International haemovigilance: what have we learned and what do we need to do next?

The International Haemovigilance Network (IHN) defines haemovigilance as 'a set of surveillance procedures covering the whole transfusion chain (from the collection of blood and its components to the follow-up of recipients), intended to collect and assess information on unexpected or undesirable effects resulting from the therapeutic use of labile blood products, and to prevent their occurrence or recurrence'. IHN, the International Society of Blood Transfusion and World Health Organization work together to support both developing and established haemovigilance systems. Haemovigilance systems provide valuable data on a range of adverse events related to blood donation and clinical transfusion, from donor syncopal events to transfusion-transmitted infections, immunological complications and the impact of human errors. Harmonised definitions for most adverse reactions have been developed and validated internationally. Definitions of pulmonary complications are again under review. Haemovigilance data have resulted in changes in policy, products and practice, and can complement and inform clinical audit and research, leading to improved blood donor safety, optimised product use and better clinical outcomes after transfusion. However, more work is needed. Not all countries have haemovigilance systems in place. More robust data and careful analysis are required to improve the understanding of the causes, occurrence and clinical outcomes of these events. Wider dissemination of results will facilitate health policy development internationally, and implementation of haemovigilance recommendations will support further important progress in blood safety.

Matrix heater in the gravitational wave observatory GEO 600.

Large scale laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors (GWDs), such as GEO 600 require high quality optics to reach their design sensitivity. The inevitable surface imperfections, inhomogeneities, and light-absorption induced thermal lensing in the optics, can convert laser light from the fundamental mode to unwanted higher order modes, and pose challenges to the operation and sensitivity of the GWDs. Here we demonstrate the practical implementation of a thermal projection system which reduces those unwanted effects via targeted spatial heating of the optics. The thermal projector consists of 108 individually addressable heating elements which are imaged onto the beam splitter of GEO 600. We describe the optimization of the spatial heating profile and present the obtained results.

Alignment sensing and control for squeezed vacuum states of light.

Beam alignment is an important practical aspect of the application of squeezed states of light. Misalignments in the detection of squeezed light result in a reduction of the observable squeezing level. In the case of squeezed vacuum fields that contain only very few photons, special measures must be taken in order to sense and control the alignment of the essentially dark beam. The GEO 600 gravitational wave detector employs a squeezed vacuum source to improve its detection sensitivity beyond the limits set by classical quantum shot noise. Here, we present our design and implementation of an alignment sensing and control scheme that ensures continuous optimal alignment of the squeezed vacuum field at GEO 600 on long time scales in the presence of free-swinging optics. This first demonstration of a squeezed light automatic alignment system will be of particular interest for future long-term applications of squeezed vacuum states of light.

Comparative study of seasonal variation in bacterial flora concomitant with farm raised fingerlings of Cyprinus carpio at tarai region of Uttarakhand.

The bacterial infection is an important economic and limiting factor in intensive fish production. The present study focuses on investigation of the bacterial population associated with farmed common carp fingerlings, its environment and limnological quality of pond, during winter and summer season. It was found that the bacterial count in the pond sediment (6.40 cfu x 10(4)) was about 10 times higher in comparison of pond water (6.93 cfu x 10(3)). Further, the intestinal bacterial count was about 100 times higher (6.67 cfu x 10(5)) during winter and 1000 times higher (2.33 cfu x 10(6)) during summer season in comparison to the surfacial skin of fish during winter and summer (3.39 and 8.87 cfu x 10(3)), respectively. The isolated bacteria were both Gram negative and Gram positive, mostly aerobic rods. Furthermore, the temperature showed a significant relation with the bacterial counts of pond water. In the summer season, higher bacterial counts (8.72 cfu x 10(3)) were recorded as compared to winter (5.13 cfu x 10(3)). The dominant bacteria isolated from the sample of pond water, pond sediment and fish were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp., Flavobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp. Moreover, the bacterial density was dependent on C:N values, and the optimum range of C: N ratio was found between 16-23, for the carp culture ponds. Among the isolated bacterial flora, the presence of strains which were well known for their probiotic properties suggested an autochthonous source for use in aquaculture. Further, analysis of various physico-chemical parameters of pond water revealed that they were within the suitable range for the freshwater fish culture throughout farming phase.