Rubber Gloves Research Articles

First Report of Globisporangium heterothallicum Causing Seedling Disease on Guayule in Arizona.

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) is known for producing low-allergenic latex that is used in high end rubber products for medical use such as rubber gloves, catheters, and condoms. Currently, there are growing efforts from tire industry to commercialize guayule for rubber production in Arizona. During May 2019, wilting and death of c. 25% of seedling plants were observed in direct-seeded guayule fields in central Arizona. Symptoms of root rots and hypocotyl constriction were observed on affected seedling plants. To identify the causal agent, four symptomatic plants were collected to isolate the putative pathogen. Small pieces of symptomatic root (2-5 mm) were surface sterilized in 0.6% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, rinsed copiously in sterile distilled water, blotted dry, and plated on 10% clarified V8-PARP (Jeffers and Martin 1986). Four oomycete-like isolates with abundant hyphal swellings were purified by transferring tips of single hypha onto new 20% CV8 plates and incubating at 23°C for one week. Sporangia were formed abundantly, globose or lemon-shaped (average 20 ± 4 × 20 ± 4 μm, n = 15). Isolates did not produce oospores (heterothallic). Genomic DNA was extracted from the mycelia of two isolates using DNeasy Plant Pro Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox 1) gene were amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al., 1990) and OomCoxI-Levup/OomCoxI-Levlo (Martin and Tooley, 2003; Robideau et al., 2011) and the resulting amplicons were sequenced (GenBank Accession No. OL514636 and OL539842). A BLASTn search of 808-bp amplicon (OL514636) revealed 100% match with ITS sequences MT039880 which was G. heterothallicum causing root and crown rot of pepper in Turkey. BLAST analysis of the 658-bp amplicon (OL539842) showed 99.39 % identity with the COX 1 sequence of G. heterothallicum from tomato in Australia (MT981128). To fulfill Koch's postulates, pathogenicity tests were conducted twice on 2-week-old 'Az 2' guayule plants grown in 1.9-liter pots filled with a steam-disinfested potting mix. Pots were placed in a plastic container and watered three times a week by flooding, to create waterlogged conditions. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse and fertilized weekly with a 20-20-20 fertilizer at 1mg/ml. Twenty plants in 5 pots (4 plants/pot) were challenged with a G. heterothallicum isolate by drenching pot with 50 ml of a 1×106 zoospore/ml suspension. Twenty plants in 5 pots, serving as a control, received each 50 ml of distilled water. Symptoms of wilting and water-soaked root rot, and plant death were observed 2 weeks afterward, whereas control plants remained asymptomatic. G. heterothallicum was reisolated from necrotic roots of inoculated plants but not from control plants. G. heterothallicum has been increasingly reported as a pathogen of damping-off or root and crown rot on hosts such as alfalfa in Minnesota (Berg et al., 2017), soybean in Pennsylvania (Coffua et al., 2016), spinach in Sweden (Larsson, 1994), corn in China (Gan, et al., 2010), pepper in Turkey (Dervis, et al., 2020). To our knowledge, this is the first report of G. heterothallicum causing guayule seedling diseases in the United States. The presence of broad-host-range pathogen G. heterothallicum suggests that new strategies are needed for managing this pathogen to increase stands in direct-seeded guayule production system.

Improving concrete fatigue resistance with COVID-19 rubber gloves: An innovative sustainable approach

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019, a surprisingly large amount of personal protective equipment, such as medical rubber gloves, have been frequently used, and this medical waste can cause very major environmental problems. A multidisciplinary collaborative approach is needed to combat the pandemic and lessen the environmental risks associated with the disposal of medical waste. This study developed an innovative approach by incorporating shredded rubber glove fibers (RGF) into aggregates to enhance the fatigue resistance of concrete. In this study, different volume contents (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%) of RGF were added to the aggregate for the first time. The effects of different RGF contents on the fatigue characteristics of concrete were examined through repeated loading tests and SEM analysis. The results show that the width and number of cracks produced by rubber glove fiber concrete (RGFC) after repeated loading are significantly reduced compared with normal concrete (NC). Following repeated loading, RGFC exhibited higher total, plastic, and elastic strain values than NC, demonstrating greater deformability and elasticity. However, the maximum total strain growth rate and the total strain growth range of the RGFC group were only 2.26 × 10−3/time and 14.0%, which were significantly smaller than the 3.8 × 10−3/time and 31.7% of the NC group, showing better stability, corresponding to enhance the fatigue resistance of concrete. The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) was abnormally smooth with a thin thickness and no visible gaps were discovered, based on the results of SEM test performed on the RGFC. The findings obtained in this study may provide new ideas for the resource utilization of medical waste.

RANKING OF CRITERIA FOR ORDER ALLOCATION IN A RUBBER GLOVE MANUFACTURING FACTORY USING ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

Malaysia is the world’s leading producer of rubber gloves, among over 150 manufacturers worldwide. Based on current practice among the manufacturer of rubber gloves, there is no fixed guideline in planning for the orders based on various criteria as each criterion has its importance, and the orders are planned based on the real-time situation. Therefore, in this study, the criteria to be considered for order allocation to factories and their importance were determined using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) technique. Six criteria, namely quality, cost, lead time, capacity, special requirement, and regulation compliance, were identified based on the literature search of past studies in the field and supported by the expert’s opinion. Later, the experts ranked the importance of each criterion using a specifically designed questionnaire employing the AHP method. The pairwise comparison matrix was consistent with a consistency ratio (CR) value of 0.0495. Thus, the six criteria by ranking top to bottom with respective weightage are quality (25.81%), cost (21.7%), lead time (20.73%), regulation compliance (16.86%), special requirement (7.86%), and capacity (7.04%). In summary, the objectives of this research have been successfully met, according to the findings, and the criteria ranking can be used as a guideline by rubber glove manufacturers in planning for order allocation.

A Dual-Function Wearable Electrochemical Sensor for Uric Acid and Glucose Sensing in Sweat.

Simultaneous detection of uric acid and glucose using a non-invasive approach can be a promising strategy for related diseases, e.g., diabetes, gout, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we have proposed a dual-function wearable electrochemical sensor for uric acid and glucose detection in sweat. The sensor with a four-electrode system was prepared by printing the ink on a common rubber glove. CV and chronoamperometry were used to characterize the prepared sensor's electrochemical sensing performance. The sensors exhibited the linear range from 0 to 1.6 mM and 0 to 3.7 mM towards uric acid and glucose electrochemical sensing in phosphate-buffered solution, with the corresponding limit of detection of 3.58 μM and 9.10 μM obtained, respectively. Moreover, the sensors had shown their feasibility of real sample sensing in sweat. The linear detection range for uric acid (0 to 40 μM) and glucose (0 to 1.6 mM) in the sweat can well cover their concentration range in physiological conditions. The prepared dual-function wearable electrochemical sensor features easy preparation, fast detection, high sensitivity, high selectivity, and the practical application potential in uric acid and glucose sensing.

Assessment of knowledge of occupational hazards and practice of safety measures among construction workers of building industries of Kottayam District Kerala

Background: Construction workers suffer far more serious injuries and fatalities than the general workforce population. The construction industry generates demand for the skilled and semi-skilled labor force. The unsafe behavior of the construction workers and unsafe conditions of the sites requires to be changed in the modern construction industry. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of occupational hazards and the practice of safety measures among construction workers of building industries of Kottayam district, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the building construction workers in Kottayam, Kerala, from August 28, 2022, to October 29, 2022. Random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The sample size was calculated to be 210 and a self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the data and analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Among the 210 participants, 134 (63.8%) were unaware of work-related injuries or diseases. Usage of personal protective devices such as rubber gloves and safety glasses were 109 (51.95%), and 62 (29.5%), respectively. It was found that the higher the work experience of the participants, more was the awareness on occupational hazards. Conclusion: The study revealed that the majority of the construction workers were unaware about the occupational hazards associated with their work. The practice of safety measures among them was also moderate. There is an increased need for health promotion and campaigns so as to sensitize and enlighten workers on health risks attributed to poor utilization of personal protective equipments.

Data Analytics for Pandemic Management using MapReduce and Apriori Algorithm

Amidst the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economies and healthcare systems, effective data analysis has become paramount. Our research paper, titled ”Data Analytics for Pandemic Management Using MapReduce and Apriori Algo- rithm,” presents a comprehensive framework to analyze pandemic data. We harness the power of the MapReduce and Apriori algorithms, with a parallel processing model achieving an average speedup of 50%. This approach involves data collection, pre- processing, and algorithmic application to extract valuable insights from pandemic-related data. Notably, our findings reveal a substantial 22.29% support rate for ”n95 masks,” indicating high demand. Additionally, we identify strong co-occurrence patterns, exemplified by the perfect support rate of 1.00 between ”n95 masks” and ”chloroquine,” highlighting their interconnectedness. Our framework goes beyond data analysis, enhancing personalized marketing, and optimizing inventory management for efficient resource allocation during crises. We also uncover robust associations, such as the 0.220 confidence in joint purchases of ”butyl rubber gloves” and ”surgical masks”.Hence, the research aligns seamlessly with the pressing need for effective pandemic data management and response strategies. By validating our approach through numerical insights, we aim to contribute to mitigating pandemic-related challenges and support global efforts to better prepare for and manage future health emergencies.

Determinats of irritant contact dermatitis in seaweed farmers

Irritant contact dermatitis is an acute or chronic skin inflammatory response to exposure to external irritants that affect the skin. One type of work that is easily exposed to irritants is seaweed farming, because of the hydroid content in seaweed. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis in seaweed farmers in Dusun Lomboan, distric. South Tinangkung Regency Banggai Kepulauan. This study uses a type of analytical observational research with a cross sectional study approach. The sample in this study were 40 workers using the total sampling technique. Data collection was carried out through observation, interviews and questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test. The statistical test results showed that contact duration (p value = 0.012), years of service (p value = 0.001), personal hygiene (p value = 0.013) and history of skin disease (p-value = 0.015) had a relationship with irritant contact dermatitis symptoms. It is recommended for seaweed farmers to use PPE when working, for example rubber gloves, special shoes, to avoid direct exposure which can cause irritant contact dermatitis. Also always maintain personal hygiene after doing work such as washing hands using soap with running water and bathing to avoid the risk of irritant contact dermatitis

Rubber gloves in orthopaedic surgery (part II): Cooke and Goodyear; Halsted and Caroline's gloves of love; from cotton to rubber after Perthes' experiments; double glove technique with Urist.

This study determines the timeline for surgeons adopting rubber gloves and the double glove technique in the operating room for orthopaedic surgery. Using the vague historical terms of discovery, acceptance, commonplace, and consistency, we analyzed the influence of the different actors in each period. Cotton or silk was used for early gloves; they were permeable, sometimes coated with paraffin. Uses of rubber date to the 1600s when the Mesoamericans used rubber to make shoes. After the discovery of rubber in 1735 by the French scientist Charles de la Condamine in Peru, the rubber glove was imagined in 1834 and done for the first time by R. F. Cooke. The acceptance of rubber gloves arrived when the Goodyear-Rubber Society began to manufacture rubber gloves. Halsted, at Johns Hopkins Hospital, negotiated in 1889 with the Goodyear Rubber Company to produce thin rubber gloves to protect his nurse's hands from the dermatologic effects of the carbolic acid used to sterilize instruments. Commonplace to protect patients from bacteria of hand surgeons necessitated several decades. Dr. Joseph Bloodgood (Halsted's senior resident) remarked that gloving the surgeon with rubber gloves reduced the infection rate. Still, surgeons were reluctant to wear gloves that impaired the sense of touch. Laboratory experiments performed by G. Perthes on cotton and rubber gloves were necessary to generalize rubber gloves for practice in orthopaedic surgery. Consistency of the double-glove technique arrived during World War II when M. Urist proposed the double protection against bites from bone or bullet fragments while exploring war wounds. Only in 1965, when The Ansell Rubber Company utilized gamma irradiation as a low-cost method of sterilizing the gloves they produced, did disposable gloves become sterile. This article helps to understand the detailed discussions before surgical gloves' modern operating equipment.

Healthcare Worker Having Irritant Contact Dermatitis Due to Rubber Accelerators: A Case Report

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is common among workers, especially healthcare workers, partly due to medical latex gloves. The main element found in gloves is the accelerator. Most research indicates that thiurams and dithiocarbamate groups cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Rattanarak et al, 2019 reported that accelerators could cause ICD. The current research was of a 26-year-old working as a nurse in the operating room, having symptoms of erythematous rash, burning sensation, and mild itching. Opened application test of the rubber gloves was negative. The suspected glove came from the Thai rubber latex company, which declined to provide information. However, Rojruthai et al, 2022 extracted and analyzed residual accelerators from Thai rubber latex gloves and found dithiocarbamates, ZDEC, ZDBC, ZMBT, and thiuram. The worker was diagnosed with occupational ICD from rubber accelerators, thiurams and dithiocarbamate, albeit cases are rare. The worker was treated with low-dose steroids and provided access to low-dermatitis potential medical gloves. After six months of follow-up, the worker recovered. Therefore, physicians should be aware of the signs and symptoms of ICD in workers exposed to accelerators in medical gloves. Avoiding causative substances is the most effective way to avoid ICD, so providing suitable low-dermatitis potential medical gloves is essential for this group of patients. Keywords: Case reports; Irritant contact dermatitis; Medical gloves; Rubber accelerator; Occupational

Effect of Latex Purification and Accelerator Types on Rubber Allergens Prevalent in Sulphur Prevulcanized Natural Rubber Latex: Potential Application for Allergy-Free Natural Rubber Gloves.

Natural rubber (NR) gloves manufactured from NR latex are widely utilized in various applications as a personal protective device due to their exceptional barrier characteristics in infection control. However, the use of NR gloves was associated with concerns on NR protein allergy. With comprehensive leaching procedures now a common practice in NR latex glove factories to eliminate latent rubber proteins and chemical allergens, occurrences and complaints of protein allergy from medical glove users have decreased drastically over the past two decades. The present work aims to eliminate further the residual rubber allergens in NR latex through effective purification of the NR latex and compounding the thus purified latex with an established formulation for allergy-free NR for glove applications. NR latex was purified by deproteinization and saponification, respectively. Several analytical techniques were used to verify rubber allergens eliminated in the purified latexes. Saponified NR (SPNR) latex was the purified NR latex of choice since it is devoid of allergenic proteins and poses the lowest risk of Type I allergy. The purified NR latex was compounded with zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC), zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate (ZDBC), and zinc 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (ZMBT), respectively, for glove dipping. Among the investigated accelerators, only ZDBC was not detected in the artificial sweat that came into contact with the dipped articles. Thus, it is deduced that ZDBC poses the lowest risk of Type IV allergy to consumers. Additionally, the morphological and physical properties of dipped articles were assessed. It was revealed that the dipped film from the SPNR latex compounded with ZDBC provided thinner and less yellow products with a more uniform internal structure and a tensile strength comparable to those of commercial NR gloves.

Optimization of Biomass Fuel Composition for Rubber Glove Manufacturing in Thailand

The demand for rubber gloves has significantly increased in both medical and non-medical fields due to the spread of the coronavirus in 2019. It is challenging for rubber glove manufacturing industries to balance the production and demand for the product. Additionally, they must determine techniques to decrease the production costs so as to make rubber gloves more economical for consumers. Generally, natural gas, fossil fuels, and renewable energy sources are used worldwide in the manufacturing of rubber gloves. In addition, Thailand uses biomass energy for rubber glove production, but biomass utilization is not economically friendly. This study used different biomasses as fuel in rubber glove production so as to reduce production costs and make the process more environmentally friendly. Wood chip (WC), palm kernel shells (PKS), and oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) biomass were collected from local regions and used in different ratios. The samples of WC, PKS, and OPMF were prepared in four different ratios, namely, 88:12:0, 85:15:0, 85:13:2, and 85:10:5, for efficient biomass utilization. The 85:10:5 (WC: PKS: OPMF) ratio was found to be the optimal ratio as the annual production costs of rubber gloves significantly decreased to USD 1.64 per 1000 units of gloves. Furthermore, this biomass ratio also showed the best boiler efficiency of 74.87%. Therefore, WC, PKS, and OPMF biomass are recommended as fuel for rubber glove industries to make sustainable and economical production processes.

Comparison of permeabilities of eight different types of cytotoxic drugs to five gloves with different materials by LC-MS/MS methods to reduce occupational exposure of medical personnel.

Occupational exposure is a long-standing public health concern, which has drawn more and more attention in recent years to the problem of how to carry out occupational protection effectively. Gloves are regarded as the most critical protective equipment for cytotoxic medications. However, there is still little research conducted on the protective performance of gloves made of different materials and the optimal glove combination for cytotoxic agents. In this research, a specific instrument intended for glove permeation experiment was designed, with various methods of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) developed and validated. By using the specific instrument and LC-MS/MS methods, a study was conducted on the permeation ability of eight selected cytotoxic drugs (fluorouracil, epirubicin (EPI), docetaxel (DCT), methotrexate (MTX), cyclophosphamide (CTX), etoposide (ETP), vincristine sulfate (VCR), and cisplatin derivatives Pt-(DDTC)3) into five kinds of gloves (rubber (RB), nitrile (NT), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), low-density polyethylene, and polyvinylchloride (PVC) resin) given different contact times. Then, the experimental data were analyzed through a generalized estimation equation and Pearson correlation analysis. The results show that within a short period of time (less than five minutes), ETP, CTX, fluorouracil, DCT, and cisplatin passed through five types of gloves but the level of MTX, VCR, and EPI permeation was minimal, despite the duration of contact between the three drugs and the gloves reaching as long as three hours. Furthermore, the permeation of DCT and ETP was found to be positively correlated with time. Chlorinated polyethylene and PVC resin perform well in protecting against most cytotoxic drugs and are recommendable for clinical practice. Due to the poor protective ability, RB gloves are not recommended for this purpose. Based on the performance of various gloves in offering protection, the protection grade of two gloves can be deduced. Chlorinated polyethylene + PVC resin, CPE + NT glove combination shows good protective performance against most target drugs and can be recommended for clinical practice.

Catalytic cascade upcycling single-use natural rubber glove wastes into fuels via a two-stage pressurized fixed-bed reactor

Chemical upcycling rubber wastes into hydrocarbon fuels offers a promising approach toward achieving carbon neutrality. To generate fuel-range cycloalkanes and isoalkanes from natural rubber glove wastes (NRGWs), the depolymerization of NRGWs was performed by integrating hydropyrolysis with vapor-phase hydrogenation over a bifunctional Ni/Al2O3-SiO2 catalyst. Isoprene and limonene were the primary alkenes obtained from the non-catalytic hydropyrolysis of NRGWs, and these intermediates were vapor-phase hydrotreated over Ni/Al2O3-SiO2 producing C10 cycloalkane as the dominant fuel-range products. Complete hydrogenation of isoprene and limonene was achieved under a catalyst to feedstock mass ratio of 2.0, giving a maximum gasoline yield of 92 wt% under 225 °C hydrogenation temperature at 0.2 MPa H2. A low hydropyrolysis temperature of 450 °C maximized C10 cycloalkane yield at 72.3 wt% with 80.1% selectivity, while a high temperature of 600 °C yielded 76.6 wt% C5 isoalkane. A deconstruction mechanism in the catalytic cascade upcycling of NRGWs was proposed by employing limonene hydrogenation as a probe reaction. The results demonstrate that upcycling polymer wastes by cascade hydropyrolysis‑hydrogenation is a promising approach to produce alternative fuels with improved properties.

Impact of an Enhanced Infection Control Protocol on the Microbial Community Profile in Molar Root Canal Treatment: An in Vivo NGS Molecular Study

IntroductionRecent findings demonstrated that 1-year cone-beam computed tomography–based outcomes of molar root canal treatment were improved through an enhanced infection protocol (EnP), when compared with a current best-practice standard infection control protocol (StP). The EnP comprised measures to reduce iatrogenic contamination from direct and indirect contact surfaces, including the replacement of the rubber dams, gloves, files, all instruments, and surface barriers before root canal obturation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of such an EnP on resident microbiome present after chemomechanical instrumentation and the protocol ability in reducing iatrogenic contamination in molar teeth during root canal treatment. MethodsMolar teeth were block-randomized to receive treatment under EnP or StP. To compare the differential effect of the protocol on the identity of bacteria present, 150 matched DNA extracts from 75 molar teeth samples (StP, n = 39; EnP, n = 36) were evaluated. Samples were taken before (S1) and after (S2) chemomechanical preparation and were subjected to next-generation sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene before bioinformatical identification using the HOMD oral microbiome database and downstream taxonomic processing, providing measures of richness and diversity of bacteria and significant bacterial taxa during chemomechanical instrumentation and the effect of the 2 treatment groups. ResultsEighty-eight microbial taxa were significantly more abundant in StP S2 samples, including endodontically relevant contaminants taxa as Actinomyces, Cutibacterium, and Haemophilus. The S2 samples demonstrated fewer residual bacterial species in the EnP group, with 26.8 observed species compared with 38.3 in the StP. Reduced diversity and richness measures were noted in the EnP pre-obturation samples compared with the StP in OTU, Chao1, and ACE indices (P ≤ .05). Differential microbial identities between S1 and S2 samples and protocols demonstrated that the previously observed increased effectiveness of the EnP protocol was likely to prevent recontamination or de novo contamination of the root canal space during treatment. ConclusionsThe implemented EnP resulted in a specific reduction of microbial taxa often associated with recontamination or iatrogenic contamination, suggesting the basis for improved infection control measures during root canal treatment.

The Inhibitory Effect of Quercetin on Biofilm Formation of Listeria monocytogenes Mixed Culture and Repression of Virulence.

Listeria monocytogenes is the species of foodborne pathogenic bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis. The food production chain employs various methods to control biofilms, although none are completely successful. This study evaluates the effectiveness of quercetin as a food additive in reducing L. monocytogenes mixed cultures (ATCC19113, ATCC19117, and ATCC15313) biofilm formation on stainless steel (SS), silicon rubber (SR), and hand glove (HG) coupons, as well as tests its antimicrobial activities. With a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250 µg/mL, the tested quercetin exhibited the lowest bactericidal action with no visible bacterial growth. In contrast, during various experiments in this work, the inhibitory efficacy of quercetin at sub-MICs levels (1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 MIC) against L. monocytogenes was examined. A control group was not added with quercetin. The current study also investigates the effect of quercetin on the expression of different genes engaged in motility (flaA, fbp), QS (agrA), and virulence (hlyA, prfA). Through increasing quercetin concentration, swarming and swimming motility, biofilm formation, and expression levels of target genes linked to flagella motility, virulence, and quorum-sensing were all dramatically reduced. Quercetin (0–125 μg/mL) was investigated on the SS, SR, and HG surfaces; the inhibitory effects were 0.39–2.07, 0.09–1.96 and 0.03–1.69 log CFU/cm2, respectively (p < 0.05). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) corroborated the findings because quercetin prevented the development of biofilms by severing cell-to-cell contacts and inducing cell lysis, which resulted in the loss of normal cell shape. Our findings suggest that plant-derived quercetin should be used as an antimicrobial agent in the food industry to control the development of L. monocytogenes biofilms. These outcomes suggest that bacterial targets are of interest for biofilm reduction, with alternative natural food agents in the food sector along the entire food production chain.

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Effects of flow and heat transfer around a hand-shaped former

Rubber glove manufacturing requires improvements in the curing process. In this study, the forced convection of hot airflow past a hand-shaped former, which has a typical shape in the rubber glove manufacturing process, was examined. A former model consisting of five fingers, palm, dorsum, and wrist was separated to investigate the convective heat transfer of the individual parts by OpenFOAM. The study conditions for the manufacturing process were a Reynolds number ranging from 15,837 to 63,351 and an angle of attack from 0° to 180°. After validating the computational fluid dynamics models with experiments and previous research, the k–ω shear stress transport turbulence model was appropriate. The angle of attack slightly affected the average Nusselt number on all parts of the hand-shaped former except the dorsum. An optimization method was employed to determine the optimal attack angle that caused the maximum convective heat transfer. The result was 0°. Therefore, the simulation results for the dorsal part at 0° established an average Nusselt number equation. This equation had an accuracy with an average error of less than 0.24% and an R 2 of 0.9997. The average Nusselt number equation of the dorsal part is representative for analyzing the heat transfer in the curing process in rubber glove manufacturing.

Control of foot-and-mouth disease in a closed society: A case study of Soviet Estonia.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a dangerous infectious disease of even-toed ungulates, however since 1991, the European Union has banned preventive vaccination. During the occupation of the USSR, there were two outbreaks in Estonia: the first started in 1952 (at which time the barns typically housed about 20 cows); and the second began in 1982 (a period when barns typically housed several 100 animals). Neither outbreak was reported to the international community. At that time, it was also forbidden to talk about the disease in the internal media, and speakers could be punished. This study sought to find answers as to how the disease was treated and eliminated in the Estonian SSR, how infected animals and milk were handled, and if some of the methods used can be applied today. Written archival sources and 29 interviews with specialists remembering the outbreaks were used. Preventive slaughter of animals in the USSR was prohibited during the outbreak. As a preventive measure vaccination was used, traveling out of their counties by people were restricted and disinfection mats were used on the roads. In sick animals, udder wounds were treated with various wound ointments, such as zinc ointment, but also ointment made from boiled spruce resin. Birch tar was also recommended in the literature for leg treatments. Mouth wounds were washed with potassium permanganate solution. Workers used rubber gloves when handling sick animals. The barns were disinfected with lime and ash water. The milk from the diseased cows was pasteurized and given to calves, pigs, or diseased animals. Animals that did not recover were transferred to a meat processing plant. The meat was kept in potassium permanganate solution before processing and canned or made into sausages. When the disease was discovered, farm workers were locked in barns and released only when the disease had been eliminated. Such inhumane treatment could only be practiced in a totalitarian society.

Wearable Natural Rubber Latex Gloves with Curcumin for Torn Glove Detection in Clinical Settings.

Glove tear or perforation is a common occurrence during various activities that require gloves to be worn, posing a significant risk to the wearer and possibly others. This is vitally important in a clinical environment and particularly during surgical procedures. When a glove perforation occurs (and is noticed), the glove must be replaced as soon as possible; however, it is not always noticeable. The present article is focused on the design and development of a novel fluorescence-based sensing mechanism, which is integrated within the glove topology, to help alert the wearer of a perforation in situ. We hypothesized that natural rubber gloves with curcumin infused would yield fluorescence when the glove is damaged, particularly when torn or punctured. The glove design is based on double-dipping between Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) and an inner layer of latex mixed with curcumin, which results in a notable bright yellow-green emission when exposed to UV light. Curcumin (Cur) is a phenolic chemical found primarily in turmeric that fluoresces yellowish-green at 525 nm. The tear region on the glove will glow, indicating the presence of a Cur coating/dipping layer beneath. NRL film is modified by dipping it in a Cur dispersion solution mixed with NRL for the second dipping layer. Using Cur as a filler in NRL also has the distinct advantage of allowing the glove to be made stronger by evenly distributing it throughout the rubber phase. Herein, the optimized design is fully characterized, including physicochemical (fluorescence emission) and mechanical (tensile and tear tests) properties, highlighting the clear potential of this novel and low-cost approach for in situ torn glove detection.

Radiation protection measures of the radiological facilities in Kano metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract Introduction: The medical use of ionizing radiation contributes the largest amount of man-made radiation exposure and ranks second to natural background radiation. Adhering to the standard radiation protection measures minimizes radiation dose to patients, staff, and other public members. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate radiation protection measures in radiological facilities in the Kano metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Kano metropolis, Nigeria, between February 2021 and May 2021. A structured questionnaire was formulated. The measuring tool was validated by expert and experienced colleagues. The reliability of the measuring tool was tested using a pilot study, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was found to be 0.815. A total of 101 respondents were recruited. These were the radiographers working in the functional radiological facilities. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0, and P &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: X-ray room design was sufficient in the majority of radiological facilities 67 (66.7%). Insufficient availability of personnel protective devices in 47 (46.9%) respondents was observed. The majority, 24 (23.9%) of the respondents, indicated poor utilization of personnel protective devices. There was insufficient registration and records of radiation safety measures 26 (26.0%). Only 48 (47.5%) respondents indicated the availability of a QA committee in their facility. Fifty-two (51.5%) of the respondents reported that they have medical physicists/engineers available to provide support within their department, while only 25 (25.7%) had radiation safety officers in their facilities. There was a weak negative correlation between lead aprons and lead rubber gloves with the level of staff training, respectively (r = −0.254, P = 0.010; r = −0.214, P = 0.031). Conclusion: There was sufficient X-ray room design in the Kano metropolis. An insufficient availability of personal protective devices, poor utilization, registration, and records of radiation safety measures was observed. There were inadequate QA committee and QC test in the majority of the radiological facilities. A weak negative correlation was observed between the use of lead aprons and lead rubber gloves with the level of staff training.