Análisis microbiológico a corto y largo plazo del material usado para esterilizar instrumental odontológico / Short and long-term microbiological analysis of the material for sterilize dental instruments

Introducción: el material para empaquetar el instrumental odontológico, como pueden ser bolsas de tela, papel o plástico, es usado por profesionales de la salud; sin embargo, es necesario esclarecer la efectividad de cada uno y determinar el tiempo que permanece estéril luego del procedimiento. Objetivo: identificar la eficacia de tela, plástico y papel como materiales para esterilizar instrumental a corto y largo plazo. Material y métodos: se realizaron cultivos sólidos y líquidos de instrumental esterilizado en tres materiales y con diferentes tiempos de postesterilización. Se incubaron a 36 oC por 72 horas en condiciones aerobias y anaerobias. Los resultados se analizaron usando una prueba de Kruskal-Wallis, seguida de una prueba de Dunn. Resultados: los resultados mostraron que inmediatamente después del proceso de esterilización, los tres materiales son efectivos (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.2752), 24 horas (p = 0.2492), siete (p = 0.0509) y 14 días (p = 0.0006). Veinticuatro horas posterior a la esterilización la tela no es efectiva, el plástico disminuye su efectividad y el papel sigue siendo efectivo. Conclusión: en nuestros resultados, el papel es la mejor opción para esterilizar instrumental (AU)

Introduction: material such as cloth, paper or plastic bags to wrap dental instruments is used by health professionals, however, it is necessary to clarify the effectiveness of each one and determine if it remains sterile after the procedure. Objective: to determine the effectiveness of cloth, plastic and paper as materials to sterilize dental instruments in the short and long term. Material and methods: we carry out solid and liquid cultures of sterilized instruments in three materials, at different post-sterilization times, incubated at 36 oC for 72 hours under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and the results were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by from a Dunn's test. Results: our results showed that immediately after the sterilization process the three materials are effective (Kruskal-Wallis; p = 0.2752), 24 hours (p = 0.2492), 7 (p = 0.0509) and 14 (p = 0.0006) days. Twenty-four hours after the cloth is not effective, plastic decreases its effectiveness and paper remain effective. Conclusion: in our results, paper is the best option to sterilize dental instruments (AU)

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.

Use of microalgal biomass as functional ingredient for preparation of cereal based extrudates: impact of processing on amino acid concentrations and colour degradation kinetics

Abstract Suitability of developing Spirulina incorporated cereal based low cost nutritious extrudates was analysed against extrusion processing parameters. Most significant extrusion processing parameters considered for present study were feed moisture (20-25%), die temperature (100-120 °C) and screw speed (50-100 rpm). Different extrusion conditions were used to obtain most acceptable rice: Spirulina blend extrudates. In present study before extrusion processing different additives (citric acid and sodium bicarbonate) were added in rice: Spirulina blend and checked its effect on colour degradation kinetics at varied packaging and storage conditions. Higher screw speed (100 rpm) indicating less residence time of feed material inside the barrel resulted in higher colour retention of rice: Spirulina (97:03) blend extrudates. Kinetics for rice: Spirulina (97:03) blend extrudates indicates faster rate of colour degradation in terms of lightness (half-life of 4 days) when packed in metalized polyethylene at 50°C with 65% relative humidity. Increased concentration of Spirulina (1-3%) in raw formulations resulted in increase in concentration of all amino acids. Impact of extrusion processing has shown non-significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on amino acid concentrations of rice: Spirulina blend extrudates. Also, all the spirulina added samples showed good consumer acceptability with the score of 6.7

Transparent oxygen barrier nanocellulose composite films with a sandwich structure.

Transparent gas barrier materials have extensive applications in packaging, pharmaceutical preservation, and electronics. Herein, we designed transparent films with a symmetric sandwich structure using layer-by-layer assembly of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and acrylic resin (AR) followed by a cellulose nanoparticle (CNP) layer. The BOPP as a substrate created a barrier to hinder the transmission of water molecules to the adhesive AR layer and gas barrier functional CNP layer. The aspect ratio of the CNPs was shown to affect the film microstructure, resulting in different values for the oxygen transmission rate (OTR). The well-organized CNP layer exhibited lower OTR when compared with the network layer. The thickness, density, and porosity of the CNP layer exhibited correlations with OTR. The water molecules were able to flow in through an additional pathway, thus increasing the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). Moreover, these sandwiched cellulose composite films showed excellent light transmittance and tensile strength.

Evaluation of coatings for application in raffia big bags in conditioned storage of soybean cultivars in seed processing units.

Different regions have different environmental conditions, which may be unfavorable for the preservation of the quality of stored soybean seeds over time. Thus, it is necessary to adopt specific technologies to control the storage environment conditions. Big raffia bags are widely used for the storage of soybean seeds, however these consist of a porous, permeable material that allows the exchange of gases between the packaging and the storage environment. In an effort to find a solution to this problem, in this study we evaluated low cost big bag coating alternatives, in order to minimize the effects of temperature and intergranular humidity on stored seeds. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the quality of soybean cultivars subjected to different temperature and storage duration conditions and stored in raffia bags with or without internal coating. We used a completely randomized, three-factor (10 × 6 × 5) experimental design. We assessed 10 soybean cultivars, six storage environments, and five evaluation periods. Our results showed that seeds of the M-SOY 8866, M7110 IPRO, CD 2737 RR, and BMX DESAFIO 8473 RSF soybean cultivars preserved their physiological quality better in different storage environments. The storage duration had a cumulative effect on the negative factors that favor the deterioration of the quality of the stored seeds. The storage temperature was the main factor that affected the physiological quality of the stored seeds. The use of coated packaging was beneficial in preserving the physiological quality of stored soybean seeds; however, its effect was greater at ambient temperature than in a cold environment. The best storage environment for the preservation of the quality of the seeds was characterized by 10°C temperature conditions and the use of coated packaging, while the worst storage environment was characterized by ambient temperature conditions without the use of coated packaging. Thus, it was concluded that the use of coatings in raffia big bags can be an alternative for maintaining the quality of seeds of different soybean cultivars during storage in seed processing units.

Revealing the intersectoral material flow of plastic containers and packaging in Japan.

The Japanese government developed a strategy for plastics and laid out ambitious targets including the reduction of 25% for single-use plastic waste and the reuse/recycling of 60% for plastic containers and packaging by 2030. However, the current usage situation of single-use plastics including containers and packaging, which should be a basis of the strategy, is unclear. Here, we identify the nationwide material flow of plastics in Japan based on input-output tables. Of the domestic plastic demand of 8.4 Mt in 2015, 1.6 and 2.5 Mt were estimated to be for containers and packaging comprising household and industry inflows, respectively, through the purchase/procurement of products, services, and raw materials. Considering the current amount of recycling collected from households (1.0 Mt) and industries (0.3 to 0.4 Mt), the reuse/recycling target has already been achieved if the goal is limited to household container and packaging waste, as is the focus of Japan's recycling law. Conversely, the results indicate that it will be extremely difficult to reach the target collectively with industries. Therefore, it is essential that efforts be made throughout the entire supply chain. Food containers and packaging that flowed into the food-processing and food service sectors accounted for 15% of the inflow of containers and packaging into industries. Thus, the key to achieving the reuse/recycling target will comprise the collection of plastic food packaging from not only households but also the food industry. Furthermore, the collection of flexible plastic films used between industry sectors will put the target within reach.

Assessing the Burden of Packaging and Recyclability of Single-Use Products in Interventional Radiology.

PURPOSE: With a shift to single-use products in interventional radiology (IR) centres for sterility and cost reasons, it is prudent to consider the burden of packaging and employ efforts to assess and reduce waste, as well as promote recycling wherever possible. This study aimed to quantify the amount of waste in IR packaging and what proportion is recyclable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A range of IR products were weighed using mass scales. Products were assessed for total weight, overall waste, and potentially recyclable waste. Waste was defined as any packaging which was not considered vital to the product to perform its duty and thus was for packaging or shipping purposes. Products were pooled into one of the following categories: catheters and sheaths, wires, needles, devices, coils, and packs/ancillary. RESULTS: Seventy-two different products were collected from 26 manufacturers to represent a range of items. The weight of all products was 12,466 g (median 51, range 2-1600), and weight of waste was 6830.7 g (median 34, range 1.1-732). The weight of recyclable waste was 5202.2 g (median 11.5, range 0-701). There were median 2 waste packages per item (range 1-5). The proportion of waste of the overall weight was 54.8% and of this, 76% of all waste was potentially recyclable. CONCLUSION: There is a significant burden of waste in manufactured IR products, and while a high proportion is recyclable, we encourage manufacturers of IR products and devices to consider alternative means of transport and packaging of products which will reduce the overall waste burden. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Influência do tipo do óleo nas propriedades físicas de oleogéis / Influence of oil type on the oleogels physical properties

A crescente rejeição às gorduras saturadas e trans em decorrência de sua associação com doenças cardiovasculares, entre outras desordens metabólicas de diversas naturezas, tem impulsionado o desenvolvimento de alternativas às gorduras tradicionalmente utilizadas nos processamentos de alimentos. Contudo, o grande desafio reside em conferir funcionalidade tecnológica a lipídios ricos em ácidos graxos insaturados, sendo os oleogéis uma abordagem viável e promissora. Os oleogéis são sistemas constituídos por uma base lipídica composta por óleo no estado líquido estruturada por uma rede tridimensional de moléculas com solubilidade limitada em óleos, chamadas de agentes estruturantes. Estudos recentes relataram a influência do tipo de óleo no processo de formação da rede tridimensional de agentes estruturantes e concluíram que o tamanho da cadeia, a polaridade e a viscosidade do óleo podem afetar grandemente a estrutura do oleogel. Diante disto, o objetivo deste estudo é investigar a influência do tipo de óleo em sua estruturação por cera de candelilla, relacionando as propriedades físicas dos oleogéis formados com diversas características físico-químicas dos óleos que os compõem. Para avaliar esta influência, foram selecionadas bases lipídicas de diferentes composições, como triacilgliceróis de cadeia média (MCT), óleo de girassol alto oleico (HOSO), óleo de girassol (SFO), óleo de linhaça (LSO) e os óleos unicelulares ARASCO e DHASCO, para serem estruturados com cera de candelilla nas concentrações de 1,5, 3,0 e 6,0%. De acordo com as correlações de Pearson estabelecidas, houve uma correlação muito forte (r2 =0,948) entre a firmeza e o conteúdo de ácidos graxos saturados dos óleos, o que pode estar relacionado a uma co-cristalização entre a cera e os ácidos graxos saturados, formando uma estrutura mais firme. Uma correlação forte também foi estabelecida entre o tamanho médio das cadeias de ácidos graxos dos óleos, definido pelo índice de saponificação, e a firmeza dos oleogéis (r2 =0,864). A densidade dos óleos também apresentou correlação forte com a firmeza dos oleogéis (r2 =0,858), assim como a viscosidade apresentou uma forte correlação negativa (r2 = -0,818), o que indica que os óleos mais densos e menos viscosos produzem oleogéis mais firmes. Tanto a cera de candelilla pura quanto os oleogéis apresentaram forma polimórfica ß', que equivale à subcélula ortorrômbica, que demonstra que os diferentes óleos não modificaram a microestrutura da rede de cera de candelilla. Os diferentes tipos de óleo exerceram influência sobre o comportamento de fusão dos oleogéis, fator que permitiu associá-lo a um maior conteúdo de gordura sólida a 20 °C e a um maior teor de triacilgliceróis trissaturados, como nos óleos DHASCO e ARASCO. O grau de insaturação dos óleos influenciou o empacotamento da rede estrutural dos oleogéis, o que foi revelado pela menor perda de óleo nos oleogéis com cadeias mais longas, se comparados ao MCT. Por fim, este trabalho contribuiu com a expansão do conhecimento dos sistemas chamados oleogéis, sugerindo que trabalhos futuros pautem as escolhas de matéria-prima para formulação dos oleogéis nas propriedades de seus componentes. Desta forma, maiores avanços poderão ser alcançados nas pesquisas de sistemas coloidais e consequentemente no desenvolvimento de sistemas de alta qualidade nutricional e, ao mesmo tempo, funcionalidade tecnológica adequada

The growing rejection of saturated and trans fats as a result of their association with cardiovascular diseases, among other metabolic disorders of various kinds, has driven the development of alternative systems to substitute fats traditionally used in food processing. However, the big challenge lies in providing technological functionality to lipids rich in unsaturated fatty acids, with oleogels being a viable and promising approach. Oleogels are systems made up of a lipid base composed of oil in a liquid state structured by a threedimensional network of molecules with limited solubility in oils, called oleogelators. Recent studies have reported the influence of the oil type in the formation process of the threedimensional network of oleogelators and concluded that the fatty acid chain length, the polarity and the viscosity of the oil can greatly affect the structure of the oleogel. In view of this, the objective of this study is to investigate the influence of the oil type in its structuring by candelilla wax, relating the physical properties of the formed oleogels with several physicochemical characteristics of the oils that compose them. To evaluate this influence, lipid bases of different compositions were selected, such as medium chain triglycerides (MCT), high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), sunflower oil (SFO), linseed oil (LSO) and ARASCO and DHASCO single-cell oils, to be structured with candelilla wax in concentrations of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0% (w/w). According to the Pearson correlations established, there was a very strong correlation (r2 = 0.948) between the firmness and the saturated fatty acid content of the oils, which may be related to a co-crystallization between the wax and the saturated fatty acids, forming a firmer structure. A strong correlation was also established between the average size of the fatty acid chains of the oils, defined by the saponification value, and the oleogel firmness (r2 = 0.864). The density of the oils also showed a strong correlation with the firmness of the oleogels (r2 = 0.858), as well as the viscosity, which showed a strong negative correlation (r2 = -0.818), indicating that oils with higher density and lower viscosity produce firmer oleogels. Both pure candelilla wax and oleogels presented the ß' polymorphic form, which is equivalent to the orthorhombic subcell, demonstrating that the different oils did not modify the microstructure of the candelilla wax network. The different types of oil influenced the melting behavior of oleogels, a factor that allowed it to be associated with a higher solid fat content at 20 °C and a higher content of trisaturated triacylglycerols, as in DHASCO and ARASCO oils. The degree of unsaturation of the oils influenced the packaging of the structural network of oleogels, which was revealed by the higher oil binding capacity in oleogels with longer chains, compared to MCT. Finally, this work contributed to the expansion of knowledge of oleogel systems, suggesting that future work will guide the choices of raw material for formulating oleogels in the properties of their components. Thus, greater advances can be achieved in the research of colloidal systems and, consequently, in the development of high nutritional quality systems allied to adequate technological functionality

Molecular Bioburden of the Lens Storage Case for Contact Lens-Related Keratitis.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the bioburden of a lens care system in patients with contact lens (CL)-related keratitis. METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, the CL storage case was used as the target of bioburden assessment. Participants were CL wearers with (n = 26) or without (n = 24) keratitis in southern Taiwan. The case fluid sample was consecutively collected and assessed using a dot hybridization assay (DHA) for bioburden assessment. The DHA was composed of 3 universal bacterial probes for detecting all bacteria, genus-specific probes for Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, and 1 probe for Acanthamoeba. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the differentiating performance of a probe. RESULTS: The storage case bioburden was significantly higher in those with CL-related keratitis than in control subjects; patients with CL-related keratitis had stronger standardized signals in all universal bacterial probes. Moreover, in the cases of these patients, the bioburden was significantly heavier in confirmed infectious keratitis than in presumed noninfectious keratitis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that stronger signals in all 3 universal bacterial probes and the Pseudomonas probe might suggest that the wearers have infectious keratitis. Only the storage case of the Acanthamoeba keratitis case showed positive detection by the Acanthamoeba probe. CONCLUSIONS: A heavier bioburden in the lens storage case was associated with a higher risk of CL-related keratitis and infectious keratitis. Inappropriate maintenance of the CL will lead to microbial contamination and transfer the pathogen onto the ocular surface causing keratitis accordingly. The DHA assessment for the lens storage case might provide an alternative way to differentiate infectious from noninfectious CL-related keratitis.

Utilization of waste tyres pyrolysis oil vapour in the synthesis of Zeolite Templated Carbons (ZTCs) for hydrogen storage application.

In this study, we investigated the potential for use of waste tyre pyrolysis oil vapour as a carbon precursor in the synthesis of zeolite templated carbons (ZTC). With Zeolite 13X as the template, the ZTCs were synthesised using two methods namely: 1-step process which involved the carbonization of gaseous carbon precursor in the zeolite template (in this case, ethylene and pyrolysis oil vapour) and the 2-step synthesis method involved the impregnation of zeolite pores with furfural alcohol prior to carbonization of the gaseous carbon precursor. The replication of the zeolite 13X structural ordering was successful using both methods. The 2-step synthesized ZTCs were found to possess the highest specific surface area (3341 m2 g-1) and also had the highest H2 storage capacity (2.5 wt.%). The study therefore confirmed an additional novel strategy for value-addition of waste tyre pyrolysis by-products.

Proteomic Investigation of Metabolic Changes of Mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) Packaged with Nanocomposite Material during Cold Storage.

Metabolic changes of mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) applied with polyethylene (PE) material (Normal-PM) or nanocomposite reinforced PE packaging material (Nano-PM) were monitored using tandem mass tags (TMT) labeling combined with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) technique. A total of 429 proteins were investigated as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) among treatments after a cold storage period. A total of 232 DEPs were up-regulated and 65 DEPs were down-regulated in Nano-PM packed F. velutipes compared to that of Normal-PM. The up-regulated DEPs were mainly involved in amino acid synthesis and metabolism, signal transduction, and response to stress while the down-regulated DEPs were largely located in mitochondrion and participated in carbohydrate metabolic, amino acid synthesis and metabolism, and organic acid metabolic. It was also revealed that Nano-PM could inhibit the carbohydrate and energy metabolism bioprocess, promote amino acids biosynthesis, enhance antioxidant system, and improve its resistance to stress, resulting in a further extended shelf life of F. velutipes.

Process Principles for Large-Scale Nanomanufacturing.

Nanomanufacturing-the fabrication of macroscopic products from well-defined nanoscale building blocks-in a truly scalable and versatile manner is still far from our current reality. Here, we describe the barriers to large-scale nanomanufacturing and identify routes to overcome them. We argue for nanomanufacturing systems consisting of an iterative sequence of synthesis/assembly and separation/sorting unit operations, analogous to those used in chemicals manufacturing. In addition to performance and economic considerations, phenomena unique to the nanoscale must guide the design of each unit operation and the overall process flow. We identify and discuss four key nanomanufacturing process design needs: (a) appropriately selected process break points, (b) synthesis techniques appropriate for large-scale manufacturing,

Segurança do paciente: embalagens, acondicionamento e tempo de guarda de materiais esterilizados na atenção básica / Seguridad del paciente: envases, acondicionamiento y tiempo de guarda de materiales / Safety: packages, packing and storage period of sterilized materials in primary care

RESUMO As unidades básicas de saúde possuem grande demanda de procedimentos médicos, de enfermagem e odontológicos, dos quais dependem a segurança da assistência e do paciente. O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender como enfermeiros, técnicos, auxiliares em enfermagem e auxiliares de consultório dentário procedem no cuidado com embalagens, acondicionamento e tempo de guarda de materiais esterilizados nas unidades de saúde da atenção básica. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem qualitativa. Os participantes da pesquisa foram enfermeiros, técnicos de enfermagem e auxiliares de consultório dentário, atuantes em unidades básicas de saúde de três cidades do interior do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Os dados foram produzidos por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas nos meses de outubro e dezembro de 2015 e submetidos a análise de conteúdo. Evidenciou-se que os serviços estudados carecem de estruturação, organização e definição de processos no que tange o tipo de embalagem e o acondicionamento de artigos críticos. Conclui-se que a assistência aos usuários, no que se refere a procedimentos que utilizam materiais esterilizados, está exposta a riscos, fragilizando a segurança do paciente, evidenciando a necessidade de capacitação continua dos profissionais.

RESUMEN Las unidades básicas de salud poseen gran demanda de procedimientos médicos, de enfermería y odontológicos, de los cuales depende la seguridad de la atención y del paciente. El objetivo de este estudio fue comprender cómo enfermeros, técnicos, auxiliares en enfermería y auxiliares de consultorio dentario proceden en el cuidado con envases, acondicionamiento y tiempo de guarda de materiales esterilizados en las unidades de salud de la atención básica. Se trata de una investigación de carácter descriptivo y exploratorio, con abordaje cualitativo. Los participantes de la investigación fueron enfermeros, técnicos de enfermería y auxiliares de consultorio dentario, actuantes en unidades básicas de salud de tres ciudades del interior del Estado de Rio Grande do Sul-Brasil. Los datos fueron producidos por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas en los meses de octubre y diciembre de 2015 y sometidos al análisis de contenido. Se evidenció que los servicios estudiados carecen de estructuración, organización y definición de procesos con relación al tipo de envase y el acondicionamiento de artículos críticos. Se concluye que la atención a los usuarios, en lo que se refiere a procedimientos que utilizan materiales esterilizados, está expuesta a riesgos, fragilizando la seguridad del paciente, evidenciando la necesidad de capacitación continua de los profesionales.

ABSTRACT The basic health units have great demand for medical, nursing and dentistry procedures, on which the security of the assistance and the patient depends. The objective of this study was to understand how nurses, nursing technicians, assistants and dental office assistants proceed in managing packaging, guard and distribution of sterile materials in the health units of the primary care. This is a descriptive and exploratory research, with a qualitative approach. The participants of the research were nurses, nursing technicians and assistants of dental office operating in basic health units of three cities in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The data were generated through semi-structured interviews between October and December 2015 and assessed through content analysis. One evidenced that the studied services lack structure, organization and process definition with regard to the packaging of critical objects. The conclusion is that the assistance to users with respect to procedures using sterile materials are exposed to risks, weakening the patient's safety, emphasizing the need for continuous training of professionals.

Corcho y taponamiento farmacéutico. La situación en 1930 / Cork and pharmacy stoppers. The situation in 1930

Este artículo tiene como objetivo contribuir al estudio histórico de los mercados clientelares en el sector corchero. Es una apuesta por el largo plazo y por la perspectiva de la historia sectorial como vía para esclarecer aspectos cruciales de la historia económica, relacionados con el negocio farmacéutico, poco conocidos a nivel agregado. Así, a partir de fuentes secundarias, se analiza el caso de los tapones para la industria farmacéutica, grupo que compró grandes cantidades de tapones de corcho durante décadas, hasta entrado el siglo XX. El artículo revela que, entre otras cuestiones, la conciencia de la heterogeneidad de la materia prima, o los problemas organolépticos, siempre preocuparon a los compradores de corcho, provocando en el caso de la farmacia, su abandono definitivo

The main aim of this article is to contribute to the historical study of the clients markets in the cork sector. The study emphasizes the value of a long-term sector history perspective to clarify key aspects of economic history, related to the pharmacy business, little known at added level. Thus, from secondary sources, the article analyzes the case of the cork stoppers bought by the pharmacy industry, a group buying big quantities of stoppers for decades. The paper reveals that, among other issues, the conscience of the heterogeneity of the cork as raw material, or the organoleptic problems, did always worry the cork buyers, provoking in the pharmacy sector, their final exit

Packaging performance of organic acid incorporated chitosan films on dried anchovy (Stolephorus indicus).

Antimicrobial chitosan films were prepared with acetic acid and propionic acid with glycerol as plasticizer and its efficiency was compared with polyester-polyethylene laminate (PEST/LDPE). The tensile strength of acetic acid/chitosan (ACS) films were higher than propionic acid/chitosan (PCS) films. The elongation percentage (6.43-11.3) and water vapour permeability (0.015-0.03 g/m(2)/day) were significantly lower (p<0.05) for chitosan films when compared to control. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of control and propionic acid/chitosan (PCS) films were significantly higher (p<0.05) than acetic acid/chitosan (ACS) films. Dried anchovy (Stolephorus indicus) wrapped in these films were stored at ambient temperature for three months. Quality indices like peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid value (TBA) and microbiological parameters such as aerobic plate count (APC) and total fungal count (TFC) were periodically determined. In terms of microbial and chemical indices, anchovies wrapped in ACS and PCS films were superior to those wrapped with PEST/LDPE films during storage. Study revealed the suitability of chitosan film as wraps for increasing storage stability of dried fish.

Dry-film polymer waveguide for silicon photonics chip packaging.

Polymer waveguide made by dry film process is demonstrated for silicon photonics chip packaging. With 8 µm × 11.5 µm core waveguide, little penalty is observed up to 25 Gbps before or after the light propagate through a 10-km long single-mode fiber (SMF). Coupling loss to SMF is 0.24 dB and 1.31 dB at the polymer waveguide input and output ends, respectively. Alignment tolerance for 0.5 dB loss increase is +/- 1.0 µm along both vertical and horizontal directions for the coupling from the polymer waveguide to SMF. The dry-film polymer waveguide demonstrates promising performance for silicon photonics chip packaging used in next generation optical multi-chip module.

Human islet viability and function is maintained during high-density shipment in silicone rubber membrane vessels.

BACKGROUND: The shipment of human islets (IE) from processing centers to distant laboratories is beneficial for both research and clinical applications. The maintenance of islet viability and function in transit is critically important. Gas-permeable silicone rubber membrane (SRM) vessels reduce the risk of hypoxia-induced death or dysfunction during high-density islet culture or shipment. SRM vessels may offer additional advantages: they are cost-effective (fewer flasks, less labor needed), safer (lower contamination risk), and simpler (culture vessel can also be used for shipment). METHOD: IE were isolated from two manufacturing centers and shipped in 10-cm(2) surface area SRM vessels in temperature- and pressure-controlled containers to a distant center after at least 2 days of culture (n = 6). Three conditions were examined: low density (LD), high density (HD), and a microcentrifuge tube negative control (NC). LD was designed to mimic the standard culture density for IE preparations (200 IE/cm(2)), while HD was designed to have a 20-fold higher tissue density, which would enable the culture of an entire human isolation in 1-3 vessels. Upon receipt, islets were assessed for viability (measured by oxygen consumption rate normalized to DNA content [OCR/DNA)]), quantity (measured by DNA), and, when possible, potency and function (measured by dynamic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion measurements and transplants in immunodeficient B6 Rag(+/-) mice). Postshipment OCR/DNA was not reduced in HD vs LD and was substantially reduced in the NC condition. HD islets exhibited normal function postshipment. Based on the data, we conclude that entire islet isolations (up to 400,000 IE) may be shipped using a single, larger SRM vessel with no negative effect on viability and ex vivo and in vivo function.

The role of packaging size on contamination rates during simulated presentation to a sterile field.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of package size on the contact between medical devices and non-sterile surfaces (i.e. the hands of the practitioner and the outside of the package) during aseptic presentation to a simulated sterile field. Rationale for this objective stems from the decades-long problem of hospital-acquired infections. This work approaches the problem from a unique perspective, namely packaging size. DESIGN: Randomized complete block design with subsampling. SETTING: Research study conducted at professional conferences for surgical technologists and nursing professionals. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven healthcare providers, primarily surgical technologists and nurses. METHODS: Participants were gloved and asked to present the contents of six pouches of three different sizes to a simulated sterile field. The exterior of pouches and gloves of participants were coated with a simulated contaminant prior to each opening trial. After presentation to the simulated sterile field, the presence of the contaminant on package contents was recorded as indicative of contact with non-sterile surfaces and analyzed in a binary fashion using a generalized linear mixed model. RESULTS: Recruited subjects were 26-64 years of age (81 females, 16 males), with 2.5-44 years of professional experience. Results indicated a significant main effect of pouch size on contact rate of package contents (P = 0.0108), whereby larger pouches induced greater rates of contact than smaller pouches (estimates±SEM: 14.7±2.9% vs. 6.0±1.7%, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study utilized novel methodologies which simulate contamination in aseptic presentation. Results of this work indicate that increased contamination rates are associated with larger pouches when compared to smaller pouches. The results add to a growing body of research which investigate packaging's role in serving as a pathway for product contamination during aseptic presentation. Future work should investigate other packaging design factors (e.g. material, rigidity, and closure systems) and their role in contamination.