Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

<p dir="ltr">Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) cause a burden in acute care hospitals in the United States. HAIs are caused by <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, along with other pathogens found on high-touch and non-high-touch surfaces in hospital environments (e.g., bed rails, blood pressure cuffs, countertops, and floors). To minimize the growth and cross-contamination of pathogens, it is vital to use disinfectants for surface decontamination. In this work, the impact of different application methods and disinfectant active agents was evaluated for use on different healthcare-related surfaces. The first study examined the cross-contamination potential of an auto-scrubber when used to clean and disinfect a 2m² vinyl floor contaminated with <i>S. aureus</i>. Five EPA-registered disinfectants and a cleaner were used with three application methods. Hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium compounds-based disinfectants significantly resulted in less cross-contamination compared to the cleaner. However, there were no significant differences among the application methods used. In the second study, manual floor cleaning and disinfecting on a two-square-meter vinyl floor with three different moping materials were evaluated to assess their ability to prevent cross-contamination. Evidence showed that there were significant differences among the products used, with Hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium compound products being the most effective. The cleaner caused the most cross-contamination, while cotton mops resulted in significant cross-contamination among materials used. Study three investigated the differences among four application methods used with three different wiping cloths (Cotton, microfiber, and nonwoven) on a 2m² Formica board. A spray surface and wipe method was successful in decreasing <i>S. aureus</i> on the surface. A hydrogen peroxide-based product was most effective in reducing bacteria at contamination areas and minimizing cross-contamination. Microfiber cloth picked up significantly more bacteria at contaminated areas. Post disinfection, there was evidence of cross-contamination at sampling areas regardless of product type, wiping cloth, and application methods used, with the cotton cloth causing the most cross-contamination. Viable bacteria were found on the wiping cloths used and on worker's gloves. Together, this work shows that the use of disinfectants is important in hospital environments. The choice of product, wiping material, and application method are principal in the disinfection process as they influence disinfection failure or success.</p>

This study investigated methods to reduce herbicide application through improved targeting of weeds, thereby also reducing damage to pastures. The focus was to evaluate and improve wiper and spot-spraying application techniques for pasture herbicides as they reduce chemical use by treating just the weed. Wiper application of herbicides was shown to be a useful technique for controlling Californian thistles. In one trial, a stem reduction of over 90% when assessed 10 months post application was achieved with a double pass of clopyralid, metsulfuron and glyphosate when the plants were treated at the post-flowering stage and were vigorously growing. A double pass was superior to a single pass for glyphosate and triclopyr/picloram, but not for clopyralid and metsulfuron. Subsequent trials produced poor results possibly because of the stressed condition of the thistles and their growth stage as well as lack of consistency in wiper output and operator differences. Despite wiper applicators usually being selective, some damage to pastures was observed in the field, and from a series of experiments it was concluded that rain falling soon after wiper application was the likely cause of pasture damage. An innovative and highly sensitive technique using a spectrophotometer was developed to measure herbicide output from wiper applicators. A spectrophotometer could accurately measure clopyralid concentrations as low as 0.02 g active ingredient in a litre of water. The Eliminator and Rotowiper outputs were found to be highly variable while the Weedswiper was more consistent although it applied less herbicide than the other two wipers. Spot spraying experiments confirmed that glyphosate and metsulfuron create bare patches by damaging both grass and clover while clopyralid and triclopyr/picloram only eliminate clover. However, metsulfuron patches stayed bare for much longer while glyphosate ones quickly filled up with weeds and clover. Ingress of clover stolons appeared to be more important than re-establishment from seed in the recovery of patches. The bigger the damaged patch, the higher the likelihood of recolonisation by opportunistic weeds. Bioassay studies found that over-application of clopyralid and triclopyr/picloram provided residual activity up to 18 and 30 weeks, respectively, thereby potentially preventing re-establishment of white clover. The negative effects on clover seedlings from metsulfuron ranged from 3 to 6 weeks for standard and high rates, respectively, with a stimulatory effect on seedlings thereafter for up to 18 weeks. Dose-response curves for the application of metsulfuron and triclopyr/picloram into the centre 5% versus full plant coverage of Scotch thistle and ragwort rosettes showed that application of herbicide to the centre 5% was as effective at the same concentration and greatly reduced the risk of damage to pasture.

Diploma thesis is focused on the study of optoelectric properties of thin layers of organic materials based on phthalocyanines, which can be used as an active layer of photovoltaic cells. Especially are studied the properties of the thin active layers of PdPc and PdPc + IL on the glass or ceramic substrates with aluminium contact, which are prepared by material printing here. On the prepared samples were first measured current-voltage characteristics in the dark and in the light and then were measured impedance spectrums in the dark. The received results will be used to improve the properties and structures of photovoltaic cells.

This master’s thesis deals with a problems of value management as a comprehensive innovative tool designed to enable the company to achieve competitiveness in all its activities, increase productivity and maximize progress towards the objectives set by using minimum resources. Describes the use of values-based approach and its methods, disciplines and application tools. The purpose of this master’s thesis is to establish a common basis for company management, which could successfully implement and apply the value management in practice.