This study was performed to increase knowledge of oxygen mass transfer (kLa) and mixing times in the scale-up of disposable bioreactors.Results of oxygen mass transfer studies showed kLa to increase with increasing agitation and aeration rates. By maintaining a scale-up constant such as gassed power to volume or shear, an almost constant kLa was achieved during scale-up from 50 to 2000 L. Using the scale-up constant Pg/V resulted in statistically higher kLa values at greater reactor volumes. Mixing times were revealed to be significantly affected by agitation, but not by the aeration rates tested. No pattern was recognized in the mixing time data over an increase in volume. Commonly used methods for predicting kLa upon scale-up were compared to experimental data. New coefficients were determined to fit the historic models to the parameters of this study, namely the unique geometry and low agitation and aeration rates used in the single-use systems. Each of the resulting four models was found to have average error rates from 16-23%. Although the error rates are not statistically different, the Moresi and Patete model was determined to be most conceptually accurate. The Moresi and Patete model found kLa to be more dependent on aeration than on the power input. This finding was consistent with the results of the experimental studies. The results of this study were for aeration rates (0.02-0.04 vvm) and agitation rates (Pg/V range of 2-20 W/m3) that are commonly used in single-use bioreactor systems.

Background: Before the implementation of single-use devices (SUD) in health care, medical equipment was sterilized and reused. Now many medical devices are used once and then thrown away, contributing to the 5.9 million tons of medical waste produced yearly. This project explores nursing attitudes toward single-use medical devices, evaluates current recycling practices and examines whether student nurses would be likely to use reprocessed SUDs in their practice if given the option. Methodology: After obtaining IRB approval, students enrolled in nursing research courses were invited to participate in this exploratory study. 157 undergraduate nursing students completed the 46-question survey. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey results, independent t-tests were used to compare groups and content analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses. Results: The typical student was female, age 30, licensed as a registered nurse and enrolled in the RN to BSN program. Most students (84.7%) viewed themselves as environmentally conscious, and most recycle at home (75.5%) and at work (54.7%). Most agreed (96.8%) that hospitals produce a lot of hazardous waste and that it is the hospitals responsibility for environmentally friendly waste disposal. The majority also agreed (80%) that nurses have the ability to impact waste production at a hospital. More than half (67.7%) agreed that SUD disposal contributes to environmental pollution and many (76.6%) felt that nurses should be responsible for environmental health concepts. Most (81.6%) felt that SUDs should be thrown out after one use and few (28.5%) felt that SUDs can be reused if sterilized. Most (74.0%) also believed that SUD reuse contributes to hospital acquired infections, but a little more than half (56.3%) were willing to reuse a SUD that had only touched intact skin if sterilized for reuse. Additionally, most respondents (79.1%) would consider joining a "green team" at work.; Those who recycle at home were more likely to identify as environmentally conscious than those who do not recycle at home. No generational differences existed when considering environmental consciousness. Generation X was more likely to recycle at home than Generation Y, but no generational differences existed when analyzing work recycling habits. Generation X was also more likely to see single-use device disposal as contributing to environmental pollution than Generation Y. Home recyclers were more likely to agree that nurses have the ability to decrease the amount of hospital trash production, and more likely to join a green team than non-recyclers. They also believed that SUD disposal contributes to environmental pollution, SUDs can be reused if sterilized, and disagreed that SUD reuse contributes to hospital acquired infections when compared to those who do not recycle at home. Discussion: While most students agree that hospitals produce large amounts of waste and should be responsible for the disposal of it in an environmentally friendly manner, most are hesitant to use reprocessed SUDs as a means to make the hospital more environmentally friendly. Student responses indicated the largest perceived barriers to SUD reuse were fears of inadequate sterilization and fears of the spread of disease. Conclusions: Most students, especially home recyclers, believe themselves to be environmentally conscious and most were willing to consider reusing some SUDs. Translating this belief into action can happen through education in line with the Scope and Standards of practice for nursing, as well as establishing the safety of SUDs through further research.

No description available.

Este estudo é baseado no fato inegável de que a prática do reprocessamento e reutilização de artigos odonto-médico-hospitalares é ampla no país e no mundo, apesar de não existir consenso científico para tal, principalmente pela enorme variedade de materiais e de artigos disponíveis no mercado. Neste trabalho foi aplicada metodologia de revisão sistemática de literatura científica, cuja investigação partiu de uma questão específica e utilizou fontes abrangentes com estratégias de busca explícitas, baseada em critérios aplicados uniformemente, com avaliação reprodutível. O objetivo foi selecionar publicações sobre o reprocessamento e reuso de artigos odonto-médico hospitalares de uso único de acordo com uma questão de pesquisa específica, revisar a qualidade metodológica destes estudos e discutir evidências para aplicação prática e de pesquisa deste conhecimento. A questão de pesquisa foi: Qual a efetividade e a segurança da prática de reprocessamento e reutilização de materiais odonto-médico hospitalares de uso único? Os dados foram coletados de estudos selecionados, sendo 20 estudos básicos e 01 de revisão não sistemática. Para análise e avaliação dos estudos básicos selecionados utilizou-se, como sistematização, a seguinte categorização inicial: escopo; tipo de pesquisa; sujeitos ou objetos da pesquisa; população; procedimentos da pesquisa; análise dos dados; resultados; conclusão; comentários da analisadora. Devido à epecificidade dos conteúdos obtidos das pesquisas analisadas sob esta categorização, foram acrescentadas novas categorias, com a finalidade de refinar, agregar e correlacionar as informações obtidas, em quadros e tabelas, com a seguinte configuração final: tipos de artigos investigados; escopos; tipos de investigação; tipos de análises realizadas; resultados; conclusões. Os resultados mostraram que grande parte dos artigos é composta de plásticos, possui lumens e tem conformação complexa, significando que são artigos de difícil limpeza e descontaminação, cujos resultados podem, sob circunstâncias comparativas controladas, ser também considerados para artigos menos complexos e com menor dificuldade para seu reprocessamento. A finalidade foi obter informações que suportem ou não a prática de reprocessamento e reutilização de artigos odonto-médico-hospitalares de uso único. A conclusão é de que, com base no conhecimento atual, não é possível propor o reprocessamento e reuso de todos os artigos de uso único indiscriminamente, mas é possível selecioná-los para testar e validar protocolos de reprocessamento e reuso de artigos odonto-médico-hospitalares baseados em conhecimentos científicos com graus de evidência bem estabelecidos, utilizando este conhecimento para a construção de políticas nacionais de saúde menos restritivas de recursos altamente tecnológicos para a Saúde Pública. / This study is based on the undeniable fact that single-use medical devices reprocessing and reuse is a large practice in the country and also the world, although there is no scientific consensus for such, mainly due to the enormous variety of materials and available articles in the market. In this study, methodology of systematic review of scientific literature was applied. The inquiry started up as a specific question and used wide sources with explicit strategies of search, based in criteria applied uniformly. The objective was to select publications in accordance to the single-use medical devices reprocessing and reuse using a specific question research, to revise the methodological quality of these studies and to discuss evidences for practical application and also for research of this knowledge. The research question was: Are the single-use medical devices reprocessing and reuse a safe and effective practice? The data was collected from selected studies, being 20 basic studies and 01 narrative review. For analysis and evaluation of the basic studies as systematization, the following initial categories are used: target; type of research; research\'s objects; population; research\'s procedures ; data analysis; results; conclusion; author\'s analysis. The results have shown that a great part of articles is composed of plastics, possesses lumens and has complex conformation, meaning that they are articles of difficult cleanliness and decontamination, which results can, under controlled comparative circumstances, also be considered for less complex articles and with lesser difficulty for reprocessment. The aim was to get information that supports or not SUDS reuse. The conclusion is that, according to the current knowledge, it is not possible to consider reprocess and reuse of all single-use devices indiscriminately. It is possible to select them for testing and to validate reprocess and reuse guidelines based in scientific evidences and using this knowledge for the construction of less restrictive National Health Policies for the Public.

Accurate experimental oxygen mass transfer coefficient, a measure of how quickly oxygen travels from a gas bubble to the bulk liquid, is important for comparing performance and for evaluating the oxygen transfer capability of a fermentor. Delays in probe response and changing gas volumes upon start-up of gassing affect the accuracy of oxygen transfer measurements. To mitigate these inaccuracies, a standard correction procedure for oxygen mass transfer data was established for highly oxygenated, well-mixed fermentation systems. Probe response time correction was generated by applying a second-order response model to dissolved oxygen probes and shown to be effective within 4%. By using a derived model for transient volume rise, the effect of changing gas volume at start-up was shown to cause very minimal error (1-2%) in kLa. The unsteady-state method of kLa determination was used to compare design aspects of a hypothetical fermentor, including gas sparging devices and locations, baffle geometries and quantities, and impeller configurations. It was shown that locating the sparging device in the center of the tank, directly below the drive shaft and bottom impeller, is optimal for oxygen mass transfer. Sparger type was shown to have little effect on oxygen mass transfer values, although an open-pipe sparger was shown to provide slightly more oxygen mass transfer than a ring sparger. The use of rounded baffles in place of traditional rectangular baffles resulted in a 67-80% decrease in oxygen mass transfer coefficient. A comparison of three and four traditional baffles showed that three baffles produced a higher oxygen mass transfer than four. Correlation of baffle ratio and oxygen mass transfer coefficient indicated that the optimum baffle ratio is approximately one. Radial impellers were observed to provide better mixing, and thus higher oxygen mass transfer coefficients than axial impellers. In seven of ten comparisons, an impeller quantity ratio of 1.33 instead of 1.00 provided significant improvement in kLa. Additionally, only two of ten comparisons showed a difference between traditional Rushton turbine impellers and Smith turbine impellers, indicating that the difference in oxygen mass transfer capability of the two is negligible.

Este estudo é baseado no fato inegável de que a prática do reprocessamento e reutilização de artigos odonto-médico-hospitalares é ampla no país e no mundo, apesar de não existir consenso científico para tal, principalmente pela enorme variedade de materiais e de artigos disponíveis no mercado. Neste trabalho foi aplicada metodologia de revisão sistemática de literatura científica, cuja investigação partiu de uma questão específica e utilizou fontes abrangentes com estratégias de busca explícitas, baseada em critérios aplicados uniformemente, com avaliação reprodutível. O objetivo foi selecionar publicações sobre o reprocessamento e reuso de artigos odonto-médico hospitalares de uso único de acordo com uma questão de pesquisa específica, revisar a qualidade metodológica destes estudos e discutir evidências para aplicação prática e de pesquisa deste conhecimento. A questão de pesquisa foi: Qual a efetividade e a segurança da prática de reprocessamento e reutilização de materiais odonto-médico hospitalares de uso único? Os dados foram coletados de estudos selecionados, sendo 20 estudos básicos e 01 de revisão não sistemática. Para análise e avaliação dos estudos básicos selecionados utilizou-se, como sistematização, a seguinte categorização inicial: escopo; tipo de pesquisa; sujeitos ou objetos da pesquisa; população; procedimentos da pesquisa; análise dos dados; resultados; conclusão; comentários da analisadora. Devido à epecificidade dos conteúdos obtidos das pesquisas analisadas sob esta categorização, foram acrescentadas novas categorias, com a finalidade de refinar, agregar e correlacionar as informações obtidas, em quadros e tabelas, com a seguinte configuração final: tipos de artigos investigados; escopos; tipos de investigação; tipos de análises realizadas; resultados; conclusões. Os resultados mostraram que grande parte dos artigos é composta de plásticos, possui lumens e tem conformação complexa, significando que são artigos de difícil limpeza e descontaminação, cujos resultados podem, sob circunstâncias comparativas controladas, ser também considerados para artigos menos complexos e com menor dificuldade para seu reprocessamento. A finalidade foi obter informações que suportem ou não a prática de reprocessamento e reutilização de artigos odonto-médico-hospitalares de uso único. A conclusão é de que, com base no conhecimento atual, não é possível propor o reprocessamento e reuso de todos os artigos de uso único indiscriminamente, mas é possível selecioná-los para testar e validar protocolos de reprocessamento e reuso de artigos odonto-médico-hospitalares baseados em conhecimentos científicos com graus de evidência bem estabelecidos, utilizando este conhecimento para a construção de políticas nacionais de saúde menos restritivas de recursos altamente tecnológicos para a Saúde Pública. / This study is based on the undeniable fact that single-use medical devices reprocessing and reuse is a large practice in the country and also the world, although there is no scientific consensus for such, mainly due to the enormous variety of materials and available articles in the market. In this study, methodology of systematic review of scientific literature was applied. The inquiry started up as a specific question and used wide sources with explicit strategies of search, based in criteria applied uniformly. The objective was to select publications in accordance to the single-use medical devices reprocessing and reuse using a specific question research, to revise the methodological quality of these studies and to discuss evidences for practical application and also for research of this knowledge. The research question was: Are the single-use medical devices reprocessing and reuse a safe and effective practice? The data was collected from selected studies, being 20 basic studies and 01 narrative review. For analysis and evaluation of the basic studies as systematization, the following initial categories are used: target; type of research; research\'s objects; population; research\'s procedures ; data analysis; results; conclusion; author\'s analysis. The results have shown that a great part of articles is composed of plastics, possesses lumens and has complex conformation, meaning that they are articles of difficult cleanliness and decontamination, which results can, under controlled comparative circumstances, also be considered for less complex articles and with lesser difficulty for reprocessment. The aim was to get information that supports or not SUDS reuse. The conclusion is that, according to the current knowledge, it is not possible to consider reprocess and reuse of all single-use devices indiscriminately. It is possible to select them for testing and to validate reprocess and reuse guidelines based in scientific evidences and using this knowledge for the construction of less restrictive National Health Policies for the Public.

abstract: The circular economy is viewed as a solution to many of the environmental and social ills that the linear economy has exacerbated. Whether it is through refill solutions or redesigning a cardboard shipping container, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands are rethinking the way their products are delivered to consumers through business model innovations that promote circularity. The consumer plays the important, often overlooked, role of enabler within circular business models. This study aims to increase broader understanding of what motivates circular consumption of fast-moving consumer goods while analyzing the relationship between motivators and the behaviors required to participate. Semi-structured interviews provide insights from consumers who are currently purchasing household cleansers from brands that operate with a circular business model. Results from this study highlight a group of consumers that are distinguished by their common desire to reduce their personal consumption of plastics. There is clear indication that these consumers are in fact seeking out ways to consume more sustainably. A significant subset of this group expresses concern regarding ingredients used in the products. Health concerns for themselves, their family, or a pet are driving a desire to understand product ingredients. There is evidence to indicate that the concern for personal consumption of plastics is being driven by information distributed via social media and supported by targeted advertisements for brands that address this concern. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Sustainability 2020

Certain models of NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece air purifying respirators are manufactured with stapled head straps. Depending on the manufacturer, these head straps may be stapled to the filter media itself. This may cause leakage through the filter media of the respirator, potentially exposing the user to an unacceptable level of contaminant. In this study, monodisperse polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres were generated to challenge four replicates of a N95 single use respirator model made by the same manufacturer. Nominal particle sizes of the PSL spheres used to challenge the respirators were 0.5, 1, and 2 micrometers in diameter. All respirators were sealed onto a custom built testing assembly and tested in a sealed chamber. Particle sizes of interest were generated using a nebulizer, and passed through a diffusion dryer and a Krypton-85 radioactive source prior to entering the test chamber. The dryer reduces the humidity of the aerosol generating by the nebulizer, while the radioactive source neutralizes the charge of the aerosol cloud. The test chamber was constructed using a glass aquarium measuring 32 x 53 x 122 centimeters. Three stainless steel air diffusers were placed above the testing compartment to evenly distribute the aerosol in the chamber. An exhaust manifold was placed at the lower part of the chamber beneath another stainless steel diffuser below the area where test respirators were placed. The respirators were challenged as received from the manufacturer with 0.5, 1 and 2 micrometer-sized (PSL) spheres. The same procedure was repeated for each respirator after sealing the areas where the head straps were stapled with silicon rubber. Testing was conducted at a flow rate of 85 liters per minute, as specified in the NIOSH respirator testing protocol. A laser particle counter was used to measure the concentration inside and outside of the respirator. The results showed unsealed efficiencies for particle sizes 0.5, 1, and 2 micrometers of 96.68%, 99.72%, 99.88% and sealed efficiencies of 97.35%, 99.82%, 99.93% respectively. There were no differences for particle size or sealing at 1.0 and 2.0 micrometers. A significant drop in efficiency was observed when testing with 0.5 micrometer PSL spheres. The drops in efficiency are not sufficient to reduce the integrity of the respirator for N95 certification. However, the leakages detected will have a cumulative effect when added to other sources of single use respirator leakage in the field.

Context: Electrodes play an important role in interfacing tissue with electrical stimulation devices. Manufacturers recommend that adhesive metallic mesh cloth electrodes be used no more than 10 times before they are discarded, however, clinically the electrodes are often used up to 30 times. Another concern is sanitation. When electrodes are used on different patients, there is a chance for cross-contamination and bacterial growth on the electrode. Objective: To compare amplitudes of perceived sensation, motor twitch and force produced at specific amplitudes using single-use electrodes that run no risk of cross-contamination, and multiple-use electrodes. Design: Mixed model ANOVA with the subject blocked. Setting: Therapeutic modalities research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: 20 subjects comprised of 7 males (age 24.7 yrs ± 2.3 yrs, skin fold thickness 5.9 mm ± 2.4 mm) and 13 females (age 21.5 yrs ± 2.3 yrs, skin fold thickness 10.7 mm ± 4.1 mm) recruited by volunteer sample mainly from athletic and athletic training populations. They drew random numbers to determine which group they were assigned to. Interventions: Each subject had electrodes placed on their wrist extensors muscles. Measures were recorded of what intensity it took to achieve perceived sensation, motor twitch, and force produced at a specific intensity. To determine decay, multiple use electrodes were tested initially and on the 10th use. After the multiple use electrodes were tested initially, they were leached out. After eight uses, pretest procedures were repeated (10th use electrode) as the final trial on the subjects. Single use electrodes were tested one time. Main Outcome Measures: The dependent variables were sensation, motor twitch and force production. The experiment was a repeated measures study, using mixed models ANOVA with subjects blocked. Alpha was set at p<0.05. Data was analyzed using a SAS proc mixed 9.1. Results: There was no statistical difference between the measures taken during the initial trial and final trial of the multiple use electrodes for muscle twitch (FMUI MUF muscle twitch= 107.3, p= 0.09) and force production (FMUI MUF force production=28.7, p= 0.11). There was a significant difference between the single use and the multiple use electrodes for the initial and final trial. Average values in mA for perceived sensory were: single use 9.73, multiple use initial 16.70 , multiple use final 21.03; observed muscle twitch: single use 15.87, multiple use initial 29.16, multiple use final 31.78; and force produced: single use 22.8 Newtons, multiple use initial 10.0 Newtons, multiple use final 5.0 Newtons. Conclusion: Single-use electrodes produce more conductive power with fewer milliamps compared to multiple-use electrodes. Single use electrodes are just as, or more efficient as the multiple use electrodes and have the added advantage of eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination of bacteria from patient to patient.

Perfusion operation mode is currently under fast expansion in mammalian cell based manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, not only for labile drug protein but also for stable proteins such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Perfusion mode can advantageously offer a stable cell environment, long-term production with high productivity and consistent product quality. Intensified high cell density culture (HCDC) is certainly one of the most attractive features of a perfusion process due to the high volumetric productivity in a small footprint that it can provide. Advancements in single-use technology have alleviated the intrinsic complexity of perfusion processes while the maturing in cell retention devices has improved process robustness. The knowledge for perfusion process has been gradually built and the “continuous” concept is getting more and more acceptance in the field. This thesis presents the development of robust perfusion process at very high cell densities in various culture systems. Four HCDC perfusion systems were developed with industrial collaborators with three different mAb producing Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines: 1-2) WAVE Bioreactor™ Cellbag prototype equipped with cell separation by hollow fiber filter utilizing Alternating Tangential Flow (ATF) and Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) techniques; 3) Fiber matrix based CellTank™ prototype; 4) Glass stirred tank bioreactor equipped with ATF. In all the systems, extremely high viable cell densities above 130 million viable cells per milliliter (MVC/mL) up to 214 MVC/mL were achieved. Steady states were maintained and studied at 20-30 MVC/mL and 100-130 MVC/mL for process development. Perfusion rate selection based on cell specific perfusion rate (CSPR) was systematically investigated and exometabolome study was performed to explore the metabolic footprint of HCDC perfusion process. / <p>QC 20170523</p>