The Experts below are selected from a list of 40443 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Manuel Brenes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • aerobic treatment of black ripe olive processing streams to reduce Biological Contamination
    Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 2020
    Co-Authors: Pedro Garciaserrano, Concepcion Romero, Antonio De Castro, Pedro Garciagarcia, Alfredo Montano, Eduardo Medina, Manuel Brenes
    Abstract:

    Abstract A new aeration treatment of black ripe olive streams prior to their vacuum evaporation was studied. It was found that the aeration for two days of these solutions reduced the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the distillate phase (>80%) generated during their vacuum evaporation; although the temperature (14–38 °C) and the air flow rate (10–50 L air/h/L) had a great influence on this reduction. Moreover, the COD in the distillate was mainly associated with the presence of acetic acid (~400 mg/L) and ethanol (~500 mg/L), the later substance being eliminated by strong aeration. Additionally, the growth of native aerobic microorganisms, mainly Acetobacter, increased the pH of the wastewater to 7–8 units, thus avoiding evaporation of the acetic acid salt formed. These results make the use of the distillate for plant irrigation viable and its discharge into municipal depuration plants possible, given the low COD ( Industrial relevance The worldwide production of table olives is annually increasing but the management of the solutions generated during olive processing is limiting this expansion, in particular due to their high salt content. Factories are nowadays concentrating these solutions by using vacuum evaporation but the Contamination of the distillate is too high. The present work has been carried out based on industry demand for low cost and easy handle technology able to reduce COD in distillates. The results of the present study showed that the content in ethanol and acetic acid of distillates can be reduced to a large extend by simple aerating of the solutions prior to the vacuum evaporation step, and this open the possibility of their reuse for plant irrigation.

Sotiris Vardoulakis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • impact of climate change on the domestic indoor environment and associated health risks in the uk
    Environment International, 2015
    Co-Authors: Sotiris Vardoulakis, C Dimitroulopoulou, Joh E Thornes, Ka Ma Lai, Jonatho Taylo, Isabella Myers, Clare Heaviside
    Abstract:

    There is growing evidence that projected climate change has the potential to significantly affect public health. In the UK, much of this impact is likely to arise by amplifying existing risks related to heat exposure, flooding, and chemical and Biological Contamination in buildings. Identifying the health effects of climate change on the indoor environment, and risks and opportunities related to climate change adaptation and mitigation, can help protect public health. We explored a range of health risks in the domestic indoor environment related to climate change, as well as the potential health benefits and unintended harmful effects of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies in the UK housing sector. We reviewed relevant scientific literature, focusing on housing-related health effects in the UK likely to arise through either direct or indirect mechanisms of climate change or mitigation and adaptation measures in the built environment. We considered the following categories of effect: (i) indoor temperatures, (ii) indoor air quality, (iii) indoor allergens and infections, and (iv) flood damage and water Contamination. Climate change may exacerbate health risks and inequalities across these categories and in a variety of ways, if adequate adaptation measures are not taken. Certain changes to the indoor environment can affect indoor air quality or promote the growth and propagation of pathogenic organisms. Measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions have the potential for ancillary public health benefits including reductions in health burdens related heat and cold, indoor exposure to air pollution derived from outdoor sources, and mould growth. However, increasing airtightness of dwellings in pursuit of energy efficiency could also have negative effects by increasing concentrations of pollutants (such as PM2.5, CO and radon) derived from indoor or ground sources, and Biological Contamination. These effects can largely be ameliorated by mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and air filtration, where such solution is feasible and when the system is properly installed, operated and maintained. Groups at high risk of these adverse health effects include the elderly (especially those living on their own), individuals with pre-existing illnesses, people living in overcrowded accommodation, and the socioeconomically deprived. A better understanding of how current and emerging building infrastructure design, construction, and materials may affect health in the context of climate change and mitigation and adaptation measures is needed in the UK and other high income countries. Long-term, energy efficient building design interventions, ensuring adequate ventilation, need to be promoted.

Petra Rettberg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • implementing bioburden reduction and control on the deliquescent hydrogel of the habit exomars 2022 instrument
    Acta Astronautica, 2020
    Co-Authors: Thasshwin Mathanlal, Miracle Israel Nazarious, Abhilash Vakkada Ramachandran, M P Zorzano, Javier Martintorres, Petra Rettberg
    Abstract:

    Abstract The HabitAbility: Brines, Irradiation and Temperature (HABIT) instrument will be part of the ExoMars 2022 mission (ESA/Roscosmos) and will be the first European In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) instrument capable of producing liquid water on Mars. HABIT is composed by two modules: Environmental Package (EnvPack) and Brine Observation Transition To Liquid Experiment (BOTTLE). EnvPack will help to study the current habitability conditions on Mars investigating the air and surface thermal ranges and Ultraviolet (UV) irradiance; and BOTTLE is a container with four independent vessels housing deliquescent salts, which are known to be present on Mars, where the liquid water will be produced after deliquescence. In order to prevent capillarity of deliquescent or hydrated salts, a mixture of deliquescent salts with Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) based on polyacrylamide is utilized. This mixture has deliquescent and hydrogel properties and can be reused by applying a thermal cycle, complying thus with the purpose of the instrument. A High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) grade filter made of polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) porous membrane sandwiched between spunbounded non-woven fabric stands as a physical barrier allowing interaction between the gaseous molecules of the Martian atmosphere and the salt mixtures, and at the same time preventing the passage of any potential Biological Contamination from the cells to the outside or vice-versa. In addition to the physical barrier, a strict bioburden reduction and analysis procedure is applied to the hardware and the contained salt mixtures adhering to the European Cooperation for Space Standardization protocol of microbial examination of flight hardware (ECSS-Q-ST-70-55C). The deliquescent salts and the SAP products need to be properly treated independently to adhere to the planetary protection protocols. In this manuscript, we describe the bioburden reduction process utilized to sterilize the salt mixtures in BOTTLE and the assays adopted to validate the sterilization. We also describe the construction of a low-cost, portable ISO 7 cleanroom tent, exclusively designed for planetary protection tests. The sterilization process involves Dry Heat Microbial Reduction (DHMR) of the deliquescent salts and the SAP mixtures. The performance of SAP after DHMR is validated to ensure its working efficiency after sterilization. A slightly modified version of the standard swab assay is used in the validation process and a comparison is made between samples exposed to a thermal shock treatment and those without thermal shock, to determine the best assay to be applied for future space hardware utilizing such salt mixtures for planetary investigation and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). The demonstration of the compatibility of these products with the processes commonly required for space applications has implications for the future exploration of Mars.

  • Biological Contamination prevention for outer solar system moons of astroBiological interest what do we need to know
    Astrobiology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Petra Rettberg, Andre Antunes, J R Brucato, Patricia Cabezas, G C Collins, Alissa Haddaji, Gerhard Kminek, Stefan Leuko, Susan Mckennalawlor, Christine Moissleichinger
    Abstract:

    To ensure that scientific investments in space exploration are not compromised by terrestrial Contamination of celestial bodies, special care needs to be taken to preserve planetary conditions for future astroBiological exploration. Significant effort has been made and is being taken to address planetary protection in the context of inner Solar System exploration. In particular for missions to Mars, detailed internationally accepted guidelines have been established. For missions to the icy moons in the outer Solar System, Europa and Enceladus, the planetary protection requirements are so far based on a probabilistic approach and a conservative estimate of poorly known parameters. One objective of the European Commission-funded project, Planetary Protection of Outer Solar System, was to assess the existing planetary protection approach, to identify inherent knowledge gaps, and to recommend scientific investigations necessary to update the requirements for missions to the icy moons.

  • cold atmospheric plasma a new technology for spacecraft component deContamination
    Planetary and Space Science, 2014
    Co-Authors: Satoshi Shimizu, Petra Rettberg, Tetsuji Shimizu, Julia L Zimmermann, Simon Barczyk, Peter Weber, Tobias Klaempfl, Till Hoeschen, Christian Linsmeier, G E Morfill
    Abstract:

    The search for extraterrestrial life is one of the most challenging science topics for the next decades. Space missions, like ExoMars, plan to land and search for Biological remnants on planets and moons in our nearby Solar system. Planetary protection regulations defined by COSPAR prevent that during the mission Biological Contamination of the bodies occur through the space probes. Therefore deContamination of the probes and more general space equipment is necessary before the launch. The up-to-date accepted deContamination procedure originate from the old NASA Viking missions and use dry heat (T>110°C for 30h) – a technology not well suited for sensitive equipment nowadays. We investigated in a study financed by the German Space Agency* cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as an alternative for such deContamination. It is well known that CAP can kill bacteria or spores within seconds or minutes, respectively, if the plasma is in direct contact with the treated sample. This procedure might also be quite aggressive to the treated surface materials. Therefore, we developed an afterglow CAP device specially designed for the soft treatment of space equipment. Afterglow plasma produced by a SMD device in air is transported into a “larger” treatment chamber where the samples are positioned. It could be shown that samples of different bacteria and spores, the latter defined by COSPAR as a means to show the effectiveness of the deContamination process, positioned on different materials (steel, Teflon, quartz) could be effectively inactivated. The surface materials were investigated after the plasma treatment to identify etching or deposition problems. The afterglow in the treatment chamber could even overcome obstacles (tubes of different height and diameter) which simulate more complicated structures of the relevant surfaces. Up to now, CAP looks like a quite promising alternative to decontaminate space equipment and need to be studied in greater detail in the near future. Details will be presented here.

  • the first collection of spacecraft associated microorganisms a public source for extremotolerant microorganisms from spacecraft assembly clean rooms
    Astrobiology, 2012
    Co-Authors: Christine Moissleichinger, Petra Rettberg, Rudiger Pukall
    Abstract:

    Abstract For several reasons, spacecraft are constructed in so-called clean rooms. Particles could affect the function of spacecraft instruments, and for missions under planetary protection limitations, the Biological Contamination has to be restricted as much as possible. The proper maintenance of clean rooms includes, for instance, constant control of humidity and temperature, air filtering, and cleaning (disinfection) of the surfaces. The combination of these conditions creates an artificial, extreme biotope for microbial survival specialists: spore formers, autotrophs, multi-resistant, facultative, or even strictly anaerobic microorganisms have been detected in clean room habitats. Based on a diversity study of European and South-American spacecraft assembly clean rooms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has initialized and funded the creation of a public library of microbial isolates. Isolates from three different European clean rooms, as well as from the final assembly and launch facility in Kourou (F...

  • plasma deContamination of space equipment using cold atmospheric plasmas
    International Conference on Plasma Science, 2012
    Co-Authors: H M Thomas, Petra Rettberg, Satoshi Shimizu, Tetsuji Shimizu, Tobias G Klampfl, Julia L Zimmermann, G E Morfill, Simon Barczyk, Peter Weber
    Abstract:

    Summary form only given. The search for extraterrestrial life is one of the most challenging science topics for the next decades. Space missions, like ExoMars, plan to land and search for Biological remnants on planets and moons in our nearby Solar system. Planetary protection regulations defined by COSPAR prevent that during the mission Biological Contamination of the bodies occur through the space probes. Therefore deContamination of the probes and more general space equipment is necessary before the launch. The up-to-date accepted deContamination procedure originate from the old NASA Viking missions and use dry heat (T>110°C for 30h) - a technology not well suited for sensitive equipment nowadays.

Ulla Haverinenshaughnessy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • an assessment of indoor environmental quality in schools and its association with health and performance
    Building and Environment, 2015
    Co-Authors: Ulla Haverinenshaughnessy, Richard Shaughnessy, Eugene C Cole, Oluyemi Toyinbo, Demetrios J Moschandreas
    Abstract:

    Abstract In order to examine the associations between different indoor environmental quality (IEQ) indicators and students' performance, absenteeism and health data were collected, and sampling and monitoring were conducted in a 70 school district in the Southwestern United States during two academic years. These included measurements of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and settled dust. A standardized cleaning protocol was employed for surface sampling and cleaning effectiveness evaluation utilizing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring systems to detect Biological Contamination, and contact agar (RODAC) plates to detect culturable bacteria. In addition, student data related to socioeconomic background, absenteeism, performance, and number of visits to school nurse was retrieved anonymously from the school district. Significant associations were observed between percentages of students scoring satisfactory in mathematics and reading tests and both indoor T (r = −.353 and r = −.311 respectively) and ventilation rate (r = .417 and r = .479 respectively), which was estimated based on CO 2 levels. In addition, ventilation rate was associated with mean number of visits to school nurse due to respiratory symptoms, and culturable bacteria with mean number of visits due to gastrointestinal symptoms; but there were no significant correlations between absenteeism and IEQ parameters in these school-level analyses. In conclusion, classroom ventilation rate, temperature, and hygiene of high contact surfaces appear to be important IEQ parameters, potentially related to student health and/or performance.

  • an assessment of indoor environmental quality in schools and its association with health and performance
    WOS, 2015
    Co-Authors: Ulla Haverinenshaughnessy, Richard Shaughnessy, Eugene C Cole, Oluyemi Toyinbo, Demetrios J Moschandreas
    Abstract:

    In order to examine the associations between different indoor environmental quality (IEQ) indicators and students' performance, absenteeism and health data were collected, and sampling and monitoring were conducted in a 70 school district in the Southwestern United States during two academic years. These included measurements of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), and settled dust. A standardized cleaning protocol was employed for surface sampling and cleaning effectiveness evaluation utilizing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring systems to detect Biological Contamination, and contact agar (RODAC) plates to detect culturable bacteria. In addition, student data related to socioeconomic background, absenteeism, performance, and number of visits to school nurse was retrieved anonymously from the school district. Significant associations were observed between percentages of students scoring satisfactory in mathematics and reading tests and both indoor T (r ¼� .353 and r ¼� .311 respectively) and ventilation rate (r ¼ .417 and r ¼ .479 respectively), which was estimated based on CO2 levels. In addition, ventilation rate was associated with mean number of visits to school nurse due to respiratory symptoms, and culturable bacteria with mean number of visits due to gastrointestinal symptoms; but there were no significant correlations between absenteeism and IEQ parameters in these school-level analyses. In conclusion, classroom ventilation rate, temperature, and hygiene of high contact surfaces appear to be important IEQ parameters, potentially related to student health and/or performance. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pedro Garciaserrano - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • aerobic treatment of black ripe olive processing streams to reduce Biological Contamination
    Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 2020
    Co-Authors: Pedro Garciaserrano, Concepcion Romero, Antonio De Castro, Pedro Garciagarcia, Alfredo Montano, Eduardo Medina, Manuel Brenes
    Abstract:

    Abstract A new aeration treatment of black ripe olive streams prior to their vacuum evaporation was studied. It was found that the aeration for two days of these solutions reduced the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the distillate phase (>80%) generated during their vacuum evaporation; although the temperature (14–38 °C) and the air flow rate (10–50 L air/h/L) had a great influence on this reduction. Moreover, the COD in the distillate was mainly associated with the presence of acetic acid (~400 mg/L) and ethanol (~500 mg/L), the later substance being eliminated by strong aeration. Additionally, the growth of native aerobic microorganisms, mainly Acetobacter, increased the pH of the wastewater to 7–8 units, thus avoiding evaporation of the acetic acid salt formed. These results make the use of the distillate for plant irrigation viable and its discharge into municipal depuration plants possible, given the low COD ( Industrial relevance The worldwide production of table olives is annually increasing but the management of the solutions generated during olive processing is limiting this expansion, in particular due to their high salt content. Factories are nowadays concentrating these solutions by using vacuum evaporation but the Contamination of the distillate is too high. The present work has been carried out based on industry demand for low cost and easy handle technology able to reduce COD in distillates. The results of the present study showed that the content in ethanol and acetic acid of distillates can be reduced to a large extend by simple aerating of the solutions prior to the vacuum evaporation step, and this open the possibility of their reuse for plant irrigation.