Cleaning Procedure Research Articles

Removing Aged Polymer Coatings from Porous Stone Surfaces Using the Gel Cleaning Method

Acrylic polymers were extensively used in past restoration practices, usually as consolidants or protecting agents. Their removal is often required because polymer coatings can improve some decay processes of stone substrates and, after ageing, may generate undesirable materials on the surface of artifacts. Therefore, the removal of old polymer coating from the surface of artifacts has become a common operation in the conservation of cultural heritage. As with other cleaning operations, it is a delicate process that may irreversibly damage the artifacts if not correctly carried out. The main aim of this study was to determine the appropriate cleaning procedure for efficiently removing old acrylic polymers (e.g., Paraloid B-72) from the surface of historical buildings. For this purpose, a polymer was applied to two different porous stone substrates (bio-calcarenite and arenaria stone). The hydrogel cleaning approach was used for the present study, as preliminary results suggested that it is the most promising polymer-removing method. The considered hydrogel (based on a semi-interpenetrating polymer network involving poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and polyvinylpyrrolidone) was prepared and characterized using different techniques in order to assess the gel’s properties, including the gel content, equilibrium water content, retention capability, hardness, Young’s modulus, and morphology. After that, the hydrogel was loaded with appropriate amounts of nano-structured emulsions (NSEs) containing a surfactant (EcoSufTM), organic solvents, and H2O, then applied onto the coated surfaces. Moreover, plain EcoSurfTM in a water emulsion (EcoSurf/H2O) was also used to understand the polymer-removing behavior of the surfactant without any organic solvent. A comparative study was carried out on artificially aged and unaged polymer-coated samples to better understand the cleaning effectiveness of the considered emulsions for removing decayed polymer coatings. The experimental results showed that the NSE-loaded hydrogel cleaning method was more effective than other common cleaning procedures (e.g., cellulose pulp method). In fact, only one cleaning step was enough to remove the polymeric material from the stone surfaces without affecting their original properties.

COMPARISON OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION BETWEEN DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS IN CLEAN SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major concern in healthcare, especially for individuals with diabetes. Diabetes can impair wound healing and weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of SSIs. Studying SSIs in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients undergoing clean surgeries is vital for improving patient care. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in individuals with diabetes compared to those without diabetes who underwent clean surgical procedures. Methods: After the ethical approval from the institutional review board, this comparative study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital Jhelum from July 2022 to December 2023. A consisted of people with diabetes (n=50), while Group B comprised patients who did not have diabetes (n=50). All patients were administered suitable antibiotics before surgery. Each patient received a singular intravenous dose of Ceftriaxone 1g, administered thirty minutes before initiating the initial incision. The patients were monitored for surgical site infections (SSI), defined as the presence of redness, fever, tenderness at the incision site, discharge from the surgical wound, or the development of an abscess within 28 days after surgery. Results: Most participants in both study groups underwent open ventral hernia repair procedures, 54% in group A and 58% in group B. Mean± S. D of the Hb1Ac levels of the participants in both groups was 8.46±1.16 and 4.14±1.01 (P=<0.0001). 58% of participants in Group A, while 22% in Group B had surgery-associated complications (p<0.0001). 30% of participants in Group A, while 10% in Group B had SSI (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to experiencing higher rates of surgical site infection, especially in cases of procedures that are considered clean, in comparison to individuals without diabetes.

Effects of camellia saponins on biofilm formation and virulence factor genes of Bacillus cereus

Bacillus cereus is a common foodborne pathogen that can cause vomiting or diarrheal food poisoning and may not be suppressed using conventional cleaning procedures due to its ability to form biofilms. Biofilms have brought enormous challenges to the food safety industry. Camellia saponins are a class of oleanolanetype pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins that naturally exist in Camellia oleifera. This study demonstrated that the MBIC of camellia saponins against B. cereus was 64 mg/mL, and that the inhibitory effects on B. cereus upon adding saponins at different time periods varied as shown via scanning electron microscopy. However, the best inhibitory effect on biofilms was achieved through the addition of 1 mL of camellia saponins (1/2 MBIC) initially and adding 1 mL of camellia saponins (1/2 MBIC) again after 12 h, resulting in a decreased secretion of extracellular polymers and weakening the ability of the bacteria to form biofilms. The results showed that the swarming motility was significantly inhibited by camellia saponins. Furthermore, in the process of biofilm formation, camellia saponins could inhibit the production of extracellular proteins. qRT-PCR showed that the expression of six enterotoxin B. cereus virulence genes (hblA, hblD, cerA, cerB, nheA and hlyIII) was significantly inhibited by camellia saponins.

Abstract 2806: A single dose of perioperative cefazolin disrupts the gut microbiome and immunity in patients (pts) with early-stage melanoma

Abstract Background: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is routinely utilized to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs). However, the rate of SSIs following a clean surgical procedure is <3%. Overuse of antibiotics is associated with potential adverse effects, including disruption of the composition and function of the native gut microbiota. Numerous studies have shown a negative impact of antibiotics on response and survival in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade. The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of a single dose of perioperative cefazolin on the gut microbiome and immunity. Methods: In this pilot trial (NCT04875728), 22 eligible pts diagnosed with clinical stage I or II melanoma undergoing wide excision with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy were enrolled between October 2021 and January 2023. Pts were randomized 1:1 to receive a single dose of cefazolin as standard-of-care (ABX, n=11) or no antibiotics (No ABX, n=11) at the time of surgery. Stool samples were collected before surgery, on post-operative day (POD) 14 and POD90 for metagenomic sequencing (WMS). Bulk RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected at the same timepoints was performed and data processed using DESeq2, log-transformed, and standardized for subsequent analysis. Immune pathway enrichment scores were calculated using GSVA for each sample with gene lists from 3 immune pathways (ADAPTIVE_IMMUNE_SYSTEM, INNATE_IMMUNE_SYSTEM, and CYTOKINE_SIGNALING_IN_IMMUNE_SYSTEM) from REACTOME (https://reactome.org) and immune cell gene signatures from Danaher P et al, 2017. Results: Treatment with a single dose of perioperative cefazolin was associated with a decrease in the alpha diversity of the gut microbiome 2 weeks postoperatively in pts who received perioperative cefazolin versus those who did not receive antibiotics (p=0.057, R2=0.0526); this persisted to POD90 (p=0.021, R2=0.0948). WMS showed prominent and persistent decreases in Akkermansia muciniphila (POD14: Log2FC=-8.38, q<0.001) and Alistipes communis (POD90: Log2FC=-4.47, q<0.001) in the ABX group compared to No ABX, respectively. RNA-seq analysis of PBMCs from pts revealed differences in immune subsets at POD90 between ABX and No ABX groups including decreased IFN-γ signatures (p=0.02) in pts who received perioperative cefazolin. Conclusions: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is associated with profound and persistent reduction in microbiome diversity and composition, particularly of bacterial species associated with protective metabolic and inflammatory effects. Further studies will seek to assess the functional impact of this reduction on the immune response in a murine model, evaluate the generalizability of our findings across broader cohorts of patients undergoing surgery, and apply these findings to guide clinical management decisions. Citation Format: Estefania Fernandez, Samuel Cass, Yongwoo D. Seo, Ashish V. Damania, Xiaolong Meng, Pranoti V. Sahasrabhojane, Jiun Sheng Liu, Wenbin Liu, Yulong Chen, Roland L. Bassett, Samuel Shelburne, Hsiu-Yin Chang, Kinjal R. Somaiya, Kristi S. Mungovan, Jared C. Malke, Brenna Matejka, Sarah B. Fisher, Anthony Lucci, Jeffrey E. Lee, Merrick I. Ross, Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, Padmanee Sharma, Nadim J. Ajami, Christina L. Roland, Jennifer A. Wargo, Emily Z. Keung. A single dose of perioperative cefazolin disrupts the gut microbiome and immunity in patients (pts) with early-stage melanoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2806.

Choice modelling of eCooking adoption by households in Ghana

ABSTRACT The use of electric cooking appliances, also referred to as eCooking devices, presents a practical and sustainable solution for achieving universal access to clean cooking facilities by 2030. A choice modelling analysis on the factors that influence the selection of an eCooker in Ghana has been conducted to facilitate market expansion for organisations seeking to offer clean cooking services. The study utilised Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Fuzzy-TOPSIS, and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodologies to assess and rank electric cookers based on crucial factors such as kWh consumption rate, cooking efficiency, affordability, time-saving features, ergonomics, space utilisation capabilities, compatibility with cookware types, ease of cleaning and maintenance procedures, accessibility, among others. The rate of consumption was identified as the most critical factor, emphasising the significance of energy efficiency in the decision-making process. The analysis showed that the induction stove was optimal, considering both Fuzzy-TOPSIS and DEA evaluations. Although the induction stove may consume a considerable amount of electricity, its efficiency, performance, and other attributes make it the preferred choice. This study presents a systematic approach to assessing and ranking electric cooking stoves in Ghana, offering valuable insights for both consumers and policymakers.

Can diode laser 810 nm decrease post endodontic pain in patients with asymptomatic necrotic maxillary incisors? A four-arm randomized controlled trial

AimTo find the best method for applying the diode laser 810 nm to relieve post-endodontic pain on necrotic maxillary incisors with periapical lesions within a single-visit treatment.MethodsEighty patients with a necrotic incisor, diagnosed with asymptomatic apical periodontitis, received standardized cleaning and shaping procedures, then divided randomly with a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio into four groups: Group 1: control group with no laser application, Group 2: applying the diode laser as an irrigation activation system (IAS), Group 3: applying the diode laser from the buccal and palatal mucosa, Group 4: applying the diode laser as an IAS and from buccal and palatal mucosa. The postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after the treatment. The mean values of the VAS score were statistically analyzed used Kruskal–Walis and Mann–Whitney U tests. The level of significance was set at a = 0.05.ResultsDuring 14 days after treatment, there was a statistically significant difference between mean values of VAS scores in the four groups (P value < 0.05); Group 1 scored the highest score, whereas Group 4 showed the lowest one. Moreover, Group 4 showed favorable outcomes compared with Group 2 and Group 3 during the first three days after treatment.ConclusionDiode laser reduced postoperative pain after necrotic teeth with large-sized apical lesion treatment, whereas using diode laser either as an IAS or LLLT reduced the postoperative pain compared with the control group. Moreover, the usage of a diode laser in both previous techniques represents the best protocol for postoperative pain relief during 14 days of treatment.Clinical relevanceThe clinical significance of this study is to investigate the best method to reduce postoperative pain using diode lasers 810 nm; where the results of this study indicated that the more diode laser exposer in LLLT and IAS, the less postoperative pain after endodontic procedures.

Minimizing the environmental footprint in food production: A case study on the improvement of an industrial tank cleaning process through adaptive cleaning devices

AbstractThe potential of adaptive tank cleaning devices to reduce resource consumption of cleaning processes is quantified on the example of a dairy tank under production conditions. As methodological approach, a cleaning validation process was applied to obtain information on the resource consumption of the existing cleaning procedure as reference. An improved cleaning procedure with increased mechanical cleaning action was designed. It exploits the capabilities of motor‐driven jet cleaners to perform helical, zigzag, spiral and meander‐shaped nozzle movements. The nozzle movements were applied according to the location of cleaning‐critical area and the fouling deposit distribution. The configuration was supported by cleaning simulations. Both cleaning procedure were quantitatively compared. The adapted cleaning process reduced the cleaning time by 32 per cent without compromising the cleanling success. The volumetric flow rate was 55 l/min instead of 130 l/min and the energy requirement for cleaning was lowered by approx. 227,260 kJ per cleaning cycle.Practical applicationsReducing cleaning times, water consumption, and strengthening food safety are essential challenges for food production. The methodical approach for conducting a cleaning validation provides necessary information to systematically address priorities of optimization: (1) reduction of cleaning time, (2) reduction of water consumption, (3) reduction of energy consumption. The optical detection of cleaning‐critical area, fouling deposit distribution and the temporal cleaning process opens the possibility of monitoring the hygiene status and strengthening food safety.The use of adaptive, motor‐driven tank cleaning devices enables the targeted adjustment of cleaning intensity. This enables the targeted cleaning of hard‐to‐clean and easy‐to‐clean tank areas and may reduce resource consumption and cleaning time.

Root canal dentin wear during final irrigation in endodontic retreatment with passive ultrasonic irrigation and easy clean instruments.

Complementary procedures have been proposed to improve the endodontic retreatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), the dentin wear caused by passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and easy clean (EC) instruments, when used for the final removal of filling material during endodontic retreatment. Thirty-six mesial roots of the lower first molars were divided into four groups (n = 9), according to the final irrigation and sealer: PUI/AH Plus, EC/AH Plus, PUI/Total Fill (TF), and EC/TF. Canal volume was evaluated, both before and after the final irrigation, by micro-CT analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the volumes among groups and the paired Wilcoxon test was used to compare the volume values before and after the final irrigation within each group. Both complementary cleaning procedures promoted dentin wear that was observed only when the volume was analyzed for each third of the root canal. In the apical third, both instruments showed significant wear, where the use of the EC instrument resulted in greater wear than the PUI, in teeth filled with both AH Plus and TF BC Sealers (P < 0.05). Both complementary cleaning procedures promoted dentin wear and must be used cautiously.

Intraoperative Wound Irrigation for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection After Laparotomy

Surgical site infections frequently occur after open abdominal surgery. Intraoperative wound irrigation as a preventive measure is a common practice worldwide, although evidence supporting this practice is lacking. To evaluate the preventive effect of intraoperative wound irrigation with polyhexanide solution. The Intraoperative Wound Irrigation to Prevent Surgical Site Infection After Laparotomy (IOWISI) trial was a multicenter, 3-armed, randomized clinical trial. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to the intervention. The clinical trial was conducted in 12 university and general hospitals in Germany from September 2017 to December 2021 with 30-day follow-up. Adult patients undergoing laparotomy were eligible for inclusion. The main exclusion criteria were clean laparoscopic procedures and the inability to provide consent. Of 11 700 screened, 689 were included and 557 completed the trial; 689 were included in the intention-to-treat and safety analysis. Randomization was performed online (3:3:1 allocation) to polyhexanide 0.04%, saline, or no irrigation (control) of the operative wound before closure. The primary end point was surgical site infection within 30 postoperative days according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition. Among the 689 patients included, 402 were male and 287 were female. The median (range) age was 65.9 (18.5-94.9) years. Participants were randomized to either wound irrigation with polyhexanide (n = 292), saline (n = 295), or no irrigation (n = 102). The procedures were classified as clean contaminated in 92 cases (8%). The surgical site infection incidence was 11.8% overall (81 of 689), 10.6% in the polyhexanide arm (31 of 292), 12.5% in the saline arm (37 of 295), and 12.8% in the no irrigation arm (13 of 102). Irrigation with polyhexanide was not statistically superior to no irrigation or saline irrigation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% CI, 0.64-2.36 vs HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.74-1.94; P = .47). The incidence of serious adverse events did not differ among the 3 groups. In this study, intraoperative wound irrigation with polyhexanide solution did not reduce surgical site infection incidence in clean-contaminated open abdominal surgical procedures compared to saline or no irrigation. More clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the potential benefit in contaminated and septic procedures, including the emergency setting. drks.de Identifier: DRKS00012251.

Clean-in-place (CIP) validation of oil-based cleaning and sanitization for Salmonella-contaminated tubing: Evaluation of Enterococcus faecium as a surrogate

The safety of low-moisture foods is of continual concern due to the survival and cross-tolerance of certain bacterial pathogens under dry conditions. This study screened for Salmonella surrogates using a controlled bacterial desiccation system for testing against formulated antimicrobial oils. The effect of inoculum preparation on the heat resistance of Salmonella in peanut butter was also addressed. Thereafter, a tubing system was utilized to validate a dry cleaning and sanitation procedure at the temperature range of peanut butter processing. Tubes were contaminated by re-circulating peanut butter inoculated with a test organism to 108−9 CFU/g. The contaminated system was flushed with fresh canola oil under laminar flow for cleaning, followed by holding with acidified oil or water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion to sanitize. A linear relation (R2, 0.89) was observed between the oil-flush (cleaning) duration and surface cell removal, and the prevailing surface cleanliness dictated the efficacy of sanitization. System decontamination was achieved at 60 °C through a two-step oil flush (3.6 min) and acidified W/O emulsion treatment (30 min). The test organisms, S. Enteritidis phage type 30 and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354, were reduced by this procedure to levels undetectable by enrichment of tubes (n = 9). The E. faecium showed less susceptibility than S. Enteritidis under all the conditions tested, suggesting that it may be used as a Salmonella surrogate to validate such a process in the food-processing environment. Adaptation of the proposed oil-based system would allow a shifted cleaning and sanitation paradigm precluding the necessity of traditional wet cleaning and application of flammable alcohol-based sanitizers.

MULTI-MODAL/MULTI-RESOLUTION 3D DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING FOR A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL CITY OF SIENA (ITALY)

Abstract. The paper presents the acquisition and data processing approach for the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and laser scanner surveys carried out within the SOS project (the acronym comes from ‘SOtto Siena’, in English ‘Beneath Siena’). SOS is a program aimed to overcome some of the problems and limitations currently present in the study of cities with long-term continuity of life, responding in particular to the need for a better understanding of the city’s ancient fabric and hence to improvements in its conservation by: GPR city survey full coverage (of all the public spaces, streets, squares, courtyards, gardens, etc.), GIS data entry of the historical-archaeological and geoarchaeological knowledge and the development of a 3D Archaeological WEBGIS.The paper discusses the procedure for the creation of a 3D viewer within an already active WEBGIS platform, specifically created for the visualisation and management of archaeological data. The GPR data, once acquired, were exported in 3D in the form of point clouds and subjected to a procedure of cleaning and filtering from noise, so as to eliminate geometries not referable to anomalies and therefore to the presence of buried structures or cavities, and then transformed into mesh to meet the needs of the subsequent process of semantic enrichment. The GPR survey of the underground was flanked by laser scanning of some of the most significant structures in the historic centre (e.g. the cathedral). All 3D geometries were then inserted into the new visualiser via a pipeline using open-source tools and libraries.

Development of an Evaluation System for the Prophylactic Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in the Perioperative Period of Class I Surgical Incisions in Neurosurgery

BackgroundThis study aimed to establish a precise preoperative high-risk factor scoring system and algorithm for antibiotic prophylaxis decision-making, provide guidance for the judicious use of AMP, refine interventions, and ensure the appropriate application of AMP for class I incisions in neurosurgery. Study DesignAccording to PRISMA guidelines, Literature searches, study selection, methodology development, and quality appraisal were performed. The quality of evidence across the study population was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A two-round Delphi expert consultation method involved 15 experts from leading tertiary hospitals in China. Establishing an algorithm of SOPs for perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in Class I neurosurgical incisions. ResultsThirteen studies, encompassing 11,936 patients undergoing clean neurosurgical procedures, were included. 791 patients experienced SSI, resulting in an average incidence of 6.62%. Identified risk factors significantly associated with an increased incidence of postoperative SSI (P < 0.05) included emergency surgery, preoperative hospitalization ≥7 days, intraoperative blood loss ≥300 mL, operation time ≥4 hours, diabetes mellitus, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and repeat surgery. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated robust results for emergency surgery, intraoperative blood loss ≥300 mL, operation time ≥4 hours, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and repeat surgery. Established a risk assessment system for Class I neurosurgical incisions by the Delphi method. Additionally, we have formulated an algorithm of SOPs for perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in Class I neurosurgical incisions. ConclusionsThe established index for AMP utilization and SOPs in the preoperative period of class I neurosurgical incisions proves valuable, contributing to improved patient outcomes in neurosurgical procedures.

PELATIHAN HIGIENE DAN SANITASI MAKANAN UNTUK KARYAWAN DI MOMOO JUICE BAR &amp; CAFFE HARBOUR BAY KOTA BATAM

Training on food hygiene and sanitation is essential to ensure the safety and quality of food served to consumers. This training usually covers various aspects, such as personal hygiene practices, sanitizing kitchen equipment, safe food storage, and proper cleaning procedures. Typically, this training will cover topics such as: Personal Safety: Personal hygiene practices, such as proper hand washing, wearing clean work clothes, and handling food with clean hands. Sanitizing Equipment and Work Areas: How to clean and maintain kitchen equipment, including cleaning surfaces and work areas to prevent cross-contamination. Maintaining Food Conditions: How to store, process and prepare food to avoid contamination by bacteria or dangerous substances. Waste Management: Actions to safely dispose of waste and minimize the risk of environmental contamination. Food Safety Standards: Understand applicable food safety regulations and standards and the importance of compliance with these regulations.

A 24-year-Old Boy with Previously Treated and Aberrant Root Canal Anatomy in Mandibular Left First Premolar Tooth

Perfect cleaning and shaping is the key to successful root canal treatment. Therefore, a careful understanding of the internal anatomy and structure of the root canal system is an important factor when performing cleaning and cosmetic procedures. Mandibular premolars are among the most complicated teeth to treat with root canals due to their abnormal root canal anatomy. Furthermore, it varies in different ethnic groups. Therefore, it is needed to evaluate and search for an abnormal root canal anatomy in a failed root canal. In light of these observations, this case report provides a case of previously root canal treated mandibular first premolar tooth which was failed due to different root canal patterns. The tooth was subjected to re-root canal treatment and after completion of the therapy, the tooth was symptomless and patient was referred to the Department of Prosthodontics for a full veneer crown.

Traders’ behavioural practices and hygienic status of vegetable and meat processing surfaces in open markets in Benin city, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study investigates the hygiene status, behavioral practices, and handling of cutting boards for meat and vegetable processing in selected open markets in Benin City. Utilizing a structured questionnaire and laboratory analysis for Escherichia coli and Aeromonas, the research found prevalent Escherichia coli in all samples, with varying concentrations of Aeromonas, more pronounced in vegetable processing areas. Analysis of the questionnaire revealed that 30% of traders leave cutting boards uncovered, 88% clean them before use (52% with water and detergent), and 12% dust boards before use. Furthermore, 80% of meat sellers store leftover meat in refrigerators, while 68% of vegetable sellers store leftovers in the open market. The findings underscore the importance of proper hygienic practices in handling cutting boards to mitigate food contamination risks, urging awareness among traders regarding effective cleaning and storage procedures.

Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis: A Proposal for a Global Evidence-Based Bundle.

In the multimodal strategy context, to implement healthcare-associated infection prevention, bundles are one of the most commonly used methods to adapt guidelines in the local context and transfer best practices into routine clinical care. One of the most important measures to prevent surgical site infections is surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP). This narrative review aims to present a bundle for the correct SAP administration and evaluate the evidence supporting it. Surgical site infection (SSI) prevention guidelines published by the WHO, CDC, NICE, and SHEA/IDSA/APIC/AHA, and the clinical practice guidelines for SAP by ASHP/IDSA/SIS/SHEA, were reviewed. Subsequently, comprehensive searches were also conducted using the PubMed®/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases, in order to identify further supporting evidence-based documentation. The bundle includes five different measures that may affect proper SAP administration. The measures included may be easily implemented in all hospitals worldwide and are based on minimal drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics knowledge, which all surgeons should know. Antibiotics for SAP should be prescribed for surgical procedures at high risk for SSIs, such as clean-contaminated and contaminated surgical procedures or for clean surgical procedures where SSIs, even if unlikely, may have devastating consequences, such as in procedures with prosthetic implants. SAP should generally be administered within 60 min before the surgical incision for most antibiotics (including cefazolin). SAP redosing is indicated for surgical procedures exceeding two antibiotic half-lives or for procedures significantly associated with blood loss. In principle, SAP should be discontinued after the surgical procedure. Hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship programmes can optimise the treatment of infections and reduce adverse events associated with antibiotics. In the context of a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, it is essential to encourage an institutional safety culture in which surgeons are persuaded, rather than compelled, to respect antibiotic prescribing practices. In that context, the proposed bundle contains a set of evidence-based interventions for SAP administration. It is easy to apply, promotes collaboration, and includes measures that can be adequately followed and evaluated in all hospitals worldwide.

TEM sample preparation of lithographically patterned permalloy nanostructures on silicon nitride membranes.

We have prepared ferromagnetic nanostructures intended for the investigation of high-frequency magnetization dynamics in permalloy (Py) nanodisks using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) and electron holography. Py nanodisks were fabricated on thin silicon nitride (SiN) membranes using three different fabrication methods: lift-off, ion beam etching (IBE), and stencil lithography. They were further analyzed using different instruments, including scanning electron microscopy, LTEM, and electron holography. A bilayer of positive PMMA resist was utilized in the first fabrication method to form an undercut structure that guarantees a clean lift-off procedure. The second approach used dry etching with an Ar beam to etch a thin Py film, while an electron-beam-patterned negative resist mask kept the desired structure. In the third process, nanostencils (shadow masks) with submicrometer apertures were milled on SiN membranes using a focused ion beam. Furthermore, we have developed a new TEM sample preparation method, where we fabricated Py nanostructures on a bulk substrate with a SiN buffer layer and etched the substrate to create a thin SiN membrane under the Py nanostructure. Finally, we observed the vortex dynamics of the Py nanodisk under magnetic fields using LTEM and off-axis electron holography. A correlation between preparation methods and the properties of the Py nanostructures was made.

Biofouling on titanium implants: a novel formulation of poloxamer and peroxide for in situ removal of pellicle and multi-species oral biofilm.

Eradicating biofouling from implant surfaces is essential in treating peri-implant infections, as it directly addresses the microbial source for infection and inflammation around dental implants. This controlled laboratory study examines the effectiveness of the four commercially available debridement solutions '(EDTA (Prefgel®), NaOCl (Perisolv®), H2O2 (Sigma-Aldrich) and Chlorhexidine (GUM® Paroex®))' in removing the acquired pellicle, preventing pellicle re-formation and removing of a multi-species oral biofilm growing on a titanium implant surface, and compare the results with the effect of a novel formulation of a peroxide-activated 'Poloxamer gel (Nubone® Clean)'. Evaluation of pellicle removal and re-formation was conducted using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to assess the surface morphology, elemental composition and chemical surface composition. Hydrophilicity was assessed through contact angle measurements. The multi-species biofilm model included Streptococcus oralis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, reflecting the natural oral microbiome's complexity. Biofilm biomass was quantified using safranin staining, biofilm viability was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy, and SEM was used for morphological analyses of the biofilm. Results indicated that while no single agent completely eradicated the biofilm, the 'Poloxamer gel' activated with 'H2O2' exhibited promising results. It minimized re-contamination of the pellicle by significantly lowering the contact angle, indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. This combination also showed a notable reduction in carbon contaminants, suggesting the effective removal of organic residues from the titanium surface, in addition to effectively reducing viable bacterial counts. In conclusion, the 'Poloxamer gel + H2O2' combination emerged as a promising chemical decontamination strategy for peri-implant diseases. It underlines the importance of tailoring treatment methods to the unique microbial challenges in peri-implant diseases and the necessity of combining chemical decontaminating strategies with established mechanical cleaning procedures for optimal management of peri-implant diseases.

Assessing background contamination of sample tubes used in human biomonitoring by non-targeted liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry

Controlling and minimising background contamination is crucial for maintaining a high quality of samples in human biomonitoring targeting organic chemicals. We assessed the contamination of three previous types and one newly introduced medical-grade type of sample tubes used for storing human body fluids at the German Environmental Specimen Bank. Aqueous extracts from these tubes were analysed by non-targeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) before and after a dedicated cleaning procedure. After peak detection using MZmine, Bayesian hypothesis testing was used to group peaks into those originating either from instrumental and laboratory background contamination, or actual tube contaminants, based on if their peak height was reduced, increased or not affected by the cleaning procedure. For all four tube types 80–90% of the 2475 peaks (1549 in positive and 926 in negative mode) were assigned to laboratory/instrumental background, which we have to consider as potential sample tube contaminants. Among the tube contaminants, results suggest a considerable difference in the contaminant peak inventory and the absolute level of contamination among the different sample tube types. The cleaning procedure did not affect the largest fraction of peaks (50–70%). For the medical grade tubes, the removal of contaminants by the cleaning procedure was strongest compared to the previous tubes, but in all cases a small fraction increased in intensity after cleaning, probably due to a release of oligomers or additives. The identified laboratory background contaminants were mainly semi-volatile polymer additives such as phthalates and phosphate esters. A few compounds could be assigned solely as tube-specific contaminants, such as N,N-dibutylformamide and several constituents of the oligomeric light stabiliser Tinuvin-622. A cleaning procedure before use is an effective way to standardise the used sample tubes and minimises the background contamination, and therefore increases sample quality and therewith analytical results.

Monetary Policy Press Releases of 24 Inflation Targeting Central Banks – A Comparison of their Key Features and Complexity

Abstract This paper describes the process of constructing a dataset of available online press releases related to monetary policy decisions published by central banks that have been pursuing a form of inflation targeting. A total of 3,807 documents were considered, as the review encompasses 24 central banks over the past 30 years. To prepare the dataset for text-mining analysis, a cleaning procedure has been performed, which is also presented in detail. The next step was to look at the readability of the documents in order to detect any patterns in its changes. We find that while there is a significant variation between central banks, there is no clear time trend in the readability of the monetary policy press releases, i.e. some central banks tend to have easier-to-read press releases than others, and this does not change with time. In turn, there is a weak indication that following the Global Financial Crisis outbreak and the European Sovereign Debt Crisis apogee, as well as at the time of withdrawing unconventional measures introduced in response to those two emergencies, press releases of advanced economy inflation targeters got temporarily harder-to-read. Overall, this paper can be viewed as a first attempt towards assessing qualitatively central banks’ transparency, with respect to a flagship communication tool of inflation targeters, namely their monetary policy press releases.