Multipurpose Solutions Research Articles

Efficacy of different disinfecting methods for contact lenses against Acanthamoeba castellanii

PurposeTo analyze the efficacy of different disinfecting methods for contact lenses (CL) against Acanthamoeba castellanii (AC) using quantitative PCR (qPCR) based on RNA detection. MethodsThree CL materials: rigid gas permeable (RGP), hydrogel (Hy), and silicone hydrogel (SiHy), were contaminated with 1x105 amoebae/ml and incubated for 24 h at 30 °C. After contamination, pre-cleaning steps were performed before using four maintenance solutions based on hydrogen peroxide (HP), sodium hypochlorite (SH), povidone-iodine (PI), and a multipurpose solution (MS). The pre-cleaning steps involved using a cleaner (20 % isopropyl alcohol) and rinsing the CL. Disinfection systems 1 and 2 involved no cleaner and rinsed the CL with tap water or saline solution, respectively. Systems 3 and 4 included a cleaner and rinsed with tap water or saline, respectively. After cleaning, A. castellanii was extracted and stored for qPCR analysis, using Hsp70 and TPBF genes to detect RNA A. castellanii. Results were presented as the percentage of positives or negatives (presence or absence of amoebae), with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. ResultsDisinfection system 1 with MS resulted in 56 % positives for RGP lenses and 100 % positives for both hydrogel materials. When MS was combined with a cleaner, 12.5 % positives were found for SiHy and 100 % negatives for Hy and RGP lenses (p < 0.05). PI solution alone yielded 38 % and 12 % positives for hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses, respectively, but was 100 % effective when combined with a cleaner. HP and SH, whether combined with a cleaner or not, were effective against AC for all CL materials except HP without a cleaner for Hy lenses. ConclusionAll disinfection methods showed some efficacy against Acanthamoeba on any CL material. The most effective solutions were those based on hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. Using a cleaner enhanced the final disinfecting efficacy, especially with the multipurpose solution.

Comparison of susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from keratitis to antibiotics and multipurpose disinfecting solutions

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the susceptibility of ocular isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to two multi-purpose disinfectant solutions (MPDS) and to determine if there was a relationship with resistance to antibiotics. MethodsTwenty-three strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from microbial keratitis cases in Australia were utilized in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of two commercially available MPDSs, Biotrue and cleadew MPS were determined. Additionally, the MIC of the strains to five antibiotics, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, and imipenem, were analyzed. ResultsAll strains were susceptible to 100 % of each of the MPDS. However, when MPDSs were diluted, cleadew MPS had significantly lower median MIC (median = 12.5 vs 25; p = 0.00008) and MBC (median = 25 vs 50; p = 0.0027) compared to Biotrue. All tested strains were susceptible to levofloxacin and gentamicin. Susceptibility rates to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and ceftazidime were 52.2 %, 30.4 %, and 91.3 %, respectively. There were no significant relations between MIC or MBC to either MPDS and resistance to the antibiotics (p≧0.23). ConclusionBoth MPDSs were active against P. aeruginosa isolated from microbial keratitis in Australia. However, after dilution, cleadew MPS remained active against P. aeruginosa at lower concentrations. Certain strains of P. aeruginosa were resistant to imipenem, ceftazidime or ciprofloxacin. The lack of association of susceptibility to MPDS and antibiotics suggest that resistance to one did not predispose to resistance to the other.

Microbial Contamination in Contact Lenses, Lens Care Solutions, and Accessories Among Asymptomatic Soft Contact Lens Users.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate microbial contamination of contact lenses (CL) and their accessories among asymptomatic lens users and identify behavioral risk factors that might exacerbate the said contamination. Methodology Ninety-five asymptomatic soft CL users were recruited. In total, 380 samples were collected from the inner surface of lenses, the base of lens cases, the tip of the multipurpose solution bottle, and the solution itself. All swabs with samples were inoculated onto Columbia 5% sheep blood agar, MacConkey agar, Pseudomonas agar with cetrimide, and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Blood agar, MacConkey agar, and Pseudomonas agar with cetrimide were incubated at 37 °C for 24-48 hours. Fungal growth was investigated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, incubated at 25 °C, and examined daily for three weeks. Microscopic examination, culture-based methods, and biochemical tests were used to identify isolated microorganisms. A self-administered questionnaire on compliance with care and hygiene procedures was completed by each participant. Results The overall microbial contamination of tested samples was 38.7%. The most frequently contaminated items were lens cases (59, 62.1%), followed by bottles (44, 46.3%) and lenses (35, 36.8%). Meanwhile, the lowest incidence of contamination was seen in lens multipurpose solutions (9, 9.5%). The predominant microorganisms recovered were Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) (94, 64%) and Gram-positive rods (29, 19.7%). Other identified potential pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus(11, 7.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(5, 3.4%), Escherichia coli(1, 0.7%), andCandida albicans(2, 1.4%). The questionnaire revealed that contact lens users aged 18 to 20 showed a lack of compliance with proper hygienic care for contact lens maintenance. Risk factors such as male gender, smoking, showering, or swimming while wearing CL were related to microbiological contamination in at least one of the samples (P > 0.05). Conclusions The highest degree of contamination with highly virulent pathogens was determined in lens cases owing to insufficient lens care practices among study participants. Noncompliance with the lens cleaning procedures can lead to microbial colonization of the lens and its accessories, prompting inflammatory events in the eyes in the future.

A Techno-Economic Feasibility Study of Electricity and Hydrogen Production in Hybrid Solar-Wind Energy Park. The Case Study of Tunisian Sahel

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential for integrating renewable energy sources to meet the growing electricity and hydrogen demand in the Tunisian Sahel region, focusing particularly on solar and wind energies. The feasibility of installing a hybrid solar-wind energy system capable of producing both electricity and hydrogen is evaluated. With the help of the available solar and wind resources combined, the system not only generates electric power, but also produces hydrogen gas through electrolyzation, hence offering a multipurpose solution in terms of storage and supply. This flexibility is crucial due to the variability of renewable resources, which change daily and seasonally. The paper outlines the optimization process for designing the hybrid system deploying HOMER Pro software, according to local climatic conditions and demand profiles. The economic analysis reveals that the system can produce an average of 101.8 kg of hydrogen daily with a total photovoltaic capacity of 3,000 kWp, resulting in a project net cost estimation of approximately 5,494,912 euros. This analysis provides valuable insights for stakeholders considering similar projects, including the costs associated with photovoltaic systems, electrolyzers, and hydrogen storage solutions.

Connected FPSOs Thrive on Automation

Modern life is connected. Our computers, phones, and watches are all tapped into personal insights, from a daily planner to keep track of meetings and appointments to a health monitor tracking everything from heart rate to blood oxygen level in real time. This connectivity has bled over into many different facets of our lives, including work. Business and industry maintain critical connections allowing for simplification of complex tasks and the monitoring of machines for safety and performance. As the oil field has become more connected, increasing opportunities for automation have been introduced into both new and existing oilfield technologies with aims to achieve new levels of productivity and safety. Whether it is a robotic arm on the drill floor of a rig bringing pipe from the stand to the well or autonomous robots being used for inspections and other operation observations in hard-to-reach or remote places, if the connectivity is there it opens the door to a vast, new toolkit for contractors and operators alike. In 2023, a group of contractors came together to help define the next steps in automation for floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels. The FPSO Coalition—made up of SLB, Rockwell Automation, Sensia, and Cognite—is a collaboration designed to accelerate the evolution of FPSOs by developing and employing new digital capabilities aimed at improving the reliability, availability, safety, and efficiency of the assets, while lowering the carbon footprint of their offshore operations. FPSOs have been invaluable tools for offshore development around the world for decades. Some older hardware does not have the benefit of being wired for connection or pieces of equipment being Internet of Things (IoT)-ready. As much as the coalition looks to solutions to integrate into new facilities, it also explores the limitations and potential for bringing older yet still viable components into the digital age. Under the venture, SLB was tapped to bring advanced digital solutions, subsurface domain expertise, and complex integration and project management capabilities to scale up efficiencies and lower the carbon footprint of operations across every stage of the FPSO life cycle. Rockwell would provide expertise in control and safety systems for FPSOs, as well as extensive experience in power systems. “Keeping in mind that the typical operating life of an FPSO can be 20-25-30 years, a lot can change in terms of technology, process conditions, regulatory requirements, etc.,” said Greg Trostel, global industry development manager for floating production at Rockwell Automation. “But ultimately, the main goal of automation is to ensure the reliable and safe operation of the vessel—no loss of containment, no personnel at risk, no environmental incidents. “Ideally, automation systems can adapt and grow with the changing technology and changing requirements. We depend on the automation systems to keep all the individual process modules connected to, and operating in concert with, the main vessel systems,” he said. One of the first things tasked to the coalition was a contract awarded to SLB for a multipurpose dynamic simulation solution providing an immersive digital twin environment to dynamically simulate operational processes and their control and automation systems, train personnel, and strengthen safety elements at five newbuild FPSO units to be installed in Búzios Field in the Santos Basin for Petrobras.

The Revolutionary Applications of Seaweed Liquid Extract (TAM®): A Multi-Purpose Solution for Antimicrobial Activity and Phytoremediation

The Revolutionary Applications of Seaweed Liquid Extract (TAM®): A Multi-Purpose Solution for Antimicrobial Activity and Phytoremediation

Physical properties of soft contact lens multipurpose solutions commercially available in Ghana

PurposeTo investigate the physical properties of commercially available multipurpose soft contact lens solutions in Ghana. MethodspH (Kelilong ICL-099 pH meter, China), osmolality (OSMOMAT 3000, GONOTEC, Germany), surface tension (Sigma 700 Tensiometer, Sweden), and viscosity (CFOC-200 Viscometer, Cannon Company, USA) of various soft contact lens multipurpose solutions (MPS) were measured in triplicates at room temperature. Viscosity measurements were also taken at 34 °C ocular surface temperature. The solutions examined were Opti-Free Replenish (OFR), Trufresh (TF), Avizor (AV), Freshlook (FL), and Refresh (RF). ResultsSeveral solutions were largely hypo-osmotic in the range of 108–231 mOsm/kg, the exception being Avizor, which had osmolality values that were closer to human tears (301 ± 0.58 mOsm/kg). The range of pH values of the solutions (6.33–8.24, mean (SD) = 7.53 ± 0.18) fell within the reported tolerable range for the ocular surface (6.20–9.00). Surface tension values ranged from 35.86 to 42.27 mNm with a mean of 38.49 ± 2.32 mNm. The average viscosity of most solutions at room temperature (25 °C) was 1.44 ± 0.49 cP with a range of 1.04–2.15 cP. Significantly lower values ranging from 0.79 to 1.58 cP were obtained at ocular surface temperature (34 °C), p = 0.0001). ConclusionsThe physical properties of many of the solutions used as MPS in Ghana are markedly variable. Nevertheless, pH, surface tension, and viscosity fall within the acceptable limits of ocular physiological tolerance; except for osmolality, which majority were outside the reported tolerable range for the ocular surface. This information may partly explain the reason some patients exhibit strong preferences for certain care systems and should aid clinical decision-making when prescribing eye care systems to patients.

COMPLIANCE OF HOSPITAL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WITH CONTACT LENS USE AND CARE

Objective: The study aimed to assess if healthcare professionals who wear contact lenses in hospitals comply with the rules for contact lenses use and care. Material and Methods: A survey consisting of questions about contact lenses use and care was distributed to healthcare professionals. The survey investigated the following: a) Demographic data, b) Routines related to the use of contact lenses (type, indication, duration, overnight use), c) Routines related to contact lenses maintenance and cleaning (solution usage habit, exposure to water, hygiene of hands and lens cases). Results: The average age of the participants was 28.35±5.58; 76% were women, and 87.3% were doctors. Contact lenses usage duration was 8.16 years. Most of them wore soft contact lenses for myopia that was changed monthly. 95.8% of participants were prescribed contact lenses by an ophthalmologist. To clean the contact lenses, 93.3% of the participants used multi-purpose solutions, and 7.3% reported that they rarely washed the contact lenses with tap water. A high level of compliance was observed with overnight use, washing hands before putting on and taking off contact lenses, expiration date, and filling the solution into the box or sharing it. Moderate compliance rates were noted for swimming and showering with contact lenses, cleaning, and changing the lens case and contact lenses. Conclusion: Although healthcare professionals are compliant with the use and care of the contact lenses, it is thought that some of them still need training on avoiding contact with water while wearing the contact lenses, never using tap water, and cleaning the lens case and the contact lenses effectively.

Anti-Acanthamoeba metallopharmaceuticals: Amoebicidal activity and synergistic effect of copper(II)coordination compound.

Acanthamoeba spp. emerged as a clinically important pathogen related to amoebic keratitis. It is among the main causes of corneal transplantation and vision loss in ophthalmology. The treatment protocols have a low cure rate, high toxicity, and need for drug combination. Transition metal compounds have shown promising antiprotozoal effects. This study evaluates the amoebicidal activity of copper(II) coordination compounds in combination with chlorhexidine and the cytotoxicity to topical ocular application. These copper(II) coordination compounds were screened against Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites (ATCC 50492). The cytotoxicity on rabbit corneal cell line (ATCC-CCL 60) was performed. The compounds showed high amoebicidal potential, with inhibition of trophozoite viability above 80%. The Cp12 and Cp13 compounds showed Minimal Inhibitory Amoebicidal Concentration (MIAC) at 200µM and mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) values lower than 10µM. Against the cysts, Cp12 showed a reduction in viability (48%) in the longest incubation period. A synergistic effect for Cp12 with chlorhexidine was observed. The compounds have a dose-dependent effect against rabbit corneal cells. Compound Cp12 haspotential for future application in developing ophthalmic formulations against Acanthamoeba keratitis and its use in multipurpose solutions is highlighted.

Abstract 6656: Revolutionizing solid tumor treatment: Viral protein-targeted CAR-T with oncolytic virus

Abstract Major challenges for CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors include various limitations due to the issue of appropriate antigen selection, tumor heterogeneity, and the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To overcome these hurdles, we’ve developed a novel therapy, CLM-202 which is a combination therapy of oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and NDV F protein-targeted CAR-T cell therapy (NDV F CAR-T). After NDV infects tumor cells, NDV envelope protein F is expressed on the tumor cell surface. NDV F CAR-T recognizes NDV F protein and kills the tumor cells. This approach can be applied to patients with various indications, regardless of the presence of the target protein. Using NDV to deliver antigens minimizes the risk of tumor recurrence due to tumor heterogeneity. Furthermore, it mitigates off-target toxicity by targeting oncolytic virus-derived proteins, not human proteins. Oncolytic NDV also triggers a potent immune response within the tumor microenvironment, thereby altering the immunosuppressive conditions of the tumor and improving CAR-T efficacy. Therefore, CLM-202 can be a multipurpose solution for solid tumors. We have developed a second-generation CAR-T cell therapy, NDV F CAR-T, which can be used in combination with an oncolytic virus known as NDV. NDV F CAR-T is designed to specifically target the F protein expressed when cells are infected by NDV. It incorporates a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from an antibody that can bind specifically to the F protein of NDV-infected cells. To assess the activity of NDV F CAR-T in tumor cells against a variety of solid tumors as indications, we conducted several experiments. We initially confirmed the expression of the F protein in NDV-infected tumor cells. We also conducted cytotoxicity tests to confirm NDV F CAR-T's ability to induce death in NDV-infected tumor cell lines. Furthermore, to assess the efficacy of NDV F CAR-T in an in vivo model, we established an orthotopic mouse model. In this model, we administered NDV via intratumoral injection, followed by the single-dose administration of NDV F CAR-T to perform the efficacy test. We have confirmed that NDV infects all solid tumor cell lines representing different indications and induces the expression of the F protein in infected tumor cells. Furthermore, we have observed that NDV infection in these diverse tumor cells results in robust tumor cell-killing activity by NDV F CAR-T and the subsequent activation of CAR-T. Moreover, in an orthotopic mouse model, we have demonstrated that the administration of NDV followed by NDV F CAR-T induces potent tumor growth inhibition. In summary, our research proposes a novel therapeutic strategy, CLM-202 that utilizes NDV F CAR-T and NDV to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors, including tumor heterogeneity and immune-suppressive tumor microenvironments. This approach aims to effectively treat a wide range of indications. Citation Format: Soyoung Choi, Kiwan Kim, Sangeun Lee, Jeongeun Choi, Song-Jae Lee, Yong Gu Lee, Jeonghun Kim, Hoyoung Lee, Kisoon Kim, Man-Seong Park, Seong-Won Song. Revolutionizing solid tumor treatment: Viral protein-targeted CAR-T with oncolytic virus [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 6656.

Could giant viruses be considered as a biotechnological tool for preventing and controlling Acanthamoeba infections?

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of mimivirus as a potential therapeutic and prophylactic tool against Acanthamoeba castellanii, the etiological agent of Acanthamoeba keratitis, a progressive corneal infection, that is commonly associated with the use of contact lenses and can lead to blindness if not properly treated. Mimivirus particles were tested in different multiplicity of infection, along with commercial multipurpose contact lenses' solutions, aiming to assess their ability to prevent encystment and excystment of A. castellanii. Solutions were evaluated for their amoebicidal potential and cytotoxicity in MDCK cells, as well as their effectiveness in preventing A. castellanii damage in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Results indicated that mimivirus was able to inhibit the formation of A. castellanii cysts, even in the presence of Neff encystment solution. Mimivirus also showed greater effectiveness in controlling A. castellanii excystment compared to commercial solutions. Additionally, mimivirus solution was more effective in preventing damage caused by A. castellanii, presented greater amoebicidal activity, and were less cytotoxic to MDCK cells than commercial MPS. Mimivirus demonstrates a greater ability to inhibit A. castellanii encystment and excystment compared to commercial multipurpose contact lens solutions. Additionally, mimivirus is less toxic to MDCK cells than those commercial solutions. New studies utilizing in vivo models will be crucial for confirming safety and efficacy parameters.

Hydroquinine Enhances the Efficacy of Contact Lens Solutions for Inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Adhesion and Biofilm Formation.

P. aeruginosa is one of the most common bacteria causing contact lens-related microbial keratitis (CLMK). Previous studies report that disinfecting solutions were ineffective in preventing biofilm formation. Solutions containing novel natural agents may be an excellent alternative for reducing the risk of CLMK. Here, we investigate the disinfecting properties of hydroquinine in combination with multipurpose solutions (MPSs) to prevent P. aeruginosa adhesion and biofilm formation. We examined the antibacterial, anti-adhesion, and anti-biofilm properties of hydroquinine-formulated MPSs compared to MPSs alone. Using RT-qPCR, hydroquinine directly affected the expression levels of adhesion-related genes, namely, cgrC, cheY, cheZ, fimU, and pilV, resulting in reduced adhesion and anti-biofilm formation. Using ISO 14729 stand-alone testing, hydroquinine met the criteria (>99.9% killing at disinfection time) against both P. aeruginosa reference and clinical strains. Using the crystal violet retention assay and FE-SEM, MPSs combined with hydroquinine were effective in inhibiting P. aeruginosa adhesion and destroying preexisting biofilms. This report is the first to highlight the potential utility of hydroquinine-containing formulations as a disinfecting solution for contact lenses, specifically for inhibiting adhesion and destroying biofilm. These findings may aid in the development of novel disinfectants aimed at combating P. aeruginosa, thereby potentially reducing the incidence of CLMK.

A Systematic Review on Multiple Purpose Solution of Contact Lens Ingredients: Benefits and Risks

Since the past decades, the prevalence of microbial keratitis (MK) has risen notably among contact lens (CL) wearers. The main contributor to this infection is the use of an inefficient CL disinfecting solution. This paper highlights a systematic review of articles from journals on the multipurpose solution (MPS) of CL ingredients available currently in the market. This review emphasizes the compositions of MPS to evaluate their effectiveness and risks to lens wearers. A search for original articles published was conducted through Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, focusing on the keywords contact lens ingredients and preservatives, MPS, polyquaternium, biguanides, and MK. A thorough review was conducted to extract the data on the subjects from the generated searches.The review revealed that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), povidone-iodine (P-I), and polyquaternium-1 (PQ-1) are the preferred MPS formulations in the current industry of CLs. These chemical ingredients are effective against causative agents of keratitis for faster disinfection and lower risks of microbial infections in CL users. Thus, proper hygienic practices must follow the guidance from the respective product manufacturers to prevent harmful risks of ocular diseases.

Greening the pathways: a comprehensive review of sustainable synthesis strategies for silica nanoparticles and their diverse applications.

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have emerged as a multipurpose solution with wide-ranging applications in various industries such as medicine, agriculture, construction, cosmetics, and food production. In 1961, Stöber introduced a ground-breaking sol-gel method for synthesizing SiNPs, which carried a new era of exploration both in academia and industry, uncovering numerous possibilities for these simple yet multifaceted particles. Inspite of numerous reported literature with wide applicability, the synthesis of these nanoparticles with the desired size and functionalities poses considerable challenges. Over time, researchers have strived to optimize the synthetic route, particularly by developing greener approaches that minimize environmental impact. By reducing hazardous chemicals, energy consumption, and waste generation, these greener synthesis methods have become an important focus in the field. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various synthetic approaches available for different types of SiNPs. Starting from the Stöber' method, we analyze other methods as well to synthesis different types of SiNPs including mesoporous, core-shell and functionalized nanoparticles. With increasing concerns with the chemical methods associated for environmental issues, we aim to assist readers in identifying suitable greener synthesis methods tailored to their specific requirements. By highlighting the advancements in reaction time optimization, waste reduction, and environmentally friendly precursors, we offer insights into the latest techniques that contribute to greener and more sustainable SiNPs synthesis. Additionally, we briefly discuss the diverse applications of SiNPs, demonstrating their relevance and potential impact in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and cosmetics. By emphasizing the greener synthesis methods and economical aspects, this review aims to inspire researchers and industry professionals to adopt environmentally conscious practices while harnessing the immense capabilities of SiNPs.

Методи прийняття багатоцільових рішень щодо управління транспарентністю розвитку підприємств в умовах конвергенції інвестиційних процесів

It is determined that one of the priorities in any national economy is the problem of forecasting and assessing the level of transparency of development, quality and reliability of functioning of industrial enterprises, their technological and economic subsystems. This has a direct impact on the level of investment, the nature of financing, the distribution of costs for the production of finished products with the achievement of a given quality and reliability, as well as on the financial condition and image. In addition, it has a direct proportional effect on the well-being of society and the quality of life of the population. On the other hand, investing in the real sector of the economy requires banks and other investors not only to optimize investment programs, but also to take into account the specifics of financial, production, economic and socioeconomic activities of industrial enterprises as market participants, and, accordingly, application of models that appropriately link investments with sales policies, production, management, staff, location of production facilities, taxation, etc. It is concluded that the positive level of management of transparency of development of industrial enterprises in the context of convergence of investment processes is inseparable from the processes of planning, regulation, control and forecasting of production and technological processes, as well as the allocation of resources in the process of performing certain complex tasks. Determining the optimal options for current and future development is often associated with solving large-dimensional optimization problems with a large number of different conditions and constraints (for example, requirements for the completeness of variables combined with requirements for the absence of time losses), which, due to their extreme nature, complicate the solution of such problems. Effective methods for optimizing multi-purpose investment decisions in managing the transparency of the development of industrial enterprises in the context of convergence of investment processes include methods for analyzing the usefulness of goals, criteria and alternatives, including those with several vectors; methods of hierarchy of goals, taking into account a number of advantages; information about the chosen strategy, alternatives, their parameterization, stochasticity, substitution ratios, and other characteristics. All these factors can be taken into account for the classification of models of multi-purpose and program-target solutions and the use of the most effective of them when choosing the optimal investment solution in managing the transparency of the development of industrial enterprises in the context of convergence of investment processes.

Impact of in vitro lens deposition and removal on bacterial adhesion to orthokeratology contact lenses

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the impact of several contact lens (CL) care solutions on the removal of proteins and lipids, and how deposit removal impacts bacterial adhesion and solution disinfection. MethodsLysozyme and lipid deposition on three ortho-k (rigid) and two soft CL materials were evaluated using an ELISA kit and gas chromatography respectively. Bacterial adhesion to a fluorosilicone acrylate material using Pseudomonas aeruginosa with various compositions of artificial tear solutions (ATS), including with denatured proteins, was also investigated. The impact of deposition of the different formulations of ATS on biofilm formation was explored using cover slips. Finally, the lysozyme and lipid cleaning efficacy and disinfection efficacy against P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus of four different contact lens care solutions were studied using qualitative analysis. ResultsWhile maximum lysozyme deposition was observed with the fluorosilicone acrylate material (327.25 ± 54.25 µg/lens), the highest amount of lipid deposition was recorded with a fluoro-siloxanyl styrene material (134.71 ± 19.87 µg/lens). Adhesion of P. aeruginosa to fluorosilicone acrylate lenses and biofilm formation on cover slips were significantly greater with the addition of denatured proteins and lipids. Of the four contact lens care solutions investigated, the solution based on povidone-iodine removed both denatured lysozyme and lipid deposits and could effectively disinfect against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus when contaminated with denatured proteins and lipids. In contrast, the peroxide-based solution was able to inhibit P. aeruginosa growth only, while the two multipurpose solutions were unable to disinfect lenses contaminated with denatured proteins and lipids. ConclusionBacterial adhesion and biofilm formation is influenced by components within artificial tear solutions depositing on lenses, including denatured proteins and lipids, which also affects disinfection. The ability of different solutions to remove these deposits should be considered when selecting systems to clean and disinfect ortho-k lenses.

Effect of Ecoenzyme Application for Cayenne Pepper Storage

Cayenne pepper is one of vegetables that is consumed almost every day by every household. However, cayenne pepper is characterized by not being long-lasting, so efforts are needed to extend the shelf life of cayenne peppers. Ecoenzyme is known as a multipurpose solution that has antimicrobial properties, so it is thought that ecoenzyme can be used as a natural preservative, for example to extend the shelf life cayenne pepper. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of ecoenzyme solutions in extending the shelf life of cayenne pepper. The research was carried out using fruit-derived ecoenzyme solution and vegetable-derived ecoenzyme solution, with treatment without dilution, ecoenzyme solutions with a concentration of 75%, and ecoenzyme solutions with a concentration of 50%. The results of the research showed that at full concentration without dilution, fruit-derived or vegetables-derived ecoenzyme solution can extend the shelf life of cayenne pepper to 10 days. It is hoped that these results will be useful for post-harvest purposes of cayenne pepper, both on a household and larger scale.

The efficacy of a device-based approach to microorganism disinfection and protein removal for orthokeratology lenses in varied clinical circumstances

PurposeRigidCare is an electrolysis-based device that recently obtained approval from the US’s FDA to sterilise microorganisms and remove proteins for orthokeratology (O-K) lenses. The study was conducted to investigate the device’s performance in varied clinical circumstances. MethodsTrial lenses and private lenses were employed by O-K lens wearers from five hospitals for an evaluation of disinfection and sterilisation and an assessment of protein removal, respectively. Menicon multipurpose solution and protein remover were selected for use with the control group. Following the instructions, pre-cleaning lens samples, post-cleaning lens samples and residual solution samples of trial lenses of the experimental and control groups were collected for microorganism examinations by an experienced third-party testing organisation. The levels of protein deposition for these two approaches were rated by senior O-K experts. Categorical variables were analysed using statistical tests, such as the chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test. ResultsThe microbial positive rate detected from the pre-cleaning and post-cleaning lens samples and the residual solution of the trial lenses for the experimental and control group was 4/76 vs 1/74 (P = 0.37), 1/76 vs 0/74 (P = 1.00) and 0/76 vs 8/74 (P = 0.006), respectively. Following protein removal, the experimental group exhibited a significantly higher overall proportion of lenses rated as ‘clean’ or with a ‘mild deposit’ (96.4 %, 79/82) compared to the control group (85.7 %, 66/77), with a significant difference (P < 0.05). ConclusionThis multi-center study demonstrated that RigidCare exhibited superior efficacy in disinfection, sterilisation and protein removal as compared to Menicon multipurpose solution and protein remover.

Event Transformer+. A multi-purpose solution for efficient event data processing.

Event cameras record sparse illumination changes with high temporal resolution and high dynamic range. Thanks to their sparse recording and low consumption, they are increasingly used in applications such as AR/VR and autonomous driving. Current top-performing methods often ignore specific event-data properties, leading to the development of generic but computationally expensive algorithms, while event-aware methods do not perform as well. We propose Event Transformer+, that improves our seminal work EvT with a refined patch-based event representation and a more robust backbone to achieve more accurate results, while still benefiting from event-data sparsity to increase its efficiency. Additionally, we show how our system can work with different data modalities and propose specific output heads, for event-stream classification (i.e., action recognition) and per-pixel predictions (dense depth estimation). Evaluation results show better performance to the state-of-the-art while requiring minimal computation resources, both on GPU and CPU.

Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites that survive multipurpose solutions are able to adhere to cosmetic contact lenses, increasing the risk of infection

Amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are etiological agents of amoebic keratitis, for which up to now there is no treatment of choice and one of its main risk factors is the use of contact lenses, including cosmetic contact lenses. Recently there has been an increase in amoebic keratitis cases due to the use of cosmetic contact lenses. Therefore, having a solution for the care of lenses with an efficient disinfectant effect that prevents the adhesion of trophozoites to lenses becomes essential. This study was carried out to determine the effect of 8 multipurpose contact lenses care solutions on Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites viability, and the efficiency of two of them to prevent the trophozoites adherence onto two cosmetic contact lenses (Acuvue 2, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and Magic Eye CCL, not approved). After 3 h of interaction, only AO Sept Plus, OPTI FREE Replenish, Renu Plus, Bio True and Multiplus significantly reduced the number of viable trophozoites with respect to the control; at 6 h Renu Plus, and at 12 h Conta Soft Plus and Multiplus, maintained the inhibitory effect. Only Opti Free Pure Moist did not significantly reduce the number of viable trophozoites. Multiplus and Opti Free Pure Moist (selected for their greater and lesser antiamibic effect) significantly reduced trophozoite adherence to both lenses; however, Opti Free Pure Moist was more efficient, despite the fact that A. castellanii adhered similarly to both lenses. Our results show that in all the multipurpose solutions evaluated, hundreds of viable A. castellanii trophozoites remain after several hours of incubation. Therefore, storage of the lenses in their case with MPS maintains the potential risk of amoebic keratitis in, cosmetic contact lenses wearers. Moreover, the use of CCL, not approved by the FDA, can increase the risk factor for AK since its poor manufacture can favor the permanence of amoebae, in addition to being a risk for corneal integrity.