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Raman microscopic spectroscopyis a new approach for further characterization and detection of molecular features in many pathological processes. This technique has been successfully applied to scrutinize the spatial distribution of small molecules and proteins within biological systems by in situ analysis. This study uses Raman microscopic spectroscopyto identify any in-depth benefits and drawbacks in diagnosing Staphylococcus epidermidis in human bone grafts.40 non-infected human bone samples and 10 human bone samples infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis were analyzed using Raman microscopic spectroscopy. Reflectance data were collected between 200 cmRaman measurements produced distinct diagnostic spectra that were used to distinguish between non-infected human bone samples and Staphylococcus epidermidis infected human bone samples by spectral and principal component analyses. A substantial loss in bone quality and protein conformation was detected by human bone samples co-cultured with Staphylococcus epidermidis. The mineral-to-matrix ratio using the phosphate/Amide I ratio (p = 0.030) and carbonate/phosphate ratio (p = 0.001) indicates that the loss of relative mineral content in bones upon bacterial infection is higher than in non-infected human bones. Also, an increase of alterations in the collagen network (p = 0.048) and a decrease in the structural organization and relative collagen in infected human bone could be detected. Subsequent principal component analyses identified Staphylococcus epidermidis in different spectral regions, respectively, originating mainly from CHRaman microscopic spectroscopyis presented as a promising diagnostic tool to detect Staphylococcus epidermidis in human bone grafts. Further studies in human tissues are warranted.

Hintergrund Vor Jahren wurde aus Kostengrunden in der Region Schwarzwald-Baar die Zusammenlegung verschiedener Krankenhauser zu einem neuen Zentralklinikum beschlossen. Dies legte auch die Idee einer grosen zentralen Notaufnahme (ZNA) nahe. Die Konzeption einer ZNA ist eine organisatorische Herausforderung, da hierdurch unmittelbar in die Organisationsstruktur aller medizinischen Fachabteilungen, die an der Notfallbehandlung beteiligt sind, eingegriffen wird. Solch ein Konzept kann nur durchgesetzt werden, wenn es von der Klinikleitung gewollt ist und alle Beteiligten bereit sind, ein interdisziplinares und interprofessionelles Arbeiten zuzulassen.

Currently, management of antibody deficient patients differs significantly among caregivers. Evidence and consensus based (S3) guidelines for the treatment of primary antibody deficiencies were developed to improve the management of these patients.

Numerous hospitals were combined years ago into a new Central Hospital for cost reasons in the Schwarzwald-Baar region. This also suggested the idea of a large central emergency department. The concept of a central emergency department is an organizational challenge, since they are directly engaged in the organizational structure of all medical departments that are involved in emergency treatment. Such a concept can only be enforced if it is supported by hospital management and all parties are willing to accept interdisciplinary and interprofessional work.In this paper, the concept of a central emergency department in a tertiary care hospital which was rebuilt as an organizationally independent unit is described. Collaborations with various departments, emergency services, and local physicians are highlighted. The processes of a central emergency department with an integrated admission department and personnel structures are described.The analysis of the concept after almost a year has shown that the integration into the clinic has been successful, the central emergency department has proven itself as a central hub and has been accepted as a unit within the hospital.

In the next decades many facilities are going to be decommissioned in Germany. On the basis of the agreement between the utilities and the Federal Government on the phase out of nuclear energy use for commercial electricity generation predictions can be made on the schedule of the shut down of nuclear installations in Germany and a prognosis might be given for the complete amount of decommissioning waste that will arise. 17 nuclear power plants and other nuclear installations are to be shut down and decommissioned within the next 2 decades. An approach for the prediction of the amount of radioactive waste and an overview on the underlying assumptions is given. The prognosis for the expected radioactive waste in Germany depends on several assumptions. Utilities in Germany expect approx. 5000 m3 of radioactive waste with negligible heat-generation from decommissioning per reactor. New inquiries seem to indicate that less radioactive waste may arise due to new techniques in decontamination and conditioning. Nevertheless, there will be limits due to costs and physical properties.Copyright © 2007 by ASME

Introduction Edge characterization experiments have been conducted in NSTX to provide an initial survey of the edge particle and heat fluxes and their scaling with input power and electron density. The experiments also provided a database of conditions for the analyses of the NSTX global particle sources, core fueling, and divertor operating regimes.

Tungsten-bromine or iodine lamps are now approaching the maximum performance that can be expected from commercially available tungsten wire and within the accuracy of present filament making equipment. To date, the development of a defect-healing tungsten-fluorine cycle holds the greatest promise for the immediate future, and with the innovation of a fluorine and fluoride resistant coating to protect the lamp envelope, the protection of the cooler regions of the filament, the prevention of the disproportionation blackening of lower tungsten fluorides and the control of the quantity of free fluorine throughout the life of the lamp, the principal technological problems seems to be solved. Although alternative materials with a higher melting point than that of tungsten are available, as yet, none satisfies the additional essential criteria for a filament material, especially of low vapour pressure. This means that under the same operating conditions, the bulb wall of a tungsten filament lamp does not blacken nearly as quickly as that of a carbon-filament lamp. Nethertheless, the carbon-filament lamp does have its virtues. Much more information is now available about the various kinds of carbon. Also there is the question of possible shortage of materials; there is some risk of this with tungsten, but not with carbon. Therefore we used the chemical transport reactions between elementary carbon and carbon fluorine species to retransport the carbon evaporated from the filament. These processes are discussed and compared with the tungsten fluorine cycle in an incandescent lamp.