The production of drugs, cosmetics, and food which are derived from plant cell and tissue cultures has a long tradition. The emerging trend of manufacturing cosmetics and food products in a natural ...and sustainable manner has brought a new wave in plant cell culture technology over the past 10 years. More than 50 products based on extracts from plant cell cultures have made their way into the cosmetics industry during this time, whereby the majority is produced with plant cell suspension cultures. In addition, the first plant cell culture-based food supplement ingredients, such as Echigena Plus and Teoside 10, are now produced at production scale. In this mini review, we discuss the reasons for and the characteristics as well as the challenges of plant cell culture-based productions for the cosmetics and food industries. It focuses on the current state of the art in this field. In addition, two examples of the latest developments in plant cell culture-based food production are presented, that is, superfood which boosts health and food that can be produced in the lab or at home.
The goal of the study was to compare the effectiveness of different suicide prevention measures implemented on bridges and other high structures in Switzerland. A national survey identified all ...jumping hotspots that have been secured in Switzerland; of the 15 that could be included in this study, 11 were secured by vertical barriers and 4 were secured by low-hanging horizontal safety nets. The study made an overall and individual pre-post analysis by using Mantel-Haenszel Tests, regression methods and calculating rate ratios. Barriers and safety nets were both effective, with mean suicide reduction of 68.7% (barriers) and 77.1% (safety nets), respectively. Measures that do not secure the whole hotspot and still allow jumps of 15 meters or more were less effective. Further, the analyses revealed that barriers of at least 2.3 m in height and safety-nets fixed significantly below pedestrian level deterred suicidal jumps. Secured bridgeheads and inbound angle barriers seemed to enhance the effectiveness of the measure. Findings can help to plan and improve the effectiveness of future suicide prevention measures on high structures.
Textiles release particles and fibers. Here, facemasks were examined and quantified in this regard, a metallic content analysis conducted and the in vitro cytotoxicity of residues determined on lung ...cells.
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Since the start of the current COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time a significant fraction of the world's population cover their respiratory system for an extended period with mostly medical facemasks and textile masks. This new situation raises questions about the extent of mask related debris (fibers and particles) being released and inhaled and possible adverse effects on human health. This study aimed to quantify the debris release from a textile-based facemask in comparison to a surgical mask and a reference cotton textile using both liquid and air extraction. Under liquid extractions, cotton-based textiles released up to 29′452 ± 1′996 fibers g−1 textile while synthetic textiles released up to 1′030 ± 115 fibers g−1 textile. However, when the masks were subjected to air-based extraction scenarios, only a fraction (0.1–1.1%) of this fiber amount was released. Several metals including copper (up to 40.8 ± 0.9 µg g−1) and iron (up to 7.0 ± 0.3 µg g−1) were detected in acid dissolved textiles. Additionally the acute in vitro toxicity of size-fractionated liquid extracts (below and above 0.4 µm) were assessed on human alveolar basal epithelial cells. The current study shows no acute cytotoxicity response for all the analyzed facemasks.
While the global healthcare system is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, new multi-drug-resistant pathogens are emerging as the next threat. To tackle these challenges there is a need for ...safe and sustainable antiviral and antibacterial functionalized materials. Here we develop an 'easy-to-apply' procedure for the surface functionalization of textiles, rendering them antiviral and antibacterial and assessing the performance of these textiles. A metal-free quaternary ammonium-based coating was applied homogeneously and non-covalently to hospital curtains. Abrasion, durability testing, and aging resulted in little change in the performance of the treated textile. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative antibacterial assays on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumanii revealed excellent antibacterial activity with a CFU reduction of 98-100% within only 4 h of exposure. The treated curtain was aged 6 months before testing. Similarly, the antiviral activity tested according to ISO-18184 with murine hepatitis virus (MHV) showed > 99% viral reduction with the functionalized curtain. Also, the released active compounds of the coating 24 ± 5 µg mL
revealed no acute in vitro skin toxicity (IC
: 95 µg mL
) and skin sensitization. This study emphasizes the potential of safe and sustainable metal-free textile coatings for the rapid antiviral and antibacterial functionalization of textiles.
Abstract This paper analyses the impact of universities on firm performance based on the universe of firms in Germany from 2013 to 2017. From a regional perspective, firms have 0.92 % more revenues ...per employee in counties with a university than in a county without a university. To address potential endogeneity concerns, I focus on a subsample of universities, founded for political reasons. Analysing different types of German universities indicates that the high-skilled regional labour supply is important for the positive impact of universities, while proximity to the knowledge spillovers of research-intensive universities is associated with weaker firm performance. The latter finding is at least partially explained by the networks of multinational firms.
Transfusion practice might significantly influence patient morbidity and mortality. Between European countries, transfusion practice of red blood cells (RBC) greatly differs. Only sparse data are ...available on transfusion practice of general internal medicine physicians in Switzerland.
In this cross-sectional survey, physicians working in general medicine teaching hospitals in Switzerland were investigated regarding their self-reported transfusion practice in anemic patients without acute bleeding. The definition of anemia, transfusion triggers, knowledge on RBC transfusion, and implementation of guidelines were assessed.
560 physicians of 71 hospitals (64%) responded to the survey. Anemia was defined at very diverging hemoglobin values (by 38% at a hemoglobin <130 g/L for men and by 57% at <120 g/L in non-pregnant women). 62% and 43% respectively, did not define anemia in men and in women according to the World Health Organization. Fifty percent reported not to transfuse RBC according to international guidelines. Following factors were indicated to influence the decision to transfuse: educational background of the physicians, geographical region of employment, severity of anemia, and presence of known coronary artery disease. 60% indicated that their knowledge on Transfusion-related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) did not influence transfusion practice. 50% of physicians stated that no local transfusion guidelines exist and 84% supported the development of national recommendations on transfusion in non-acutely bleeding, anemic patients.
This study highlights the lack of adherence to current transfusion guidelines in Switzerland. Identifying and subsequently correcting this deficit in knowledge translation may have a significant impact on patient care.
In clinical psychiatric practice, health care professionals (HCP) must decide in exceptional circumstances after the weighing of interests, which, if any, containment measures including coercion are ...to be used. Here, the risk for patients, staff, and third parties, in addition to therapeutic considerations, factor into the decision. Patients' preference and the inclusion of relatives in these decisions are important; therefore, an understanding of how patients and next of kin (NOK) experience different coercive measures is crucial for clinical decision making. The aim of this study is to compare how patients, HCP, and NOK assess commonly used coercive measures.
A sample of 435 patients, 372 HCP, and 230 NOK completed the Attitudes to Containment Measures Questionnaire (ACMQ). This standardized self-rating questionnaire assessed the degree of acceptance or rejection of 11 coercive measures.
In general, HCPs rated the coercive measures as more acceptable than did NOK and patients. The largest discrepancy in the ratings was found in regard to the application of coercive intramuscular injection of medication (effect size: 1.0 HCP vs. patients). However, the ratings by NOK were significantly closer to the patients' ratings compared to patients and HCP. The only exception was the acceptance of treatment in a closed acute psychiatric ward, which was deemed significantly more acceptable by NOK than by patients. Also, patients who had experienced coercive measures themselves more strongly refused other measures.
Patients most firmly rejected intramuscular injections, and the authors agree that these should only be used with reservation considering a high threshold. This knowledge about the discrepancy of the ratings should therefore be incorporated into professional training of HCP.
Construction of small hydropower plants (<10 megawatts) is booming worldwide, exacerbating ongoing habitat fragmentation and degradation, and further fueling biodiversity loss. A systematic approach ...for selecting hydropower sites within river networks may help to minimize the detrimental effects of small hydropower on biodiversity. In addition, a better understanding of reachand basin-scale impacts is key for designing planning tools. We synthesize the available information about (1) reach-scale and (2) basin-scale impacts of small hydropower plants on biodiversity and ecosystem function, and (3) interactions with other anthropogenic Stressors. We then discuss state-of-the-art, spatially explicit planning tools and suggest how improved knowledge of the ecological and evolutionary impacts of hydropower can be incorporated into project development. Such tools can be used to balance the benefits of hydropower production with the maintenance of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. Adequate planning tools that consider basin-scale effects and interactions with other Stressors, such as climate change, can maximize longterm conservation.
Conventional local drug delivery systems often encounter issues such as burst-release, limited drug reservoirs, rigidity, and low mechanical performance. We present an innovative approach to local ...drug delivery utilizing melt-spun drug-loaded liquid-core filaments (LiCoFs). LiCoFs were produced, incorporating fluorescein sodium salt as the model drug, dissolved in various liquid core materials, and enveloped by poly(ε-caprolactone) as the sheath material. We assessed thermal, mechanical, and structural properties of LiCoFs and have conducted extensive drug diffusion trials. Some trials involved pre-exchange of the liquid core with ibuprofen, bovine serum albumin–fluorescein isothiocyanate and methylene blue solutions using a pumping device. It was observed that diffusion mechanisms and diffusion rates depend on temperature, core size/sheath thickness, sheath permeability, carrier liquid type, drug molecule properties, and the drug's affinity to the sheath polymer. These drug-loaded LiCoFs pave the way towards a new generation of medical textiles facilitating controlled, local drug delivery.
(Image sources: Adobe Stock. Liquid-filled fiber: Adapted image from "sveta – stock.adobe.com", Other images:"Todor Rusinov – stock.adobe.com", "Casanayafana/Shutterstock.com"). Display omitted
•Novel drug delivery method: melt-spun liquid-core fibers (LiCoFs).•Continuous meltspinning process to make drug-loaded LiCoFs.•Diffusion or pressure controlled local drug-delivery.•Large drug reservoir, high durability and mechanical performance of LiCoFs.
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