Maintenance of sterility in SMS packaging in dental environments: concern with biosafety

Healthcare services must be guided by biosafety practices and microbial control. This control is highly influenced by humidity, which directly impacts the maintenance of sterility of the materials used in the appointments. High concentration of moisture, in the form of aerosol, splashes and spills, is caused during dental care. During the COVID-19 times the contamination by aerosol and droplets worries greatly. Considering that it could cause harm to the sterility of an autoclaved material, especially in dental environments, the objective was to evaluate the behavior of SMS sterilization packages (Spunbonded / Meltblown / Spunbonded) against microbial penetration in an aqueous vehicle. SMS of three brands were challenged, equally divided into two groups: virgin and processed (subjected to a single autoclaving cycle). Each specimen was aseptically deposited on Macconkey agar. Subsequently, 5 µL of Escherichia coliATCC 25922 saline solution [108CFU mL-1] was deposited in center of the SMS specimen and the dish incubated at36°C/ 48h. Reading was performed by the presence or absence of bacterial growth typical of the species under the SMS, observed on the back of Petri dish. The lowest penetration rate observed was 60% for one of the brands in the virgin condition, and 75% for two brands in the processed condition. Statistical analysis showed an association between bacterial penetration and the evaluated group, this association being valid only in the virgin condition. The different SMS behave similarly in terms of resistance to bacterial penetration after being processed. The data show that moisture can assist in bacterial transport through sterilized SMS. Therefore, SMS packages are not able to prevent bacterial penetration, and possibly other microorganisms, when in aqueous vehicles, offering a potential risk of breaking the aseptic chain. Thus, care must be taken in routines for handling and storage sterile packaging.

The influence of hypothermia prevention by application of skin moisture absorbent on the value of body temperature, body weight and blood parameters in piglets / A influência da prevenção da hipotermia pela aplicação de absorvente de umidade da pele no valor da temperatura corporal, peso corporal e parâmetros sanguíneos em leitões

Reducing the mortality rate is of a great economic importance for pig farming. Therefore, it is necessary to define the conditions in the farrowing unit based on the performance of the piglets, and specific hematological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the importance of using skin moisture absorbent and its influence in preventing hypothermia, which causes great economic losses in pig production. The experiment was set up on a commercial farm in Serbia and included 92 pigs divided into the experimental and control group. Body temperature values, body weight and blood parameters were monitored. The obtained values indicate that there is a significantly positive correlation of body temperature change and body weight values, and body temperature showed a significantly higher increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results obtained from hematological and biochemical parameters provide a clearer picture of the metabolic processes in piglets in the farrowing unit and can be used to further improve pig production and as a complement to genetic enhancement.(AU)

A redução da taxa de mortalidade é de grande importância econômica para a suinocultura. Portanto, é necessário definir as condições na unidade de parto com base no desempenho dos leitões, para serem parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos específicos. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho é examinar a importância do uso de absorvente de umidade na pele e sua influência na prevenção da hipotermia, que causa grandes perdas econômicas na produção de suínos. A experiência foi montada em uma fazenda comercial na Sérvia, e incluiu 92 porcos divididos no grupo experimental e de controle. Os valores de temperatura corporal, pesos corporais e parâmetros sanguíneos foram monitorados. Os valores obtidos indicam que existe uma correlação significativamente positiva entre os valores da temperatura corporal e dos pesos corporais, e a temperatura corporal mostrou um aumento significativamente maior no grupo experimental em comparação com o grupo de controle. Os resultados obtidos a partir de parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos fornecem uma imagem mais clara dos processos metabólicos em leitões na unidade de parto e podem ser usados para melhorar ainda mais a produção de suínos e como um complemento ao melhoramento genético.(AU)

Use of a Support Surface Standard to Test the Effects of a Turning and Positioning Device Versus Low-Air-Loss Therapy on Temperature and Humidity.

BACKGROUND: Turning and repositioning devices (TRDs) help to reduce strain on caregivers, but clinicians question their effects on humidity and temperature (microclimate) at the skin surface that may increase risk of pressure ulcers. OBJECTIVE: To pilot the use of a standard test for support surfaces to compare microclimate at the skin surface in three scenarios: (1) on a low-air-loss (LAL) surface, (2) on a representative TRD with a basic underpad (TRDU) placed on a LAL surface, and (3) on a negative control with full occlusion. The results are designed to inform clinical decision-making in using a TRD on a LAL surface and the viability of using this test to study TRDs. DESIGN: Measuring humidity and temperature at the device-surface interface using a heated moisture-exuding bronze thermodynamic human model in a laboratory setting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Humidity and temperature levels across 3 hours 15 minutes of continuous loading with a 45-second complete unloading to simulate a position change at 3 hours. MAIN RESULTS: Relative humidity on the TRDU was below that on the LAL surface for the first 110 minutes and was markedly lower than the negative control for the remainder of humidity testing. Temperature on the TRDU was well below the negative control and negligibly higher than the surface alone throughout testing. The position change enhanced the effects of the TRDU. CONCLUSIONS: The support surface standard test appears useful in evaluating TRDs. This TRD along with the basic underpad is more comparable to a LAL surface than to full occlusion in managing the microclimate of the skin and pressure ulcer risk.

The Effect of Absorbent Pad Design on Skin Wetness, Skin/Pad Microclimate, and Skin Barrier Function: A Quasi-experimental Open Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: The main aims of this study were to describe the effects of incontinence pad composition on skin wetness, the skin/pad microclimate, and skin barrier function. We also evaluated the potential utility of our methods for future clinical investigation of absorbent pad design. DESIGN: Single-blind, quasi-experimental, open cohort design. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Twenty healthy older volunteers (mean age = 72.8 years, SD = 5.8 years; 8 male and 12 female) tested 2 absorbent pad types, with acquisition layers of different compositions (A and B) applied to different sites on the volar aspect of the forearms. One type A pad served as control (A dry) versus 3 pad samples wetted with 3 volumes of saline (A 15 mL, A 35 mL, and B 15 mL). The study was conducted within the clinical laboratory of a university nursing research group in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Skin barrier function was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum (SC) hydration by corneometry, and skin surface pH using a standard skin pH electrode. Skin water loading (excess water penetration into the skin) was quantified by measuring TEWL and creating a desorption curve of the water vapor flux density. Calculating the area under the curve of the desorption curve to give skin surface water loss reflected excess water penetration into the skin. In a subgroup of the sample, the temperature and relative humidity (microclimate) at the interface between the skin and test pads were measured using a wafer-thin sensor placed between the skin and pad sample. Proinflammatory cytokine release from the SC was assessed using a noninvasive lipophilic film. The main outcome measures in this study were the differences in biophysical measurements of skin barrier function (TEWL, corneometer, and pH) before and after the application of the different pads. RESULTS: Mean ± SD baseline TEWL across all test sites was 10.4 ± 4.4 g/h/m. This increased to 10.6 ± 3.8 g/h/m at the control site, 15.3 ± 6.3 g/h/m for the A 15-mL pad, 15.3 ± 3.9 g/h/m for the A 35-mL pad, and 15.6 ± 3.2 g/h/m for the B 15-mL pad. The mean baseline skin surface pH was 5.9 ± 0.04; cutaneous pH increased to a mean of 6.1 ± 0.06 following all pad applications (P = .16). Mean SC hydration remained unchanged at the control site (A dry). In contrast, SC hydration increased following the application of all wetted pads. Target cytokines were detected in all samples we analyzed. The IL-1RA/IL-1α ratio increased following pad application, except for the wettest pad. CONCLUSION: Study findings suggest that absorbent pad design and composition, particularly the acquisition layer, affect performance and may influence skin health. Based on our experience with this study, we believe the methods we used provide a simple and objective means to evaluate product performance that could be used to guide the future development of products and applied to clinical settings.

Microbes of XVI century Arrases of Krakow Royal Castle.

Sixteenth-century Arrases from the Krakow Royal Castle constitute a Polish national cultural heritage; hence, they should be under special protection. The storage of historic objects at strict temperature and humidity conditions is fundamental for their protection against microorganisms. However, sometimes active preservation must be applied to disinfect bio-contaminated objects. In this study, 39 strains of microorganisms, both fungi and bacteria, isolated from Arrases deposited in the Wawel warehouse were isolated and then identified using molecular tools. Fungal ability to colonize and degrade silk and wool laboratory samples was studied. Selected microbial strains were compared concerning their ability to affect silk fibroin using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The effectiveness of low-temperature helium-generated plasma in disinfecting the model wool and silk samples inoculated with selected strains was tested. The results showed that plasma, despite its high biocidal activity in the case of paper, was not effective on porous textile materials. The alternative protection mechanism, involving active packaging in the form of textiles impregnated with silver-exchanged zeolites, could be used to separate layers of rolled tapestries in the warehouse. Nevertheless, optimal temperature and humidity conditions should be strictly maintained and controlled.

Current challenges for shaping the sustainable and mold-free hygienic indoor environment in humid regions.

Indoor mold grows ubiquitously in humid areas and can affect occupants' health. To prevent indoor mold contamination, one of the key measures suggested by the World Health Organisation and United States Environmental Protection Agency is to maintain an indoor relative humidity (RH) level below 75% or at 30-60%, respectively. However, in tropical and subtropical areas, maintaining these suggested RH levels is equivalent to operating a 24-h air-conditioner (AC) or dehumidifier, which is energy-consuming. As a large part of building expense, the operation time of ACs has been regularly proposed to be cut down because of the requirement of building sustainability. This leads to a trade-off between sustainable building performance and indoor mold hygiene. To balance this trade-off, more sustainable alternatives, such as those that target physical environments (e.g. nutrient and temperature level) or apply new surface coating technologies to inhibit mold growth, have been launched. Despite these initiatives, indoor mold contamination remains an unresolved issue, mainly because these alternative measures only exhibit limited effectiveness or require extra effort. This review aims to summarize the currently adopted mold control measures and discuss their limitations as well as the direction for the future development of sustainable mold control strategies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: People spend most of their time indoors and hence the presence of indoor mold contamination can compromise the occupants' health. With the wake of climate change which is expected to see an increase in RH and temperature, tropical and subtropical areas are even more prone to mold contamination than they used to be. This study may help facilitate the development of sustainable and effective mold control strategies in the indoor environment.

A Low-Cost Humidity Control System to Protect Microscopes in a Tropical Climate.

Introduction: A clean and functional microscope is necessary for accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases. In tropical climates, high humidity levels and improper storage conditions allow for the accumulation of debris and fungus on the optical components of diagnostic equipment, such as microscopes. Objective: Our objective was to develop and implement a low-cost, sustainable, easy to manage, low-maintenance, passive humidity control chamber to both reduce debris accumulation and microbial growth onto the optical components of microscopes. Methods: Constructed from easily-sourced and locally available materials, the cost of each humidity control chamber is approximately $2.35 USD. Relative humidity levels were recorded every 30 minutes over a period of 10 weeks from two chambers deployed at the Belize Vector and Ecology Center and the University of Belize. Results: The humidity control chamber deployed at the University of Belize maintained internal relative humidity at an average of 35.3% (SD = 4.2%) over 10 weeks, while the average external relative humidity was 86.4% (SD = 12.4%). The humidity control chamber deployed at the Belize Vector and Ecology Center effectively maintained internal relative humidity to an average of 54.5% (SD = 9.4%) over 10 weeks, while the average external relative humidity was 86.9% (SD = 12.9%). Conclusions: Control of relative humidity is paramount for the sustainability of medical equipment in tropical climates. The humidity control chambers reduced relative humidity to levels that were not conducive for fungal growth while reducing microscope contamination from external sources. This will likely extend the service life of the microscopes while taking advantage of low-cost, locally sourced components.

Effects of Water Removal Devices on Ambient Inorganic Air Pollutant Measurements.

Water vapor is a pivotal obstacle when measuring ambient air pollutants. The effects of water vapor removal devices which are called KPASS (Key-compound PASSer) and Cooler. On the measurement of O3, SO2, and CO at ambient levels were investigated. Concentrations of O3, SO2, and CO were 100 ppb, 150 ppb, and 25 ppm, respectively. The amount of water vapor varied at different relative humidity levels of 30%, 50%, and 80% when the temperature was 25 °C and the pressure was 1 atm. Water vapor removal efficiencies and recovery rates of target gases were also determined. The KPASS showed a better performance than the Cooler device, removing 93.6% of water vapor and the Cooler removing 59.2%. In terms of recovery, the KPASS showed a better recovery of target gases than the Cooler. Consequently, it is suggested that the KPASS should be an alternative way to remove water vapor when measuring O3, SO2, and CO.

The influence of incontinence pads moisture at the loaded skin interface.

AIM: Prolonged mechanical loading on soft tissues adjacent to bony prominences can lead to pressure ulcers. The presence of moisture at the skin interface will lower the tolerance to load. Absorbent pads manage moisture in individuals with incontinence, although their role in maintaining skin health is unknown. The present study investigated the effects of moist incontinence pads on skin physiology after periods of mechanical loading. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve healthy participants were recruited to evaluate a single incontinence pad design under three moisture conditions: 0% (dry), 50% and 100% fluid capacity. For each pad condition, pressure (9 kPa) or pressure in combination with shear (3 N) was applied to the sacrum, followed by a period of off-loading. Measures included trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and inflammatory biomarkers sampled at the skin interface. RESULTS: Results revealed no change in TEWL in the loaded dry pad condition. By contrast, when the pads contained moisture, significant increases in TEWL were observed. These increases were reversed during off-loading. Inflammatory biomarkers, specifically IL-1α/total protein ratio, were up-regulated during dry pad loading, which recovered during off-loading. Loaded moist pads caused a significant increase in biomarkers, which remained elevated throughout the test period. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a marked compromise to stratum corneum integrity when the skin was exposed to moist incontinence pads in combination with mechanical loads. These physiological changes were largely reversed during off-loading. Incontinence pads provided some protection in the dry state, although more research is required to determine optimal clinical guidance for their use.

Determination of Fentanyl Analog Exposure Using Dried Blood Spots with LC-MS-MS.

Fentanyl, and the numerous drugs derived from it, are contributing to the opioid overdose epidemic currently underway in the USA. To identify human exposure to these growing public health threats, an LC-MS-MS method for 5 µL dried blood spots (DBS) was developed. This method was developed to detect exposure to 3-methylfentanyl, alfentanil, α-methylfentanyl, carfentanil, fentanyl, lofentanil, sufentanil, norcarfentanil, norfentanyl, norlofentanil, norsufentanil, and using a separate LC-MS-MS injection, cyclopropylfentanyl, acrylfentanyl, 2-furanylfentanyl, isobutyrylfentanyl, ocfentanil and methoxyacetylfentanyl. Preparation of materials into groups of compounds was used to accommodate an ever increasing need to incorporate newly identified fentanyls. This protocol was validated within a linear range of 1.00-100 ng/mL, with precision ≤12% CV and accuracy ≥93%, as reported for the pooled blood QC samples, and limits of detection as low as 0.10 ng/mL. The use of DBS to assess fentanyl analog exposures can facilitate rapid sample collection, transport, and preparation for analysis that could enhance surveillance and response efforts in the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic.

A Computer Modeling Study to Assess the Durability of Prophylactic Dressings Subjected to Moisture in Biomechanical Pressure Injury Prevention.

The sacral area is the most common site for pressure injuries (PIs) associated with prolonged supine bedrest. In previous studies, an anisotropic multilayer prophylactic dressing was found to reduce the incidence of PIs and redistribute pressure. The purpose of the current study was to further investigate relationships between design features and biomechanical efficacy of sacral prophylactic dressings. Using computer modeling, the anisotropic multilayer dressing and a hypothetical dressing with different mechanical properties were tested under dry and 3 levels of moist/wet conditions. Sixteen (16) finite element model variants representing the buttocks were developed. The model variants utilized slices of the weight-bearing buttocks of a 28-year-old healthy woman for segmentation of the pelvic bones and soft tissues. Effective stresses and maximal shear stresses in a volume of interest of soft tissues surrounding the sacrum were calculated from the simulations, and a protective endurance (PE) index was further calculated. Resistance to deformations along the direction of the spine when wet was determined by rating simulation outcomes (volumetric exposures to effective stress) for the different dressing conditions. Based on this analysis, the anisotropic multilayer prophylactic dressing exhibited superior PE (80%), which was approximately 4 times that of the hypothetical dressing (22%). This study provides additional important insights regarding the optimal design of prophylactic dressings, especially when exposed to moisture. A next step in research would be to optimize the extent of the anisotropy, particularly the property ratio of stiffnesses (elastic moduli).

Changes in respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms in occupants of a large office building over a period of moisture damage remediation attempts.

There is limited information on the natural history of building occupants' health in relation to attempts to remediate moisture damage. We examined changes in respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms in 1,175 office building occupants over seven years with multiple remediation attempts. During each of four surveys, we categorized participants using a severity score: 0 = asymptomatic; 1 = mild, symptomatic in the last 12 months, but not frequently in the last 4 weeks; 2 = severe, symptomatic at least once weekly in the last 4 weeks. Building-related symptoms were defined as improving away from the building. We used random intercept models adjusted for demographics, smoking, building tenure, and microbial exposures to estimate temporal changes in the odds of building-related symptoms or severity scores independent of the effect of microbial exposures. Trend analyses of combined mild/severe symptoms showed no changes in the odds of respiratory symptoms but significant improvement in non-respiratory symptoms over time. Separate analyses showed increases in the odds of severe respiratory symptoms (odds ratio/year = 1.15‒1.16, p-values<0.05) and severity scores (0.02/year, p-values<0.05) for wheezing and shortness of breath on exertion, due to worsening of participants in the mild symptom group. For non-respiratory symptoms, we found no changes in the odds of severe symptoms but improvement in severity scores (-0.04‒-0.01/year, p-values<0.05) and the odds for mild fever and chills, excessive fatigue, headache, and throat symptoms (0.65-0.79/year, p-values<0.05). Our study suggests that after the onset of respiratory and severe non-respiratory symptoms associated with dampness/mold, remediation efforts might not be effective in improving occupants' health.

Reduction in surgical fog with a warm humidified gas management protocol significantly shortens procedure time in pediatric robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: The adoption of robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) procedures in the field of urology has occurred rapidly, but is, to date, without pediatric-specific instrumentation. Surgical fog is a significant barrier to safe and efficient laparoscopy. This appears to be a significant challenge when adapting three-dimensional 8.5-mm scopes to use in pediatric RAL surgery. The objective of the present study was to compare matched controls from a prospectively collected database to procedures that were performed utilizing special equipment and a protocol to minimize surgical fog in pediatric RAL procedures. METHODS: A prospectively collected database of all patients who underwent RAL pediatric urology procedures was used to compare: procedure, age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, weight, console time, number of times the camera was removed to clean the lens during a procedure, length of hospital stay, and morphine equivalents required in the postoperative period. A uniquely developed protocol was used, it consisted of humidified (95% relative humidity) and warmed CO2 gas (95 °F) insufflation via Insuflow® on a working trocar, with active smoke evacuation via PneuVIEW®XE on the opposite working trocar with a gas pass through of 3.5-5 l/min. The outcomes were compared with matched controls (Summary Fig). RESULTS: The novel gas protocol was utilized in 13 procedures (five pyeloplasties, two revision pyeloplasties, three ureteroureterostomies (UU), three nephrectomies) and compared with 13 procedures (six pyeloplasties, one revision pyeloplasty, three UU, three nephrectomies) prior to the protocol development. There was no statistical difference in age (P = 0.78), sex (P = 0.11), ASA score (P = 1.00) or weight (P = 0.69). There were no open conversions, ≥Grade 2 Clavien complications, or readmissions within 30 days in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This novel gas protocol yielded a statistically significant reduction in procedure time, by decreasing the number of times the camera was required to be pulled during the case by more than five occurrences, and saved approximately 35 min on average per case.

How Much Surface Coating of Hydrophobic Azithromycin Is Sufficient to Prevent Moisture-Induced Decrease in Aerosolisation of Hygroscopic Amorphous Colistin Powder?

Aerosolisation performance of hygroscopic particles of colistin could be compromised at elevated humidity due to increased capillary forces. Co-spray drying colistin with a hydrophobic drug is known to provide a protective coating on the composite particle surfaces against moisture-induced reduction in aerosolisation performance; however, the effects of component ratio on surface coating quality and powder aerosolisation at elevated relative humidities are unknown. In this study, we have systematically examined the effects of mass ratio of hydrophobic azithromycin on surface coating quality and aerosolisation performance of the co-spray dried composite particles. Four combination formulations with varying drug ratios were prepared by co-spray drying drug solutions. Both of the drugs in each combination formulation had similar in vitro deposition profiles, suggesting that each composite particle comprises two drugs in the designed mass ratio, which is supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) data. XPS and ToF-SIMS measurements also revealed that 50% by weight (or 35% by molecular fraction) of azithromycin in the formulation provided a near complete coating of 96.5% (molar fraction) on the composite particle surface, which is sufficient to prevent moisture-induced reduction in fine particle fraction (FPF)recovered and FPFemitted. Higher azithromycin content did not increase coating coverage, while contents of azithromycin lower than 20% w/w did not totally prevent the negative effects of humidity on aerosolisation performance. This study has highlighted that a critical amount of azithromycin is required to sufficiently coat the colistin particles for short-term protection against moisture.

Efeitos da umidade relativa do ar na incubação e da idade da matriz leve sobre a eclodibilidade, qualidade dos pintos recém-eclodidos e desempenho da progênie / Effects of relative air humidity in the incubator and breeder hen age on hatchability, hatchling quality and progeny performance

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da umidade relativa do ar nas incubadoras (URI) e da idade da matriz leve sobre a eclodibilidade, qualidade dos pintos recém-eclodidos e o desempenho da progênie. Foram incubados 10.840 ovos, sendo os tratamentos definidos pela idade das matrizes Lohmann LSL(r) (26, 41 e 56 semanas) e pelos níveis de URI (48, 56 e 64%). Após a incubação, 1.620 pintos fêmeas foram alojados em galpão experimental convencional, de acordo com os tratamentos, até as 12 semanas de idade. Para a avaliação de eclodibilidade sobre ovos férteis e fêmeas refugos, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso no arranjo em parcelas subdivididas. A parcela foi a URI (três níveis) e a subparcela foi a idade da matriz (três idades). Os blocos foram constituídos pelos andares dos carrinhos de incubação, em que cada andar continha uma repetição de cada idade da matriz. Os nove tratamentos foram constituídos por 14 repetições cada. As repetições foram bandejas de incubação, constituindo 1.204 ovos por tratamento. Para a avaliação do desempenho das frangas, o delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, constituído por um esquema fatorial 3x3 (três níveis de URI e três idades), com seis repetições de 30 aves em cada tratamento. A eclodibilidade sobre ovos férteis foi maior (P<0,05) com a utilização de 56% de umidade relativa do ar durante a incubação, independentemente da idade da matriz; e ovos de matrizes mais velhas (56 semanas) apresentaram eclodibilidade menor (P<0,05), independentemente do nível de umidade relativa do ar no interior das incubadoras. Não foram constatados efeitos da idade da matriz e URI sobre o percentual de pintos refugos. A URI ou a idade da matriz leve não afetam o desempenho da progênie.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of relative humidity in incubators (RHI) and breeder hen age on hatchability, hatchling quality and performance of progeny. 10,840 eggs were incubated, and the treatments were defined by the Lohmann LSL(r) breeder age (26, 41 and 56 weeks) and the levels of RHI (48, 56 and 64%). After incubation, 1,620 female chicks were raised in a conventional experimental shed, according to the treatments, until 12 weeks of age. To assess the hatchability of fertile eggs and unviable female chicks, the experimental design was randomized blocks in split plots design. The plot factor was the RHI and the subplot was the age of the breeder hens. The blocks were made by the floors of the incubation carriages, where each floor contained a repetition of each breeder age. The nine treatments consisted of 14 repetitions each. The repetitions were trays of incubation, with 1,204 eggs per treatment. To evaluate the performance of the progeny, the experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of a 3x3 factorial scheme with six replicates of 30 birds in each treatment. Hatchability of fertile eggs was higher (P<0.05) with the use of 56% relative humidity during incubation, regardless of breeder age, and the eggs from the oldest breeder hens (56 weeks) had lower hatchability (P<0.05), regardless of the level of relative humidity inside the incubator. No effects of breeder age and RHI on the percentage of unviable chicks were observed. The RHI or the age of the breeder hen does not affect the performance of progeny.

Modeling validation and control analysis for controlled temperature and humidity of air conditioning system.

This study constructs an energy based model of thermal system for controlled temperature and humidity air conditioning system, and introduces the influence of the mass flow rate, heater and humidifier for proposed control criteria to achieve the controlled temperature and humidity of air conditioning system. Then, the reliability of proposed thermal system model is established by both MATLAB dynamic simulation and the literature validation. Finally, the PID control strategy is applied for controlling the air mass flow rate, humidifying capacity, and heating, capacity. The simulation results show that the temperature and humidity are stable at 541 sec, the disturbance of temperature is only 0.14 °C, 0006 kg(w)/kg(da) in steady-state error of humidity ratio, and the error rate is only 7.5%. The results prove that the proposed system is an effective controlled temperature and humidity of an air conditioning system.

Review of health hazards and prevention measures for response and recovery workers and volunteers after natural disasters, flooding, and water damage: mold and dampness.

Health problems and illnesses encountered by unprotected workers, first-responders, home-owners, and volunteers in recovery and restoration of moldy indoor environments after hurricanes, typhoons, tropical storms, and flooding damage are a growing concern for healthcare providers and disaster medicine throughout the world. Damp building materials, particularly cellulose-containing substrates, are prone to fungal (mold) and bacterial infestation. During remediation and demolition work, the airborne concentrations of such microbes and their by-products can rise significantly and result in an exposure risk. Symptoms reported by unprotected workers and volunteers may relate to reactions of the airways, skin, mucous membranes, or internal organs. Dampness-related fungi are primarily associated with allergies, respiratory symptoms or diseases such as dermatitis, rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, and asthma, as well as changes of the immunological system. Also, cognitive, endocrine, or rheumatological changes have been reported. Based on the consensus among experts at a recent scientific conference and a literature review, it is generally recommended to avoid and minimize unnecessary fungal exposure and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in disaster response and recovery work. Mycologists recommend addressing any moisture or water intrusion rapidly, since significant mold growth can occur within 48 h. Systematic source removal, cleaning with "soap and water," and "bulk removal" followed by high-efficiency particulate air vacuuming is recommended in most cases; use of "biocides" should be avoided in occupied areas. Public health agencies recommend use of adequate respiratory, skin, and eye protection. Workers can be protected against these diseases by use of dust control measures and appropriate personal protective equipment. At a minimum, a facial dust mask such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved N95 respirator should be used for mold remediation jobs. For any large-scale projects, trained remediation workers who have medical clearance and use proper personal protection (PPE) should be employed.

Cinética de secagem de folhas de erva baleeira (Cordia verbenacea DC. ) / Drying kinetics of Cordia verbenacea DC. leaves

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a cinética de secagem das folhas de erva baleeira (Cordia verbenacea DC.) bem como ajustar diferentes modelos matemáticos aos valores experimentais de razão de umidade. As folhas de erva baleeira foram colhidas com teor de água inicial de 75% b.u., sendo submetidas à secagem sob condições controladas de temperatura (40, 50, 60 e 70°C), até o teor de água aproximado de 10% b.u.. Aos dados experimentais foram ajustados oito modelos matemáticos citados na literatura específica e utilizados para a representação do processo de secagem de produtos agrícolas. Com base nos resultados obtidos pôde-se concluir que o modelo de Midilli é o que melhor representa a cinética de secagem das folhas de erva baleeira. O aumento da temperatura do ar de secagem promoveu maior taxa de remoção de água do produto. O coeficiente de difusão efetivo aumenta com a elevação da temperatura, sendo que sua relação com a temperatura de secagem pode ser descrita pela equação de Arrhenius. A energia de ativação para a difusão líquida durante a secagem das folhas de erva baleeira foi de 62,89 kJ mol-1 .

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the drying kinetics of Cordia verbanacea DC. leaves, as well to fit different mathematical models to the experimental data of the moisture ratio. The Cordia verbanacea Dc. leaves wers harvested with initial moisture content of approximately 75% w.b. and submitted to the drying process under controlled conditions of temperature (40, 50 60 and 70ºC), until the approximate moisture content of 10% w.b. Eight mathematical models mentioned or the specific literature were fitted to the experimental data and used to predict the drying process of the agricultural products. Based on the results obtained,swe have concluded that the Midilli model was the one that best represents the drying kinetics of Cordia verbanacea leaves. The temperature increase of the drying air promotes higher removal rate of water from the product. The effective diffusion coefficient increases with temperature elevation,tand its relationship with the drying temperature can be described through the Arrhenius equation, which presents activation energy of 62.89 kJ mol-1 for the liquid diffusion during the drying of the Cordia verbanacea DC. leaves.

Is there any association between imidapril hydrochloride stability profile under dry air conditions and cancer initiation?

Stability study for imidapril hydrochloride (IMD) was performed under stress conditions of increased temperature (T=373 K) and decreased relative air humidity (RH=0%) in order to obtain and identify its degradation product. The degradation sample stored for 15 days under the above environmental conditions was analyzed by LC-MS technique and it was found that the only degradation impurity formed in the course of the investigated drug degradation was IMD diketopiperazine derivative (DKP) which was produced by dehydration and intramolecular cyclization. The kinetics of its formation was analyzed by a revalidated RP-HPLC method and the kinetic model of this reaction was established. It was concluded that the DKP formation follows Prout-Tompkins kinetics with the rate constant k±Δk=2.034±0.157×10(-6) [s(-1)]. The obtained degradation impurity was further assessed with respect to its mutagenic potential using commercial Ames MPF 98/100 microplate format mutagenicity assay kit equipped with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100. Both strains were exposed to six concentrations (in a range of 0.16-5.0mg/mL) of DKP in the presence and absence of metabolic activation system. No mutagenic effect was observed confirming that the presence of DKP in IMD final dosage form has no impact on cancer initiation.