What can we do to reduce waste in the furniture making and design industry?

Overview. My research scrutinises the life-cycle of hand-crafted wooden furniture to find areas for improvement, ranging from raw material processing, manufacturing, use, and the end-of-life scenario. This research was undertaken whilst studying for a BA (Hons) in furniture design and making, working primarily with wood. Although the points raised can be applied to other areas of the design and product industry. Why? As we continue to face issues like climate change, mass pollution of eco-systems, and a reducing capacity to produce and supply materials, we are putting our future in doubt. Waste is a man-made problem. How? I analysed several examples of modern-day furniture, produced on various scales, and examined the works of a selection of leading designers and educators. This, coupled with my work experience and education in the industry has given me a good sense of understanding of the waste related issues in the furniture design and manufacturing world

In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Espirito Santo Virus on Dengue Virus Replication

Arboviruses have been one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide for centuries (Morens et al., 2004). Dengue virus (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), Chikungunya (CHIKV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are some of the medically important arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue is one of the most common arthropod diseases with over 400 million people infected yearly. Dengue is now endemic in the WHO regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. Current data estimates 3.9 billion people in 128 countries are now at risk of DENV infection. Dengue, known as break-bone fever, may be caused by one of four serotypes: DENV:1-4. Dengue is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti with Aedes albopictus as a secondary vector. Infection with DENV may cause a high fever, swollen glands, muscle and joint pain and nausea. Subsequent infection of DENV with a second serotype may lead to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever, which may result in plasma leakage, severe bleeding, fluid accumulation, and/or organ failure. Espirito Santo virus, ESV, is an insect-infecting virus recently discovered in a patient sample in Espirito Santo, Brazil. The virus replicates in mosquito cells but is not known to replicate in vertebrate cells (tested in Vero cells, thus far). Here, we sought to study the effects of ESV on DENV-2. We hypothesized that ESV interferes with replication of DENV-2 in vitro and in vivo. Our findings show that ESV can replicate in absence of DENV-2 and no cytopathic effects were visually observed here in mammalian (Vero) cells 6-days post infection. Immunofluorescence assay results show that during co-infection of C6/36 cells with ESV and DENV-2, ESV did not prevent DENV-2 from entering cells or expressing proteins (we did not see a difference in staining). However, plaque assays showed a decrease in infectious DENV-2 particles in co-infected cells evidenced by fewer plaques observed in DENV wells also containing ESV. In vivo experiments were performed with three different populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for an incubation period of seven days. While infection rates were not statistically different in a wild-type mosquito population (Costa Rica), ESV superinfected mosquitoes had significantly lower DENV-2 body titers (p<0.01) and leg titers (p<0.01) than mosquitoes exposed to only DENV (measured via qRTPCR). In the high dissemination colony of mosquitoes, there was no significant difference in body and leg DENV-2 titers between non-ESV infected and ESV infected mosquitoes. In the low dissemination colony, DENV-2 infected mosquitoes had significantly higher body and leg titers than mosquitoes infected with DENV and ESV (p<0.01). These results support our initial hypothesis that mosquitoes previously infected with ESV show lower levels of DENV-2 and we expect that these findings will spur additional research to elucidate the mechanisms involved

Potential for sublethal insecticide exposure to impact vector competence of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) for dengue and Zika viruses

Presented for World Environmental Health Day, September 26, 2016 in Greenville, North Carolina.Dengue and Zika viruses (DENV and ZIKV, Family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) are arboviruses that cause human epidemics. Due to lack of vaccines for many mosquito borne diseases, there is a need for mosquito control. In the United States and other regions, residual barrier insecticide sprays applied to foliage where female mosquitoes rest and/or sugar feed between blood meals are an important control method for anthropogenic day-active mosquitoes such as Aedes albopictus (vector of DENV and ZIKV). These mosquitoes are difficult to control using traditional sprays applied only at dusk or dawn when these mosquitoes are not active. In this exploratory study, we analyzed the extent to which ingestion of a sublethal dose of the active ingredient bifenthrin affected vector competence (i.e. infection, dissemination, and transmission) of Ae. albopictus for DENV and ZIKV

Impact of Mosquito Age and Insecticide Exposure on Susceptibility of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) to Infection with Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) is primarily transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Vector&ndash;virus interactions influencing vector competence vary and depend on biological and environmental factors. A mosquito&rsquo;s chronological age may impact its immune response against virus infection. Insecticides, source reduction, and/or public education are currently the best defense against mosquitoes that transmit ZIKV. This study assessed the effects of a mosquito&rsquo;s chronological age at time of infection on its response to ZIKV infection. We exposed young (6&ndash;7 d post-emergence) and old (11&ndash;12 d post-emergence) Ae. albopictus to a sublethal dose of bifenthrin prior to oral exposure to blood meals containing ZIKV (7-day incubation period). Old mosquitoes experienced a significantly (p &lt; 0.01) higher rate of mortality than young mosquitoes. Significantly higher ZIKV body titers (p &lt; 0.01) were observed in the old control group compared to the young control group. Significantly higher (p &lt; 0.01) ZIKV dissemination rates and leg titers (p &lt; 0.01) were observed in old bifenthrin-exposed mosquitoes compared to old control mosquitoes or young bifenthrin-exposed or control mosquitoes. Hence, bifenthrin exposure may increase the potential for virus transmission; however, the degree of these impacts varies with mosquito age. Impacts of insecticides should be considered in risk assessments of potential vector populations

Bioabsorption and Effectiveness of Long-Lasting Permethrin-Treated Uniforms Over Three Months Among North Carolina Outdoor Workers

Abstract Background Vector-borne diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. Effective, convenient prevention methods are needed. Long-lasting permethrin-impregnated (LLPI) clothing can prevent tick bites, however, additional information is needed on the real-world effectiveness and safety of this preventative measure. Methods In this pilot study, we recruited state and county park employees from North Carolina to wear LLPI uniforms for three months during the summer of 2016. We collected spot urine samples for biomonitoring of permethrin metabolites at one week, one month and three months after first use of the LLPI uniform. Following three months of wear, we collected pants and socks and analyzed them for permethrin content and mortality to ticks and mosquitoes. Results Thirteen park employees were included in the analysis. Bioactive amounts of permethrin remained in all clothing swatches tested, although there was great variability. Tick mortality was high, with 78% of pant and 88% of sock swatches having mean knockdown percentages ≥ 85%. In contrast, mosquito mortality was low. Over the study period, the absorbed dosage of permethrin averaged < 4 μg/kg/d of body weight based on measurements of three metabolites. Conclusions LLPI clothing retained permethrin and bioactivity against ticks after three months of use in real-world conditions. The estimated absorbed dosage of permethrin was well below the U.S. EPA level of concern, suggesting that LLPI clothing can be used safely by outdoor workers for tick bite prevention

Evaluation of the use of Wastewater Based Epidemiology as a Surveillance Tool and the Potential effects of Vaccines and Students' Beliefs and Practices in Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 Among Students at East Carolina University

Worldwide, newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and pathogens have led to increases in the number and frequency of disease outbreaks. Although these disease outbreaks are not new, increases in outbreaks have led to the need for public health agencies to effectively monitor disease spread. It has been estimated that 25% of 60 million deaths occurring yearly are the result of infectious diseases (Fauci et al., 2005; Nii-Trebi, 2017). Thus, disease monitoring tools are of utmost importance. The outbreak and spread of a severe acute respiratory illness in China alerted the world to a potentially new or re-emerging pathogen. As the virus rapidly spread, it was named “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2� (SARS-CoV-2) by the World Health Organization (WHO). The SARS-CoV-2 virus was deemed a public health emergency and later declared a pandemic as people across the world contracted COVID-19. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for disease monitoring and surveillance to mitigate spread. SARS-CoV-2 causes fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and in some instances loss of taste and smell. However, some persons, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, may experience severe symptoms of high fever, severe cough pneumonia, and even death (WHO, 2020). In the United States alone, an estimated 88,044,073 cases have occurred since the start of the epidemic (Worldometer, 2022). Early strategies to handle the epidemic included temporary sheltering in-place orders, and many institutions including schools and universities shifted to online strategies to ensure continuity in learning. As these entities later sought to fully re-open and regain a sense of normalcy, many were tasked with establishing monitoring systems to help detect potential outbreaks. The use of wastewater-based surveillance was evaluated as a tool in helping to identify when and where student polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing should be conducted. Here, we utilized wastewater-based epidemiology by sampling dormitory wastewater thrice weekly during Spring and Fall 2021. Data obtained from this sampling was used to help identify potential cases of COVID-19 in dormitories. Additionally, as vaccines were developed and distributed, the relationship between vaccination rates and COVID-19 cases on campus was investigated. Lastly, students’ attitudes and behaviors toward the virus were also evaluated by administering an online survey tool designed through REDCAP systems. This survey utilized a Likert scale where possible to aid in analysis and comparison of student responses between Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters. Results from this study found significantly higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater were observed during the Spring relative to the Fall semester. Dorms with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases also had higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in their wastewater. A significant inverse relationship was observed between vaccine rates and student COVID-19 cases. As vaccinations rates increased within the dormitories, the number of student cases decreased. Students became more receptive to the vaccine in the Fall semester in comparison to the Spring. This change in attitudes may have helped the University’s vaccination rates in the Fall semester thus affecting student COVID-19 rates. Here, we saw students a significant difference in virus perception between Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters. Specifically, a lower number of students having a negative perception of the virus. Additionally, students reported having less restrictive behavior (e.g., visitors, mask wearing) in Fall 2021 compared to Spring 2021. Overall, this study showed that universities may successfully use surveillance techniques such as wastewater-based epidemiology to help determine when swarm testing of students should be initiated. It also provided evidence that vaccination campaigns may have helped to reduce the incidence rate of COVID-19 on campus. Gaining an understanding of how students feel and behave regarding the threat of disease outbreaks, the implementation of various preventative measures, and the effects that changes in educational delivery platforms may have on learning and social interactions are also important for developing successful programs to mitigate the spread of diseases

Evaluation of the use of Wastewater Based Epidemiology as a Surveillance Tool and the Potential effects of Vaccines and Students' Beliefs and Practices in Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 Among Students at East Carolina University

Worldwide, newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and pathogens have led to increases in the number and frequency of disease outbreaks. Although these disease outbreaks are not new, increases in outbreaks have led to the need for public health agencies to effectively monitor disease spread. It has been estimated that 25% of 60 million deaths occurring yearly are the result of infectious diseases (Fauci et al., 2005\; Nii-Trebi, 2017). Thus, disease monitoring tools are of utmost importance. The outbreak and spread of a severe acute respiratory illness in China alerted the world to a potentially new or re-emerging pathogen. As the virus rapidly spread, it was named “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2” (SARS-CoV-2) by the World Health Organization (WHO). The SARS-CoV-2 virus was deemed a public health emergency and later declared a pandemic as people across the world contracted COVID-19. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for disease monitoring and surveillance to mitigate spread. SARS-CoV-2 causes fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and in some instances loss of taste and smell. However, some persons, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, may experience severe symptoms of high fever, severe cough pneumonia, and even death (WHO, 2020). In the United States alone, an estimated 88,044,073 cases have occurred since the start of the epidemic (Worldometer, 2022). \n Early strategies to handle the epidemic included temporary sheltering in-place orders, and many institutions including schools and universities shifted to online strategies to ensure continuity in learning. As these entities later sought to fully re-open and regain a sense of normalcy, many were tasked with establishing monitoring systems to help detect potential outbreaks. The use of wastewater-based surveillance was evaluated as a tool in helping to identify when and where student polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing should be conducted. Here, we utilized wastewater-based epidemiology by sampling dormitory wastewater thrice weekly during Spring and Fall 2021. Data obtained from this sampling was used to help identify potential cases of COVID-19 in dormitories. Additionally, as vaccines were developed and distributed, the relationship between vaccination rates and COVID-19 cases on campus was investigated. Lastly, students’ attitudes and behaviors toward the virus were also evaluated by administering an online survey tool designed through REDCAP systems. This survey utilized a Likert scale where possible to aid in analysis and comparison of student responses between Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters.\nResults from this study found significantly higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater were observed during the Spring relative to the Fall semester. Dorms with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases also had higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in their wastewater. A significant inverse relationship was observed between vaccine rates and student COVID-19 cases. As vaccinations rates increased within the dormitories, the number of student cases decreased. Students became more receptive to the vaccine in the Fall semester in comparison to the Spring. This change in attitudes may have helped the University’s vaccination rates in the Fall semester thus affecting student COVID-19 rates. Here, we saw students a significant difference in virus perception between Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters. Specifically, a lower number of students having a negative perception of the virus. Additionally, students reported having less restrictive behavior (e.g., visitors, mask wearing) in Fall 2021 compared to Spring 2021. Overall, this study showed that universities may successfully use surveillance techniques such as wastewater-based epidemiology to help determine when swarm testing of students should be initiated. It also provided evidence that vaccination campaigns may have helped to reduce the incidence rate of COVID-19 on campus. Gaining an understanding of how students feel and behave regarding the threat of disease outbreaks, the implementation of various preventative measures, and the effects that changes in educational delivery platforms may have on learning and social interactions are also important for developing successful programs to mitigate the spread of diseases