenntnis gesetzt. Daraufhin wurden auf Landes- und Kreisebene Ma?nahmen eingeleitet, um zusammen mit den Gesundheitsbeh?rden diesen lebensmittelassoziierten Ausbruch aufzukl?ren. Am 01. Juni 2011 fand erstmalig in Schleswig-Holstein eine Telefonkonferenz zwischen den betroffenen Ministerien und allen Lebensmittelüberwachungs- und Gesundheitsbeh?rden der Kreise und kreisfreien St?dte statt, um das weitere Vorgehen gemeinsam zu koordinieren. Am 03. Juni 2011 wurde in Berlin am Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL) die nationale Task Force EHEC gegründet. Zwei Wochen nachdem die Gesundheitsbeh?rden von geh?uften und l?nderübergreifenden Erkrankungsf?llen Kenntnis hatten, geht damit die Koordinierung der Aufkl?rung von den Gesundheitsbeh?rden auf das BVL über. Am 07. Juni 2011 wurde durch das MLUR ein Mitarbeiter des Kreises Schleswig-Flensburg als Vertreter für Schleswig-Holstein in die Task-Force EHEC nach Berlin entsandt. Als Ergebnis ist aus diesem Erkrankungsgeschehen auch die Lehre zu ziehen, dass vermehrt pflanzliche Lebensmittel zu den „gef?hrlichen Lebensmitteln“ geh?ren. Diese müssen in Zukunft viel st?rker in den Fokus genommen werden.     

Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl compounds in surface waters from the North Pacific to the Arctic Ocean

Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were determined in 22 surface water samples (39-76°N) and three sea ice core and snow samples (77-87°N) collected from North Pacific to the Arctic Ocean during the fourth Chinese Arctic Expedition in 2010. Geographically, the average concentration of ∑PFC in surface water samples were 560 ± 170 pg L(-1) for the Northwest Pacific Ocean, 500 ± 170 pg L(-1) for the Arctic Ocean, and 340 ± 130 pg L(-1) for the Bering Sea, respectively. The perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) were the dominant PFC class in the water samples, however, the spatial pattern of PFCs varied. The C(5), C(7) and C(8) PFCAs (i.e., perfluoropentanoate (PFPA), perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA), and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)) were the dominant PFCs in the Northwest Pacific Ocean while in the Bering Sea the PFPA dominated. The changing in the pattern and concentrations in Pacific Ocean indicate that the PFCs in surface water were influenced by sources from the East-Asian (such as Japan and China) and North American coast, and dilution effect during their transport to the Arctic. The presence of PFCs in the snow and ice core samples indicates an atmospheric deposition of PFCs in the Arctic. The elevated PFC concentration in the Arctic Ocean shows that the ice melting had an impact on the PFC levels and distribution. In addition, the C(4) and C(5) PFCAs (i.e., perfluorobutanoate (PFBA), PFPA) became the dominant PFCs in the Arctic Ocean indicating that PFBA is a marker for sea ice melting as the source of exposure.     

The behaviour of WB 35 piping material under dynamic loading in the high speed tensile test

For the determination of the strength-, deformation- and fracture behaviour of the material 17 MnMoV 6 4 (WB 35) which is used for piping components, tensile tests were carried out at different loading rates (monotonic and impact-type) on smooth and notched pipe strip specimens over a temperature range extending from − 30°C to 250°C.For the conduct of the tests a hydraulic high speed tensile machine having a free motion device was used; the velocity of impact was preset at ca. 7 m/s.With impact-type (dynamically) loaded specimens in general higher strength and deformation values were obtained than with monotonic (statically) loaded ones. In all of the specimens having low deformation values which were investigated microfractographically, ductile portions were found adjacent to the notch on the fracture surface.     

Material surfaces for electron-optical equipment

Electron-beam inspection systems for VLSICs and electron-beam pattern generation require exact positioning of the electron beam on the specimen. In this connection the question arises as to what properties the walls and diaphragms in the ambience of the path of the electron beam are required to have with respect to material, surface layers and cleanness in order to exclude their collecting electric charges that will undesirably influence the electron beam. Experimental investigations of this problem by means of electron-shadow projection show that the conductivity of a material should not be the sole criterion for its choice, but that its behavior under exposure to backscattered electrons and secondary electron emission must also be taken into account. Graphite of poor conductivity was found to be particularly favorable. Electroplated surfaces are often less favorable than untreated surfaces. Magnetic materials always exhibit minor defects. For cleaning, a carefully controlled ultrasonic technique using conventional cleaning agents is necessary and sufficient.     

Symbiosis of Silica Biomorphs and Magnetite Mesocrystals

Silica biomorphs are extraordinary inorganic superstructures formed via autocatalytic co‐precipitation and bottom‐up self‐assembly of alkaline‐earth carbonates and silica. However, they show no inherent functionality except for their striking textural motifs and curved morphologies. This work presents strategies to magnetize silica biomorphs, thus creating thermally stable ceramic microswimmers with unique elaborate shapes. This is achieved by growing super paramagnetic magnetite mesocrystals on and around the complex curved surfaces of biomorphs, while keeping their morphology and maintaining mesocrystal integrity. Selective mesocrystal formation on certain parts of the substrates is induced by chemical modification of the biomorph surface, increasing the loading of magnetite on the silica–carbonate structures and, in suitable cases, rendering them able to respond to external magnetic fields and move as microswimmer entities. In this way, the complex ultrastructure of silica biomorphs is successfully used as a template for functional ceramics. Furthermore, selective dissolution of the carbonate core from the biomorphs leads to hollow magnetic structures that could be filled with actives, thus serving as microcarriers with considerable loading capacity.     

Electrokinetic phosphorus recovery from packed beds of sewage sludge ash: yield and energy demand

The static lifetime of primary phosphate stocks is estimated as one century. Thus, the exploitation of secondary phosphorus sources becomes increasingly important. This study focussed on the feasibility of an electrokinetic phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge ash (P-content ~5 wt%). Packed bed experiments were conducted under varied electric conditions with and without acid pre-treatment and employing porous and ion exchange materials as electrode wells. Maximum values of phosphate concentration obtained in all experiments were around 2.5 g L⁻¹. Galvanostatic conditions were superior to potentiostatic conditions and acid pre-treatment is preferable over packed bed saturation with water. Ion-exchange membranes improved the product quality but increased the energy demand. Phosphorus recovery below 1% of the initial contents shows that the recovery setup must be improved in view of a marketable application.     

Emerging Role of Phospholipase-Derived Cleavage Products in Regulating Eosinophil Activity: Focus on Lysophospholipids,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids

Eosinophils are important effector cells involved in allergic inflammation. When stimulated, eosinophils release a variety of mediators initiating, propagating, and maintaining local inflammation. Both, the activity and concentration of secreted and cytosolic phospholipases (PLAs) are increased in allergic inflammation, promoting the cleavage of phospholipids and thus the production of reactive lipid mediators. Eosinophils express high levels of secreted phospholipase A2 compared to other leukocytes, indicating their direct involvement in the production of lipid mediators during allergic inflammation. On the other side, eosinophils have also been recognized as crucial mediators with regulatory and homeostatic roles in local immunity and repair. Thus, targeting the complex network of lipid mediators offer a unique opportunity to target the over-activation and ‘pro-inflammatory’ phenotype of eosinophils without compromising the survival and functions of tissue-resident and homeostatic eosinophils. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the critical role of phospholipase-derived lipid mediators in modulating eosinophil activity in health and disease. We focus on lysophospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and eicosanoids with exciting new perspectives for future drug development.     

Evolution of the snow area index of the subarctic snowpack in central Alaska over a whole season. consequences for the air to snow transfer of pollutants

The detailed physical characteristics of the subarctic snowpack must be known to quantify the exchange of adsorbed pollutants between the atmosphere and the snow cover. For the first time, the combined evolutions of specific surface area (SSA), snow stratigraphy, temperature, and density were monitored throughout winter in central Alaska. We define the snow area index (SAI) as the vertically integrated surface area of snow crystals, and this variable is used to quantify pollutants' adsorption. Intense metamorphism generated by strong temperature gradients formed a thick depth hoar layer with low SSA (90 cm(2) g-1) and density (200 kg m(-3)), resulting in a low SAI. After snowpack buildup in autumn, the winter SAI remained around 1000 m(2)/m(2) of ground, much lower than the SAI of the Arctic snowpack, 2500 m(2) m-(2). With the example of PCBs 28 and 180, we calculate that the subarctic snowpack is a smaller reservoir of adsorbed pollutants than the Arctic snowpack and less efficiently transfers adsorbed pollutants from the atmosphere to ecosystems. The difference is greater for the more volatile PCB 28. With climate change, snowpack structure will be modified, and the snowpack's ability to transfer adsorbed pollutants from the atmosphere to ecosystems may be reduced, especially for the more volatile pollutants.     

Brominated flame retardants and dechlorane plus in the marine atmosphere from Southeast Asia toward Antarctica

The occurrence, distribution, and temperature dependence in the marine atmosphere of several alternative brominated flame retardants (BFRs), Dechlorane Plus (DP) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated during a sampling cruise from the East Indian Archipelago toward the Indian Ocean and further to the Southern Ocean. Elevated concentrations were observed over the East Indian Archipelago, especially of the non-PBDE BFR hexabromobenzene (HBB) with concentrations up to 26 pg m(-3) which were found to be related to continental air masses from the East Indian Archipelago. Other alternative BFRs- pentabromotoulene (PBT), pentabromobenzene (PBBz), and 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE)-were elevated, too, with concentrations up to 2.8, 4.3, and 2.3 pg m(-3), respectively. DP was detected from 0.26 to 11 pg m(-3) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) ranged from not detected (nd) to 2.8 pg m(-3), respectively. PBDEs ranged from nd to 6.6 pg m(-3) (Σ(10)PBDEs) with the highest individual concentrations for BDE-209. The approach of Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) plots indicates that HBB is dominated by long-range atmospheric transport at lower temperatures over the Indian and Southern Ocean, while volatilization processes and additional atmospheric emissions dominate at higher temperatures. In contrast, BDE-28 and -47 are dominated by long-range transport without fresh emissions over the entire cruise transect and temperature range, indicating limited fresh emissions of the meanwhile classic PBDEs.