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Digital dermatitis is a major cause of infectious lameness in dairy cows. Disinfectant footbaths and sprays are used for disease control. Laboratory tests of disinfectant efficacy cannot match the complexity of organic challenges on farms. This study developed an on-farm test of antibacterial efficacy for hoof disinfectants applied as a topical spray or in a footbath. Two trials were carried out, one testing disinfectants applied by topical spray and the other testing the same products after use in a footbath that had been walked through by 100 cows. Products were copper sulphate (positive control), P1 (acetic and peracetic acid based), P2 (amine) and P3 (lactic acid and chlorocresol), all used at 5% concentration. A pre- and post- treatment swab methodology was used and log reduction in aerobic colony count was determined. For spray application, the log reduction caused by copper sulphate was smaller than P1 but not different to P2 or P3. For the used footbath disinfectants, the log reduction caused by copper sulphate was larger than P2 but not different to P1 or P3. This testing method can discriminate products that have higher or lower antibacterial efficacy than copper sulphate under farm conditions when different application methods are used.

Footbaths containing disinfectants are used on dairy farms to reduce the spread of digital dermatitis; however, they commonly become contaminated with manure. This trial investigated the physical properties and microbial composition of dairy cow manure from two production systems and examined whether the source of manure impacted the efficacy of footbathing disinfectants. Manure was collected from eighteen dairy cows, nine housed and fed grass silage (HOUSED) and nine at pasture (PASTURE). The pH and dry matter content was determined, total DNA was extracted and the region v3-v4 of the 16s rRNA gene sequenced. The efficacy of formalin and two trial products (TP1: peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide; TP2: chlorocresol and triamine) was evaluated when mixed with manure from the two production systems. Production system differences were found in manure dry matter content, bacterial microbiome and the efficacy of both trial footbathing products but not formalin. The properties of manure affected the results of laboratory testing and therefore have the potential to influence footbathing disinfectant efficacy when footbaths are contaminated with manure. Further research into the impact of organic contaminants on the efficacy of disinfectants could facilitate the development of improved testing programmes and disinfectant products.

ABSTRACT Purpose Design and evaluation of a novel laser-based method for micromoulding of microneedle arrays from polymeric materials under ambient conditions. The aim of this study was to optimise polymeric composition and assess the performance of microneedle devices that possess different geometries. Methods A range of microneedle geometries was engineered into silicone micromoulds, and their physicochemical features were subsequently characterised. Results Microneedles micromoulded from 20% w/w aqueous blends of the mucoadhesive copolymer Gantrez® AN-139 were surprisingly found to possess superior physical strength than those produced from commonly used pharma polymers. Gantrez® AN-139 microneedles, 600 μm and 900 μm in height, penetrated neonatal porcine skin with low application forces (>0.03 N per microneedle). When theophylline was loaded into 600 μm microneedles, 83% of the incorporated drug was delivered across neonatal porcine skin over 24 h. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed that drug-free 600 μm Gantrez® AN-139 microneedles punctured the stratum corneum barrier of human skin in vivo and extended approximately 460 µm into the skin. However, the entirety of the microneedle lengths was not inserted. Conclusion In this study, we have shown that a novel laser engineering method can be used in micromoulding of polymeric microneedle arrays. We are currently carrying out an extensive OCT-informed study investigating the influence of microneedle array geometry on skin penetration depth, with a view to enhanced transdermal drug delivery from optimised laser-engineered Gantrez® AN-139 microneedles.

ABSTRACT Purpose To assess the feasibility of transdermal macromolecule delivery using novel laser-engineered dissolving microneedles (MNs) prepared from aqueous blends of 20% w / w poly(methylvinylether maleic anhydride) (PMVE/MA) in vitro and in vivo. Methods Micromoulding was employed to prepare insulin-loaded MNs from aqueous blends of 20% w / w PMVE/MA using laser-engineered moulds. To investigate conformational changes in insulin loaded into MNs, circular dichroism spectra were obtained. In vitro drug release studies from MNs across neonatal porcine skin were performed using Franz diffusion cells. The in vivo effect of MNs was assessed by their percutaneous administration to diabetic rats and measurement of blood glucose levels. Results MNs loaded with insulin constituted exact counterparts of mould dimensions. Circular dichroism analysis showed that encapsulation of insulin within polymeric matrix did not lead to change in protein secondary structure. In vitro studies revealed significant enhancement in insulin transport across the neonatal porcine skin. Percutaneous administration of insulin-loaded MN arrays to rats resulted in a dose-dependent hypoglycaemic effect. Conclusion We demonstrated the efficacy of MNs prepared from aqueous blends of PMVE/MA in transdermal delivery of insulin. We are currently investigating the fate of the delivered insulin in skin and MN-mediated delivery of other macromolecules.

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the impact of skin pretreatment with microneedles (MNs) on ALA- and MAL-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) production, as well as MN impact on pain sensations during light exposure and erythema after PDT. Methods The skin of 14 healthy volunteers was preteated with MNs. Equal amounts of creams containing 2%, 8% and 16% (w/w) ALA and MAL were applied on 1 cm 2 areas for 4 h. Additionally, 16% ALA and MAL creams were applied for 24 h. Afterwards, PpIX fluorescence spectra were measured. Sixteen percent ALA and MAL spots were exposed to red light (632 nm, 77 mW/cm 2 ). Time for pain to occur was measured in seconds, and erythemal response was monitored up to 6 h after the end of the light exposure. Results Use of MNs increased the PpIX fluorescence after 4 h incubation time with 2% and 8% ALA or MAL, but not with 16% ALA or MAL. Pretreatment with MNs did not increase the pain sensations during light exposure, nor did it influence erythema occurrence. Conclusions MNs are a promising tool for improving the efficiency of topical PDT by improving the cutaneous delivery of ALA and MAL, without increase in side effects.

In order to exploit the transdermal route for systemic delivery of a wide range of drug molecules, including peptide/protein molecules and genetic material, a means of disrupting the excellent barrier properties of the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, must be sought. The use of microneedle (MN) arrays has been proposed as a method to temporarily disrupt the barrier function of the skin and thus enable enhanced transdermal drug delivery. MN arrays consist of a plurality of micron-sized needles, generally ranging from 25 to 2000 µm in height, of a variety of different shapes and composition (e.g., silicon, metal, sugars and biodegradable polymers). The application of such MN arrays to the skin results in the creation of aqueous channels that are orders of magnitude larger than molecular dimensions and, therefore, should readily permit the transport of macromolecules. This article will focus on recent and future developments for MN technology, focusing on the materials used for MN fabrication, the forces required for MN insertion and potential safety aspects that may be involved with the use of MN devices.

The Amazon is one of the few continental regions where atmospheric aerosol particles and their effects on climate are not dominated by anthropogenic sources. During the wet season, the ambient conditions approach those of the pristine pre-industrial era. We show that the fine submicrometer particles accounting for most cloud condensation nuclei are predominantly composed of secondary organic material formed by oxidation of gaseous biogenic precursors. Supermicrometer particles, which are relevant as ice nuclei, consist mostly of primary biological material directly released from rainforest biota. The Amazon Basin appears to be a biogeochemical reactor, in which the biosphere and atmospheric photochemistry produce nuclei for clouds and precipitation sustaining the hydrological cycle. The prevailing regime of aerosol-cloud interactions in this natural environment is distinctly different from polluted regions.

A key goal of conservation is to protect biodiversity by supporting the long-term persistence of viable, natural populations of wild species. Conservation practice has long been guided by genetic, ecological and demographic indicators of risk. Emerging evidence of animal culture across diverse taxa and its role as a driver of evolutionary diversification, population structure and demographic processes may be essential for augmenting these conventional conservation approaches and decision-making. Animal culture was the focus of a ground-breaking resolution under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), an international treaty operating under the UN Environment Programme. Here, we synthesize existing evidence to demonstrate how social learning and animal culture interact with processes important to conservation management. Specifically, we explore how social learning might influence population viability and be an important resource in response to anthropogenic change, and provide examples of how it can result in phenotypically distinct units with different, socially learnt behavioural strategies. While identifying culture and social learning can be challenging, indirect identification and parsimonious inferences may be informative. Finally, we identify relevant methodologies and provide a framework for viewing behavioural data through a cultural lens which might provide new insights for conservation management.