Rifampin and Triclosan but not Silver is Effective in Preventing Bacterial Infection of Vascular Dacron Graft Material

AbstractObjectives. To evaluate the efficacy of silver- or Triclosan-coated prosthetic material compared to Rifampin bonded Dacron concerning their resistance to infection following subcutaneous implantation and contamination with Staphylococcus aureus.Design. Animal experimental study in mice.Material and methods. Thirty-six C3H/HcN mice (Charles River Lab., Sulzfeld, Germany) with a weight between 24 and 27 g were randomised into six groups counting six animals each. Group I: control, gel-sealed dacron graft, group II: gel-sealed dacron graft and local contamination, group III: Intergard®-Silver-prosthesis and contamination, group IV: silver/gel-sealed dacron prosthesis (test graft) and contamination, group V: Rifampin-bonded gel-sealed graft and contamination, group VI: Triclosan/collagen-coated dacron graft and contamination. Dacron graft material 0.8×1 cm was subcutaneously implanted in mice. Local contamination with 2×107/0.2 ml S. aureus ATCC 25923 was carried out in groups II to VI. On day 14 the animals were killed and the grafts were explanted. The microscopic, histologic and microbiological evaluation of the graft material and the perigraft tissue was performed.Results. In control group I no case of infection was detected. In group II, 6 of 6 animals showed infection. In group III (Intergard®-Silver) and group IV (silver/gel-test graft) were 6 of 6, in group V (Rifampin) only 1 of 6 grafts and in group VI (Triclosan) 4 of 6 grafts were infected. The difference between the low rate of infection in group V (Rifampin) in comparison to the completely infected groups III and IV (Silver) as well as the control group II was significant. Treatment of grafts with Triclosan could prevent infection only in 1/3 of the cases in group IV.Conclusion. Silver coating failed to prevent graft infection material. A potential antimicrobial property was evident for Triclosan whereas Rifampin-bonded grafts exhibit a significantly reduced infection rate. Thus, silver-coated vascular grafts cannot ensure protection from vascular graft infection

Разработка программно-аппаратного обеспечения управления мобильным роботом

В данной работе было разработано программно-аппаратное обеспечение для управления мобильной робототехнической платформой Kuka YouBot. Разработка программно-аппаратного обеспечения включала в себя разработку структурной и функциональной схем, выбор программных и аппаратных компонентов, а также построение системы приема-передачи данных. Также была выведена математическая модель рассматриваемой платформы и разработан алгоритм снятия параметров математической модели, который был реализован с помощью средств Matlab Simulink.In this work was developed software and hardware for controlling the Kuka YouBot mobile platform. The development of hardware and software included the development of structural and functional scheme, the selection of software and hardware components, as well as the design of a data transferring system. A mathematical model of the mobile platform and an algorithm for removing the parameters of the mathematical model was developed. The algoritm was implemented using the Matlab Simulink tools

Distribution patterns of three Potamogeton species (P. crispus, P. nodosus and P. pectinatus) along velocity and base richness gradients from a lowland river

This study presents distribution and abundance of three Potamogeton species, namely Potamogeton crispus, P. nodosus and P. pectinatus along environmental gradients in the lowland river Wełna (NW Poland). The relationships between 13 environmental factors and the pattern aquatic vegetation distribution along river were investigated. Among ecological factors rarely undertaken in aquatic ecology the light climate was concerned. It is postulated that the Potamogeton communities in the investigated river are strongly connected with water velocity, substrate of bottom and light conditions, in particular dissolved organic matter (DOM). Elodeo-Potametum crispi and algae communities with dominant species Hildenbrandia rivularis were well developed in the places shading by trees, with high velocity and fairly clean water, mostly with stony bottom. Potametum nodosi was noted in mean values of velocity and medium water quality with high content of organic matter in the bottom substrate. The last investigated community Sparganio-Potametum interrupti was found in poor water quality with the highest values of electric conductivity. The obtained results give a new approach of the ecology and abiotic typology of rivers with macrophytes including abundance of Potamogeton species (Nature 2000 habitat, code 3260 – “Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fl uitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation”)

Nitella opaca [Bruzelius] Agardh [Characeae] w Wielkopolsce

This paper presents historical and new localities of Nitella opaca, a rare charophyte species whose distribution in the light of published data and herbarium material was restricted to a few localities in the Wielkopolska region. The basic information on the species ecology and detailed characteristics of phytocoenotic interrelation are provided. So far, the occurrence of Nitelletum opacae in the Wielkopolska region has not been reported

Charophytes (Characeae, Charophyta) of peatland habitats in the vicinity of Drawsko and Mialy (Notec Forest, NW Poland)

This paper presents recent localities of charophytes in the peatland complex of the northern part of Noteć Forest (Wielkopolska, Poland). In alkaline or calcareous fens and shallow waters, seven species of charophytes were found: Chara globularis, C. intermedia, C. virgata, C. vulgaris, Nitella capillaris, N. mucronata and N. syncarpa. Some of the charophytes, which were observed in this area, are regarded as endangered and vulnerable in Poland, especially, C. intermedia, N. capillaris and N. syncarpa. The preliminary research results on the studied charophyte distribution and ecology are presented

Characeae- and dystrophic waters - identification features in the light of Natura 2000 Program and some cases from the Pilskie Forests

Na podstawie badań własnych przeprowadzonych w latach 2000-2007 na terenie Lasów Pilskich (RDLP Piła) i danych literaturowych przedyskutowano problemy identyfikacji siedlisk Natura 2000 – zbiorników ramienicowych (3140) i dystroficznych (3160). Zwrócono uwagę na szeroki aspekt występowania ramienic oraz kryterium florystyczne, będące podstawą identyfikacji siedlisk 3140. W przypadku zbiorników dystroficznych (3160) stwierdzono, że podstawą identyfikacji winno być kryterium hydrochemiczne i stwierdzenie zachodzenia procesu dystrofizacji, jako warunku ich funkcjonowania. Kryterium florystyczne w dla identyfikacji zbiorników dystroficznych powinno mieć charakter jedynie wstępnej diagnozy. Na przykładach z Lasów Pilskich zaprezentowano klasyczne postaci omawianych siedlisk oraz trudniejsze do identyfikacji, podlegające alloiotrofizacji, jeziora ramienicowe otoczone torfowiskami mszarnymi. Zwrócono uwagę na rzadki przykład jeziora źródliskowego z przylegającymi mszarami. Podkreślono, że omawiane siedliska są ostojami cennych roślin Natura 2000 (jak Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Elisma natans, Liparis loeselii i Najas flexilis) oraz innych rzadkich w Polsce i regionie Lasów Pilskich.Diagnostic features of European Union habitats – waters with benthic vegetation of Characeae (3140) and dystrophic waters (3160) were discussed based on original studies and literature review. Floristic features should be applied for identification of habitat 3140, but in case of habitat 3160 the most important seem to be hydrochemical properties of water and the process of dystrophication

Testate amoebae ecology and a local transfer function from a peatland in western Poland

In Chlebowo mire (Wielkopolska region), we investigated testate amoebae in relation to ten environmental parameters in the semi-natural floating vegetation of flooded peat workings. The measured parameters included: depth to water table (DWT), ground-water pH, color, conductivity, PO4, NO3, NH4, SO4, Ca, and Mg. Detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to analyze relations between the composition of testate amoebae communities and those variables. In canonical correspondence analysis, DWT, pH, and Mg remained after forward-selection as the main factors characterizing the changes in testate amoebae communities along the moisture and nutrient gradients. Characteristic species of testate amoebae for the various stages of floating-mat development in the flooded peat workings were distinguished. Communities of testate amoebae along with present-day vegetation reflect the process of progressive acidification, driven mainly by Sphagnum fallax. We consider this as secondary succession, since preliminary investigations of peat stratigraphy revealed sedge peat below no more than 5–40 cm of Sphagnum peat in undisturbed parts of the mire. This study increases our understanding of relationships between testate amoebae and their habitat, which is valuable for palaeoenvironmental studies. A local transfer function was developed with the use of six models: partial least squares, maximum likelihood, modern analogue technique, weighted averaging, tolerance down-weighted averaging, and weighted averaging-partial least squares. The weighted averaging model performed the best for depth to water table (root mean square error of prediction RMSEP = 6.99) and pH (RMSEP = 0.8). Results will be used as part of a regional training set to improve palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of Sphagnum peatlands