61 research outputs found

    Role based access control and authentication for SCADA field devices using a dual Bloom filter and challenge-response.

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    Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are networked control systems used in many critical infrastructure areas such as power water and transportation. Many of these systems continue to use legacy field devices that lack cyber security features. The field device security preprocessor is a bump-in-the-wire security solution of legacy field devices. This thesis describes the design and analysis of a dual Bloom filter structure for use in a field device security preprocessor. A dual Bloom filter is a variant of the traditional Bloom filter, that performs role based access checks in O(1) time. It is shown this structure, which can produce false authentications is shown to be acceptable for this security use thought analysis and penetration testing. Analysis and testing shows that in spite of false positives this structure can provide the required level of security, while maintaining the required level of performance on low cost hardware

    TatS: a novel in vitro tattooed human skin model for improved pigment toxicology research

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    Reports of tattoo-associated risks boosted the interest in tattoo pigment toxicity over the last decades. Nonetheless, the influence of tattoo pigments on skin homeostasis remains largely unknown. In vitro systems are not available to investigate the interactions between pigments and skin. Here, we established TatS, a reconstructed human full-thickness skin model with tattoo pigments incorporated into the dermis. We mixed the most frequently used tattoo pigments carbon black (0.02 mg/ml) and titanium dioxide (TiO2, 0.4 mg/ml) as well as the organic diazo compound Pigment Orange 13 (0.2 mg/ml) into the dermis. Tissue viability, morphology as well as cytokine release were used to characterize TatS. Effects of tattoo pigments were compared to monolayer cultures of human fibroblasts. The tissue architecture of TatS was comparable to native human skin. The epidermal layer was fully differentiated and the keratinocytes expressed occludin, filaggrin and e-cadherin. Staining of collagen IV confirmed the formation of the basement membrane. Tenascin C was expressed in the dermal layer of fibroblasts. Although transmission electron microscopy revealed the uptake of the tattoo pigments into fibroblasts, neither viability nor cytokine secretion was altered in TatS. In contrast, TiO2 significantly decreased cell viability and increased interleukin-8 release in fibroblast monolayers. In conclusion, TatS emulates healed tattooed human skin and underlines the advantages of 3D systems over traditional 2D cell culture in tattoo pigment research. TatS is the first skin model that enables to test the effects of pigments in the dermis upon tattooing

    Synchrotron-based nu-XRF mapping and mu-FTIR microscopy enable to look into the fate and effects of tattoo pigments in human skin

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    The increasing prevalence of tattoos provoked safety concerns with respect to particle distribution and effects inside the human body. We used skin and lymphatic tissues from human corpses to address local biokinetics by means of synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques at both the micro (mu) and nano (nu) scale. Additional advanced mass spectrometry-based methodology enabled to demonstrate simultaneous transport of organic pigments, heavy metals and titanium dioxide from skin to regional lymph nodes. Among these compounds, organic pigments displayed the broadest size range with smallest species preferentially reaching the lymph nodes. Using synchrotron mu-FTIR analysis we were also able to detect ultrastructural changes of the tissue adjacent to tattoo particles through altered amide I alpha-helix to beta-sheet protein ratios and elevated lipid contents. Altogether we report strong evidence for both migration and long-term deposition of toxic elements and tattoo pigments as well as for conformational alterations of biomolecules that likely contribute to cutaneous inflammation and other adversities upon tattooing

    Investigation of Adverse Reactions in Tattooed Skin through Histological and Chemical Analysis

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    Background: Just as the number of tattooed people has increased in recent years, so has the number of adverse reactions in tattooed skin. Tattoo colourants contain numerous, partly unidentified substances, which have the potential to provoke adverse skin reactions like allergies or granulomatous reactions. Identification of the triggering substances is often difficult or even impossible. Methods: Ten patients with typical adverse reactions in tattooed skin were enrolled in the study. Skin punch biopsies were taken and the paraffin-embedded specimens were analysed by standard haematoxylin and eosin and anti-CD3 stainings. Tattoo colourants provided by patients and punch biopsies of patients were analysed with different chromatography and mass spectrometry methods and X-ray fluorescence. Blood samples of 2 patients were screened for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R). Results: Histology showed variable skin reactions such as eosinophilic infiltrate, granulomatous reactions, or pseudolymphoma. CD3+ T lymphocytes dominated the dermal cellular infiltrate. Most patients had adverse skin reactions in red tattoos (n = 7), followed by white tattoos (n = 2). The red tattooed skin areas predominantly contained Pigment Red (P.R.) 170, but also P.R. 266, Pigment Orange (P.O.) 13, P.O. 16, and Pigment Blue (P.B.) 15. The white colourant of 1 patient contained rutile titanium dioxide but also other metals like nickel and chromium and methyl dehydroabietate – known as the main ingredient of colophonium. None of the 2 patients showed increased levels of ACE and sIL-2R related to sarcoidosis. Seven of the study participants showed partial or complete remission after treatment with topical steroids, intralesional steroids, or topical tacrolimus. Conclusions: The combination of the methods presented might be a rational approach to identify the substances that trigger adverse reactions in tattoos. Such an approach might help make tattoo colourants safer in the future if such trigger substances could be omitted

    The corneal subbasal nerve plexus and thickness of the retinal layers in pediatric type 1 diabetes and matched controls

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    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina and corneal confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of the subbasal nerve plexus (SBP) are noninvasive techniques for quantification of the ocular neurodegenerative changes in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). In adult T1DM patients these changes are hardly related to T1DM only. Instead, ageing and/or lifestyle associated comorbidities have to be considered as putative confounding variables. Therefore, we investigated pediatric T1DM patients (n = 28; 14.2 ± 2.51 y; duration of disease: 5.39 ± 4.16 y) without clinical signs of diabetic retina disease, neuropathy, vasculopathy or nephropathy and compared our findings with those obtained in healthy controls (n = 46; 14.8 ± 1.89 y). The SBP was characterized by the averaged length, thickness, and tortuosity of nerve fibers as well as the number of branching and connecting points. OCT was used to determine the total thickness of the retina (ALL) and the thickness of each retinal layer. Both methods revealed signs of early neurodegenerative changes, e.g. thinning of distinct retinal layers at the pericentral ring and shortening of corneal nerve fibers that are already present in pediatric T1DM patients. Standardization of instruments and algorithms are urgently required to enable uniform comparison between different groups and define normative values to introduce in the clinical setting

    Biodistribution, clearance, and long‐term fate of clinically relevant nanomaterials

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    Realization of the immense potential of nanomaterials for biomedical applications will require a thorough understanding of how they interact with cells, tissues, and organs. There is evidence that, depending on their physicochemical properties and subsequent interactions, nanomaterials are indeed taken up by cells. However, the subsequent release and/or intracellular degradation of the materials, transfer to other cells, and/or translocation across tissue barriers are still poorly understood. The involvement of these cellular clearance mechanisms strongly influences the long-term fate of used nanomaterials, especially if one also considers repeated exposure. Several nanomaterials, such as liposomes and iron oxide, gold, or silica nanoparticles, are already approved by the American Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials; however, there is still a huge gap of knowledge concerning their fate in the body. Herein, clinically relevant nanomaterials, their possible modes of exposure, as well as the biological barriers they must overcome to be effective are reviewed. Furthermore, the biodistribution and kinetics of nanomaterials and their modes of clearance are discussed, knowledge of the long-term fates of a selection of nanomaterials is summarized, and the critical points that must be considered for future research are addressed

    TÀtowiermittelpigmente: Bioverteilung und ToxizitÀt ihrer laserinduzierten Zersetzungsprodukte

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    Due to the continuous popularity of tattoos in Germany and other countries one fifth to a quarter of the population is already carrying this permanent body decoration. Despite this high incidence, numerous toxicological endpoints, especially in the case of the color giving pigments, are missing for an adequate risk assessment of tattoo inks. In this thesis, photostability and biokinetics are investigated as two of the key elements of tattoo pigment pharmacokinetics. The light-induced decomposition of six organic pigments was investigated using laser irradiation, which is commonly used for tattoo removal. Decomposition products were analyzed using gas chromatographic separation coupled to mass spectrometric detection. Additionally, the photothermal decomposition as occurring with laser irradiation was mimicked by pyrolysis. Data for pigment biokinetics could only be obtained by analysis of human samples since animal testing for tattoo applications was declined in Germany. Here, pigment and element distribution in skin and lymph nodes, as well as other peripheral organs, were assessed using mass spectrometric devices and synchrotron x-ray fluorescence techniques. Upon laser irradiation, all organic pigments were cleaved into benzene and hydrogen cyanide. Also, potentially carcinogenic and sensitizing compounds were found for each pigment specifically. The same decomposition products were also found in pigment pyrolysis. In in vitro cytotoxicity tests, hydrogen cyanide showed an impairment of the skin cell metabolism in the expected concentrations. The analysis of skin and lymph node samples revealed a preferential transport of smaller particles of organic and inorganic pigments. Associated to tattoo pigments, potentially carcinogenic and sensitizing elements like Ni, Cr and Cd are transported to the draining lymph nodes. No increased element concentrations were detected in other peripheral organs investigated so far. The data obtained from laser irradiation and pyrolysis in combination with information from other publications allow an extrapolation of the decomposition of non-investigated pigments of the same chemical classes. This facilitates the exclusion of pigments degrading into toxins out of the several hundred potentially used in tattoo inks. The data on distribution of tattoo inks do not display a full data set for biokinetics under the given circumstances but confirm life-long exposition to potentially harmful material in the lymph nodes. Since the distribution of other insoluble pigments including white titanium dioxide is well described in literature upon subcutaneous and intradermal application, this data might be used to extrapolate the distribution of tattoo pigments.Durch die anhaltende Beliebtheit von TĂ€towierungen tragen in Deutschland und anderen LĂ€ndern zwischen einem FĂŒnftel und einem Viertel aller Menschen diesen permanenten Körperschmuck. Trotz dieser hohen Inzidenz stehen viele toxikologische Daten fĂŒr eine ausreichende Risikobewertung der Inhaltstoffe von TĂ€towiermitteln, insbesondere der Pigmente, nicht zur VerfĂŒgung. In dieser Arbeit wurden zwei Kernelemente der Pharmakokinetik von TĂ€towiermittelpigmenten, die StabilitĂ€t unter Lichteinfluss und die Biokinetik, untersucht. Die lichtinduzierte Zersetzung von sechs organischen Pigmenten unter Laserbestrahlung, welche zur Entfernung von TĂ€towierungen eingesetzt wird, wurde mit Hilfe von Gaschromatographie mit massenspektrometrischer Detektion untersucht. Zudem wurde die photothermische Zersetzung unter Laserbestrahlung durch Pyrolyse simuliert. Biokinetische Daten konnten nur durch die Analyse humaner Proben erhoben werden, da Tierversuche fĂŒr diesen Anwendungsbereich in Deutschland nicht genehmigt wurden. Hier wurde die Verteilung von organischen Pigmenten und Elementen in Haut und Lymphknoten, sowie anderen peripheren Organen mit Hilfe massenspektrometrischer Methoden und Synchrotron-Röntgenfluoreszenz analysiert. In den Laserversuchen konnte gezeigt werden, dass generell aus allen untersuchten organischen Pigmenten Benzol und BlausĂ€ure freigesetzt werden können. Zudem entstehen pigmentspezifisch potentiell krebserregende und allergieauslösender Substanzen. Die gleichen Zersetzungsprodukte zeigten sich ebenfalls durch Pyrolyse der Pigmente. In vitro ZytotoxizitĂ€tstests konnten zeigen, dass der Hautzellmetabolismus durch BlausĂ€ure in den zu erwartenden Konzentrationen eingeschrĂ€nkt wird. Die Analysen der Haut und Lymphknotenproben zeigten einen bevorzugten Transport von kleinen Partikeln organischer und anorganischer Pigmente. Zusammen mit diesen Pigmenten gelangen auch potentiell krebserregende und allergieauslösende Elementverunreinigung wie Ni, Cr und Cd in die Lymphknoten. In peripheren Organen konnten noch keine Pigmente oder erhöhte Elementgehalte festgestellt werden. Durch die gewonnen Daten der Laserbestrahlung, Pyrolyse und anhand der Literatur lassen sich fĂŒr einzelne chemische Pigmentklassen auch die Zersetzungsprodukte nicht untersuchter Pigmente extrapolieren. Die Daten können dazu genutzt werden, unter Hunderten verfĂŒgbaren Pigmenten diejenigen mit toxischen Zersetzungsprodukten zu identifizieren und fĂŒr die Anwendung in TĂ€towiermitteln auszuschließen. Die unter den gegebenen UmstĂ€nden gewonnenen Daten in Bezug auf die Verteilung von TĂ€towiermittelpigmenten im Körper stellen keine vollstĂ€ndige Biokinetik dar, belegen jedoch die lebenslange Exposition gegenĂŒber potentiell gesundheitsschĂ€dlichen Stoffen in den Lymphknoten. Da die Verteilung anderer unlöslicher Partikel, inklusive dem Weißpigment Titandioxid, auch in subkutaner und intradermaler Applikation in der Literatur gut beschrieben ist, können diese Daten ebenfalls zur Extrapolation der Verteilung von TĂ€towiermittelpigmenten herangezogen werden

    ErkÀnnande i grundskolan : en studie om hur grundskolan arbetar för den enskilde eleven

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    Vilken syn har man i grundskolan, pÄ individen och individens utveckling? BefrÀmjar grundskolan eller klarar den av ett erkÀnnande av individen? Vad krÀvs för att i grundskolan skapa en miljö av erkÀnnande? Vilken möjlighet har individen idag att utvecklas individuellt i den svenska grundskolan pÄ högstadienivÄ? Dessa frÄgor har jag med hjÀlp av ett kvalitativt angreppssÀtt föresatt mig studera nÀrmare. Den teoretiska ansatsen i uppsatsen Àr dels Charles Taylors teori om vikten av erkÀnnande, men ocksÄ Axel Honneths vidareutveckling av diskussionen runt erkÀnnande. Jag kommer ocksÄ att ge en kortare introduktion till symbolisk interaktionism och koppla detta till det empiriska materialet. Studiens empiriska material baseras pÄ ett antal semistrukturerade djupintervjuer med lÀrare pÄ tvÄ skolor och gruppintervjuer med elever. PÄ den ena skolan har jag intervjuat "vanliga" lÀrare, och pÄ den andra har fokus legat pÄ ett lÀxhjÀlpsprojekt och intervjuerna hÀr har genomförts med personen som leder projektet och hans elever. Studiens empiriska material visar att bland de lÀrare jag intervjuat anser man inte skolan ha sÀrskilt stor roll i elevernas identitetsutveckling, medan man inom lÀxhjÀlpsprojektet anser skolan ha en stor roll i elevernas identitetsutveckling. Studien visar ocksÄ, till teoriernas fördel, att erkÀnnande Àr viktigt för att uppnÄ goda resultat. I min studie har nÄgra specifika beröringspunkter framkommit, vilka mÄste anses viktiga för att kunna skapa en miljö av erkÀnnande, bland annat kontinuitet, dubbelt erkÀnnande, byggandet av broar in i grundskolan etc. Nyckelord: grundskolan, erkÀnnande, symbolisk interaktionism, linkworke

    Schreiver et al 2019 Pigment_pyrograms_elu_files

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    These data files are pyrograms of different pigments at 800°C. Double entries relate to different purity grades, manufacturers or repetitions at different time points. The Amdis .elu file format can be opened with open source software such as OpenChrom (Lablicate GmBH & Scientific community). However, the software does not allow pyrogram similarity searches (see data file "MSChromSearch_Library_Pigments_Polymers")

    Schreiver et al 2019 ChemStation_Library_AMS_Pigments_Polymers.L

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    This library contains average mass spectra (AMS) of specific pigment pyrolysis GC-MS runs. Select this library (file format “.L”) in the GC-MS Software Enhanced ChemStation (Agilent Technologies, Waldbronn, Germany) for fast screening for pigment identities. Create an AMS of the unknown pyrogram and start the search. The files are specific for the corresponding software but may be converted into other file types
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