Touch Surfaces Research Articles

Investigating the changing taxonomy and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from door handles in a new infectious disease ward pre- and post-patient admittance.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant burden to health systems, conferring increased morbidity, mortality, and financial costs to hospital admission. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) further compounds the issue as viable treatment options are constrained. Previous studies have shown that environmental cleaning interventions reduced HAIs. To ensure the effectiveness of these, it is important to analyze the hospital environment at a microbial level, particularly high-touch surfaces which see frequent human interaction. In addition to identifying infectious microorganisms, it is also beneficial to assess typically non-infectious organisms, as traits including AMR can be transferred between the two. Our study identified that there were high levels of antibiotic resistance in typically non-infectious organisms found on high touch surfaces on a hospital ward. However, the organisms identified suggested that the cleaning protocols in place were sufficient, with their presence being due to repeated recolonization events through human interaction after cleaning had taken place.

Seeing the piles of the velvet bending under our finger sliding over a tactile stimulator improves the feeling of the fabric.

Using friction modulation to simulate fabrics with a tactile stimulator (i.e. virtual surface) is not sufficient to render fabric touch and even more so for hairy fabrics. We hypothesized that seeing the pile of the velvet darken or lighten depending on changes in the finger movement direction on the virtual surface should improve the velvet fabric rendering. Participants actively rubbed a tactile device or a velvet fabric looking at a screen that showed a synthesized image of a velvet that either remained static (V-static) or darkening/lightening with the direction of touch (V-moving). We showed that in V-moving condition, the touched surface was always perceived rougher, which is a descriptor of a real velvet (Experiment 1). Using electroencephalography and sources localization analyses, we found increased activity in the occipital and inferior parietal lobes (Experiment 2) when seeing dark and shining traces during back-and-forth finger movements over the virtual surface. This suggests that these two posterior cortical regions work together to evaluate visuo-tactile congruence between the seen and the felt (tactile). The visuo-tactile binding, evidenced by neural synchronization (specifically, theta band (5-7 Hz) oscillation) in the left inferior posterior parietal lobule, is consistent with enhanced integration of information and probably contributed to the emergence of a more realistic velvet representation.

Efficacy of Disinfectants for Monkeypox Virus Inactivation on High Touch Surface Materials in Low-Resource Settings.

Disinfection efficacy tests were conducted on surface carriers inoculated with the monkeypox virus (MPXV) by applying six disinfectant solutions (and three controls) on six surfaces common in low-resource settings: four nonporous surfaces (stainless steel, glass, plastic, and latex) and two porous surfaces (ceramic and wood). Disinfectants were wiped on carriers in triplicate, with a 1 min contact time: 0.05 and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, two quaternary ammonium compound (QAC)-based disinfectants, and 1.4% hydrogen peroxide. MPXV was then quantified, and log10 removal values were calculated. Sodium hypochlorite (0.05 and 0.5%) and ethanol (70%) removed MPXV to below detection level, ≥ 99.97% reduction for nonporous surfaces, and ≥99.40% for wood, QAC-based disinfectants were efficacious on nonporous surfaces (≥99.97% inactivation) but had diminished efficacy on wood, a porous surface, and 1.4% H2O2 had limited efficacy across all tested surfaces. Results varied by disinfectant type and surface type. Based on our results, we recommend using 0.05% sodium hypochlorite or 70% ethanol with 1 min contact time to inactive MPXV on clean nonporous and porous surfaces. As MPXV is evolving, future research with additional disinfectants, application methods, and environmental conditions and research to understand adsorption, disinfection efficacy, and transmission risk on porous surfaces are needed to develop practical disinfection recommendations.

Antimicrobial Performance of Different Metals

Health care associated infections or nosocomial infections (NI) is the fourth leading cause of disease and the most common complication affecting hospitalised patients in addition to a minimum of 175,000 deaths every year in industrialised countries. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that influenza is transmitted from person to person primarily via large virus-laden droplets or through direct or indirect contact with respiratory secretions when touching surfaces contaminated with influenza virus and approximately 80% of the infections are transmitted via touch surfaces. In the year 2020 the Coronavirus (Covid 19) spread has affected the global community and also caused a great concern for the people and health care workers with a global infected population of more than five million. With the ongoing population rise in the cities growing drug resistant bacteria, increasing infection rate in hospitals and communities, ageing world population strongly indicates the need to minimise the spread of infections via touch surfaces. Metals (and products manufactured from them) such as copper and silver are known to exhibit antimicrobial properties. These metals, or composites containing them, can be used as additives and incorporated into other materials such as paints, plastics and powder coatings to imbue these materials with antimicrobial properties. In this paper we present the inherent antimicrobial properties of a copper containing alloy, two alloys of hospital grade steel (304 and 316), extruded aluminium (606013), anodized aluminium (606013) and zinc clad aluminium (3003-7072). Additionally, these materials were coated in epoxy resin powder coating with and without silver based antimicrobial additive. The ability of these metal alloys to reduce the population of inoculated microorganism numbers was assessed via the international standard (ISO) 22196:2011 Measurement of antimicrobial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces.

Decoding roughness perception in distributed haptic devices

Abstract The ability to render realistic texture perception using haptic devices has been consistently challenging. A key component of texture perception is roughness. When we touch surfaces, mechanoreceptors present under the skin are activated and the information is processed by the nervous system, enabling perception of roughness/smoothness. Several distributed haptic devices capable of producing localized skin stretch have been developed with the aim of rendering realistic roughness perception; however, current state-of-the-art devices rely on device fabrication and psychophysical experimentation to determine whether a device configuration will perform as desired. Predictive models can elucidate physical mechanisms, providing insight and a more effective design iteration process. Since existing models (1, 2) are derived from responses to normal stimuli only, they cannot predict the performance of laterally actuated devices which rely on frictional shear forces to produce localized skin stretch. They are also unable to predict the augmentation of roughness perception when the actuators are spatially dispersed across the contact patch or actuated with a relative phase difference (3). In this study, we have developed a model that can predict the perceived roughness for arbitrary external stimuli and validated it against psychophysical experimental results from different haptic devices reported in literature. The model elucidates two key mechanisms: 1) The variation in the change of strain across the contact patch can predict roughness perception with strong correlation 2) The inclusion of lateral shear forces is essential to correctly predict roughness perception. Using the model can accelerate device optimization by obviating the reliance on trial-and-error approaches.

Residential exposure to Aspergillus spp. is associated with exacerbations in COPD.

Sensitisation to Aspergillus fumigatus is linked to worse outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however, its prevalence and clinical implications in domestic (residential) settings remains unknown. Individuals with COPD (n=43) recruited in Singapore had their residences prospectively sampled and assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing including indoor air, outdoor air, and touch surfaces (total: 126 specimens). The abundance of environmental A. fumigatus and the occurrence of A. fumigatus (Asp f) allergens in the environment were determined and immunological responses to A. fumigatus allergens determined in association with clinical outcomes including exacerbation frequency. Findings were validated in 12 individuals (31 specimens) with COPD in Vancouver, Canada, a climatically different region. 157 metagenomes from 43 homes were assessed. Eleven and nine separate Aspergillus spp. were identified in Singapore and Vancouver respectively. Despite climatic, temperature, and humidity variation, A. fumigatus was detectable in the environment from both locations. The relative abundance of environmental A. fumigatus was significantly associated with exacerbation frequency in both Singapore (r=0.27, p=0.003) and Vancouver (r=0.49, p=0.01) and individuals with higher Asp f 3 sensitisation responses lived in homes with a greater abundance of environmental Asp f 3 allergens (p=0.037). Patients exposed and sensitised to Asp f 3 allergens demonstrated a higher rate of COPD exacerbations at 1-year follow-up (p=0.021). Environmental A. fumigatus exposure in the home environment including air and surfaces with resulting sensitisation carries pathogenic potential in individuals with COPD. Targeting domestic A. fumigatus abundance may reduce COPD exacerbations.

Human behavior-based COVID-19 transmission in two dining spaces

Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly disseminated globally, posing significant threats to the world. The dining spaces are high-risk indoor environments for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, posing challenges for intervention and control. This study, based on surveillance videos from two COVID-19 outbreak cases in restaurants, obtained real data on human behaviors of close contact and surface touch. A respiratory infectious disease transmission model was developed, incorporating four transmission routes: short-range airborne, long-range airborne, fomite and large droplet. The results indicate that diners and staff spent 21.9 %−28.7 % and 17.5 %−27.8 % of their time on speaking, respectively, while spending 85.9 %−90.7 % and 83.4 %−87.6 % of their time on surface touching. The primary transmission routes were short-range (contributing 5.8 %−70.9 %) and long-range airborne (contributing 28.4 %−93.0 %), with fomite and large droplet routes contributing less than 12.0 %. Staff-only mask wearing reduced infection risk by 12.8 %−31.8 %. It is recommended that mandatory mask wearing for staff is necessary, while diners should wear masks as much as possible, and that the equivalent ventilation rate of clean fresh air is suggested to 30.0 m3/ (h·person). This study provides a scientific support to make non-pharmaceutical interventions in dinning spaces.

Detection of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial isolates from most touched surfaces of public transports in Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria

Detection of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial isolates from most touched surfaces of public transports in Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria

A coupled hand and surface hygiene criterion on heterogeneous surface touch networks

Contaminated hands of people and contaminated surfaces of inanimate objects (fomites) can spread microbes that cause enteric and respiratory infections. Thus, hand hygiene and surface hygiene are probably the most widely adopted public health interventions for controlling such infections. However, conclusions of studies on the effectiveness of these interventions are often inconsistent, likely because such studies have examined these interventions separately and thus not detected their interactions, leading to differing conclusions about their individual impact. In this study, it is proposed that hand and environmental surface hygiene (including disinfection) should be coupled to control contamination spread between surfaces, especially within heterogeneous surface touch networks. In these networks, surfaces and individuals have varying contact frequencies and patterns, reflecting the diverse and non-uniform interactions that typically occur in real-world environments. Accordingly, we propose a new theoretical framework to delineate the relationships between hand hygiene and surface hygiene. In addition, the performance of a model based on this framework that used real-world behavioural data from a graduate student office is reported. Moreover, a coupled hygiene criterion for heterogeneous networks is derived. This criterion stipulates that the product of the pathogen-removal rates for hands and surfaces must exceed a cleaning threshold to ensure the exponential decay of contamination. Failure to meet this threshold results in a non-zero steady prevalence of contamination. Furthermore, the cleaning threshold increases as the numbers of surfaces and hands increase, highlighting the significant impact of network structures on hygiene practices. Thus, extensive cleaning may be necessary in crowded indoor environments with many surfaces and occupants, such as cruise ships, to prevent super-large outbreaks of, for example, noroviral infections. Overall, the findings of this study reveal how improved and integrated hygiene control can prevent fomite transmission.

Phthalates on indoor surfaces and associated exposure via surface touch behavior: Observation in university dormitories and its implications

Phthalates are typical emerging indoor pollutants and ubiquitously distributed in the indoor air, settled dust and on surfaces. Phthalates have the potential to be transported by human hands through surface touch behaviors. Although the contribution of subsequent exposure via hand-to-mouth contact in real indoor environments has not been thoroughly characterized, it is an important factor to consider. In this study, six commonly-used phthalates (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP)) were measured in surface wipes, air and dust samples collected from university dormitories. Video-cameras were used to monitor occupants’ real surface touch behaviors. Primary surfaces being touched included desks, cellphones, keyboards and computer mice, with averaged touch frequencies ranging from 10.4 h−1 to 25.4 h−1. Phthalate levels on computer mice were the highest, with DEHP being present as the most predominant compound (mean: 2621 μg/m2). Exposures via inhalation, dust ingestion, dermal absorption and hand-to-mouth contact were further estimated using Monte-Carlo simulations. The results suggest that the exposure resulting from surface touching and subsequent hand-mouthing could contribute 35 %–55 % to total exposure for targeted phthalates, which were generally higher than intakes via dust ingestion. This study provides a better understanding of phthalate transfer through surface touch behavior, and highlights the significance of hand-to-mouth contact exposure in indoor environments.

Transfer and recovery of DNA and metal particles: A proof-of-concept application of a parallel strategy by DNA and environmental scanning electron microscopy analysis

According to the principle of Locard “Every contact leaves a trace", when touching a surface, a bi-directional transfer of self and non-self-DNA residing on the hands and touched objects can occur. Metals are commonly encountered in forensic evidence and, during hand contact with these surfaces, a transfer of metal particles could occur together with the transfer of human DNA. This study proposes a proof-concept approach for the original detection of metal particles and touch DNA to track the activity performed by a donor and particularly to assess the metallic substrate touched before the contact with a subsequent surface. To this scope, a scenario of contact events was simulated by three volunteers, who participated in fingerprint deposition firstly on copper and then on plastic and glass surfaces. Twenty-four stubs were collected on the hands of volunteers and the secondary surfaces and then analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). DNA was quantified only from copper and plastic surfaces. Ten additional volunteers followed the same protocol of deposition on copper and then on plastic surfaces to evaluate DNA transfer only. On 20 touch DNA samples, the copper surface yielded significantly lower DNA amounts, ranging from 0.001 to 0.129 ng/μl, compared to the secondary touched plastic surface, ranging from 0.007 to 0.362 ng/μl. ESEM-EDS analysis showed that copper particles could be abundantly detected on the hands of the volunteers after contact with the copper surface. Particles containing silicates with copper were shown on plastic, while they were only found in 1/3 of samples on glass. Our proof-of-concept study has shown that ESEM-EDS analysis has the potential to detect copper particles transferred to the hands of volunteers during contact with a copper metallic surface and deposited on secondarily touched items. The results suggest that this original ESEM-DNA parallel approach could potentially allow the tracking of DNA transfer and metal particles at a crime scene, although this represents only a first step and further research on a wider casuistry could help to address the interpretation of results given activity level propositions.

Impact of terminal cleaning in rooms previously occupied by patients with healthcare-associated infections.

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are costly but preventable. A limited understanding of the effects of environmental cleaning on the riskiest HAI associated pathogens is a current challenge in HAI prevention. This project aimed to quantify the effects of terminal hospital cleaning practices on HAI pathogens via environmental sampling in three hospitals located throughout the United States. Surfaces were swabbed from 36 occupied patient rooms with a laboratory-confirmed, hospital- or community-acquired infection of at least one of the four pathogens of interest (i.e., Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis/faecium (VRE), and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile)). Six nonporous, high touch surfaces (i.e., chair handrail, bed handrail, nurse call button, desk surface, bathroom counter near the sink, and a grab bar near the toilet) were sampled in each room for Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and the four pathogens of interest before and after terminal cleaning. The four pathogens of interest were detected on surfaces before and after terminal cleaning, but their levels were generally reduced. Overall, C. difficile was confirmed on the desk (n = 2), while MRSA (n = 24) and VRE (n = 25) were confirmed on all surface types before terminal cleaning. After cleaning, only MRSA (n = 6) on bed handrail, chair handrail, and nurse call button and VRE (n = 5) on bathroom sink, bed handrail, nurse call button, toilet grab bar, and C. difficile (n = 1) were confirmed. At 2 of the 3 hospitals, pathogens were generally reduced by >99% during terminal cleaning. One hospital showed that VRE increased after terminal cleaning, MRSA was reduced by 73% on the nurse call button, and VRE was reduced by only 50% on the bathroom sink. ATP detections did not correlate with any pathogen concentration. This study highlights the importance of terminal cleaning and indicates room for improvement in cleaning practices to reduce surface contamination throughout hospital rooms.

Connecting Pathogen Transmission and Performance of the WHO’s ‘My 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’ in a High-Fidelity Simulation

Background: The World Health Organization launched ‘Your 5 moments for hand hygiene’ to identify when healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Performing hand hygiene correctly is necessary to decrease pathogen transfer, though little research has assessed the effectiveness of all 5 moments. Methods: Registered nurses (n=42) participated in a standardized, one-hour high-fidelity patient care simulation that were recorded via a head-mounted camera. The simulation involved two patients, each requiring four clinical care tasks (e.g., indwelling Foley catheter insertion, stool sample collection). Transmission data was obtained from the simulations using four genetic variants of bacteriophage λ. Before each simulation, variants were applied to unique locations on two manikins: patient A’s wound, patient A’s stool, patient B’s groin, and patient B’s stool. After each simulation, we sampled the patients, nurse, and high-touch environmental surfaces to determined bacteriophage identity of positive samples. For each moment, hand hygiene performance was the total time the nurse practiced hand hygiene across opportunities over the total recommended time (15 seconds per opportunity). Positive samples were categorized as 1) nurse contamination, 2) patient critical site(s) contamination, 3) high touch surface contamination from the same patient, or 4) high touch surface contamination from the other patient. To compare nurse’s performance of each of the 5 moments, we used a Friedman test and then a Wilcoxon test for pairwise comparisons. To assess the relationship between the four types of transmission outcomes and hand hygiene performance of the 5 moments, we performed linear regressions and calculated 95% confidence intervals by bootstrapping the original cases. Results: Performance of moments 1 (Before patient contact: 9.49%), 4 (After patient contact: 13.11%), and 5 (After contact with patient’s surroundings: 13.66%) were significantly higher than moments 2 (Before clean or aseptic task: 2.72%) and 3 (After bodily fluid exposure: 4.22%; p < 0 .05). Moment 2 perfomance, furthermore, was significantly lower than moment 3 (Figure 1). Only moment 2’s performance was significantly related to transmission; specifically, performance was negatively related to critical site contamination (B= -0.03, CI 95%: -0.06 – -0.01); Table 1. Conclusions: Moment 2performance was the lowest of all 5 moments and was the only moment that demonstrated evidence of relationship with pathogen transmission, specifically critical site contamination. Of all the 5 moments, this moment is most directly related to HAIs. Further research should investigate why moment 2 performance is so low.

Environmental Contamination in Relation to cDHP in Candida auris Patient Rooms as Measured by ATPase

Background: Candida auris (CA) is an urgent threat per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with rapidly increasing cases across the US. Patient rooms recontaminate with CA within hours after daily cleaning due to skin shedding, persistence on environmental surfaces and resistance to commonly used disinfectants. Continuous dry hydrogen peroxide (cDHP) is a novel environmental technology augmenting daily room disinfection. cDHP reduces CA organism counts based on environmental cultures. Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) testing offers rapid results to monitor surface cleanliness. ATPase Testing Protocol: Upon identification of CA, cDHP was activated in the patient’s room. ATPase surface testing was performed in rooms of CA infected inpatients and nearby control rooms of inpatients without CA and thus no cDHP. Group A surfaces near the patient were nurse call handheld devices and/or bed rail. Group B surfaces were horizontal counter and/or computer keyboard, located >3 feet away from the patient. ATPase testing was to occur within one hour of daily room disinfection for CA patient Day0 (day of cDHP activation), Day1, Day7 and Day14 and controls. Daily room disinfection using quaternary disinfectants was replaced with EPA Class P chemicals upon CA identification. Nursing spot disinfects with Class P ready to use disinfectant wipes in all rooms. Results: Testing occurred among 13 CA and 22 control patients in 5 hospitals. In Table 1, pass rates are displayed by cumulative (Day0+1+7+14) test days for surfaces and patient room groups. Analysis applied Pearson’s Chi-squared test with Yates’ continuity correction. Conclusions: Surfaces further from the patient in rooms of CA patients exposed to cDHP had higher ATPase pass rates than controls. Surfaces close to the patient have a high ATPase failure rate, regardless of CA or cDHP. Strategies are needed to ensure disinfection occurs on high touch surfaces near patients. cDHP may have value in supplementing room disinfection. Contributing failure factors include surfaces missed for disinfection, delays in timely testing and known limitations with ATPase methods.

Improving Cleaning Validation Utilizing Adenosine Triphosphate Technology

Background: Thorough cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surface areas in hospital inpatient rooms remain vital parts of effective strategies in reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Currently, Methodist Specialty & Transplant Hospital (MHST) inconsistently utilizes fluorescent marking for terminal cleaning validation. Without quantitative results, it’s difficult to measure the effectiveness of cleaning. To ensure MHST is maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients & staff, MHST implemented a comprehensive cleaning verification program to include adenosine triphosphate (ATP) technology. We aimed to establish the program with baseline readings, and an overall weekly passing score of 95% for all tested inpatient rooms. Methods: To achieve sustained improvement, we needed to monitor, educate, and have periodic performance feedback to individuals and stakeholders. Key stakeholders (IP, EVS, Operations Leadership, Nursing Leadership representative) were identified, and a weekly meeting was established to discuss the planning and implementation of the ATP program. Some key actions included: standardization of brand of luminometer- device to measure ATP for microbial contamination; establishment of 16 high surface touch points to be tested; partnership with IT to create a database & dashboard for ATP results & data analysis; training of ATP device to all personnel who will be utilizing ATP device; establishment of a threshold for a “pass” clean (relative light unit [RLU] less than or equal to 45). Summary of Results: After baseline testing, the average weekly pass score met goal at 95 percent for all tested rooms. The bedside table located on the 2W floor was the location that failed the most (3 instances). Conclusions: Our program implementation project aimed to improve terminal cleaning validation utilizing ATP technology in inpatient rooms, was successfully implemented. Equipped with quantitative results, the MHST team, was able to verify cleaning quickly and efficiently without any confusion, as it may have been with the previous verification method of fluorescent marking. The partnership between Infection Prevention (IP) & Environmental Services (EVS) was crucial in the implementation of this process improvement- from participating in training together to understanding and sharing ATP pass/fail score data.

The relativity of reaching: Motion of the touched surface alters the trajectory of hand movements

For dexterous control of the hand, humans integrate sensory information and prior knowledge regarding their bodies and the world. We studied the role of touch in hand motor control by challenging a fundamental prior assumption-that self-motion of inanimate objects is unlikely upon contact. In a reaching task, participants slid their fingertips across a robotic interface, with their hand hidden from sight. Unbeknownst to the participants, the robotic interface remained static, followed hand movement, or moved in opposition to it. We considered two hypotheses. Either participants were able to account for surface motion or, if the stationarity assumption held, they would integrate the biased tactile cues and proprioception. Motor errors consistent with the latter hypothesis were observed. The role of visual feedback, tactile sensitivity, and friction was also investigated. Our study carries profound implications for human-machine collaboration in a world where objects may no longer conform to the stationarity assumption.

Forensic Fingerprint Analysis

Fingerprint evidence found at crime scenes provides vital impressions left when these skin secretions touch surfaces clues in serial criminal investigations. A fingerprint identification system employing deep machine learning and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) could automate the analysis process. Images obtained from various physical and chemical crime scene investiga2tion techniques are entered into the database. However, partial latent prints lifted from scenes are often difficult to classify. The system operates in three phases: preprocessing fingerprint images, feature extraction, and matching. Preprocessing enhances image quality before feature extraction identifies distinctive minutiae points - ridge endings and bifurcations. False minutiae removal further refines the data. The preprocessed fingerprint data serves as input to train and test the CNN model. As the system persist due to the immutable individuality of fingerprint ridge arrangements [5]. While criminals attempt concealment, fingerprint traces stubbornly remain where other evidence would dissipate [6]. Without these durable biometric markers, crime scenes would often lack the critical traces needed to connect acts to perpetrators [7]. Latent prints lifted from crime scenes first undergo photographic documentation and chemical enhancement techniques in order to visualize trace details [8]. Computer analysis then further improves clarity, isolating minute identifying features known as minutiae [9]. Algorithmic extraction of differentiating traits classifies new latent prints, it continuously incorporates the prints enables training of automated comparison systems using along with confirmed suspect identity matches to improve accuracy. Automated classification and matching facilitate identification. The approach scales as the database grows in size without proportionate growth in human effort. Rapid fingerprint evidence analysis accelerates investigations, potentially solving more crimes by linking serial cases through a central digital repository. I aimed to restate the key technical ideas and flow using alternative vocabulary and phrasing while preserving semantic meaning. Please let me know if you need any clarification or have additional requirements for rephrasing the passage.

Role of arm reaching movement kinematics in friction perception at initial contact with smooth surfaces.

When manipulating objects, humans begin adjusting their grip force to friction within 100ms of contact. During motor adaptation, subjects become aware of the slipperiness of touched surfaces. Previously, we have demonstrated that humans cannot perceive frictional differences when surfaces are brought in contact with an immobilised finger, but can do so when there is submillimeter lateral displacement or subjects actively make the contact movement. Similarly, in, we investigated how humans perceive friction in the absence of intentional exploratory sliding or rubbing movements, to mimic object manipulation interactions. We used a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm in which subjects had to reach and touch one surface followed by another, and then indicate which felt more slippery. Subjects correctly identified the more slippery surface in 87±8% of cases (mean±SD; n=12). Biomechanical analysis of finger pad skin displacement patterns revealed the presence of tiny (<1mm) localised slips, known to be sufficient to perceive frictional differences. We tested whether these skin movements arise as a result of natural hand reaching kinematics. The task was repeated with the introduction of a hand support, eliminating the hand reaching movement and minimising fingertip movement deviations from a straight path. As a result, our subjects' performance significantly declined (66±12% correct, mean±SD; n=12), suggesting that unrestricted reaching movement kinematics and factors such as physiological tremor, play a crucial role in enhancing or enabling friction perception upon initial contact. KEY POINTS: More slippery objects require a stronger grip to prevent them from slipping out of hands. Grip force adjustments to friction driven by tactile sensory signals are largely automatic and do not necessitate cognitive involvement; nevertheless, some associated awareness of grip surface slipperiness under such sensory conditions is present and helps to select a safe and appropriate movement plan. When gripping an object, tactile receptors provide frictional information without intentional rubbing or sliding fingers over the surface. However, we have discovered that submillimeter range lateral displacement might be required to enhance or enable friction sensing. The present study provides evidence that such small lateral movements causing localised partial slips arise and are an inherent part of natural reaching movement kinematics.

One-year trial evaluating the durability and antimicrobial efficacy of copper in public transportation systems

Surfaces on transit vehicles are frequently touched and could potentially act as reservoirs for micro-organism transmission. Regular cleaning and disinfection to minimize the spread of micro-organisms is operationally challenging due to the need to keep vehicles in circulation. The application of copper (Cu) alloys to high- touch surfaces could help reduce the risk of cross-contamination, however, little is known about the durability and efficacy of engineered copper surfaces after prolonged use. Three Cu products (decal, thermal fabrication, and alloy covers) were assessed over a 12-month period. These Cu products were randomly installed on 110 stanchions on three buses and four train (SkyTrain) cars in Vancouver and three buses, two subway cars, and two streetcars in Toronto with mirrored control surfaces directly opposite. Bacterial counts (Colony forming units, CFU) and ATP bioluminescence (ATPB) were measured every two months after peak morning routes. Durability of the Cu products were assessed monthly through visual inspection and colorimetry assays or by ex-situ microscopy. Cu products on stanchions reduced the mean colony forming units (CFU) of all vehicles by 42.7% in the mean CFU (0.573 (CI 95% 0.453–0.726), p-value < 0.001) compared to control surfaces. The three Cu products exhibited an overall 87.1% reduction in the mean ATPB readings (0.129 (CI 95% 0.059–0.285, p-value < 0.001) compared to controls. Surface Cu concentration for all three products was consistent throughout the 12-month period. Electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) cross-sectional analysis showed no change in thickness or dealloying of Cu products, however SEM top-down analysis revealed substantial carbon accumulation on all surfaces. Cu products installed on transit vehicles maintained antimicrobial efficacy and durability after 12 months of use.

Unveiling the role of rare earth dopant in metal molybdate nanocomposites via facile microwave-combustion strategy and their effect on antibacterial activity

Abstract Developing a robust material holding antimicrobial assets has been an efficient strategy for reducing the risk of infections related to healthcare, significantly with medical devices and touch surfaces. Molybdenum-based compounds have drawn momentous attraction because of their unique characteristics. A series of undoped and 5 % rare earth (Ce &amp; La) doped metal (Ni, Co &amp; Bi) molybdate nanocomposites have been prepared by facile microwave combustion method and characterized. The present study investigates the effect of dopants on crystal structure and morphology, and their impact on anti-bacterial properties is noticed. The UV–Vis. absorption spectra of all samples show a broad absorption band between 280 and 430 nm. The antibacterial properties of the prepared nanocomposites have been examined by the agar diffusion method against three Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria, showing good bactericidal efficiency for all samples, except 5 % Ce–NiMoO4 (antibacterial activity exclusively against Gram-positive bacteria) and 5 % La–NiMoO4 (no antibacterial activity) nanocomposites. This work provided a novel pathway in the biomaterial field.