Office Mold Potential: Preparing for Safe Re-Entry after COVID-19 Desertion | Chapter 5 | Science and Technology - Recent Updates and Future Prospects Vol. 7

     

Background: While workers and organisations heeded lockdown enforcements and abandoned offices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential for mold growth thrived in unoccupied offices. The growth of mold on buildings has raised concerns and led to increased legal action against property owners, builders, and real estate operators. There is a need to ensure a healthy office environment through health and environmental risk assessment strategies involving the identification and ridding of infective mold which might potentially impact the health of workers. An investigative enquiry to assess the potential and risk of  mold exposure is a sine-qua-non to safe re-entry to offices.

 

Materials and Methods: Visual inspection of offices through a walk-through survey was undertaken. An analytical study was conducted through a walk-through survey involving visual inspection, measurement of physico-chemical parameters (Temperature, Relative Humidity, Air Velocity and Particulate Matters PM2.5); and collection and analysis of suspected swabs and bulk samples. Four wall scrapings (bulk) and four swab samples were collected and cultured in the laboratory using nutrient agar.

 

Results: Results showed copious amounts of moisture evidenced by an averagely high relative humidity of 94%, low ambient temperature of 16% and poor ventilation evinced by an air velocity of 0.4 metres per second. Analysis of scrapings and surface swabs revealed the presence of three genus and eight species of fungi in the investigated sites. Analysis of samples of Mucor species revealed (Mucor mucedo, Mucor himalis, Mucor racemosus); Aspergillus species (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terrus); Cladosporium species (Cladosporium cladosproides and Cladosporium sphaerosperum).

 

Conclusion: Poor ventilation, deposits of debris, increased moisture and dysfunctional ventilation system as found in abandoned offices for Mold growth. Post-lockdown re-entry to offices should be preceded by Mold risk assessment among other measures to rule out the presence of Mold growth. Preparations for re-entry should include deep cleaning with anti-Mold agents, optimization of the ventilation system using anti-Mold and High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filters, and dehumidifiers and safe remediation of suspected mold growth using suitable personal protective equipment.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Kennedy A. Osakwe

School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St., Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.

Folusho E. Alamina

Independent Researcher and Consultant Public and Occupational Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

 

Please see the link:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/strufp/v7/533

Variation in Equilibrium Temperature, Mixed Layer Depth, and Boundary Layer Cloud Over Land in a Doubled CO2Climate: An Idealized Model Approach | Chapter 5 | Emerging Issues in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol. 4

 An romanticized equilibrium model for the untouched partly cloudy edge layer (BL) is secondhand as a framework to survey the coupling between the surface, the strength, water, and carbon eras over land in midlatitudes, and show the sensitivity to the clear-earth's atmosphere shortwave flux, the midtropospheric hotness, moisture, Colorless odorless gas, and subsidence. The changes in the surface fluxes, the BL equilibrium, and cloud cover are proved for a warmer, increased CO2 surroundings. Reduced stomatal conductance in a natural vegetation model augments the background 2 K sea temperature rise to an (unrealistically abundant) 6 K increase in near-surface hotness over land, with a matching drop of near-surface relative humidity of about 19%, and a rise of cloud base of about 70 hPa. Awareness studies give insight into by virtue of what clear-sky and cloud radiative feedbacks and a grew land surface interact to give various solutions for balance temperature, and how they put oneself in the place of another doubled Colorless odorless gas, Cloud changes depend powerfully on changes of mean subsidence; but evaporative fraction (EF) decreases. EF is nearly uniquely had connection with mixed tier (ML) depth, independent of backdrop forcing surroundings. This suggests that it maybe possible to infer EF for various landscapes from ML wisdom. The asymmetry of raised evaporation over the oceans and reduced happening over land increases in a warmer increased CO2 climate.

Author(s) Details:

Alan K. Betts,
Atmospheric Research, Pittsford, Vermont, USA.

J. Christine Chiu,
Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/EIEGES-V4/article/view/12710

High Free Fatty Acids (FFA) Content in Fermented and dry Cocoa Beans with Various Cocoa Producing Geographical Location of Côte d’Ivoire in the Climate Change Context | Chapter 4 | Emerging Issues in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7

 Aims: Cocoa beans garnered from Côte d’Ivoire faces more and more to the high FFA chapters. Yet, generation of FFA levels degrades advantageous rheological properties of cocoa fat and chocolate. This study examined the factors that potentially advance the increase of high FFA elements of larger object of Ivorian cocoa beans.Methodology: Samples: 240 cocoa beans collections were sampled from cocoa growers of some big dark producing domains for their FFA contents analysis. Also, influence of basic post-harvest processing in the way that pod’s sanitary status, pod hole delay, fermentation event and dry cocoa beans storage under miscellaneous relative humidity (RH) categorized 80-90% on FFA’s formation of Ivorian cocoa beans was examined. Data interpretations were acted according to the Fisher’s test.Results: Main results showed that dry dark beans recorded FFA content variable from 0.99 to 14% in function of the geographical origin. Beside, 53% of proven cocoa grain samples exhibited FFA content up to 1.75%. Poor clean status of pods and 7-days simmered cocoa beans recorded FFA content above 1.75%. Dry burnished color beans stored at RH above 85% advanced more the FFA’s formation (14%) than those stored under lower RH principles. 53% of tested burnished color beans samples presented FFA contents until 1.75%. Controlled primary post-harvest deal with highlighted that poor clean status of burnished color pods promotes the formation of FFA. Interacting weak sanitary rank of pods with long fermentation exasperated occurrence of FFA aggregation above 1.75%. However, the fermentation duration of dark beans from healthy pods had no effect on the changes of FFA content. The FFA content of beans increases better with both the event of cocoa effervescence and storage of dry cocoa beans at RH above 85% until FFA content above 1.75%.Conclusion: So, in order to produce ripened and dry cocoa beans containing depressed and suitable FFA divisions in the context of climate change, alleviation strategies need to mix good crop conditions regarding postharvest handle and to improve advantageous ones.

Author(s) Details:

Kouakou Richard Houphouet,
Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Microbiologie des Aliments, UFR des Sciences et Technologies des Aliments, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

Joëlle Stéphanie Tape,
Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Microbiologie des Aliments, UFR des Sciences et Technologies des Aliments, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

Kouadio Ignace Kouassi,
Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Valorisation des Agro-Ressources, UFR des Sciences Biologiques, Université Péléforo Gon Coulibaly, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.

Konan Mathurin Yao,
UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

Kra Brou Dider Kedjebo,
Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Microbiologie des Aliments, UFR des Sciences et Technologies des Aliments, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

Pauline Mounjouenpou,
Laboratoire de Technologie Alimentaire, IRAD, BP 2067 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Noêl Durand,
CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, TA B 96/16, 75 Av JF Breton, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France and Qualisud, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Université d’Avignon, Université de la Réunion, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France.

Didier Montet,
CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, TA B 96/16, 75 Av JF Breton, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France and Qualisud, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Université d’Avignon, Université de la Réunion, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France.

Tagro Simplice Guehi,
Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Microbiologie des Aliments, UFR des Sciences et Technologies des Aliments, Université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/EIAS-V7/article/view/11849

Water and Atmospheric Water Generation | Chapter 4 | Recent Progress in Science and Technology Vol. 5

 This work depicts the success, importance, and impediments to achieving valuable results on the miscellaneous ways to capture environmental water to lessen the actual worldwide stress. Contemporary culture demands innovative land, civil, industrial, country, and defense activities, that causes the depletion of most common raw materials, including freshwater. Atmospheric water dynamo (AWGs) could become a complementary resource to reduce freshwater stresses. The plainest AWGs do not require capacity; they collect fog and dew. Fog connoisseurs operate in the specific positions where fogs are coarse; the ones made with recently developed materials have five periods higher yields than the usual ones. Dew collectors are two types: passive and active. Passive AWGs are plain tilde surfaces that work based on the variation of the never-ending humidity and hotnesses; they have one cycle accompanying low yields compared to the fog connoisseurs. Their output increases by utilizing newly developed matters inspired by nature. Combining descants and hygroscopic matters with absorbent gel and thermal-impressionable polymers resulted in multi-cycle assimilation-desorption experimental devices that converted the field. Active AWGs have a complex structure and demand mechanical and electrical force to work. The AWGs efficiency depends on the materials secondhand, the environmental humidness and temperature, and the condenser operating temperature.

Author(s) Details:

Nasrollah Hamidi,
Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Antofagasta 1520, Arica, Chile.

Ligia Gargallo,
Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Antofagasta 1520, Arica, Chile.

Louis Whitesides,
VP & Execuitve Director for the 1890 Research & Extension Program, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117, USA

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RPST-V5/article/view/9719

Current Advances in Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences Vol. 8| Chapter 6 | Current Advances in Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences Vol. 8

 Indoor air characteristic is an essential component of sustainable housing. To build sustainable backgrounds, health dangers to a degree mould and other allergens, explosion pollutants, volatile basic compounds, radon, lead, and asbestos must be prevented. Ways of doing so include the use of water-governed building foundations, ground drainage, able ventilation, informed collection of equipment for space adapting and water heating, material selections, and sub-slab the act of providing or changing the air. Lead and asbestos are issues in the rehabilitation of earlier homes, and they are dealt with utilizing well-established best practises. The aim of this study is to examine indoor environmental poisons, their effects on human fitness, and ways to avoid and weaken exposure. Materials used for this purpose contain books, journal publications, and WWW resources.  The occupancy of asthma triggers in houses has enhance a more important indoor material concern, which will be debated in greater detail.

Author(s) Details:

Joseph Laquatra,
Department of Human Centered Design, Cornell University, USA.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CAGEES-V8/article/view/8686

Moisture Sorption Characteristics with Net-Isosteric Heat Value of Maize Based Soy Protein Fortified Extruded Product | Chapter 1 | Research Developments in Science and Technology Vol. 10

 

To determine storage stability, storage conditions, and the choice of packing materials, moisture sorption properties and net-isosteric heat of sorption are crucial. At four distinct temperatures—30, 40, 50, and 60 oC—and under relative humidity circumstances ranging from 11 to 92 percent, the sorption behaviour of extruded product was investigated. The product was created using an improved combination of maize, defatted soy, finger millet, and yam in the ratio of 40:20:30:10 under ideal feed moisture conditions of 14% (WB), 110°C for the barrel, and 301 rpm for the screw. With a fixed water activity, the sorption capacity of the extruded product dropped as the temperature rose. The increase in water activity (aw) at a certain temperature was discovered to enhance the equilibrium moisture content (EMC). The conditions with the greatest water activity (0.923 aw) and lowest temperature (30oC) yielded the highest EMC value (30.05 percent, db), whereas the conditions with the highest aw (0.11) and maximum temperature (60oC) yielded the lowest EMC value (2.46 percent, db). For every one of the four experimental temperature settings, the isotherms display Type-II curves. To determine the most appropriate model, the EMC data were fitted to six well-known sorption models, including GAB, Smith, Oswin, Caurie, Iglesias & Chirife, and BET. Based on statistical measures, such as root mean square percentage error (percent RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error, the quality of fit was assessed (P). The GAB model was determined to be the best of the bunch. Clausius-Clapeyron equation was used to calculate the extruded product's net isosteric heat of sorption. it isosteric net

Author(s) Details:

Sahu Chandrahas,

Department of Dairy Engineering, College of Dairy Science and Food Technology, DSVCKV, Raipur-492 006, India.

Patel Shadanan,

Department of Agricultural Processing and Food Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, IGKV, Raipur-492 012, India.

Khokhar Dharmendra,

Department of Agricultural Processing and Food Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, IGKV, Raipur-492 012, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RDST-V10/article/view/7714

The Effects of Rainfall and Relative Humidity on Solar Radiation Intensity during Dry Season in Port Harcourt Metropolis-Quantitative Approach | Chapter 08 | Research Developments in Science and Technology Vol. 6

 The impacts of independent weather factors such as rainfall and relative humidity on the dependent weather variable of solar radiation intensity in Port Harcourt are investigated in this study. This can be done by using appropriate instrumentation to measure the magnitudes of solar radiation intensity, rainfall, and relative humidity, and then determining their relationship and evaluating the integral influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable using a Multistrand data analysis approach. Rivers State University, which is located in the Port Harcourt city local government area, is conducting this study. The city of Port Harcourt is located on the coast of Nigeria, in the Niger Delta area. Solar radiations are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths ranging from 0.25 to 4.5 metres. As seen in Fig. 3 of the electromagnetic spectrum, these radiations include visible light, ultraviolet, and near infrared (IR) radiation. The photon is the energy quantum emitted by solar radiation. Data were gathered on a daily basis at 5 minute intervals in the Rivers State University NECOP Weather Station throughout the dry season for three months and examined with regard to daily and weekly averages. During the dry season, from November to January, fluctuations in rainfall (mm) and relative humidity (percent) were shown to have a negative impact on the magnitude of solar radiation intensity (W/m2). However, the influence of rainfall (mm) on solar radiation intensity (W/m2) was more pronounced than the effect of relative humidity (percent), which might be due to during the dry season, the air is quite dry. There was also no discernible change in solar radiation intensity (W/m2) for different weeks in the course of the influence of relative humidity, particularly during the dry season. For successful planning and implementation of policies for long-term growth, the study's findings should be recorded in the data banks of the aviation, agricultural, manufacturing, and meteorological industries, as well as government environmental ministries and agencies.

Author(S) Details

Orudukobipi Asime
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Chioma Don Lawson
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rivers State, Nigeria.



View Book:- https://stm.bookpi.org/RDST-V6/article/view/7014

Electrochemical Evaluation of Moisture Dependent Proton Conductivity of a Nickel(II) Complex | Chapter 06 | Technological Innovation in Engineering Research Vol. 2

 An alkaline solution of 1-naphthol and an aqueous solution of nickel sulphate were used to make a coordination complex of Ni(II) ion. The structure of the synthesised compound was studied using quantum chemical calculations. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the complex's proton conductivity at 100% relative humidity (RH). The complex's proton conductivity grew with time and reached a constant value after 48 hours, according to the data. When the sample was dried, the complex lost its proton conductivity. The proton conductivity increased with time after being exposed to moisture and reached a constant value within 48 hours. As a result, the compound had a moisture-dependent reversible proton conductivity. The influence of temperature on the synthesised complex's proton conductivity was investigated. The results showed that at high temperatures, the nickel complex is an excellent proton conducting solid state electrolyte.

Author(S) Details

G. Yamunadevi
Department of Chemistry, Sri Vasavi College, Erode, Tamilnadu – 638316 , India.

G. Bhuvaneswari
Department of Chemistry, Sri Vasavi College, Erode, Tamilnadu – 638316 , India.

S. Rameshkumar
Department of Chemistry, Sri Vasavi College, Erode, Tamilnadu – 638316 , India.

P. Karthikeyan
Department of Mathematics, Sri Vasavi College, Erode, Tamilnadu – 638316, India.

View Book:- https://stm.bookpi.org/TIER-V2/article/view/6842

Water Vapor Sensors Based on the Swelling of Relief Gelatin Gratings: Recent Advances and Development | Chapter 5 | New Approaches in Engineering Research Vol. 4

 We present a novel device for measuring relative humidity. Different materials are used in the measurement of relative humidity. The sensor is built around gelatin surface diffraction gratings. This material expands and contracts in response to the amount of water vapor in the air. Diffracted orders appear when a light beam is directed at a grating. First order intensity varies with relative humidity due to gelatin swelling or shrinking. Calibration curves for intensity versus relative humidity have been discovered. The process of making diffraction gratings and testing prototype sensing devices is described.

Author (S) Details

Sergio Calixto
Centro de Investigaciones en Optica, Loma del Bosque 115, 37000 Le´on, GTO, Mexico.

Miguel V. Andres
Departamento de Fisica Aplicada y Electromagnetismo, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100 Val`encia, Spain.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/NAER-V4/article/view/1881