Industrial processes routinely require the removal of lubricant from processed materials. This cleaning can be energy intensive and environmentally costly owing to the temperatures and the solvent load that are used. It is required throughout many industrial processes, notably surface finishing. This paper tests a novel technology that removes the need to heat the water, and reduces the need for additives, through use of a novel nozzle that uses just mains water and electricity to generate an 'Ultrasonically Activated Stream' (UAS). The UAS nozzle passes ultrasound down a stream of unheated water, and tests its ability to remove a variety of lubricants, from stainless steel, with and without the addition of degreaser, comparing it to the ability of the same water supply (when not ultrasonically activated) to remove the lubricant (with and without degreaser). Removal of the need to heat water by use of this UAS nozzle would reduce heating costs and allow areas of a plant or manufacturer that lack access to hot water to have enhanced cleaning. Reduction in the need to use additives reduces costs and is a requirement for surfaces that may be damaged by them. However, the implications extend further. If, in the current COVID-19 crisis, supply chains for solvents are broken, or additives and heating become difficult to access (for example to decontaminate PPE or an ambulance in the field), the ability to remove lubricant without heating (and, if necessary, additives such as detergents) is crucial, since the SARS-CoV-2 virus resides in respiratory secretions that are composed mainly of mucin glycoproteins, surfactant and intercellular fluid.

Chronic wounds fail to progress through the normal stages of healing, with the largest remediable cause of chronicity being presence of a multi-species biofilm. Removal of biofilm from the wound environment is central to wound care. A device for mechanically removing biofilms from wounds has been devised. The removal is caused by small-scale liquid currents and shear, generated by acoustically activated microscopic air bubbles. These bubbles and acoustic waves are delivered onto the wound by a gentle liquid stream, allowing cleaning in situ and removal of debris in the run-off liquid.We have investigated if this liquid acoustic wound stream (LAWS) can remove bacterial biofilm from soft biological wound models and studied the effect of LAWS on the cellular tissues of the substrate. LAWS will efficiently remove early Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm from an artificial wound in a pig's trotter, 24 hours-mature biofilm of P. aeruginosa from a pre-wounded human full thickness skin model (EpiDerm FT), and 3-day mature biofilm of P. aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus from a porcine skin explant. Histological examinations of uninfected EpiDerm models that had been treated by LAWS and then stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, demonstrated no damage to the human tissue, and wound diameter was smaller in the treated skin models compared with untreated samples. Immunofluorescence staining for cytokeratin 14 showed that keratinocytes had migrated further across the wound in the uninfected samples treated by LAWS. We discuss the implications for wound healing and propose further laboratory and clinical studies to demonstrate the removal of biofilm from patients with chronic leg ulcers and the impact on healing.

Background We sought to explore the value and benefits of accredited specialists employed in the National Health Service (NHS), and proposed strategies for expanding their role. Aims To explore the core characteristics of accredited specialists and to examine how their skills could be further utilized to enhance occupational health (OH) services. Methods Mixed methods comprising a survey and qualitative work. Results OH survey was completed by 65 of 128 (51%) respondents. Nine accredited specialists and 16 stakeholders contributed qualitative data. Most OH departments were located in acute NHS trusts and additionally provided externally contracted services. We found a large variation in OH staffing and OH services delivered. The COVID pandemic created unprecedented challenges and required expansion in services to meet demand. The majority of respondents described greater recognition and appreciation by others of accredited specialists and OH teams for their specialist contribution during the pandemic. From the qualitative data, we identified two overarching themes. ‘Professional credibility has currency’ (Theme 1) and ‘A visionary future’ (Theme 2). A series of sub-themes are described. Conclusions Accredited specialists employed in the NHS possess a core set of attributes and capabilities, and are skilful at delivering strong, influential and impactful clinical and strategic leadership across the NHS hierarchy and landscape. The COVID pandemic provided valuable opportunities for them to showcase their specialist clinical and leadership skills. The current wider reorientation of NHS clinical services offers bold new ways to expand their role beyond traditional clinical boundaries.