scholarly journals Rapidly Self-Sterilizing PPE Capable of Destroying 100% of Microbes in 30-60 Seconds

Author(s):  
Alfred A. Zinn ◽  
Mina Izadjoo ◽  
Hosan Kim ◽  
Rachel L. Brody ◽  
Robert R. Roth ◽  
...  

The continued proliferation of superbugs in hospitals and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an acute worldwide demand for sustained broadband pathogen suppression in households, hospitals, and public spaces. In response, we have created a highly active, self-sterilizing copper configuration capable of inactivating a wide range of bacteria and viruses in 30-60 seconds. The highly active material destroys pathogens faster than any conventional copper configuration and acts as quickly as alcohol wipes and hand sanitizers. Unlike the latter, our copper material does not release volatile compounds or leave harmful chemical residues and maintains its antimicrobial efficacy over sustained use; it is shelf stable for years. We have performed rigorous testing in accordance with guidelines from U.S. regulatory agencies and believe that the material could offer broad spectrum, non-selective defense against most microbes via integration into masks, protective equipment, and various forms of surface coatings.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred A. Zinn ◽  
Mina Izadjoo ◽  
Hosan Kim ◽  
Kylene Kehn-Hall ◽  
Caitlin Woodson ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an acute worldwide demand for sustained broadband pathogen suppression in households, hospitals, and public spaces. Infections have surged past 160,000 daily new cases in the US, the highest rates yet seen during the pandemic. In response, we have created a rapid-acting, self-sterilizing PPE configurations capable of killing SARS-CoV-2 and other microbes in seconds. The highly active material destroys pathogens faster than any conventional copper configuration. The material maintains its antimicrobial efficacy over sustained use and is shelf stable. We have performed rigorous testing in accordance with guidelines from U.S. governing authorities and believe that the material could offer broad spectrum, non-selective defense against most microbes via integration into masks and other protective equipment.SummaryA novel configuration of copper offers continued fast-acting protection against viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2.


1960 ◽  
Vol XXXV (II) ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bourrillon ◽  
R. Got ◽  
R. Marcy

ABSTRACT A new method for preparation of Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin involves successively alcoholic precipitation, kaolin adsorption and chromatography on ion exchangers. A highly active material is obtained which corresponds to 1 mg per litre of urine and has an activity of 1 mouse uterus unit at a dose of 0.003 mg. This gonadotrophin possesses both follicle stimulating and luteinizing activities in hypophysectomized female rats, by histological study. It contains 13 % hexose, 10% hexosamine and 8.5 % sialic acid. A further purification, by zone electrophoresis on starch, gives a final product, biologically active at 0.001 mg, which behaves as an homogenous substance in free electrophoresis with mobility −4.76 × 10−5 at pH 8.6.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Zamora Zeledón ◽  
Michaela Burke Stevens ◽  
G. T. Kasun Kalhara Gunasooriya ◽  
Alessandro Gallo ◽  
Alan T. Landers ◽  
...  

AbstractAlloying is a powerful tool that can improve the electrocatalytic performance and viability of diverse electrochemical renewable energy technologies. Herein, we enhance the activity of Pd-based electrocatalysts via Ag-Pd alloying while simultaneously lowering precious metal content in a broad-range compositional study focusing on highly comparable Ag-Pd thin films synthesized systematically via electron-beam physical vapor co-deposition. Cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M KOH shows enhancements across a wide range of alloys; even slight alloying with Ag (e.g. Ag0.1Pd0.9) leads to intrinsic activity enhancements up to 5-fold at 0.9 V vs. RHE compared to pure Pd. Based on density functional theory and x-ray absorption, we hypothesize that these enhancements arise mainly from ligand effects that optimize adsorbate–metal binding energies with enhanced Ag-Pd hybridization. This work shows the versatility of coupled experimental-theoretical methods in designing materials with specific and tunable properties and aids the development of highly active electrocatalysts with decreased precious-metal content.


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 179-182
Author(s):  
Murray B. Isman

AbstractInterest in the discovery and development of plant essential oils for use as bioinsecticides has grown enormously in the past 20 years. However, successful commercialization and utilization of crop protection products based on essential oils has thus far lagged far behind their promise based on this large body of research, most notably because with the exceptions of the USA and Australia, such products receive no special status from regulatory agencies that approve new pesticides for use. Essential oil-based insecticides have now been used in the USA for well over a decade, and more recently have seen use in the European Union (EU), Korea, and about a dozen other countries, with demonstrated efficacy against a wide range of pests and in numerous crop systems. For the most part these products are based on commodity essential oils developed as flavor and fragrance agents for the food and cosmetic industries, as there are formidable logistic, economic, and regulatory challenges to the use of many other essential oils that otherwise possess potentially useful bioactivity against pests. In spite of these limitations, the overall prospects for biopesticides, including those based on essential oils, are encouraging as the demand for sustainably-produced and/or organic food continues to increase worldwide.


1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 263-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janette K. Klingner ◽  
Sharon Vaughn ◽  
Marie Tejero Hughes ◽  
Maria Elena Arguelles

This study examined the extent to which the reading instructional practices learned by a cohort of teachers who participated in an intensive, yearlong professional development experience during the 1994-1995 school year have been sustained and modified over time. Teachers learned three multileveled practices—partner reading, collaborative strategic reading, and making words—that promote gains in reading for students from a wide range of achievement levels. Teachers were observed and interviewed 3 years later to determine the extent to which they continued to implement the practices, the ways in which they modified them, and factors that influenced their sustained use of the practices. With the exception of one teacher, all the teachers sustained one or more of the three practices at a high rate.


2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cobbing ◽  
V. Chetty ◽  
J. Hanass-Hancock ◽  
J. Jelsma ◽  
H. Myezwa ◽  
...  

Despite increased access to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in South Africa, there remains a high risk of people living with HIV (PLHIV) developing a wide range of disabilities. Physiotherapists are trained to rehabilitate individuals with the disabilities related to HIV. Not only can South African physiotherapists play a significant role in improving the lives of PLHIV, but by responding proactively to the HIV epidemic they can reinforce the relevance and value of the profession in this country at a time when many newly qualified therapists are unable to secure employment. This paper offers recommendations that may help to fuel this response. These ideas include enhancing HIV curricula at a tertiary level, designing and attending continuing education courses on HIV and researching Southern African rehabilitation interventions for HIV at all levels of practice. furthermore, it is vital that physiotherapists are at the forefront of directing multi-disciplinary responses to the rehabilitation of PLHIV in order to influence stakeholders who are responsible for health policy formulation. it is hoped that this paper stimulates discussion and further ideas amongst physiotherapists and other health professionals in order to improve the quality and access to care available to PLHIV in South Africa.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 2283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soledad Cebrián-García ◽  
Alina Balu ◽  
Araceli García ◽  
Rafael Luque

Alkyl esters are high added value products useful in a wide range of industrial sectors. A methodology based on a simple sol-gel approach (biosilicification) is herein proposed to encapsulate enzymes in order to design highly active and stable biocatalysts. Their performance was assessed through the optimization of valeric acid esterification evaluating the effect of different parameters (biocatalyst load, presence of water, reaction temperature and stirring rate) in different alcoholic media, and comparing two different methodologies: conventional heating and microwave irradiation. Ethyl valerate yields were in the 80–85% range under optimum conditions (15 min, 12% m/v biocatalyst, molar ratio 1:2 of valeric acid to alcohol). Comparatively, the biocatalysts were slightly deactivated under microwave irradiation due to enzyme denaturalisation. Biocatalyst reuse was attempted to prove that good reusability of these sol-gel immobilised enzymes could be achieved under conventional heating.


Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Yaroslav Yakymechko ◽  
Iryna Lutsyuk ◽  
Roman Jaskulski ◽  
Judyta Dulnik ◽  
Tetyana Kropyvnytska

The results of studying the effect of the vibration processing time on the size of calcium hydroxide particles are given. The physicochemical processes affecting the size and morphology of calcium hydroxide particles have been studied. A stage-by-stage mechanism of the process of the carbonation of lime, depending on its specific surface, is established. The results show that the optimal period for the vibration treatment of lime to obtain the most active material is 20 min. A longer period of vibration results in the merging of particles into larger agglomerates.


1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 991-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Chang Yen ◽  
Isaac Bekele ◽  
Carlyle Kalloo

Abstract The twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago produces much of the fresh fruit and vegetables consumed locally, although some are exported to Europe and North America. On average, approximately 1500 tons of pesticides are imported annually, of which about 10-15% are organophosphates. A survey of local farmers revealed that a wide range of pesticides are used and that the same pesticides are used on several crops to control different pests. Application rates exceeding manufacturers' recommendations are also common, as is the disregard of recommended preharvest intervals after pesticide application. Praedial larceny and subsequent sale of freshly sprayed crops also contribute to the risks posed to consumers by pesticide residues. A market basket survey of produce conducted between October 1996 and May 1997 in Trinidad for organophosphate pesticides showed that 10% of produce exceeded the internationally acceptable maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the respective pesticides. Celery constituted 6.5% of all such samples, with over 83% of celery samples exceeding the MRL. Organophosphate pesticides detected were methamidophos, triazophos, prophenofos, diazinon, ethion, pirimiphos methyl, malathion, and dimethoate, with the first 4 being the most commonly detected. There is an urgent need for comprehensive monitoring and control of pesticides on produce by local regulatory agencies, especially because the above data relate only to one class of pesticides. The education of farmers on safe operating practices regarding pesticide application and observation of recommended preharvest intervals for applied pesticides is also required.


1982 ◽  
Vol 37 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 441-444
Author(s):  
Arie Rosner ◽  
Marian Gorecki ◽  
Haim Aviv

Abstract A plasmid containing promoter-deleted inactive β-galactosidase gene [1] was used to select promoters of the pEP121 plasmid [2]. Colonies of cells harboring reactivated β-galactosidase gene were identified by their red color on McConkey plates. The quantitative amounts of β-galactosidase produced in each clone were estimated by assaying enzyme activity and by measuring the specific β-galactosidase protein following fractionation of total cells′ proteins on polyacrylamide gel. A wide range of enzyme activities was observed. The most active promoter isolated was shown to promote β-galactosidase production more efficiently, compared with the original β-galactosidase promoter, amounting to 20% of all cell proteins. Such highly active promoters may be utilized in the future, to promote expression of cloned genes in bacteria.


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