Abnormal Rolls and Regular Arrays of Disclinations in Homeotropic Electroconvection

We present the first quantitative verification of an amplitude description for systems with (nearly) spontaneously broken isotropy, in particular for the recently discovered abnormal-roll states. We also obtain a conclusive picture of the 3d director configuration in a spatial period doubling phenomenon involving disclination loops (CRAZY rolls). The first observation of two Lifshitz frequencies in electroconvection is reported.Comment: 4 pages; 4 figure

Real-time measurement of mental workload: A feasibility study

The primary goal of the study was to explore the utility of event-related brain potentials (ERP) as real-time measures of workload. To this end, subjects performed two different tasks both separately and together. One task required that subjects monitor a bank of constantly changing gauges and detect critical deviations. Difficulty was varied by changing the predictability of the gauges. The second task was mental arithmetic. Difficulty was varied by requiring subjects to perform operations on either two or three columns of numbers. Two conditions that could easily be distinguished on the basis of performance measures were selected for the real-time evaluation of ERPs. A bootstrapping approach was adopted in which one thousand samples of n trials (n = 1, 3, 5 ...65) were classified using several measures of P300 and Slow Wave amplitude. Classification accuracies of 85 percent were achieved with 25 trials. Results are discussed in terms of potential enhancements for real-time recording

Die infizierte Problemwunde

Die erste Ausgabe der Online-Zeitschrift "GMS Krankenhaushygiene Interdisziplinär" der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene (DGKH) innerhalb von German Medical Science behandelt das Thema "Die infizierte Problemwunde". Die Zielsetzung dieser Zeitschrift besteht in der komplexen Darstellung aktueller Themen der Krankenhaushygiene in interdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit zwischen Hygienikern, Mikrobiologen, Infektiologen und für die jeweilige Thematik relevanten klinischen Fachdisziplinen und ggf. auch mit Experten anderer Fachrichtungen, z.B. Juristen, da rechtliche Aspekte zunehmend Bedeutung erlangen. ..

Foot-operated door opener to eliminate the door handle as a source of contamination

Aim: As door handles represent a transmission route for viruses and micro-organisms, a door opening and closing mechanism should be developed without manual operation

Wound dressings from a hygienic point of view using the example of sorbion sachet S

Nosocomial infections present a growing challenge in wound care, especially in light of the rising distribution of multiresistant bacterial strains. Because wounds are an ideal breeding ground for pathogens, special care must be taken in choosing the right dressing. Following the traditional preventive approach, exposure of the nursing staff as well as the wounds to pathogens should be reduced. Dressings allowing a reduced frequency of dressing changes may help accomplish this. During dressing changes the dressing should allow for safe handling with a low risk of contamination. To protect the patient, the dressing should minimise exposure to pathogens during wear time as well as promote healing even if the dressing remains on the wound for a longer period of time. The dressing sorbion sachet S is used as an example to examine possible strategies

Eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with an antiseptic soap and nasal mupirocin among colonized patients – an open uncontrolled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to determine the clinical efficacy of a new antiseptic liquid soap (Stellisept(® )scrub), based on the combination of undecylenamidopropyltrimonium methosulphate (4%) and phenoxyethanol (2%), for eradication of MRSA among colonized patients who do not receive antibiotic therapy. METHODS: Over two years 50 MRSA patients in 6 hospitals were observed. Treatment was defined as the daily application of Stellisept scrub for the antiseptic body and hair wash (at least 60 s) in combination with nasal mupirocin. A treatment cycle was a minimum of 5 days treatment. Screening was carried out at least 48 h after the treatment cycle was finished, with 24 h between each of the requested three or more samplings, which included the nasopharynx, groin, axilla, perineum and other MRSA-positive skin areas. RESULTS: Fifteen cases were retrospectively excluded (lack of outcome documentation, concomitant antibiotic therapy, open wounds). All 35 patients had colonization with MRSA before antiseptic treatment on the skin, in the groin (80%), the axilla (25.7%), the perineum (20%) or other skin areas (14.3%). Colonization at more than one skin sites was found in 34.3%. Nasal colonization was found in 21 of 28 patients (75%), 7 patients were without nasal screening prior to the antiseptic treatment. After one treatment cycle MRSA was eradicated in 25 patients (71.4%), after a second cycle the total eradication rate was 91.4%, after a third cycle the rate increased to 94.2%. No patient discontinued the antiseptic treatment due to dermal intolerance of the product. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive eradication of MRSA carriage was observed with the antiseptic soap and mupirocin. The eradication rate was not biased by concomitant antibiotic treatment, screening during treatment or lack of evidence for colonization in contrast to other studies with other preparations

Evaluation of errors and limits of the 63-μm house-dust-fraction method, a surrogate to predict hidden moisture damage

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study is to analyze possible random and systematic measurement errors and to detect methodological limits of the previously established method.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>To examine the distribution of <it>random errors </it>(repeatability standard deviation) of the detection procedure, collective samples were taken from two uncontaminated rooms using a sampling vacuum cleaner, and 10 sub-samples each were examined with 3 parallel cultivation plates (DG18). In this two collective samples of new dust, the total counts of <it>Aspergillus spp</it>. varied moderately by 25 and 29% (both 9 cfu per plate). At an average of 28 cfu/plate, the total number varied only by 13%.</p> <p>For the evaluation of the influence of old dust, old and fresh dust samples were examined. In both cases with old dust, the old dust influenced the results indicating false positive results, where hidden moist was indicated but was not present. To quantify the influence of sand and sieving, 13 sites were sampled in parallel using the 63-μm- and total dust collection approaches. Sieving to 63-μm resulted in a more then 10-fold enrichment, due to the different quantity of inert sand in each total dust sample.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The major errors during the quantitative evaluation from house dust samples for mould fungi as reference values for assessment resulted from missing filtration, contamination with old dust and the massive influence of soil. If the assessment is guided by indicator genera, the percentage standard deviation lies in a moderate range.</p

Results of a field study on the influence of HygienicWood mattress toppers on the number of mites in bed dust and the state of health of people with house dust mite allergies

Objectives: So far, there has been no practical or toxicologically non-hazardous way to decimate mites – without interrupting use of beds – in their main reservoir on bed mattresses to such an extent that the allergic condtion of people suffering from house dust mite allergies is reduced or even remedied. As so-called HygienicWood was effective against mites under simulated conditions, the influence of a mattress topper filled with HygienicWood chips on the content of mite antigen Der p1 was to be investigated and the influence on the state of health of the persons concerned analysed at the same time