Revisiting the Parallax of the Isolated Neutron Star RX J185635-3754 Using HST/ACS Imaging

We have redetermined the parallax and proper motion of the nearby isolated neutron star RX~J185635-3754. We used eight observations with the high resolution camera of the HST/ACS taken from 2002 through 2004. We performed the astrometric fitting using five independent methods, all of which yielded consistent results. The mean estimate of the distance is 123 (+11, -15) pc (1 sigma), in good agreement with our earlier published determination

A Possible Detection of Occultation by a Proto-planetary Clump in GM Cephei

GM Cep in the young (~4 Myr) open cluster Trumpler 37 has been known to be an abrupt variable and to have a circumstellar disk with very active accretion. Our monitoring observations in 2009-2011 revealed the star to show sporadic flare events, each with brightening of < 0.5 mag lasting for days. These brightening events, associated with a color change toward the blue, should originate from an increased accretion activity. Moreover, the star also underwent a brightness drop of ~1 mag lasting for about a month, during which the star became bluer when fainter. Such brightness drops seem to have a recurrence time scale of a year, as evidenced in our data and the photometric behavior of GM Cep over a century. Between consecutive drops, the star brightened gradually by about 1 mag and became blue at peak luminosity. We propose that the drop is caused by obscuration of the central star by an orbiting dust concentration. The UX Orionis type of activity in GM Cep therefore exemplifies the disk inhomogeneity process in transition between grain coagulation and planetesimal formation in a young circumstellar disk.Comment: In submission to the Astrophysical Journal, 4 figure

Microbicidal activity of polihexanide

When tested in the quantitative suspension test according to the prEN 12054, polihexanide meets the requirements defined by this standard for an antiseptic. At a product concentration of 0.02%, the test organisms are reduced by >=5 lg, or >=3 lg under dirty conditions, respectively, within a contact time of 5 min. This agrees well with the accepted recommendation of 0.02% polihexanide for the application on chronic wounds. In the presence of sesamoid bone/cartilage a polihexanide concentration of 0.005% is sufficient effective. As this concentration does not appear to have any adverse effects it might be promising to analyze its suitability for the antiseptic irrigation of joints in the animal model. The combination of 0.1% polihexanide with undecylenamidopropyl betaine (Prontosan®) possesses the antiseptic properties specified above, too. However, with regard to the higher concentration of polihexanide, at least a repeated application of this formulation cannot be recommended for cleansing and irrigating wounds or burns.Bei Testung im quantitativen Suspensionstest gemäß EN 12054 erfüllt der Wirkstoff Polihexanid 0,02% bei =5 lg bzw. mit organischer Belastung >=3 lg. Damit findet die Empfehlung dieser reduzierten Anwendungskonzentration für chronischen Wunden ihre Bestätigung. In Gegenwart von Knorpel ist eine Verdünnung von 0,005% ausreichend wirksam. Da diese Konzentration in vitro noch knorpelverträglich ist, erscheint es aussichtsreich, ihre Effektivität und Verträglichkeit zur Gelenkspülung am Tiermodell zu untersuchen. Die Kombination von 0,1% Polihexanid mit Undecylenamidopropylbetain (Prontosan®) erfüllt ebenfalls die Wirkungsanforderungen an ein Antiseptikum ohne und mit Belastung, wobei auf Grund der höheren Anwendungskonzentration von Polihexanid zumindest für Verbrennungswunden kein wiederholter Einsatz zur reinigenden Wundspülung empfohlen werden kann

Chances and perspectives of the plasma medicine by use of Tissue Tolerable Plasma (TTP)

On the basis of our current knowledge about the physical properties and biological effects of low temperature plasmas the possibilities and prospects of plasma medicine are discussed in an interdisciplinary dialogue in order to generate hypotheses for further basic and applied research. The following possibilities are seemed feasible for the medical application of low-temperature plasmas: Prevention and treatment of diseases (chronic wounds, skin and mucosal infectious diseases, localized tumors, keloid formation, promotion of angiogenesis, tissue ablation, hemostasis) Inhibition of biofilm formation by surface treatment and by direct action on biofilms Promotion of incorporation of implants into viable tissue by changing the surface (hydrophobicity, plasma steered application of antimicrobial active layers with drug delivery function) Promotion of improved penetration of topically applied drugs with therapeutic outcome Employment for veterinary indications Improved cleaning performance in the treatment process of medical devices by surface modification.Auf der Grundlage des aktuellen Wissenstands zu den physikalischen Eigenschaften und den biologischen Wirkungen von Tissue Tolerable Plasma (TTP) werden die Möglichkeiten und Perspektiven der Plasmamedizin diskutiert, um im interdisziplinären Dialog Hypothesen für die weitere Grundlagen- und Anwendungsforschung zu generieren. Folgende Möglichkeiten bieten sich zur medizinischen Anwendung von TTP an: Prävention und Therapie von Erkrankungen (chronische Wunden, infektiöse Haut- und Schleimhauterkrankungen, lokalisierte Tumoren, Keloidbildung, Förderung der Angiogenese, Gewebeabtragung, Blutstillung) Hemmung der Biofilmbildung durch Oberflächenbehandlung und durch direkte Einwirkung auf Biofilme Förderung der Einheilung von Implantaten durch veränderte Oberflächen (Hydrophobie, plasmagesteuerte Auftragung antimikrobiell wirksamer Schichten mit der Funktion eines Drug delivery Systems) Förderung der Penetration topisch applizierter Arzneimittel mit verbessertem Therapieergebnis Einsatz für veterinärmedizinische Indikationen Verbesserte Reinigungsleistung im Aufbereitungsprozess von Medizinprodukten durch Oberflächenveränderung