No abstract

Brazil is currently recognized as the 10th largest producer of castings, and the city of Cláudio, MG is known worldwide as the "Greatest foundry and metallurgical pole in Latin America", with more than 80 companies. However, this large number of enterprises and increasing investments in product development has demanded an increase in manpower and working hours of workers in the sector, proportionally increasing the incidence of occupational related health problems like RSI (repetitive strain injury), WMSDs (work-related musculoskeletal disorders) and industrial accidents. This article aims to characterize the industry from previously conducted case studies to relate the main causes of occupational diseases and outline possible interventions through design, showing how this tool can contribute to improve the working environment, workplace, tools and equipment through ergonomics adjustments.

Bacterial cellulose has advantages over plant‐derived cellulose, which make its use for industrial applications easier and more profitable. Its intrinsic properties have been stimulating the global biopolymer market, with strong growth expectations in the coming years. Several bacterial species are capable of producing bacterial cellulose under different culture conditions; in this context, strategies aimed at metabolic engineering and several possibilities of carbon sources have provided opportunities for the bacterial cellulose's biotechnological exploration. In this article, an overview of biosynthesis pathways in different carbon sources for the main producing microorganisms, metabolic flux under different growth conditions, and their influence on the structural and functional characteristics of bacterial cellulose is provided. In addition, the main industrial applications and ways to reduce costs and optimize its production using alternative sources are discussed, contributing to new insights on the exploitation of this biomaterial in the context of the bioeconomy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has mobilized most countries to investigate multiple virus mitigation interventions, the face protection masks are among the main ones. Filtration and breathability are important factors in the applied materials choice. Design plays a fundamental innovative role in developing new products and materials that meet this emergency demand. 3D printing allows adjustments from an industrial production to answer an increasingly specific demand. This process allows the printing of a poly (lactic acid) (PLA) filter mesh with Tourmaline (TM) for a mask made in a triple layer with cotton fabric. One of the properties of TM is the negative ions emission, which allows capturing particles dispersed in the air. PLA is a bio-based and biodegradable polymer, with the corn as it’s most effective source. It makes it a good choice for the project, aiming to be aligned to environmental issues. In addition, the cotton application and the modeling directed to the  domestic sewing use make the project accessible to the population, adaptied to digital and personal manufacturing and aligned to the Maker Movement.