Article
Engineering, Environmental
Collin Knox Coleman, John Kim, Emily S. Bailey, Lydia S. Abebe, Joe Brown, Otto D. D. Simmons III, Mark D. Sobsey
Summary: Conventional water treatment practices using chlorine as disinfectant may not effectively inactivate resistant pathogens such as Cryptosporidium parvum. This study evaluates the efficacy of free bromine as an alternative disinfectant and finds that at a concentration of 5 mg/L, bromine reduces C. parvum infectivity by 0.6 log compared to only 0.4 log by chlorine. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of bromine and chlorine in reducing Bacillus atrophaeus spores and MS2 coliphage by 4 log.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Mark P. Buttner, Patricia Cruz, Elizabeth Detrick, Jessica Gunter, Steven Medley
Summary: This study evaluates the collection efficiency of cellulose sponge wipe and 37-mm cassette micro vacuum surface sampling methods for the collection of microorganisms from metal and concrete surfaces. The results show that the sponge wipe method is significantly more effective than the vacuum method for collecting Bacillus atrophaeus from both surfaces.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Castine Bernardy, James Malley
Summary: This study reports on the virucidal effects of blue light (BL405) on surfaces, and finds that the efficacy of BL405 inactivation varies depending on the surface type and is influenced by surface characteristics. Additionally, the dew point has a significant impact on BL405 inactivation efficacy.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ahlem Guesmi, Mohamed Majdi Cherif, Oussama Baaloudj, Hamza Kenfoud, Ahmad K. Badawi, Walid Elfalleh, Naoufel Ben Hamadi, Lotfi Khezami, Aymen Amine Assadi
Summary: This article reviews the routes of virus contamination in water and introduces non-thermal plasma technology as a promising method for virus inactivation. It discusses the effects of key parameters on non-thermal discharge for viral inactivation and compares this technology with other advanced oxidation processes. The article also details the inactivation mechanisms based on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nicolas Castano, Seth C. Cordts, Myra Kurosu Jalil, Kevin S. Zhang, Saisneha Koppaka, Alison D. Bick, Rajorshi Paul, Sindy K. Y. Tang
Summary: Inanimate objects contaminated with infectious agents, known as fomites, are crucial for the spread of viruses, requiring urgent and effective surface disinfection strategies. Understanding the physicochemical processes underlying virus transmission and developing intervention methods is essential for intercepting disease spread. The review focuses on SARS-CoV-2 and identifies gaps in knowledge, aiming to provide readers with a broad survey of fomite transmission challenges.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Neha Kaushik, Sarmistha Mitra, Eun Jung Baek, Linh Nhat Nguyen, Pradeep Bhartiya, June Hyun Kim, Eun Ha Choi, Nagendra Kumar Kaushik
Summary: This review critically examines methods for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and explores their potential as a solution for virus deactivation. The study highlights the ability of ROS to directly eradicate pathogens through oxidative stress and indirectly through non-oxidative mechanisms. Additionally, the novel and environmentally friendly cold plasma delivery system for virus destruction is discussed in detail.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eirini Kanata, Ioannis Paspaltsis, Sotiris Sotiriadis, Chrysanthi Berberidou, Sophia Tsoumachidou, Dimitra Dafou, Konstantinos Xanthopoulos, Minas Arsenakis, Athanasios Arsenakis, Ioannis Poulios, Theodoros Sklaviadis
Summary: Photocatalytic inactivation of pathogens in aqueous waste is a topic of increasing interest. This study compares the effectiveness of homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalysis using Fe+3 and TiO2, respectively, for inactivating various microorganisms. It is found that homogeneous photocatalysis achieves more efficient microorganism inactivation in a shorter processing time compared to heterogeneous photocatalysis. Additional optimization of TiO2 photocatalysis with H2O2 supplementation further enhances the inactivation efficiency.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Absar Alum, Zhe Zhao, Mahmut S. Ersan, Thorsten Mewes, Michael Barnes, Paul Westerhoff, Morteza Abbaszadegan
Summary: Inactivation of human respiratory viruses in air and on surfaces is important. This study investigates the potential artifacts caused by interactions between UV-C light and culture media used in virus inactivation studies. The results show that exposure to UV-C light can enhance surface viral inactivation due to the photo-activation of vitamins and dyes in the culture media, which produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This study highlights the need to establish proper disinfecting protocols considering the selection of virus suspension media.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Siva Kumar Valluri, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward Dreizin
Summary: Composite powders of boron with bismuth or cobalt fluoride were prepared by arrested reactive milling and studied for combustion behavior. It was found that the composite particles burned faster than elemental boron in air, but exhibited a single-stage combustion pattern. In flame combustion, the composite powders burned more slowly but in a similar single-stage manner, with reduced light emission suggesting lower temperatures.
COMBUSTION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Siva Kumar Valluri, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward L. Dreizin
Summary: Micron-sized nanocomposite powders containing different metal fluorides were prepared, and their reactions upon heating were studied. Fluorination accelerated oxidation and reduced ignition temperature. The reaction mechanisms varied for different fuels and oxidizers.
COMBUSTION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Elif Irem Senyurt, Edward L. Dreizin
Summary: A simplified heat and mass transfer model is used to predict thermal runaway of burning metal particles in an oxidizing gas. The model takes into account transition transport phenomena important for particles with sizes comparable to the mean free path of gas molecules. Different fuels like aluminum, magnesium, and boron are considered, with varying reaction kinetics and thermal accommodation coefficient values influencing the predicted results.
COMBUSTION AND FLAME
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hicham Jabraoui, Alain Esteve, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward L. Dreizin, Carole Rossi
Summary: This theoretical work investigates the influence of nanopores at CuO-Al nanothermite interfaces on the initial stage of thermite reaction using ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations. The presence of a pore significantly affects the growth kinetics and composition of the alumina layer, impacting the initiation properties of the nanothermite.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mehnaz Mursalat, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward L. Dreizin
Summary: Spherical boron powders were prepared by ball milling and their combustion performance was compared with irregularly-shaped milled and commercial powders. The results showed that ball milling shifted the onset of boron oxidation to lower temperatures and finer spherical powders exhibited higher initial oxidation rates and combustion activity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victoria Clower, Melanie Sparrow, Atin Adhikari
Summary: River landings are commonly visited public grounds, but they often suffer from litter and trash problems. This study measured air and water quality in the Ogeechee River basin and found that areas with more trash had higher pollution levels, particularly in Rocks River Landing and Little Lotts Creek.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Omolola Okunromade, Jingjing Yin, Clara Ray, Atin Adhikari
Summary: Poor air quality and environmental pollution are major factors leading to cancers around the world. This study aimed to explore the trends and correlations between air pollutants and cancers in sub-Saharan African countries. The results revealed a significant increase in cancer rates and air pollutant levels during 2005-2020 in some sub-Saharan countries.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mehnaz Mursalat, Holly McCann, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward L. Dreizin
Summary: In this study, solid pellets were prepared using aluminum-boron composite powders of different shapes. It was found that pellets made from spheroidal powders exhibited the highest strength without any binder, and also showed a delayed oxidation exotherm compared to the blended starting materials.
JOURNAL OF ENERGETIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Purvam M. Gandhi, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward L. Dreizin
Summary: Metal-oxidizer nanocomposites have gained attention as potential gas-generating energetic materials that can replace or enhance CHNO compounds in certain applications. Experimentalists have used enclosed chambers to ignite metal-based energetic materials and report pressures. However, direct comparison of the reported pressures is difficult due to differences in chamber volume and mass. A parameter proportional to the released energy is proposed to harmonize experimental data, and calculations suggest that some nanothermites and ammonium nitrate-based energetic materials have achieved their theoretical performance levels. Furthermore, the calculations show that ammonium nitrate is a superior oxidizer compared to ammonium perchlorate.
COMBUSTION AND FLAME
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ella V. Ivanova, Ashvinkumar Vasudevan, Elif Irem Senyurt, Mirko Schoenitz, Alexei F. Khalizov, Edward L. Dreizin, Gennady Y. Gor
Summary: In this study, experimental measurements and computational predictions were used to determine the surface tension values of DMMP and DIMP. The accuracy of the predictive method was validated by the agreement between the computational predictions and experimental results. Additionally, the surface tension values of sarin were also obtained using this method and compared with literature data. These findings are significant for predicting the formation and evolution of aerosols made of these chemicals.
Article
Microbiology
Atin Adhikari, Pratik Banerjee, Taylor Thornton, Daleniece Higgins Jones, Caleb Adeoye, Sonam Sherpa
Summary: The USA is one of the top cotton-producing countries globally and cotton farming is commonly practiced in Georgia. Cotton harvesting can contribute to airborne microbial exposures, but the use of respirators or masks can help reduce this exposure. However, the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard does not apply to agricultural workplaces, and the effectiveness of N95 respirators against airborne microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes during cotton harvesting has not been tested. This study addressed these gaps by sampling airborne microorganisms on cotton farms and evaluating the protection provided by N95 respirators. The findings showed that cotton harvesting can release antibiotic resistance genes into the farm air, and the tested N95 respirators did not offer sufficient protection against microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes during cotton harvesting.
Article
Pediatrics
Oyindamola Akinso, Atin Adhikari, Jingjing Yin, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Gulzar Shah
Summary: This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors of caregivers in the management of asthma in children under 5 years of age in Nigeria. The findings showed that most caregivers have poor knowledge of proper asthma-management practices. However, there is a positive association between higher income and proper asthma-care behavior.
Article
Thermodynamics
Purvam Mehulkumar Gandhi, Jonathan McNanna, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward L. Dreizin
Summary: Composite powders of boron and potassium nitrate (PN) with different particle shapes were prepared by milling with and without an emulsion as process control agent. The spherical powders showed more homogeneous mixing between boron and PN. The spherical composite powders exhibited lower ignition temperatures, lower activation energies for ignition, shorter ignition delays, and greater rates of pressure rise compared to irregularly-shaped powders.
COMBUSTION AND FLAME
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Siva Kumar Valluri, Lawrence Salvati, Edward L. Dreizin, Dana D. Dlott
Summary: Metal/oxidizer composites have the potential to release more energy than organic explosives, but their slow energy release makes them unsuitable for high-performance explosives. Through arrested reactive milling (ARM), metal composite microparticles with internal pores were produced to facilitate rapid shear mixing of fuel and oxidizer under shock compression. By evaluating the thermal emission and ignition behavior of the composites, it was found that internal porosity can be engineered to increase the chemical reactivity of metal/oxidizer composites.
PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Siva Kumar Valluri, Lawrence Salvati III, Edward L. Dreizin, Dana D. Dlott
Summary: Metal/oxidizer composites are generally not suitable for high-performance explosives due to slow energy release, but internal porosity can be engineered to increase their chemical reactivity under shock.
PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS
(2023)