Teaching "writing 2.0"

Diese Diplomarbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Web 2.0, seiner Auswirkung auf das Wesen der Schreibkomptenz und der schriftlichen Kommunikation (‚Writing‘), und dessen Implikationen für den Fremdsprachenunterricht Englisch. Nach einer Begriffsdefinition von ‚Writing‘ wird das Konzept von ‚Literacy‘ beleuchtet, das heutzutage weit über die traditionelle Lese- und Schreibkompetenz hinausgeht, und deshalb von mehreren Quellen nur als Mehrzahlform geführt wird (‚New Literacies‘). Diese neuen ‚Literacies‘ definieren sich im digitalen Zeitalter vor allem durch das Medium des Bildschirms, das die traditionellen textlastigen Strukturen aufbricht, und sich zunehmend am Bildhaften und der Kombination von multimodalen Inhalten orientiert. Nach einem Überblick über traditionelle Lernmodelle für die Vermittlung der Schreibkompetenz, wird auf neue Technologien und ihre Implikationen für den Fremdsprachenunterricht eingegangen. Im Weiteren, finden sich eine Beschreibung des „Connectivism“ als Lerntheorie für das digitale Zeitalter, sowie eine Analyse des GERS (Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen) und der österreichischen AHS Lehrpläne bezüglich ihrer Inhalte zur Schreibkompetenz und zu neuen Technologien. Anschließend erklärt die Arbeit die Besonderheiten des Web 2.0, und beschreibt vier Applikationen (Weblogs, Twitter, Wikis und Online Document Editors) in ihrer Funktionalität sowie ihrem Unterrichtseinsatz. Weiters geht die Arbeit auch auf ein didaktisches Modell der „New London Group“ ein, das sich von der Vermittlung von einzelnen Sprachfertigkeiten löst, und sich an der Verknüpfung von verschiedenen Design Elementen in der Textkomposition orientiert. Ergänzend finden sich Überlegungen zu einer Pädagogik 2.0, mit Prinzipien wie Lerner-Autonomie und lernerzentriertem Unterricht. Abschließend werden Evaluierungskriterien zur Vermittlung einer ‚Writing 2.0‘ Kompetenz durch Web Applikationen, definiert, und in einer Evaluierung von Wikis und Weblogs angewendet

Effective Biofilm Eradication on Orthopedic Implants with Methylene Blue Based Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy In Vitro

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are difficult to treat due to biofilm formation on implant surfaces, often requiring removal or exchange of prostheses along with long-lasting antibiotic treatment. This in vitro study investigated the effect of methylene blue photodynamic therapy (MB-PDT) on PJI-causing biofilms on different implant materials. MB-PDT (664 nm LED, 15 J/cm2) was tested on different Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Cutibacterium acnes strains in both planktonic form and grown in early and mature biofilms on prosthetic materials (polyethylene, titanium alloys, cobalt–chrome-based alloys, and bone cement). The minimum bactericidal concentration with 100% killing (MBC100%) was determined. Chemical and topographical alterations were investigated on the prosthesis surfaces after MB-PDT. Results showed a MBC100% of 0.5–5 μg/mL for planktonic bacteria and 50–100 μg/mL for bacteria in biofilms—independent of the tested strain, the orthopedic material, or the maturity of the biofilm. Material testing showed no relevant surface modification. MB-PDT effectively eradicated common PJI pathogens on arthroplasty materials without damage to the materials, suggesting that MB-PDT could be used as a novel treatment method, replacing current, more invasive approaches and potentially shortening the antibiotic treatment in PJI. This would improve quality of life and reduce morbidity, mortality, and high health-care costs

Fast and Sensitive Multiplex Real-Time Quantitative PCR to Detect Cutibacterium Periprosthetic Joint Infections

Diagnosis of Cutibacterium periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) is challenging due to a long cultivation time of up to 14 days. Faster culture-independent diagnosis would improve patient care with early and accurate treatment. Specific primers and probes were designed for Cutibacterium acnes, Cutibacterium avidum, and Cutibacterium granulosum and evaluated in a multiplex TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) format on 57 skin swabs and 20 culture-negative cerebrospinal fluid samples. The multiplex qPCR was tested in a PJI cohort of 41 sonication fluid samples from removed implants infected with different pathogens. All five culture-positive Cutibacterium PJIs were detected with the corresponding Cutibacterium-specific probe (100% positive percent agreement). The multiplex qPCR additionally detected C. avidum in two PJI sonication fluid samples that were diagnosed as Staphylococcus species infections according to culture (95% negative percent agreement). The new multiplex qPCR can provide a Cutibacterium PJI diagnosis within 1 day, allowing early and accurate antibiotic treatment. A prospective diagnostic trial in PJI with a high number of Cutibacterium species infections (shoulder PJI) is needed for further evaluation

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is crucial when treating Finegoldia magna infections

Finegoldia magna is an anaerobic gram-positive bacterium that can cause invasive human infections. Recently, a 52-year-old patient suffering from a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) due to F. magna was treated with cefepime on hemodialysis; however, treatment failed due to relapse caused by antibiotic-resistant strains. Reports on the antimicrobial susceptibility of F. magna clinical isolates are rare. We collected 57 clinical F. magna isolates from Zurich, Switzerland, between September 2019 and July 2020 and tested their antimicrobial susceptibility to investigate the local resistance pattern. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was evaluated for nine antibiotics (benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, cefepime, levofloxacin, rifampicin, metronidazole, doxycycline, and clindamycin) by E-test according to CLSI guidelines. All F. magna strains were susceptible to benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and metronidazole, while 75% to clindamycin. F. magna isolates showed MIC values lower than species-unrelated breakpoints for cefuroxime, levofloxacin, and cefepime in 93%, 56%, and 32% of the cases, respectively. MIC values for rifampicin and doxycycline were lower than locally determined ECOFFs in 98% and 72% of the cases, respectively. In summary, we recommend the use of benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, or metronidazole without prior AST as first-line treatment option against F. magna PJI infections. If cefuroxime, cefepime, levofloxacin, rifampicin, doxycycline, or clindamycin are used, AST is mandatory. Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility; Cefepime; Finegoldia magna; Periprosthetic joint infectio