New Concept of Intelligent Wound Dressing
Substance losses, burns and injuries arising from various causes represent a constant problem encountered by homo sapiens throughout its existence. Rudimentary treatments, relatively effective and less effective, have left their mark on the way we perceive the presence and treatment of wounds caused by various factors. Searching through medical archives, we can trace the specific protocols for these medical conditions back to 2200 BC, when they were structured in three steps: 1) cleaning the skin lesion, 2) applying a dressing (from glue to various preparations) and 3 ) bandaging the skin lesion. Currently, the appearance of wounds on the skin is caused both by accidents in the performance of various activities and by certain diseases that manifest themselves through skin rashes or skin lesions. Their frequency is in the thousands, according to the latest statistics, affecting the majority of the population non-selectively. It is vital that skin lesions receive the necessary care and attention, commensurate with their severity. Being open wounds on the surface of the skin, it is essential that the treatment be meticulous and appropriate to their type, as skin lesions represent a threat to the patient's life. From infections to hydroelectrolytic imbalances specific to burns, the multitude of factors that influence healing highlight the need for a dressing that can be easily customized according to the specificity of the wound, the needs of the patient and that is affordable both from the point of view of production cost as well as its use, making death from skin lesions easily avoidable through an intelligent approach. One of the most complex biological processes and indispensable to humans is the healing of skin lesions. Healing involves a carefully regulated series of biochemical and cellular activities in tandem. Traditional therapies and substances of natural origin have been used to facilitate the regeneration process and accelerate the wound healing process, being applied with encouraging results. Despite the fact that these generally present a low cost, they can be more expensive than contemporary treatments and can be influenced by regional, seasonal factors, showing fluctuations from batch to batch, which could lead to unpredictable allergic reactions, side effects and inconsistent clinical findings. Currently, the standard of care for skin lesions is to clean the wound with antiseptic solutions to prevent infection, apply a dressing followed by bandaging to keep the dressing in place, and if necessary excision of the tissue that has become non-viable. In the case of diabetic ulcers, it is necessary to excise the tissue that has become non-viable and to maintain control over the level of glucose in the body.
Anti-forma Chitogel
Formaldehyde is an air-borne, carcinogenic indoor pollutant. It may cause adverse effects on human health such as irritation of eyes and respiratory system. Shells of hermetia illucens, Black Soldier Flies (BSF) are leftovers when the insects mature from pupae to adults. BSF shells are rich in chitin which can be converted into chitosan by demineralisation and deacetylation. Chitosan and its ammonium salt (chitogel) can remove formaldehyde via condensation of water. In this investigation, the efficiency of removal of formaldehyde by different substrates were compared including shells of BSF before and after demineralization, deacetylation and action of vinegar; and common commercial products and Anti-Forma Chitogels made from shells of BSF and some crustaceans. Anti-Forma Chitogel of BSF was found to be effective in removing (91.2%) formaldehyde (1:20 by mass) among shells of BSF with different treatments and its efficiency was better than all commercial products tested. Concentration of formaldehyde in the container with deacetylated Anti-Forma Chitogel is 0.54 mg/m3. It removed 74.8% of formaldehyde compared to the control (2.14 mg/m3). Concentration of formaldehyde in the container with Anti-Forma Chitogel without deacetylation is 0.76 mg/m3 . It removed 64.5% of formaldehyde compared to the control (2.14 mg/m3). The Anti-forma Chitogel of BSF was found to be eco-friendly with high formaldehyde removal efficiency when placed in a drawer (removal of 54.8% of in 24 hours), the chamber of a newly renovated room (removal of 84.9% in 30 minutes reducing the conc. of formaldehyde from 0.53 mg/m3 to 0.08 mg/m3; cf. the safety limit of formaldehyde <0.125mg/m3) and drawers of a new wardrobe (removal of 83.7% at 20.2oC in 1 day reducing the conc. of formaldehyde from 0.49 mg/m3 to 0.08 mg/m3 & kept the conc. of drawers below 0.125mg/m3 most of the time over a month when temperature was below 21oC). Conc. of formaldehyde in air-tight boxes (5g of construction adhesive in 9.3 dm3) with air purifiers with and without Anti-forma Chitogel as filter before and after 3 hours was reduced by 44.5% (from 6.25mg/m3 to 3.47mg/m3 ) and 27.7% respectively showing that Anti-forma Chitogel as filter in air purifier outperformed that without by 160%. Besides, anti-forma Chitogel is antibacterial, so it would also kill bacteria when used in air purifiers. [1] proving that Anti-forma Chitogel is effective in removal of formaldehyde on the spot and can be applied to households. It can also help achieve Target 3.9 and 12.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Vitas: Digital Therapy Based on a Combination of Binaural Beats and Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) to Reduce Stress in Gen Z Students
Vitas is a combination of binaural beats (BB) with background white noise (ASMR) as accompanying music without reducing the quality of brain stimulation and is able to stimulate the left and right brain while synchronizing brain waves so that it can be used as a media for coping with stress for Gen Z students. To find out the effect Vitas in reducing stress levels, research was conducted on high school students belonging to Gen Z. This research aims to measure the stress index of students belonging to Gen Z, then find the effect of the combination of binaural beats (BB) and ASMR on students'stress levels, and finding the best audio combination to reduce stress levels as a coping mechanism. This research uses a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design using a one group pre-test-post-test design scheme. The sample in this study consisted of 105 students who were divided into seven treatment groups to listen to a combination of BB and ASMR with different bandwidths. Stress levels were measured using the DASS 42 stress section questionnaire which has been tested for reliability and validity. The results of the student stress index were 16.26 in the mild stress category. There was a significant difference between the negative group, the alpha + ASMR group and the positive group with a T-Paired test result of less than 0.05. Based on the results of the Post Hoc LSD test, it was found that the combination of binaural beats alpha (12hz) + ASMR was the best combination for reducing stress in students.These findings were developed into a digital therapy application product called "Vitas" as an alternative media for coping with stress for Gen Z.
Resolving the Phosphate Fertilizer Dilemma through Progressive Wastewater Treatment
The study aimed to resolve global phosphate scarcity by developing a cost-effective method for phosphorus recovery from industrial wastewater. In existing wastewater treatment, oxidizing phosphite ions (PHO32-) posed a significant challenge. However, our research aimed to develop an effective method for this oxidation process, crucial for phosphorus recovery in industrial wastewater treatment. By utilizing low-cost iron compounds and innovative catalysts, such as iodine obtained from seawater and copper, we achieved remarkable success. Our method demonstrated the ability to oxidize over 80% of PHO32- into phosphate ions (PO43-) within 120 minutes, overcoming the limitations of existing costly methods involving palladium catalysts or high-voltage conditioned ozone (O3). Moreover, the process exhibited profitability, with a gross profit of $1.84 per kilogram of phosphorus, presenting a drastic reduction in cost compared to conventional methods using palladium catalysts. This breakthrough not only offers sustainable wastewater purification but also promises a pathway for resource recovery. Additionally, our future prospects involve refining this method into a device capable of purifying industrial wastewater and recovering phosphorus, emphasizing sustainability and reduced power consumption through innovative techniques like using iron and carbon plates forming a battery. This novel technology represents a sustainable solution utilizing abundant resources such as iodine from seawater, iron, and calcium, paving the way for sustainable phosphorus resource recovery.