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This poster was presented at the 2024 UCSB EEMB Research symposium.Aquatic macroinvertebrates are critical indicators of ecological health because of their role as primary consumers, supporting many species within their respective food chains. Birds, as key components of wetland ecosystems, heavily rely on these aquatic macroinvertebrates as a food source. Understanding the dynamics between aquatic macroinvertebrates and environmental factors is crucial for effective ecosystem management efforts. This study compares surface sampling data and benthic dipnetting sampling data across multiple sites within North Campus Open Space (NCOS) from the summer of 2023 to the spring of 2024. Our research aims to determine the species abundance and diversity of key aquatic invertebrates and zooplankton using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index. By utilizing two distinct sampling methods, we investigate the effectiveness of the sampling techniques through potential variations in species abundance. Moreover, we correlate this data with water quality parameters such as pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen to assess their influence on the distribution and abundance of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships between environmental variables and aquatic macroinvertebrate abundance across two different sampling mediums.

AbstractQuantification of illicit drugs and controlled substances, in urine or as surface contamination, is often performed using expensive analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A time and cost-effective semi-quantitative surface-wipe and urine screening multiplex immunoassay for fentanyl and its analogues was developed in this investigation. We previously created a surface wipe multiplex immunoassay for methamphetamine, caffeine, cocaine, tetrahy­drocannabinol (THC) and oxycodone. This fluorescent covalent microsphere immunosorbent assay (FCMIA) is a competitive assay where drugs compete with protein-drug conjugates attached to microspheres for antibodies. It was assembled using a commercially available fentanyl antibody and protein-conjugate. Surface recovery from ceramic tiles was assessed by FCMIA, with results ranging from 26% for fentanyl to 60% for methamphetamine. Only fentanyl and its structurally similar analogues showed significant response to the fentanyl assay whereas, analogues structurally similar to carfentanil gave no response. Non-fentanyl drug assays did not appreciably detect fentanyl or its analogues. Overall, this method is a useful tool for assessing surface contamination and the effectiveness of decontamination by multiple drugs of abuse, potentially lowering workplace exposures. To broaden applicability, different antibodies or aptamers must be developed to detect structural differences found in classes of analogues such as carfentanil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of antineoplastic drugs in cancer treatment, while essential, poses risks due to their non-selective action on both cancerous and healthy cells. Assessing and controlling environmental contamination with these drugs in workplaces is crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various commercial wipes in sampling the antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil from surfaces to develop standardized sampling methods. Material and Methods: This study assessed the efficiency of commonly used commercial wipes (Whatman cellulose filter, cotton swab, Millipore™ filter, sterile gauze pad, and alcohol pad) for sampling 5-fluorouracil from different surfaces (stainless steel, vinyl, and ceramic). The sampling area was defined using disposable cardboard frames, and 1000 microliters of a 1 µg/mL 5-fluorouracil solution were applied to each surface. Sampling and extraction were conducted following NIOSH guidelines. The frame dimensions were 10 × 10 cm, limiting the sampling area to 100 square centimeters. Analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and results were analyzed using Prism GraphPad software, version 8. Results: The sampling efficiency varied across wipes and surfaces, ranging from 11.2% to 86.2%. Alcohol pads showed the highest efficiency on stainless steel surfaces, while the Millipore™ filter had the lowest efficiency across all surfaces. Extraction efficiency ranged from 43.8% to 98.8%, with alcohol pads providing the highest recovery. Sample stability was maintained over 15 days. Conclusion: Alcohol pads were most effective in collecting and extracting 5-fluorouracil, particularly from hard, smooth surfaces such as stainless steel and ceramic. These findings may improve sampling methods, thereby reducing occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs. Further research on different wipes and extraction parameters could refine drug analysis techniques.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a harvested species that has an important role in the Southern Ocean food web. Knowledge on the demography of Antarctic krill is necessary for a better understanding of the distribution of life stages and their relation with predator species. In addition, such information is essential for krill fisheries management by CCAMLR (Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources). A large part of the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean is understudied and large-scale krill surveys of this region are scarce. Therefore, a survey was carried out during the austral summer of 2018/2019 on board RV Kaiyo-maru in the region from 80 to 150°E. Krill was collected using a Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT). Previous studies suggest that part of the Antarctic krill population resides in the upper surface of the water column, but traditional trawls and echosounders have not been able to fully investigate this stratum due to sampling constraints. To overcome this knowledge gap, the upper surface (0-2 m) was sampled using a Surface and Under Ice Trawl (SUIT) in addition to the standard survey net. Results show that there were differences in the horizontal and vertical distribution of post-larval krill between the area west and east of approximately 120°E. These differences coincided with variation in environmental properties. Early calyptopis larvae were found throughout the survey area. Their relatively low numbers suggested ongoing spawning that started early in the season. Juveniles were found mainly in the western side of the sampling area and large densities of this developmental stage were found to reside in the upper two meters of the water column. The quantitative estimation of krill in the upper surface indicated that undersampling this part of the population may influence estimates of, for example, recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Even though death due to COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, less virulent but highly transmissible forms of SARS-CoV-2 continue to spread in many countries leading to outbreaks and rise in hospitalizations in the affected regions. Lessons learned during the pandemic must be put into action to protect the world's population from another catastrophe like COVID-19. Novel approaches that were developed for tracking the spread of SARS-CoV-2 included analysis of wastewater, air samples, and various environmental surfaces. We conducted a study in Kuwait during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic to examine if SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in swabs taken from frequently touched environmental surfaces. We selected 12 Cooperative Society Stores—two from each governorate of Kuwait—for collection of surface samples. The Cooperative Society Stores are widely distributed across the whole country and cater to daily household needs including groceries and other essential items. These stores operated even during the “lockdown” imposed at the height of the pandemic. We collected swabs from high-touch surfaces including the handles of the shopping carts and freezers, the elevators, the keypads of the point-of-service terminals of cash counters, and the automated teller machines. All the surfaces tested showed a variable presence of SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR, showing the validity of the proof-of-concept study. Monitoring of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by surface sampling thus offers a cheap but effective means of environmental surveillance for coronaviruses. We therefore strongly recommend the addition of surface environmental sampling as a strategy for pandemic preparedness everywhere.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a harvested species that has an important role in the Southern Ocean food web. Knowledge on the demography of Antarctic krill is necessary for a better understanding of the distribution of life stages and their relation with predator species. In addition, such information is essential for krill fisheries management by CCAMLR (Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources). A large part of the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean is understudied and large-scale krill surveys of this region are scarce. Therefore, a survey was carried out during the austral summer of 2018/2019 on board RV Kaiyo-maru in the region from 80 to 150˚E. Krill was collected using a Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT). Previous studies suggest that part of the Antarctic krill population resides in the upper surface of the water column, but traditional trawls and echosounders have not been able to fully investigate this stratum due to sampling constraints. To overcome this knowledge gap, the upper surface (0-2 m) was sampled using a Surface and Under Ice Trawl (SUIT) in addition to the standard survey net. Results show that there were differences in the horizontal and vertical distribution of post-larval krill between the area west and east of approximately 120˚E. These differences coincided with variation in environmental properties. Early calyptopis larvae were found throughout the survey area. Their relatively low numbers suggested ongoing spawning that started early in the season. Juveniles were found mainly in the western side of the sampling area and large densities of this developmental stage were found to reside in the upper two meters of the water column. The quantitative estimation of krill in the upper surface indicated that undersampling this part of the population may influence estimates of, for example, recruitment.

Monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces is emerging as an important tool for identifying past exposure to individuals shedding viral RNA. Our past work demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) signals from surfaces can identify when infected individuals have touched surfaces and when they have been present in hospital rooms or schools. However, the sensitivity and specificity of surface sampling as a method for detecting the presence of a SARS-CoV-2 positive individual, as well as guidance about where to sample, has not been established. To address these questions and to test whether our past observations linking SARS-CoV-2 abundance to Rothia sp. in hospitals also hold in a residential setting, we performed a detailed spatial sampling of three isolation housing units, assessing each sample for SARS-CoV-2 abundance by RT-qPCR, linking the results to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences (to assess the bacterial community at each location), and to the Cq value of the contemporaneous clinical test. Our results showed that the highest SARS-CoV-2 load in this setting is on touched surfaces, such as light switches and faucets, but a detectable signal was present in many untouched surfaces (e.g., floors) that may be more relevant in settings, such as schools where mask-wearing is enforced. As in past studies, the bacterial community predicts which samples are positive for SARS-CoV-2, with Rothia sp. showing a positive association. IMPORTANCE Surface sampling for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is increasingly being used to locate infected individuals. We tested which indoor surfaces had high versus low viral loads by collecting 381 samples from three residential units where infected individuals resided, and interpreted the results in terms of whether SARS-CoV-2 was likely transmitted directly (e.g., touching a light switch) or indirectly (e.g., by droplets or aerosols settling). We found the highest loads where the subject touched the surface directly, although enough virus was detected on indirectly contacted surfaces to make such locations useful for sampling (e.g., in schools, where students did not touch the light switches and also wore masks such that they had no opportunity to touch their face and then the object). We also documented links between the bacteria present in a sample and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, consistent with earlier studies.

Environmental monitoring in public spaces can be used to identify surfaces contaminated by persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and inform appropriate infection mitigation responses. Research groups have reported detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces days or weeks after the virus has been deposited, making it difficult to estimate when an infected individual may have shed virus onto a SARS-CoV-2-positive surface, which in turn complicates the process of establishing effective quarantine measures. In this study, we determined that reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) detection of viral RNA from heat-inactivated particles experiences minimal decay over 7 days of monitoring on eight out of nine surfaces tested. The properties of the studied surfaces result in RT-qPCR signatures that can be segregated into two material categories, rough and smooth, where smooth surfaces have a lower limit of detection. RT-qPCR signal intensity (average quantification cycle [Cq]) can be correlated with surface viral load using only one linear regression model per material category. The same experiment was performed with untreated viral particles on one surface from each category, with essentially identical results. The stability of RT-qPCR viral signal demonstrates the need to clean monitored surfaces after sampling to establish temporal resolution. Additionally, these findings can be used to minimize the number of materials and time points tested and allow for the use of heat-inactivated viral particles when optimizing environmental monitoring methods. IMPORTANCE Environmental monitoring is an important tool for public health surveillance, particularly in settings with low rates of diagnostic testing. Time between sampling public environments, such as hospitals or schools, and notifying stakeholders of the results should be minimal, allowing decisions to be made toward containing outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Safer At School Early Alert program (SASEA) (https://saseasystem.org/), a large-scale environmental monitoring effort in elementary school and child care settings, has processed >13,000 surface samples for SARS-CoV-2, detecting viral signals from 574 samples. However, consecutive detection events necessitated the present study to establish appropriate response practices around persistent viral signals on classroom surfaces. Other research groups and clinical labs developing environmental monitoring methods may need to establish their own correlation between RT-qPCR results and viral load, but this work provides evidence justifying simplified experimental designs, like reduced testing materials and the use of heat-inactivated viral particles.

The high binding capacity of Listeria monocytogenes to food contact surfaces increases the risk of cross-contamination in food. In addition to appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures, a suitable sampling plan and technique for the earliest possible detection are necessary for prevention. This paper evaluates the sensitivity of 3 swab materials (cotton, viscose and nylon-flocked) for the qualitative and quantitative detection of L. monocytogenes on food contact surfaces (100 cm2). A L. monocytogenes cocktail of 3 serotypes (IIa, IIb and IVb) was applied to stainless steel, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene and high-density polyethylene surfaces at a concentration of approx. 1.0 × 101-1.0 × 102 CFU/100 cm2 and approx. 4.0 × 104 CFU/100 cm2. The surfaces were sampled after 15 min of incubation by 3 different swabs using the double-swab technique, and then stored for 4 and 24 h until processing. The results of the qualitative and quantitative tests showed a few statistically significant differences in the detectability of L. monocytogenes by different swab materials, which implies that the detection rate of L. monocytogenes on a certain food contact surfaces can be increased by using the respective most suitable swab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We compared the risk of environmental contamination among patients with COVID-19 who received high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) via nasal cannula for respiratory failure. Methods: Air was sampled from the hospital isolation rooms with 12 air changes/hr where 26 patients with COVID-19 received HFNC (up to 60 l/min, n = 6), NIV (n = 6), or COT (up to 5 l/min of oxygen, n = 14). Surface samples were collected from 16 patients during air sampling. Results: Viral RNA was detected at comparable frequency in air samples collected from patients receiving HFNC (3/54, 5.6%), NIV (1/54, 1.9%), and COT (4/117, 3.4%) (P = 0.579). Similarly, the risk of surface contamination was comparable among patients receiving HFNC (3/46, 6.5%), NIV (14/72, 19.4%), and COT (8/59, 13.6%) (P = 0.143). An increment in the cyclic thresholds of the upper respiratory specimen prior to air sampling was associated with a reduced SARS-CoV-2 detection risk in air (odds ratio 0.83 [95% confidence interval 0.69-0.96], P = 0.027) by univariate logistic regression. Conclusion: No increased risk of environmental contamination in the isolation rooms was observed in the use of HFNC and NIV vs COT among patients with COVID-19 with respiratory failure. Higher viral load in the respiratory samples was associated with positive air samples.

Effective sampling for severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a common approach for monitoring disinfection efficacy and effective environmental surveillance. This study evaluated sampling efficiency and limits of detection (LODs) of macrofoam swab and sponge stick sampling methods for recovering infectious SARS-CoV-2 and viral RNA (vRNA) from surfaces. Macrofoam swab and sponge stick methods were evaluated for collection of SARS-CoV-2 suspended in a soil load from 6-in2 coupons composed of four materials: stainless steel (SS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, bus seat fabric, and Formica. Recovery of infectious SARS-CoV-2 was more efficient than vRNA recovery on all materials except Formica (macrofoam swab sampling) and ABS (sponge stick sampling). Macrofoam swab sampling recovered significantly more vRNA from Formica than ABS and SS, and sponge stick sampling recovered significantly more vRNA from ABS than Formica and SS, suggesting that material and sampling method choice can affect surveillance results. Time since initial contamination significantly affected infectious virus recovery from all materials, with vRNA recovery showing limited to no difference, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 vRNA can remain detectable after viral infectivity has dissipated. This study showed that a complex relationship exists between sampling method, material, time from contamination to sampling, and recovery of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, data show that careful consideration be used when selecting surface types for sampling and interpreting SARS-CoV-2 vRNA recovery with respect to presence of infectious virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ortho -phthalaldehyde (OPA) is used as a high-level disinfectant for reusable medical devices in healthcare settings. The ACGIH recently adopted a Threshold Limit Value–Surface Limit (TLV–SL; 25 µg/100 cm2) for OPA surface contamination to prevent induction of dermal and respiratory sensitization following dermal exposure. However, there is no current validated method to measure OPA surface contamination. This study aimed to develop a standardized approach for sample collection and quantitative determination of OPA from work surfaces for use in risk assessment practices. The reported method utilises readily available commercial wipes to collect surface samples coupled with direct detection of OPA via liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (LC–ToF–MS). This approach avoided complex derivatization steps commonly required for the analysis of aldehydes. Method evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) surface sampling guidelines. Overall recoveries of 25 µg/100 cm2 of OPA from stainless steel and glass surfaces were 70% and 72%, respectively. The reported LOD for this method was 1.1 µg/sample and the LOQ was 3.7 µg/sample. OPA remained stable on the sampling medium for up to 10 days, when stored at 4 °C. The method was demonstrated in a workplace surface assessment at a local hospital sterilising unit, successfully detecting OPA on work surfaces. This method is intended to supplement airborne exposure assessment and provide a quantitative assessment tool for potential dermal exposure. When used in conjunction with a thorough occupational hygiene program that includes hazard communication, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment, skin exposure and consequent sensitization risks in the workplace can be minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are a class of antimicrobial disinfectants whose use in cleaning products increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chemically, their low vapor pressure indicates a proclivity to persist on surfaces, and their presence suggests a level of protection against microorganisms. The widespread application of QACs in response to the SARS CoV-2 virus created a need to evaluate their longevity on surfaces, for both efficacy and possible health risks. There are however, no standardized analytical methods for QAC surface sampling and analysis, and no published studies quantifying their concentrations on mass transportation vehicles-a high occupancy, close-contact microenvironment documented to facilitate the spread the SARS CoV-2 virus. Here, we describe a robust liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the analysis of QACs and simultaneous development of a direct surface sampling and extraction protocol. We demonstrate the applicability of the method through the analysis of surface samples collected from in-service public transportation buses.The rapid, sensitive LC-MS method included 8 target QACs quantified on a Q-Exactive HF Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer using an electrospray ionization source and Dionex UltiMate 3000 UHPLC system for analyte separation. QAC standard mixtures at concentrations between 0.1 ng mL−1 and 2000 ng mL−1 were analyzed, and chromatographic separation of all analytes was achieved in less than 10 min. All correlation coefficients were reported at r > 0.986, and LODs ranged from 0.007 to 2.103 ng mL−1 for all compounds, confirming the method's sensitivity. A previously reported surface sampling and extraction protocol was modified to further simplify the procedure and expand the number of target compounds. The new sampling protocol was optimized from 10 commercially available wipes and 4 solvent types by quantifying recovery from the surface. Band-Aid brand small gauze pads saturated with isopropanol had the highest recovery efficiencies, ranging from 61.5 to 102.9% across all analytes. To test the real-world applicability, wipe samples were collected from 4 in-circulation New Jersey Transit buses on 5 separate days over the course of a month to assess the occurrence and longevity of QACs on sanitized mass transportation vehicles. Concentrations of QACs were detected on every wipe sample taken, and at all sampled time points, confirming their persistence on hard surfaces. QACs have the potential to form polymers, and detection of the polymer might serve as a secondary indication of their effectiveness on surfaces. None of the polymers detected however, were unique to QACs from this study. The polymers detected were already present in the wipe and used as an internal standard to demonstrate the efficacy of extraction and analysis of polymeric QACs.

Large area sampling approaches have been developed and implemented by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase sample sizes, and potentially representativeness, in outdoor urban environments (e.g., concrete, asphalt, grass/landscaping). These sampling approaches could be implemented in response to an outdoor biological contamination incident or bioterrorism attack to determine the extent of contamination and for clearance following remediation. However, sample collection over large areas often contains an extensive amount of co-collected debris and native background microorganisms that interfere with the detection of biological threat agents. Sample processing methods that utilize basic laboratory equipment amenable to field deployment were selected and applied to turbid aqueous samples (TAS) to reduce particulates and native environmental organisms prior to culture and rapid viability-polymerase chain reaction (RV-PCR) analytical methods. Bacillus anthracis Sterne (BaS) spores were spiked into TAS collected by soil grab, wet vacuum collection from an outdoor concrete surface, or storm water runoff from an urban parking lot. The implementation of a sample processing method improved the sensitivity of culture and RV-PCR analytical methods for BaS spore detection in soil and wet vacuum TAS samples compared to baseline (minimal to no field processing methods applied). For soil, when the processing method was applied, samples with 15 colony forming units (CFU)/ml (60 CFU/g) and 1.5 CFU/mL (6 CFU/g) BaS spore load were detected using culture and RV-PCR, respectively. Most notably, the processing methods greatly improved the sensitivity of the RV-PCR analytical method for the wet vacuum TAS from no detection at the 1500 CFU/mL BaS spore load level to as low as 1.5 CFU/mL BaS spore load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Environmental monitoring in public spaces can be used to identify surfaces contaminated by persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and inform appropriate infection mitigation responses. Research groups have reported detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces days or weeks after the virus has been deposited, making it difficult to estimate when an infected individual may have shed virus onto a SARS-CoV-2-positive surface, which in turn complicates the process of establishing effective quarantine measures. In this study, we determined that reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) detection of viral RNA from heat-inactivated particles experiences minimal decay over 7 days of monitoring on eight out of nine surfaces tested. The properties of the studied surfaces result in RT-qPCR signatures that can be segregated into two material categories, rough and smooth, where smooth surfaces have a lower limit of detection. RT-qPCR signal intensity (average quantification cycle [Cq]) can be correlated with surface viral load using only one linear regression model per material category. The same experiment was performed with untreated viral particles on one surface from each category, with essentially identical results. The stability of RT-qPCR viral signal demonstrates the need to clean monitored surfaces after sampling to establish temporal resolution. Additionally, these findings can be used to minimize the number of materials and time points tested and allow for the use of heat-inactivated viral particles when optimizing environmental monitoring methods. IMPORTANCE Environmental monitoring is an important tool for public health surveillance, particularly in settings with low rates of diagnostic testing. Time between sampling public environments, such as hospitals or schools, and notifying stakeholders of the results should be minimal, allowing decisions to be made toward containing outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Safer At School Early Alert program (SASEA) (https://saseasystem.org/), a large-scale environmental monitoring effort in elementary school and child care settings, has processed >13,000 surface samples for SARS-CoV-2, detecting viral signals from 574 samples. However, consecutive detection events necessitated the present study to establish appropriate response practices around persistent viral signals on classroom surfaces. Other research groups and clinical labs developing environmental monitoring methods may need to establish their own correlation between RT-qPCR results and viral load, but this work provides evidence justifying simplified experimental designs, like reduced testing materials and the use of heat-inactivated viral particles.

• Skin exposure to metals in the construction and demolition industry • Skin exposure assessment is complex, many behavioural and site-specific variables • USEPA semi-deterministic models for chemical intake may be an approach • Skin exposure limits for metals based on toxicological reference concentrations • Challenging to establish skin exposure limits that apply to universal scenarios This article provides guidance into the quantitative risk assessment of skin exposures to metals. The use of wipe sampling methodologies has been shown to be standardised and effective for skin exposure assessment to metals. However, there is a lack of guidance documents and frameworks available to evaluate the level of health risk to workers from skin exposures to metals. Adverse health effects from exposures to metals have been described in the literature (Fernández-Nieto et al. 2006 ; Herman et al. 2006 ; Kreiss et al. 1996). Monitoring of workplace exposures typically focuses on the assessment of respiratory exposures. To provide a safe workplace there is a need to ensure all routes of exposure are risk assessed and controlled. The goal of this article was to develop skin (surface) exposure limits to metals, using the construction industry as a test environment, to quantitatively assess worker health risk of skin exposures to metals. This research concluded it was not feasible to establish single quantitative skin exposure limits to metals due to the many assumptions surrounding dermal exposures. A range of acceptable exposure limits are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is likely to occur through a number of routes, including contact with contaminated surfaces. Many studies have used reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces, but seldom has viable virus been detected. This paper investigates the viability over time of SARS-CoV-2 dried onto a range of materials and compares viability of the virus to RNA copies recovered and whether virus viability is concentration dependent. Viable virus persisted for the longest time on surgical mask material and stainless steel, with a 99.9% reduction in viability by 122 and 114 h, respectively. Viability of SARS-CoV-2 reduced the fastest on a polyester shirt, with a 99.9% reduction within 2.5 h. Viability on the bank note was reduced second fastest, with 99.9% reduction in 75 h. RNA on all surfaces exhibited a 1-log reduction in genome copy number recovery over 21 days. The findings show that SARS-CoV-2 is most stable on nonporous hydrophobic surfaces. RNA is highly stable when dried on surfaces, with only 1-log reduction in recovery over 3 weeks. In comparison, SARS-CoV-2 viability reduced more rapidly, but this loss in viability was found to be independent of starting concentration. Expected levels of SARS-CoV-2 viable environmental surface contamination would lead to undetectable levels within 2 days. Therefore, when RNA is detected on surfaces, it does not directly indicate the presence of viable virus, even at low cycle threshold values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, is a respiratory virus primarily transmitted person to person through inhalation of droplets or aerosols, laden with viral particles. However, as recent studies have shown, virions can remain infectious for up to 72 h on surfaces, which can lead to transmission through contact. Thus, a comprehensive study was conducted to determine the efficiency of protocols to recover SARS-CoV-2 from surfaces in built environments. This end-to-end (E2E) study showed that the effective combination for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces includes using an Isohelix swab collection tool, DNA/RNA Shield as a preservative, an automated system for RNA extraction, and reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) as the detection assay. Using this E2E approach, this study showed that, in some cases, noninfectious viral fragments of SARS-CoV-2 persisted on surfaces for as long as 8 days even after bleach treatment. Additionally, debris associated with specific built environment surfaces appeared to inhibit and negatively impact the recovery of RNA; Amerstat demonstrated the highest inhibition (>90%) when challenged with an inactivated viral control. Overall, it was determined that this E2E protocol required a minimum of 1,000 viral particles per 25 cm2 to successfully detect virus from test surfaces. Despite our findings of viral fragment longevity on surfaces, when this method was employed to evaluate 368 samples collected from various built environmental surfaces, all samples tested negative, indicating that the surfaces were either void of virus or below the detection limit of the assay. IMPORTANCE The ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) pandemic has led to a global slowdown with far-reaching financial and social impacts. The SARS-CoV-2 respiratory virus is primarily transmitted from person to person through inhalation of infected droplets or aerosols. However, some studies have shown that virions can remain infectious on surfaces for days and can lead to human infection from contact with infected surfaces. Thus, a comprehensive study was conducted to determine the efficiency of protocols to recover SARS-CoV-2 from surfaces in built environments. This end-to-end study showed that the effective combination for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces required a minimum of 1,000 viral particles per 25 cm2 to successfully detect virus from surfaces. This comprehensive study can provide valuable information regarding surface monitoring of various materials as well as the capacity to retain viral RNA and allow for effective disinfection. Author Video: An author video summary of this article is available.

This paper reports results obtained from a surface (both visually clean and dirty/dusty surfaces) and active (aggressive or activated) air testing scheme on 140 residential rooms in England, without visible water damage or mould growth, along with a few rooms with visible mould growth/water damage tested for comparison purposes. The aim was to establish normal background levels of mould in non-water-damaged interiors to benchmark a ‘normal’ indoor environment, and in turn when there is a need for further investigation, and, possibly, remediation. Air and surface mould was quantified based on the activity of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52; NAHA). The obtained readings showed a log-normal distribution. Ninety-eight percent of the samples obtained from visually clean surfaces were equal to or less than 25 relative fluorescence units (RFU), which is suggested to be the higher bound for the range which can be used as a success criterion for surface cleaning/remediation. Of samples obtained from visually dirty/dusty surfaces, around 98% were below 450 RFU, which is suggested to define the lower-bound for abnormally high levels of mould, rare even on dirty/dusty surfaces. Similarly, around 98% of the air samples were found to have 1700 RFU or below. Values above 1700 RFU are therefore deemed unlikely in a non-problem indoor environment and can be indicative of a possible problem inducing mould growth. The samples with values below 1700 were further divided into three proposed sub-categories. Finally, the obtained RFU values and the suggested benchmarks were compared to those obtained from 17 non-residential indoor environments tested previously in Copenhagen, and the benchmarks that are currently used in Danish national standards, and they were both found to be highly congruent, suggesting that local climate regimes and room functions might not be as influential on indoor mould levels as commonly thought, or that the nuances between England and Denmark in terms of these factors are not strong enough to lead to sizable changes in the typical indoor mould levels in these countries’ building stocks.

Abstract Indoor mould growth is a growing concern for all stakeholders of built environment, including residents, builders, insurance and building remediation industry as well as custodians of heritage buildings. The National Trust has reported this problem in a number of buildings under their ownership, and developed solutions and fine-tuned their maintenance programme so as to minimise indoor and surface mould growth risk. This paper reports findings from an extensive mould-testing scheme in Blickling Hall, a National Trust property in Norfolk, England, for an appraisal of airborne and surface mould levels within a total of eight rooms, including the famous Long Gallery. The testing protocol used combines active (aggressive) air sampling and surface sampling, analysis of the β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) activity to quantify mould levels and particle counting. The results show that the airborne mould levels are quite low in all spaces, due to satisfactory maintenance of indoor hygrothermal conditions by conservation heating. On the other hand, while the National Trust’s developed solutions and maintenance programme have proved effective to avoid surface mould growth in those locations that historically suffered from microbial activity (such as behind book presses, picture frames and tapestries), the results show that the surface cleaning around windows should be improved to tackle surface water due to condensation, which is considered to be the main driver behind high surface NAHA activity obtained in these areas.

Objectives Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing public and occupational health concern. As transmission of MRSA can occur via contact with fomites, it is crucial to have sensitive methods for sampling of bacteria. The overall aim of this study was to obtain knowledge about methods and strategies for quantitative sampling Staphylococcus species on surfaces. Methods The study was designed as a comparative sampling experiment with different samplers [dipslide (two agar types), swabs (three brands, used wet and dry, and elution from swabs or plate diluted)] on smooth stainless steel surfaces spiked with MRSA and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). Furthermore, bacteria sampled from indoor surfaces with frequent or infrequent contact with hands were quantified and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Results Pre-moistened swabs in combination with dilution plating and dipslides were more sensitive than dry swabs. For recovery of MRSA and MSSA from surfaces with eSwabs, at least 0.3–100 CFU MRSA cm−2 and 5.3–8.6 CFU MSSA cm−2 should be present. The sensitivities of pre-moistened eSwabs were approximately 10-fold higher than those of dipslides and pre-moistened viscose and cotton swabs. The variation in concentrations of Staphylococcus species in replicate sampling of adjacent squares on indoor surfaces was higher for surfaces frequently touched by hands than for surfaces infrequently touched. In total 16 different Staphylococcus species were identified, and S. aureus was found only in 2 of 66 surface samples. A considerable overlap was found between species in replicate sampling within an environment and between the air and surfaces within an environment. Conclusions Pre-moistened eSwabs in combination with dilution plating were found to be the best method for surface sampling of MSSA and MRSA. The method can be used for assessing the risk of exposure and transmission of MRSA from environmental surfaces. To obtain a reliable measure of concentrations and the presence of Staphylococccus species a higher number of samples should be taken from surfaces with hand contact than from surfaces dominated by sedimented bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article summarises a systematic literature review of skin exposure assessment methods and concepts for deriving skin (dermal) exposure limits for metals, using the construction industry, where there is a high prevalence of occupational skin exposures as a test environment. Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken across ten databases key to Occupational Health and Safety. Articles were considered for inclusion if they evaluated skin or surface exposure to metals or discussed the feasibility of establishing skin or surface exposure limits in an occupational setting. Only full text, peer-reviewed articles were retrieved. All publications up to 30/06/2019 were considered. The quality of evidence was evaluated based on methodology. Results: A total of 71 studies were selected for inclusion in the review with 49 on skin exposure assessment methods for metals and 22 relating to the derivation of skin exposure limits. The use of wipe sampling methodologies was shown to be standardised and effective for sampling skin exposures to metals. In contrast, there was no scientific consensus on the concept of quantitative skin exposure limits. Conclusion: There was greater strength of evidence that wipe methods for the measurement of metals would work well. A research gap with respect to the development of health-based skin exposure limits for metals was identified. Frameworks currently proposed for devising quantitative skin exposure limits are provided. These approaches could be adapted to improve the risk assessment of skin exposures to surface metal contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptides have become a fast-growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry over the past few decades. It is essential to develop cutting edge analytical techniques to support the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics, especially to examine their absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) properties. Herein, we utilized two label-free mass spectrometry (MS) based techniques to investigate representative challenges in developing therapeutic peptides, such as tissue distribution, metabolic stability and clearance. A tool proof-of-concept cyclic peptide, melanotan II, was used in this study. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), which is a well-developed label-free imaging technique, was used to map the detailed molecular distribution of melanotan II and its metabolites. Droplet-based liquid microjunction surface sampling liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LMJ-SSP-LC-HRMS) was used in combination with MALDI-MSI to rapidly profile molecular information and provide structural insights on drug and metabolites. Using both techniques in parallel allowed a more comprehensive and complementary data set than using either technique independently. We envision MALDI-MSI and droplet-based LMJ-SSP-LC-HRMS, which can be used in combination or as standalone techniques, to become valuable tools for assessing the in vivo fate of peptide therapeutics in support of drug discovery and development. Image 1 • MALDI-MSI and dropletProbe-MS were used to detect distribution and metabolism for melanotan II in drug discovery. • MALDI-MSI mapped distribution of melanotan II and its metabolites at the expense of time and structural information. • DropletProbe-MS rapidly profiled structures and intensities for drug and metabolites at the expense of spatial resolution. • Using both techniques allowed comprehensive and complementary analysis for drug than using either technique independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multitude of factors can affect cleaning efficacy. • Some areas within the ward were consistently clean, and others were consistently dirty. • Surfaces with lower colony-forming unit counts before cleaning became more contaminated following cleaning, than surfaces with higher initial colony-forming unit counts. • Personal perceptions of cleanability and risk to patients, surface material, who was delegated to clean, and staff groups interacting with the surfaces had an impact on cleaning efficacy. • Interactions among these factors are complex, and consideration must be given to them when designing cleaning interventions. • The findings from this study can be used to inform and improve cleaning training programs. The objectives of this study were to assess the number of organisms present on different surfaces within a clinical environment before and after cleaning took place, and to identify the impact of cleaning. The study involved extensive 2-week microbiological environmental monitoring of an entire ward before and after cleaning; the ward was located within a pediatric hematology-oncology ward comprised of a day unit and outpatient ward. Tryptone soya agar contact plates were used to take a total of 1,160 surface samples before and after cleaning from 55 predetermined sites. Samples were taken from representative surfaces throughout the ward representing a variety of materials, surface heights, functions, and distances from patients, as well as both high-touch and infrequently touched surfaces. After surface cleaning was undertaken within the ward, there was a significant difference between the amount of colony-forming units (CFUs) recovered before and after cleaning (P <.0001). Cleaning produced an average CFU reduction of 68% throughout the ward environment. The corridor was the most contaminated area within the ward. There were differences in the CFUs among the various areas within the ward, which were cleaned with varying efficiency. The surface material, who interacted with the surface, levels of initial contamination, perceived risk, and perceived cleanability were all found to have a varying impact on the cleaning effectiveness. To the authors' current knowledge, this is the only study to assess cleaning within a pediatric ward by taking samples directly before and after cleaning. The standard of cleaning undertaken within the ward is open for discussion, and these data highlight the need for an improved cleaning intervention and can provide insight into the multitude of factors that must be considered when designing an effective training protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent for anthrax, is a dangerous pathogen to humans and has a history as a bioterrorism agent. While sampling methods have been developed and evaluated for characterizing and clearing contaminated indoor sites, the performance of these sampling methods is unknown for use in outdoor environments. This paper presents surface sampling data for Bacillus atrophaeus spores, a surrogate for B. anthracis, from a 210-day outdoor study that evaluated the detection and recovery of spores using five different sampling methods as follows: sponge sticks, 37-mm vacuum filter cassettes, residential wet vacuums, robotic floor cleaners, and grab samples of soil, leaves, and grass. The spores were applied by spraying a liquid suspension onto the surfaces. Both asphalt and concrete surfaces were sampled by all the surface sampling methods, excluding grab sampling. Stainless steel coupons placed outdoors were additionally sampled using sponge sticks. Sampling methods differed in their ability to collect detectable spores over the duration of the study. The 37-mm vacuums and sponge sticks consistently detected spores on asphalt through day 37 and robots through day 99. The wet vacuums detected spores on asphalt for days 1 and 4, but not again until day 210. On concrete, all samplers detected spores until day 210 except for sponge stick samplers that detected spores only up until the day 99 time point. For all sampling methods, spore recoveries were higher from concrete than from asphalt surfaces. There was no statistically significant difference in recoveries of sponge sticks and 37-mm vacuums from either asphalt or concrete surfaces. Processing of grab samples was challenging due to non-target background microorganisms resulting in high detection limits for the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile infection has traditionally been considered to be transmitted predominantly within health-care settings. It is not recognized as a pathogen that presents a risk of laboratory acquisition. Data on laboratory contamination and acquisition by laboratory personnel are lacking. Our objective was to assess environmental contamination by C. difficile and its potential for transmission in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Laboratory surfaces were screened for C. difficile. Samples were taken in areas that handle C. difficile isolates (high-exposure (HE) areas), areas adjacent to HE areas or those processing faecal samples (medium-exposure (ME) areas), and areas that do not process faecal samples or C. difficile isolates (low-exposure (LE) areas). We examined C. difficile carriage (hands/rectal samples) of laboratory workers. A total of 140 environmental samples were collected from two HE areas (n = 56), two ME areas (n = 56) and two LE areas (n = 28). Overall, 37.8% (37/98) of surfaces were contaminated with C. difficile , and 17.3% (17/98) with toxigenic C. difficile (TCD). HE areas were significantly more contaminated with TCD than LE areas (38.1% (16/42) versus 0.0% (0/14), p 0.005) and ME areas (38.1% (16/42) versus 2.4% (1/42), p <0.001). Hands were colonized with TCD in 11.8% (4/34) of cases. We found no rectal carriage of C. difficile. We found a significant proportion of laboratory surfaces to be contaminated with toxigenic C. difficile , as well as hand colonization of laboratory personnel. We recommend specific control measures for high-risk areas and laboratory personnel working in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to provide an historical overview on aerobiology applied to the preventive conservation of cultural heritage. Bioaerosol represents a potential risk to cultural artifacts since in favorable nutritional and microclimatic conditions the settled biological particulate matter can develop and grow, thus triggering the biodeterioration. Aerobiology has become an important discipline for developing prevention and control strategies for the biological deterioration of cultural heritage. The most used equipment and methods for sampling in both indoor and outdoor environments (passive-sedimentation plates and active impactor for air, contact plates and membranes for surfaces) will be described. The aerobiological monitoring, always combined with microclimatic monitoring, along with information on the artifact and its conservation status, allows to defining situations of potential biologic risk. All the information and data gathered create the baseline for setting up management protocols, defining tailored corrective strategies aimed at preventing damage to cultural heritage and reducing risks to the health of operators and users. New perspectives for this discipline could arise thanks to (a) the development of user-friendly technologies and instrumentations for aerobiological monitoring and sampling of surfaces; (b) the definition of threshold levels of biological risk to the different types of cultural heritage; (c) the creation of a card of "biodeterioration risk" (international database). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La surveillance microbiologique des surfaces ne bénéficie pas actuellement d'un réel encadrement méthodologique en dehors de l'ancienne norme ISO 14698 et, en conséquence, de recommandations pour leur qualité. Les limites méthodo-logiques liées à la difficulté de réaliser des prélèvements représentatifs et des analyses prenant en compte la spécificité des micro-organismes issus de l'environnement sont importantes. Cet article a pour objectif de présenter les différentes méthodes utilisables, leurs limites et une méthodologie permettant de calculer les rendements de récupération des micro-organismes quelle que soit la méthode de prélèvement. The methodological and regulatory frame for the surface microbiological survey are not really developed currently, except the "old" ISO 14698 norm. The methodological limits related to the difficulty to perform both representative samples and adequate analyses according to the specificity of the environmental microorganisms, are important. Thus this article aims to present the various usable methods, their limits and of a methodology allowing the calculation of the recovery rate of bacteria from surfaces, easy to use for the majority of those methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A food safety screening method using a portable Raman spectrometer is described. • Adhesive tapes were examined and used as sampling media to recover analytes. • The tape lifting sampling efficiencies on different surfaces were explored. • Ag NPs were optimized for the best SERS performance. • Triazophos was successfully detected on fruit peels with high sensitivity. In this work, we report a simple and rapid surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method for the screening of pesticide residues on fruit peels using a portable Raman spectrometer. Adhesive tapes were used as the sampling media; the effectiveness of different tape brands was examined. Collection efficiencies were found to be 60.2 ± 7.6%, 54.3 ± 5.0%, and 52.3 ± 9.0% on glass, aluminum foil, and fruit peels, respectively. SERS was achieved by applying silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to the surface of the tape after analyte collection. Preparation of the Ag NPs was optimized for pesticide detection. The limit of detection of triazophos on apple peels was 25 ng/cm2 with the portable Raman spectrometer. Considering the least favorable conditions, the calculated detection limit was 0.0225 mg/kg, which is an order of magnitude less than the maximum residue limit (MRL, 0.2 mg/kg) in China. The method is sufficiently sensitive for use in field analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In security settings, explosive residues or particles are collected by swiping the object of interest (e.g., luggage or package) with a collection medium, or trap. Particles on the trap are thermally desorbed for detection by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) or other analyses. A high trap sampling efficiency increases the chance of detection, and is affected by a number of factors. In particular, this work studies the effect of trap re-use on collection efficiency of organic explosives, namely 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), and correlates this data to quantifiable morphology changes. Collection efficiency was measured by liquid extraction of the traps with detection and quantitation by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Using silhouette microscopy for visualization of the trap texture, morphology changes were quantified by several measurements of trap roughness and hairiness, drawing from techniques and metrics used in the textiles industry. Nomex traps were visibly roughened by repeated re-use, and this was correlated with significant improvements in trap collection efficiency (11-57%) depending upon the specific analyte and substrate combination interrogated. Teflon-coated fiberglass (TCFG) traps showed little change with repeated swiping and minimal to no improvement in particle collection efficiency. These results have direct implications for optimizing particle collection traps for use in security settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The application of an autosampler/HPLC-ESI–MS/MS system for spatially resolved quantitative surface sampling/profiling of ATSP-7041. • The observed ATSP-7041 concentration was lower than that measured by the tissue punch workflow at the same tissue location of a serial section. • Calculated extraction efficiencies were reproducible within a given organ. • Reproducibility of the approach could provide a non-labor intensive and high-throughput means to acquire spatially resolved quantitative data. Abstract The application of a fully automated autosampler/HPLC-ESI–MS/MS system for spatially resolved quantitative droplet-based liquid extraction surface sampling/profiling of stapled α–helical peptide ATSP-7041 in mouse whole-body thin tissue sections is reported. 20-μm-thick serial tissue sections of an ATSP-7041 dosed mouse were prepared and the absolute concentration of the targeted peptide was first determined in different organs using 2.3-mm diameter tissue punches, standard bulk tissue extraction protocols, and subsequent HPLC separation and tandem mass spectrometric analysis. The same organs/locations were then analyzed in neighboring tissue sections using the droplet-based surface sampling approach. The observed ATSP-7041 concentration using this method was always significantly lower than that measured by the tissue punch workflow at the same tissue location of a serial section. Calculated extraction efficiencies were 10.7 ± 0.5% (brain), 11.0 ± 3.2% (liver spot 1), 10.7 ± 2.6% (liver spot 2), 15.0 ± 0.6% (lung) and 12.9 ± 0.7% (blood). While these extraction efficiency values were low, they were reproducible within a given organ. This suggests that once the extraction efficiency is established for a given tissue type and drug, the reproducibility of the droplet-based approach could provide a non-labor intensive and high-throughput means to acquire spatially resolved quantitative analysis of multiple samples of the same type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SARS-CoV-2 was not detected on surfaces of public areas next to COVID-19 hospitalization units. • High bacterial loads indicated that the surfaces had been frequently touched prior to the sampling. • Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in hospital public areas does not seem to be of great magnitude. We studied the contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the bacterial load of high-touch surfaces located in public areas next to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hospitalization units. Ninety-two samples were obtained from 46 different high-touch surfaces: 36 sites next to COVID-19 hospitalization units and 10 sites in the cabins of the public elevators. SARS-CoV-2 was not detected at any site, despite high bacterial loads suggested that the studied sites had been frequently touched prior to the sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential commonality of organic synthesis and prebiotic processes on the surface of Titan and primitive Earth makes Saturn's largest moon an indispensable location to seek answers for the origins of life on Earth and elsewhere. NASA's New Frontiers Mission, Dragonfly , is set to arrive on Titan's surface in the mid-2030s. Two of the main scientific goals of the Dragonfly mission are to identify chemical components and potential processes responsible for the production of biologically relevant compounds, and to search for potential biosignatures. To address these mission goals, Dragonfly is equipped with a linear ion trap mass spectrometer, called the Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer, or DraMS. This instrument will measure the molecular composition of Titan's surface at various locations inside and near Selk Crater, where prebiotic chemistry is expected to have occurred. Some molecules of interest on Titan's surface are thought to be sensitive to phase changes within the expected range of the sample handling chain, 94–165 K and 0.04–1.5 bar. A large abundance of such materials may therefore impact the capture efficiency and physical properties of the sampled materials within the DraMS system. In this work, we explore the potential for some of the hypothesized abundant organic molecules to be induced into phase transitions during the end-to-end sampling process by DraMS. • We explore the phase transitions of several molecules expected on Titan's surface. • Some molecules may undergo phase transitions during Dragonfly's sampling process. • Phase changes may impact capture efficiency and physical properties of the sample. • Knowledge of phase behavior under Titan conditions is inadequate for some compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In December 2016, an outbreak of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) A(H7N2) occurred in cats at a New York City animal shelter and quickly spread to other shelters in New York and Pennsylvania. The A(H7N2) virus also spread to an attending veterinarian. In response, 500 cats were transferred from these shelters to a temporary quarantine facility for continued monitoring and treatment. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the occupational risk of A(H7N2) exposure among emergency response workers at the feline quarantine facility. Methods: Aerosol and surface samples were collected from inside and outside the isolation zones of the quarantine facility. Samples were screened for A(H7N2) by quantitative RT‐PCR and analyzed in embryonated chicken eggs for infectious virus. Results: H7N2 virus was detected by RT‐PCR in 28 of 29 aerosol samples collected in the high‐risk isolation (hot) zone with 70.9% on particles with aerodynamic diameters >4 μm, 27.7% in 1‐4 μm, and 1.4% in <1 μm. Seventeen of 22 surface samples from the high‐risk isolation zone were also H7N2 positive with an average M1 copy number of 1.3 × 103. Passage of aerosol and surface samples in eggs confirmed that infectious virus was present throughout the high‐risk zones in the quarantine facility. Conclusions: By measuring particle size, distribution, and infectivity, our study suggests that the A(H7N2) virus had the potential to spread by airborne transmission and/or direct contact with viral‐laden fomites. These results warranted continued A(H7N2) surveillance and transmission‐based precautions during the treatment and care of infected cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient surface mass spectrometry is an emerging field which shows great promise for the analysis of biomolecules directly from their biological substrate. In this article, we describe ambient ionisation mass spectrometry techniques for the in situ analysis of intact proteins. As a broad approach, the analysis of intact proteins offers unique advantages for the determination of primary sequence variations and posttranslational modifications, as well as interrogation of tertiary and quaternary structure and proteinprotein/ligand interactions. In situ analysis of intact proteins offers the potential to couple these advantages with information relating to their biological environment, for example, their spatial distributions within healthy and diseased tissues. Here, we describe the techniques most commonly applied to in situ protein analysis (liquid extraction surface analysis, continuous flow liquid microjunction surface sampling, nano desorption electrospray ionisation, and desorption electrospray ionisation), their advantages, and limitations and describe their applications to date. We also discuss the incorporation of ion mobility spectrometry techniques (high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry and travelling wave ion mobility spectrometry) into ambient workflows. Finally, future directions for the field are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of Occupational Hygiene (OH), surface sampling has been employed as a method to assess surface levels of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). There are potentially a number of reasons surface samples are collected including assessing potential health risks, housekeeping and cleaning effectiveness. There are no internationally accepted standards relating to collecting or interpreting surface samples for OH purposes. In the past, surface sampling results have been applied not only for estimating risks due to dermal contact, but also for other routes of exposure (e.g. inhalation, ingestion, etc). In this publication, we provide a decision tree to support the decision and value of performing surface sampling. For scenarios without conceivable skin exposure due to applied risk mitigation measures or for substances that do not penetrate the skin, surface sampling may not be needed. If the workers’ health is determined to be at risk for systemic effects via skin, we propose to use the skin Permitted Daily Exposure (PDE skin ), a safe skin dose independent of the exposure scenario that takes into consideration skin absorption properties of substances. For the purpose of OH monitoring, the likelihood of dermal exposure has to be understood before taking any samples, using both the PDE skin to calculate the surface limit and appropriate validated monitoring method for the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents basic tests to develop an airborne photogrammetric methodology that derives grain size characteristics of gravel bed rivers. The data acquisition was done using a lightweight action cam and a hand-held digital single lens reflex camera. Image processing comprised the structure from motion technique and multiview-stereo algorithms to obtain digital elevation models of non-cohesive gravel beds. Laboratory results indicate that the method accuracy is about four to six times lower than laser-scan data when based on action cam data. The accuracy of digital elevation models computed via photos taken by the reflex camera is almost of the same range as the laser data. Field experiments were done to test the performance of image based gravelometry against manual surface sampling. For this application the action cam was mounted to a low-cost quadrocopter, while the reflex camera was operated by hand. Results indicate that this combination has a high potential to generate data from which characteristic grain size parameters can be estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present a multi-class blue noise sampling algorithm by throwing samples as the constrained Wasserstein barycenter of multiple density distributions. Using an entropic regularization term, a constrained transport plan in the optimal transport problem is provided to break the partition required by the previous Capacity-Constrained Voronoi Tessellation method. The entropic regularization term cannot only control spatial regularity of blue noise sampling, but it also reduces conflicts between the desired centroids of Vornoi cells for multi-class sampling. Moreover, the adaptive blue noise property is guaranteed for each individual class, as well as their combined class. Our method can be easily extended to multi-class sampling on a point set surface. We also demonstrate applications in object distribution and color stippling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct analysis of drug distribution of rotigotine-loaded microspheres (RoMS) from tissue sections by liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was demonstrated. The RoMS distribution in rat tissues assessed by the ambient LESA-MS/MS approach without extensive or tedious sample pretreatment was compared with that obtained by a conventional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method in which organ excision and subsequent solvent extraction were commonly employed before analysis. Results obtained from the two were well correlated for a majority of the organs, such as muscle, liver, stomach, and hippocampus. The distribution of RoMS in the brain, however, was found to be mainly focused in the hippocampus and striatum regions as shown by the LESA-imaged profiles. The LESA approach we developed is sensitive enough, with an estimated LLOQ at 0.05 ng/mL of rotigotine in brain tissue, and information-rich with minimal sample preparation, suitable, and promising in assisting the development of new drug delivery systems for controlled drug release and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface wipe sampling in the occupational environment is a technique widely used by industrial hygienists. Although several organizations have promulgated standards for sampling lead and other metals, uncertainty still exists when trying to determine an appropriate wipe sampling strategy and how to interpret sampling results. Investigators from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluation Program have used surface wipe sampling as part of their exposure assessment sampling strategies in a wide range of workplaces. This article discusses wipe sampling for measuring lead on surfaces in three facilities: (1) a battery recycling facility; (2) a firing range and gun store; and (3) an electronic scrap recycling facility. We summarize our findings from the facilities and what we learned by integrating wipe sampling into our sampling plan. Wiping sampling demonstrated lead in non-production surfaces in all three workplaces and that the potential that employees were taking lead home to their families existed. We also found that the presence of metals such as tin can interfere with the colorimetric results. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of colorimetric analysis of surface wipe samples and the challenges we faced when interpreting wipe sampling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is related to the assessment of odour emissions from landfill surfaces. Up to now, there is not a widely accepted method to quantify odour emissions from this particular kind of source. Five different methods were developed and investigated. These methods can be considered as based on three distinct approaches, both experimental and computational. The first approach provides to use models for the estimation the landfill gas production, whereby the second and the third approach are based on direct measurement campaigns on the landfill surface: for the determination of the methane concentration or for the direct measurement of the odour concentration, respectively. The methods were then compared in terms of specific odour emission rates by referring to other literature data. Finally, dispersion modelling was applied in order to allow a further comparison of the resulting odour impacts with other olfactometric data from independent monitoring campaigns on the studied site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]