Ergonomics-oriented operation, maintenance and control of indoor air environment for public buildings

In response to the construction process of Healthy China. it is rather important to create a safe, healthy and energy-efficient indoor environment for public buildings. The public building space is often densely populated, with a large flow of people and many types of air pollution, which presents non-uniform dynamic distribution characteristics. This brings great challenges to the control of indoor air safety, especially during the pandemic period of COVID-19. Excessive ventilation may not only cause large energy waste. but also lead to cross-contamination and even a cluster of infection. In this paper, an operation and maintenance (O&M) control system for indoor air safety is developed based on the core concepts and basic methods of human ergonomics. In this system, one of the important human environmental variables is focused for control, i.e.. indoor air pollution level. Especially after the outbreak of COVID-19. droplets and droplet nuclei from respiration are the most significant air pollution categories required for mitigation. Towards the efficient control of air pollution in large public buildings. it should further take into account the interaction of human, equipment and machines (i.e., ventilation_ air purification and disinfection and intelligent control system) and building environment. Firstly, on the basis of the online monitoring of indoor air pollution concentration and personnel flow, the non-uniform dynamic distribution of indoor pollutants and personnel can be obtained by using the non-uniform and low-dimensional rapid prediction models and computer vision processing. Then, the optimal setting results of ventilation parameters (e.g., ventilation modes, supply air rate. etc.) can be outputted by the environmental control decision system. Finally, based on a combination of monitoring sensors, controllers and actuator hardware equipment (at the location of fans or dampers), the intelligent regulation and control of ventilation system can be realized, aimed at minimizing energy consumption and reducing pollutant concentration and exposure level. Meanwhile, the air purification and disinfection system (especially for the disinfection of virus particles) are operated under the condition of the ventilated environment, which can serve as a powerful auxiliary to the maintenance of indoor air safety. The workflow and effect of the O&M control system are demonstrated by an engineering application case of the front hall in the International Convention and Exhibition Center. The results indicate that the non-uniform and low-dimensional rapid prediction model for pollutant concentration is effective for the ventilation control with the average prediction difference of 11.9%. The implementation of the intelligent ventilation system can reduce the risk of human infection to less than 4%. and its energy-saving ratio for the ventilation can be as high as about 45%. Through optimizing the layout strategies of disinfection devices based on the intelligent ventilation control, the space accessibility of negative oxygen ions can be well accepted, to further increase the removal efficiency of air pollution. The calculated value of space disinfection rate is more than 99%, which can further reduce the risk of infection by 1-2 orders of magnitude. This study can provide an important reference for the promotion and upgrading of O&M control system for indoor air safety.

Applications of water activated by ozone, electrolysis, or gas plasma for microbial decontamination of raw and processed meat

A raw or processed meat product can be a breeding ground for spoilage bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., etc.). Failure of decontamination results in food quality loss and foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Often, meat processors decontaminate the carcass using cheap chemicals or artificial antimicrobial agents not listed on the ingredient list, which is discouraged by health-conscious consumers. Foods with clean labels became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led consumers to choose healthier ingredients. Novel methods of controlling or improving meat safety are constantly being discovered. This review focuses on novel means of electrochemically activate water that is being investigated as a sanitizing agent for carcasses and processing area decontamination during production or at the end. Water can be activated by using non-thermal techniques such as ozonation, electrolysis, and cold plasma technologies. Recent studies showed that these activated liquids are powerful tools for reducing microbial activity in raw and processed meat. For instance, plasma-activated water can be used to enhance microbiological safety and avoid the negative effects of direct gaseous plasma on the organoleptic aspects of food products. In addition, electrolyzed water technology offers hurdle enhancement by combining with non-thermal strategies that have great potential. Ozonation is another way of activating water which provides a very convenient way to control microbiological safety and finds several recent applications as aqueous ozone for meat decontamination. These solutions are highly reactive and convenient for non-conventional applications in the meat industry related to food safety because of their antimicrobial or antiviral impact. The present review highlights the efficacy of activated-water decontamination of raw and processed meat via non-thermal solutions. Copyright © 2023 Roobab, Madni, Ranjha, Khan, Selim, Almuhayawi, Samy, Zeng and Aadil.

Oral SARS-CoV-2 reduction by local treatment: A plasma technology application?

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reemphasized the importance of and need for efficient hygiene and disinfection measures. The coronavirus' efficient spread capitalizes on its airborne transmission routes via virus aerosol release from human oral and nasopharyngeal cavities. Besides the upper respiratory tract, efficient viral replication has been described in the epithelium of these two body cavities. To this end, the idea emerged to employ plasma technology to locally reduce mucosal viral loads as an additional measure to reduce patient infectivity. We here outline conceptual ideas of such treatment concepts within what is known in the antiviral actions of plasma treatment so far.

High efficacy of activated carbon fabric filters and masks developed to prevent the inhalation of microorganisms and particles associated with respiratory tract infections

As a major international public health emergency, COVID-19 has posed many challenges for healthcare professionals who have been heavily exposed to contamination. This article describes the development of a high-filtration capacity mask consisting of filter-element layers interspersed with super-activated carbon fiber fabric, non-woven polypropylene for dental–medical–hospital use and antiviral polyamide with nanostructured SiO2 thin film coating. The study found 98.18% particle filtration efficiency and determined 2.11 mmH2O/cm2 differential pressure, while fluid repellency complied with Brazilian standard NBR ABNT 15052:2004. © The Author(s) 2022.

Investigation to the Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Corona virusas a Hygiene of Patient's Things

Increasing the number of human infected by viruses around the world make some problems to the health care systems. Dealing with patients thinks is an important manner. The present work idea is to use cold atmospheric plasma in study the effect on the coronavirus. Samples of nasal had been used to the test. The samples were of people accident by the virus for certain time of examinations. Cold atmospheric plasma system used with argon as discharge gas in the experiments. PCR test made to all samples before and after exposure to plasma. Results show that the PCR test was negative after 6 minutes of exposure to the cold atmospheric plasma. Results leads to find a new fast novel method to sterilization or hygiene of patient things in simple way.

High efficacy of activated carbon fabric filters and masks developed to prevent the inhalation of microorganisms and particles associated with respiratory tract infections

As a major international public health emergency, COVID-19 has posed many challenges for healthcare professionals who have been heavily exposed to contamination. This article describes the development of a high-filtration capacity mask consisting of filter-element layers interspersed with super-activated carbon fiber fabric, non-woven polypropylene for dental-medical-hospital use and antiviral polyamide with nanostructured SiO2 thin film coating. The study found 98.18% particle filtration efficiency and determined 2.11 mmH(2)O/cm(2) differential pressure, while fluid repellency complied with Brazilian standard NBR ABNT 15052:2004.

A Successful Elimination of Indonesian SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Airborne Transmission Prevention by Cold Plasma in Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study

Global infection and mortality rates have soared to millions due to SARS-CoV-2 human-to-human transmission via droplets which then declared as pandemic. This study examined the created cold plasma equipment (CPE) effectiveness in reducing COVID-19 transmission in a confined space. CPE sucked air using a fan in a test chamber then pushed it into a cold plasma reactor. The results indicated that it was able to terminate all SARS-CoV-2 variants along with bacteria and fungi indoors by keeping it turned on for 30 min' minimum. CPE was proven as safe and effective to hinder virus transmission with the acceptable ozone emission as the side effect. © 2022 University of Kerbala.

Cold Plasmamed Beam as a Supporting Treatment of Soft Tissue Injuries in Severe Covid-19 Patients: A Preliminary Report.

Background: Cold plasma has many characteristics that allow for effective wound healing. Due to its efficacy, we have applied it in treating patients with severe Covid-19 who have soft tissue skin lesions and diseases including burns, pressure ulcers, shingles, and contact or atopic dermatitis. This study aims to assess the general characteristics of Covid-19 patients with soft tissue lesions and to conduct a fundamental evaluation of the efficacy of cold plasmamed beams in treating soft tissue wounds in patients with severe Covid-19. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 20 severe Covid-19 patients with soft tissue lesions at the Intensive Care Center for Covid-19 of Hue Central Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City from September 25 to November 11, 2021. These patients was performed cold plasma irradiation at any stage of wound progression, including new injuries and chronic wounds. Results: Among 915 severe Covid-19 patients treated at our center, 20 patients had soft tissue lesions. Grade I, II, and III pressure ulcers accounted for 70% of the 20 cases of soft tissue lesions and 1.53% of the total patients at the time of the survey. Pressure ulcers were present in only 0.55% of patients (5/915 patients). Eleven out of 20 patients (55.0%) had lesions before admission, and 9 (45.0%) had lesions that appeared after admission. After 14 days of treatment, 14/20 patients had complete epithelialization (70%), and in 18/20 patients, wound exudation had ceased. The wounds became painless; after 3 weeks, the rashes had completely disappeared. Conclusion: The study emphasizes that irradiation with cold plasma contributes to the wound healing process.

Mask disinfection using atmospheric pressure cold plasma.

OBJECTIVES: Mask usage has increased over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a mask shortage. Furthermore, their prolonged use causes skin problems related to bacterial overgrowth. To overcome these problems, atmospheric pressure cold plasma was studied as an alternative technology for mask disinfection. METHODS: Different microorganisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp.), different gases (nitrogen, argon, and air), plasma power (90-300 W), and treatment times (45 seconds to 5 minutes) were tested. RESULTS: The best atmospheric pressure cold plasma treatment was the one generated by nitrogen gas at 300 W and 1.5 minutes. Testing of breathing and filtering performance and microscopic and visual analysis after one and five plasma treatment cycles, highlighted that these treatments did not affect the morphology or functional capacity of the masks. CONCLUSION: Considering the above, we strongly believe that atmospheric pressure cold plasma could be an inexpensive, eco-friendly, and sustainable mask disinfection technology enabling their reusability and solving mask shortage.

Ergonomics-oriented operation, maintenance and control of indoor air environment for public buildings

In response to the construction process of Healthy China. it is rather important to create a safe, healthy and energy-efficient indoor environment for public buildings. The public building space is often densely populated, with a large flow of people and many types of air pollution, which presents non-uniform dynamic distribution characteristics. This brings great challenges to the control of indoor air safety, especially during the pandemic period of COVID-19. Excessive ventilation may not only cause large energy waste. but also lead to cross-contamination and even a cluster of infection. In this paper, an operation and maintenance (O&M) control system for indoor air safety is developed based on the core concepts and basic methods of human ergonomics. In this system, one of the important human environmental variables is focused for control, i.e.. indoor air pollution level. Especially after the outbreak of COVID-19. droplets and droplet nuclei from respiration are the most significant air pollution categories required for mitigation. Towards the efficient control of air pollution in large public buildings. it should further take into account the interaction of human, equipment and machines (i.e., ventilation_ air purification and disinfection and intelligent control system) and building environment. Firstly, on the basis of the online monitoring of indoor air pollution concentration and personnel flow, the non-uniform dynamic distribution of indoor pollutants and personnel can be obtained by using the non-uniform and low-dimensional rapid prediction models and computer vision processing. Then, the optimal setting results of ventilation parameters (e.g., ventilation modes, supply air rate. etc.) can be outputted by the environmental control decision system. Finally, based on a combination of monitoring sensors, controllers and actuator hardware equipment (at the location of fans or dampers), the intelligent regulation and control of ventilation system can be realized, aimed at minimizing energy consumption and reducing pollutant concentration and exposure level. Meanwhile, the air purification and disinfection system (especially for the disinfection of virus particles) are operated under the condition of the ventilated environment, which can serve as a powerful auxiliary to the maintenance of indoor air safety. The workflow and effect of the O&M control system are demonstrated by an engineering application case of the front hall in the International Convention and Exhibition Center. The results indicate that the non-uniform and low-dimensional rapid prediction model for pollutant concentration is effective for the ventilation control with the average prediction difference of 11.9%. The implementation of the intelligent ventilation system can reduce the risk of human infection to less than 4%. and its energy-saving ratio for the ventilation can be as high as about 45%. Through optimizing the layout strategies of disinfection devices based on the intelligent ventilation control, the space accessibility of negative oxygen ions can be well accepted, to further increase the removal efficiency of air pollution. The calculated value of space disinfection rate is more than 99%, which can further reduce the risk of infection by 1-2 orders of magnitude. This study can provide an important reference for the promotion and upgrading of O&M control system for indoor air safety.

A Review of Selected Types of Indoor Air Purifiers in Terms of Microbial Air Contamination Reduction

Aims: With the ongoing pandemic and increased interest in measures to improve indoor air quality, various indoor air purifiers have become very popular and are widely used. This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of various types of technologies used in air purifiers in terms of reducing microbial contamination. Methods: A literature search was performed using Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, as well as technical organizations dealing with indoor air-quality to identify research articles and documents within our defined scope of interest. Relevant sections: The available literature data focus mainly on the efficiency of devices based on tests conducted in laboratory conditions with test chambers, which does not reflect the real dimensions and conditions observed in residential areas. According to a wide range of articles on the topic, the actual effectiveness of air purifiers is significantly lower in real conditions than the values declared by the manufacturers in their marketing materials as well as technical specifications. Conclusions: According to current findings, using indoor air purifiers should not be the only measure to improve indoor air-quality;however, these can play a supporting role if their application is preceded by an appropriate technical and environmental analysis considering the real conditions of its use.

Recent developments in the use of cold plasma, high hydrostatic pressure, and pulsed electric fields on microorganisms and viruses in seafood.

Non-thermal processing methods, such as cold plasma (CP), high pressure processing (HPP) and pulsed electric fields (PEF), have been proposed for natural and fresh-like foods to inactivate microorganisms at nearly-ambient or moderate temperature. Since natural, safe, and healthy foods with longer shelf-life are increasingly demanded, these requests are challenging to fulfill by using current thermal processing technologies. Thus, novel preservation technologies based on non-thermal processing methods are required. The aim of this article is to provide recent developments in maintaining seafood safety via CP, HHP, and PEF technologies, as well as their mechanisms of action regarding contamination with food-borne microorganisms. Their application to control parasites, spores and the possibility to eradicate the hazard of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through seafood products are also discussed. CP, HHP, and PEF have been applied to inactivate food-borne microorganisms in the seafood industry. However, the drawbacks for each emerging technology have also been reported. To ensure safety and maintain quality of seafood products, the combination of these processing techniques with natural antimicrobial agents or existing thermal methods may be more applicable in the case of the seafood industry. Further studies are required to examine the effects of these methods on viruses, parasites, and SARS-CoV-2 in seafood.

An overview of food safety and COVID-19 infection: Nanotechnology and cold plasma applications, immune-boosting suggestions, hygienic precautions

Avian influenzas, Ebola, Nipah, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is an RNA virus covered by a lipid bilayer, are directly affecting people worldwide. On the other hand, in addition to the main spread source (human contact) of SARS-CoV-2, consumers have started to think about whether foods are dangerous in terms of SARS-CoV-2 spread. The consumption of wild animals as well as the possible contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in fresh and frozen foods have caused concern and increased awareness among consumers. A heating process >70°C is being suggested to eliminate viral contamination risk. Cutting tools, slicing machines, and food-contact surfaces including stainless steel, aluminum, or glass must be regularly sanitized. The sous vide cooking method, which is based on cooking under vacuum and with pH treatments in the range of 3 and 10, could be advised in this risky period for decreasing contamination risk in food. Also, recent studies have shown that nanotechnology applications such as nanoparticles could be used to combat the SARS-CoV-2 spread, which is 50-200nm in size. Another suggested technique is cold plasma technology that could damage the protein structure of the virus. Besides these techniques, it is important to boost the immune system. In this regard, recent researches have revealed the importance of honey consumption (1g/kg per person/day), intake of vitamins, minerals like selenium, and ω-3 fatty acids. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SARS-CoV2 neutralizing activity of ozone on porous and non-porous materials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a major need for non-destructive and environmentally friendly disinfection methods. This work presents the development and testing of a disinfection process based on gaseous ozone for SARS-CoV-2-contaminated porous and non-porous surfaces. A newly developed disinfection chamber was used, equipped with a CeraPlas™ cold plasma generator that produces ozone during plasma ignition. A reduction of more than log 6 of infectious virus could be demonstrated for virus-contaminated cotton and FFP3 face masks as well as glass slides after exposure to 800 ppm ozone for 10-60 min, depending on the material. In contrast to other disinfectants, ozone can be produced quickly and cost-effectively, and its environmentally friendly breakdown product oxygen does not leave harmful residues. Disinfection with ozone could help to overcome delivery difficulties of personal protective equipment by enabling safe reuse with further applications, thereby reducing waste generation, and may allow regular disinfection of personal items with non-porous surfaces.

Radio-frequency (RF) room temperature plasma treatment of sweet basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.) for germination potential enhancement by immaculation.

Ocimum basilicum L. is an antiviral and immunity boosting medicinal plant and culinary herb. Potential use of sweet basils in COVID 19 prevention and management is making its demand rise. This study is aimed at germination potential enhancement of sweet basil seeds. Reported study is evidenced with scientific data of radio-frequency cold plasma treatment using Ar + O2 feed gas. O. basilicum seeds, placed inside the rotating glass bottle, were directly exposed to RF (13.56 MHz) plasma produced in Ar + O2 feed gas. Seed treatment was done using RF source power (60 W, 150 W, 240 W), process pressure (0.2 mbar, 0.4 mbar, 0.6 mbar), and treatment time (5 min, 10 min, 15 min) at different combinations. Results show that, the most efficient treatment provide up to ∼89 % of the germination percentage which is an enhancement by 32.3 % from the control. SEM images revealed slight shrinkage in the seed size with eroded appearance over the seed. Enhancement of lipid peroxidation, show that oxidation of seed coat may propagate internally. Water imbibition analysis, of the treated seeds, was carried out for 2-12 hours. Further analysis of seed weight, on every one hour, after soaking shows enhanced water absorption capability except the treatment at 240 W, 0.6 mbar and 15 min. Plasma treatment enhanced carbohydrate content and protein content which is reported to be due to increased primary metabolism. Whereas, increased activity of secondary metabolism results in the enhancement of enzymatic (catalase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (proline). Vital growth parameters, such as SVI I and SVI II, got amplified by 37 % and 133 % respectively after treatment. Ameliorative effects of plasma treatment are found highly significant with a positive and significant correlation value (p < 0.01) between germination percentages, SVI I, SVI II, carbohydrate, protein and proline show their interrelationship. Ar + O2 plasma treatment is found to bring forth significant changes in the O. basilicum seeds which eventually enhanced the germination potential and it could be a very promising technology for the medicinal crop.

Cold plasma technology: advanced and sustainable approach for wastewater treatment.

Cold plasma has been a potent energy-efficient and eco-friendly advanced oxidation technology which has gained attention in recent decades as a non-thermal approach in diverse forms of applications. This review highlights a comprehensive account of the implementation of this technology in the field of wastewater treatment to resolve certain issues regarding the degradation of numerous aqueous pollutants and water-borne pathogenic microorganisms including viruses up to a significant level. The paper addresses plasma chemistry sources and mechanisms on wastewater treatment and impact on various physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of treated water. Furthermore, studies have revealed that this emerging technology is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 or coronavirus, which serves as a transmission channel for this lethal virus in wastewater. Despite these benefits, the development of cold plasma as a wastewater treatment technique is still hampered by a lack of information like capital investment, proficient application, liveability, and operating cost, thus necessitating additional research for its booming commercialization, as this can be an emerging approach to solving water crises and meeting the demand for fresh or potable water resources.

Antibiofilm coatings through atmospheric pressure plasma for 3D printed surgical instruments.

Recently, medical applications for 3D printing are expanding rapidly and are expected to revolutionize health care, specifically, manufacturing surgical guides and protective face mask against coronavirus (COVID-19). These instruments come in contact with the human tissues, being necessary 3D printed materials free of pathogenic microbes or other contaminants. Therefore, they must be sterilized to avoid that bacteria can attach to the surface and produce biofilm. With the aim of avoiding bacterial biofilm formation and minimize the health risks, acrylic acid (AcAc) coatings applied by plasma-polymerization have been deposited on 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) Petri dishes. Six antimicrobial-resistant clinical and two susceptible control strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus species were analyzed. AcAc coatings provide the surface with greater hydrophilicity and, consequently, the formation of a hydration layer, whose thickness is related to the surface roughness. This hydration layer could explain the reduction of bacterial attachment and, consequently, the biofilm formation. Antibiofilm coatings are more successful against P. aeruginosa strains than against S. aureus ones; due to some coatings presents a smaller topography scale than the P. aeruginosa length, reducting the contact area between the bacteria and the coating, and causing a potential rupture of the cellular membrane. AcAc coatings with less number of plasma passes were more effective, and showed up to a 50% relative biofilm reduction (in six of the eight strains studied) compared with the untreated plates.