Optimization of tobacco seed cleaning modes

The process of obtaining high-quality tobacco seeds is very laborious, and at present many operations are performed manually at All-Russian Research Institute of Tobacco, Makhorka and Tobacco Products. The process of obtaining tobacco seeds at the Institute consists of the following operations: harvesting of inflorescences, drying of inflorescences, destruction of inflorescences, screening out coarse impurities, final cleaning in an air stream. An attempt was made earlier to mechanize and improve working conditions at the stage of final purification of the seed mixture. A unit for the final purification of tobacco seeds was developed, manufactured and tested. In this article other modes of final purification of the tobacco seed mixture to improve mechanization and productivity of the same unit have been tested. The seed mix of the 2019 harvest has been used in the studies. Coarse impurities have been separated from the seed mix by sieving through sieves with different hole sizes. Earlier modes of double final purification of seed mixture were proposed. In this research the previously proposed double cleaning modes have been taken as control ones, and in the experiment three-fold modes with a higher feed rate of the seed mixture have been used. As a result, the experimental modes provide identical removal of contaminants, however, the productivity of the unit increases 2 – 3 times due to the shorter total duration of purification, and mechanization is also improved due to a more uniform flow of the seed mixture. In this case, there is no need for the constant presence of an operator, and the process of final purification of the tobacco seed mixture is reduced only to its loading and unloading.

Six ultraviolet minutes for cleaner operating theatres

Background Sanitizing the operating theatres (OT) is important to minimize risk of post-operative infections. Disinfection procedures between one operation and another is less aggressive than final cleaning procedures, at the end of the day. Aim was assessing the difference of contamination: i) between different levels of disinfection; ii) before and after the use of a UVC Device (UVC-D). Methods Between December 2019/February 2020 a cross sectional study was conducted in OT in a real clinical context. 94 Petri dishes (PD) were used in 3 OT. Three different sanitation levels (SL1-3) were compared pre- and post-use of UVC-D: i) No cleaning after surgery (SL1); ii) after in-between cleaning (SL2); iii) after terminal cleaning (SL3). UVC-D was employed for 6 minutes, 3 minutes per bed side. PD were incubated at 36 °C and colony forming unit (CFU) counted at 48h. Descriptive statistic, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to assess the contamination levels in total, pre/post use of UVC-D, and between different sanitation levels, respectively. Results In total we had a mean of 3.39 CFU/PD (C.I. 2.05 - 4.74) and a median of 1 CFU/PD (Min. 0 - Max. 39), after UVC-D use we had a mean of 2.20 CFU/PD (C.I. 0.69 - 5.09) and a median of 0 CFU/PD (Min. 0 - Max. 133). The UVC-D led to a significant reduction of CFU (p < 0.001). Without UVC-D we had a significant CFU drop (p < 0.05) between SL1 and SL3. Using UVC-D, we observed significant reductions of contamination (p < 0.05) between SL3 and SL1. Comparing SL1 (median 0) post UVC-D use vs SL2 pre UVC-D use (median 0.5), and SL2 post UVC-D use (median 0) vs SL3 pre UVC-D use (median 1) we had a significant reduction of contamination (p < 0.05). Conclusions UVC-D improved environmental contamination in any of the three sanitation levels. Furthermore, the use of UVC-D alone was better than in-between and terminal cleaning. Although these encouraging results, the cleaning procedures executed by dedicated staff has to be considered. Key messages UVC are efficient to decrease contamination in operating theatres regardless of sanitation levels. The additional use of UVC technology to standard cleaning procedures significantly improves sanitation levels.

IMPROVEMENT OF METHODIC APPROACHES TO THE EVALUATION OF DISINFECTING EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY IN THE SYSTEM OF QUALITY AND SAFETY ASSURANCE FOR ENDOSCOPIC INTERVENTIONS

Introduction. Low quality of endoscope treatment is one of the main risk factors for HAI during endoscopic manipulations. Special equipment is widely used to increase quality and safety of healthcare during the treatment of flexible endoscope. However, to confirm the efficiency of such equipment it is necessary to carry out laboratory experimental studies. Material and methods. A prototype model of domestically developed Device intended for carrying out the stages of final cleaning and high-level disinfection (HLD) of flexible endoscopes was used during research, utilizing the samples of agents with various active ingredients. Flexible endoscopes were used as testing devices. Donor blood was utilized for imitation of organic contamination. Mycobacterium terrae test microorganism culture was used for artificial contamination of testing devices. Results. As a result of studying the efficiency of final cleaning and HLD of flexible endoscopes in the Device after them being used once, negative azopyram samples were identified in all endoscope swabs; also, no growth of test microorganism was registered. During the studies of HLD efficiency in case of multiple use of functional solutions treatment efficiency was registered for 6-8 cycles. After the 12th treatment cycle characteristic growth of test microorganism is observed in the swabs. Efficiency of endoscopes’ decontamination in case of multiple use of a disinfectant based on peroxyacetic acid was confirmed during a work shift after 8 cycles; the decrease of disinfecting agent (DA) concentration by more than 10 times was registered during the shelf life of the functional solution on day 5. Conclusions. Studies indicate the necessity to research the efficiency of devices’ use to determine the conditions ensuring efficiency and safety of healthcare during endoscopic interventions.

Comparison of effectiveness of manual and automatic processing of endoscope

Through rapid ATP tests, it was found that additional automatic cleaning of endoscopes after manual handling reduces the number of cases of inadequate final cleaning of the surface of the endoscope and its channels by 4.0–4.5 times as compared to using manual treatment alone. Performing of an automatic final cleaning of endoscopes enables to increase the degree of epidemiological safety of non-sterile endoscopic interventions.

Avoidance of Interaction between Impression Materials and Tooth Surface Treated for Immediate Dentin Sealing: An In Vitro Study

Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) is an advantageous approach for realizing adhesive restorations, but it interferes with the polymerization of impression material due to the oxygen-inhibition layer (OIL), which leaves residues of impression material on the teeth. The aim of this study is to identify a clinical surface cleaning protocol after IDS in order to achieve defect-free impressions. Sixty extracted human teeth were cut to expose fresh dentin and the IDS protocol was performed. Samples were divided into six groups where different surface cleaning protocols were made before taking impressions: G1S and G1P groups, IDS and silicone (S) or polyether (P) impressions; G2S and G2P, treatment with prophy paste and impressions; G3S and G3P, final cleaning phase with surfactant agent and impressions. Teeth were evaluated with a scanning electron microscope to identify the areas (expressed in mm2) where residual impression material was present. The results demonstrate a reduction of residues in the G2 groups and the total disappearance in G3 groups with statistically significant differences between them. Superficial cleaning protocols with the prophy paste and surfactant agent lead to the elimination of the interaction with impression materials and OIL. These results suggest a safe clinical protocol for obtaining defect-free impressions after IDS.

General strategy of leaf beetles reproductive behavior (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Reproductive behavior of 25 background species leaf beetles was studied in the conditions of Samara Region during 1974-2014 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Strategy of adults reproductive behavior, which fundamentally different from individuals of the opposite sex is a complex includes more than 60 types of locomotion behavioral reactions and aimed to attracting the active partner, usually the male, search and preparation of the female for the mate as final stage of the reproductive process. Adult-female undergoes five stages of reproductive transformation accompanied by 18 types of behavioral reactions after emergence. There are food of ripening, involvement of species-specific male of attractant, mating, ovulation and egg laying. Adult-male overcomes five stages too, provided almost by 30 types of behavioral reactions in the course of life. There are preparation, mating, and food maturation, search for females training females to mating, mating, and post-nuptial final cleaning. Temporal and physical resource of female and male survival in different situations, as well as time budgets, of both sexes daily activity at different stages of its generation cycle estimated. Occurrence of non-standard reproductive situations or failures, which are explained by objective reasons, for example errors in chemonavigation of males, violation of a genetically programmed sequence of stages of behavior, inconsistency sexual cycles of the partners discusses.

How Xe and Ga FIB Differ in Inducing Lateral Damage on TEM Samples

Reducing FIB induced damage on TEM samples is very important in order to preserve the sample structure, especially on modern semiconductor devices. We have compared the damage caused by Ga ion beam to our measurements of the damage caused by Xe ion beam and came to the conclusion that Xe ion beam induced damage is significantly lower at 30 keV beam energy. This has been proven by several independent analytical methods. Our results show that TEM sample preparation by Xe ion beam causes less amorphous damage and increase the quality of the lamella and in many cases it will allow to prepare the lamella by finishing it even at 30 keV, without the final cleaning step at the low beam energy. Final polishing step by Xe beam at beam energy 3 keV further reduces the amorphous layer, but the difference against Ga beam is not so significant like at 30 keV.

Considerations Regarding Sandblasting Metal Surfaces Designed for Electric Arc Spraying

In order to ensure adherence of the arc sprayed layer, on the metal substrate, a few specific operations must be performed: initial cleaning, degreasing, roughening, final cleaning and degreasing. At the moment, there are standards which refer to the degree of preparation for processing metal surfaces by spraying. Performing metallic surface preparation operations require compliance with specific health and safety measures and environment protection.