Bactericidal Activity of N-Chlorotaurine against Biofilm-Forming Bacteria Grown on Metal Disks

Many orthopedic surgeons consider surgical irrigation and debridement with prosthesis retention as a treatment option for postoperative infections. Usually, saline solution with no added antimicrobial agent is used for irrigation. We investigated the activity of N-chlorotaurine (NCT) against various biofilm-forming bacteria in vitro and thereby gained significant information on its usability as a soluble and well-tolerated active chlorine compound in orthopedic surgery. Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus were grown on metal alloy disks and in polystyrene dishes for 48 h. Subsequently, they were incubated for 15 min to 7 h in buffered solutions containing therapeutically applicable concentrations of NCT (1%, 0.5%, and 0.1%; 5.5 to 55 mM) at 37°C. NCT inactivated the biofilm in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy revealed disturbance of the biofilm architecture by rupture of the extracellular matrix. Assays with reduction of carboxanilide (XTT) showed inhibition of the metabolism of the bacteria in biofilms. Quantitative cultures confirmed killing of S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms on metal alloy disks by NCT. Clinical isolates were slightly more resistant than ATCC type strains, but counts of CFU were reduced at least 10-fold by 1% NCT within 15 min in all cases. NCT showed microbicidal activity against various bacterial strains in biofilms. Whether this can be transferred to the clinical situation should be the aim of future studies

INFOGEST Digestion Assay of Raw and Roasted Hazelnuts and Its Impact on Allergens and Their IgE Binding Activity

Most of the food allergens sensitized via the gastrointestinal tract resist thermal treatments and digestion, particularly digestion by pepsin. Roasted hazelnuts are more commonly consumed than raw ones. Since no studies have characterized gastric digestion protein fragments of raw and roasted hazelnuts nor their IgE binding properties, we compared these aspects of raw and roasted hazelnuts’ gastric digesta obtained by INFOGEST protocol. Their electrophoretically resolved profiles were probed with hazelnut allergic patients’ sera in 1D and 2D immunoblots. Electrophoretic profiles demonstrated pepsin digestion of all hazelnut allergens to varying extents. While 2D immunoblots indicated that roasting slightly reduced allergenicity, IgE ELISA with the pool of sera showed a slight significant (10%) increase in IgE binding in both gastric digesta. Cor a 9 isolated from the raw and roasted hazelnuts, characterized by far and near CD, remained stable after roasting, with preserved IgE reactivity. Its immunoreactivity contribution by inhibitory ELISA was noticeable in raw and roasted hazelnut digesta; its activity was slightly stronger in the roasted preparations. Roasting has a visible impact on proteins; however, it did not affect overall IgE reactivity. Gastric digestion slightly increases the overall IgE reactivity in raw and roasted hazelnuts, and may therefore impact the profiles of allergens and their fragments available to interact with the immune system in the small intestine

Deutsche Bahn Schedules Train Rotations Using Hypergraph Optimization

Deutsche Bahn (DB) operates a large fleet of rolling stock (locomotives, wagons, and train sets) that must be combined into trains to perform rolling stock rotations. This train composition is a special characteristic of railway operations that distinguishes rolling stock rotation planning from the vehicle scheduling problems prevalent in other industries. DB models train compositions using hyperarcs. The resulting hypergraph models are addressed using a novel coarse-to-fine method that implements a hierarchical column generation over three levels of detail. This algorithm is the mathematical core of DB's fleet employment optimization (FEO) system for rolling stock rotation planning. FEO's impact within DB's planning departments has been revolutionary. DB has used it to support the company's procurements of its newest high-speed passenger train fleet and its intermodal cargo locomotive fleet for crossborder operations. FEO is the key to successful tendering in regional transport and to construction site management in daily operations. DB's planning departments appreciate FEO's high-quality results, ability to reoptimize (quickly), and ease of use. Both employees and customers benefit from the increased regularity of operations. DB attributes annual savings of 74 million euro, an annual reduction of 34,000 tons of CO2 emissions, and the elimination of 600 coupling operations in crossborder operations to the implementation of FEO

An artificial intelligence algorithm is highly accurate for detecting endoscopic features of eosinophilic esophagitis

The endoscopic features associated with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) may be missed during routine endoscopy. We aimed to develop and evaluate an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm for detecting and quantifying the endoscopic features of EoE in white light images, supplemented by the EoE Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS). An AI algorithm (AI-EoE) was constructed and trained to differentiate between EoE and normal esophagus using endoscopic white light images extracted from the database of the University Hospital Augsburg. In addition to binary classification, a second algorithm was trained with specific auxiliary branches for each EREFS feature (AI-EoE-EREFS). The AI algorithms were evaluated on an external data set from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC), and compared with the performance of human endoscopists with varying levels of experience. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of AI-EoE were 0.93 for all measures, while the AUC was 0.986. With additional auxiliary branches for the EREFS categories, the AI algorithm (AI-EoE-EREFS) performance improved to 0.96, 0.94, 0.95, and 0.992 for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC, respectively. AI-EoE and AI-EoE-EREFS performed significantly better than endoscopy beginners and senior fellows on the same set of images. An AI algorithm can be trained to detect and quantify endoscopic features of EoE with excellent performance scores. The addition of the EREFS criteria improved the performance of the AI algorithm, which performed significantly better than endoscopists with a lower or medium experience level

Tolerability of inhaled N-chlorotaurine in the pig model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>N-chlorotaurine, a long-lived oxidant produced by human leukocytes, can be applied in human medicine as an endogenous antiseptic. Its antimicrobial activity can be enhanced by ammonium chloride. This study was designed to evaluate the tolerability of inhaled N-chlorotaurine (NCT) in the pig model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Anesthetized pigs inhaled test solutions of 1% (55 mM) NCT (n = 7), 5% NCT (n = 6), or 1% NCT plus 1% ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) (n = 6), and 0.9% saline solution as a control (n = 7), respectively. Applications with 5 ml each were performed hourly within four hours. Lung function, haemodynamics, and pharmacokinetics were monitored. Bronchial lavage samples for captive bubble surfactometry and lung samples for histology and electron microscopy were removed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) decreased significantly over the observation period of 4 hours in all animals. Compared to saline, 1% NCT + 1% NH₄Cl led to significantly lower PaO₂values at the endpoint after 4 hours (62 ± 9.6 mmHg vs. 76 ± 9.2 mmHg, p = 0.014) with a corresponding increase in alveolo-arterial difference of oxygen partial pressure (AaDO₂) (p = 0.004). Interestingly, AaDO₂was lowest with 1% NCT, even lower than with saline (p = 0.016). The increase of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) over the observation period was smallest with 1% NCT without difference to controls (p = 0.91), and higher with 5% NCT (p = 0.02), and NCT + NH₄Cl (p = 0.05).</p> <p>Histological and ultrastructural investigations revealed no differences between the test and control groups. The surfactant function remained intact. There was no systemic resorption of NCT detectable, and its local inactivation took place within 30 min. The concentration of NCT tolerated by A549 lung epithelial cells <it>in vitro </it>was similar to that known from other body cells (0.25–0.5 mM).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The endogenous antiseptic NCT was well tolerated at a concentration of 1% upon inhalation in the pig model. Addition of ammonium chloride in high concentration provokes a statistically significant impact on blood oxygenation.</p

Entwicklung eines Analysetools eVALUATOR für Injektionsarbeiten

Schlagwörter: Acrylatgelinjektionen; Prozessvisualisierungen; digitales Analysetool; Leistungsparameter; Nachkalkulationen; Bauzeitprognose Das Forschungsprojekt „Drahtloses Baudatenmonitoring“ befasst sich mit der Entwicklung von digitalen Baustellentools für den Spezialtiefbau zur Optimierung von Monitoring und Datenmanagement. Die vorliegende Diplomarbeit entsteht im Rahmen dieses Forschungsprojekts und beschäftigt sich mit der digitalen Datenanalyse von Injektionsarbeiten. Dazu wird das Analysetool eVALUATOR entwickelt und im Anschluss auf Injektionsbaustellen implementiert. Für die Entwicklung ist es erforderlich mit jenen Personen aus der Praxis zusammenzuarbeiten, die dieses in ihrer täglichen Arbeit nutzen werden. So wurden die Grundlagen für das Analysetool im Zuge eines Forschungsaufenthalts auf einer Injektionsbaustelle mit dem örtlichen Baustellenpersonal geschaffen. Neben dem Verständnis der einzelnen Bauprozesse von Injektionen und dem aktuellen Monitoring und Datenmanagement wurde der Fokus vor allem daraufgelegt, wie ein digitales Analysetool die tägliche Arbeit erleichtern kann und welche Auswertungen und Prognosen automatisch erstellt werden sollen. Für das allgemeine Verständnis beginnt die Arbeit mit einem kurzen Überblick über Injektionen aus der Fachliteratur und geht anschließend näher auf Injektionen im Tunnelbau ein. Im Speziellen werden dabei nachträgliche Injektionen mittels Acrylatgel zur Abdichtung der vortriebsbedingten Auflockerungszone am Beispiel eines konkreten Projekts erläutert. Für die Analyse von Prozessen ist es eminent, diese zu verstehen und so wurden sämtliche Bauprozesse bei der Ausführung von Abdichtungsinjektionen im Tunnelbau am Beispiel eines konkreten Projekts in Feldstudien beobachtet, visualisiert und erläutert. Das Analysetool eVALUATOR wird auf der Grundlage eines modernen Softwaretools für Monitoring und Datenmanagement von Injektionsarbeiten entwickelt. Dieses ist bereits auf Injektionsbaustellen im Einsatz und erleichtert die Arbeit des operativen Personals. Mit dem zu entwickelnden Analysetool werden diese Daten für die Ermittlung von spezifischen Kennzahlen, Produktivitätsund Kostenanalysen sowie für eine Bauzeitprognose herangezogen. Diese Arbeit schafft die bautechnischen und -wirtschaftlichen Grundlagen für die Entwicklung des Analysetools eVALUATOR durch Programmierer. Der Fokus liegt darauf, wie die Auswertungen erstellt werden, woher die notwendigen Eingangsdaten stammen und ob diese zusätzlich in das System implementiert werden müssen.Keywords: grouting with acrylates; construction process visualization; digital analysis; key performance indicators; productivity and cost analysis; predicting construction times The research project “Wireless data monitoring” deals with developing digital tools for construction sites in the field of special geotechnical works. Its goal is to optimise monitoring and data management. This thesis was written in the framework of this research project, and it deals with the digital analysis of grouting work. The eVALUATOR analysis tool is to be developed for this purpose, and it will consequently be utilised in grouting work on construction sites. For this project to succeed, it is necessary to develop such a tool in cooperation with practitioners who use it in their daily work. During a research visit to a construction site on which grouting work was being carried out, the foundation for this analysis tool was laid in cooperation with site staff. Besides gaining an understanding of the individual construction processes of grouting and the current monitoring and data management systems, the main focus was on ways in which a digital analysis tool might facilitate the work and which evaluations and forecasts could be made automatically. In order to give the reader a general understanding, this thesis begins with a short overview of groutings from the specialist literature before focusing in greater detail on groutings in tunnel construction. More precisely, subsequent groutings with acrylates aimed at sealing the excavationdamaged zones are explained using a specific example. What is critical in analysing processes is to understand these. This is how all the construction processes in the execution of grouting sealing in tunnel construction could be observed in field studies and later visualised and explained by using this specific project as an example. The eVALUATOR analysis tool is to be developed based on a state-of-the-art software tool for monitoring and for data management. This software tool is already being used on grouting construction sites, and it facilitates the work of site managers. Using the analysis tool developed, this data shall be utilised for determining specific key performance indicators, for productivity and cost analysis as well as for predicting construction times. This thesis creates the technical and economic basis to allow programmers to develop eVALUATOR. The focus is on how evaluations will be generated, from where the necessary input data will originate, and whether or not it needs to be imported into the system specifically.11

VIDRE – A Distributed Service-Oriented Business Rule Engine based on

Business rules provide an elegant solution to manage dynamic business logic by separating business knowledge from its implementation logic. The drawback of most existing business rule approaches is the lack of standardization and interoperability. The lack of service-orientation and remote accessibility of business rule engines makes it hard to use business rules in distributed environments. This paper contributes the design and implementation of VIDRE (Vienna Distributed Rules Engine), a service-oriented business rule engine based on RuleML. VIDRE enables enterprise applications to access business rules as easy as accessing a database, by exposing rules as Web services. VIDRE uses RuleML as an interlingua to represent facts, rules, and queries. One of the main contributions of the VIDRE approach is the ability to distribute rules and facts across various rule engines, therefore, enabling powerful ways of separating and executing business rules within intra- and interorganizational boundaries. 1

Allergenicity assessment of Cor a 8 from raw and roasted hazelnut upon oral-gastric digestion phase of INFOGEST protocol

Cor a 8 is a relevant allergen that can cause severe allergic reactions. It is a 115 amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 9 kDa and is a member of the non-specific lipida transfer protein family. This allergen is resistant to high temperatures, pH changes, gastric and intestinal enzymes. The main route of exposure is through ingestion. In order to examine its resistance to digestion, we have applied a popular 1.0 INFOGEST protocol [1], specialized for the complete food, which in vitro mimics physiologically relevant conditions of oral-gastric-intestinal digestion. The aim of this study was to compare Cor a 8 resistance to gastric digestion, from both, raw and roasted hazelnuts, before and upon pepsin (gastric) digestion. Stability of the Cor a 8 protein was investigated by simulation of oral and gastric digestion phases, performed with ground raw and roasted hazelnut kernels. Hazelnut proteins were extracted from the digestion mixture and analyzed by 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE, while raw and roasted Cor a 8 western blots were probed with specific anti-Cor a 8 antibodies in 1D and 2D immunoblots. The electrophoretic patterns of the raw and roasted extracts were similar. 1D SDS PAGE profiles demonstrated high stability of Cor a 8 against enzymatic treatments. Control samples of Cor a 8 from raw and roasted hazelnut extracts migrated as a single band at around 12 kDa in 1D immunoblot. However, in case of roasted hazelnut, the protein showed a slightly lower capacity to bind specific anti-Cor a 8 antibody, as compared to raw hazelnut extract. In 2D immunoblot, with higher resolution, specific antibody binding was decting a significant and noticeable smear in the basic region indicating a range of different protein variants. This was more pronounced detectable in the case of roasted sample upon digestion, pointing to a mix of variants in this allergen batch. It has been suggested that the allergenicity of the Cor a 8 is almost insensitive to temperature. The allergen is stable even after digestion and roasting processes up to 140˚C. We hypothesize that a lipid-rich food matrix delays extraction of proteins, thereby delaying their gastrointestinal digestion, which may affect allergen sensitizing capacity and clinical symptoms