40 CFR 63.467 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... of a batch vapor or in-line solvent cleaning machine complying with the provisions of § 63.463 shall... for the lifetime of the machine. (1) Owner's manuals, or if not available, written maintenance and operating procedures, for the solvent cleaning machine and control equipment. (2) The date of installation...

40 CFR 63.467 - Recordkeeping requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... of a batch vapor or in-line solvent cleaning machine complying with the provisions of § 63.463 shall... for the lifetime of the machine. (1) Owner's manuals, or if not available, written maintenance and operating procedures, for the solvent cleaning machine and control equipment. (2) The date of installation...

A control technology evaluation of state-of-the-art, perchloroethylene dry-cleaning machines.

PubMed

Earnest, G Scott

2002-05-01

NIOSH researchers evaluated the ability of fifth-generation dry-cleaning machines to control occupational exposure to perchloroethylene (PERC). Use of these machines is mandated in some countries; however, less than 1 percent of all U.S. shops have them. A study was conducted at a U.S. dry-cleaning shop where two fifth-generation machines were used. Both machines had a refrigerated condenser as a primary control and a carbon adsorber as a secondary control to recover PERC vapors during the dry cycle. These machines were designed to lower the PERC concentration in the cylinder at the end of the dry cycle to below 290 ppm. A single-beam infrared photometer continuously monitors the PERC concentration in the machine cylinder, and a door interlock prevents opening until the concentration is below 290 ppm. Personal breathing zone air samples were measured for the machine operator and presser. The operator had time-weighted average (TWA) PERC exposures that were less than 2 ppm. Highest exposures occurred during loading and unloading the machine and when performing routine machine maintenance. All presser samples were below the limit of detection. Real-time video exposure monitoring showed that the operator had peak exposures near 160 ppm during loading and unloading the machine (below the OSHA maximum of 300 ppm). This exposure (160 ppm) is an order of magnitude lower than exposures with more traditional machines that are widely used in the United States. The evaluated machines were very effective at reducing TWA PERC exposures as well as peak exposures that occur during machine loading and unloading. State-of-the-art dry-cleaning machines equipped with refrigerated condensers, carbon adsorbers, drum monitors, and door interlocks can provide substantially better protection than more traditional machines that are widely used in the United States.

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine program, which provides vehicle replacement assistance for qualified requirements, and how to apply in specific areas, see the AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine website

An evaluation of retrofit engineering control interventions to reduce perchloroethylene exposures in commercial dry-cleaning shops.

PubMed

Earnest, G Scott; Ewers, Lynda M; Ruder, Avima M; Petersen, Martin R; Kovein, Ronald J

2002-02-01

Real-time monitoring was used to evaluate the ability of engineering control devices retrofitted on two existing dry-cleaning machines to reduce worker exposures to perchloroethylene. In one dry-cleaning shop, a refrigerated condenser was installed on a machine that had a water-cooled condenser to reduce the air temperature, improve vapor recovery, and lower exposures. In a second shop, a carbon adsorber was retrofitted on a machine to adsorb residual perchloroethylene not collected by the existing refrigerated condenser to improve vapor recovery and reduce exposures. Both controls were successful at reducing the perchloroethylene exposures of the dry-cleaning machine operator. Real-time monitoring was performed to evaluate how the engineering controls affected exposures during loading and unloading the dry-cleaning machine, a task generally considered to account for the highest exposures. The real-time monitoring showed that dramatic reductions occurred in exposures during loading and unloading of the dry-cleaning machine due to the engineering controls. Peak operator exposures during loading and unloading were reduced by 60 percent in the shop that had a refrigerated condenser installed on the dry-cleaning machine and 92 percent in the shop that had a carbon adsorber installed. Although loading and unloading exposures were dramatically reduced, drops in full-shift time-weighted average (TWA) exposures were less dramatic. TWA exposures to perchloroethylene, as measured by conventional air sampling, showed smaller reductions in operator exposures of 28 percent or less. Differences between exposure results from real-time and conventional air sampling very likely resulted from other uncontrolled sources of exposure, differences in shop general ventilation before and after the control was installed, relatively small sample sizes, and experimental variability inherent in field research. Although there were some difficulties and complications with installation and maintenance of the engineering controls, this study showed that retrofitting engineering controls may be a feasible option for some dry-cleaning shop owners to reduce worker exposures to perchloroethylene. By installing retrofit controls, a dry-cleaning facility can reduce exposures, in some cases dramatically, and bring operators into compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) peak exposure limit of 300 ppm. Retrofit engineering controls are also likely to enable many dry-cleaning workers to lower their overall personal TWA exposures to perchloroethylene.

A note on the hygiene of meat mincing machines

PubMed Central

Dempster, J. F.

1973-01-01

Two mincing machines were cleaned by different methods, i.e. (a) a detergent/sterilizer method and (b) scrubbing parts in boiling (98·8° C.) water. Initial results indicated that, on reassembly, post-treatment contamination took place. Efforts to clean each machine as consisting of two distinct parts, (a) the casing and (b) removable parts, were more satisfactory. Four other mincers which could be completely dis-assembled were satisfactorily cleaned, but only in terms of percentage organisms surviving and not in terms of actual numbers surviving. PMID:4520512

Cleaning of uranium vs machine coolant formulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cristy, S.S.; Byrd, V.R.; Simandl, R.F.

1984-10-01

This study compares methods for cleaning uranium chips and the residues left on chips from alternate machine coolants based on propylene glycol-water mixtures with either borax, ammonium tetraborate, or triethanolamine tetraborate added as a nuclear poison. Residues left on uranium surfaces machined with perchloroethylene-mineral oil coolant and on surfaces machined with the borax-containing alternate coolant were also compared. In comparing machined surfaces, greater chlorine contamination was found on the surface of the perchloroethylene-mineral oil machined surfaces, but slightly greater oxidation was found on the surfaces machined with the alternate borax-containing coolant. Overall, the differences were small and a change tomore » the alternate coolant does not appear to constitute a significant threat to the integrity of machined uranium parts.« less

40 CFR 63.322 - Standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...-perchloroethylene gas-vapor stream contained within each dry cleaning machine through a refrigerated condenser or an... contained within each dry cleaning machine through a refrigerated condenser or an equivalent control device...' specifications and recommendations. (e) Each refrigerated condenser used for the purposes of complying with...

40 CFR 63.322 - Standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... equivalent control device. (2) Route the air-perchloroethylene gas-vapor stream contained within each dry... contained within each dry cleaning machine through a refrigerated condenser or an equivalent control device... cleaning machine drum through a carbon adsorber or equivalent control device immediately before or as the...

40 CFR 63.322 - Standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... equivalent control device. (2) Route the air-perchloroethylene gas-vapor stream contained within each dry... contained within each dry cleaning machine through a refrigerated condenser or an equivalent control device... cleaning machine drum through a carbon adsorber or equivalent control device immediately before or as the...

Determinants of wood dust exposure in the Danish furniture industry.

PubMed

Mikkelsen, Anders B; Schlunssen, Vivi; Sigsgaard, Torben; Schaumburg, Inger

2002-11-01

This paper investigates the relation between wood dust exposure in the furniture industry and occupational hygiene variables. During the winter 1997-98 54 factories were visited and 2362 personal, passive inhalable dust samples were obtained; the geometric mean was 0.95 mg/m(3) and the geometric standard deviation was 2.08. In a first measuring round 1685 dust concentrations were obtained. For some of the workers repeated measurements were carried out 1 (351) and 2 weeks (326) after the first measurement. Hygiene variables like job, exhaust ventilation, cleaning procedures, etc., were documented. A multivariate analysis based on mixed effects models was used with hygiene variables being fixed effects and worker, machine, department and factory being random effects. A modified stepwise strategy of model making was adopted taking into account the hierarchically structured variables and making possible the exclusion of non-influential random as well as fixed effects. For woodworking, the following determinants of exposure increase the dust concentration: manual and automatic sanding and use of compressed air with fully automatic and semi-automatic machines and for cleaning of work pieces. Decreased dust exposure resulted from the use of compressed air with manual machines, working at fully automatic or semi-automatic machines, functioning exhaust ventilation, work on the night shift, daily cleaning of rooms, cleaning of work pieces with a brush, vacuum cleaning of machines, supplementary fresh air intake and safety representative elected within the last 2 yr. For handling and assembling, increased exposure results from work at automatic machines and presence of wood dust on the workpieces. Work on the evening shift, supplementary fresh air intake, work in a chair factory and special cleaning staff produced decreased exposure to wood dust. The implications of the results for the prevention of wood dust exposure are discussed.

Brushless Cleaning of Solar Panels and Windows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, H. W.

1982-01-01

Machine proposed for cleaning solar panels and reflectors uses multiple vortexes of air, solvent, and water to remove dust and dirt. Uses no brushes that might abrade solar surfaces and thereby reduce efficiency. Machine can be readily automated and can be used on curved surfaces such as aparbolic reflectors as well as on flat ones. Cleaning fluids are recycled, so that large quantities of water and solvent are not needed.

OCONUS Compliance Assessment Protocols -- OEBGD (Air Force and Marine Corps Version)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

new and existing perchloroethylene (PCE) dry -cleaning machines must be controlled. • Electroplating and anodizing tanks must comply with one of...and other contaminants from the surfaces of the parts or to dry the parts. Cleaning machines that contain and use heated, nonboiling solvent to clean...cement kilns that combust MSW, internal combustion engines, gas turbines, or other combustion devices that combust landfill gases collected by

Ultrasonic frequency selection for aqueous fine cleaning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Joann F.

1995-01-01

A study was conducted to evaluate ultrasonic cleaning systems for precision cleaning effectiveness for oxygen service hardware. This evaluation was specific for Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell Aerospace alloys and machining soils. Machining lubricants and hydraulic fluid were applied as soils to standardized complex test specimens designed to simulate typical hardware. The study consisted of tests which included 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 65 kHz ultrasonic cleaning systems. Two size categories of cleaning systems were evaluated, 3- to 10-gal laboratory size tanks and 35- to 320-gal industrial size tanks. The system properties of cavitation, frequency vs. cleaning effectiveness, the two types of transducers, and the power level of the system vs. size of the cleaning tank were investigated. The data obtained from this study was used to select the ultrasonic tanks for the aqueous fine clean facility installed at Rocketdyne.

Ultrasonic frequency selection for aqueous fine cleaning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Joann F.

1994-01-01

A study was conducted to evaluate ultrasonic cleaning systems for precision cleaning effectiveness for oxygen service hardware. This evaluation was specific for Rocketdyne Div. of Rockwell Aerospace alloys and machining soils. Machining lubricants and hydraulic fluid were applied as soils to standardized complex test specimens designed to simulate typical hardware. The study consisted of tests which included 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 65 kHz ultrasonic cleaning systems. Two size categories of cleaning systems were evaluated, 3- to 10-gal laboratory size tanks and 35- to 320-gal industrial size tanks. The system properties of cavitation; frequency vs. cleaning effectiveness; the two types of transducers; and the power level of the system vs. size of the cleaning tank were investigated. The data obtained from this study was used to select the ultrasonic tanks for the aqueous fine clean facility installed at Rocketdyne.

40 CFR 63.460 - Applicability and designation of source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... cold, and batch cold solvent cleaning machine that uses any solvent containing methylene chloride (CAS... combination of these halogenated HAP solvents, in a total concentration greater than 5 percent by weight, as a... to owners or operators of any solvent cleaning machine meeting the applicability criteria of...

40 CFR 63.460 - Applicability and designation of source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... cold, and batch cold solvent cleaning machine that uses any solvent containing methylene chloride (CAS... combination of these halogenated HAP solvents, in a total concentration greater than 5 percent by weight, as a... to owners or operators of any solvent cleaning machine meeting the applicability criteria of...

40 CFR 63.460 - Applicability and designation of source.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... cold, and batch cold solvent cleaning machine that uses any solvent containing methylene chloride (CAS... combination of these halogenated HAP solvents, in a total concentration greater than 5 percent by weight, as a... to owners or operators of any solvent cleaning machine meeting the applicability criteria of...

Process Monitoring Evaluation and Implementation for the Wood Abrasive Machining Process

PubMed Central

Saloni, Daniel E.; Lemaster, Richard L.; Jackson, Steven D.

2010-01-01

Wood processing industries have continuously developed and improved technologies and processes to transform wood to obtain better final product quality and thus increase profits. Abrasive machining is one of the most important of these processes and therefore merits special attention and study. The objective of this work was to evaluate and demonstrate a process monitoring system for use in the abrasive machining of wood and wood based products. The system developed increases the life of the belt by detecting (using process monitoring sensors) and removing (by cleaning) the abrasive loading during the machining process. This study focused on abrasive belt machining processes and included substantial background work, which provided a solid base for understanding the behavior of the abrasive, and the different ways that the abrasive machining process can be monitored. In addition, the background research showed that abrasive belts can effectively be cleaned by the appropriate cleaning technique. The process monitoring system developed included acoustic emission sensors which tended to be sensitive to belt wear, as well as platen vibration, but not loading, and optical sensors which were sensitive to abrasive loading. PMID:22163477

The cleaning and disinfection by heat of bedpans in automatic and semi-automatic machines.

PubMed Central

Mostafa, A. B.; Chackett, K. F.

1976-01-01

This work is concerned with the cleaning and disinfection by heat of stainless-steel and polypropylene bedpans, which had been soiled with either a biological contaminant, human serum albumin (HSA) labelled with technetium-99m 99m(Tc), or a bacteriological contaminant, streptococcus faecalis mixed with Tc-labelled HSA. Results of cleaning and disinfection achieved with a Test Machine and those achieved by procedures adopted in eight different wards of a general hospital are reported. Bedpan washers installed in wards were found to be less efficient than the Test Machine, at least partly because of inadequate maintenance. Stainless-steel and polypropylene bedpans gave essentially the same results. PMID:6591

[Contamination and Cleaning of Touch Panels Used in Everyday Life and the Awareness of Persons in Charge and Users of Devices about Contamination].

PubMed

Morioka, Ikuharu; Uda, Kazu; Yamamoto, Mio

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to clarify the contamination and cleaning of touch panels used in everyday life and the awareness of persons in charge and users of devices about contamination. Samples from touch panels were cultured to detect viable bacteria (n=132), Staphylococcus aureus (n=66) and Escherichia coli (n=64). A questionnaire survey was conducted on persons in charge and users of the devices on the day of sampling. Viable bacterial cells were detected in more than 90% of the automatic teller machines (ATMs) at banks, the ticket machines at stations, and the copy machines at convenience stores. S. aureus and E. coli were detected in more than one-half of such devices examined. The detection rate of viable bacterial cells in smartphones was 57.5% and was lower than those in other devices. More than 65% of the ATMs, ticket machines, and copy machines were cleaned once or twice a day. More than one-half of the users of smartphones or button-type mobile phones did not clean their devices. Those who did not aware about the contamination of touch panels were 46.6% of the persons in charge and 38.2% of the users. It is necessary to examine the suitable number of times and methods of cleaning of touch panels and to raise the awareness of persons in charge or users of such devices about contamination.

Study of energy parameters of machine parts of water-ice jet cleaning applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prezhbilov, A. N.; Burnashov, M. A.

2018-03-01

The reader will achieve a benchmark understanding of the essence of cleaning for the removal of contaminants from machine elements by means of cryo jet/water-ice jet with particles prepared beforehand. This paper represents the classification of the most common contaminants appearing on the surfaces of machine elements after a long-term service. The conceptual contribution of the paper is to represent a thermo-physical model of contaminant removal by means of a water ice jet. In conclusion, it is evident that this study has shown the dependencies between the friction force of an ice particle with an obstacle (contamination), a dimensional change of an ice particle in the cleaning process and the quantity of heat transmitted to an ice particle.

Machining and brazing of accelerating RF cavity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ghodke, S.R.; Barnwal, Rajesh; Mondal, Jayant, E-mail: ghodke_barc@yahoo.co.in

2014-07-01

BARC has developed 2856 MHz accelerating cavities for 6 MeV, 9 MeV and 10 MeV RF Linac. New vendors are developed for mass production of accelerating cavity for future projects. New vendors are developing for diamond turning machining, cleaning and brazing processes. Fabrication involved material testing, CNC diamond turning of cavity, cavity cleaning and brazing. Before and after brazing resonance frequency (RF) of cavity was checked with vector network analyser (VNA). A power feed test setup is also fabricated to test power feed cavity before brazing. This test setup will be used to find out assembly performance of power feedmore » cavity and its coupler. This paper discusses about nano machining, cleaning and brazing processes of RF cavities. (author)« less

Low cost, high tech seed cleaning

Treesearch

Robert P. Karrfalt

2013-01-01

Clean seeds are a great asset in native plant restoration. However, seed cleaning equipment is often too costly for many small operations. This paper introduces how several tools and materials intended for other purposes can be used directly or made into simple machines to clean seeds.

Experiment Requirements and Implementation Plan (ERIP) for semiconductor materials growth in low-G environment experiment no. MPS-77F087

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouch, R. K.; Fripp, A. L.; Debnam, W. J.; Clark, I. O.

1981-01-01

Crystals of the intermetallic compound Pb1-xSnxTe will be grown in furnaces on the Space Shuttle. The reasons for conducting this growth in space, the program of investigation to develop the space experiment and the requirements that are placed on the Space Shuttle furnace are discussed. Also included are relevent thermophysical properties of Pb1-xSnxTe to the degree which they are known.

A first French assessment of population exposure to tetrachloroethylene from small dry-cleaning facilities.

PubMed

Chiappini, L; Delery, L; Leoz, E; Brouard, B; Fagault, Y

2009-06-01

Used as a solvent in the dry-cleaning industry, tetrachloroethylene (C(2)Cl(4)) can be a pollutant of residential indoor air, which can cause long-term harmful exposures because of its neurotoxicity and probable carcinogenicity. In France, dry-cleaning facilities are integrated in urban environments (shopping malls, residential buildings) and can contribute to C(2)Cl(4) exposure for customers and residents. This exploratory work presents the results from five studies carried out in one shopping mall and four residential buildings housing a dry-cleaning facility. These studies involved dry-cleaning machines fitted with a Carbon Adsorber and unfitted, with or without Air Exhaust System. Samples were collected in the cleaning facilities and in the apartments located above with passive samplers allowing measurement of time-integrated concentrations on a 7 days sampling period. It has obviously shown the degradation of indoor air quality in these environments and underlined the contributing role of the machine technology and ventilation system on the amount of released C(2)Cl(4) in the indoor air. To temper these results, it must be pointed out that some parameters (building insulation, amount of solvent used...) which would influence C(2)Cl(4) fugitive release have not been quantified and should be looked at in further studies. In France, dry-cleaning facilities are frequently integrated in urban environments (large shopping malls or residential buildings) and can significantly contribute to tetrachloroethylene (C(2)Cl(4)) population exposure. The amount of fugitive releases in these environments depends on several parameters such as the dry-cleaning machine technology (fitted or unfitted with a carbon adsorber) and the ventilation (air exhaust system). To reduce C(2)Cl(4) exposure in residential buildings and other indoor environments with on-site dry cleaners, carbon adsorber unequipped machine should be replaced by newer technology and dry cleaners should be equipped with mechanical air exhaust systems.

Machine Cleans And Degreases Without Toxic Solvents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gurguis, Kamal S.; Higginson, Gregory A.

1993-01-01

Appliance uses hot water and biodegradable chemicals to degrease and clean hardware. Spray chamber essentially industrial-scale dishwasher. Front door tilts open, and hardware to be cleaned placed on basket-like tray. During cleaning process, basket-like tray rotates as high-pressure "V" jets deliver steam, hot water, detergent solution, and rust inhibitor as required.

29 CFR 570.62 - Occupations involved in the operation of bakery machines (Order 11).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., or cleaning any horizontal or vertical dough mixer; batter mixer; bread dividing, rounding, or molding machine; dough brake; dough sheeter; combination bread slicing and wrapping machine; or cake cutting band saw. (2) The occupation of setting up or adjusting a cookie or cracker machine. (b...

29 CFR 570.62 - Occupations involved in the operation of bakery machines (Order 11).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., or cleaning any horizontal or vertical dough mixer; batter mixer; bread dividing, rounding, or molding machine; dough brake; dough sheeter; combination bread slicing and wrapping machine; or cake cutting band saw. (2) The occupation of setting up or adjusting a cookie or cracker machine. (b...

29 CFR 570.62 - Occupations involved in the operation of bakery machines (Order 11).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., or cleaning any horizontal or vertical dough mixer; batter mixer; bread dividing, rounding, or molding machine; dough brake; dough sheeter; combination bread slicing and wrapping machine; or cake cutting band saw. (2) The occupation of setting up or adjusting a cookie or cracker machine. (b...

29 CFR 570.62 - Occupations involved in the operation of bakery machines (Order 11).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., or cleaning any horizontal or vertical dough mixer; batter mixer; bread dividing, rounding, or molding machine; dough brake; dough sheeter; combination bread slicing and wrapping machine; or cake cutting band saw. (2) The occupation of setting up or adjusting a cookie or cracker machine. (b...

Effect of cleaning status on accuracy and precision of oxygen flowmeters of various ages.

PubMed

Fissekis, Stephanie; Hodgson, David S; Bello, Nora M

2017-07-01

To evaluate oxygen flowmeters for accuracy and precision, assess the effects of cleaning and assess conformity to the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards. Experimental study. The flow of oxygen flowmeters from 31 anesthesia machines aged 1-45 years was measured before and after cleaning using a volumetric flow analyzer set at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 L minute -1 . A general linear mixed models approach was used to assess flow accuracy and precision. Flowmeters 1 year of age delivered accurate mean oxygen flows at all settings regardless of cleaning status. Flowmeters ≥5 years of age underdelivered at flows of 3.0 and 4.0 L minute -1 . Flowmeters ≥12 years underdelivered at flows of 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 L minute -1 prior to cleaning. There was no evidence of any beneficial effect of cleaning on accuracy of flowmeters 5-12 years of age (p > 0.22), but the accuracy of flowmeters ≥15 years of age was improved by cleaning (p < 0.05). Regardless of age, cleaning increased precision, decreasing flow variability by approximately 17%. Nine of 31 uncleaned flowmeters did not meet ASTM standards. After cleaning, a different set of nine flowmeters did not meet standards, including three that had met standards prior to cleaning. Older flowmeters were more likely to underdeliver oxygen, especially at higher flows. Regardless of age, cleaning decreased flow variability, improving precision. However, flowmeters still may fail to meet ASTM standards, regardless of cleaning status. Cleaning anesthesia machine oxygen flowmeters improved precision for all tested machines and partially corrected inaccuracies in flowmeters ≥15 years old. A notable proportion of flowmeters did not meet ASTM standards. Cleaning did not ensure that they subsequently conformed to ASTM standards. We recommend annual flow output validation to identify whether flowmeters are acceptable for continued clinical use. Copyright © 2017 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anomaly detection for machine learning redshifts applied to SDSS galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoyle, Ben; Rau, Markus Michael; Paech, Kerstin; Bonnett, Christopher; Seitz, Stella; Weller, Jochen

2015-10-01

We present an analysis of anomaly detection for machine learning redshift estimation. Anomaly detection allows the removal of poor training examples, which can adversely influence redshift estimates. Anomalous training examples may be photometric galaxies with incorrect spectroscopic redshifts, or galaxies with one or more poorly measured photometric quantity. We select 2.5 million `clean' SDSS DR12 galaxies with reliable spectroscopic redshifts, and 6730 `anomalous' galaxies with spectroscopic redshift measurements which are flagged as unreliable. We contaminate the clean base galaxy sample with galaxies with unreliable redshifts and attempt to recover the contaminating galaxies using the Elliptical Envelope technique. We then train four machine learning architectures for redshift analysis on both the contaminated sample and on the preprocessed `anomaly-removed' sample and measure redshift statistics on a clean validation sample generated without any preprocessing. We find an improvement on all measured statistics of up to 80 per cent when training on the anomaly removed sample as compared with training on the contaminated sample for each of the machine learning routines explored. We further describe a method to estimate the contamination fraction of a base data sample.

Applicability Determination Letters for 40 C.F.R. Part 63 Subpart M, National Perchloroethylene Air Emission Standards for Dry Cleaning Facilities

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This pages contains two letters on the applicability of the National Perchloroethylene Air Emission Standards for Dry Cleaning Facilities (40 CFR 63, Subpart M). Both letters clarify what constitutes instillation of a dry cleaning machine.

SPARCHS: Symbiotic, Polymorphic, Automatic, Resilient, Clean-Slate, Host Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

SPARCHS: SYMBIOTIC , POLYMORPHIC, AUTOMATIC, RESILIENT, CLEAN-SLATE, HOST SECURITY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MARCH 2016 FINAL... SYMBIOTIC , POLYMORPHIC, AUTOTOMIC, RESILIENT, CLEAN-SLATE, HOST SECURITY 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER N/A 5b. GRANT NUMBER FA8750-10-2-0253 5c. PROGRAM...17 4.2.3 SYMBIOTIC EMBEDDED MACHINES

40 CFR 63.461 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... the layer of air inside the solvent cleaning machine freeboard located above the solvent/air interface... speed from the initial loading of soiled or wet parts through the removal of the cleaned or dried parts... fresh unused solvent, recycled solvent, or used solvent that has been cleaned of soils (e.g., skimmed of...

40 CFR 63.461 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the layer of air inside the solvent cleaning machine freeboard located above the solvent/air interface... speed from the initial loading of soiled or wet parts through the removal of the cleaned or dried parts... fresh unused solvent, recycled solvent, or used solvent that has been cleaned of soils (e.g., skimmed of...

40 CFR 63.461 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the layer of air inside the solvent cleaning machine freeboard located above the solvent/air interface... speed from the initial loading of soiled or wet parts through the removal of the cleaned or dried parts... fresh unused solvent, recycled solvent, or used solvent that has been cleaned of soils (e.g., skimmed of...

40 CFR 63.461 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the layer of air inside the solvent cleaning machine freeboard located above the solvent/air interface... speed from the initial loading of soiled or wet parts through the removal of the cleaned or dried parts... fresh unused solvent, recycled solvent, or used solvent that has been cleaned of soils (e.g., skimmed of...

Legionellosis Outbreak Associated with Asphalt Paving Machine, Spain, 2009

PubMed Central

Fenollar, José; Escribano, Isabel; González-Candelas, Fernando

2010-01-01

From 1999 through 2005 in Alcoi, Spain, incidence of legionellosis was continually high. Over the next 4 years, incidence was lower, but an increase in July 2009 led health authorities to declare an epidemic outbreak. A molecular epidemiology investigation showed that the allelic profiles for all Legionella pneumophila samples from the 2009 outbreak patients were the same, thus pointing to a common genetic origin for their infections, and that they were identical to that of the organism that had caused the previous outbreaks. Spatial-temporal and sequence-based typing analyses indicated a milling machine used in street asphalt repaving and its water tank as the most likely sources. As opposed to other machines used for street cleaning, the responsible milling machine used water from a natural spring. When the operation of this machine was prohibited and cleaning measures were adopted, infections ceased. PMID:20735921

[Integration and demonstration of key techniques in surveillance and forecast of schistosomiasis in Jiangsu Province III Development of a machine simultaneously integrating mechanized environmental cleaning and automatic mollusciciding].

PubMed

Wang, Fu-biao; Ma, Yu-cai; Sun, Le-ping; Hong, Qing-biao; Gao, Yang; Zhang, Chang-lin; Du, Guang-lin; Lu, Da-qin; Sun, Zhi-yong; Wang, Wei; Dai, Jian-rong; Liang, You-sheng

2016-02-01

To develop a machine simultaneously integrating mechanized environmental cleaning and automatic mollusciciding and to evaluate its effectiveness of field application, so as to provide a novel Oncomelania hupensis snail control technique in the large-scale marshlands. The machine simultaneously integrating mechanized environmental cleaning and automatic mollusciciding, which was suitable for use in complex marshland areas, was developed according to the mechanization and automation principles, and was used for O. hupensis snail control in the marshland. The effect of the machine on environmental cleaning and plough was evaluated, and the distribution of living snails was observed at various soil layers following plough. The snail control effects of plough alone and plough followed by mollusciciding were compared. The machine could simultaneously complete the procedures of getting vegetation down and cut vegetation into pieces, plough and snail control by spraying niclosamide. After plough, the constituent ratios of living snails were 36.31%, 25.60%, 22.62% and 15.48% in the soil layers at depths of 0-5, 6-10, 11-15 cm and 16-20 cm respectively, and 61.91% living snails were found in the 0-10 cm soil layers. Seven and fifteen days after the experiment, the mortality rates of snails were 9.38% and 8.29% in the plough alone group, and 63.04% and 80.70% in the plough + mollusciciding group respectively (χ²₇ d = 42.74, χ²₁₅ d = 155.56, both P values < 0.01). Thirty days after the experiment, the densities of snails were 3.02 snails/0.1 m² and 0.53 snails/ 0.1 m² in the soil surface of the plough alone group and the plough + mollusciciding group, which decreased by 64.92% and 93.60%, respectively, and the decrease rate of snail density was approximately 30% higher in the plough + mollusciciding group than that in the plough alone group. The machine simultaneously integrating mechanized environmental cleaning and automatic mollusciciding achieves the integration of mechanical environmental cleaning and automatic niclosamide spraying in the complex marshland areas, which provides a novel technique of field snail control in the large-scale setting in China.

40 CFR 63.462 - Batch cold cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCE CATEGORIES... splashing against tank walls or parts being cleaned. (7) The owner or operator shall ensure that, when the...

40 CFR 63.462 - Batch cold cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCE CATEGORIES... splashing against tank walls or parts being cleaned. (7) The owner or operator shall ensure that, when the...

40 CFR 63.462 - Batch cold cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCE CATEGORIES... splashing against tank walls or parts being cleaned. (7) The owner or operator shall ensure that, when the...

40 CFR 63.462 - Batch cold cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCE CATEGORIES... splashing against tank walls or parts being cleaned. (7) The owner or operator shall ensure that, when the...

40 CFR 63.462 - Batch cold cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FOR SOURCE CATEGORIES... splashing against tank walls or parts being cleaned. (7) The owner or operator shall ensure that, when the...

Waterless Clothes-Cleaning Machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Glenn; Ganske, Shane

2013-01-01

A waterless clothes-cleaning machine has been developed that removes loose particulates and deodorizes dirty laundry with regenerative chemical processes to make the clothes more comfortable to wear and have a fresher smell. This system was initially developed for use in zero-g, but could be altered for 1-g environments where water or other re sources are scarce. Some of these processes include, but are not limited to, airflow, filtration, ozone generation, heat, ultraviolet light, and photocatalytic titanium oxide.

Prediction of Protein-Protein Interaction Sites with Machine-Learning-Based Data-Cleaning and Post-Filtering Procedures.

PubMed

Liu, Guang-Hui; Shen, Hong-Bin; Yu, Dong-Jun

2016-04-01

Accurately predicting protein-protein interaction sites (PPIs) is currently a hot topic because it has been demonstrated to be very useful for understanding disease mechanisms and designing drugs. Machine-learning-based computational approaches have been broadly utilized and demonstrated to be useful for PPI prediction. However, directly applying traditional machine learning algorithms, which often assume that samples in different classes are balanced, often leads to poor performance because of the severe class imbalance that exists in the PPI prediction problem. In this study, we propose a novel method for improving PPI prediction performance by relieving the severity of class imbalance using a data-cleaning procedure and reducing predicted false positives with a post-filtering procedure: First, a machine-learning-based data-cleaning procedure is applied to remove those marginal targets, which may potentially have a negative effect on training a model with a clear classification boundary, from the majority samples to relieve the severity of class imbalance in the original training dataset; then, a prediction model is trained on the cleaned dataset; finally, an effective post-filtering procedure is further used to reduce potential false positive predictions. Stringent cross-validation and independent validation tests on benchmark datasets demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed method, which exhibits highly competitive performance compared with existing state-of-the-art sequence-based PPIs predictors and should supplement existing PPI prediction methods.

Preliminary study of propyl bromide exposure among New Jersey dry cleaners as a result of a pending ban on perchloroethylene.

PubMed

Blando, James D; Schill, Donald P; De La Cruz, Mary Pauline; Zhang, Lin; Zhang, Junfeng

2010-09-01

Many states are considering, and some states have actively pursued, banning the use of perchloroethylene (PERC) in dry cleaning establishments. Proposed legislation has led many dry cleaners to consider the use of products that contain greater than 90% n-propyl bromide (n-PB; also called 1-bromopropane or 1-BP). Very little information is known about toxicity and exposure to n-PB. Some n-PB-containing products are marketed as nonhazardous and "green" or "organic." This has resulted in some users perceiving the solvent as nontoxic and has resulted in at least one significant poisoning incident in New Jersey. In addition, many dry cleaning operators may not realize that the machine components and settings must be changed when converting from PERC to n-PB containing products. Not performing these modifications may result in overheating and significant leaks in the dry cleaning equipment. A preliminary investigation was conducted of the potential exposures to n-PB and isopropyl bromide (iso-PB; also called 2-bromopropane or 2-BP) among dry cleaners in New Jersey who have converted their machines from PERC to these new solvent products. Personal breathing zone and area samples were collected using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Sampling and Analytical Method 1025, with a slight modification to gas chromatography conditions to facilitate better separation of n-PB from iso-PB. During the preliminary investigation, exposures to n-PB among some workers in two of three shops were measured that were greater than the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV) for n-PB. The highest exposure measured among a dry cleaning machine operator was 54 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hr time-weighted average, which is more than 5 times the ACGIH TLV of 10 ppm. The preliminary investigation also found that the work tasks most likely to result in the highest short-term exposures included the introduction of solvent to the machine, maintenance of the machine, unloading and handling of recently cleaned clothes, and interrupting the wash cycle of the machine. In addition, this assessment suggested that leaks may have contributed to exposure and may have resulted from normal machine wear over time, ineffective maintenance, and from the incompatibility of n-PB with gasket materials.

40 CFR 63.471 - Facility-wide standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... machine in solid waste, obtained as described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, during the most recent... section either in electronic or written form for a period of 5 years. For purposes of this paragraph... machine. (2) The solvent composition of wastes removed from each solvent cleaning machines as determined...

Verifying Dissolution Of Wax From Hardware Surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, Benjamina G.

1995-01-01

Wax removed by cleaning solvent revealed by cooling solution with liquid nitrogen. Such improved procedure and test needed in case of hardware that must be protected by wax during machining or plating but required to be free of wax during subsequent use. Improved cleaning procedure and test take less than 5 minutes. Does not require special skill or equipment and performs at cleaning site. In addition, enables recovery of all cleaning solvent.

Cleaning a semipermeable membrane in a papermaking machine

DOEpatents

Beck, David A.

2004-01-06

A method of cleaning a semipermeable membrane, the semipermeable membrane being configured for carrying a fiber web, includes the steps of providing a cleaning fluid and applying the cleaning fluid on the semipermeable membrane. Further, an air press configured for carrying the semipermeable membrane therethrough is provided, and the air press has pressurized air therein. The semipermeable membrane is conveyed through the air press and is subjected to the pressurized air within the air press. The pressurized air thereby flushes the cleaning fluid through the semipermeable membrane.

Characterization of irradiated AISI 316L stainless steel disks removed from the Spallation Neutron Source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vevera, Bradley J; Hyres, James W; McClintock, David A

2014-01-01

Irradiated AISI 316L stainless steel disks were removed from the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) for post-irradiation examination (PIE) to assess mechanical property changes due to radiation damage and erosion of the target vessel. Topics reviewed include high-resolution photography of the disk specimens, cleaning to remove mercury (Hg) residue and surface oxides, profile mapping of cavitation pits using high frequency ultrasonic testing (UT), high-resolution surface replication, and machining of test specimens using wire electrical discharge machining (EDM), tensile testing, Rockwell Superficial hardness testing, Vickers microhardness testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The effectiveness of the cleaning proceduremore » was evident in the pre- and post-cleaning photography and permitted accurate placement of the test specimens on the disks. Due to the limited amount of material available and the unique geometry of the disks, machine fixturing and test specimen design were critical aspects of this work. Multiple designs were considered and refined during mock-up test runs on unirradiated disks. The techniques used to successfully machine and test the various specimens will be presented along with a summary of important findings from the laboratory examinations.« less

6. VIEW OF THE BRIQUETTING PRESS AND CHIP CLEANING HOOD. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

6. VIEW OF THE BRIQUETTING PRESS AND CHIP CLEANING HOOD. SCRAPS OF ENRICHED URANIUM FROM MACHINING OPERATIONS WERE CLEANED IN A SOLVENT BATH, THEN PRESSED INTO BRIQUETTS. THE BRIQUETTS WERE USED AS FEED MATERIAL FOR THE FOUNDRY. (4/4/66) - Rocky Flats Plant, General Manufacturing, Support, Records-Central Computing, Southern portion of Plant, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

40 CFR 63.322 - Standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... at each opening at all times that the machine is operating. (b) The owner or operator of each new dry... articles to or from the machine, and shall keep the door closed at all other times. (d) The owner or... existing dry cleaning system and of each new transfer machine system and its ancillary equipment installed...

40 CFR 63.322 - Standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... at each opening at all times that the machine is operating. (b) The owner or operator of each new dry... articles to or from the machine, and shall keep the door closed at all other times. (d) The owner or... existing dry cleaning system and of each new transfer machine system and its ancillary equipment installed...

Development of a microbial population within a hot-drinks vending machine and the microbial load of vended hot chocolate drink.

PubMed

Hall, A; Short, K; Saltmarsh, M; Fielding, L; Peters, A

2007-09-01

In order to understand the development of the microbial population within a hot-drinks vending machine a new machine was placed in a staff area of a university campus vending only hot chocolate. The machine was cleaned weekly using a detergent based protocol. Samples from the mixing bowl, dispense area, and drink were taken over a 19-wk period and enumerated using plate count agar. Bacillus cereus was identified using biochemical methods. Vended drinks were sampled at 0, 3, 6, and 9 min after vending; the hot chocolate powder was also sampled. Over the 1st 8 wk, a significant increase in the microbial load of the machine components was observed. By the end of the study, levels within the vended drink had also increased significantly. Inactivation of the automatic flush over a subsequent 5-wk period led to a statistically but not operationally significant increase in the microbial load of the dispense area and vended drink. The simple weekly clean had a significant impact on the microbial load of the machine components and the vended drink. This study demonstrated that a weekly, detergent-based cleaning protocol was sufficient to maintain the microbial population of the mixing bowl and dispense point in a quasi-steady state below 3.5 log CFU/cm2 ensuring that the microbial load of the vended drinks was maintained below 3.4 log CFU/mL. The microbial load of the drinks showed no significant changes over 9 min after vending, suggesting only spores are present in the final product.

Microform Reader Maintenance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Hal W.; Michaels, George H.

1985-01-01

Describes experiences in organizing a program of microform reader and reader/printer maintenance at Texas A & M's Sterling C. Evans Library and offers guidelines for regular machine maintenance and repair. Guidelines discussed relate to maintenance philosophy, general machine cleaning, troubleshooting, service contracts, supplies,…

Balanced-Rotating-Spray Tank-And-Pipe-Cleaning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thaxton, Eric A.; Caimi, Raoul E. B.

1995-01-01

Spray head translates and rotates to clean entire inner surface of tank or pipe. Cleansing effected by three laterally balanced gas/liquid jets from spray head that rotates about longitudinal axis. Uses much less liquid. Cleaning process in system relies on mechanical action of jets instead of contaminant dissolution. Eliminates very difficult machining needed to make multiple converging/diverging nozzles within one spray head. Makes nozzle much smaller. Basic two-phase-flow, supersonic-nozzle design applied to other spray systems for interior or exterior cleaning.

The study on the nanomachining property and cutting model of single-crystal sapphire by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Huang, Jen-Ching; Weng, Yung-Jin

2014-01-01

This study focused on the nanomachining property and cutting model of single-crystal sapphire during nanomachining. The coated diamond probe is used to as a tool, and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) is as an experimental platform for nanomachining. To understand the effect of normal force on single-crystal sapphire machining, this study tested nano-line machining and nano-rectangular pattern machining at different normal force. In nano-line machining test, the experimental results showed that the normal force increased, the groove depth from nano-line machining also increased. And the trend is logarithmic type. In nano-rectangular pattern machining test, it is found when the normal force increases, the groove depth also increased, but rather the accumulation of small chips. This paper combined the blew by air blower, the cleaning by ultrasonic cleaning machine and using contact mode probe to scan the surface topology after nanomaching, and proposed the "criterion of nanomachining cutting model," in order to determine the cutting model of single-crystal sapphire in the nanomachining is ductile regime cutting model or brittle regime cutting model. After analysis, the single-crystal sapphire substrate is processed in small normal force during nano-linear machining; its cutting modes are ductile regime cutting model. In the nano-rectangular pattern machining, due to the impact of machined zones overlap, the cutting mode is converted into a brittle regime cutting model. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of a cleaning process for uranium chips machined with a glycol-water-borax coolant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, P.A.

1984-12-01

A chip-cleaning process has been developed to remove the new glycol-water-borax coolant from oralloy chips. The process involves storing the freshly cut chips in Freon-TDF until they are cleaned, washing with water, and displacing the water with Freon-TDF. The wash water can be reused many times and still yield clean chips and then be added to the coolant to make up for evaporative losses. The Freon-TDF will be cycled by evaporation. The cleaning facility is currently being designed and should be operational by April 1985.

Substantiation of basic scheme of grain cleaning machine for preparation of agricultural crops seeds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giyevskiy, A. M.; Orobinsky, V. I.; Tarasenko, A. P.; Chernyshov, A. V.; Kurilov, D. O.

2018-03-01

The article presents data on the feasibility of the concept of a high-efficiency seed cleaner with the consistent use of the air flow in aspiration and the multi-tier placement of the sorting grids in grating mills. As a result of modeling, the directions for further improvement of air-screen seed cleaning machines have been identified: an increase in the proportion of sorting grids in the mills up to 70 ... 80% and an increase in the speed of the air flow in the channel of the pre-filter cleaning up to 8.0 m / s. Experiments have established the competence of using mathematical modeling of airflow in the pneumatic system with the use of a finite-volume method for solving hydrodynamic equations for substantiating the basic parameters of the pneumatic system.

40 CFR 63.468 - Reporting requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... brief description of each solvent cleaning machine including machine type (batch vapor, batch cold... construction or reconstruction had commenced and initial startup had not occurred before December 2, 1994, shall submit this report as soon as practicable before startup but no later than January 31, 1995. New...

40 CFR 63.468 - Reporting requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... brief description of each solvent cleaning machine including machine type (batch vapor, batch cold... construction or reconstruction had commenced and initial startup had not occurred before December 2, 1994, shall submit this report as soon as practicable before startup but no later than January 31, 1995. New...

40 CFR 63.468 - Reporting requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... brief description of each solvent cleaning machine including machine type (batch vapor, batch cold... construction or reconstruction had commenced and initial startup had not occurred before December 2, 1994, shall submit this report as soon as practicable before startup but no later than January 31, 1995. New...

40 CFR 63.468 - Reporting requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... brief description of each solvent cleaning machine including machine type (batch vapor, batch cold... construction or reconstruction had commenced and initial startup had not occurred before December 2, 1994, shall submit this report as soon as practicable before startup but no later than January 31, 1995. New...

ODC-Free Solvent Implementation for Phenolics Cleaning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wurth, Laura; Biegert, Lydia; Lamont, DT; McCool, Alex (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

During phenolic liner manufacture, resin-impregnated (pre-preg) bias tape of silica, glass, or carbon cloth is tape-wrapped, cured, machined, and then wiped with 1,1,1 tri-chloroethane (TCA) to remove contaminants that may have been introduced during machining and handling. Following the TCA wipe, the machined surface is given a resin wet-coat and over-wrapped with more prepreg and cured. A TCA replacement solvent for these wiping operations must effectively remove both surface contaminants, and sub-surface oils and greases while not compromising the integrity of this interface. Selection of a TCA replacement solvent for phenolic over-wrap interface cleaning began with sub-scale compatibility tests with cured phenolics. Additional compatibility tests included assessment of solvent retention in machined phenolic surfaces. Results from these tests showed that, while the candidate solvent did not degrade the cured phenolics, it was retained in higher concentrations than TCA in phenolic surfaces. This effect was most pronounced with glass and silica cloth phenolics with steep ply angles relative to the wiped surfaces.

Investigation of aluminum surface cleaning using cavitating fluid flow

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ralys, Aurimas; Striška, Vytautas; Mokšin, Vadim

This paper investigates efficiency of specially designed atomizer used to spray water and cavitate microbubbles in water flow. Surface cleaning system was used to clean machined (grinded) aluminum surface from abrasive particles. It is established that cleaning efficiency depends on diameter of the diffuser, water pressure and distance between nozzle and metal surface. It is obtained that the best cleaning efficiency (100%) is achieved at pressure 36 bar, when diameter of diffuser is 0.4 mm and distance between nozzle and surface is 1 mm. It is also established that satisfactory cleaning efficiency (80%) is achieved not only when atomizer ismore » placed closer to metal surface, but also at larger (120 mm) distances.« less

Effects of wet cleaning with disodium octaborate tetrahydrate on dust mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) in carpet.

PubMed

Vyszenski-Moher, Diann L; Arlian, Larry G

2003-07-01

In a controlled laboratory study, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) applied to carpets with a carpet-cleaning machine at a rate of 509 ml DOT/8.15 liter H2O/100 m2 (two cups DOT/2 gal H2O/100 feet2) reduced survival and population growth of live Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus by > or = 98% compared with water-cleaned and uncleaned carpets at 8 wk postcleaning. Cleaning with DOT was more effective against D. pteronyssinus than D. farinae.

40 CFR 63.447 - Clean condensate alternative.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... equipment includes smelt dissolving tanks, lime mud washers and storage tanks, white and mud liquor... tanks, and dreg washers ending with the white liquor storage tanks prior to the digester system, and any... preparation systems, the paper or paperboard machines, and the paper machine white water system, broke...

40 CFR 63.447 - Clean condensate alternative.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... equipment includes smelt dissolving tanks, lime mud washers and storage tanks, white and mud liquor... tanks, and dreg washers ending with the white liquor storage tanks prior to the digester system, and any... preparation systems, the paper or paperboard machines, and the paper machine white water system, broke...

40 CFR 63.447 - Clean condensate alternative.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... equipment includes smelt dissolving tanks, lime mud washers and storage tanks, white and mud liquor... tanks, and dreg washers ending with the white liquor storage tanks prior to the digester system, and any... preparation systems, the paper or paperboard machines, and the paper machine white water system, broke...

Case study of a floor-cleaning robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Branch, Allan C.

1998-01-01

Developing the technologies suitable of ra high level robotic application such as cleaning a floor has proved extremely difficult. Developing the robot mobility technology has been a stumbling block and developing and integrating the applications technology to the machine and the mobility technology has also been a difficult stage in this quest, but doing so in a cost effective and realistic manner suitable for the market place and to compete with humans and manually operated machines has been the most difficult of all. This paper describes one of these quests spanning a 14 year period and resulting in what is hoped will be the world's first commercially manufactured household robot vacuum cleaner.

Lubricant Coating Process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

"Peen Plating," a NASA developed process for applying molybdenum disulfide, is the key element of Techniblast Co.'s SURFGUARD process for applying high strength solid lubricants. The process requires two machines -- one for cleaning and one for coating. The cleaning step allows the coating to be bonded directly to the substrate to provide a better "anchor." The coating machine applies a half a micron thick coating. Then, a blast gun, using various pressures to vary peening intensities for different applications, fires high velocity "media" -- peening hammers -- ranging from plastic pellets to steel shot. Techniblast was assisted by Rural Enterprises, Inc. Coating service can be performed at either Techniblast's or a customer's facility.

Cleaning With Supercritical CO2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herzstock, James J.

1990-01-01

Supercritical carbon dioxide effective industrial cleaning agent. Replaces conventional halocarbon solvents for degreasing parts becoming coated with oil during such manufacturing procedures as forming and machining. Presents none of environmental threats and occupational hazards associated with halocarbon solvents. Spontaneously evaporates after use and leaves no waste to be disposed of. Evaporated gas readily collected and recycled.

The Research and Implementation of MUSER CLEAN Algorithm Based on OpenCL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Y.; Chen, K.; Deng, H.; Wang, F.; Mei, Y.; Wei, S. L.; Dai, W.; Yang, Q. P.; Liu, Y. B.; Wu, J. P.

2017-03-01

It's urgent to carry out high-performance data processing with a single machine in the development of astronomical software. However, due to the different configuration of the machine, traditional programming techniques such as multi-threading, and CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture)+GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) have obvious limitations in portability and seamlessness between different operation systems. The OpenCL (Open Computing Language) used in the development of MUSER (MingantU SpEctral Radioheliograph) data processing system is introduced. And the Högbom CLEAN algorithm is re-implemented into parallel CLEAN algorithm by the Python language and PyOpenCL extended package. The experimental results show that the CLEAN algorithm based on OpenCL has approximately equally operating efficiency compared with the former CLEAN algorithm based on CUDA. More important, the data processing in merely CPU (Central Processing Unit) environment of this system can also achieve high performance, which has solved the problem of environmental dependence of CUDA+GPU. Overall, the research improves the adaptability of the system with emphasis on performance of MUSER image clean computing. In the meanwhile, the realization of OpenCL in MUSER proves its availability in scientific data processing. In view of the high-performance computing features of OpenCL in heterogeneous environment, it will probably become the preferred technology in the future high-performance astronomical software development.

[Measurement and analysis of hand-transmitted vibration of vibration tools in workplace for automobile casting and assembly].

PubMed

Xie, X S; Qi, C; Du, X Y; Shi, W W; Zhang, M

2016-02-20

To investigate the features of hand-transmitted vibration of common vibration tools in the workplace for automobile casting and assembly. From September to October, 2014, measurement and spectral analysis were performed for 16 typical hand tools(including percussion drill, pneumatic wrench, grinding machine, internal grinder, and arc welding machine) in 6 workplaces for automobile casting and assembly according to ISO 5349-1-2001 Mechanical vibration-Measurement and evaluation of human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration-part 1: General requirements and ISO 5349-2-2001 Mechanical vibration-Measurement and evaluation of human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration-Part 2: Practical guidance for measurement in the workplace. The vibration acceleration waveforms of shearing machine, arc welding machine, and pneumatic wrench were mainly impact wave and random wave, while those of internal grinder, angle grinder, percussion drill, and grinding machine were mainly long-and short-period waves. The daily exposure duration to vibration of electric wrench, pneumatic wrench, shearing machine, percussion drill, and internal grinder was about 150 minutes, while that of plasma cutting machine, angle grinder, grinding machine, bench grinder, and arc welding machine was about 400 minutes. The range of vibration total value(ahv) was as follows: pneumatic wrench 0.30~11.04 m/s(2), grinding wheel 1.61~8.97 m/s(2), internal grinder 1.46~8.70 m/s(2), percussion drill 11.10~14.50 m/s(2), and arc welding machine 0.21~2.18 m/s(2). The workers engaged in cleaning had the longest daily exposure duration to vibration, and the effective value of 8-hour energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration for them[A(8)] was 8.03 m/s(2), while this value for workers engaged in assembly was 4.78 m/s(2). The frequency spectrogram with an 1/3-time frequency interval showed that grinding machine, angle grinder, and percussion drill had a high vibration acceleration, and the vibration limit curve was recommended for those with a frequency higher than 400 min/d. The workers who are engaged in cleaning, grinding, and a few positions of assembly and use grinding machine, angle grinder, internal grinder, and percussion drill are exposed to vibrations with a high vibration acceleration and at a high position of the frequency spectrum. The hand-transmitted vibration in the positions of cutting, polishing, and cleaning in automobile casting has great harm, and the harm caused by pneumatic wrench in automobile assembly should be taken seriously.

40 CFR 63.463 - Batch vapor and in-line cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... container. (12) Sponges, fabric, wood, and paper products shall not be cleaned. (e) Each owner or operator... provided in paragraph (g)(4)(ix) of this section, sponges, fabric, wood, and paper products shall not be... provided in paragraph (h)(3)(viii) of this section, sponges, fabric, wood, and paper products shall not be...

Experiment requirements and implementation plan (Erip) for semiconductor materials growth in low-G environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouch, R. K.; Fripp, A. L.; Debnam, W. J.; Clark, I. O.

1983-01-01

The MEA-2 A facility was used to test the effect of the low gravity environment on suppressing convective mixing in the growth of Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Te crystals. The need to eliminate convection, the furnace characteristics and operation that will be required for successful experimental implementation, and to the level that is presently known, the measured physical properties of the Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Te system were discussed. In addition, a brief background of the present and potential utilization of Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Te is given. Additional experiments are anticipated in future MEA-A, improved MEA and other dedicated materials processing in space flight apparatus.

MSWT-01, flood disaster water treatment solution from common ideas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ananto, Gamawan; Setiawan, Albertus B.; Z, Darman M.

2013-06-01

Indonesia has a lot of potential flood disaster places with clean water problems faced. Various solution programs always initiated by Government, companies CSR, and people sporadical actions to provide clean water; with their advantages and disadvantages respectively. One solution is easy to operate for instance, but didn't provide adequate capacity, whereas the other had ideal performance but more costly. This situation inspired to develop a water treatment machine that could be an alternative favor. There are many methods could be choosed; whether in simple, middle or high technology, depends on water source input and output result quality. MSWT, Mobile Surface Water Treatment, is an idea for raw water in flood area, basically made for 1m3 per hour. This water treatment design adopted from combined existing technologies and related literatures. Using common ideas, the highlight is how to make such modular process put in compact design elegantly, and would be equipped with mobile feature due to make easier in operational. Through prototype level experiment trials, the machine is capable for producing clean water that suitable for sanitation and cooking/drinking purposes although using contaminated water input source. From the investment point of view, such machine could be also treated as an asset that will be used from time to time when needed, instead of made for project approach only.

The Factory of the Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byman, J. E.

1985-01-01

A brief history of aircraft production techniques is given. A flexible machining cell is then described. It is a computer controlled system capable of performing 4-axis machining part cleaning, dimensional inspection and materials handling functions in an unmanned environment. The cell was designed to: allow processing of similar and dissimilar parts in random order without disrupting production; allow serial (one-shipset-at-a-time) manufacturing; reduce work-in-process inventory; maximize machine utilization through remote set-up; maximize throughput and minimize labor.

Ensemble machine learning and forecasting can achieve 99% uptime for rural handpumps

PubMed Central

Thomas, Evan A.

2017-01-01

Broken water pumps continue to impede efforts to deliver clean and economically-viable water to the global poor. The literature has demonstrated that customers’ health benefits and willingness to pay for clean water are best realized when clean water infrastructure performs extremely well (>99% uptime). In this paper, we used sensor data from 42 Afridev-brand handpumps observed for 14 months in western Kenya to demonstrate how sensors and supervised ensemble machine learning could be used to increase total fleet uptime from a best-practices baseline of about 70% to >99%. We accomplish this increase in uptime by forecasting pump failures and identifying existing failures very quickly. Comparing the costs of operating the pump per functional year over a lifetime of 10 years, we estimate that implementing this algorithm would save 7% on the levelized cost of water relative to a sensor-less scheduled maintenance program. Combined with a rigorous system for dispatching maintenance personnel, implementing this algorithm in a real-world program could significantly improve health outcomes and customers’ willingness to pay for water services. PMID:29182673

40 CFR 63.471 - Facility-wide standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... manufacture of narrow tubing, and continuous web cleaning machines, located at a major source that are subject... engineering calculations included in the compliance report. (4) Each owner or operator of an affected facility...

40 CFR 63.471 - Facility-wide standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... manufacture of narrow tubing, and continuous web cleaning machines, located at a major source that are subject... engineering calculations included in the compliance report. (4) Each owner or operator of an affected facility...

Software Reviews.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Science and Children, 1990

1990-01-01

Reviewed are seven computer software packages for IBM and/or Apple Computers. Included are "Windows on Science: Volume 1--Physical Science"; "Science Probe--Physical Science"; "Wildlife Adventures--Grizzly Bears"; "Science Skills--Development Programs"; "The Clean Machine"; "Rock Doctor";…

[Analysis and research on cleaning points of HVAC systems in public places].

PubMed

Yang, Jiaolan; Han, Xu; Chen, Dongqing; Jin, Xin; Dai, Zizhu

2010-03-01

To analyze cleaning points of HVAC systems, and to provides scientific base for regulating the cleaning of HVAC systems. Based on the survey results on the cleaning situation of HVAC systems around China for the past three years, we analyzes the cleaning points of HVAC systems from various aspects, such as the major health risk factors of HVAC systems, the formulation strategy of the cleaning of HVAC systems, cleaning methods and acceptance points of the air ducts and the parts of HVAC systems, the onsite protection and individual protection, the waste treatment and the cleaning of the removed equipment, inspection of the cleaning results, video record, and the final acceptance of the cleaning. The analysis of the major health risk factors of HVAC systems and the formulation strategy of the cleaning of HVAC systems is given. The specific methods for cleaning the air ducts, machine units, air ports, coil pipes and the water cooling towers of HVAC systems, the acceptance points of HVAC systems and the requirements of the report on the final acceptance of the cleaning of HVAC systems are proposed. By the analysis of the points of the cleaning of HVAC systems and proposal of corresponding measures, this study provides the base for the scientific and regular launch of the cleaning of HVAC systems, a novel technology service, and lays a foundation for the revision of the existing cleaning regulations, which may generate technical and social benefits to some extent.

An evaluation of the efficiency of cleaning methods in a bacon factory

PubMed Central

Dempster, J. F.

1971-01-01

The germicidal efficiencies of hot water (140-150° F.) under pressure (method 1), hot water + 2% (w/v) detergent solution (method 2) and hot water + detergent + 200 p.p.m. solution of available chlorine (method 3) were compared at six sites in a bacon factory. Results indicated that sites 1 and 2 (tiled walls) were satisfactorily cleaned by each method. It was therefore considered more economical to clean such surfaces routinely by method 1. However, this method was much less efficient (31% survival of micro-organisms) on site 3 (wooden surface) than methods 2 (7% survival) and 3 (1% survival). Likewise the remaining sites (dehairing machine, black scraper and table) were least efficiently cleaned by method 1. The most satisfactory results were obtained when these surfaces were treated by method 3. Pig carcasses were shown to be contaminated by an improperly cleaned black scraper. Repeated cleaning and sterilizing (method 3) of this equipment reduced the contamination on carcasses from about 70% to less than 10%. PMID:5291745

A&M. TAN607. Sections for second phase expansion: engine maintenance, machine, ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

A&M. TAN-607. Sections for second phase expansion: engine maintenance, machine, and welding shops; high bay assembly shop, chemical cleaning room (decontamination). Details of sliding door hoods. Approved by INEEL Classification Office for public release. Ralph M. Parsons 1299-5-ANP/GE-3-607-A 109. Date: August 1956. INEEL index code no. 034-0607-00-693-107169 - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Test Area North, Scoville, Butte County, ID

HullBUG Technology Development for Underwater Hull Cleaning

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-23

drawings of the Grooming Tool would be generated. These drawings would be vended out to approved vendors for quoting. Quotes would be obtained for...quantity purchased determined, parts would be vended out and manufactured. These parts would then be assembled at SRC. A test program would then follow...tolerances added to enable quoting by commercial machine shops. A top assembly drawing was created that identified all machined parts as well as all

Trichloroethylene and stoddard solvent reduction alternatives in a small shop. 1989 summer intern report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, D.J.

1989-12-31

Aero Precision Engineering Corp. is a small screw machine shop which produces precision parts for industry located in St. Paul Park, MN. The project focused on identifying satisfactory water-based substitutes for trichloroethylene (TCE) used both as a vapor degreaser and as a cold solvent in a small covered container. At the time of the project, the company used about 500 gallons of trichloroethylene with approximately 165 gallons shipped off site as waste annually. The solvent was used primarily to remove cutting oil and metal chips from production parts. In identifying a standard for evaluating alterantives to the solvent for cleaning,more » it was noted that parts cleaned in the cold bucket were definitely not as clean as those cleaned in the vapor degreaser.« less

Cleaning without chlorinated solvents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, L. M.; Simandl, R. F.

1995-01-01

Because of health and environmental concerns, many regulations have been passed in recent years regarding the use of chlorinated solvents. The Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant has had an active program to find alternatives for these solvents used in cleaning applications for the past 7 years. During this time frame, the quantity of solvents purchased has been reduced by 92 percent. The program has been a twofold effort. Vapor degreasers used in batch cleaning operations have been replaced by ultrasonic cleaning with aqueous detergent, and other organic solvents have been identified for use in hand-wiping or specialty operations. In order to qualify these alternatives for use, experimentation was conducted on cleaning ability as well as effects on subsequent operations such as welding, painting, and bonding. Cleaning ability was determined using techniques such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which are capable of examining monolayer levels of contamination on a surface. Solvents have been identified for removal of rust preventative oils, lapping oils, machining coolants, lubricants, greases, and mold releases. Solvents have also been evaluated for cleaning urethane foam spray guns, swelling of urethanes, and swelling of epoxies.

Evaluation of cleaning and disinfection performance of automatic washer disinfectors machines in programs presenting different cycle times and temperatures.

PubMed

Bergo, Maria do Carmo Noronha Cominato

2006-01-01

Thermal washer-disinfectors represent a technology that brought about great advantages such as, establishment of protocols, standard operating procedures, reduction in occupational risk of a biological and environmental nature. The efficacy of the cleaning and disinfection obtained by automatic washer disinfectors machines in running programs with different times and temperatures determined by the different official agencies was validated according to recommendations from ISO Standards 15883-1/1999 and HTM2030 (NHS Estates, 1997) for the determining of the Minimum Lethality and DAL both theoretically and through the use with thermocouples. In order to determine the cleaning efficacy, the Soil Test, Biotrace Pro-tect and the Protein Test Kit were used. The procedure to verify the CFU count of viable microorganisms was performed before and after the thermal disinfection. This article shows that the results are in compliance with the ISO and HTM Standards. The validation steps confirmed the high efficacy level of the Medical Washer-Disinfectors. This protocol enabled the evaluation of the procedure based on evidence supported by scientific research, aiming at the support of the Supply Center multi-professional personnel with information and the possibility of developing further research.

29 CFR 1910.264 - Laundry machinery and operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... of operation of laundry machines. This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations. (c) Point... against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on which the skin has been broken by a scratch...

29 CFR 1910.264 - Laundry machinery and operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... of operation of laundry machines. This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations. (c) Point... against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on which the skin has been broken by a scratch...

29 CFR 1910.264 - Laundry machinery and operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... of operation of laundry machines. This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations. (c) Point... against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on which the skin has been broken by a scratch...

29 CFR 1910.264 - Laundry machinery and operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... of operation of laundry machines. This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations. (c) Point... against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on which the skin has been broken by a scratch...

29 CFR 1910.264 - Laundry machinery and operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... of operation of laundry machines. This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations. (c) Point... against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on which the skin has been broken by a scratch...

Dishwasher For Earth Or Outer Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tromble, Jon D.

1991-01-01

Dishwashing machine cleans eating utensils in either Earth gravity or zero gravity of outer space. Cycle consists of three phases: filling, washing, and draining. Rotation of tub creates artificial gravity aiding recirculation of water during washing phase in absence of true gravity. Centrifugal air/water separator helps system function in zero gravity. Self-cleaning filter contains interdigitating blades catching solid debris when water flows between them. Later, blades moved back and forth in scissor-like manner to dislodge debris, removed by backflow of water.

Project for millimeter and submillimeter-wave devices, and the experimental equipments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirose, Nobumitu; Kiyokawa, Masahiro; Matsui, Toshiaki

1995-09-01

A research and development program on millimeter and submillimeter wave devices is described. The facilities provided for this program are also described. In 1994, construction of the clean room was completed. Since then several machines and tools have been installed. We describe some results which have been obtained using these machines and tools. For example, a resist pattern with a 40 nm width on a 400 nm thick polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) film was obtained.

Magnetic pulse cleaning of products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolentsev, V. P.; Safonov, S. V.; Smolentsev, E. V.; Fedonin, O. N.

2016-04-01

The article deals with the application of a magnetic impact for inventing new equipment and methods of cleaning cast precision blanks from fragile or granular thickened surface coatings, which are difficult to remove and highly resistant to further mechanical processing. The issues relating to a rational use of the new method for typical products and auxiliary operations have been studied. The calculation and design methods have been elaborated for load-carrying elements of the equipment created. It has been shown, that the application of the magnetic pulse method, combined with a low-frequency vibration process is perspective at enterprises of general and special machine construction, for cleaning lightweight blanks and containers, used for transporting bulk goods.

Latest technologies on ultrasonic cleaning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofstetter, Hans U.

2007-05-01

UCM-AG manufactures Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines for highest quality requirements. The company has the know-how for cleaning and supplies cleaning systems together with the cleaning process. With a UCM of Switzerland Cleaning System, the customer gets the system itself, the cleaning process with a guarantee for the specified result but also all auxiliary equipment needed for perfect results. Therefore UCM also supplies fixtures, linkage to existing automated fabrication facilities water treatment plants etc. Thus the UCM customer gets a turnkey installation - ready to operate and including know-how. UCM of Switzerland will describe the latest technology in ultrasonic precision cleaning on the example of a recent and sophisticated installation. The installation consists of three interlinked cleaning systems which operate completely automated. The 1st system is designed for pre-cleaning to remove waxes, pitch and protection lacquers with environmentally friendly solvents which are non hazardous to the health of the operators. The 2nd system cleans the parts prior to inspection and operates with neutral or slightly alkaline detergents. The 3rd system is designed for final cleaning prior to vacuum coating and perfect results are required. It combines cleaning tanks and DI-Water rinse with lift out and vacuum dryer. The installation combines the latest technologies in ultrasonic cleaning for precision optical components. The system employs multi frequency immersed ultrasonic transducers and special rinsing technologies The complete installation will be explained in detail; the concept in its whole, the lay out, the particular setup of each cleaning system etc. will be shown and explained together with construction particulars of the complete installation.

Time to B. cereus about hot chocolate.

PubMed Central

Nelms, P K; Larson, O; Barnes-Josiah, D

1997-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cause of illnesses experienced by employees of a Minneapolis manufacturing plant after drinking hot chocolate bought from a vending machine and to explore the prevalence of similar vending machine-related illnesses. METHODS: The authors inspected the vending machines at the manufacturing plant where employees reported illnesses and at other locations in the city where hot chocolate beverages were sold in machines. Tests were performed on dry mix, water, and beverage samples and on machine parts. RESULTS: Laboratory analyses confirmed the presence of B. cereus in dispensed beverages at a concentration capable of causing illness (170,000 count/gm). In citywide testing of vending machines dispensing hot chocolate, 7 of the 39 licensed machines were found to be contaminated, with two contaminated machines having B. cereus levels capable of causing illness. CONCLUSIONS: Hot chocolate sold in vending machines may contain organisms capable of producing toxins that under favorable conditions, can induce illness. Such illnesses are likely to be underreported. Even low concentrations of B. cereus may be dangerous for vulnerable populations such as the aged or immunosuppressed. Periodic testing of vending machines is thus warranted. The relationship between cleaning practices and B. cereus contamination is an issue for further study. PMID:9160059

Time to B. cereus about hot chocolate.

PubMed

Nelms, P K; Larson, O; Barnes-Josiah, D

1997-01-01

To determine the cause of illnesses experienced by employees of a Minneapolis manufacturing plant after drinking hot chocolate bought from a vending machine and to explore the prevalence of similar vending machine-related illnesses. The authors inspected the vending machines at the manufacturing plant where employees reported illnesses and at other locations in the city where hot chocolate beverages were sold in machines. Tests were performed on dry mix, water, and beverage samples and on machine parts. Laboratory analyses confirmed the presence of B. cereus in dispensed beverages at a concentration capable of causing illness (170,000 count/gm). In citywide testing of vending machines dispensing hot chocolate, 7 of the 39 licensed machines were found to be contaminated, with two contaminated machines having B. cereus levels capable of causing illness. Hot chocolate sold in vending machines may contain organisms capable of producing toxins that under favorable conditions, can induce illness. Such illnesses are likely to be underreported. Even low concentrations of B. cereus may be dangerous for vulnerable populations such as the aged or immunosuppressed. Periodic testing of vending machines is thus warranted. The relationship between cleaning practices and B. cereus contamination is an issue for further study.

Machining of Aircraft Titanium with Abrasive-Waterjets for Fatigue Critical Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, H. T.; Hovanski, Yuri; Dahl, Michael E.

2010-10-04

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the fatigue performance of AWJ-machined aircraft titanium. Dog-bone specimens machined with AWJs were prepared and tested with and without sanding and dry-grit blasting with Al2O3 as secondary processes. The secondary processes were applied to remove the visual appearance of AWJ-generated striations and to clean up the garnet embedment. The fatigue performance of AWJ-machined specimens was compared with baseline specimens machined with CNC milling. Fatigue test results not only confirmed the findings of the aluminum dog-bone specimens but also further enhance the fatigue performance. In addition, titanium is known to be notoriously difficult to cutmore » with contact tools while AWJs cut it 34% faster than stainless steel. AWJ cutting and dry-grit blasting are shown to be a preferred combination for processing aircraft titanium that is fatigue critical.« less

Large robotized turning centers described

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirsanov, V. V.; Tsarenko, V. I.

1985-09-01

The introduction of numerical control (NC) machine tools has made it possible to automate machining in series and small series production. The organization of automated production sections merged NC machine tools with automated transport systems. However, both the one and the other require the presence of an operative at the machine for low skilled operations. Industrial robots perform a number of auxiliary operations, such as equipment loading-unloading and control, changing cutting and auxiliary tools, controlling workpieces and parts, and cleaning of location surfaces. When used with a group of equipment they perform transfer operations between the machine tools. Industrial robots eliminate the need for workers to form auxiliary operations. This underscores the importance of developing robotized manufacturing centers providing for minimal human participation in production and creating conditions for two and three shift operation of equipment. Work carried out at several robotized manufacturing centers for series and small series production is described.

The Data Acquisition System for the AAO 2-Degree Field Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shortridge, K.; Farrell, T. J.; Bailey, J. A.

1993-01-01

The software system being produced by AAO to control the new 2-degree field fibre positioner and spectrographs is described. The system has to mesh cleanly with the ADAM systems used at AAO for CCD data acquisition, and has to run on a network of disparate machines including VMS Vaxes, UNIX workstations, and VME systems running VxWorks. The basis of the new system is a task control layer that operates by sending self-defining hierarchically-structured and machine-independent messages.

Effects of Contamination and Cleaning on Parachute Structural Textile Elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mollmann, Catherine

2017-01-01

Throughout their lifecycle, parachute textiles come into contact with various other substances. This contact may occur during manufacturing and repair, storage and transportation, packing, or actual use. While this interaction does not always result in negative repercussions, it may cause a loss in material strength. This paper examines the strength degradation due to several contaminants as well as the effects of cleaning agents on common parachute materials. Materials tested were: Kevlar cord and webbing, Nylon broadcloth and webbing, and Vectran cord; all of these constitute the major structural elements for CPAS (Capsule Parachute Assembly System), the parachute system for the NASA Orion Crew Module. Contaminants tested were: sewing machine oil, dried stamping ink, dirt, basting glue, Sergene, and rust. Recommendations for cleaning (or not cleaning) these materials with respect to each of the contaminants are given in this paper, as well as recommendations for future tests.

Chemotaxonomic identification of single bacteria by micro-Raman spectroscopy: application to clean-room-relevant biological contaminations.

PubMed

Rösch, Petra; Harz, Michaela; Schmitt, Michael; Peschke, Klaus-Dieter; Ronneberger, Olaf; Burkhardt, Hans; Motzkus, Hans-Walter; Lankers, Markus; Hofer, Stefan; Thiele, Hans; Popp, Jürgen

2005-03-01

Microorganisms, such as bacteria, which might be present as contamination inside an industrial food or pharmaceutical clean room process need to be identified on short time scales in order to minimize possible health hazards as well as production downtimes causing financial deficits. Here we describe the first results of single-particle micro-Raman measurements in combination with a classification method, the so-called support vector machine technique, allowing for a fast, reliable, and nondestructive online identification method for single bacteria.

Chemotaxonomic Identification of Single Bacteria by Micro-Raman Spectroscopy: Application to Clean-Room-Relevant Biological Contaminations

PubMed Central

Rösch, Petra; Harz, Michaela; Schmitt, Michael; Peschke, Klaus-Dieter; Ronneberger, Olaf; Burkhardt, Hans; Motzkus, Hans-Walter; Lankers, Markus; Hofer, Stefan; Thiele, Hans; Popp, Jürgen

2005-01-01

Microorganisms, such as bacteria, which might be present as contamination inside an industrial food or pharmaceutical clean room process need to be identified on short time scales in order to minimize possible health hazards as well as production downtimes causing financial deficits. Here we describe the first results of single-particle micro-Raman measurements in combination with a classification method, the so-called support vector machine technique, allowing for a fast, reliable, and nondestructive online identification method for single bacteria. PMID:15746368

Helping the Defense Sector Build a Clean Energy Future | Working with Us |

Science.gov Websites

Laboratory Program Manager, Partnership Development Email me Photo of a male and female researcher in a lab a male and female researcher in a lab working on a machine Helping to Solve the Army's Refueling

Cleanliness audit of clinical surfaces and equipment: who cleans what?

PubMed

Anderson, R E; Young, V; Stewart, M; Robertson, C; Dancer, S J

2011-07-01

Current guidelines recommend regular cleaning of clinical equipment. We monitored items on a surgical ward for predominant user, hand-touch frequency, cleaning responsibilities and measurement of organic soil. Equipment was assessed in triplicate against a cleanliness benchmark of 100 relative light units (RLU) using the Hygiena® ATP system. There were 44 items, of which 21 were cleaned by clinical support workers (CSWs), five by domestic staff; three by nurses, three by doctors, and 12 with no designated cleaning responsibility. Geometric mean RLUs ranged from 60 to 550/100 cm² for small items such as hand-gel containers, bed control, blood pressure cuff and clinical notes; with similar values of 80-540/100 cm² RLU for larger items such as electrocardiogram machine, defibrillator, trolleys and tables. Overall geometric mean was 249/100 cm² RLU for all surfaces, with 84% (37 of 44) items exceeding the 100RLU benchmark. Of 27 items cleaned by clinical staff, 24 (89%) failed the benchmark. Of 12 sites with no cleaning specification, 11 (92%) failed the benchmark. Three of seven 'clean' sites (<100/100 cm² RLU) were cleaned by domestic staff. Average log(10) RLU of surfaces cleaned by domestics were 64% lower compared with surfaces cleaned by CSWs (95% confidence interval: 35%, 80%; P=0.019). In conclusion, clinical equipment frequently demonstrates high levels of organic soil, whether or not items have assigned cleaning responsibility. These findings suggest that cleaning practices for clinical equipment may require review, along with education of staff with specific cleaning responsibilities. Copyright © 2011 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hospital-acquired listeriosis linked to a persistently contaminated milkshake machine.

PubMed

Mazengia, E; Kawakami, V; Rietberg, K; Kay, M; Wyman, P; Skilton, C; Aberra, A; Boonyaratanakornkit, J; Limaye, A P; Pergam, S A; Whimbey, E; Olsen-Scribner, R J; Duchin, J S

2017-04-01

One case of hospital-acquired listeriosis was linked to milkshakes produced in a commercial-grade shake freezer machine. This machine was found to be contaminated with a strain of Listeria monocytogenes epidemiologically and molecularly linked to a contaminated pasteurized, dairy-based ice cream product at the same hospital a year earlier, despite repeated cleaning and sanitizing. Healthcare facilities should be aware of the potential for prolonged Listeria contamination of food service equipment. In addition, healthcare providers should consider counselling persons who have an increased risk for Listeria infections regarding foods that have caused Listeria infections. The prevalence of persistent Listeria contamination of commercial-grade milkshake machines in healthcare facilities and the risk associated with serving dairy-based ice cream products to hospitalized patients at increased risk for invasive L. monocytogenes infections should be further evaluated.

Advent of Greige Cotton Nonwovens Made By Hydro-Entanglement Process

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Using greige (scour/bleachless) cotton, a few nonwoven fabrics have been successfully produced by adopting conventional fiber opening, cleaning and (modified) carding machines followed by cross-lapping, pre/light needling, and hydro-entanglement (H-E) on modern commercial machinery and equipment. Us...

Evaluation of the MacDonald scabbler for highway use.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-01-01

The MacDonald Scabbler is a small, hand held machine suitable for use in cleaning and roughening concrete surfaces, It weighs 308 pounds (140 kg), has 11 cutting heads, and, as a power source, requires a compressor capable of delivering 365 cubic foo...

Hard Facts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaw, Richard

1998-01-01

Discusses the selection of floor-care equipment so that the equipment's features and performance attributes can match their intended purposes. Offers tips such as buying only composite-material buckets and wringers, choosing cleaning machines with good maintenance track records, and buying automatic scrubbers that can operate in both large and…

Learning disordered topological phases by statistical recovery of symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshioka, Nobuyuki; Akagi, Yutaka; Katsura, Hosho

2018-05-01

We apply the artificial neural network in a supervised manner to map out the quantum phase diagram of disordered topological superconductors in class DIII. Given the disorder that keeps the discrete symmetries of the ensemble as a whole, translational symmetry which is broken in the quasiparticle distribution individually is recovered statistically by taking an ensemble average. By using this, we classify the phases by the artificial neural network that learned the quasiparticle distribution in the clean limit and show that the result is totally consistent with the calculation by the transfer matrix method or noncommutative geometry approach. If all three phases, namely the Z2, trivial, and thermal metal phases, appear in the clean limit, the machine can classify them with high confidence over the entire phase diagram. If only the former two phases are present, we find that the machine remains confused in a certain region, leading us to conclude the detection of the unknown phase which is eventually identified as the thermal metal phase.

Applying knowledge engineering and representation methods to improve support vector machine and multivariate probabilistic neural network CAD performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Land, Walker H., Jr.; Anderson, Frances; Smith, Tom; Fahlbusch, Stephen; Choma, Robert; Wong, Lut

2005-04-01

Achieving consistent and correct database cases is crucial to the correct evaluation of any computer-assisted diagnostic (CAD) paradigm. This paper describes the application of artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge engineering (KE) and knowledge representation (KR) to a data set of ~2500 cases from six separate hospitals, with the objective of removing/reducing inconsistent outlier data. Several support vector machine (SVM) kernels were used to measure diagnostic performance of the original and a "cleaned" data set. Specifically, KE and ER principles were applied to the two data sets which were re-examined with respect to the environment and agents. One data set was found to contain 25 non-characterizable sets. The other data set contained 180 non-characterizable sets. CAD system performance was measured with both the original and "cleaned" data sets using two SVM kernels as well as a multivariate probabilistic neural network (PNN). Results demonstrated: (i) a 10% average improvement in overall Az and (ii) approximately a 50% average improvement in partial Az.

Reducing Coal Dust With Water Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gangal, M. D.; Lewis, E. V.

1985-01-01

Jets also cool and clean cutting equipment. Modular pick-and-bucket miner suffers from disadvantage: Creates large quantities of potentially explosive coal dust. Dust clogs drive chain and other parts and must be removed by hand. Picks and bucket lips become overheated by friction and be resharpened or replaced frequently. Addition of oscillating and rotating water jets to pick-and-bucket machine keeps down dust, cools cutting edges, and flushes machine. Rotating jets wash dust away from drive chain. Oscillating jets cool cutting surfaces. Both types of jet wet airborne coal dust; it precipitates.

Tandem-ESQ for Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB-BNCT)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kreiner, A. J.; Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad de Gral San Martin; CONICET,

2007-02-12

A folded tandem, with 1.25 MV terminal voltage, combined with an ElectroStatic Quadrupole (ESQ) chain is being proposed as a machine for Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB-BNCT). The machine is shown to be capable of accelerating a 30 mA proton beam to 2.5 MeV. These are the specifications needed to produce sufficiently intense and clean epithermal neutron beams, based on the on the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction, to perform BNCT treatment for deep seated tumors in less than an hour.

Investigation of the effect of contaminations and cleaning processes on the surface properties of brazing surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobzin, K.; Öte, M.; Wiesner, S.

2017-03-01

The quality of brazed joints is determined by different factors such as the atmosphere and the parameters during brazing as well as the condition of the brazing surfaces. Residues of lubricants used during machining of the components and the subsequent cleaning processes can contaminate the faying surfaces and can hence influence the flow ability of the molten filler metals. Besides their influence on the filler metal flow, the residues can result in the formation of carbonic phases in the joint leading to a possible reduction of the corrosion resistance and the mechanical properties. The first step of the current study with the aim of avoiding these defects is to identify the influence of critical contaminations and cleaning methods on the quality of the brazed joints. In a first step, contaminations on AISI304 and Inconel alloy 625 due to different cooling lubricants and the effect of several cleaning methods, in particular plasma cleaning, have been investigated. Information about the surface energy of contaminated and cleaned surfaces was gained by measuring contact angle of testing fluids. Additionally, the lubricants and the resulting contamination products have been analyzed considering the influence of a heat treatment.

Machining of Aircraft Titanium with Abrasive-Waterjets for Fatigue Critical Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, H. T.; Hovanski, Yuri; Dahl, Michael E.

2012-02-01

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the fatigue performance of abrasive-waterjet- (AWJ-) machined aircraft titanium. Dog-bone specimens machined with AWJs were prepared and tested with and without sanding and dry-grit blasting with Al2O3 as secondary processes. The secondary processes were applied to remove the visual appearance of AWJ-generated striations and to clean up the garnet embedment. The fatigue performance of AWJ-machined specimens was compared with baseline specimens machined with CNC milling. Fatigue test results of the titanium specimens not only confirmed our previous findings in aluminum dog-bone specimens but in comparison also further enhanced the fatigue performance of the titanium.more » In addition, titanium is known to be difficult to cut, particularly for thick parts, however AWJs cut the material 34% faster han stainless steel. AWJ cutting and dry-grit blasting are shown to be a preferred ombination for processing aircraft titanium that is fatigue critical.« less

Chip morphology as a performance predictor during high speed end milling of soda lime glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagum, M. N.; Konneh, M.; Abdullah, K. A.; Ali, M. Y.

2018-01-01

Soda lime glass has application in DNA arrays and lab on chip manufacturing. Although investigation revealed that machining of such brittle material is possible using ductile mode under controlled cutting parameters and tool geometry, it remains a challenging task. Furthermore, ability of ductile machining is usually assed through machined surface texture examination. Soda lime glass is a strain rate and temperature sensitive material. Hence, influence on attainment of ductile surface due to adiabatic heat generated during high speed end milling using uncoated tungsten carbide tool is investigated in this research. Experimental runs were designed using central composite design (CCD), taking spindle speed, feed rate and depth of cut as input variable and tool-chip contact point temperature (Ttc) and the surface roughness (Rt) as responses. Along with machined surface texture, Rt and chip morphology was examined to assess machinability of soda lime glass. The relation between Ttc and chip morphology was examined. Investigation showed that around glass transition temperature (Tg) ductile chip produced and subsequently clean and ductile final machined surface produced.

Automated solar module assembly line

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bycer, M.

1980-01-01

The solar module assembly machine which Kulicke and Soffa delivered under this contract is a cell tabbing and stringing machine, and capable of handling a variety of cells and assembling strings up to 4 feet long which then can be placed into a module array up to 2 feet by 4 feet in a series of parallel arrangement, and in a straight or interdigitated array format. The machine cycle is 5 seconds per solar cell. This machine is primarily adapted to 3 inch diameter round cells with two tabs between cells. Pulsed heat is used as the bond technique for solar cell interconnects. The solar module assembly machine unloads solar cells from a cassette, automatically orients them, applies flux and solders interconnect ribbons onto the cells. It then inverts the tabbed cells, connects them into cell strings, and delivers them into a module array format using a track mounted vacuum lance, from which they are taken to test and cleaning benches prior to final encapsulation into finished solar modules. Throughout the machine the solar cell is handled very carefully, and any contact with the collector side of the cell is avoided or minimized.

Quantum machine learning for quantum anomaly detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Nana; Rebentrost, Patrick

2018-04-01

Anomaly detection is used for identifying data that deviate from "normal" data patterns. Its usage on classical data finds diverse applications in many important areas such as finance, fraud detection, medical diagnoses, data cleaning, and surveillance. With the advent of quantum technologies, anomaly detection of quantum data, in the form of quantum states, may become an important component of quantum applications. Machine-learning algorithms are playing pivotal roles in anomaly detection using classical data. Two widely used algorithms are the kernel principal component analysis and the one-class support vector machine. We find corresponding quantum algorithms to detect anomalies in quantum states. We show that these two quantum algorithms can be performed using resources that are logarithmic in the dimensionality of quantum states. For pure quantum states, these resources can also be logarithmic in the number of quantum states used for training the machine-learning algorithm. This makes these algorithms potentially applicable to big quantum data applications.

Cleaning Insertions and Collimation Challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redaelli, S.; Appleby, R. B.; Bertarelli, A.; Bruce, R.; Jowett, J. M.; Lechner, A.; Losito, R.

High-performance collimation systems are essential for operating efficiently modern hadron machine with large beam intensities. In particular, at the LHC the collimation system ensures a clean disposal of beam halos in the superconducting environment. The challenges of the HL-LHC study pose various demanding requests for beam collimation. In this paper we review the present collimation system and its performance during the LHC Run 1 in 2010-2013. Various collimation solutions under study to address the HL-LHC requirements are then reviewed, identifying the main upgrade baseline and pointing out advanced collimation concept for further enhancement of the performance.

Assessing a Novel Method to Reduce Anesthesia Machine Contamination: A Prospective, Observational Trial.

PubMed

Biddle, Chuck J; George-Gay, Beverly; Prasanna, Praveen; Hill, Emily M; Davis, Thomas C; Verhulst, Brad

2018-01-01

Anesthesia machines are known reservoirs of bacterial species, potentially contributing to healthcare associated infections (HAIs). An inexpensive, disposable, nonpermeable, transparent anesthesia machine wrap (AMW) may reduce microbial contamination of the anesthesia machine. This study quantified the density and diversity of bacterial species found on anesthesia machines after terminal cleaning and between cases during actual anesthesia care to assess the impact of the AMW. We hypothesized reduced bioburden with the use of the AMW. In a prospective, experimental research design, the AMW was used in 11 surgical cases (intervention group) and not used in 11 control surgical cases. Cases were consecutively assigned to general surgical operating rooms. Seven frequently touched and difficult to disinfect "hot spots" were cultured on each machine preceding and following each case. The density and diversity of cultured colony forming units (CFUs) between the covered and uncovered machines were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Student's t -tests. There was a statistically significant reduction in CFU density and diversity when the AMW was employed. The protective effect of the AMW during regular anesthetic care provides a reliable and low-cost method to minimize the transmission of pathogens across patients and potentially reduces HAIs.

Removal of perfluorocarboxylic acids from carpets treated with stain-resistant products--Indoor Air

EPA Science Inventory

Experiments were performed in the EPA research house to determine the level of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in carpets that had been treated with one of two commercial carpet-care liquids. The ability of household or commercial carpet cleaning machines using hot water or st...

76 FR 38169 - Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Testing; Receipt of Test Data

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-29

... are required to show photographic identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor bags are processed through an X- ray machine and subject to search. Visitors will... animal tissue, metal- cleaning compounds, hydraulic compression fluids, stripping agent (textiles...

40 CFR 63.463 - Batch vapor and in-line cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... of 1.0, superheated vapor. 2 Freeboard refrigeration device, superheated vapor. 3 Working-mode cover, freeboard refrigeration device. 4 Reduced room draft, freeboard ratio of 1.0, superheated vapor. 5 Freeboard refrigeration device, reduced room draft. 6 Freeboard refrigeration device, freeboard ratio of 1.0. 7 Freeboard...

Influence of grid bar shape on field cleaner performance - Screening tests

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Extractor type cleaners are used on cotton strippers and in the seed cotton cleaning machinery in the ginning process to remove large foreign material such as burrs and sticks. Previous research on the development of extractor type cleaners focused on machine design and operating parameters that max...

Determinants of Wood Dust Exposure in the Danish Furniture Industry—Results from Two Cross-Sectional Studies 6 Years Apart

PubMed Central

Schlünssen, Vivi; Jacobsen, Gitte; Erlandsen, Mogens; Mikkelsen, Anders B.; Schaumburg, Inger; Sigsgaard, Torben

2008-01-01

Objectives: This paper investigates determinants of wood dust exposure and trends in dust level in the furniture industry of Viborg County, Denmark, using data from two cross-sectional studies 6 years apart. Methods: During the winter 1997/1998, 54 factories were visited (hereafter study 1). In the winter 2003/2004, 27 factories were revisited, and personal dust measurements were repeated. In addition, 14 new factories were included (hereafter study 2). A total of 2303 woodworkers participated in study 1, and 2358 measurements from 1702 workers were available. From study 2, 1581 woodworkers participated and 1355 measurements from 1044 workers were available. Information on occupational variables describing potential determinants of exposures like work task, exhaust ventilation, enclosure and cleaning procedures were collected. A total of 2627 measurements and 1907 persons were included in the final mixed model in order to explore determinants of exposure and trends in dust level. Results: The overall inhalable wood dust concentration (geometric means (geometric standard deviation)) has decreased from 0.95 mg/m3 (2.05) in study 1 to 0.60 mg/m3 (1.63) in study 2, representing a 7% annual decrease in dust concentration, which was confirmed in the mixed model. From study 1 to study 2 there has been a change towards less manual work and more efficient cleaning methods, but on the contrary also more inadequate exhaust ventilation systems. The following determinants were found to ‘increase’ dust concentration: sanding; use of compressed air; use of full-automatic machines; manual work; cleaning of work pieces with compressed air; kitchen producing factories and small factories (<20 employees). The following determinants of exposure were found to ‘decrease’ dust concentration: manual assembling/packing; sanding with adequate exhaust ventilation; adequate exhaust ventilation; vacuum cleaning of machines and special cleaning staff. Conclusions: Despite a substantial drop in the dust concentration during the last 6 years in the furniture industry in Viborg County, further improvements are possible. There should be more focus on improved exhaust ventilation, professional cleaning methods and avoiding use of compressed air. PMID:18407937

Determinants of wood dust exposure in the Danish furniture industry--results from two cross-sectional studies 6 years apart.

PubMed

Schlünssen, Vivi; Jacobsen, Gitte; Erlandsen, Mogens; Mikkelsen, Anders B; Schaumburg, Inger; Sigsgaard, Torben

2008-06-01

This paper investigates determinants of wood dust exposure and trends in dust level in the furniture industry of Viborg County, Denmark, using data from two cross-sectional studies 6 years apart. During the winter 1997/1998, 54 factories were visited (hereafter study 1). In the winter 2003/2004, 27 factories were revisited, and personal dust measurements were repeated. In addition, 14 new factories were included (hereafter study 2). A total of 2303 woodworkers participated in study 1, and 2358 measurements from 1702 workers were available. From study 2, 1581 woodworkers participated and 1355 measurements from 1044 workers were available. Information on occupational variables describing potential determinants of exposures like work task, exhaust ventilation, enclosure and cleaning procedures were collected. A total of 2627 measurements and 1907 persons were included in the final mixed model in order to explore determinants of exposure and trends in dust level. The overall inhalable wood dust concentration (geometric means (geometric standard deviation)) has decreased from 0.95 mg/m(3) (2.05) in study 1 to 0.60 mg/m(3) (1.63) in study 2, representing a 7% annual decrease in dust concentration, which was confirmed in the mixed model. From study 1 to study 2 there has been a change towards less manual work and more efficient cleaning methods, but on the contrary also more inadequate exhaust ventilation systems. The following determinants were found to 'increase' dust concentration: sanding; use of compressed air; use of full-automatic machines; manual work; cleaning of work pieces with compressed air; kitchen producing factories and small factories (<20 employees). The following determinants of exposure were found to 'decrease' dust concentration: manual assembling/packing; sanding with adequate exhaust ventilation; adequate exhaust ventilation; vacuum cleaning of machines and special cleaning staff. Despite a substantial drop in the dust concentration during the last 6 years in the furniture industry in Viborg County, further improvements are possible. There should be more focus on improved exhaust ventilation, professional cleaning methods and avoiding use of compressed air.

Novel approaches to assess the quality of fertility data stored in dairy herd management software.

PubMed

Hermans, K; Waegeman, W; Opsomer, G; Van Ranst, B; De Koster, J; Van Eetvelde, M; Hostens, M

2017-05-01

Scientific journals and popular press magazines are littered with articles in which the authors use data from dairy herd management software. Almost none of such papers include data cleaning and data quality assessment in their study design despite this being a very critical step during data mining. This paper presents 2 novel data cleaning methods that permit identification of animals with good and bad data quality. The first method is a deterministic or rule-based data cleaning method. Reproduction and mutation or life-changing events such as birth and death were converted to a symbolic (alphabetical letter) representation and split into triplets (3-letter code). The triplets were manually labeled as physiologically correct, suspicious, or impossible. The deterministic data cleaning method was applied to assess the quality of data stored in dairy herd management from 26 farms enrolled in the herd health management program from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University, Belgium. In total, 150,443 triplets were created, 65.4% were labeled as correct, 17.4% as suspicious, and 17.2% as impossible. The second method, a probabilistic method, uses a machine learning algorithm (random forests) to predict the correctness of fertility and mutation events in an early stage of data cleaning. The prediction accuracy of the random forests algorithm was compared with a classical linear statistical method (penalized logistic regression), outperforming the latter substantially, with a superior receiver operating characteristic curve and a higher accuracy (89 vs. 72%). From those results, we conclude that the triplet method can be used to assess the quality of reproduction data stored in dairy herd management software and that a machine learning technique such as random forests is capable of predicting the correctness of fertility data. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Outbreak of carbon tetrachloride poisoning in a color printing factory related to the use of isopropyl alcohol and an air conditioning system in Taiwan.

PubMed

Deng, J F; Wang, J D; Shih, T S; Lan, F L

1987-01-01

Three workers from a color printing factory were admitted to community hospitals in 1985 with manifestations of acute hepatitis. One of the three had superimposed acute renal failure and pulmonary edema. An investigation was subsequently conducted at the plant to determine the etiology of the outbreak and the prevalence of liver disease among the remaining workers. Comprehensive medical evaluations were conducted, which included physical examinations, liver function tests, and serological screening for hepatitis. Seventeen of 25 workers from the plant had abnormal liver function tests 10 days after the outbreak, and a significant association was found between the presence of abnormal liver function tests and a history of recently having worked inside any of three rooms in which an interconnecting air conditioning system had been installed to cool the printing machines. After further investigation, it was determined that the incident occurred following inadvertent use of carbon tetrachloride to clean a pump in the printing machine. A simulation of the pump cleaning operation revealed ambient air levels of carbon tetrachloride of 300-500 ppm. Ultimately, it was concluded that the outbreak was in all likelihood due to the combined use of carbon tetrachloride and isopropyl alcohol in the cleaning operation. This outbreak underscores the importance of adopting appropriate industrial hygiene measures in a rapidly industrializing nation such as Taiwan.

Parallel Algorithm for GPU Processing; for use in High Speed Machine Vision Sensing of Cotton Lint Trash.

PubMed

Pelletier, Mathew G

2008-02-08

One of the main hurdles standing in the way of optimal cleaning of cotton lint isthe lack of sensing systems that can react fast enough to provide the control system withreal-time information as to the level of trash contamination of the cotton lint. This researchexamines the use of programmable graphic processing units (GPU) as an alternative to thePC's traditional use of the central processing unit (CPU). The use of the GPU, as analternative computation platform, allowed for the machine vision system to gain asignificant improvement in processing time. By improving the processing time, thisresearch seeks to address the lack of availability of rapid trash sensing systems and thusalleviate a situation in which the current systems view the cotton lint either well before, orafter, the cotton is cleaned. This extended lag/lead time that is currently imposed on thecotton trash cleaning control systems, is what is responsible for system operators utilizing avery large dead-band safety buffer in order to ensure that the cotton lint is not undercleaned.Unfortunately, the utilization of a large dead-band buffer results in the majority ofthe cotton lint being over-cleaned which in turn causes lint fiber-damage as well assignificant losses of the valuable lint due to the excessive use of cleaning machinery. Thisresearch estimates that upwards of a 30% reduction in lint loss could be gained through theuse of a tightly coupled trash sensor to the cleaning machinery control systems. Thisresearch seeks to improve processing times through the development of a new algorithm forcotton trash sensing that allows for implementation on a highly parallel architecture.Additionally, by moving the new parallel algorithm onto an alternative computing platform,the graphic processing unit "GPU", for processing of the cotton trash images, a speed up ofover 6.5 times, over optimized code running on the PC's central processing unit "CPU", wasgained. The new parallel algorithm operating on the GPU was able to process a 1024x1024image in less than 17ms. At this improved speed, the image processing system's performance should now be sufficient to provide a system that would be capable of realtimefeed-back control that is in tight cooperation with the cleaning equipment.

Underwater cleaning techniqued used for removal of zebra mussels at the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hobbs, B.; Kahabka, J.

1995-06-01

This paper discusses the use of a mechanical brush cleaning technology recently used to remove biofouling from the Circulating Water (CW) System at New York Power Authority`s James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. The FitzPatrick plant had previously used chemical molluscicide to treat zebra mussels in the CW system. Full system treatment was performed in 1992 with limited forebay/screenwell treatment in 1993. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) decided to conduct a mechanical cleaning of the intake system in 1994. Specific project objectives included: (1) Achieve a level of surface cleaniness greater than 98%; (2) Remove 100% of debris, bothmore » existing sediment and debris generated as a result of cleaning; (3) Inspect all surfaces and components, identifying any problem areas; (4) Complete the task in a time frame within the 1994-95 refueling outage schedule window, and; (5) Determine if underwater mechanical cleaning is a cost-effective zebra mussel control method suitable for future application at FitzPatrick. A pre-cleaning inspection, including underwater video photography, was conducted of each area. Cleaning was accomplished using diver-controlled, multi-brush equipment included the electro-hydraulic powered Submersible Cleaning and Maintenance Platform (SCAMP), and several designs of hand-held machines. The brushes swept all zebra mussels off surfaces, restoring concrete and metal substrates to their original condition. Sensitive areas including pump housings, standpipes, sensor piping and chlorine injection tubing, were cleaned without degradation. Submersible vortex vacuum pumps were used to remove debris from the cavity. More than 46,000 ft{sup 2} of surface area was cleaned and over 460 cubic yards of dewatered debris were removed. As each area was completed, a post-clean inspection with photos and video was performed.« less

Location of unaccessible implant surface areas during debridement in simulated peri-implantitis therapy.

PubMed

Steiger-Ronay, Valerie; Merlini, Andrea; Wiedemeier, Daniel B; Schmidlin, Patrick R; Attin, Thomas; Sahrmann, Philipp

2017-11-28

An in vitro model for peri-implantitis treatment was used to identify areas that are clinically difficult to clean by analyzing the pattern of residual stain after debridement with commonly employed instruments. Original data from two previous publications, which simulated surgical (SA) and non-surgical (NSA) implant debridement on two different implant systems respectively, were reanalyzed regarding the localization pattern of residual stains after instrumentation. Two blinded examiners evaluated standardized photographs of 360 initially ink-stained dental implants, which were cleaned at variable defect angulations (30, 60, or 90°), using different instrument types (Gracey curette, ultrasonic scaler or air powder abrasive device) and treatment approaches (SA or NSA). Predefined implant surface areas were graded for residual stain using scores ranging from one (stain-covered) to six (clean). Score differences between respective implant areas were tested for significance by pairwise comparisons using Wilcoxon-rank-sum-tests with a significance level α = 5%. Best scores were found at the machined surface areas (SA: 5.58 ± 0.43, NSA: 4.76 ± 1.09), followed by the tips of the threads (SA: 4.29 ± 0.44, NSA: 4.43 ± 0.61), and areas between threads (SA: 3.79 ± 0.89, NSA: 2.42 ± 1.11). Apically facing threads were most difficult to clean (SA: 1.70 ± 0.92, NSA: 2.42 ± 1.11). Here, air powder abrasives provided the best results. Machined surfaces at the implant shoulder were well accessible and showed least amounts of residual stain. Apically facing thread surfaces constituted the area with most residual stain regardless of treatment approach.

Hospital Clostridium difficile outbreak linked to laundry machine malfunction.

PubMed

Sooklal, Shelini; Khan, Ayesha; Kannangara, Saman

2014-06-01

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacillus that is associated with diarrheal disease. C difficile is shed in the feces of affected individuals and its spores can survive on surfaces for prolonged periods of time. These spores can contaminate a hospital environment by spread through health care workers and suboptimal environmental cleaning practices. We report an outbreak of health care facility-onset C difficile infection that was eventually linked to contaminated mop pads after a laundry machine malfunction. Copyright © 2014 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

NIST Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF): March 1987

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herbert, Judith E. (Editor); Kane, Richard (Editor)

1987-01-01

The completion and advances to the NIST Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) is described in this video. The six work stations: (1) horizontal machining; (2) vertical machining; (3) turning machinery; (4) cleaning and deburring; (5) materials handling; and (6) inspection are shown and uses for each workstation are cited. Visiting researchers and scientists within NIST describe the advantages of each of the workstations, what the facility is used for, future applications for the technological advancements from the AMRF, including examples of how AMRF technology is being transferred to the U.S. Navy industry and discuss future technological goals for the facility.

[The design and experiment of multi-parameter water quality monitoring microsystem based on MOEMS microspectrometer].

PubMed

Wei, Kang-Lin; Wen, Zhi-Yu; Guo, Jian; Chen, Song-Bo

2012-07-01

Aiming at the monitoring and protecting of water resource environment, a multi-parameter water quality monitoring microsystem based on microspectrometer was put forward in the present paper. The microsystem is mainly composed of MOEMS microspectrometer, flow paths system and embedded measuring & controlling system. It has the functions of self-injecting samples and detection regents, automatic constant temperature, self -stirring, self- cleaning and samples' spectrum detection. The principle prototype machine of the microsystem was developed, and its structure principle was introduced in the paper. Through experiment research, it was proved that the principle prototype machine can rapidly detect quite a few water quality parameters and can meet the demands of on-line water quality monitoring, moreover, the principle prototype machine has strong function expansibility.

Hospital-acquired listeriosis linked to a persistently contaminated milkshake machine

PubMed Central

Mazengia, E.; Kawakami, V.; Rietberg, K.; Kay, M.; Wyman, P.; Skilton, C.; Aberra, A.; Boonyaratanakornkit, J.; Limaye, A. P.; Pergam, S. A.; Whimbey, E.; Olsen, R.; Duchin, J. S.

2017-01-01

SUMMARY One case of hospital-acquired listeriosis linked to milkshakes produced in a commercial-grade shake freezer machine that remained contaminated following a previous outbreak of listeriosis associated with a pasteurized, dairy-based ice cream product at the same hospital despite repeated cleaning and sanitation. Healthcare facilities should be aware of the potential for prolonged Listeria contamination of food service equipment. In addition, healthcare providers should consider counseling persons who have an increased risk for Listeria infections regarding foods that have caused Listeria infections. The prevalence of persistent Listeria contamination of commercial-grade milkshake machines in healthcare facilities and the risk associated with serving dairy-based ice cream products to hospitalized patients at increased risk for invasive L. monocytogenes infections should be further evaluated. PMID:28065212

77 FR 14691 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Rhode Island; Reasonably Available...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-13

.... Specifically, the requirement does not apply to cold cleaning machines: (1) Used in ``special and extreme... products; 2. Requirements for charcoal lighter materials, aerosol adhesives and floor wax strippers; 3...). This APC regulation applies to anyone that solicits the use of or applies asphalt for road paving...

Removal of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs) from Carpets Treated with Stain-protection Products by Using Carpet Cleaning Machines

EPA Science Inventory

PFCAs are found in a variety of consumer products, including, but not limited to, treated clothing and textiles, floor care products, paper containers for food, and carpets. For example, carpet that has been treated with stain-protection, carpet-care solutions, either by the manu...

Mechanical Milk: An Essay on the Social History of Infant Formula.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwab, Michael G.

1996-01-01

Describes how infant formula became an "icon of modernity" separating mothers from babies and causing health and social problems. Gives a 300-year social history of the rise in popularity of infant formula, covering aspects including the body as machine, rise of science and industrialization, formula and public health, the clean milk…

1.5 MW turbine installation at NREL's NWTC on Aug. 21

ScienceCinema

None

2017-12-27

Generating 20 percent of the nation's electricity from clean wind resources will require more and bigger wind turbines. NREL is installing two large wind turbines at the National Wind Technology Center to examine some of the industry's largest machines and address issues to expand wind energy on a commercial scale.

29 CFR 1910.218 - Forging machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... shall be provided with two drain cocks: one on main head cylinder, and one on clamp cylinder. (iv) Air... provided with a guard of not less than one-eighth inch sheet metal positioned to stop flying sparks. (3... in § 1910.6. (4) Shot blast. The cleaning chamber shall have doors or guards to protect operators. (5...

29 CFR 1910.218 - Forging machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... shall be provided with two drain cocks: one on main head cylinder, and one on clamp cylinder. (iv) Air... provided with a guard of not less than one-eighth inch sheet metal positioned to stop flying sparks. (3... in § 1910.6. (4) Shot blast. The cleaning chamber shall have doors or guards to protect operators. (5...

29 CFR 1910.218 - Forging machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... shall be provided with two drain cocks: one on main head cylinder, and one on clamp cylinder. (iv) Air... provided with a guard of not less than one-eighth inch sheet metal positioned to stop flying sparks. (3... in § 1910.6. (4) Shot blast. The cleaning chamber shall have doors or guards to protect operators. (5...

29 CFR 1910.218 - Forging machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... shall be provided with two drain cocks: one on main head cylinder, and one on clamp cylinder. (iv) Air... provided with a guard of not less than one-eighth inch sheet metal positioned to stop flying sparks. (3... in § 1910.6. (4) Shot blast. The cleaning chamber shall have doors or guards to protect operators. (5...

29 CFR 1910.218 - Forging machines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... shall be provided with two drain cocks: one on main head cylinder, and one on clamp cylinder. (iv) Air... provided with a guard of not less than one-eighth inch sheet metal positioned to stop flying sparks. (3... in § 1910.6. (4) Shot blast. The cleaning chamber shall have doors or guards to protect operators. (5...

Innovation and Entrepreneurship | NREL

Science.gov Websites

disadvantaged businesses. Programs A photo of a woman and a man creating a planning diagram. Energy I-Corps (DOE) national laboratory-developed technologies into the commercial marketplace. Read more A photo of two men working on a machine. Small Business Vouchers Pilot Provides selected clean energy small

Cleaning of parts for new manufacturing and parts rebuilding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doherty, Jeff

1994-06-01

Parts cleaning is the largest single expense, and the most time consuming activity, in rebuilding and new manufacturing. On average, 25% to 40% of the total labor and overhead burden is spent on cleaning. EPA and OSHA pressures add to the burden by making some methods and chemicals obsolete. Some of the processes and chemicals in current use will be curtailed and or outlawed in the future. How can a shops and industries make long term decisions or capital investments in cleaning and process improvements when the government keeps changing its rules? At the MART Corporation in Saint Louis, Missouri, we manufacture a line of cabinet-style batch cleaning machines known as Power Washers. Twenty years ago MART invented and patented the Power Washer process, a cleaning method that recycles wash solution and blasts contaminates as they are washed off the more heavily contaminated parts. Since the initial invention MART has continued to R&D the washing process and develop ancillary systems that comply with EPA and OSHA regulations. For applications involving new industrial parts or items requiring specification cleaned surfaces. MART provides filtration and solution conditioning systems, part drying operations, and triple rinsing. Units are available in stainless steel or higher alloys. We are not alone in the washer manufacturing business. You have many choices of cleaning solutions (no pun intended) which will perform in your operations and yield good results. As a manufacturer, we are interested in your success with our equipment. We have all heard the horror stories of companies having selected inappropriate cleaning systems and or processes which then brought the company to its knees, production wise. Assembly, appearance, warranty, and performance shortcomings of finished products can often be directly related to the cleaning process and its shortcomings.

Effectiveness of disinfectant wipes for decontamination of bacteria on patients' environmental and medical equipment surfaces at Siriraj Hospital.

PubMed

Seenama, Chakkraphong; Tachasirinugune, Peenithi; Jintanothaitavorn, Duangporn; Kachintorn, Kanchana; Thamlikitkul, Visanu

2013-02-01

To determine the effectiveness of Virusolve+ disinfectant wipes and PAL disinfectant wipes for decontamination of inoculated bacteria on patients' environmental and medical equipment surfaces at Siriraj Hospital. Tryptic soy broths containing MRSA and XDR A. baumannii were painted onto the surfaces of patient's stainless steel bed rail, patient's fiber footboard, control panel of infusion pump machine and control panel of respirator. The contaminated surfaces were cleaned by either tap water, tap water containing detergent, Virusolve+ disinfectant wipes or PAL disinfectant wipes. The surfaces without any cleaning procedures served as the control surface. The contaminated surfaces cleaned with the aforementioned procedures and control surfaces were swabbed with cotton swabs. The swabs were streaked on agar plates to determine the presence of MRSA and XDR A. baumannii. MRSA and XDR A. baumannii were recovered from all control surfaces. All surfaces cleaned with tap water or tap water containing detergent revealed presence of both MRSA and XDR A. baumannii. However the amounts of bacteria on the surfaces cleaned with tap water containing detergent were less than those cleaned with tap water alone. All surfaces cleaned with PAL disinfectant wipes also revealed presence of both MRSA and XDR A. baumannii. However the amounts of bacteria on the surfaces cleaned with PAL disinfectant wipes were less than those cleaned with tap water containing detergent. No bacteria were recovered from all surfaces cleaned with Virusolve+ disinfectant wipes. Virusolve+ disinfectant wipes were more effective than tap water; tap water containing detergent and PAL disinfectant wipes for decontamination of bacteria inoculated on patients environmental and medical equipment surfaces at Siriraj Hospital.

[Are disinfectant residues remained after cleaning hemodialysis machine procedure safe for patients?].

PubMed

Szewczyk, Małgorzata; Grzeszczuk, Karolina; Walski, Tomasz; Suder, Marek; Komorowska, Małgorzata

2013-01-01

The dialysis machine shall be cleaned and disinfected after each patient treatment or after every 72 hours break in working. An acceptable disinfectants such as Puristeril plus or Puristeril 340, Citrosteril, Diasteril and Sporotal are used for decontamination. Puristeril 340 is designed for cold disinfection and due to the low pH value, the necessary decalcification of hemodialysis machines is easily achieved. It can be used for all haemodialysis systems like hemodialysis machines, water treatment devices and circuit pipes. Diluted Puristeril decomposes in a non-toxic way. Degradation products of peracetic acid, which is main component of Puristeril are: hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. Peracetic acid is widely used for disinfection due to its exceptionally broad spectrum of microbiocidal activity at low concentrations and short exposure times. After use Puristeril is easily removable by rinsing with water. This paper deals with the effect of the Puristeril toxicity on blood as a function of its concentration and incubation time. Concentration range of 3.5-70 ppm was used, with particular emphasis on concentrations close to 5 ppm, a value is the limit of sensitivity of strips of starch potassium iodide, the tests for detection of peracetic acid. There was a strong increase in autohaemolysis and malondialdehyde concentrations with increasing concentration of Puristeril. There were also changes in dependence on the parameters of the incubation time, with the greatest effects obtained after 2 hours incubation with Puristeril. The detection limit of peracetic acid used strips of starch potassium iodide does not guarantee the safety of a patient undergoing hemodialysis. Even the residual concentration of Puristeril plus cause increased lipid peroxidation of membrane, and therefore suggest the routine use of stripes on the lower limit of detection of peracetic acid or implement measurement of hydrogen peroxide residues performed with sensitivity 1 ppm.

The laser micro-machining system for diamond anvil cell experiments and general precision machining applications at the High Pressure Collaborative Access Team

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hrubiak, Rostislav; Sinogeikin, Stanislav; Rod, Eric

We have designed and constructed a new system for micro-machining parts and sample assemblies used for diamond anvil cells and general user operations at the High Pressure Collaborative Access Team, sector 16 of the Advanced Photon Source. The new micro-machining system uses a pulsed laser of 400 ps pulse duration, ablating various materials without thermal melting, thus leaving a clean edge. With optics designed for a tight focus, the system can machine holes any size larger than 3 μm in diameter. Unlike a standard electrical discharge machining drill, the new laser system allows micro-machining of non-conductive materials such as: amorphousmore » boron and silicon carbide gaskets, diamond, oxides, and other materials including organic materials such as polyimide films (i.e., Kapton). An important feature of the new system is the use of gas-tight or gas-flow environmental chambers which allow the laser micro-machining to be done in a controlled (e.g., inert gas) atmosphere to prevent oxidation and other chemical reactions in air sensitive materials. The gas-tight workpiece enclosure is also useful for machining materials with known health risks (e.g., beryllium). Specialized control software with a graphical interface enables micro-machining of custom 2D and 3D shapes. The laser-machining system was designed in a Class 1 laser enclosure, i.e., it includes laser safety interlocks and computer controls and allows for routine operation. Though initially designed mainly for machining of the diamond anvil cell gaskets, the laser-machining system has since found many other micro-machining applications, several of which are presented here.« less

Electrostatically clean solar array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, Theodore Garry (Inventor); Krumweide, Duane Eric (Inventor)

2004-01-01

Provided are methods of manufacturing an electrostatically clean solar array panel and the products resulting from the practice of these methods. The preferred method uses an array of solar cells, each with a coverglass where the method includes machining apertures into a flat, electrically conductive sheet so that each aperture is aligned with and undersized with respect to its matched coverglass sheet and thereby fashion a front side shield with apertures (FSA). The undersized portion about each aperture of the bottom side of the FSA shield is bonded to the topside portions nearest the edges of each aperture's matched coverglass. Edge clips are attached to the front side aperture shield edges with the edge clips electrically and mechanically connecting the tops of the coverglasses to the solar panel substrate. The FSA shield, edge clips and substrate edges are bonded so as to produce a conductively grounded electrostatically clean solar array panel.

Improvement of training set structure in fusion data cleaning using Time-Domain Global Similarity method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, J.; Lan, T.; Qin, H.

2017-10-01

Traditional data cleaning identifies dirty data by classifying original data sequences, which is a class-imbalanced problem since the proportion of incorrect data is much less than the proportion of correct ones for most diagnostic systems in Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) devices. When using machine learning algorithms to classify diagnostic data based on class-imbalanced training set, most classifiers are biased towards the major class and show very poor classification rates on the minor class. By transforming the direct classification problem about original data sequences into a classification problem about the physical similarity between data sequences, the class-balanced effect of Time-Domain Global Similarity (TDGS) method on training set structure is investigated in this paper. Meanwhile, the impact of improved training set structure on data cleaning performance of TDGS method is demonstrated with an application example in EAST POlarimetry-INTerferometry (POINT) system.

40 CFR 63.463 - Batch vapor and in-line cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... be turned off and the solvent vapor layer allowed to collapse before the primary condenser is turned... separate both the continuous web part feed reel and take-up reel from the room atmosphere if the doors are... from the room atmosphere if the doors are checked according to the requirements of paragraph (e)(2)(iii...

40 CFR 63.463 - Batch vapor and in-line cleaning machine standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... be turned off and the solvent vapor layer allowed to collapse before the primary condenser is turned... separate both the continuous web part feed reel and take-up reel from the room atmosphere if the doors are... from the room atmosphere if the doors are checked according to the requirements of paragraph (e)(2)(iii...

Effects of dust accumulation and module cleaning on performance ratio of solar rooftop system and solar power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakarapunthip, Nattakarn; Chenvidhya, Dhirayut; Chuangchote, Surawut; Kirtikara, Krissanapong; Chenvidhya, Tanokkorn; Onreabroy, Wandee

2017-08-01

Thailand is an agricultural country, with rice, sugar, and cassava as the major export products. Production of rice, sugar cane, and cassava entails agricultural activities that give rise to significant airborne dusts. In this work, five photovoltaic (PV) units (one solar rooftop and four power plants) are selected for the study. From the study of dust accumulation on glass surface located near rice farms, it was found that opaque areas due to the deposition of dust are 11-14% after 1-2-week exposure. As a consequence, PV system performance is affected. Performance ratio was calculated to determine these effects. Overall results reveal that during the dry and hot seasons, dust deposition significantly affects the performance ratio. The performance ratio reduces by 1.6-3% for 1-month dust accumulation and reduces by 6-8% for 2-month dust accumulation. After cleaning the dust accumulated, the performance ratio greatly increases, resulting in the increase in the energy output by 10%. This increase provides economic and cost benefits of PV cleaning. The performance ratio is not significantly changed during the rainy season, which PV modules are relatively clean as the dust is washed away by rain. It was also found that most of the solar power plants in Thailand still rely on manual cleaning of PV modules with washing water followed by wiping. However, only one power plant, employs a machine for cleaning, resulting in lower cleaning costs.

[The distribution of microorganisms in household kitchens. II. Evaluation of results and hygienic inferences].

PubMed

Borneff, J; Hassinger, R; Wittig, J; Edenharder, R

1988-03-01

The very high morbidity rates of Enteritis infectiosa diseases demand improved prophylactic measures. An important indication of the source of these illnesses is the fact that infections in private households are about three times more frequent than in canteens. Indeed, the rise in morbidity is undoubtedly caused by inadequate treatment of raw products, of meal rests and by insufficient heating processes. Furthermore, in household kitchens no efforts are made to interrupt infection chains, and disinfections are considered as superfluous and housewives are content if their kitchens appear to be clean. The aim of our study performed in a normal household kitchen, was to investigate cross-contamination caused by pathogens, introduced into the kitchen from outdoors. A further aim was to establish the main sources of contamination in order to be able to recommend practical disinfection procedures. The main fields of contamination discovered when 55 meals prepared were: a) working surfaces (including boards of wood and plastics) b) kitchen- and cutting-machines. The amount of test organisms (Sarcinae), introduced into the kitchen (unbeknown to the housewives) by experimentally contaminated minced meat was only reduced by common cleaning procedures, in sofar as nearly half of the original contaminations could be demonstrated to be still present. However, when the normal cleanser was replaced by one containing hypochlorite, and with retention of the same working routines, about 90% bacteriologically clean surfaces were determined. In this way it could be demonstrated that infection chains can be interrupted. It is, however, not correct to compare the efficiency of these procedures with the efficiency of disinfection, according to the Federal Infectious Diseases Act (Bundesseuchengesetz). On practical application of these experiences it must be borne in mind that housewives should not be forced to apply medical disinfection procedures: indeed, traditional and practised cleaning methods should be retained, as far as possible. We recommend therefore that manufacturers supply household cleansers with an anti-bacterial additive, after its application in the kitchens working surfaces and machines are bacteriologically clean. Additionally housewives should be appropriately informed about the necessity of these manipulations. We consider minimization of toxicity and a thorough environmental compatibility of formulations to be self-evident.

The self-adjusting file (SAF) system: An evidence-based update.

PubMed

Metzger, Zvi

2014-09-01

Current rotary file systems are effective tools. Nevertheless, they have two main shortcomings: They are unable to effectively clean and shape oval canals and depend too much on the irrigant to do the cleaning, which is an unrealistic illusionThey may jeopardize the long-term survival of the tooth via unnecessary, excessive removal of sound dentin and creation of micro-cracks in the remaining root dentin. The new Self-adjusting File (SAF) technology uses a hollow, compressible NiTi file, with no central metal core, through which a continuous flow of irrigant is provided throughout the procedure. The SAF technology allows for effective cleaning of all root canals including oval canals, thus allowing for the effective disinfection and obturation of all canal morphologies. This technology uses a new concept of cleaning and shaping in which a uniform layer of dentin is removed from around the entire perimeter of the root canal, thus avoiding unnecessary excessive removal of sound dentin. Furthermore, the mode of action used by this file system does not apply the machining of all root canals to a circular bore, as do all other rotary file systems, and does not cause micro-cracks in the remaining root dentin. The new SAF technology allows for a new concept in cleaning and shaping root canals: Minimally Invasive 3D Endodontics.

Factors affecting the microbiological condition of the deep tissues of mechanically tenderized beef.

PubMed

Gill, C O; McGinnis, J C

2005-04-01

Whole or halved top butt prime beef cuts were treated in two types of mechanical tenderizing machines that both pierced the meat with thin blades but that used blades of different forms. Aerobes on meat surfaces and in the deep tissues of cuts after treatments were counted. When cuts were treated at a laboratory using a Lumar machine, the contamination of deep tissues increased significantly (P < 0.01) with increasing numbers of aerobic bacteria on meat surfaces and decreased significantly (P < 0.001) with increasing distance from the incised surface. However, contamination did not increase significantly (P > 0.1) with repeated incising of the meat. When halved cuts were incised one or eight times using a commercially cleaned Ross machine at a retail store, the numbers of aerobes recovered from deep tissues were similar with both treatments. When halved cuts were treated in one or other machine, deep tissue contamination was greater with the Lumar machine than with the Ross machine. Contamination of deep tissues as a result of tenderizing by piercing with thin blades can be minimized if the blades are designed to limit the number of bacteria carried into the meat and the microbiological condition of incised surface is well controlled.

19. WHILE AUTOMATION REDUCED SOME LABORINTENSIVE POSITIONS, THESE LARGE ROTATING ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

19. WHILE AUTOMATION REDUCED SOME LABOR-INTENSIVE POSITIONS, THESE LARGE ROTATING CLEANING MACHINES WHICH TUMBLED CASTINGS OVER EACH OTHER TO BREAK OFF EXCESS MATERIAL WHILE QUICKLY COOLING THE METALS IN THE MALLEABLE FOUNDRY PRIOR TO ANNEALING, STILL REQUIRED HAND SEPARATION OF THE EXCESS MATERIAL, CA. 1950. - Stockham Pipe & Fittings Company, 4000 Tenth Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL

Utilizing residues from in-woods flail processing

Treesearch

Ronald K. Baughman; Bryce J. Stokes; William F. Watson

1990-01-01

A Barkbuster 1100 tub grinder has been employed to process debris discharged by a Manitowoc VFDD-1642. The machine successfully passed the material through a 7.62 cm screen and discharged the reduced debris into a chip van for transport. Fuel production is directly dependent upon the production of clean chips by the flail/chipper portion of the system and the available...

It's a Clean Machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

Under an SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) from Lewis Research Center, Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) developed the Advanced Technology Catalytic Combustor. The research proved the viability of efficient, cost-effective catalytic reduction of gas turbine nitrogen oxide emissions along with fuel efficiency. PCI has signed agreements with Westinghouse, other gas turbine manufacturers, including Capstone Turbine Corporation to develop a catalytic combustor for their hybrid electric vehicle.

A microscopy approach for in situ inspection of micro-coordinate measurement machine styli for contamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Xiaobing; Pascal, Jonathan; Lawes, Simon

2017-09-01

During the process of measurement using a micro-coordinate measurement machine (µCMM) contamination gradually builds up on the surface of the stylus tip and affects the dimensional accuracy of the measurement. Regular inspection of the stylus for contamination is essential to determine the appropriate cleaning interval and prevent the dimensional error from becoming significant. However, in situ inspection of a µCMM stylus is challenging due to the size, spherical shape, material and surface properties of a typical stylus. To address this challenge, this study evaluates several non-contact measurement technologies for in situ stylus inspection and, based on those findings, proposes a cost-effective microscopy approach. The operational principle is then demonstrated by an automated prototype, coordinated directly by the CMM software MCOSMOS, with an effective threshold of detection as low as 400 nm and a large field of view and depth of field. The level of contamination on the stylus has been found to increase steadily with the number of measurement contacts made. Once excessive contamination is detected on the stylus, measurement should be stopped and a stylus cleaning procedure should be performed to avoid affecting measurement accuracy.

Campylobacter jejuni survival in a poultry processing plant environment.

PubMed

García-Sánchez, Lourdes; Melero, Beatriz; Jaime, Isabel; Hänninen, Marja-Liisa; Rossi, Mirko; Rovira, Jordi

2017-08-01

Campylobacteriosis is the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Consumption of poultry, especially chicken's meat is considered the most common route for human infection. The aim of this study was to determine if Campylobacter spp. might persist in the poultry plant environment before and after cleaning and disinfection procedures and the distribution and their genetic relatedness. During one month from a poultry plant were analyzed a total of 494 samples -defeathering machine, evisceration machine, floor, sink, conveyor belt, shackles and broiler meat- in order to isolate C. jejuni and C. coli. Results showed that C. jejuni and C. coli prevalence was 94.5% and 5.5% respectively. Different typing techniques as PFGE, MLST established seven C. jejuni genotypes. Whole genome MLST strongly suggest that highly clonal populations of C. jejuni can survive in adverse environmental conditions, even after cleaning and disinfection, and persist for longer periods than previous thought (at least 21 days) in the poultry plant environment. Even so, it might act as a source of contamination independently of the contamination level of the flock entering the slaughter line. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cost effectiveness of ergonomic redesign of electronic motherboard.

PubMed

Sen, Rabindra Nath; Yeow, Paul H P

2003-09-01

A case study to illustrate the cost effectiveness of ergonomic redesign of electronic motherboard was presented. The factory was running at a loss due to the high costs of rejects and poor quality and productivity. Subjective assessments and direct observations were made on the factory. Investigation revealed that due to motherboard design errors, the machine had difficulty in placing integrated circuits onto the pads, the operators had much difficulty in manual soldering certain components and much unproductive manual cleaning (MC) was required. Consequently, there were high rejects and occupational health and safety (OHS) problems, such as, boredom and work discomfort. Also, much labour and machine costs were spent on repairs. The motherboard was redesigned to correct the design errors, to allow more components to be machine soldered and to reduce MC. This eliminated rejects, reduced repairs, saved US dollars 581495/year and improved operators' OHS. The customer also saved US dollars 142105/year on loss of business.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

V.T. Krivoshein; A.V. Makarov

The sequence of pushing coke ovens is one of the most important aspects of battery operation. The sequence must satisfy a number of technical and process conditions: (1) achieve maximum heating-wall life by avoiding destructive expansion pressure in freshly charged ovens and during pushing of the finished coke; (2) ensure uniform brickwork temperature and prevent overheating by compensating for the high thermal flux in freshly charged ovens due to accumulated heat in adjacent ovens that are in the second half of the coking cycle; (3) ensure the most favorable working conditions and safety for operating personnel; (4) provide additional opportunitiesmore » for repair personnel to perform various types of work, such as replacing coke-machine rails, without interrupting coal production; (5) perform the maximum number of coke-machine operations simultaneously: pushing, charging, and cleaning doors, frames, and standpipe elbows; and (6) reduce electricity consumption by minimizing idle travel of coke machines.« less

The design and test of collecting device and film purge device joint work of residual film recovery machine based on Solidworks & Adams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Haozhou; Jian, Jianming; Hou, Shulin; San, Yunlong; Guo, Wensong; Sun, Yue; Gao, Mingqing

2018-03-01

The twine of residual film is an essential issue in the process of remnant residue recovery of the residual film recovery machine. It is difficult to clean up the residual film in the residual film recovery operation and to influence the subsequent film efficiency. Therefore, in response to this problem a composite tooth pocket residual film recovery device was designed. In this paper, the structure of the film recovery device design, theoretical analysis, simulation experiments, get the most appropriate film recovery device parameters. In addition, the residual film rate of the membrane is dramatically low, reaching about 1.3% only, and the operation of the whole machine is smoother, and the stability of the work is promoted. The operation of the film recovery device is very obvious. Lifting, in addition to the film rate has also been significantly improved to 93.88%

Review of smoothing methods for enhancement of noisy data from heavy-duty LHD mining machines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wodecki, Jacek; Michalak, Anna; Stefaniak, Paweł

2018-01-01

Appropriate analysis of data measured on heavy-duty mining machines is essential for processes monitoring, management and optimization. Some particular classes of machines, for example LHD (load-haul-dump) machines, hauling trucks, drilling/bolting machines etc. are characterized with cyclicity of operations. In those cases, identification of cycles and their segments or in other words - simply data segmentation is a key to evaluate their performance, which may be very useful from the management point of view, for example leading to introducing optimization to the process. However, in many cases such raw signals are contaminated with various artifacts, and in general are expected to be very noisy, which makes the segmentation task very difficult or even impossible. To deal with that problem, there is a need for efficient smoothing methods that will allow to retain informative trends in the signals while disregarding noises and other undesired non-deterministic components. In this paper authors present a review of various approaches to diagnostic data smoothing. Described methods can be used in a fast and efficient way, effectively cleaning the signals while preserving informative deterministic behaviour, that is a crucial to precise segmentation and other approaches to industrial data analysis.

Surfactant/Supercritical Fluid Cleaning of Contaminated Substrates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, Gary L.

1997-01-01

CFC's and halogenated hydrocarbon solvents have been the solvents of choice to degrease and otherwise clean precision metal parts to allow proper function. Recent regulations have, however, rendered most of these solvents unacceptable for these purposes. New processes which are being used or which have been proposed to replace these solvents usually either fail to remove water soluble contaminants or produce significant aqueous wastes which must then be disposed of. In this work, a new method for cleaning surfaces will be investigated. Solubility of typical contaminants such as lubricating greases and phosphatizing bath residues will be studied in several surfactant/supercritical fluid solutions. The effect of temperature, pressure, and the composition of the cleaning mixture on the solubility of oily, polar, and ionic contaminants will be investigated. A reverse micellar solution in a supercritical light hydrocarbon solvent will be used to clean samples of industrial wastes. A reverse micellar solution is one where water is dissolved into a non-polar solvent with the aid of a surfactant. The solution will be capable of dissolving both water-soluble contaminants and oil soluble contaminants. Once the contaminants have been dissolved into the solution they will be separated from the light hydrocarbon and precipitated by a relatively small pressure drop and the supercritical solvent will be available for recycle for reuse. The process will be compared to the efficacy of supercritical CO2 cleaning by attempting to clean the same types of substrates and machining wastes with the same contaminants using supercritical CO2. It is anticipated that the supercritical CO2 process will not be capable of removing ionic residues.

Method of forming shrink-fit compression seal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Podgorski, T. J. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

A method for making a glass-to-metal seal is described. A domed metal enclosure having a machined seal ring is fitted to a glass post machined to a slight taper and to a desired surface finish. The metal part is then heated by induction in a vacuum. As the metal part heats and expands relative to the glass post, the metal seal ring, possessing a higher coefficient of expansion than the glass post, slides down the tapered post. Upon cooling, the seal ring crushes against the glass post forming the seal. The method results in a glass-to-metal seal possessing extremely good leak resistance, while the parts are kept clean and free of the contaminants.

Use of history science methods in exposure assessment for occupational health studies

PubMed Central

Johansen, K; Tinnerberg, H; Lynge, E

2005-01-01

Aims: To show the power of history science methods for exposure assessment in occupational health studies, using the dry cleaning industry in Denmark around 1970 as the example. Methods: Exposure data and other information on exposure status were searched for in unconventional data sources such as the Danish National Archives, the Danish Royal Library, archives of Statistics Denmark, the National Institute of Occupational Health, Denmark, and the Danish Labor Inspection Agency. Individual census forms were retrieved from the Danish National Archives. Results: It was estimated that in total 3267 persons worked in the dry cleaning industry in Denmark in 1970. They typically worked in small shops with an average size of 3.5 persons. Of these, 2645 persons were considered exposed to solvents as they were dry cleaners or worked very close to the dry cleaning process, while 622 persons were office workers, drivers, etc in shops with 10 or more persons. It was estimated that tetrachloroethylene constituted 85% of the dry cleaning solvent used, and that a shop would normally have two machines using 4.6 tons of tetrachloroethylene annually. Conclusion: The history science methods, including retrieval of material from the Danish National Archives and a thorough search in the Royal Library for publications on dry cleaning, turned out to be a very fruitful approach for collection of exposure data on dry cleaning work in Denmark. The history science methods proved to be a useful supplement to the exposure assessment methods normally applied in epidemiological studies. PMID:15961618

Use of history science methods in exposure assessment for occupational health studies.

PubMed

Johansen, K; Tinnerberg, H; Lynge, E

2005-07-01

To show the power of history science methods for exposure assessment in occupational health studies, using the dry cleaning industry in Denmark around 1970 as the example. Exposure data and other information on exposure status were searched for in unconventional data sources such as the Danish National Archives, the Danish Royal Library, archives of Statistics Denmark, the National Institute of Occupational Health, Denmark, and the Danish Labor Inspection Agency. Individual census forms were retrieved from the Danish National Archives. It was estimated that in total 3267 persons worked in the dry cleaning industry in Denmark in 1970. They typically worked in small shops with an average size of 3.5 persons. Of these, 2645 persons were considered exposed to solvents as they were dry cleaners or worked very close to the dry cleaning process, while 622 persons were office workers, drivers, etc in shops with 10 or more persons. It was estimated that tetrachloroethylene constituted 85% of the dry cleaning solvent used, and that a shop would normally have two machines using 4.6 tons of tetrachloroethylene annually. The history science methods, including retrieval of material from the Danish National Archives and a thorough search in the Royal Library for publications on dry cleaning, turned out to be a very fruitful approach for collection of exposure data on dry cleaning work in Denmark. The history science methods proved to be a useful supplement to the exposure assessment methods normally applied in epidemiological studies.

Pulse electrochemical meso/micro/nano ultraprecision machining technology.

PubMed

Lee, Jeong Min; Kim, Young Bin; Park, Jeong Woo

2013-11-01

This study demonstrated meso/micro/nano-ultraprecision machining through electrochemical reactions using intermittent DC pulses. The experiment focused on two machining methods: (1) pulse electrochemical polishing (PECP) of stainless steel, and (2) pulse electrochemical nano-patterning (PECNP) on a silicon (Si) surface, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) for fabrication. The dissolution reaction at the stainless steel surface following PECP produced a very clean, smooth workpiece. The advantages of the PECP process included improvements in corrosion resistance, deburring of the sample surface, and removal of hydrogen from the stainless steel surface as verified by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). In PECNP, the electrochemical reaction generated within water molecules produced nanoscale oxide textures on a Si surface. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) was used to evaluate nanoscale-pattern processing on a Si wafer surface produced by AFM-PECNP For both processes using pulse electrochemical reactions, three-dimensional (3-D) measurements and AFM were used to investigate the changes on the machined surfaces. Preliminary results indicated the potential for advancing surface polishing techniques and localized micro/nano-texturing technology using PECP and PECNP processes.

Numerical simulations of a proposed hollow electron beam collimator for the LHC upgrade at CERN.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Previtali, V.; Stancari, G.; Valishev, A.

2013-07-12

In the last years the LHC collimation system has been performing over the expectations, providing the machine with a nearly perfect e cient cleaning system[1]. Nonetheless, when trying to push the existing accelerators to - and over - their design limits, all the accelerator components are required to boost their performances. In particular, in view of the high luminosity frontier for the LHC, the increased intensity would ask for a more e cient cleaning system. In this framework innovative collimation solutions are under evaluation[2]: one option is the usage of an hollow electron lens for beam halo cleaning. This workmore » intends to study the applicability of an the hollow electron lens for the LHC collimation, by evaluating the case of the existing Tevatron e-lens applied to the nominal LHC 7 TeV beam. New e-lens operation modes are here proposed to standard enhance the electron lens halo removal e ect.« less

Evaluation of Internal Brushing on Pinch Weld Quality

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Korinko, P

2005-12-01

Post machining operations such as borescope inspection can cause linear indications down the length of the bore of fill stems. Often these indications are removed or obscured using rotary wire brushing. This study evaluated the effect this mechanical operation may have on pinch weld quality when relatively cold welds were made. A total of four stems with two levels of brushing of both Type 304L and 21-6-9 stainless steels were tested. In addition, two each of the Type 304L stems were Nitradd cleaned and the other two were aqueously cleaned; all four 21-6-9 stems were aqueously cleaned. All of themore » brushed stem areas exhibited more surface anomalies based on borescope evaluation. On average, the bond rating was a higher value (worse) for the brushed areas than the unadulterated areas for both Type 304L and 21-6-9 stems. The test method used may have biased the results towards a lesser quality bond for the brushed areas so additional testing is recommended.« less

Solar Power Satellites: Reconsideration as Renewable Energy Source Based on Novel Approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellery, Alex

2017-04-01

Solar power satellites (SPS) are a solar energy generation mechanism that captures solar energy in space and converts this energy into microwave for transmission to Earth-based rectenna arrays. They offer a constant, high integrated energy density of 200 W/m2 compared to <10 W/m2 for other renewable energy sources. Despite this promise as a clean energy source, SPS have been relegated out of consideration due to their enormous cost and technological challenge. It has been suggested that for solar power satellites to become economically feasible, launch costs must decrease from their current 20,000/kg to <200/kg. Even with the advent of single-stage-to-orbit launchers which propose launch costs dropping to 2,000/kg, this will not be realized. Yet, the advantages of solar power satellites are many including the provision of stable baseload power. Here, I present a novel approach to reduce the specific cost of solar power satellites to 1/kg by leveraging two enabling technologies - in-situ resource utilization of lunar material and 3D printing of this material. Specifically, we demonstrate that electric motors may be constructed from lunar material through 3D printing representing a major step towards the development of self-replicating machines. Such machines have the capacity to build solar power satellites on the Moon, thereby bypassing the launch cost problem. The productive capacity of self-replicating machines favours the adoption of large constellations of small solar power satellites. This opens up additional clean energy options for combating climate change by meeting the demands for future global energy.

Physician strives to create lean, clean health care machine. Studies of manufacturing processes may one day help make your practice more efficient.

PubMed

Hill, D

2001-01-01

Elisabeth Hager, MD, MMM, CPE, is teaming up with scientists and industrialists to teach physicians how to apply principles of lean, total-quality manufacturing to their practices. She believes innovation and efficiencies can help doctors resurrect their profession's image and their control over it--and perhaps even reinvent American health care.

BRASS FOUNDRY ROOM SHOWING GATE CUTTERS USED TO REMOVE RUNNERS ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

BRASS FOUNDRY ROOM SHOWING GATE CUTTERS USED TO REMOVE RUNNERS AND SPRUES FROM BRONZE CASTINGS TOO SOFT TO BE CLEANED IN TUMBLING MILLS. ALSO SHOWN ARE MOLD MACHINES AND THE SAND DELIVERY SYSTEM USED TO CREATE GREEN SAND MOLDS, POURED AT THE OTHER END OF THE GRAVITY CONVEYORS. - Stockham Pipe & Fittings Company, Brass Foundry, 4000 Tenth Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL

Laser Induced Damage of Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP) Optical Crystal Machined by Water Dissolution Ultra-Precision Polishing Method

PubMed Central

Gao, Hang; Wang, Xu; Guo, Dongming; Liu, Ziyuan

2018-01-01

Laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) is an important optical indicator for nonlinear Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP) crystal used in high power laser systems. In this study, KDP optical crystals are initially machined with single point diamond turning (SPDT), followed by water dissolution ultra-precision polishing (WDUP) and then tested with 355 nm nanosecond pulsed-lasers. Power spectral density (PSD) analysis shows that WDUP process eliminates the laser-detrimental spatial frequencies band of micro-waviness on SPDT machined surface and consequently decreases its modulation effect on the laser beams. The laser test results show that LIDT of WDUP machined crystal improves and its stability has a significant increase by 72.1% compared with that of SPDT. Moreover, a subsequent ultrasonic assisted solvent cleaning process is suggested to have a positive effect on the laser performance of machined KDP crystal. Damage crater investigation indicates that the damage morphologies exhibit highly thermal explosion features of melted cores and brittle fractures of periphery material, which can be described with the classic thermal explosion model. The comparison result demonstrates that damage mechanisms for SPDT and WDUP machined crystal are the same and WDUP process reveals the real bulk laser resistance of KDP optical crystal by removing the micro-waviness and subsurface damage on SPDT machined surface. This improvement of WDUP method makes the LIDT more accurate and will be beneficial to the laser performance of KDP crystal. PMID:29534032

Machine Learning Based Classification of Microsatellite Variation: An Effective Approach for Phylogeographic Characterization of Olive Populations.

PubMed

Torkzaban, Bahareh; Kayvanjoo, Amir Hossein; Ardalan, Arman; Mousavi, Soraya; Mariotti, Roberto; Baldoni, Luciana; Ebrahimie, Esmaeil; Ebrahimi, Mansour; Hosseini-Mazinani, Mehdi

2015-01-01

Finding efficient analytical techniques is overwhelmingly turning into a bottleneck for the effectiveness of large biological data. Machine learning offers a novel and powerful tool to advance classification and modeling solutions in molecular biology. However, these methods have been less frequently used with empirical population genetics data. In this study, we developed a new combined approach of data analysis using microsatellite marker data from our previous studies of olive populations using machine learning algorithms. Herein, 267 olive accessions of various origins including 21 reference cultivars, 132 local ecotypes, and 37 wild olive specimens from the Iranian plateau, together with 77 of the most represented Mediterranean varieties were investigated using a finely selected panel of 11 microsatellite markers. We organized data in two '4-targeted' and '16-targeted' experiments. A strategy of assaying different machine based analyses (i.e. data cleaning, feature selection, and machine learning classification) was devised to identify the most informative loci and the most diagnostic alleles to represent the population and the geography of each olive accession. These analyses revealed microsatellite markers with the highest differentiating capacity and proved efficiency for our method of clustering olive accessions to reflect upon their regions of origin. A distinguished highlight of this study was the discovery of the best combination of markers for better differentiating of populations via machine learning models, which can be exploited to distinguish among other biological populations.

The self-adjusting file (SAF) system: An evidence-based update

PubMed Central

Metzger, Zvi

2014-01-01

Current rotary file systems are effective tools. Nevertheless, they have two main shortcomings: They are unable to effectively clean and shape oval canals and depend too much on the irrigant to do the cleaning, which is an unrealistic illusionThey may jeopardize the long-term survival of the tooth via unnecessary, excessive removal of sound dentin and creation of micro-cracks in the remaining root dentin. The new Self-adjusting File (SAF) technology uses a hollow, compressible NiTi file, with no central metal core, through which a continuous flow of irrigant is provided throughout the procedure. The SAF technology allows for effective cleaning of all root canals including oval canals, thus allowing for the effective disinfection and obturation of all canal morphologies. This technology uses a new concept of cleaning and shaping in which a uniform layer of dentin is removed from around the entire perimeter of the root canal, thus avoiding unnecessary excessive removal of sound dentin. Furthermore, the mode of action used by this file system does not apply the machining of all root canals to a circular bore, as do all other rotary file systems, and does not cause micro-cracks in the remaining root dentin. The new SAF technology allows for a new concept in cleaning and shaping root canals: Minimally Invasive 3D Endodontics. PMID:25298639

Design and Development of Maize Dehusker cum Sheller: A Technology for Northern Transition Zone of Karnataka, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chilur, Rudragouda; Kumar, Sushilendra

2018-06-01

The Maize ( Zea mays L.) crop is one of the most important cereal in agricultural production systems of Northern Transition Zone (Hyderabad-Karnataka region) in India. These Hyderabad Karnataka farmers (small-medium) are lack of economic technologies with maize dehusking and shelling, which fulfils the two major needs as crops and as livestock in farming. The portable medium size (600 kg/h capacity) electric motor (2.23 kW) operated Maize Dehusker cum Sheller (MDS) was designed to resolve the issue by considering engineering properties of maize. The developed trapezium shaped MDS machine having overall dimensions (length × (top and bottom) × height) of 1200 × (500 and 610) × 810 mm. The selected operational parameters viz, cylinder peripheral speed (7.1 m/s), concave clearance (25 mm) and feed rate (600 kg/h) were studied for machine-performance and seed-quality parameters. The performance of machine under these parameters showed the dehusking efficiency of 99.56%, shelling efficiency of 98.01%, cleaning efficiency of 99.11%, total loss of 3.63% machine capacity of 527.11 kg/kW-h and germination percentage of 98.93%. Overall machine performance was found satisfactory for maize dehusking cum shelling operation as well as to produce the maize grains for seeding purpose.

Design and Development of Maize Dehusker cum Sheller: A Technology for Northern Transition Zone of Karnataka, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chilur, Rudragouda; Kumar, Sushilendra

2018-02-01

The Maize (Zea mays L.) crop is one of the most important cereal in agricultural production systems of Northern Transition Zone (Hyderabad-Karnataka region) in India. These Hyderabad Karnataka farmers (small-medium) are lack of economic technologies with maize dehusking and shelling, which fulfils the two major needs as crops and as livestock in farming. The portable medium size (600 kg/h capacity) electric motor (2.23 kW) operated Maize Dehusker cum Sheller (MDS) was designed to resolve the issue by considering engineering properties of maize. The developed trapezium shaped MDS machine having overall dimensions (length × (top and bottom) × height) of 1200 × (500 and 610) × 810 mm. The selected operational parameters viz, cylinder peripheral speed (7.1 m/s), concave clearance (25 mm) and feed rate (600 kg/h) were studied for machine-performance and seed-quality parameters. The performance of machine under these parameters showed the dehusking efficiency of 99.56%, shelling efficiency of 98.01%, cleaning efficiency of 99.11%, total loss of 3.63% machine capacity of 527.11 kg/kW-h and germination percentage of 98.93%. Overall machine performance was found satisfactory for maize dehusking cum shelling operation as well as to produce the maize grains for seeding purpose.

Novel diesel exhaust filters for underground mining vehicles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bickel, K.L.; Taubert, T.R.

1995-12-31

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) pioneered the development of disposable filters for reducing diesel particulate emissions from permissible mining machines. The USBM is now evaluating filter media that can withstand the high exhaust temperatures on nonpermissible machines. The goal of the evaluation is to find an inexpensive medium that can be cleaned or disposed of after use, and will reduce particulate emissions by 50 % or more. This report summarizes the results from screening tests of a lava rock and woven fiberglass filter media. The lava rock media exhibited low collection efficiencies, but with very low increases in exhaustmore » back pressure. Preliminary results indicate a collection efficiency exceeding 80 % for the woven fiber media. Testing of both media is continuing.« less

Radioactive hot cell access hole decontamination machine

DOEpatents

Simpson, William E.

1982-01-01

Radioactive hot cell access hole decontamination machine. A mobile housing has an opening large enough to encircle the access hole and has a shielding door, with a door opening and closing mechanism, for uncovering and covering the opening. The housing contains a shaft which has an apparatus for rotating the shaft and a device for independently translating the shaft from the housing through the opening and access hole into the hot cell chamber. A properly sized cylindrical pig containing wire brushes and cloth or other disks, with an arrangement for releasably attaching it to the end of the shaft, circumferentially cleans the access hole wall of radioactive contamination and thereafter detaches from the shaft to fall into the hot cell chamber.

HullBUG Technology Development for Underwater Hull Cleaning

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-14

drawings would be vended out to approved vendors for quoting. Quotes would be obtained for different levels of production in order to better understand...the savings associated with buying more. Once a good pricing model was developed and quantity purchased determined, parts would be vended out and...detailed, dimensioned and tolerances added to enable quoting by commercial machine shops. A top assembly drawing was created that identified all

Neutral beam dump with cathodic arc titanium gettering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smirnov, A.; Korepanov, S. A.; Putvinski, S.

An incomplete neutral beam capture can degrade the plasma performance in neutral beam driven plasma machines. The beam dumps mitigating the shine-through beam recycling must entrap and retain large particle loads while maintaining the beam-exposed surfaces clean of the residual impurities. The cathodic arc gettering, which provides high evaporation rate coupled with a fast time response, is a powerful and versatile technique for depositing clean getter films in vacuum. A compact neutral beam dump utilizing the titanium arc gettering was developed for a field-reversed configuration plasma sustained by 1 MW, 20-40 keV neutral hydrogen beams. The titanium evaporator features amore » new improved design. The beam dump is capable of handling large pulsed gas loads, has a high sorption capacity, and is robust and reliable. With the beam particle flux density of 5 x 10{sup 17} H/(cm{sup 2}s) sustained for 3-10 ms, the beam recycling coefficient, defined as twice the ratio of the hydrogen molecular flux leaving the beam dump to the incident flux of high-energy neutral atoms, is {approx}0.7. The use of the beam dump allows us to significantly reduce the recycling of the shine-through neutral beam as well as to improve the vacuum conditions in the machine.« less

Significant Change Spotting for Periodic Human Motion Segmentation of Cleaning Tasks Using Wearable Sensors

PubMed Central

Liu, Kai-Chun; Chan, Chia-Tai

2017-01-01

The proportion of the aging population is rapidly increasing around the world, which will cause stress on society and healthcare systems. In recent years, advances in technology have created new opportunities for automatic activities of daily living (ADL) monitoring to improve the quality of life and provide adequate medical service for the elderly. Such automatic ADL monitoring requires reliable ADL information on a fine-grained level, especially for the status of interaction between body gestures and the environment in the real-world. In this work, we propose a significant change spotting mechanism for periodic human motion segmentation during cleaning task performance. A novel approach is proposed based on the search for a significant change of gestures, which can manage critical technical issues in activity recognition, such as continuous data segmentation, individual variance, and category ambiguity. Three typical machine learning classification algorithms are utilized for the identification of the significant change candidate, including a Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), and Naive Bayesian (NB) algorithm. Overall, the proposed approach achieves 96.41% in the F1-score by using the SVM classifier. The results show that the proposed approach can fulfill the requirement of fine-grained human motion segmentation for automatic ADL monitoring. PMID:28106853

Kernel Methods for Mining Instance Data in Ontologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bloehdorn, Stephan; Sure, York

The amount of ontologies and meta data available on the Web is constantly growing. The successful application of machine learning techniques for learning of ontologies from textual data, i.e. mining for the Semantic Web, contributes to this trend. However, no principal approaches exist so far for mining from the Semantic Web. We investigate how machine learning algorithms can be made amenable for directly taking advantage of the rich knowledge expressed in ontologies and associated instance data. Kernel methods have been successfully employed in various learning tasks and provide a clean framework for interfacing between non-vectorial data and machine learning algorithms. In this spirit, we express the problem of mining instances in ontologies as the problem of defining valid corresponding kernels. We present a principled framework for designing such kernels by means of decomposing the kernel computation into specialized kernels for selected characteristics of an ontology which can be flexibly assembled and tuned. Initial experiments on real world Semantic Web data enjoy promising results and show the usefulness of our approach.

Design and testing of small scale fish meat bone separator useful for fish processing.

PubMed

Ali Muhammed, M; Manjunatha, N; Murthy, K Venkatesh; Bhaskar, N

2015-06-01

The present study relates to the food processing machinery and, more specifically machine for producing boneless comminuted meat from raw fish fillet. This machine is of belt and drum type meat bone separator designed for small scale fish processing in a continuous mode. The basic principal involved in this machine is compression force. The electric geared motor consists of 1HP and the conveyor belt has a linear velocity of 19 to 22 m min(-1), which was sufficient to debone the fish effectively. During the meat bone separation trials an efficiency up to 75 % on dressed fish weight basis was observed and with a capacity to separate 70 kg h(-1) of meat from fish at the machine speed of 25 rpm. During the trials, it was demonstrated that there was no significant change in the proximate composition of comminuted fish meat when compared to unprocessed fish meat. This design has a greater emphasis on hygiene, provision for cleaning-in-place (CIP) and gives cost effective need and reliability for small scale industries to produce fish meat in turn used for their value added products.

[Asbestos risk in the textile industry: braking systems on machinery used until the 1990's].

PubMed

Chiappino, G; Pellissetti, D; Moretto, O; Picchi, Ornella

2005-01-01

We recently described asbestos risk in the non-asbestos textile industry as the result of fibre dispersion from ceilings, pipe insulation and machines. The widespread use of brakes with asbestos linings on the machines as well as other functional details were considered for a proper evaluation of their role in producing atmospheric pollution All the information was collected on the basis of the personal technical experience of two of the Authors and by direct observation of the machines. All the textile machines (ring spinning, twisting, warping, winding, looms) used until the 1990's were without exception equipped with asbestos-lined mechanical brakes. The heavy action required produced relatively rapid wear of the linings and the dust produced was spread into the atmosphere by the continuous action of the "travelling blowing cleaners" and by the daily cleaning of the machines using compressed air at the end of the shift: violent air blowing undoubtedly caused redispersion of the fine dust from the brakes and also acted as a mechanical grinder on the bundles that sedimented on the machines from the ceilings and pipes, producing more ultrathin respirable fibres. the contribution of textile machinery to atmospheric pollution by asbestos fibres was significant and due both to the widespread use of brakes with asbestos-containing materials and to the continuous action on the machines of compressed air blowers. Asbestos pollution was certainly high in all the factories so that in the near future still further mesothelioma cases among ex-workers are to be expected.

Environmental Compliance Assessment System (ECAS). North Carolina Supplement

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-01

specified. 1-2 *Drvcleaning - a process for the cleaning of textiles and fabric products in which articles are washed in a nonaqueous solution...piping and valves. " Dryer - a machine used to remove petroleum solvent from articles of clothing or other textile or leather goods, after washing and...Tobacco Processing 2200-2299 Textile Processing 2400-2499 Lumber and Wood Products Except 7, cure 2500-2599 Manufacturing of Furniture and F, i 2600

HullBUG Technology Development for Underwater Hull Cleaning

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-15

Grooming Tool would be generated. These drawings would be vended out to approved vendors for quoting. Quotes would be obtained for different levels...determined, parts would be vended out and manufactured. These parts would then be assembled at SRC. A test program would then follow to fully...identified all machined parts as well as all purchased hardware Top Assembly Based on total cost, a decision was made to make 1 grooming tool and 1

Life-Cycle Cost Database. Volume II. Appendices E, F, and G. Sample Data Development.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

Bendix Field Engineering Corporation Columbia, Maryland 21045 5 CONTENTS Page GENERAL 8 Introduction Objective Engineering Survey SYSTEM DESCRIPTION...in a typical administrative type building over a 25-year period. 1.3 ENGINEERING SURVEY An on-site survey was conducted by Bendix Field Engineering...Damp Mop and Buff Buff Routine Vacuum Strip and Refinish Heavy Duty Vacuum Machine, Scrub and Surface Shampoo Pick Up Extraction Clean Repair Location

A mild and efficient flow procedure for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes using hydrous zirconia.

PubMed

Battilocchio, Claudio; Hawkins, Joel M; Ley, Steven V

2013-05-03

A flow chemistry Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction procedure using partially hydrated zirconium oxide via a machine-assisted approach is reported. The heterogeneous reductive system could be applied to a wide range of functionalized substrates, allowing clean and fast delivery of the alcohol products within a few minutes (6-75 min). In three examples the system was scaled to deliver 50 mmol of product.

Machine Protection System for the Stepper Motor Actuated SyLMAND Mirrors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Subramanian, V. R.; Dolton, W.; Wells, G.

2010-06-23

SyLMAND, the Synchrotron Laboratory for Micro and Nano Devices at the Canadian Light Source, consists of a dedicated X-ray lithography beamline on a bend magnet port, and process support laboratories in a clean room environment. The beamline includes a double mirror system with flat, chromium-coated silicon mirrors operated at varying grazing angles of incidence (4 mrad to 45 mrad) for spectral adjustment by high energy cut-off. Each mirror can be independently moved by two stepper motors to precisely control the pitch and vertical position. We present in this paper the machine protection system implemented in the double mirror system tomore » allow for safe operation of the two mirrors and to avoid consequences of potential stepper motor malfunction.« less

AQUAPLEX An Environmentally Aware Model Lunar Settlement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preble, Darel

2003-01-01

The construction and operation of a replica Lunar settlement (CELSS), can provide many lessons in in-situ resource utilization, telerobotic operation and reducing the hygiene water demanded by existing models of Lunar operation - a larger settlement may be operated with the same amount of precious water. Hypes and Hall and all other CELSS models found in the literature propose quantities of hygiene water far in excess of what would be needed in actual operation using simple, environmentally aware technologies. By using modern zero water toilets, low water showers, CO2 dry cleaning machines, energy efficient washing machines and other hardware, water use can be slashed. The Space Solar Power Workshop sees great opportunity to advance the prospects for Lunar settlement through involving the environmental community in this fun design exercise.

An automatic taxonomy of galaxy morphology using unsupervised machine learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hocking, Alex; Geach, James E.; Sun, Yi; Davey, Neil

2018-01-01

We present an unsupervised machine learning technique that automatically segments and labels galaxies in astronomical imaging surveys using only pixel data. Distinct from previous unsupervised machine learning approaches used in astronomy we use no pre-selection or pre-filtering of target galaxy type to identify galaxies that are similar. We demonstrate the technique on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Frontier Fields. By training the algorithm using galaxies from one field (Abell 2744) and applying the result to another (MACS 0416.1-2403), we show how the algorithm can cleanly separate early and late type galaxies without any form of pre-directed training for what an 'early' or 'late' type galaxy is. We then apply the technique to the HST Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS) fields, creating a catalogue of approximately 60 000 classifications. We show how the automatic classification groups galaxies of similar morphological (and photometric) type and make the classifications public via a catalogue, a visual catalogue and galaxy similarity search. We compare the CANDELS machine-based classifications to human-classifications from the Galaxy Zoo: CANDELS project. Although there is not a direct mapping between Galaxy Zoo and our hierarchical labelling, we demonstrate a good level of concordance between human and machine classifications. Finally, we show how the technique can be used to identify rarer objects and present lensed galaxy candidates from the CANDELS imaging.

Diffuse Reflectance Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool for the Identification of Surface Contamination on Sandblasted Metals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, Louis G.; Barber, Tye E.; Neu, John T.; Nerren, Billy H.

1997-01-01

The SOC 400 Surface Inspection Machine/Infrared (SIMIR) is a small, ruggedized Fourier transform infrared spectrometer having dedicated diffuse reflectance optics. The SOC 400 was designed for the purpose of detecting (qualitatively and quantitatively) oil stains on the inside surface of solid rocket motor casings in the as-sandblasted and cleaned condition at levels approaching 1 mg. sq ft. The performance of this instrument is described using spectral mapping techniques.

Study on tar generated from downdraft gasification of oil palm fronds.

PubMed

Atnaw, Samson Mekbib; Kueh, Soo Chuan; Sulaiman, Shaharin Anwar

2014-01-01

One of the most challenging issues concerning the gasification of oil palm fronds (OPF) is the presence of tar and particulates formed during the process considering its high volatile matter content. In this study, a tar sampling train custom built based on standard tar sampling protocols was used to quantify the gravimetric concentration of tar (g/Nm3) in syngas produced from downdraft gasification of OPF. The amount of char, ash, and solid tar produced from the gasification process was measured in order to account for the mass and carbon conversion efficiency. Elemental analysis of the char and solid tar samples was done using ultimate analysis machine, while the relative concentration of the different compounds in the liquid tar was determined making use of a liquid gas chromatography (GC) unit. Average tar concentration of 4.928 g/Nm3 and 1.923 g/Nm3 was obtained for raw gas and cleaned gas samples, respectively. Tar concentration in the raw gas sample was found to be higher compared to results for other biomass materials, which could be attributed to the higher volatile matter percentage of OPF. Average cleaning efficiency of 61% which is comparable to that of sand bed filter and venturi scrubber cleaning systems reported in the literature was obtained for the cleaning system proposed in the current study.

Study on Tar Generated from Downdraft Gasification of Oil Palm Fronds

PubMed Central

Atnaw, Samson Mekbib; Kueh, Soo Chuan; Sulaiman, Shaharin Anwar

2014-01-01

One of the most challenging issues concerning the gasification of oil palm fronds (OPF) is the presence of tar and particulates formed during the process considering its high volatile matter content. In this study, a tar sampling train custom built based on standard tar sampling protocols was used to quantify the gravimetric concentration of tar (g/Nm3) in syngas produced from downdraft gasification of OPF. The amount of char, ash, and solid tar produced from the gasification process was measured in order to account for the mass and carbon conversion efficiency. Elemental analysis of the char and solid tar samples was done using ultimate analysis machine, while the relative concentration of the different compounds in the liquid tar was determined making use of a liquid gas chromatography (GC) unit. Average tar concentration of 4.928 g/Nm3 and 1.923 g/Nm3 was obtained for raw gas and cleaned gas samples, respectively. Tar concentration in the raw gas sample was found to be higher compared to results for other biomass materials, which could be attributed to the higher volatile matter percentage of OPF. Average cleaning efficiency of 61% which is comparable to that of sand bed filter and venturi scrubber cleaning systems reported in the literature was obtained for the cleaning system proposed in the current study. PMID:24526899

A moving mesh unstaggered constrained transport scheme for magnetohydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mocz, Philip; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Springel, Volker; Vogelsberger, Mark; Marinacci, Federico; Hernquist, Lars

2016-11-01

We present a constrained transport (CT) algorithm for solving the 3D ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations on a moving mesh, which maintains the divergence-free condition on the magnetic field to machine-precision. Our CT scheme uses an unstructured representation of the magnetic vector potential, making the numerical method simple and computationally efficient. The scheme is implemented in the moving mesh code AREPO. We demonstrate the performance of the approach with simulations of driven MHD turbulence, a magnetized disc galaxy, and a cosmological volume with primordial magnetic field. We compare the outcomes of these experiments to those obtained with a previously implemented Powell divergence-cleaning scheme. While CT and the Powell technique yield similar results in idealized test problems, some differences are seen in situations more representative of astrophysical flows. In the turbulence simulations, the Powell cleaning scheme artificially grows the mean magnetic field, while CT maintains this conserved quantity of ideal MHD. In the disc simulation, CT gives slower magnetic field growth rate and saturates to equipartition between the turbulent kinetic energy and magnetic energy, whereas Powell cleaning produces a dynamically dominant magnetic field. Such difference has been observed in adaptive-mesh refinement codes with CT and smoothed-particle hydrodynamics codes with divergence-cleaning. In the cosmological simulation, both approaches give similar magnetic amplification, but Powell exhibits more cell-level noise. CT methods in general are more accurate than divergence-cleaning techniques, and, when coupled to a moving mesh can exploit the advantages of automatic spatial/temporal adaptivity and reduced advection errors, allowing for improved astrophysical MHD simulations.

The MillSOT-A Spiral Orbit Tribometer on a Milling Machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pepper, Stephen V.

2014-01-01

A spiral orbit tribometer (SOT) intended to characterize friction and wear phenomena has been constructed on a milling machine. The instrument, essentially a retainerless thrust bearing with one ball and flat races, is exceedingly simple and inexpensive to construct. The capabilities of the tribometer to measure both the coefficient of friction and contact electrical resistance are demonstrated with clean specimens as well as with well known lubricants such as molybdenum disulphide and Krytox oil. Operation in a purged environment of inert gas is also demonstrated. The results with these lubricants are quite close to what is obtained by other methods. Suggestions for extending the capabilities of the tribometer are given. This arrangement may find use in university mechanical engineering laboratories to introduce and study rolling contact motion as well as for research in contact mechanics and tribology.

Four-probe measurements with a three-probe scanning tunneling microscope.

PubMed

Salomons, Mark; Martins, Bruno V C; Zikovsky, Janik; Wolkow, Robert A

2014-04-01

We present an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) three-probe scanning tunneling microscope in which each probe is capable of atomic resolution. A UHV JEOL scanning electron microscope aids in the placement of the probes on the sample. The machine also has a field ion microscope to clean, atomically image, and shape the probe tips. The machine uses bare conductive samples and tips with a homebuilt set of pliers for heating and loading. Automated feedback controlled tip-surface contacts allow for electrical stability and reproducibility while also greatly reducing tip and surface damage due to contact formation. The ability to register inter-tip position by imaging of a single surface feature by multiple tips is demonstrated. Four-probe material characterization is achieved by deploying two tips as fixed current probes and the third tip as a movable voltage probe.

Ultrasonic Device Would Open Pipe Bombs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

El-Raheb, Michael S.; Adams, Marc A.; Zwissler, James G.

1991-01-01

Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer, energized by frequency generator and power supply, vibrates shell of pipe bomb while hardly disturbing explosive inner material. Frequency-control circuitry senses resonance in shell and holds generator at that frequency to induce fatigue cracking in threads of end cap. In addition to disarming bombs, ultrasonically induced fatigue may have other applications. In manufacturing, replaces some machining and cutting operations. In repair of equipment, cleanly and quickly disassembles corroded parts. In demolition of buildings used to dismember steel framework safely and controllably.

Inside the Soviet Army in Afghanistan

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-01

help with work on a kolkhoz. Many units were being used for farm work at that time. A few friends and I began selling cattle on the black market and...burned them; they shot down the cattle with machine-guns; they killed the chickens; they even slaughtered the dogs. The Russians burned our mosque and...throat and slit it. ’i hen he ordered the soldier to castrate him and make him "clean as a cherub." One time we captured about a dozen or so youths who

Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing of Robust Superhydrophobic Coating on Metallic Engineering Materials.

PubMed

Dong, Shuliang; Wang, Zhenlong; Wang, Yukui; Bai, Xuelin; Fu, Yong Qing; Guo, Bin; Tan, Chaoliang; Zhang, Jia; Hu, PingAn

2018-01-17

Creating a robust superhydrophobic surface on the conventional engineering materials at mass production is of great importance for a self-cleaning, anti-icing, nonwetting surface and low flow resistance in industrial applications. Herein, we report a roll-to-roll strategy to create durable and robust superhydrophobic surfaces with designed micro-/nanoscale hierarchical structures on many conventional engineering materials by combining electrical discharge machining and coating of carbon nanoparticles, followed by oil penetration and drying. The treated surface shows good superhydrophobic properties with a static water contact angle of 170 ± 2° and slide angle of 3 ± 1°. The treated surface also exhibits good resilience and maintains the performance after being tested in various harsh conditions, including water flushing for several days, sand abrasion, scratching with sandpapers, and corrosive solution. Significantly, the superhydrophobic surfaces also show a high efficiency of self-cleaning properties even after oil contamination during applications.

Automatic Control by Microprocessor of a Patient's Weight Loss During an Extrarenal Purification Session by Hemofiltration

PubMed Central

Faucheux, F.; L'Huillier, J.P.; Rouillion, P.; Yvroud, E.; Kessler, M.; Huriet, C.

1982-01-01

The extranephric cleaning by means of hemofiltration and generally operations in extracorporal circulation requires the blood derivation towards a treatment apparatus: filtration by means of hemodialysis, oxygenation. The working principle of the treatment apparatuses does not simply allow to connect the blood flow taken from the patient. A control of the patient is therefore necessary to have a treatment performed in good conditions. The method that we propose consists in weighting the variable containing unit of the apparatus and in subjecting this weight to a value determined by the physician. This value is programmed on the machine before the treatment session. The control is performed by means of an action on the differential flow and allow a precise control of the weight loss of the patient during a treatment in extranephric cleaning by means of hemofiltration.

Towards 3rd generation organic tandem solar cells with 20% efficiency: Accelerated discovery and rational design of carbon-based photovoltaic materials through massive distributed volunteer computing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aspuru-Guzik, Alan

2016-11-04

Clean, affordable, and renewable energy sources are urgently needed to satisfy the 10s of terawatts (TW) energy need of human beings. Solar cells are one promising choice to replace traditional energy sources. Our broad efforts have expanded the knowledge of possible donor materials for organic photovoltaics, while increasing access of our results to the world through the Clean Energy Project database (www.molecularspace.org). Machine learning techniques, including Gaussian Processes have been used to calibrate frontier molecular orbital energies, and OPV bulk properties (open-circuit voltage, percent conversion efficiencies, and short-circuit current). This grant allowed us to delve into the solid-state properties ofmore » OPVs (charge-carrier dynamics). One particular example allowed us to predict charge-carrier dynamics and make predictions about future hydrogen-bonded materials.« less

Physiological and Behavioral Responses of Dairy Cattle to the Introduction of Robot Scrapers.

PubMed

Doerfler, Renate L; Lehermeier, Christina; Kliem, Heike; Möstl, Erich; Bernhardt, Heinz

2016-01-01

Autonomous mobile robot scrapers are increasingly used in order to clean the floors on dairy farms. Given the complexity of robot scraper operation, stress may occur in cows due to unpredictability of the situation. Experiencing stress can impair animal welfare and, in the long term, the health and milk production of the cows. Therefore, this study addressed potential stress responses of dairy cattle to the robot scraper after introducing the autonomous mobile machine. Thirty-six cows in total were studied on three different farms to explore possible modifications in cardiac function, behavior, and adrenocortical activity. The research protocol on each farm consisted of four experimental periods including one baseline measurement without robot scraper operation followed by three test measurements, in which cows interacted with the robotic cleaning system. Interbeat intervals were recorded in order to calculate the heart rate variability (HRV) parameter RMSSD; behavior was observed to determine time budgets; and fecal samples were collected for analysis of the cortisol metabolites concentration. A statistical analysis was carried out using linear mixed-effects models. HRV decline immediately after the introduction of the robot scraper and modified behavior in the subsequent experimental periods indicated a stress response. The cortisol metabolites concentration remained constant. It is hypothesized that after the initial phase of decrease, HRV stabilized through the behavioral adjustments of the cows in the second part of the study. Persistent alterations in behavior gave rise to the assumption that the animals' habituation process to the robot scraper was not yet completed. In summary, the present study illustrated that the cows showed minor signs of disturbance toward the robotic cleaning system. Thus, our findings suggest that dairy cattle can largely adjust their behavior to avoid aversive effects on animal welfare. Additional research can provide further insight into the development of the animal-machine interaction beyond the initial phase of robot scraper operation considered in this study.

Analysis of x-ray tomography data of an extruded low density styrenic foam: an image analysis study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jui-Ching; Heeschen, William

2016-10-01

Extruded styrenic foams are low density foams that are widely used for thermal insulation. It is difficult to precisely characterize the structure of the cells in low density foams by traditional cross-section viewing due to the frailty of the walls of the cells. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a non-destructive, three dimensional structure characterization technique that has great potential for structure characterization of styrenic foams. Unfortunately the intrinsic artifacts of the data and the artifacts generated during image reconstruction are often comparable in size and shape to the thin walls of the foam, making robust and reliable analysis of cell sizes challenging. We explored three different image processing methods to clean up artifacts in the reconstructed images, thus allowing quantitative three dimensional determination of cell size in a low density styrenic foam. Three image processing approaches - an intensity based approach, an intensity variance based approach, and a machine learning based approach - are explored in this study, and the machine learning image feature classification method was shown to be the best. Individual cells are segmented within the images after the images were cleaned up using the three different methods and the cell sizes are measured and compared in the study. Although the collected data with the image analysis methods together did not yield enough measurements for a good statistic of the measurement of cell sizes, the problem can be resolved by measuring multiple samples or increasing imaging field of view.

Four-probe measurements with a three-probe scanning tunneling microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salomons, Mark; Martins, Bruno V. C.; Zikovsky, Janik

2014-04-15

We present an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) three-probe scanning tunneling microscope in which each probe is capable of atomic resolution. A UHV JEOL scanning electron microscope aids in the placement of the probes on the sample. The machine also has a field ion microscope to clean, atomically image, and shape the probe tips. The machine uses bare conductive samples and tips with a homebuilt set of pliers for heating and loading. Automated feedback controlled tip-surface contacts allow for electrical stability and reproducibility while also greatly reducing tip and surface damage due to contact formation. The ability to register inter-tip position bymore » imaging of a single surface feature by multiple tips is demonstrated. Four-probe material characterization is achieved by deploying two tips as fixed current probes and the third tip as a movable voltage probe.« less

European organization for nuclear research

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schoenbacher, H.; Tavlet, M.

1987-09-10

The CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR) operated from 1971 to 1984. During that time high-energy physics experiments were carried out with 30 GeV colliding proton beams. At the end of this period the machine was decommissioned and dismantled. This involved the movement of about 1000 machine elements, e.g., magnets, vacuum pumps, rf cavities, etc., 2500 racks, 7000 shielding blocks, 3500 km of cables and 7 km of beam piping. All these items were considered to be radioactive until the contrary was proven. They were then sorted, either for storage and reuse or for radioactive or non-radioactive waste. The paper describesmore » the radiation protection surveillance of this project which lasted for five months. It includes the radiation protection standards, the control of personnel and materials, typical radioactivity levels and isotopes, as well as final cleaning and decommissioning of an originally restricted radiation area to a free accessible area.« less

Final Report, University Research Program in Robotics (URPR), Nuclear Facilities Clean-up

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tesar, Delbert; Kapoor, Chetan; Pryor, Mitch

This final report describes the research activity at the University of Texas at Austin with application to EM needs at DOE. This research activity is divided in to two major thrusts and contributes to the overall University Research Program in Robotics (URPR) thrust by providing mechanically oriented robotic solutions based on modularity and generalized software. These thrusts are also the core strengths of the UTA program that has a 40-year history in machine development, 30 years specifically devoted to robotics. Since 1975, much of this effort has been to establish the general analytical and design infrastructure for an open (modular)more » architecture of systems with many degrees of freedom that are able to satisfy a broad range of applications for future production machines. This work has coalesced from two principal areas: standardized actuators and generalized software.« less

Method and technique for installing light-weight, fragile, high-temperature fiber insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patel, B. C. (Inventor)

1983-01-01

A method of installing fragile, light weight, high temperature fiber insulation, particularly where the insulation is to be used as a seal strip providing a high order of thermal barrier insulation is discussed. The process is based on provision of a strip of the mineral batting cut oversize by a predetermined amount, saturated in a fugitive polymer solution, compressed in a mold, dried and cured to form a rigidized batting material which is machined to required shape. The machine dimensions would normally be at least nominally less than the dimensions of the cavity to be sealed. After insertion in the cavity, which may be a wire-mesh seal enclosure, the apparatus is subjected to baking at a temperature sufficiently high to cause the resin to burn off cleanly, leaving the batting substantially in its original condition and expanded into the cavity or seal enclosure.

A method and technique for installing light-weight fragile, high-temperature fiber insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ballantine, T. J. (Inventor)

1982-01-01

A method of installing fragile, light-weight, high-temperature fiber insulation, particularly where the insulation is to be used as a seal strip providing a high order of thermal barrier insulation is described. The process is based on provision of a strip of the mineral batting cut oversize by a predetermined amount, saturated in a fugitive polymer solution, compressed in a mold, dried and cured to form a rigidized batting material which may be machined to required shape. The machined dimensions would normally be at least nominally less than the dimensions of the cavity to be sealed. After insertion in the cavity, which may be a wire-mesh seal enclosure, the apparatus is subjected to baking at a temperature sufficiently high to cause the resin to burn off cleanly, leaving the batting substantially in its original condition and expanded into the cavity or seal enclosure.

Machine-Washable PEDOT:PSS Dyed Silk Yarns for Electronic Textiles.

PubMed

Ryan, Jason D; Mengistie, Desalegn Alemu; Gabrielsson, Roger; Lund, Anja; Müller, Christian

2017-03-15

Durable, electrically conducting yarns are a critical component of electronic textiles (e-textiles). Here, such yarns with exceptional wear and wash resistance are realized through dyeing silk from the silkworm Bombyx mori with the conjugated polymer:polyelectrolyte complex PEDOT:PSS. A high Young's modulus of approximately 2 GPa combined with a robust and scalable dyeing process results in up to 40 m long yarns that maintain their bulk electrical conductivity of approximately 14 S cm -1 when experiencing repeated bending stress as well as mechanical wear during sewing. Moreover, a high degree of ambient stability is paired with the ability to withstand both machine washing and dry cleaning. For the potential use for e-textile applications to be illustrated, an in-plane thermoelectric module that comprises 26 p-type legs is demonstrated by embroidery of dyed silk yarns onto a piece of felted wool fabric.

Machine-Washable PEDOT:PSS Dyed Silk Yarns for Electronic Textiles

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Durable, electrically conducting yarns are a critical component of electronic textiles (e-textiles). Here, such yarns with exceptional wear and wash resistance are realized through dyeing silk from the silkworm Bombyx mori with the conjugated polymer:polyelectrolyte complex PEDOT:PSS. A high Young’s modulus of approximately 2 GPa combined with a robust and scalable dyeing process results in up to 40 m long yarns that maintain their bulk electrical conductivity of approximately 14 S cm–1 when experiencing repeated bending stress as well as mechanical wear during sewing. Moreover, a high degree of ambient stability is paired with the ability to withstand both machine washing and dry cleaning. For the potential use for e-textile applications to be illustrated, an in-plane thermoelectric module that comprises 26 p-type legs is demonstrated by embroidery of dyed silk yarns onto a piece of felted wool fabric. PMID:28245105

Development of improved high temperature seals and lubricants for downhole motors in geothermal applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

De La Fosse, P.H.; Black, A.D.; DiBona, B.G.

1983-01-01

A major limitation of downhole mud motors for geothermal drilling, as well as straight-hole oil and gas drilling, is the bearing section. Reduced bearing life results from the inability to seal a lubricant in the bearing pack. A reliable rotary seal will extend the bearing life and will allow high pressure drops across the bit for improved bottomhole cleaning and increased drilling rate. This paper summarizes the results of a six-year program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy/Division of Geothermal Energy to develop a sealed bearing pack for use with downhole motors in geothermal applications. Descriptions of the Sealmore » Test Machine, Lubricant Test Machine and Bearing Pack Test Facility are presented. Summaries of all seal tests, lubricant tests and bearing pack tests are provided; and a comprehensive program bibliography is presented.« less

Postdischarge decontamination of MRSA, VRE, and Clostridium difficile isolation rooms using 2 commercially available automated ultraviolet-C-emitting devices.

PubMed

Wong, Titus; Woznow, Tracey; Petrie, Mike; Murzello, Elena; Muniak, Allison; Kadora, Amin; Bryce, Elizabeth

2016-04-01

Two ultraviolet-C (UVC)-emitting devices were evaluated for effectiveness in reducing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Clostridium difficile (CD). Six surfaces in rooms previously occupied by patients with MRSA, VRE, or CD were cultured before and after cleaning and after UVC disinfection. In a parallel laboratory study, MRSA and VRE suspended in trypticase soy broth were inoculated onto stainless steel carriers in triplicate, placed in challenging room areas, subjected to UVC, and subcultured to detect growth. Sixty-one rooms and 360 surfaces were assessed. Before cleaning, MRSA was found in 34.4%, VRE was found in 29.5%, and CD was found in 31.8% of rooms. Cleaning reduced MRSA-, VRE-, and CD-contaminated rooms to 27.9%, 29.5%, and 22.7%, respectively (not statistically significant). UVC disinfection further reduced MRSA-, VRE-, and CD-contaminated rooms to 3.3% (P = .0003), 4.9% (P = .0003), and 0% (P = .0736), respectively. Surface colony counts (excluding floors) decreased from 88.0 to 19.6 colony forming units (CFU) (P < .0001) after manual cleaning; UVC disinfection further reduced it to 1.3 CFU (P = .0013). In a multivariable model of the carrier study, the odds of detecting growth in broth suspensions after UVC disinfection were 7 times higher with 1 machine (odds ratio, 6.96; 95% confidence interval, 3.79-13.4) for a given organism, surface, and concentration. UVC devices are effective adjuncts to manual cleaning but vary in their ability to disinfect high concentrations of organisms in the presence of protein. Copyright © 2016 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Nanoparticles Emitted from Printers in a Clean Chamber, a Copy Center and Office Rooms: Health Risks of Indoor Air Quality.

PubMed

Shi, Xiaofei; Chen, Rui; Huo, Lingling; Zhao, Lin; Bai, Ru; Long, Dingxin; Pui, David Y H; Rang, Weiqing; Chen, Chunying

2015-12-01

Indoor air quality has great impact on the human health. An increasing number of studies have shown that printers could release particulate matters and pose adverse effects on indoor air quality. In this study, a thorough investigation was designed to assess the aerosol printer particle total number concentration (TNC) and size distribution in normal office environment, one copy center, and a clean chamber. Particle analyzers, SMPS, OPS, and CPC3007 were used to monitor the total printing process. In normal office environment, 37 laser printers out of all surveyed 55 printers were classified as high particle emitters. Comparing to laser printers, 5 inkjet printers showed no particle emission. Particle emission level in a copy center increased slightly with TNC elevating to about 2 times of the aerosol background. Simulating test in a clean chamber indicated that printer-emitted particles were dominated by particles in nanoscale (diameter of particle, D(p) < 100 nm). These particles in a sealed clean chamber attenuated so slowly that it still held at high level with the concentration of 1.5 x 10(4) particles/cm3 after printing for 2.5 hours. Our present results demonstrate that printers indeed release particulates which keeping at a high concentration level in the indoor environment. Special care should be taken to this kind of widely applied machines and effective controls of particle emission at printing processes are necessary.

Evaluation of removal forces of implant-supported zirconia copings depending on abutment geometry, luting agent and cleaning method during re-cementation

PubMed Central

Rödiger, Matthias; Rinke, Sven; Ehret-Kleinau, Fenja; Pohlmeyer, Franziska; Lange, Katharina; Bürgers, Ralf

2014-01-01

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of different abutment geometries in combination with varying luting agents and the effectiveness of different cleaning methods (prior to re-cementation) regarding the retentiveness of zirconia copings on implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Implants were embedded in resin blocks. Three groups of titanium abutments (pre-fabricated, height: 7.5 mm, taper: 5.7°; customized-long, height: 6.79 mm, taper: 4.8°; customized-short, height: 4.31 mm, taper: 4.8°) were used for luting of CAD/CAM-fabricated zirconia copings with a semi-permanent (Telio CS) and a provisional cement (TempBond NE). Retention forces were evaluated using a universal testing machine. Furthermore, the influence of cleaning methods (manually, manually in combination with ultrasonic bath or sandblasting) prior to re-cementation with a provisional cement (TempBond NE) was investigated with the pre-fabricated titanium abutments (height: 7.5 mm, taper: 5.7°) and SEM-analysis of inner surfaces of the copings was performed. Significant differences were determined via two-way ANOVA. RESULTS Significant interactions between abutment geometry and luting agent were observed. TempBond NE showed the highest level of retentiveness on customized-long abutments, but was negatively affected by other abutment geometries. In contrast, luting with Telio CS demonstrated consistent results irrespective of the varying abutment geometries. Manual cleaning in combination with an ultrasonic bath was the only cleaning method tested prior to re-cementation that revealed retentiveness levels not inferior to primary cementation. CONCLUSION No superiority for one of the two cements could be demonstrated because their influences on retentive strength are also depending on abutment geometry. Only manual cleaning in combination with an ultrasonic bath offers retentiveness levels after re-cementation comparable to those of primary luting. PMID:25006388

Cleaning and disinfection of equipment for gastrointestinal flexible endoscopy: interim recommendations of a Working Party of the British Society of Gastroenterology.

PubMed

1988-08-01

1. All patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy must be considered 'at risk' for HIV and appropriate cleaning/disinfection measures taken for endoscopes and accessories. 2. Thorough manual cleaning with detergent, of the instrument and its channels is the most important part of the cleaning/disinfection procedure. Without this, blood, mucus and organic material will prevent adequate penetration of disinfectant for inactivation of bacteria and viruses. 3. Aldehyde preparations (2% activated glutaraldehyde and related products) are the recommended first line antibacterial and antiviral disinfectant. A four minute soak is recommended as sufficient for inactivation of vegetative bacteria and viruses (including HIV and HBV). 4. Quaternary ammonium detergents (8% Dettox for two minutes for bacterial disinfection), followed by exposure of the endoscope shaft and channels to ethyl alcohol (70% for four minutes for viral inactivation), is an acceptable second-line disinfectant routine where staff sensitisation prevents the use of an aldehyde disinfectant. 5. Accessories, including mouthguards and cleaning brushes, require similarly careful cleaning/disinfection, before and after each use. Disposable products (especially injection needles) may be used and appropriate items can be sterilised by autoclaving and kept in sterile packs. 6. Closed circuit endoscope washing machines have advantages in maintaining standards and avoiding staff sensitisation to disinfectants. Improved ventilation including exhaust extraction facilities may be required. 7. Endoscopy staff should receive HBV vaccination, wear gloves and appropriate protective garments, cover wounds or abrasions and avoid needlestick injuries (including spiked forceps, etc). 8. Known HIV-infected or AIDS patients are managed as immunosuppressed, and require protection from atypical mycobacteria/cryptosporidia etc, by one hour aldehyde disinfection of endoscopic equipment before and after the procedure. A dedicated instrument is not required. 9. Increased funding is necessary for capital purchases of GI endoscopic equipment, including extra and immersible endoscopes with additional accessories to allow for safe practice. 10. Greater numbers of trained GI assistants are needed to ensure that cleaning/disinfection recommendations and safety precautions are followed, both during routine lists and emergency endoscopic procedures. 11. These recommendations are based on expert interpretation of current data on infectivity and disinfection; they may require future modification.

Cleaning and disinfection of equipment for gastrointestinal flexible endoscopy: interim recommendations of a Working Party of the British Society of Gastroenterology.

PubMed Central

1988-01-01

1. All patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy must be considered 'at risk' for HIV and appropriate cleaning/disinfection measures taken for endoscopes and accessories. 2. Thorough manual cleaning with detergent, of the instrument and its channels is the most important part of the cleaning/disinfection procedure. Without this, blood, mucus and organic material will prevent adequate penetration of disinfectant for inactivation of bacteria and viruses. 3. Aldehyde preparations (2% activated glutaraldehyde and related products) are the recommended first line antibacterial and antiviral disinfectant. A four minute soak is recommended as sufficient for inactivation of vegetative bacteria and viruses (including HIV and HBV). 4. Quaternary ammonium detergents (8% Dettox for two minutes for bacterial disinfection), followed by exposure of the endoscope shaft and channels to ethyl alcohol (70% for four minutes for viral inactivation), is an acceptable second-line disinfectant routine where staff sensitisation prevents the use of an aldehyde disinfectant. 5. Accessories, including mouthguards and cleaning brushes, require similarly careful cleaning/disinfection, before and after each use. Disposable products (especially injection needles) may be used and appropriate items can be sterilised by autoclaving and kept in sterile packs. 6. Closed circuit endoscope washing machines have advantages in maintaining standards and avoiding staff sensitisation to disinfectants. Improved ventilation including exhaust extraction facilities may be required. 7. Endoscopy staff should receive HBV vaccination, wear gloves and appropriate protective garments, cover wounds or abrasions and avoid needlestick injuries (including spiked forceps, etc). 8. Known HIV-infected or AIDS patients are managed as immunosuppressed, and require protection from atypical mycobacteria/cryptosporidia etc, by one hour aldehyde disinfection of endoscopic equipment before and after the procedure. A dedicated instrument is not required. 9. Increased funding is necessary for capital purchases of GI endoscopic equipment, including extra and immersible endoscopes with additional accessories to allow for safe practice. 10. Greater numbers of trained GI assistants are needed to ensure that cleaning/disinfection recommendations and safety precautions are followed, both during routine lists and emergency endoscopic procedures. 11. These recommendations are based on expert interpretation of current data on infectivity and disinfection; they may require future modification. PMID:3410338

Microbiological quality of ice and ice machines used in food establishments.

PubMed

Hampikyan, Hamparsun; Bingol, Enver Baris; Cetin, Omer; Colak, Hilal

2017-06-01

The ice used in the food industry has to be safe and the water used in ice production should have the quality of drinking water. The consumption of contaminated ice directly or indirectly may be a vehicle for transmission of pathogenic bacteria to humans producing outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases. The objective of this study was to monitor the microbiological quality of ice, the water used in producing ice and the hygienic conditions of ice making machines in various food enterprises. Escherichia coli was detected in seven (6.7%) ice and 23 (21.9%) ice chest samples whereas E. coli was negative in all examined water samples. Psychrophilic bacteria were detected in 83 (79.0%) of 105 ice chest and in 68 (64.7%) of 105 ice samples, whereas Enterococci were detected only in 13 (12.4%) ice samples. Coliforms were detected in 13 (12.4%) water, 71 (67.6%) ice chest and 54 (51.4%) ice samples. In order to improve the microbiological quality of ice, the maintenance, cleaning and disinfecting of ice machines should be carried out effectively and periodically. Also, high quality water should be used for ice production.

Improved detection of chemical substances from colorimetric sensor data using probabilistic machine learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mølgaard, Lasse L.; Buus, Ole T.; Larsen, Jan; Babamoradi, Hamid; Thygesen, Ida L.; Laustsen, Milan; Munk, Jens Kristian; Dossi, Eleftheria; O'Keeffe, Caroline; Lässig, Lina; Tatlow, Sol; Sandström, Lars; Jakobsen, Mogens H.

2017-05-01

We present a data-driven machine learning approach to detect drug- and explosives-precursors using colorimetric sensor technology for air-sampling. The sensing technology has been developed in the context of the CRIM-TRACK project. At present a fully- integrated portable prototype for air sampling with disposable sensing chips and automated data acquisition has been developed. The prototype allows for fast, user-friendly sampling, which has made it possible to produce large datasets of colorimetric data for different target analytes in laboratory and simulated real-world application scenarios. To make use of the highly multi-variate data produced from the colorimetric chip a number of machine learning techniques are employed to provide reliable classification of target analytes from confounders found in the air streams. We demonstrate that a data-driven machine learning method using dimensionality reduction in combination with a probabilistic classifier makes it possible to produce informative features and a high detection rate of analytes. Furthermore, the probabilistic machine learning approach provides a means of automatically identifying unreliable measurements that could produce false predictions. The robustness of the colorimetric sensor has been evaluated in a series of experiments focusing on the amphetamine pre-cursor phenylacetone as well as the improvised explosives pre-cursor hydrogen peroxide. The analysis demonstrates that the system is able to detect analytes in clean air and mixed with substances that occur naturally in real-world sampling scenarios. The technology under development in CRIM-TRACK has the potential as an effective tool to control trafficking of illegal drugs, explosive detection, or in other law enforcement applications.

Uranium nitride fuel fabrication for SP-100 reactors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, Richard E.; Chidester, Kenneth M.; Hoth, Carl W.; Matthews, Bruce R.

1987-01-01

Fuel pins of uranium mononitride clad in Nb-1 percent Zr were fabricated for irradiation tests in EBR-II. Laboratory scale process parameters to synthesize UN powders and fabricate UN pellets were developed. Uranium mononitride was prepared by converting UO2 to UN. Fuel pellets were prepared by communition of UN briquettes, uniaxial pressing, and high temperature sintering. Techniques for machining, cleaning, and welding Nb-1 percent Zr cladding components were developed. End caps were electron beam welded to the tubing. Helium back-fill holes were sealed with a laser weld.

Uranium nitride fuel fabrication for SP-100 reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mason, Richard E.; Chidester, Kenneth M.; Hoth, Carl W.; Matthews, Bruce R.

Fuel pins of uranium mononitride clad in Nb-1 percent Zr were fabricated for irradiation tests in EBR-II. Laboratory scale process parameters to synthesize UN powders and fabricate UN pellets were developed. Uranium mononitride was prepared by converting UO2 to UN. Fuel pellets were prepared by communition of UN briquettes, uniaxial pressing, and high temperature sintering. Techniques for machining, cleaning, and welding Nb-1 percent Zr cladding components were developed. End caps were electron beam welded to the tubing. Helium back-fill holes were sealed with a laser weld.

Exposure factors for cleaning, automotive care, and surface protection products for exposure assessments.

PubMed

Park, Ji Young; Lim, Miyoung; Yang, Wonho; Lee, Kiyoung

2017-01-01

Accurately measuring the usage patterns of consumer products (CPs) is important to conduct realistic exposure assessments. We determined the exposure factors for 18 consumer products: household bleach, mold stain remover, all-purpose cleaner, washing machine cleaner, air conditioner cleaner, glass cleaner, drain cleaner, adhesive remover, liquid snow chain, tire shine spray, wheel cleaner, rain repellent, car wax spray, leather polish, furniture polish, anti-fog product, fabric waterproofing spray, and rust inhibitor. Field survey staff visited homes and collected product use information via face-to-face interviews. In total, 10,000 participants (5010 men and 4990 women) aged 15 years and older completed the questionnaire. Household bleach had the highest use rate of 47.4% and use rates for the other products ranged from 0.8 to 21.7%. The use rates of many CPs differed by age group and gender. Many household cleaning products were used regularly, but some products, such as air conditioner cleaner and liquid snow chain, were used in specific seasons or for specific purposes; therefore, they were used less frequently compared to cleaning products. These exposure factor data will be useful as input data for exposure and risk assessments and setting safety guidelines. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Occupational contact dermatitis caused by D-limonene.

PubMed

Pesonen, Maria; Suomela, Sari; Kuuliala, Outi; Henriks-Eckerman, Maj-Len; Aalto-Korte, Kristiina

2014-11-01

Limonene is widely used as a fragrance substance and solvent in cleansing products. Oxidized limonene is a frequent contact allergen among consumers of cosmetics, personal care products, and scented household cleaning products. Less is known about the sources of occupational exposure and occupational contact dermatitis caused by limonene. To report 14 patients with occupational contact allergy to limonene. The patients were examined in 2008-2013. An in-house preparation of oxidized limonene was patch tested as 3% and 5% in petrolatum from 2008 to August 2010, and after this as 3%, 1% and 0.3% pet. From 2012 onwards, a commercial test substance of limonene hydroperoxides was also used. We assessed the patients' occupational and domestic exposure to limonene. Occupational limonene allergy was observed in workers who used limonene-containing machine-cleaning detergents and hand cleansers, and in workers who used limonene-containing surface cleaners and dishwashing liquids similar to those used by consumers. In 3 cases, the occupational limonene allergy resulted from work-related use of limonene-containing, leave-on cosmetic products. Limonene is a frequent occupational sensitizer in hand cleansers and cleaning products. Occupational limonene contact allergy may also be caused by exposure to cosmetic products scented with limonene. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of recycling on the biomechanical characteristics of retrieved orthodontic miniscrews

PubMed Central

Yun, Soon-Dong; Choi, Sung-Hwan; Cha, Jung-Yul; Yu, Hyung-Seog; Kim, Kwang-Mahn; Kim, Jin

2017-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to compare recycled and unused orthodontic miniscrews to determine the feasibility of reuse. The comparisons included both miniscrews with machined surfaces (MS), and those with etched surfaces (ES). Methods Retrieved MS and ES were further divided into three subgroups according to the assigned recycling procedure: group A, air-water spray; group B, mechanical cleaning; and group C, mechanical and chemical cleaning. Unused screws were used as controls. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, insertion time and maximum insertion torque measurements in artificial bone, and biological responses in the form of periotest values (PTV), bone–implant contact ratio (BIC), and bone volume ratio (BV) were assessed. Results Morphological changes after recycling mainly occurred at the screw tip, and the cortical bone penetration success rate of recycled screws was lower than that of unused screws. Retrieved ES needed more thorough cleaning than retrieved MS to produce a surface composition similar to that of unused screws. There were no significant differences in PTV or BIC between recycled and unused screws, while the BV of the former was significantly lower than that of the latter (p < 0.05). Conclusions These results indicate that reuse of recycled orthodontic miniscrews may not be feasible from the biomechanical aspect. PMID:28670565

Circumstances of fatal lockout/tagout-related injuries in manufacturing.

PubMed

Bulzacchelli, Maria T; Vernick, Jon S; Sorock, Gary S; Webster, Daniel W; Lees, Peter S J

2008-10-01

Over the past few decades, hundreds of manufacturing workers have suffered fatal injuries while performing maintenance and servicing on machinery and equipment. Using lockout/tagout procedures could have prevented many of these deaths. A narrative text analysis of OSHA accident investigation report summaries was conducted to describe the circumstances of lockout/tagout-related fatalities occurring in the US manufacturing industry from 1984 to 1997. The most common mechanisms of injury were being caught in or between parts of equipment, electrocution, and being struck by or against objects. Typical scenarios included cleaning a mixer or blender, cleaning a conveyor, and installing or disassembling electrical equipment. Lockout procedures were not even attempted in the majority (at least 58.8%) of fatal incidents reviewed. Lockout/tagout-related fatalities occur under a wide range of circumstances. Enhanced training and equipment designs that facilitate lockout and minimize worker contact with machine parts may prevent many lockout/tagout-related injuries. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Detection of motion artifact patterns in photoplethysmographic signals based on time and period domain analysis.

PubMed

Couceiro, R; Carvalho, P; Paiva, R P; Henriques, J; Muehlsteff, J

2014-12-01

The presence of motion artifacts in photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals is one of the major obstacles in the extraction of reliable cardiovascular parameters in continuous monitoring applications. In the current paper we present an algorithm for motion artifact detection based on the analysis of the variations in the time and the period domain characteristics of the PPG signal. The extracted features are ranked using a normalized mutual information feature selection algorithm and the best features are used in a support vector machine classification model to distinguish between clean and corrupted sections of the PPG signal. The proposed method has been tested in healthy and cardiovascular diseased volunteers, considering 11 different motion artifact sources. The results achieved by the current algorithm (sensitivity--SE: 84.3%, specificity--SP: 91.5% and accuracy--ACC: 88.5%) show that the current methodology is able to identify both corrupted and clean PPG sections with high accuracy in both healthy (ACC: 87.5%) and cardiovascular diseases (ACC: 89.5%) context.

The small-scale turbulent dynamo in smoothed particle magnetohydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tricco, T. S.; Price, D. J.; Federrath, C.

2016-05-01

Supersonic turbulence is believed to be at the heart of star formation. We have performed smoothed particle magnetohydrodynamics (SPMHD) simulations of the small- scale dynamo amplification of magnetic fields in supersonic turbulence. The calculations use isothermal gas driven at rms velocity of Mach 10 so that conditions are representative of starforming molecular clouds in the Milky Way. The growth of magnetic energy is followed for 10 orders in magnitude until it reaches saturation, a few percent of the kinetic energy. The results of our dynamo calculations are compared with results from grid-based methods, finding excellent agreement on their statistics and their qualitative behaviour. The simulations utilise the latest algorithmic developments we have developed, in particular, a new divergence cleaning approach to maintain the solenoidal constraint on the magnetic field and a method to reduce the numerical dissipation of the magnetic shock capturing scheme. We demonstrate that our divergence cleaning method may be used to achieve ∇ • B = 0 to machine precision, albeit at significant computational expense.

Data Mining and Machine Learning Tools for Combinatorial Material Science of All-Oxide Photovoltaic Cells.

PubMed

Yosipof, Abraham; Nahum, Oren E; Anderson, Assaf Y; Barad, Hannah-Noa; Zaban, Arie; Senderowitz, Hanoch

2015-06-01

Growth in energy demands, coupled with the need for clean energy, are likely to make solar cells an important part of future energy resources. In particular, cells entirely made of metal oxides (MOs) have the potential to provide clean and affordable energy if their power conversion efficiencies are improved. Such improvements require the development of new MOs which could benefit from combining combinatorial material sciences for producing solar cells libraries with data mining tools to direct synthesis efforts. In this work we developed a data mining workflow and applied it to the analysis of two recently reported solar cell libraries based on Titanium and Copper oxides. Our results demonstrate that QSAR models with good prediction statistics for multiple solar cells properties could be developed and that these models highlight important factors affecting these properties in accord with experimental findings. The resulting models are therefore suitable for designing better solar cells. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Steganography anomaly detection using simple one-class classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez, Benjamin M.; Peterson, Gilbert L.; Agaian, Sos S.

2007-04-01

There are several security issues tied to multimedia when implementing the various applications in the cellular phone and wireless industry. One primary concern is the potential ease of implementing a steganography system. Traditionally, the only mechanism to embed information into a media file has been with a desktop computer. However, as the cellular phone and wireless industry matures, it becomes much simpler for the same techniques to be performed using a cell phone. In this paper, two methods are compared that classify cell phone images as either an anomaly or clean, where a clean image is one in which no alterations have been made and an anomalous image is one in which information has been hidden within the image. An image in which information has been hidden is known as a stego image. The main concern in detecting steganographic content with machine learning using cell phone images is in training specific embedding procedures to determine if the method has been used to generate a stego image. This leads to a possible flaw in the system when the learned model of stego is faced with a new stego method which doesn't match the existing model. The proposed solution to this problem is to develop systems that detect steganography as anomalies, making the embedding method irrelevant in detection. Two applicable classification methods for solving the anomaly detection of steganographic content problem are single class support vector machines (SVM) and Parzen-window. Empirical comparison of the two approaches shows that Parzen-window outperforms the single class SVM most likely due to the fact that Parzen-window generalizes less.

Development of a tandem-electrostatic-quadrupole accelerator facility for BNCT.

PubMed

Kreiner, A J; Thatar Vento, V; Levinas, P; Bergueiro, J; Di Paolo, H; Burlon, A A; Kesque, J M; Valda, A A; Debray, M E; Somacal, H R; Minsky, D M; Estrada, L; Hazarabedian, A; Johann, F; Suarez Sandin, J C; Castell, W; Davidson, J; Davidson, M; Giboudot, Y; Repetto, M; Obligado, M; Nery, J P; Huck, H; Igarzabal, M; Fernandez Salares, A

2009-07-01

In this work we describe the present status of an ongoing project to develop a tandem-electrostatic-quadrupole (TESQ) accelerator facility for accelerator-based (AB) BNCT at the Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina in Buenos Aires. The project final goal is a machine capable of delivering 30 mA of 2.4 MeV protons to be used in conjunction with a neutron production target based on the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be reaction slightly beyond its resonance at 2.25 MeV. These are the specifications needed to produce sufficiently intense and clean epithermal neutron beams, based on the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be reaction, to perform BNCT treatment for deep-seated tumors in less than an hour. An electrostatic machine is the technologically simplest and cheapest solution for optimized AB-BNCT. The machine being designed and constructed is a folded TESQ with a high-voltage terminal at 1.2 MV intended to work in air. Such a machine is conceptually shown to be capable of transporting and accelerating a 30 mA proton beam to 2.4 MeV. The general geometric layout, its associated electrostatic fields, and the acceleration tube are simulated using a 3D finite element procedure. The design and construction of the ESQ modules is discussed and their electrostatic fields are investigated. Beam transport calculations through the accelerator are briefly mentioned. Likewise, work related to neutron production targets, strippers, beam shaping assembly and patient treatment room is briefly described.

Productivity improvement through cycle time analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonal, Javier; Rios, Luis; Ortega, Carlos; Aparicio, Santiago; Fernandez, Manuel; Rosendo, Maria; Sanchez, Alejandro; Malvar, Sergio

1996-09-01

A cycle time (CT) reduction methodology has been developed in the Lucent Technology facility (former AT&T) in Madrid, Spain. It is based on a comparison of the contribution of each process step in each technology with a target generated by a cycle time model. These targeted cycle times are obtained using capacity data of the machines processing those steps, queuing theory and theory of constrains (TOC) principles (buffers to protect bottleneck and low cycle time/inventory everywhere else). Overall efficiency equipment (OEE) like analysis is done in the machine groups with major differences between their target cycle time and real values. Comparisons between the current value of the parameters that command their capacity (process times, availability, idles, reworks, etc.) and the engineering standards are done to detect the cause of exceeding their contribution to the cycle time. Several friendly and graphical tools have been developed to track and analyze those capacity parameters. Specially important have showed to be two tools: ASAP (analysis of scheduling, arrivals and performance) and performer which analyzes interrelation problems among machines procedures and direct labor. The performer is designed for a detailed and daily analysis of an isolate machine. The extensive use of this tool by the whole labor force has demonstrated impressive results in the elimination of multiple small inefficiencies with a direct positive implications on OEE. As for ASAP, it shows the lot in process/queue for different machines at the same time. ASAP is a powerful tool to analyze the product flow management and the assigned capacity for interdependent operations like the cleaning and the oxidation/diffusion. Additional tools have been developed to track, analyze and improve the process times and the availability.

The engine maintenance scheduling by using reliability centered maintenance method and the identification of 5S application in PT. XYZ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sembiring, N.; Panjaitan, N.; Saragih, A. F.

2018-02-01

PT. XYZ is a manufacturing company that produces fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO). PT. XYZ consists of six work stations: receipt station, sterilizing station, thressing station, pressing station, clarification station, and kernelery station. So far, the company is still implementing corrective maintenance maintenance system for production machines where the machine repair is done after damage occurs. Problems at PT. XYZ is the absence of scheduling engine maintenance in a planned manner resulting in the engine often damaged which can disrupt the smooth production. Another factor that is the problem in this research is the kernel station environment that becomes less convenient for operators such as there are machines and equipment not used in the production area, slippery, muddy, scattered fibers, incomplete use of PPE, and lack of employee discipline. The most commonly damaged machine is in the seed processing station (kernel station) which is cake breaker conveyor machine. The solution of this problem is to propose a schedule plan for maintenance of the machine by using the method of reliability centered maintenance and also the application of 5S. The result of the application of Reliability Centered maintenance method is obtained four components that must be treated scheduled (time directed), namely: for bearing component is 37 days, gearbox component is 97 days, CBC pen component is 35 days and conveyor pedal component is 32 days While after identification the application of 5S obtained the proposed corporate environmental improvement measures in accordance with the principles of 5S where unused goods will be moved from the production area, grouping goods based on their use, determining the procedure of cleaning the production area, conducting inspection in the use of PPE, and making 5S slogans.

Design and Fabrication of Quadrupole Ion Mass Spectrometer for Upper Atmosphere.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-30

34 diameter con-flat flange were T.I.G. welded to the end of each of three bowls. All bowls were then electro- polished, cleaned and sent out to have...plated surface was .0001" to .0002" thick. After gold plating, the hemispheres were mated and T.I.G. welded to form a sphere with a con-flat flange at...Valve Rotatable Conflat to fit k" Swage Lock Weld Adaptors. 5 2 3/4" Conflat Flanges machined to fit Swage Lock unions. 12 10-24 x 2 " Brass Screws necket

Automatic start control for a three-phase electric motor using infrared sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Echenique Lima, Mario; Ramírez Arenas, Francisco; Rodríguez Pedroza, Griselda

2006-02-01

We introduce equipment for the automatic activation of a three-phase electric motor (1Hp, 3A, 240V AC) using 2 infrared sensors monitored by a Microchip microcontroller PIC16F62x@4Mhz for the control of a filling system. This project was carried out to Fabrica de Chocolates y Dulces Costanzo, where the automatization of cacao grain supply was required for a machine in charge of cleaning the cacao from its rind. This process demanded the monitoring of the filling level to avoid the spill of toasted cacao.

Recycling wastewater after hemodialysis: an environmental analysis for alternative water sources in arid regions.

PubMed

Tarrass, Faissal; Benjelloun, Meryem; Benjelloun, Omar

2008-07-01

Water is a vital aspect of hemodialysis. During the procedure, large volumes of water are used to prepare dialysate and clean and reprocess machines. This report evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of recycling hemodialysis wastewater for irrigation uses, such as watering gardens and landscape plantings. Water characteristics, possible recycling methods, and production costs of treated water are discussed in terms of the quality of the generated wastewater. A cost-benefit analysis is also performed through comparison of intended cost with that of seawater desalination, which is widely used in irrigation.

feets: feATURE eXTRACTOR for tIME sERIES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabral, Juan; Sanchez, Bruno; Ramos, Felipe; Gurovich, Sebastián; Granitto, Pablo; VanderPlas, Jake

2018-06-01

feets characterizes and analyzes light-curves from astronomical photometric databases for modelling, classification, data cleaning, outlier detection and data analysis. It uses machine learning algorithms to determine the numerical descriptors that characterize and distinguish the different variability classes of light-curves; these range from basic statistical measures such as the mean or standard deviation to complex time-series characteristics such as the autocorrelation function. The library is not restricted to the astronomical field and could also be applied to any kind of time series. This project is a derivative work of FATS (ascl:1711.017).

Pharmaceutical dust exposure at pharmacies using automatic dispensing machines: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Fent, Kenneth W; Durgam, Srinivas; Mueller, Charles

2014-01-01

Automatic dispensing machines (ADMs) used in pharmacies concentrate and dispense large volumes of pharmaceuticals, including uncoated tablets that can shed dust. We evaluated 43 employees' exposures to pharmaceutical dust at three pharmacies where ADMs were used. We used an optical particle counter to identify tasks that generated pharmaceutical dust. We collected 72 inhalable dust air samples in or near the employees' breathing zones. In addition to gravimetric analysis, our contract laboratory used internal methods involving liquid chromatography to analyze these samples for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and/or lactose, an inactive filler in tablets. We had to choose samples for these additional analyses because many methods used different extraction solvents. We selected 57 samples for analysis of lactose. We used real-time particle monitoring results, observations, and information from employees on the dustiness of pharmaceuticals to select 28 samples (including 13 samples that were analyzed for lactose) for analysis of specific APIs. Pharmaceutical dust was generated during a variety of tasks like emptying and refilling of ADM canisters. Using compressed air to clean canisters and manual count machines produced the overall highest peak number concentrations (19,000-580,000 particles/L) of smallest particles (count median aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2 μm). Employees who refilled, cleaned, or repaired ADM canisters, or hand filled prescriptions were exposed to higher median air concentrations of lactose (5.0-12 μg/m(3)) than employees who did other jobs (0.04-1.3 μg/m(3)), such as administrative/office work, labeling/packaging, and verifying prescriptions. We detected 10 APIs in air, including lisinopril, a drug prescribed for high blood pressure, levothyroxine, a drug prescribed for hypothyroidism, and methotrexate, a hazardous drug prescribed for cancer and other disorders. Three air concentrations of lisinopril (1.8-2.7 μg/m(3)) exceeded the lower bound of the manufacturer's hazard control band (1-10 μg/m(3)). All other API air concentrations were below applicable occupational exposure limits. Our findings indicate that some pharmacy employees are exposed to multiple APIs and that measures are needed to control those exposures.

Machinery safety of lathe machine using SHARP-systemic human action reliability procedure: a pilot case study in academic laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryoputro, M. R.; Sari, A. D.; Sugarindra, M.; Arifin, R.

2017-12-01

This research aimed to understand the human reliability analysis, to find the SHARP method with its functionality on case study and also emphasize the practice in Lathe machine, continued with identifying improvement that could be made to the existing safety system. SHARP comprises of 7 stages including definition, screening, breakdown, representation, impact assessment, quantification and documentation. These steps were combined and analysed using HIRA, FTA and FMEA. HIRA analysed the lathe at academic laboratory showed the level of the highest risk with a score of 9 for the activities of power transmission parts and a score of 6 for activities which shall mean the moving parts required to take action to reduce the level of risk. Hence, the highest RPN values obtained in the power transmission activities with a value of 18 in the power transmission and then the activities of moving parts is 12 and the activities of the operating point of 8. Thus, this activity has the highest risk of workplace accidents in the operation. On the academic laboratory the improvement made on the engineering control initially with a machine guarding and completed with necessary administrative controls (SOP, work permit, training and routine cleaning) and dedicated PPEs.

[Design and application of medical electric leg-raising machine].

PubMed

Liang, Jintang; Chen, Jinyuan; Zhao, Zixian; Lin, Jinfeng; Li, Juanhong; Zhong, Jingliang

2017-08-01

Passive leg raising is widely used in clinic, but it lacks of specialized mechanical raise equipment. It requires medical staff to raise leg by hand or requires a multi-functional bed to raise leg, which takes time and effort. Therefore we have developed a new medical electric leg-raising machine. The equipment has the following characteristics: simple structure, stable performance, easy operation, fast and effective, safe and comfortable. The height range of the lifter is 50-120 cm, the range of the angle of raising leg is 10degree angle-80degree angle, the maximum supporting weight is 40 kg. Because of raising the height of the lower limbs and making precise angle, this equipment can completely replace the traditional manner of lifting leg by hand with multi-functional bed to lift patients' leg and can reduce the physical exhaustion and time consumption of medical staff. It can change the settings at any time to meet the needs of the patient; can be applied to the testing of PLR and dynamically assessing the hemodynamics; can prevent deep vein thrombosis and some related complications of staying in bed; and the machine is easy to be cleaned and disinfected, which can effectively avoid hospital acquired infection and cross infection; and can also be applied to emergency rescue of various disasters and emergencies.

Versatile device for in-situ discharge cleaning and multiple coatings of long, small diameter tubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hershcovitch, A.; Blaskiewicz, M.; Brennan, J.M.

Electron clouds, which can limit machine performance, have been observed in many accelerators including RHIC at BNL. Additional concern for the RHIC machine, whose vacuum chamber is made from relatively high resistivity 316LN stainless steel, is high wall resistivity that can result in unacceptably high ohmic heating for superconducting magnets. The high resistivity can be addressed with a copper (Cu) coating; a reduction in the secondary electron yield can be achieved with a TiN or amorphous carbon (a-C) coating. Applying such coatings in an already constructed machine is rather challenging. We have been developing a robotic plasma deposition technique formore » in-situ coating of long, small diameter tubes. The technique entails fabricating a device comprising of staged magnetrons mounted on a mobile mole for deposition of about 5 ?m of Cu followed by about 0.1 ?m of a-C. As a first step, a 15-cm Cu cathode magnetron was designed, fabricated, and 30-cm long samples of the RHIC pipe have been coated with 2 ?m to 5.6 ?m of copper. Deposition rates of up to 92 A/sec with an average coating rate of 30 A/sec were measured. Effects on RF resistivity is also to be measured.« less

The application of machine learning in multi sensor data fusion for activity recognition in mobile device space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marhoubi, Asmaa H.; Saravi, Sara; Edirisinghe, Eran A.

2015-05-01

The present generation of mobile handheld devices comes equipped with a large number of sensors. The key sensors include the Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Gyroscope, Compass and the Accelerometer. Many mobile applications are driven based on the readings obtained from either one or two of these sensors. However the presence of multiple-sensors will enable the determination of more detailed activities that are carried out by the user of a mobile device, thus enabling smarter mobile applications to be developed that responds more appropriately to user behavior and device usage. In the proposed research we use recent advances in machine learning to fuse together the data obtained from all key sensors of a mobile device. We investigate the possible use of single and ensemble classifier based approaches to identify a mobile device's behavior in the space it is present. Feature selection algorithms are used to remove non-discriminant features that often lead to poor classifier performance. As the sensor readings are noisy and include a significant proportion of missing values and outliers, we use machine learning based approaches to clean the raw data obtained from the sensors, before use. Based on selected practical case studies, we demonstrate the ability to accurately recognize device behavior based on multi-sensor data fusion.

Cleaning procedure for mirror coating at Subaru Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yutani, Masami; Hayashi, Saeko S.; Kurakami, Tomio; Kanzawa, Tomio; Ohshima, Norio; Nakagiri, Masao

2003-02-01

We would like to present the procedure of how to prepare the primary mirror of Subaru Telescope for the realuminization. The equipment for the coating and its preparation are located at the ground floor of the telescope enclosure. There are two trolleys for carrying the mirror cell and the mirror itself, a mirror lifting jig, a washing facility for the primary mirror (PMWF), the water purification system, the coating chamber and the waste water pit. The PMWF can provide the tap water for initial rinsing, the chemical for stripping the old coating, and the deionized water for final cleaning. It has two pairs of arms that deploy horizontally above the mirror and have nozzles to spray. The arms spin around its center where the rotary joints are connected to the plumbing from storage tanks. Deck above the water arms serve as platform for personnel for the inspection or for scrubbing work. We use hydrochloric acid mixture to remove the old aluminum coating. For rinsing and final cleaning, we use the water through the purification system. The water supply from the nozzles and the rotation of the arms can be controlled from a panel separated from the washing machine itself. After several experiments and improvements in the washing, we have carried out the coating of the 8.3 m primary mirror in September last year. This was the third time, and the reflectivity of the new coating show satisfactory result.

Optimizing process and equipment efficiency using integrated methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Elia, Michael J.; Alfonso, Ted F.

1996-09-01

The semiconductor manufacturing industry is continually riding the edge of technology as it tries to push toward higher design limits. Mature fabs must cut operating costs while increasing productivity to remain profitable and cannot justify large capital expenditures to improve productivity. Thus, they must push current tool production capabilities to cut manufacturing costs and remain viable. Working to continuously improve mature production methods requires innovation. Furthermore, testing and successful implementation of these ideas into modern production environments require both supporting technical data and commitment from those working with the process daily. At AMD, natural work groups (NWGs) composed of operators, technicians, engineers, and supervisors collaborate to foster innovative thinking and secure commitment. Recently, an AMD NWG improved equipment cycle time on the Genus tungsten silicide (WSi) deposition system. The team used total productive manufacturing (TPM) to identify areas for process improvement. Improved in-line equipment monitoring was achieved by constructing a real time overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) calculator which tracked equipment down, idle, qualification, and production times. In-line monitoring results indicated that qualification time associated with slow Inspex turn-around time and machine downtime associated with manual cleans contributed greatly to reduced availability. Qualification time was reduced by 75% by implementing a new Inspex monitor pre-staging technique. Downtime associated with manual cleans was reduced by implementing an in-situ plasma etch back to extend the time between manual cleans. A designed experiment was used to optimize the process. Time between 18 hour manual cleans has been improved from every 250 to every 1500 cycles. Moreover defect density realized a 3X improvement. Overall, the team achieved a 35% increase in tool availability. This paper details the above strategies and accomplishments.

Decontamination of clothing and building materials associated with the clandestine production of methamphetamine.

PubMed

Serrano, Kate A; Martyny, John W; Kofford, Shalece; Contreras, John R; Van Dyke, Mike V

2012-01-01

This study was designed to determine how easily methamphetamine can be removed from clothing and building materials, utilizing different cleaning materials and methods. The study also addressed the penetration of methamphetamine into drywall and the ability of paints to encapsulate the methamphetamine on drywall. Clothing and building materials were contaminated in a stainless steel chamber by aerosolizing methamphetamine in a beaker heater. The amount of methamphetamine surface contamination was determined by sampling a grid pattern on the material prior to attempting to clean the materials. After cleaning, the materials were again sampled, and the degree of decontamination noted. We found that household clothing and response gear worn by first responders was easily decontaminated using a household detergent in a household washing machine. A single wash removed over 95% of the methamphetamine from these materials. The study also indicated that methamphetamine-contaminated, smooth non-porous surfaces can be easily cleaned to below detectable levels using only mild cleaners. More porous surfaces such as plywood and drywall were unlikely to be decontaminated to below regulatory levels even with three washes using a mild cleaner. This may be due to methamphetamine penetration into the paint on these surfaces. Evaluation of methamphetamine contamination on drywall indicated that approximately 40% of the methamphetamine was removed using a wipe, while another 60% remained in the paint layer. Stronger cleaners such as those with active ingredients including sodium hypochlorite or quaternary ammonia and commercial decontamination agents were more effective than mild detergent-based cleaners and may reduce methamphetamine contamination to below regulatory levels. Results from the encapsulation studies indicate that sprayed on oil-based paint will encapsulate methamphetamine on drywall and plywood surfaces up to 4.5 months, while latex paints were less effective.

Meter-scale Urban Land Cover Mapping for EPA EnviroAtlas Using Machine Learning and OBIA Remote Sensing Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pilant, A. N.; Baynes, J.; Dannenberg, M.; Riegel, J.; Rudder, C.; Endres, K.

2013-12-01

US EPA EnviroAtlas is an online collection of tools and resources that provides geospatial data, maps, research, and analysis on the relationships between nature, people, health, and the economy (http://www.epa.gov/research/enviroatlas/index.htm). Using EnviroAtlas, you can see and explore information related to the benefits (e.g., ecosystem services) that humans receive from nature, including clean air, clean and plentiful water, natural hazard mitigation, biodiversity conservation, food, fuel, and materials, recreational opportunities, and cultural and aesthetic value. EPA developed several urban land cover maps at very high spatial resolution (one-meter pixel size) for a portion of EnviroAtlas devoted to urban studies. This urban mapping effort supported analysis of relations among land cover, human health and demographics at the US Census Block Group level. Supervised classification of 2010 USDA NAIP (National Agricultural Imagery Program) digital aerial photos produced eight-class land cover maps for several cities, including Durham, NC, Portland, ME, Tampa, FL, New Bedford, MA, Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, OR, and Milwaukee, WI. Semi-automated feature extraction methods were used to classify the NAIP imagery: genetic algorithms/machine learning, random forest, and object-based image analysis (OBIA). In this presentation we describe the image processing and fuzzy accuracy assessment methods used, and report on some sustainability and ecosystem service metrics computed using this land cover as input (e.g., carbon sequestration from USFS iTREE model; health and demographics in relation to road buffer forest width). We also discuss the land cover classification schema (a modified Anderson Level 1 after the National Land Cover Data (NLCD)), and offer some observations on lessons learned. Meter-scale urban land cover in Portland, OR overlaid on NAIP aerial photo. Streets, buildings and individual trees are identifiable.

A machine learning approach to multi-level ECG signal quality classification.

PubMed

Li, Qiao; Rajagopalan, Cadathur; Clifford, Gari D

2014-12-01

Current electrocardiogram (ECG) signal quality assessment studies have aimed to provide a two-level classification: clean or noisy. However, clinical usage demands more specific noise level classification for varying applications. This work outlines a five-level ECG signal quality classification algorithm. A total of 13 signal quality metrics were derived from segments of ECG waveforms, which were labeled by experts. A support vector machine (SVM) was trained to perform the classification and tested on a simulated dataset and was validated using data from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database (MITDB). The simulated training and test datasets were created by selecting clean segments of the ECG in the 2011 PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge database, and adding three types of real ECG noise at different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels from the MIT-BIH Noise Stress Test Database (NSTDB). The MITDB was re-annotated for five levels of signal quality. Different combinations of the 13 metrics were trained and tested on the simulated datasets and the best combination that produced the highest classification accuracy was selected and validated on the MITDB. Performance was assessed using classification accuracy (Ac), and a single class overlap accuracy (OAc), which assumes that an individual type classified into an adjacent class is acceptable. An Ac of 80.26% and an OAc of 98.60% on the test set were obtained by selecting 10 metrics while 57.26% (Ac) and 94.23% (OAc) were the numbers for the unseen MITDB validation data without retraining. By performing the fivefold cross validation, an Ac of 88.07±0.32% and OAc of 99.34±0.07% were gained on the validation fold of MITDB. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mortality at an automotive engine foundry and machining complex.

PubMed

Park, R M

2001-05-01

Mortality was analyzed for an automotive engine foundry and machining complex, with process exposures derived from department assignments. Logistic regression models of mortality odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for 2546 deaths, and numbers of work-related deaths were estimated. Lung cancer mortality in the foundry was increased where cleaning and finishing of castings was performed (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.4 [at mean exposure duration of exposed cases]) and in care-making after 1967 (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.0). Black workers had excess lung cancer mortality in machining heat-treat operations (OR, 2.5, 95% CI, 1.4 to 4.3) and excess nonmalignant respiratory disease mortality in molding (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.16 to 5.5) and core-making (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.25 to 5.8). Stomach cancer mortality was elevated among workers with metalworking fluid exposures in precision grinding (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.14 to 5.1). Heart disease mortality was increased among all workers in molding (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.3), as was stroke mortality among workers exposed to metalworking fluids (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.7). Malignant and nonmalignant liver disease mortality was elevated in assembly/testing and precision grinding. In this modern foundry, 11% of deaths were estimated to be work-related despite it's being largely in regulatory compliance over its 40-year existence. Machining plant exposures accounted for 3% or more of deaths there.

What Orthopaedic Operating Room Surfaces Are Contaminated With Bioburden? A Study Using the ATP Bioluminescence Assay.

PubMed

Richard, Raveesh Daniel; Bowen, Thomas R

2017-07-01

Contaminated operating room surfaces can increase the risk of orthopaedic infections, particularly after procedures in which hardware implantation and instrumentation are used. The question arises as to how surgeons can measure surface cleanliness to detect increased levels of bioburden. This study aims to highlight the utility of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence technology as a novel technique in detecting the degree of contamination within the sterile operating room environment. What orthopaedic operating room surfaces are contaminated with bioburden? When energy is required for cellular work, ATP breaks down into adenosine biphosphate (ADP) and phosphate (P) and in that process releases energy. This process is inherent to all living things and can be detected as light emission with the use of bioluminescence assays. On a given day, six different orthopaedic surgery operating rooms (two adult reconstruction, two trauma, two spine) were tested before surgery with an ATP bioluminescence assay kit. All of the cases were considered clean surgery without infection, and this included the previously performed cases in each sampled room. These rooms had been cleaned and prepped for surgery but the patients had not been physically brought into the room. A total of 13 different surfaces were sampled once in each room: the operating room (OR) preparation table (both pre- and postdraping), OR light handles, Bovie machine buttons, supply closet countertops, the inside of the Bair Hugger™ hose, Bair Hugger™ buttons, right side of the OR table headboard, tourniquet machine buttons, the Clark-socket attachment, and patient positioners used for total hip and spine positioning. The relative light units (RLUs) obtained from each sample were recorded and data were compiled and averaged for analysis. These values were compared with previously published ATP benchmark values of 250 to 500 RLUs to define cleanliness in both the hospital and restaurant industries. All surfaces had bioburden. The ATP RLUs (mean ± SD) are reported for each surface in ascending order: the OR preparation table (postdraping; 8.3 ± 3.4), inside the sterilized pan (9.2 ± 5.5), the inside of the Bair Hugger™ hose (212.5 ± 155.7), supply closet countertops (281.7 ± 236.7), OR light handles (647.8 ± 903.7), the OR preparation table (predraping; 1054 ± 387.5), the Clark-socket attachment (1135.7 ± 705.3), patient positioners used for total hip and spine positioning (1201.7 ± 1144.9), Bovie machine buttons (1264.5 ± 638.8), Bair Hugger™ buttons (1340.8 ± 1064.1), tourniquet machine buttons (1666.5 ± 2144.9), computer keyboard (1810.8 ± 929.6), and the right side of the OR table headboard (2539 ± 5635.8). ATP bioluminescence is a novel method to measure cleanliness within the orthopaedic OR and can help identify environmental trouble spots that can potentially lead to increased infection rates. Future studies correlating ATP bioluminescence findings with microbiology cultures could add to the clinical utility of this technology. Surfaces such as the undersurface of the OR table headboard, Bair Hugger™ buttons, and tourniquet machine buttons should be routinely cleansed as part of an institutional protocol. Although correlation between ATP bioluminescence and clinical infection was not evaluated in this study, it is the subject of future research. Specifically, evaluating microbiology samples taken from these environmental surfaces and correlating them with increased bioburden found with ATP bioluminescence technology can help promote improved surgical cleaning practices.

Photovoltaics and the automobile

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Young, W.R. Jr.

1994-12-31

For years people have been in love with the automobile. Some people just enjoy using the automobile as transportation while others also enjoy the workings and operation of this fascinating machine. The automobile is not without problems of pollution and energy consumption. These problems are changing its design and construction. New clean energy sources are being analyzed and applied to power the modern automobile. A space age energy source now being considered by some and used by others to power the automobile is photovoltaics. Photovoltaics (PV) is the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity. There are a number of devicesmore » in the modern car that are electrically powered. PV could provide a clean endless supply of electricity for air conditioning, radios and other electrical components of a car. Most people have never heard of photovoltaics (PV). There has been a great deal of research in PV among energy experts. The automobile is known the world over in both use and operation. The author describes how the merging of these two technologies will benefit mankind and without damaging the environment. 12 refs.« less

SVM classification of microaneurysms with imbalanced dataset based on borderline-SMOTE and data cleaning techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qingjie; Xin, Jingmin; Wu, Jiayi; Zheng, Nanning

2017-03-01

Microaneurysms are the earliest clinic signs of diabetic retinopathy, and many algorithms were developed for the automatic classification of these specific pathology. However, the imbalanced class distribution of dataset usually causes the classification accuracy of true microaneurysms be low. Therefore, by combining the borderline synthetic minority over-sampling technique (BSMOTE) with the data cleaning techniques such as Tomek links and Wilson's edited nearest neighbor rule (ENN) to resample the imbalanced dataset, we propose two new support vector machine (SVM) classification algorithms for the microaneurysms. The proposed BSMOTE-Tomek and BSMOTE-ENN algorithms consist of: 1) the adaptive synthesis of the minority samples in the neighborhood of the borderline, and 2) the remove of redundant training samples for improving the efficiency of data utilization. Moreover, the modified SVM classifier with probabilistic outputs is used to divide the microaneurysm candidates into two groups: true microaneurysms and false microaneurysms. The experiments with a public microaneurysms database shows that the proposed algorithms have better classification performance including the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) curve.

Use of enzymatic cleaners on US Navy ships. Research report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Venkatachalam, R.S.

1996-03-01

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, conducted a study to determine the feasibility of using enzymatic and bacterial products in cleaning applications aboard U.S. Navy ships. A review of the most recent technical literature and a survey of potential suppliers were conducted. In addition, shipboard systems, subsystems and housekeeping processes were evaluated to identify suitable applications for enzymatic and bacterial cleaners. The study identified numerous commercial products that, based on manufacturers` claims, would be effective and safe for use aboard ship to clean walls, floors, galley work surfaces, engine and machine parts, drains, pipes, grease traps, collection, holding andmore » transfer (CHT) tanks, ballast tanks and bilge areas. However, the study also revealed the absence of standardized test protocols essential for validation of manufacturers` claims, and recommended the cooperative development of such protocols by representatives from the commercial sector, Government and academia. The need to obtain meaningful cost information based on actual use scenarios and to investigate any permitting issues associated with the discharge of related wastes to pierside facilities was also identified.« less

Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes from an ice cream plant by serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

PubMed

Miettinen, M K; Björkroth, K J; Korkeala, H J

1999-02-18

One dominating strain of serotype 1/2b was found when serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were used for the characterization of 41 Listeria monocytogenes isolates originating from an ice cream plant. Samples were taken from the production environment, equipment and ice cream during the years 1990-1997. Serotyping divided the isolates into two serovars, 1/2b and 4b. Three rare-cutting enzymes (ApaI, AscI and SmaI) were used in the creation of PFGE patterns. AscI resulted in the best restriction enzyme digestion patterns (REDPs) for visual comparison. Eight different AscI REDPs were obtained, whereas ApaI produced six and SmaI seven banding patterns. When one-band differences are taken into account, 12 different PFGE types were distinguished based on information obtained with all three enzymes. The dominant PFGE type was found to have persisted in the ice cream plant for seven years. Improved and precisely targeted cleaning and disinfection practices combined with structural changes making for easier cleaning of the packaging machine, resulted in eradication of L. monocytogenes from this plant.

The International Linear Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

List, Benno

2014-04-01

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a proposed e+e- linear collider with a centre-of-mass energy of 200-500 GeV, based on superconducting RF cavities. The ILC would be an ideal machine for precision studies of a light Higgs boson and the top quark, and would have a discovery potential for new particles that is complementary to that of LHC. The clean experimental conditions would allow the operation of detectors with extremely good performance; two such detectors, ILD and SiD, are currently being designed. Both make use of novel concepts for tracking and calorimetry. The Japanese High Energy Physics community has recently recommended to build the ILC in Japan.

[SUVA (Swiss Accident Insurance Fund) and silicosis. Silicosis in Switzerland. Development of technological dust control].

PubMed

Bachofen, G

1983-01-01

In Switzerland the technical measures against quartz dust started in 1948 when wet drilling was compulsoryly introduced, initially in underground mining. The miners using the first wet drilling machines had serious problems with water, and only with the introduction of carriage drilling machines in 1963 did the method fully break through. Dust caused by blasting operations and by loading of the resultant material was limited by ventilation and sprinkling of water. In 1966 the first full-face cutting machines were used, and it was necessary to install a dust chamber behind the drill from which dust could be taken to a dust arrester. The problem of dust limitation when using boom cutters at sectional areas of more than 20 sq. meters without a pilot tunnel has not been resolved. Since 1970, dust in quarries and stone-cutter workshops has been successfully combated by the use of exhaust pumps in combination with filters. The use of quartz sand to clean metal pieces (sandblast) was forbidden in 1960. Today, materials of the same value, but quartz-free, are available. In foundries, dust production can be limited by continuous automation and installation of exhaust pumps in moulding units. For more than 30 years now the technical equipment has been available for successful prevention of quartz dust emissions. However, at some plants it is still difficult to persuade the personnel to use the protective equipment.

Chemical exposure and respiratory health of children in an industrial setting.

PubMed

McCarty, Kathleen M; Cleveland, Rebecca J; Franklin, Peter; Sly, Peter D

2014-01-01

Parental exposures to chemicals, and the interplay between chemical exposures in utero and in infancy leading to respiratory disease in childhood, are not yet fully understood. In this study we investigated the impact of chemical exposures to the parent in occupational settings and to the child in the home and children's respiratory health. A cross-sectional study of lung function and respiratory health was conducted in primary school children in the Kwinana industrial area, south of Perth, Western Australia. Respiratory health was assessed using a standardized questionnaire and lung function was measured using the forced oscillation technique before and after inhaling 200 μg of salbutamol. Univariate logistic regression models were used to explore the relationship between the child's respiratory health (asthma, lung function, bronchodilator response) and exposures to ceramics, dry cleaning fluid, electroplating fluid, glues, leather, fabrics, dyes, insecticides, plastics, metal cleaning fluid, petrol, paint, photochemicals, electric wiring, machining, welding, X-rays, cleaning products, nail products, and "other exposures". The impact of cigarette smoking in the home and family history on respiratory health were also investigated. No associations were found between parental occupational exposures or child's exposures in the home and respiratory health. Significant associations were observed between current smoking in the home and cigarette exposure in the first year of life and poor respiratory health in the children. We found no strong evidence of main effects of occupational exposures in impairing the respiratory health of primary school-aged children.

Performance of single-use and multiuse diamond rotary cutting instruments with turbine and electric handpieces.

PubMed

Rotella, Mario; Ercoli, Carlo; Funkenbusch, Paul D; Russell, Scott; Feng, Changyong

2014-01-01

As single-use rotary cutting instruments and electric handpieces become more available, the performance of these instruments with electric as compared to turbine handpieces requires evaluation. In addition, if rotary cutting instruments marketed as single-use instruments are used for multiple patients, the effects on their performance of cleaning, sterilization, and repeated use are of interest to the clinician. The purpose of the study was to evaluate how the cleaning, autoclaving, and repeated use of single-use and multiuse rotary cutting instruments, with either a turbine or electric handpiece, affected their performance. The effects on cutting performance of 2 handpieces (turbine and electric), 2 cleaning and sterilization conditions (cleaned and autoclaved versus noncleaned and nonautoclaved), and 6 different diamond rotary cutting instruments (4 single-use and 2 multiuse) during simulated tooth preparations were evaluated by using a 24-treatment condition full-factorial experimental design. A computer-controlled dedicated testing apparatus was used to simulate the cutting procedures, and machinable glass ceramic blocks were used as the cutting substrate for tangential cuts. In addition, for each treatment condition, 8 consecutive cuts, for a total of 192 cuts, were measured to assess the durability of the rotary cutting instruments. A linear mixed model was used to study the effect of instrument type, handpiece, cleaning, and sterilization, as well as the status and number of cuts on the outcome variables. The Tukey honestly significant difference test was used for the post hoc pairwise comparisons (α=.05). Performance, as measured by the rate of advancement, decreased with the repeated use of rotary cutting instruments (P<.001), while cleaning and sterilization procedures improved the average performance of the 8 cuts (P=.002). The electric handpiece showed a greater load than the turbine (P<.001) and a lower rate/load metric, but no differences in the rate of advancement. Significant differences were also detected among the different rotary cutting instruments tested with the Two Striper, which showed the highest cumulative performance of all groups. The repeated use of both single-use and multiuse rotary cutting instruments decreased cutting performance. The use of a cleaning and sterilization procedure between cuts improved the average cutting performance. During a tangential cutting process, although the ease of advancement (rate/load) was greater for the turbine, the electric handpiece did not produce a statistically different cutting rate. Copyright © 2014 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Pulsed Thermographic Imaging System for Detection and Identification of Cotton Foreign Matter

PubMed Central

Kuzy, Jesse; Li, Changying

2017-01-01

Detection of foreign matter in cleaned cotton is instrumental to accurately grading cotton quality, which in turn impacts the marketability of the cotton. Current grading systems return estimates of the amount of foreign matter present, but provide no information about the identity of the contaminants. This paper explores the use of pulsed thermographic analysis to detect and identify cotton foreign matter. The design and implementation of a pulsed thermographic analysis system is described. A sample set of 240 foreign matter and cotton lint samples were collected. Hand-crafted waveform features and frequency-domain features were extracted and analyzed for statistical significance. Classification was performed on these features using linear discriminant analysis and support vector machines. Using waveform features and support vector machine classifiers, detection of cotton foreign matter was performed with 99.17% accuracy. Using frequency-domain features and linear discriminant analysis, identification was performed with 90.00% accuracy. These results demonstrate that pulsed thermographic imaging analysis produces data which is of significant utility for the detection and identification of cotton foreign matter. PMID:28273848

A force-controllable macro-micro manipulator and its application to medical robots

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marzwell, Neville I.; Uecker, Darrin R.; Wang, Yulun

1994-01-01

This paper describes an 8-degrees-of-freedom macro-micro robot. This robot is capable of performing tasks that require accurate force control, such as polishing, finishing, grinding, deburring, and cleaning. The design of the macro-micro mechanism, the control algorithms, and the hardware/software implementation of the algorithms are described in this paper. Initial experimental results are reported. In addition, this paper includes a discussion of medical surgery and the role that force control may play. We introduce a new class of robotic systems collectively called Robotic Enhancement Technology (RET). RET systems introduce the combination of robotic manipulation with human control to perform manipulation tasks beyond the individual capability of either human or machine. The RET class of robotic systems offers new challenges in mechanism design, control-law development, and man/machine interface design. We believe force-controllable mechanisms such as the macro-micro structure we have developed are a necessary part of RET. Work in progress in the area of RET systems and their application to minimally invasive surgery is presented, along with future research directions.

The Harvard Clean Energy Project: High-throughput screening of organic photovoltaic materials using cheminformatics, machine learning, and pattern recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olivares-Amaya, Roberto; Hachmann, Johannes; Amador-Bedolla, Carlos; Daly, Aidan; Jinich, Adrian; Atahan-Evrenk, Sule; Boixo, Sergio; Aspuru-Guzik, Alán

2012-02-01

Organic photovoltaic devices have emerged as competitors to silicon-based solar cells, currently reaching efficiencies of over 9% and offering desirable properties for manufacturing and installation. We study conjugated donor polymers for high-efficiency bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic devices with a molecular library motivated by experimental feasibility. We use quantum mechanics and a distributed computing approach to explore this vast molecular space. We will detail the screening approach starting from the generation of the molecular library, which can be easily extended to other kinds of molecular systems. We will describe the screening method for these materials which ranges from descriptor models, ubiquitous in the drug discovery community, to eventually reaching first principles quantum chemistry methods. We will present results on the statistical analysis, based principally on machine learning, specifically partial least squares and Gaussian processes. Alongside, clustering methods and the use of the hypergeometric distribution reveal moieties important for the donor materials and allow us to quantify structure-property relationships. These efforts enable us to accelerate materials discovery in organic photovoltaics through our collaboration with experimental groups.

Use of sentiment analysis for capturing patient experience from free-text comments posted online.

PubMed

Greaves, Felix; Ramirez-Cano, Daniel; Millett, Christopher; Darzi, Ara; Donaldson, Liam

2013-11-01

There are large amounts of unstructured, free-text information about quality of health care available on the Internet in blogs, social networks, and on physician rating websites that are not captured in a systematic way. New analytical techniques, such as sentiment analysis, may allow us to understand and use this information more effectively to improve the quality of health care. We attempted to use machine learning to understand patients' unstructured comments about their care. We used sentiment analysis techniques to categorize online free-text comments by patients as either positive or negative descriptions of their health care. We tried to automatically predict whether a patient would recommend a hospital, whether the hospital was clean, and whether they were treated with dignity from their free-text description, compared to the patient's own quantitative rating of their care. We applied machine learning techniques to all 6412 online comments about hospitals on the English National Health Service website in 2010 using Weka data-mining software. We also compared the results obtained from sentiment analysis with the paper-based national inpatient survey results at the hospital level using Spearman rank correlation for all 161 acute adult hospital trusts in England. There was 81%, 84%, and 89% agreement between quantitative ratings of care and those derived from free-text comments using sentiment analysis for cleanliness, being treated with dignity, and overall recommendation of hospital respectively (kappa scores: .40-.74, P<.001 for all). We observed mild to moderate associations between our machine learning predictions and responses to the large patient survey for the three categories examined (Spearman rho 0.37-0.51, P<.001 for all). The prediction accuracy that we have achieved using this machine learning process suggests that we are able to predict, from free-text, a reasonably accurate assessment of patients' opinion about different performance aspects of a hospital and that these machine learning predictions are associated with results of more conventional surveys.

Machine Learning for Mapping Groundwater Salinity with Oil Well Log Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, W. H.; Shimabukuro, D.; Gillespie, J. M.; Stephens, M.

2016-12-01

An oil field may have thousands of wells with detailed petrophysical logs, and far fewer direct measurements of groundwater salinity. Can the former be used to extrapolate the latter into a detailed map of groundwater salinity? California Senate Bill 4, with its requirement to identify Underground Sources of Drinking Water, makes this a question worth answering. A well-known obstacle is that the basic petrophysical equations describe ideal scenarios ("clean wet sand") and even these equations contain many parameters that may vary with location and depth. Accounting for other common scenarios such as high-conductivity shaly sands or low-permeability diatomite (both characteristic of California's Central Valley) causes parameters to proliferate to the point where the model is underdetermined by the data. When parameters outnumber data points, however, is when machine learning methods are most advantageous. We present a method for modeling a generic oil field, where groundwater salinity and lithology are depth series parameters, and the constants in petrophysical equations are scalar parameters. The data are well log measurements (resistivity, porosity, spontaneous potential, and gamma ray) and a small number of direct groundwater salinity measurements. Embedded in the model are petrophysical equations that account for shaly sand and diatomite formations. As a proof of concept, we feed in well logs and salinity measurements from the Lost Hills Oil Field in Kern County, California, and show that with proper regularization and validation the model makes reasonable predictions of groundwater salinity despite the large number of parameters. The model is implemented using Tensorflow, which is an open-source software released by Google in November, 2015 that has been rapidly and widely adopted by machine learning researchers. The code will be made available on Github, and we encourage scrutiny and modification by machine learning researchers and hydrogeologists alike.

Common component classification: what can we learn from machine learning?

PubMed

Anderson, Ariana; Labus, Jennifer S; Vianna, Eduardo P; Mayer, Emeran A; Cohen, Mark S

2011-05-15

Machine learning methods have been applied to classifying fMRI scans by studying locations in the brain that exhibit temporal intensity variation between groups, frequently reporting classification accuracy of 90% or better. Although empirical results are quite favorable, one might doubt the ability of classification methods to withstand changes in task ordering and the reproducibility of activation patterns over runs, and question how much of the classification machines' power is due to artifactual noise versus genuine neurological signal. To examine the true strength and power of machine learning classifiers we create and then deconstruct a classifier to examine its sensitivity to physiological noise, task reordering, and across-scan classification ability. The models are trained and tested both within and across runs to assess stability and reproducibility across conditions. We demonstrate the use of independent components analysis for both feature extraction and artifact removal and show that removal of such artifacts can reduce predictive accuracy even when data has been cleaned in the preprocessing stages. We demonstrate how mistakes in the feature selection process can cause the cross-validation error seen in publication to be a biased estimate of the testing error seen in practice and measure this bias by purposefully making flawed models. We discuss other ways to introduce bias and the statistical assumptions lying behind the data and model themselves. Finally we discuss the complications in drawing inference from the smaller sample sizes typically seen in fMRI studies, the effects of small or unbalanced samples on the Type 1 and Type 2 error rates, and how publication bias can give a false confidence of the power of such methods. Collectively this work identifies challenges specific to fMRI classification and methods affecting the stability of models. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prediction of activity type in preschool children using machine learning techniques.

PubMed

Hagenbuchner, Markus; Cliff, Dylan P; Trost, Stewart G; Van Tuc, Nguyen; Peoples, Gregory E

2015-07-01

Recent research has shown that machine learning techniques can accurately predict activity classes from accelerometer data in adolescents and adults. The purpose of this study is to develop and test machine learning models for predicting activity type in preschool-aged children. Participants completed 12 standardised activity trials (TV, reading, tablet game, quiet play, art, treasure hunt, cleaning up, active game, obstacle course, bicycle riding) over two laboratory visits. Eleven children aged 3-6 years (mean age=4.8±0.87; 55% girls) completed the activity trials while wearing an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on the right hip. Activities were categorised into five activity classes: sedentary activities, light activities, moderate to vigorous activities, walking, and running. A standard feed-forward Artificial Neural Network and a Deep Learning Ensemble Network were trained on features in the accelerometer data used in previous investigations (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles and the lag-one autocorrelation). Overall recognition accuracy for the standard feed forward Artificial Neural Network was 69.7%. Recognition accuracy for sedentary activities, light activities and games, moderate-to-vigorous activities, walking, and running was 82%, 79%, 64%, 36% and 46%, respectively. In comparison, overall recognition accuracy for the Deep Learning Ensemble Network was 82.6%. For sedentary activities, light activities and games, moderate-to-vigorous activities, walking, and running recognition accuracy was 84%, 91%, 79%, 73% and 73%, respectively. Ensemble machine learning approaches such as Deep Learning Ensemble Network can accurately predict activity type from accelerometer data in preschool children. Copyright © 2014 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Majorana Parts Tracking Database

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abgrall, N.; Aguayo, E.; Avignone, F. T.

2015-04-01

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is an ultra-low background physics experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The MAJORANA Parts Tracking Database is used to record the history of components used in the construction of the DEMONSTRATOR. Transportation, storage, and processes undergone by parts such as machining or cleaning are linked to part records. Tracking parts provides a great logistics benefit and an important quality assurance reference during construction. In addition, the location history of parts provides an estimate of their exposure to cosmic radiation. A web application for data entry and a radiation exposure calculator have been developedmore » as tools for achieving the extreme radiopurity required for this rare decay search.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rabin, S.A.; Lotts, A.L.; Hammond, J.P.

Uranium --molybdenum alloy rods containing from 10 to 15 wt% Mo and 1/16- in. in diameter were successfully fabricated by hot rotary swaging, followed by machining to remove the protective sheathing (Inconel with molybdenum barrier). Structurally strong rods with densities greater than 95% of theoretical were produced from both calciumreduced uranium mixed with hydrogen-reduced molybdenum and acid-cleaned, prealloyed shot when reduced in area about 55% at 1050 or 1100 deg C. Alloy homogeneity was good with prealloyed powders; however, traces of molybdenum -rich, gamma phase persisted in the elemental uranium -molybdenum material after swaging at 1100 deg C. Swagings embodyingmore » hydride uranium or oxide- contaminated prealloyed shot were unsatisfactory because of insufficient consolidation or poor interparticle bonding. (auth)« less

Anomaly Detection for Beam Loss Maps in the Large Hadron Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valentino, Gianluca; Bruce, Roderik; Redaelli, Stefano; Rossi, Roberto; Theodoropoulos, Panagiotis; Jaster-Merz, Sonja

2017-07-01

In the LHC, beam loss maps are used to validate collimator settings for cleaning and machine protection. This is done by monitoring the loss distribution in the ring during infrequent controlled loss map campaigns, as well as in standard operation. Due to the complexity of the system, consisting of more than 50 collimators per beam, it is difficult to identify small changes in the collimation hierarchy, which may be due to setting errors or beam orbit drifts with such methods. A technique based on Principal Component Analysis and Local Outlier Factor is presented to detect anomalies in the loss maps and therefore provide an automatic check of the collimation hierarchy.

Anesthesia in patients with infectious disease caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.

PubMed

Einav, Sharon; Wiener-Well, Yonit

2017-06-01

Up to 50% of specific bacterial strains in healthcare admission facilities are multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). Involvement of anesthesiologists in management of patients carrying/at risk of carrying MDROs may decrease transmission in the Operating Room (OR). Anesthesiologists, their work area and tools have all been implicated in MDRO outbreaks. Causes include contamination of external ventilation circuits and noncontribution of filters to prevention, inappropriate decontamination procedures for nondisposable equipment (e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes and stethoscopes) and the anesthesia workplace (e.g. external surfaces of cart and anesthesia machine, telephones and computer keyboards) during OR cleaning and lack of training in sterile drug management. Discussions regarding the management of potential MDRO carriers must include anesthesia providers to optimize infection control interventions as well as the anesthesia method, the location of surgery and recovery and the details of patient transport. Anesthesia staff must learn to identify patients at risk for MDRO infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis, although not evidence based, should adhere to known best practices. Adjuvant therapies (e.g. intranasal Mupirocin and bathing with antiseptics) should be considered. Addition of nonmanual OR cleaning methods such as ultraviolet irradiation or gaseous decontamination is encouraged. Anesthesiologists must undergo formal training in sterile drug preparation and administration.

The effect of investment type on the fit of cast titanium crowns.

PubMed

Mori, T; Jean-Louis, M; Yabugami, M; Togaya, T

1994-12-01

In order to determine the best laboratory procedure for titanium crown casting, a set of thermal expansion measurements and casting experiments were carried out using a casting machine (argon arc, pressure difference type) and three different investments, two conventional SiO2 based investments and a new Al2O3/MgO based investment. The thermal expansion measurements involved a cycle of heating and cooling. The relatively low mould temperatures recommended (200 degrees C) or chosen (350 degrees C) for the conventional investments provided zero or negative mould expansion for the compensation of metal shrinkage. Crowns made from these investments exhibited heavy reaction with the mould, and the common cleaning method of sand blasting appeared to be essential. This cleaning process, however, was not adequate for the assessment of casting accuracy as the short sand blasting time (15 s) rapidly altered the fit of the crowns. The metal reacted little with the new investment and the best compensation (0.15 mm discrepancy) for the metal shrinkage, as assessed 'as cast', was achieved when the investment was heated to 950 degrees C and then cooled to the recommended mould temperature (600 degrees C).

Occupational hazards control of hazardous substances in clean room of semiconductor manufacturing plant using CFD analysis.

PubMed

Li, Jianfeng; Zhou, Ya-Fei

2015-02-01

The manufacturing processes in chip industries are complex, and many kinds of raw materials and solvents of different nature are used, most of which are highly toxic and dangerous. During the machine preventive maintenance period, these toxic and harmful substances will escape from the sealed reaction chamber to the clean workshop environment and endanger the health of the workers on-site, resulting in occupational diseases. From the perspective of prevention, the spread and prediction of hydrochloric acid (HCl) that escaped from the metal-etching chamber during maintenance were studied in this article. The computational fluid dynamics technology was used for a three-dimensional numerical simulation of the indoor air velocity field and the HCl concentration field, and the simulation results were then compared with the on-site monitoring data to verify the correctness and feasibility. The occupational hazards and control measures were analyzed based on the numerical simulation, and the optimal control measure was obtained. In this article, using the method of ambient air to analyze the occupational exposure can provide a new idea to the field of occupational health research in the integrated circuit industry and had theoretical and practical significance. © The Author(s) 2012.

Neutron Imaging for Selective Laser Melting Inconel Hardware with Internal Passages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tramel, Terri L.; Norwood, Joseph K.; Bilheux, Hassina

2014-01-01

Additive Manufacturing is showing great promise for the development of new innovative designs and large potential life cycle cost reduction for the Aerospace Industry. However, more development work is required to move this technology into space flight hardware production. With selective laser melting (SLM), hardware that once consisted of multiple, carefully machined and inspected pieces, joined together can be made in one part. However standard inspection techniques cannot be used to verify that the internal passages are within dimensional tolerances or surface finish requirements. NASA/MSFC traveled to Oak Ridge National Lab's (ORNL) Spallation Neutron Source to perform some non-destructive, proof of concept imaging measurements to assess the capabilities to understand internal dimensional tolerances and internal passages surface roughness. This presentation will describe 1) the goals of this proof of concept testing, 2) the lessons learned when designing and building these Inconel 718 test specimens to minimize beam time, 3) the neutron imaging test setup and test procedure to get the images, 4) the initial results in images, volume and a video, 4) the assessment of using this imaging technique to gather real data for designing internal flow passages in SLM manufacturing aerospace hardware, and lastly 5) how proper cleaning of the internal passages is critically important. In summary, the initial results are very promising and continued development of a technique to assist in SLM development for aerospace components is desired by both NASA and ORNL. A plan forward that benefits both ORNL and NASA will also be presented, based on the promising initial results. The initial images and volume reconstruction showed that clean, clear images of the internal passages geometry are obtainable. These clear images of the internal passages of simple geometries will be compared to the build model to determine any differences. One surprising result was that a new cleaning process was used on these simply geometric specimens that resulted in what appears to be very smooth internal surfaces, when compared to other aerospace hardware cleaning methods.

Outbreak of Pantoea agglomerans Bloodstream Infections at an Oncology Clinic-Illinois, 2012-2013.

PubMed

Yablon, Brian R; Dantes, Raymund; Tsai, Victoria; Lim, Rachel; Moulton-Meissner, Heather; Arduino, Matthew; Jensen, Bette; Patel, Megan Toth; Vernon, Michael O; Grant-Greene, Yoran; Christiansen, Demian; Conover, Craig; Kallen, Alexander; Guh, Alice Y

2017-03-01

OBJECTIVE To determine the source of a healthcare-associated outbreak of Pantoea agglomerans bloodstream infections. DESIGN Epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak. SETTING Oncology clinic (clinic A). METHODS Cases were defined as Pantoea isolation from blood or catheter tip cultures of clinic A patients during July 2012-May 2013. Clinic A medical charts and laboratory records were reviewed; infection prevention practices and the facility's water system were evaluated. Environmental samples were collected for culture. Clinical and environmental P. agglomerans isolates were compared using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS Twelve cases were identified; median (range) age was 65 (41-78) years. All patients had malignant tumors and had received infusions at clinic A. Deficiencies in parenteral medication preparation and handling were identified (eg, placing infusates near sinks with potential for splash-back contamination). Facility inspection revealed substantial dead-end water piping and inadequate chlorine residual in tap water from multiple sinks, including the pharmacy clean room sink. P. agglomerans was isolated from composite surface swabs of 7 sinks and an ice machine; the pharmacy clean room sink isolate was indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis from 7 of 9 available patient isolates. CONCLUSIONS Exposure of locally prepared infusates to a contaminated pharmacy sink caused the outbreak. Improvements in parenteral medication preparation, including moving chemotherapy preparation offsite, along with terminal sink cleaning and water system remediation ended the outbreak. Greater awareness of recommended medication preparation and handling practices as well as further efforts to better define the contribution of contaminated sinks and plumbing deficiencies to healthcare-associated infections are needed. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:314-319.

Virtual screening of selective multitarget kinase inhibitors by combinatorial support vector machines.

PubMed

Ma, X H; Wang, R; Tan, C Y; Jiang, Y Y; Lu, T; Rao, H B; Li, X Y; Go, M L; Low, B C; Chen, Y Z

2010-10-04

Multitarget agents have been increasingly explored for enhancing efficacy and reducing countertarget activities and toxicities. Efficient virtual screening (VS) tools for searching selective multitarget agents are desired. Combinatorial support vector machines (C-SVM) were tested as VS tools for searching dual-inhibitors of 11 combinations of 9 anticancer kinase targets (EGFR, VEGFR, PDGFR, Src, FGFR, Lck, CDK1, CDK2, GSK3). C-SVM trained on 233-1,316 non-dual-inhibitors correctly identified 26.8%-57.3% (majority >36%) of the 56-230 intra-kinase-group dual-inhibitors (equivalent to the 50-70% yields of two independent individual target VS tools), and 12.2% of the 41 inter-kinase-group dual-inhibitors. C-SVM were fairly selective in misidentifying as dual-inhibitors 3.7%-48.1% (majority <20%) of the 233-1,316 non-dual-inhibitors of the same kinase pairs and 0.98%-4.77% of the 3,971-5,180 inhibitors of other kinases. C-SVM produced low false-hit rates in misidentifying as dual-inhibitors 1,746-4,817 (0.013%-0.036%) of the 13.56 M PubChem compounds, 12-175 (0.007%-0.104%) of the 168 K MDDR compounds, and 0-84 (0.0%-2.9%) of the 19,495-38,483 MDDR compounds similar to the known dual-inhibitors. C-SVM was compared to other VS methods Surflex-Dock, DOCK Blaster, kNN and PNN against the same sets of kinase inhibitors and the full set or subset of the 1.02 M Zinc clean-leads data set. C-SVM produced comparable dual-inhibitor yields, slightly better false-hit rates for kinase inhibitors, and significantly lower false-hit rates for the Zinc clean-leads data set. Combinatorial SVM showed promising potential for searching selective multitarget agents against intra-kinase-group kinases without explicit knowledge of multitarget agents.

Cast erosion from the cleaning of debris after the use of a cast trimmer.

PubMed

Hansen, Paul A; Beatty, Mark W

2017-02-01

Whether using tap water to rinse off debris will make a clinical difference to the surface detail of a gypsum cast is unknown. In addition, how best to remove debris from the cast is unknown. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficiency of different methods of cleaning a gypsum cast after trimming and the effect of short-term exposure to tap water on the surface quality of the cast. A die fitting American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association specification 25 (International Standards Organization specification 6873) for dental gypsum products was embedded in a Dentoform with the machined lines positioned at the same level as the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth. A flat plate was used to ensure that the plane of occlusion for the die was at the same position as the posterior teeth. Forty polyvinyl siloxane impressions of the Dentoform were made and poured with vacuum-mixed improved Type IV dental stone. Each cast was inspected for the accurate reproduction of the lines. The base of the 2-stage pour was trimmed with a cast trimmer with water, and surface debris was removed by rinsing by hand under tap water for 10 seconds, by brushing the cast with a soft toothbrush for 10 seconds, or by resoaking the cast and using a soft camel hair brush in slurry water for 10 seconds. The amount of debris was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 4, and the quality of the 20-μm line was evaluated on a scale of 1 to 4 under ×15 magnification. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis ranks test was used to identify significant differences among the different cleaning methods (α=.05). Results of the Kruskal-Wallis and Kruskal-Wallis Z-value tests demonstrated that all cleaning methods produced cleaner casts than were observed for uncleansed controls (P<.001), but no differences in debris removal were found among the different cleaning methods (.065≤P≤.901). The ability to see the quality of a 20-μm line (P=.974) was not statistically different among the groups. Rinsing the cast under flowing tap water and brushing, or hand washing under flowing tap water, or using a soft camel hair brush in slurry water for 10 seconds had no noticeable effects on the quality of a 20-μm line, and all 3 methods resulted in a clean cast. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bacillus cereus bacteremia outbreak due to contaminated hospital linens.

PubMed

Sasahara, T; Hayashi, S; Morisawa, Y; Sakihama, T; Yoshimura, A; Hirai, Y

2011-02-01

We describe an outbreak of Bacillus cereus bacteremia that occurred at Jichi Medical University Hospital in 2006. This study aimed to identify the source of this outbreak and to implement appropriate control measures. We reviewed the charts of patients with blood cultures positive for B. cereus, and investigated B. cereus contamination within the hospital environment. Genetic relationships among B. cereus isolates were analyzed. Eleven patients developed B. cereus bacteremia between January and August 2006. The hospital linens and the washing machine were highly contaminated with B. cereus, which was also isolated from the intravenous fluid. All of the contaminated linens were autoclaved, the washing machine was cleaned with a detergent, and hand hygiene was promoted among the hospital staff. The number of patients per month that developed new B. cereus bacteremia rapidly decreased after implementing these measures. The source of this outbreak was B. cereus contamination of hospital linens, and B. cereus was transmitted from the linens to patients via catheter infection. Our findings demonstrated that bacterial contamination of hospital linens can cause nosocomial bacteremia. Thus, blood cultures that are positive for B. cereus should not be regarded as false positives in the clinical setting.

Automated Counting of Particles To Quantify Cleanliness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhode, James

2005-01-01

A machine vision system, similar to systems used in microbiological laboratories to count cultured microbes, has been proposed for quantifying the cleanliness of nominally precisely cleaned hardware by counting residual contaminant particles. The system would include a microscope equipped with an electronic camera and circuitry to digitize the camera output, a personal computer programmed with machine-vision and interface software, and digital storage media. A filter pad, through which had been aspirated solvent from rinsing the hardware in question, would be placed on the microscope stage. A high-resolution image of the filter pad would be recorded. The computer would analyze the image and present a histogram of sizes of particles on the filter. On the basis of the histogram and a measure of the desired level of cleanliness, the hardware would be accepted or rejected. If the hardware were accepted, the image would be saved, along with other information, as a quality record. If the hardware were rejected, the histogram and ancillary information would be recorded for analysis of trends. The software would perceive particles that are too large or too numerous to meet a specified particle-distribution profile. Anomalous particles or fibrous material would be flagged for inspection.

Micro-Raman spectroscopic identification of bacterial cells of the genus Staphylococcus and dependence on their cultivation conditions.

PubMed

Harz, M; Rösch, P; Peschke, K-D; Ronneberger, O; Burkhardt, H; Popp, J

2005-11-01

Microbial contamination is not only a medical problem, but also plays a large role in pharmaceutical clean room production and food processing technology. Therefore many techniques were developed to achieve differentiation and identification of microorganisms. Among these methods vibrational spectroscopic techniques (IR, Raman and SERS) are useful tools because of their rapidity and sensitivity. Recently we have shown that micro-Raman spectroscopy in combination with a support vector machine is an extremely capable approach for a fast and reliable, non-destructive online identification of single bacteria belonging to different genera. In order to simulate different environmental conditions we analyzed in this contribution different Staphylococcus strains with varying cultivation conditions in order to evaluate our method with a reliable dataset. First, micro-Raman spectra of the bulk material and single bacterial cells that were grown under the same conditions were recorded and used separately for a distinct chemotaxonomic classification of the strains. Furthermore Raman spectra were recorded from single bacterial cells that were cultured under various conditions to study the influence of cultivation on the discrimination ability. This dataset was analyzed both with a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and a support vector machine (SVM).

Evaluating predictive models for solar energy growth in the US states and identifying the key drivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Joheen; Banerji, Sugata

2018-03-01

Driven by a desire to control climate change and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, governments around the world are increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources. However, among the US states, we observe a wide disparity in renewable penetration. In this study, we have identified and cleaned over a dozen datasets representing solar energy penetration in each US state, and the potentially relevant socioeconomic and other factors that may be driving the growth in solar. We have applied a number of predictive modeling approaches - including machine learning and regression - on these datasets over a 17-year period and evaluated the relative performance of the models. Our goals were: (1) identify the most important factors that are driving the growth in solar, (2) choose the most effective predictive modeling technique for solar growth, and (3) develop a model for predicting next year’s solar growth using this year’s data. We obtained very promising results with random forests (about 90% efficacy) and varying degrees of success with support vector machines and regression techniques (linear, polynomial, ridge). We also identified states with solar growth slower than expected and representing a potential for stronger growth in future.

Equal-area criterion in power systems revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yong; Ma, Jinpeng; Kurths, Jürgen; Zhan, Meng

2018-02-01

The classic equal-area criterion (EAC) is of key importance in power system analysis, and provides a powerful, pictorial and quantitative means of analysing transient stability (i.e. the system's ability to maintain stable operation when subjected to a large disturbance). Based on the traditional EAC, it is common sense in engineering that there is a critical cleaning time (CCT); namely, a power system is stable (unstable) if a fault is cleared before (after) this CCT. We regard this form of CCT as bipartite. In this paper, we revisit the EAC theory and, surprisingly, find different kinds of transient stability behaviour. Based on these analyses, we discover that the bipartite CCT is only one type among four major types, and, actually, the forms of CCT can be diversified. In particular, under some circumstances, a system may have no CCT or show a periodic CCT. Our theoretical analysis is verified by numerical simulations in a single-machine-infinite-bus system and also in multi-machine systems. Thus, our study provides a panoramic framework for diverse transient stability behaviour in power systems and also may have a significant impact on applications of multi-stability in various other systems, such as neuroscience, climatology or photonics.

Torque Production in a Halbach Machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eichenberg, Dennis J.; Gallo, Christopher A.; Thompson, William K.; Vrnak, Daniel R.

2006-01-01

The NASA John H. Glenn Research Center initiated the investigation of torque production in a Halbach machine for the Levitated Ducted Fan (LDF) Project to obtain empirical data in determining the feasibility of using a Halbach motor for the project. LDF is a breakthrough technology for "Electric Flight" with the development of a clean, quiet, electric propulsor system. Benefits include zero emissions, decreased dependence on fossil fuels, increased efficiency, increased reliability, reduced maintenance, and decreased operating noise levels. A commercial permanent magnet brushless motor rotor was tested with a custom stator. An innovative rotor utilizing a Halbach array was designed and developed to fit directly into the same stator. The magnets are oriented at 90deg to the adjacent magnet, which cancels the magnetic field on the inside of the rotor and strengthens the field on the outside of the rotor. A direct comparison of the commercial rotor and the Halbach rotor was made. In addition, various test models were designed and developed to validate the basic principles described, and the theoretical work that was performed. The report concludes that a Halbach array based motor can provide significant improvements in electric motor performance and reliability.

[The distribution of microorganisms in household kitchens. I. Problems, experiments, results].

PubMed

Borneff, J; Hassinger, R; Wittig, J; Edenharder, R

1988-03-01

Epidemiological investigations have demonstrated that insufficient hygiene in households results in increasing health hazards. In order to be able to recommend ways to disrupt infection chains it was necessary to explore the most important pathways of cross-contamination. Housewives without special training were instructed to prepare a complete meal, in the kitchen of a modern, vacant apartment. Among the raw products provided was minced meat, contaminated with Sarcinae (unbeknown to the housewives) in a quantitative manner. When cooking and cleaning procedures were completed we analysed household utensils and surfaces by Rodac impressions and swabs. The test organisms could be detected on all inspected surfaces and on the dining-table with albeit different frequencies. The following locations showed an especially high degree of cross-contamination: a) working-surfaces, especially boards of wood and plastics. b) cutting-machines, c) kitchen-machines. These results agree with literature data. By careful disinfection, i.e. by application of a 0.5% solution of hypochlorite, the contaminations could be removed. We assessed this when arranging the kitchen for the next test. Since it is impossible to practise disinfection procedures in a household kitchen on the same scale as in an operating room, we tried to achieve at least a limited disinfection by household cleansers with germicidal properties. In our opinion a minimum reduction of five log stages, demanded in the medical area, can not be achieved in a household kitchen and indeed it is not necessary. A reduction of the microbial counts to 10% of the original value would already be useful, as toxic levels of microbial counts will be reached later especially when there is simultaneous refrigeration. Correct dosage proved to be one of the main practical problems because a discrepancy exists between the low concentration of tensids, necessary for cleaning, and the relatively high dose necessary for germ-killing compounds. Diluted DOMESTOS proved to be a cleaning agent and germicide, but was, however, blamed for chlorine odour, especially when diluted with warm water. A greater acceptance level was reached with a peroxide-containing cleanser, which, however, was not sufficiently germicidal, when applied in diluted form. The concentrated formulation was more effective in everyday experience, but for this housewives had to wear rubber gloves. This was reported to be complicated and uncomfortable, and indeed the search for better formulations must be continued. (In communication II comparisons with the bibliography and hygienic consequences will be published.)

Radio frequency multicusp ion source development (invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, K. N.

1996-03-01

The radio-frequency (rf) driven multicusp source was originally developed for use in the Superconducting Super Collider injector. It has been demonstrated that the source can meet the H- beam current and emittance requirements for this application. By employing a porcelain-coated antenna, a clean plasma discharge with very long-life operation can be achieved. Today, the rf source is used to generate both positive and negative hydrogen ion beams and has been tested in various particle accelerator laboratories throughout the world. Applications of this ion source have been extended to other fields such as ion beam lithography, oil-well logging, ion implantation, accelerator mass spectrometry and medical therapy machines. This paper summarizes the latest rf ion source technology and development at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Fabrication Technologies of the High Gradient Accelerator Structures at 100MV/M Range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Juwen; /SLAC; Lewandowski, James

A CERN-SLAC-KEK collaboration on high gradient X-band structure research has been established in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the CLIC baseline design for the main linac stably operating at more than 100 MV/m loaded accelerating gradient. Several prototype CLIC structures were successfully fabricated and high power tested. They operated at 105 MV/m with a breakdown rate that meets the CLIC linear collider specifications of < 5 x 10{sup -7}/pulse/m. This paper summarizes the fabrication technologies including the mechanical design, precision machining, chemical cleaning, diffusion bonding as well as vacuum baking and all related assembly technologies. Also, the tolerances control,more » tuning and RF characterization will be discussed.« less

Vapor mediated droplet interactions - models and mechanisms (Part 2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benusiglio, Adrien; Cira, Nate; Prakash, Manu

2014-11-01

When deposited on clean glass a two-component binary mixture of propylene glycol and water is energetically inclined to spread, as both pure liquids do. Instead the mixture forms droplets stabilized by evaporation induced surface tension gradients, giving them unique properties such as negligible hysteresis. When two of these special droplets are deposited several radii apart they attract each other. The vapor from one droplet destabilizes the other, resulting in an attraction force which brings both droplets together. We present a flux-based model for droplet stabilization and a model which connects the vapor profile to net force. These simple models capture the static and dynamic experimental trends, and our fundamental understanding of these droplets and their interactions allowed us to build autonomous fluidic machines.

Computational assessment of organic photovoltaic candidate compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borunda, Mario; Dai, Shuo; Olivares-Amaya, Roberto; Amador-Bedolla, Carlos; Aspuru-Guzik, Alan

2015-03-01

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells are emerging as a possible renewable alternative to petroleum based resources and are needed to meet our growing demand for energy. Although not as efficient as silicon based cells, OPV cells have as an advantage that their manufacturing cost is potentially lower. The Harvard Clean Energy Project, using a cheminformatic approach of pattern recognition and machine learning strategies, has ranked a molecular library of more than 2.6 million candidate compounds based on their performance as possible OPV materials. Here, we present a ranking of the top 1000 molecules for use as photovoltaic materials based on their optical absorption properties obtained via time-dependent density functional theory. This computational search has revealed the molecular motifs shared by the set of most promising molecules.

Spacecraft Fire Safety and Microgravity Combustion Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tien, James S.; Ferkul, Paul (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Fire safety is an important concern in our daily lives and it plays a special role in the human presence in space. In a spacecraft, the outside environment is hostile and the opportunity to escape is small. Rescue missions are difficult and time consuming. As a result, we should avoid the occurrence of fires in spacecraft as much as possible. If a fire occurs, we need to keep it small and under control. This implies that the materials used on board the spacecraft should be screened carefully, all the machines and devices need to be operated without accident, and fire detectors have to function properly. Once a fire is detected, it can be extinguished quickly and the cabin can be cleaned up to restore operation and sustain life.

Health-Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 84-180-1776, Jacksonville Fire Department, Jacksonville, Florida

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kominsky, J.R.

1987-02-01

The efficiency of a trichlorotrifluoroethane based system to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from Nomex fabric garments used by the Jacksonville Fire Department, Jacksonville, Florida was evaluated. The system used a sealed dry cleaning machine with a revolving chamber and trichlorotrifluoroethane solvent. From 66 to 99% of fireborne PCB contamination and more than 99% of experimental contamination was removed from fire fighters protective clothing using the system. Because of uncertainty concerning the adequacy of decontamination, the garments were replaced. The author concludes that this system can remove a high percentage of PCB contamination; without established permissible limits for fabric levels ofmore » PCBs, it is not known if the level of decontamination is adequate.« less

Precuneus functioning differentiates first-episode psychosis patients during the fantasy movie Alice in Wonderland.

PubMed

Rikandi, E; Pamilo, S; Mäntylä, T; Suvisaari, J; Kieseppä, T; Hari, R; Seppä, M; Raij, T T

2017-02-01

While group-level functional alterations have been identified in many brain regions of psychotic patients, multivariate machine-learning methods provide a tool to test whether some of such alterations could be used to differentiate an individual patient. Earlier machine-learning studies have focused on data collected from chronic patients during rest or simple tasks. We set out to unravel brain activation patterns during naturalistic stimulation in first-episode psychosis (FEP). We recorded brain activity from 46 FEP patients and 32 control subjects viewing scenes from the fantasy film Alice in Wonderland. Scenes with varying degrees of fantasy were selected based on the distortion of the 'sense of reality' in psychosis. After cleaning the data with a novel maxCorr method, we used machine learning to classify patients and healthy control subjects on the basis of voxel- and time-point patterns. Most (136/194) of the voxels that best classified the groups were clustered in a bilateral region of the precuneus. Classification accuracies were up to 79.5% (p = 5.69 × 10-8), and correct classification was more likely the higher the patient's positive-symptom score. Precuneus functioning was related to the fantasy content of the movie, and the relationship was stronger in control subjects than patients. These findings are the first to show abnormalities in precuneus functioning during naturalistic information processing in FEP patients. Correlational findings suggest that these alterations are associated with positive psychotic symptoms and processing of fantasy. The results may provide new insights into the neuronal basis of reality distortion in psychosis.

Infection prevention and control in ultrasound - best practice recommendations from the European Society of Radiology Ultrasound Working Group.

PubMed

Nyhsen, Christiane M; Humphreys, Hilary; Koerner, Roland J; Grenier, Nicolas; Brady, Adrian; Sidhu, Paul; Nicolau, Carlos; Mostbeck, Gerhard; D'Onofrio, Mirko; Gangi, Afshin; Claudon, Michel

2017-12-01

The objective of these recommendations is to highlight the importance of infection prevention and control in ultrasound (US), including diagnostic and interventional settings. Review of available publications and discussion within a multidisciplinary group consistent of radiologists and microbiologists, in consultation with European patient and industry representatives. Good basic hygiene standards are essential. All US equipment must be approved prior to first use, including hand held devices. Any equipment in direct patient contact must be cleaned and disinfected prior to first use and after every examination. Regular deep cleaning of the entire US machine and environment should be undertaken. Faulty transducers should not be used. As outlined in presented flowcharts, low level disinfection is sufficient for standard US on intact skin. For all other minor and major interventional procedures as well as all endo-cavity US, high level disinfection is mandatory. Dedicated transducer covers must be used when transducers are in contact with mucous membranes or body fluids and sterile gel should be used inside and outside covers. Good standards of basic hygiene and thorough decontamination of all US equipment as well as appropriate use of US gel and transducer covers are essential to keep patients safe. • Transducers must be cleaned/disinfected before first use and after every examination. • Low level disinfection is sufficient for standard US on intact skin. • High level disinfection is mandatory for endo-cavity US and all interventions. • Dedicated transducer covers must be used for endo-cavity US and all interventions. • Sterile gel should be used for all endo-cavity US and all interventions.

Residual contamination and corrosion on electrochemically marked uranium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seals, R. D.; Bullock, J. S.; Cristy, S. S.; Bennett, R. K.

Residual contamination and potential corrosion problems on uranium parts electrochemically marked with PHB-1 and PHB-1E electroetchants have been investigated using ion microprobe mass analysis (IMMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and light microscopy (LM). The effectiveness of various solvent-cleaning sequences and the influence of the use of an abrasive cleaner were evaluated. The corrosion depths and chlorine distributions resulting from the electroetching process were determined. To meet the objective, the surfaces of uranium coupons, which had been processed according to production procedures for parts, i.e., machining, cleaning, marking, inspecting and coating with Shell Vitrea-29® oil, were studied. The greater surface wetting capability of the PHB-1E electroetchant solution relative to PHB-1 resulted in less localized corrosion at the point of attack which provided a more legible mark. Components of the electroetchants (aluminum, potassium and chromium) were found in the marked areas of both types of electroetched samples. Chromium, resulting from the corrosion inhibitor in the electroetchants, was found in the etched areas as well as on the coupon away from the electroetched areas. Depth profile data indicated that the major etching action (marking thickness) of the electroetchants penetrated to a depth of approximately 200 nm. Trace amounts of chlorine were present primarily within the first 65 nm of the marked surface. Comparison of the solvent rinsing sequences revealed that the most effective cleaning process included a degreaser, such as perchloroethylene, followed by a polar solvent, such as alcohol. Evaluation of the use of an abrasive cleaner on the electroetched areas indicates that this process removed residual contaminants, increased mark legibility and did not introduce significant residuals from the abrading material or cause significant surface damage.

TU-FG-BRB-08: Challenges, Limitations and Future Outlook Towards Clinical Translation of Proton Acoustic Range Verification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yousefi, S; Ahmad, M; Xiang, L

Purpose: To report our investigations of proton acoustic imaging, including computer simulations and preliminary experimental studies at clinical facilities. The ultimate achievable accuracy, sensitivity and clinical translation challenges are discussed. Methods: The acoustic pulse due to pressure rise was estimated using finite element model. Since the ionoacoustic pulse is highly dependent on the proton pulse width and energy, multiple pulse widths were studied. Based on the received signal spectrum at piezoelectric ultrasound transducer with consideration of random thermal noise, maximum spatial resolution of the proton-acoustic imaging modality was calculated. The simulation studies defined the design specifications of the system tomore » detect proton acoustic signal from Hitachi and Mevion clinical machines. A 500 KHz hydrophone with 100 dB amplification was set up in a water tank placed in front of the proton nozzle A 40 MHz data acquisition was synchronized by a trigger signal provided by the machine. Results: Given 30–800 mGy dose per pulse at the Bragg peak, the minimum number of protons detectable by the proton acoustic technique was on the order of 10×10^6 per pulse. The broader pulse widths produce signal with lower acoustic frequencies, with 10 µs pulses producing signals with frequency less than 100 kHz. As the proton beam pulse width increases, a higher dose rate is required to measure the acoustic signal. Conclusion: We have established the minimal detection limit for protonacoustic range validation for a variety of pulse parameters. Our study indicated practical proton-acoustic range verification can be feasible with a pulse shorter than 10 µs, 5×10^6 protons/pulse, 50 nA beam current and a highly sensitive ultrasonic transducer. The translational challenges into current clinical machines include proper magnetic shielding of the measurement equipment, providing a clean trigger signal from the proton machine, providing a shorter proton beam pulse and higher dose per pulse.« less

Yuma proving grounds automatic UXO detection using biomorphic robots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tilden, M.W.

1996-07-01

The current variety and dispersion of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) is a daunting technological problem for current sensory and extraction techniques. The bottom line is that the only way to insure a live UXO has been found and removed is to step on it. As this is an upsetting proposition for biological organisms like animals, farmers, or Yuma field personnel, this paper details a non-biological approach to developing inexpensive, automatic machines that will find, tag, and may eventually remove UXO from a variety of terrains by several proposed methods. The Yuma proving grounds (Arizona) has been pelted with bombs, mines, missiles,more » and shells since the 1940s. The idea of automatic machines that can clean up after such testing is an old one but as yet unrealized because of the daunting cost, power and complexity requirements of capable robot mechanisms. A researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory has invented and developed a new variety of living robots that are solar powered, legged, autonomous, adaptive to massive damage, and very inexpensive. This technology, called Nervous Networks (Nv), allows for the creation of capable walking mechanisms (known as Biomorphic robots, or Biomechs for short) that rather than work from task principles use instead a survival-based design philosophy. This allows Nv based machines to continue doing work even after multiple limbs and sensors have been removed or damaged, and to dynamically negotiate complex terrains as an emergent property of their operation (fighting to proceed, as it were). They are not programmed, and indeed, the twelve transistor Nv controller keeps their electronic cost well below that of most pocket radios. It is suspected that advanced forms of these machines in huge numbers may be an interesting, capable solution to the problem of general and specific UXO identification, tagging, and removal.« less

Vapour-mediated sensing and motility in two-component droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cira, N. J.; Benusiglio, A.; Prakash, M.

2015-03-01

Controlling the wetting behaviour of liquids on surfaces is important for a variety of industrial applications such as water-repellent coatings and lubrication. Liquid behaviour on a surface can range from complete spreading, as in the `tears of wine' effect, to minimal wetting as observed on a superhydrophobic lotus leaf. Controlling droplet movement is important in microfluidic liquid handling, on self-cleaning surfaces and in heat transfer. Droplet motion can be achieved by gradients of surface energy. However, existing techniques require either a large gradient or a carefully prepared surface to overcome the effects of contact line pinning, which usually limit droplet motion. Here we show that two-component droplets of well-chosen miscible liquids such as propylene glycol and water deposited on clean glass are not subject to pinning and cause the motion of neighbouring droplets over a distance. Unlike the canonical predictions for these liquids on a high-energy surface, these droplets do not spread completely but exhibit an apparent contact angle. We demonstrate experimentally and analytically that these droplets are stabilized by evaporation-induced surface tension gradients and that they move in response to the vapour emitted by neighbouring droplets. Our fundamental understanding of this robust system enabled us to construct a wide variety of autonomous fluidic machines out of everyday materials.

Robust artifactual independent component classification for BCI practitioners.

PubMed

Winkler, Irene; Brandl, Stephanie; Horn, Franziska; Waldburger, Eric; Allefeld, Carsten; Tangermann, Michael

2014-06-01

EEG artifacts of non-neural origin can be separated from neural signals by independent component analysis (ICA). It is unclear (1) how robustly recently proposed artifact classifiers transfer to novel users, novel paradigms or changed electrode setups, and (2) how artifact cleaning by a machine learning classifier impacts the performance of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Addressing (1), the robustness of different strategies with respect to the transfer between paradigms and electrode setups of a recently proposed classifier is investigated on offline data from 35 users and 3 EEG paradigms, which contain 6303 expert-labeled components from two ICA and preprocessing variants. Addressing (2), the effect of artifact removal on single-trial BCI classification is estimated on BCI trials from 101 users and 3 paradigms. We show that (1) the proposed artifact classifier generalizes to completely different EEG paradigms. To obtain similar results under massively reduced electrode setups, a proposed novel strategy improves artifact classification. Addressing (2), ICA artifact cleaning has little influence on average BCI performance when analyzed by state-of-the-art BCI methods. When slow motor-related features are exploited, performance varies strongly between individuals, as artifacts may obstruct relevant neural activity or are inadvertently used for BCI control. Robustness of the proposed strategies can be reproduced by EEG practitioners as the method is made available as an EEGLAB plug-in.

The MAJORANA Parts Tracking Database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abgrall, N.; Aguayo, E.; Avignone, F. T.; Barabash, A. S.; Bertrand, F. E.; Brudanin, V.; Busch, M.; Byram, D.; Caldwell, A. S.; Chan, Y.-D.; Christofferson, C. D.; Combs, D. C.; Cuesta, C.; Detwiler, J. A.; Doe, P. J.; Efremenko, Yu.; Egorov, V.; Ejiri, H.; Elliott, S. R.; Esterline, J.; Fast, J. E.; Finnerty, P.; Fraenkle, F. M.; Galindo-Uribarri, A.; Giovanetti, G. K.; Goett, J.; Green, M. P.; Gruszko, J.; Guiseppe, V. E.; Gusev, K.; Hallin, A. L.; Hazama, R.; Hegai, A.; Henning, R.; Hoppe, E. W.; Howard, S.; Howe, M. A.; Keeter, K. J.; Kidd, M. F.; Kochetov, O.; Konovalov, S. I.; Kouzes, R. T.; LaFerriere, B. D.; Leon, J. Diaz; Leviner, L. E.; Loach, J. C.; MacMullin, J.; Martin, R. D.; Meijer, S. J.; Mertens, S.; Miller, M. L.; Mizouni, L.; Nomachi, M.; Orrell, J. L.; O`Shaughnessy, C.; Overman, N. R.; Petersburg, R.; Phillips, D. G.; Poon, A. W. P.; Pushkin, K.; Radford, D. C.; Rager, J.; Rielage, K.; Robertson, R. G. H.; Romero-Romero, E.; Ronquest, M. C.; Shanks, B.; Shima, T.; Shirchenko, M.; Snavely, K. J.; Snyder, N.; Soin, A.; Suriano, A. M.; Tedeschi, D.; Thompson, J.; Timkin, V.; Tornow, W.; Trimble, J. E.; Varner, R. L.; Vasilyev, S.; Vetter, K.; Vorren, K.; White, B. R.; Wilkerson, J. F.; Wiseman, C.; Xu, W.; Yakushev, E.; Young, A. R.; Yu, C.-H.; Yumatov, V.; Zhitnikov, I.

2015-04-01

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is an ultra-low background physics experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The MAJORANA Parts Tracking Database is used to record the history of components used in the construction of the DEMONSTRATOR. The tracking implementation takes a novel approach based on the schema-free database technology CouchDB. Transportation, storage, and processes undergone by parts such as machining or cleaning are linked to part records. Tracking parts provide a great logistics benefit and an important quality assurance reference during construction. In addition, the location history of parts provides an estimate of their exposure to cosmic radiation. A web application for data entry and a radiation exposure calculator have been developed as tools for achieving the extreme radio-purity required for this rare decay search.

Noninvasive fetal QRS detection using an echo state network and dynamic programming.

PubMed

Lukoševičius, Mantas; Marozas, Vaidotas

2014-08-01

We address a classical fetal QRS detection problem from abdominal ECG recordings with a data-driven statistical machine learning approach. Our goal is to have a powerful, yet conceptually clean, solution. There are two novel key components at the heart of our approach: an echo state recurrent neural network that is trained to indicate fetal QRS complexes, and several increasingly sophisticated versions of statistics-based dynamic programming algorithms, which are derived from and rooted in probability theory. We also employ a standard technique for preprocessing and removing maternal ECG complexes from the signals, but do not take this as the main focus of this work. The proposed approach is quite generic and can be extended to other types of signals and annotations. Open-source code is provided.

A 3 MV Pelletron at Fudan University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Chuan-Chen; Lu, Cheng-Rong; Fe, Zhi-Yu; Yuan, Dao-Sheng; Yang, Fujia

1989-04-01

A 3 MV Pelletron tandem, model 9SDH-2, the fourth machine manufactured by NEC was installed and has been operating at Fudan University since 1987. The operating experiences obtained during the past year are described. Three beam lines have been established: one is for Auger-ESCA and RBS in an ultrahigh-vacuum chamber in which Al(100) clean surfaces have been studied; the second beam line is used as a mubeam analysis system using a 2 μ proton beam for resonant prefitting studies. The third is a general purpose beam line, for studies of the effect of nuclear resonance on K X-ray yield. At present, the third beam line is also used for ion beam analysis studies of 8.8 MeV He 2+ non-Rutherford scattering on high Tc superconductors.

Asteroids in the High Cadence Transient Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peña, J.; Fuentes, C.; Förster, F.; Maureira, J. C.; San Martín, J.; Littín, J.; Huijse, P.; Cabrera-Vives, G.; Estévez, P. A.; Galbany, L.; González-Gaitán, S.; Martínez, J.; de Jaeger, Th.; Hamuy, M.

2018-03-01

We report on the serendipitous observations of solar system objects imaged during the High cadence Transient Survey 2014 observation campaign. Data from this high-cadence wide-field survey was originally analyzed for finding variable static sources using machine learning to select the most-likely candidates. In this work, we search for moving transients consistent with solar system objects and derive their orbital parameters. We use a simple, custom motion detection algorithm to link trajectories and assume Keplerian motion to derive the asteroid’s orbital parameters. We use known asteroids from the Minor Planet Center database to assess the detection efficiency of the survey and our search algorithm. Trajectories have an average of nine detections spread over two days, and our fit yields typical errors of {σ }a∼ 0.07 {au}, σ e ∼ 0.07 and σ i ∼ 0.°5 in semimajor axis, eccentricity, and inclination, respectively, for known asteroids in our sample. We extract 7700 orbits from our trajectories, identifying 19 near-Earth objects, 6687 asteroids, 14 Centaurs, and 15 trans-Neptunian objects. This highlights the complementarity of supernova wide-field surveys for solar system research and the significance of machine learning to clean data of false detections. It is a good example of the data-driven science that Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will deliver.

Scaling of titanium implants entrains inflammation-induced osteolysis

PubMed Central

Eger, Michal; Sterer, Nir; Liron, Tamar; Kohavi, David; Gabet, Yankel

2017-01-01

With millions of new dental and orthopedic implants inserted annually, periprosthetic osteolysis becomes a major concern. In dentistry, peri-implantitis management includes cleaning using ultrasonic scaling. We examined whether ultrasonic scaling releases titanium particles and induces inflammation and osteolysis. Titanium discs with machined, sandblasted/acid-etched and sandblasted surfaces were subjected to ultrasonic scaling and we physically and chemically characterized the released particles. These particles induced a severe inflammatory response in macrophages and stimulated osteoclastogenesis. The number of released particles and their chemical composition and nanotopography had a significant effect on the inflammatory response. Sandblasted surfaces released the highest number of particles with the greatest nanoroughness properties. Particles from sandblasted/acid-etched discs induced a milder inflammatory response than those from sandblasted discs but a stronger inflammatory response than those from machined discs. Titanium particles were then embedded in fibrin membranes placed on mouse calvariae for 5 weeks. Using micro-CT, we observed that particles from sandblasted discs induced more osteolysis than those from sandblasted/acid-etched discs. In summary, ultrasonic scaling of titanium implants releases particles in a surface type-dependent manner and may aggravate peri-implantitis. Future studies should assess whether surface roughening affects the extent of released wear particles and aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants. PMID:28059080

High Tonnage Forest Biomass Production Systems from Southern Pine Energy Plantations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, Steve; McDonald, Timothy; Fasina, Oladiran

In this study, a high-tonnage harvesting system designed specifically to operate efficiently in the expected stand types of a bioenergy scenario was built, deployed, and evaluated in a production setting. Stands on which the system was evaluated exhibited the heavy stocking levels (> 600 stems per acre) and tree size distributions with significant volume in small stems (down to 2” DBH) that were expected in the modified energy plantation silvicultural approach. The harvest system also was designed to be functional in the traditional plantation stands dominating the commercial forestry landscape in the region. The Tigercat 845D feller buncher, which wasmore » a prototype machine designed for the high tonnage harvest system, used a boom-mounted prototype DT1802 shear felling head and incorporated a number of options intended to maximize its small-stem productivity, including: a high-speed shear severing system that was cheaper to operate than a saw; a large-pocket felling head that allowed larger accumulations of small stems to be built before expending the time to drop them for the skidder; efficient, low ground pressure, tracked carrier system to decrease the amount of maneuvering, saving time and minimizing soil disturbance; and various energy-saving devices to lower fuel costs and minimize air quality impacts. Overall, the feller buncher represented a quantum advance in small-stem harvesting technology. Extensive testing showed the machine’s production rate to be relatively insensitive to piece size, much less so than comparable traditional equipment. In plantation stands, the feller buncher was able to produce approximately 100 green tons of biomass per productive machine hour (PMH), and in natural stands, it produced nearly 120 green tons per PMH. The ability of the high tonnage feller buncher to maintain high productivity in stands with smaller diameter stems is something that has not been achieved in previous feller buncher designs. The Tigercat 845D feller buncher is now a production machine for Tigercat and is being sold in their current product line. The high-speed felling system was paired with a Tigercat 630D skidder and high-capacity grapple; one that could match the felling productivity when pulling small stems. The harvesting system minimized hourly costs using a single, high-capacity skidder (with a single operator), rather than two smaller ones, which is the traditional practice. The skidder itself can be considered a mid-range size and had an engine no larger than other machines in its class, but it incorporated a very large capacity 25 ft2 grapple. The large grapple is well suited to grabbing and hauling a large bunch of small-diameter trees, as produced by the high tonnage feller buncher. The grapple worked effectively in larger stems as well, but its ability to carry large numbers of small stems meant the average payload did not drop as stand DBH decreased. Tests with the machine indicated its travel speeds were nearly the same as, or perhaps slightly better than, conventionally equipped skidders, but grapple capacity was 75% larger. Productivity and cost per ton of the new skidder were better than conventional skidders for average skid distances of any length greater than 100 feet. Measured skidder productivity was as high as 143 gt/PMH. Its productivity exceeded that of the high-capacity feller buncher for skid distances out to nearly 700 feet, so system productivity could be expected to remain high for stands of a size typical in the southern U.S. The Tigercat 630D skidder is a production machine for Tigercat and the large grapple can now be ordered by customers using it for small diameter trees. When the feller buncher and skidder are analyzed as a two-machine system, overall productivity is fixed at the level of the least productive machine. Results from a set of side-by-side tests in the same density stand with conventional feller bunchers and skidders showed that the high tonnage system produced 97 gt/PMH versus 68 gt/PMH for a comparable conventional system. Machine rate costs for felling and skidding were $2.31/gt and $3.72/gt for the high tonnage, and conventional systems, respectively. However, the most significant result of the project is that the high tonnage system was shown to be relatively insensitive to tree size. This ability to maintain felling and skidding productivity and cost as tree size decreases is a breakthrough in harvesting systems for southern pine plantations. The concept of transpirational drying of woody biomass was tested at an industrial scale at multiple locations during this project. Felled trees were allowed to dry in two scenarios: 1) in bunches where they were felled, and 2) in roadside piles. Although the wood piled in large piles at roadside did experience drying, the wood left in bunches experienced a greater moisture reduction. Drying times of 72 days in the late summer resulted in mean wood moisture content of 26% for skidder bunches and 39% for the large pile at roadside as compared to moisture contents of 55% to 58% for freshly cut trees. An existing whole-tree chipper, Precision 2675, was modified to allow production of chips smaller than the traditional pulp size chip (i.e. “microchips”). Feed rates and knife placements were retained in the new design, while additional pockets were incorporated in the chipper disk to allow the attachment of either four knives for pulp chips or eight knives for microchips. This design facilitated switching between the energy and pulp chip product options at relatively low expense (about ½ day downtime). Chipping of whole-trees into pulp chips and microchips with the Precision 2675 disk chipper resulted in average productivities of 79.5 gt/PMH and 70.7 gt/PMH, respectively. Production rates of the chipper were lower when producing microchips by about 10% relative to producing pulp chips, but rates were similar to those achievable when making clean pulp chips. Particle size analysis for clean pine microchips revealed 26.6% retention on a 13 mm (slightly less than 3/8-inch) round hole screen and 25.9% retention for whole-tree pine microchips. For comparison, clean pine pulp chips had 52.2% retained. Ash content (% dry basis) was 0.54% for clean pine microchips and 0.62% for whole-tree pine microchips. Ash content for clean pine pulp chips was 0.39%. For transpirationally-dried material there was 38.1% retention for whole-tree microchips on a 13mm screen compared to 70.1% for dried clean pulp chips. Ash content was 0.78% and 0.44% respectively for these two chip types. Clean pine microchips stored at roadside had 25.2% retention on a 13 mm screen and 0.50% ash content. For mixed species (pine and hardwood), whole-tree microchips had 25.1% retention on a 13 mm screen compared to 50.6% for whole-tree pulp chips. Ash content was 2.12% and 2.74% respectively for these two chip types. Clean hardwood microchips stored at roadside had 35.0% retention on a 13 mm screen and an ash content of 1.24%. There are two significant advantages to using transpirational drying: reduced transportation costs, and reduced drying costs (capital and operating costs) for the biorefinery. This project evaluated the potential to reduce transportation costs through transpirational drying, and it included a component that tested higher capacity chip trailers (23% larger volume) to be able to transport dry wood with a lower bulk density. For transpirationally-dried chips at 35% MC, the high-capacity trailers achieved loads with a mean payload of 24 tons with maximum payloads of 29 tons. The typical legal payload on this trailer is 28.5 tons. Therefore, the project demonstrated that it is possible to achieve maximum legal payloads on chip trailers with transpirationally dried wood. Assuming that the truck is loaded to the legal payload limit, the transportation costs of chips can be reduced from $15.91/dry ton (dt) for 56% MC wood to $10.77/dt for transpirationally dried wood at 35% MC (for an example 50-mile haul distance at $0.14 per one-way ton-mile). For longer haul distances, these savings in trucking costs become even more significant. These results have demonstrated how significant savings in transportation costs can be achieved through transpirational drying. Also, these results show that it may be possible to increase the procurement radius for a biorefinery by using transpirational drying. Further cost reductions can be realized by the biorefinery when drying costs are reduced. The goal of this study was development of a timber harvesting system as productive in stands optimized for biomass production as it was in stands grown for roundwood markets. If that goal is achieved, a logger can invest in a single suite of equipment and operate efficiently in any future silvicultural regime that might include energy feedstocks as an output. It was the premise of the study that a future biomass market would shift the age distribution and stem size in stands grown for energy downward, and the key strategy in developing a harvest system for that scenario would be creating one with logging costs relatively insensitive to tree size. Our vision for such a system included a felling machine with a large capacity head to minimize time spent building bunches, plus a skidder capable of moving large volumes of small trees. The study proposed building the system and testing it against existing equipment in stands similar to those envisioned as resulting from biomass-optimized silviculture. As stated previously, the new feller buncher and skidder evaluated on their own merits showed their designs were clearly a step in the right direction - their productivity was indeed high and less sensitive to reductions in stem size. Cost projections based on extensive time and production studies of the high tonnage and benchmark operations showed modest advantages in FOB costs of the new system in both ‘average’ and simulated ‘energy’ stands (7.7% and 9.5%, respectively). But it was clear, when coupled into a traditional logging system, the in-woods productivity advantage of the modified equipment was easily overwhelmed by inefficiencies in chipping or trucking. Some additional savings can be achieved by spreading the cost of the feller buncher over multiple chipping operations (another 7.5%), but generally, in stands with average DBH above 6 inches, the in-woods equipment was not limiting productivity, and costs were driven by chipping and transport. Our results were a positive step in lowering delivered cost of trees grown for energy purposes, but they also argue strongly for a more comprehensive approach in solving this issue. The procurement system in its entirety has to be optimized to take full advantage of the productivity gains achieved with the machines and transpirational drying techniques developed in this project. We have to understand the true costs of all logistical options, particularly those of the choice in chipping strategy and in truck allocation, both of which seemed, in this study, to be the greatest source of variability in cost, and often the most expensive operations as well.« less

Tritium Control and Capture in Salt-Cooled Fission and Fusion Reactors: Status, Challenges, and Path Forward

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Forsberg, Charles W.; Lam, Stephen; Carpenter, David M.

Three advanced nuclear power systems use liquid salt coolants that generate tritium and thus face the common challenges of containing and capturing tritium to prevent its release to the environment. The fluoride salt–cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR) uses clean fluoride salt coolants and the same graphite-matrix coated-particle fuel as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Molten salt reactors (MSRs) dissolve the fuel in a fluoride or chloride salt with release of fission product tritium into the salt. In most FHR and MSR systems, the baseline salts contain lithium where isotopically separated 7Li is proposed to minimize tritium production from neutron interactions with the salt.more » The Chinese Academy of Sciences plans to start operation of a 2-MW(thermal) molten salt test reactor by 2020. For high-magnetic-field fusion machines, the use of lithium enriched in 6Li is proposed to maximize tritium generation—the fuel for a fusion machine. Advances in superconductors that enable higher power densities may require the use of molten lithium salts for fusion blankets and as coolants. Recent technical advances in these three reactor classes have resulted in increased government and private interest and the beginning of a coordinated effort to address the tritium control challenges in 700°C liquid salt systems. In this paper, we describe characteristics of salt-cooled fission and fusion machines, the basis for growing interest in these technologies, tritium generation in molten salts, the environment for tritium capture, models for high-temperature tritium transport in salt systems, alternative strategies for tritium control, and ongoing experimental work. Several methods to control tritium appear viable. Finally, limited experimental data are the primary constraint for designing efficient cost-effective methods of tritium control.« less

Tritium Control and Capture in Salt-Cooled Fission and Fusion Reactors: Status, Challenges, and Path Forward

DOE PAGES

Forsberg, Charles W.; Lam, Stephen; Carpenter, David M.; ...

2017-02-26

Three advanced nuclear power systems use liquid salt coolants that generate tritium and thus face the common challenges of containing and capturing tritium to prevent its release to the environment. The fluoride salt–cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR) uses clean fluoride salt coolants and the same graphite-matrix coated-particle fuel as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Molten salt reactors (MSRs) dissolve the fuel in a fluoride or chloride salt with release of fission product tritium into the salt. In most FHR and MSR systems, the baseline salts contain lithium where isotopically separated 7Li is proposed to minimize tritium production from neutron interactions with the salt.more » The Chinese Academy of Sciences plans to start operation of a 2-MW(thermal) molten salt test reactor by 2020. For high-magnetic-field fusion machines, the use of lithium enriched in 6Li is proposed to maximize tritium generation—the fuel for a fusion machine. Advances in superconductors that enable higher power densities may require the use of molten lithium salts for fusion blankets and as coolants. Recent technical advances in these three reactor classes have resulted in increased government and private interest and the beginning of a coordinated effort to address the tritium control challenges in 700°C liquid salt systems. In this paper, we describe characteristics of salt-cooled fission and fusion machines, the basis for growing interest in these technologies, tritium generation in molten salts, the environment for tritium capture, models for high-temperature tritium transport in salt systems, alternative strategies for tritium control, and ongoing experimental work. Several methods to control tritium appear viable. Finally, limited experimental data are the primary constraint for designing efficient cost-effective methods of tritium control.« less

Processes to Open the Container and the Sample Catcher of the Hayabusa Returned Capsule in the Planetary Material Sample Curation Facility of JAXA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fujimura, A.; Abe, M.; Yada, T.; Nakamura, T.; Noguchi, T.; Okazaki, R.; Ishibashi, Y.; Shirai, K.; Okada, T.; Yano, H.;

The Majorana Demonstrator: A search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of germanium-76

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elliott, S. R.; Abgrall, N.; Aguayo, E.; Avignone, F. T., III; Barabash, A. S.; Bertrand, F. E.; Boswell, M.; Brudanin, V.; Busch, M.; Caldwell, A. S.; Chan, Y.-D.; Christofferson, C. D.; Combs, D. C.; Detwiler, J. A.; Doe, P. J.; Efremenko, Yu.; Egorov, V.; Ejiri, H.; Esterline, J.; Fast, J. E.; Finnerty, P.; Fraenkle, F. M.; Galindo-Uribarri, A.; Giovanetti, G. K.; Goett, J.; Green, M. P.; Gruszko, J.; Guiseppe, V. E.; Gusev, K.; Hallin, A. L.; Hazama, R.; Hegai, A.; Henning, R.; Hoppe, E. W.; Howard, S.; Howe, M. A.; Keeter, K. J.; Kidd, M. F.; Kochetov, O.; Konovalov, S. I.; Kouzes, R. T.; LaFerriere, B. D.; Leon, J.; Leviner, L. E.; Loach, J. C.; MacMullin, S.; Martin, R. D.; Mertens, S.; Mizouni, L.; Nomachi, M.; Orrell, J. L.; O'Shaughnessy, C.; Overman, N. R.; Phillips, D. G., II; Poon, A. W. P.; Pushkin, K.; Radford, D. C.; Rielage, K.; Robertson, R. G. H.; Ronquest, M. C.; Schubert, A. G.; Shanks, B.; Shima, T.; Shirchenko, M.; Snavely, K. J.; Snyder, N.; Soin, A.; Strain, J.; Suriano, A. M.; Timkin, V.; Tornow, W.; Varner, R. L.; Vasilyev, S.; Vetter, K.; Vorren, K.; White, B. R.; Wilkerson, J. F.; Xu, W.; Yakushev, E.; Young, A. R.; Yu, C.-H.; Yumatov, V.

2013-12-01

The Majorana collaboration is searching for neutrinoless double beta decay using 76Ge, which has been shown to have a number of advantages in terms of sensitivities and backgrounds. The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay would show that lepton number is violated and that neutrinos are Majorana particles and would simultaneously provide information on neutrino mass. Attaining sensitivities for neutrino masses in the inverted hierarchy region, 15 - 50 meV, will require large, tonne-scale detectors with extremely low backgrounds, at the level of ˜1 count/t-y or lower in the region of the signal. The Majorana collaboration, with funding support from DOE Office of Nuclear Physics and NSF Particle Astrophysics, is constructing the Demonstrator, an array consisting of 40 kg of p-type point-contact high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors, of which ˜30 kg will be enriched to 87% in 76Ge. The Demonstrator is being constructed in a clean room laboratory facility at the 4850' level (4300 m.w.e.) of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. It utilizes a compact graded shield approach with the inner portion consisting of ultra-clean Cu that is being electroformed and machined underground. The primary aim of the Demonstrator is to show the feasibility of a future tonne-scale measurement in terms of backgrounds and scalability.

Tensile strength of glass fiber posts submitted to different surface treatments.

PubMed

Faria, Maria Isabel A; Gomes, Érica Alves; Messias, Danielle Cristine; Silva Filho, João Manoel; Souza Filho, Celso Bernardo; Paulino, Silvana Maria

2013-01-01

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the tensile strength of glass fiber posts submitted to different surface treatments. Forty-eight maxillary canines had their crowns sectioned and root canals endodontically treated. The roots were embedded in acrylic resin and distributed into 3 groups according to the surface treatment: Group I: the posts were treated with silane agent for 30 s and adhesive; Group II: the posts were cleaned with alcohol before treatment with silane agent and adhesive; Group III: the posts were submitted to conditioning with 37% phosphoric acid for 30 s before treatment with silane agent and adhesive. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups for adhesive polymerization or not before insertion into the canal: A - adhesive was not light cured and B - adhesive was light cured. All posts were cemented with Panavia F and the samples were subjected to tensile strength test in a universal testing machine at crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.01) only between group GIII-B and groups GI-A and GI-B. No significant difference was found among the other groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that the products used for cleaning the posts influenced the retention regardless of adhesive light curing.

Variations in Flexural Strength of Heat-polymerized Acrylic Resin after the Usage of Denture Cleansers.

PubMed

Ragher, Mallikarjuna; Vinayakumar, G; Patil, Sanketsopan; Chatterjee, Aishwarya; Mallikarjuna, D M; Dandekeri, Savita; Swetha, V; Pradeep, M R

2016-04-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare changes in the flexural strength of heat-cured denture base resins when treated using denture cleansers. A total of 40 specimens with dimension 65 mm length, 10 mm width, and 3 mm thickness were prepared as per ISO 1567 specification. A total of 10 specimens were immersed in distilled water to be used as control. Of the remaining 30 samples, 10 were treated with Clinsodent, 10 with VI-Clean, and 10 with Clanden denture cleansers. Specimens in each group were subjected to three-point flexural load in universal testing machine at a cross-head speed of 5 mm/min. The peak load (N) was recorded and flexural strength was calculated. The findings were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney test. Heat-cured denture base resin selected for this study showed significant difference in flexural strength after immersion in denture cleansers Clinsodent, VI-Clean, and Clanden solutions, when compared with the control group. Findings of this study showed that denture cleansers altered the flexural strength of heat polymerized acrylic resins that endured soaking cycles which simulated 180 days of use. Hence, denture cleansers should be used with caution, once a day after brushing the dentures. It is advisable for patients to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Unlocking the Power of Big Data at the National Institutes of Health.

PubMed

Coakley, Meghan F; Leerkes, Maarten R; Barnett, Jason; Gabrielian, Andrei E; Noble, Karlynn; Weber, M Nick; Huyen, Yentram

2013-09-01

The era of "big data" presents immense opportunities for scientific discovery and technological progress, with the potential to have enormous impact on research and development in the public sector. In order to capitalize on these benefits, there are significant challenges to overcome in data analytics. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases held a symposium entitled "Data Science: Unlocking the Power of Big Data" to create a forum for big data experts to present and share some of the creative and innovative methods to gleaning valuable knowledge from an overwhelming flood of biological data. A significant investment in infrastructure and tool development, along with more and better-trained data scientists, may facilitate methods for assimilation of data and machine learning, to overcome obstacles such as data security, data cleaning, and data integration.

Unlocking the Power of Big Data at the National Institutes of Health

PubMed Central

Coakley, Meghan F.; Leerkes, Maarten R.; Barnett, Jason; Gabrielian, Andrei E.; Noble, Karlynn; Weber, M. Nick

2013-01-01

Abstract The era of “big data” presents immense opportunities for scientific discovery and technological progress, with the potential to have enormous impact on research and development in the public sector. In order to capitalize on these benefits, there are significant challenges to overcome in data analytics. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases held a symposium entitled “Data Science: Unlocking the Power of Big Data” to create a forum for big data experts to present and share some of the creative and innovative methods to gleaning valuable knowledge from an overwhelming flood of biological data. A significant investment in infrastructure and tool development, along with more and better-trained data scientists, may facilitate methods for assimilation of data and machine learning, to overcome obstacles such as data security, data cleaning, and data integration. PMID:27442200

Design of a new abrasive slurry jet generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, F. C.; Shi, L. L.; Guo, C. W.

2017-12-01

With the advantages of a low system working pressure, good jet convergence and high cutting quality, abrasive slurry jet (ASJ) has broad application prospects in material cutting and equipment cleaning. Considering that the generator plays a crucial role in ASJ system, the paper designed a new type ASJ generator using an electric oil pump, a separate plunger cylinder, and a spring energized seal. According to the determining of structure shape, size and seal type, a new ASJ generator has been manufactured out and tested by a series of experiments. The new generator separates the abrasive slurry from the dynamic hydraulic oil, which can improve the service life of the ASJ system. And the new ASJ system can reach 40 MPa and has good performance in jet convergence, which deserves to popularization and application in materials machining.

Configuration of dishwasher to improve energy efficiency of water heating

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gluesenkamp, Kyle R.

A washing machine includes a sealed tub for accepting articles to be washed. A liquid circulation circuit sprays a pressurized liquid (e.g. water, detergent, solvent) around the articles to clean them. The liquid circulation circuit is in thermal contact with a hot side of a thermoelectric device. A heat sink is in thermal contact with both a cold side of the thermoelectric device and a heat sink charging circuit. A liquid is successively directed one or more times through the liquid circulation circuit with the thermoelectric device powered on, and then directed one or more times through the heat sinkmore » charging circuit with the thermoelectric device powered off. Finally, the liquid is discharged from the tub after having its temperature lowered by heat exchange to the heat sink.« less

Folded Resonant Horns for Power Ultrasonic Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherrit, Stewart; Askins, Stephen; Gradziel, Michael; Bao, Xiaoqi; Chang, Zensheu; Dolgin, Benjamin; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Peterson, Tom

2003-01-01

Folded horns have been conceived as alternatives to straight horns used as resonators and strain amplifiers in power ultrasonic systems. Such systems are used for cleaning, welding, soldering, cutting, and drilling in a variety of industries. In addition, several previous NASA Tech Briefs articles have described instrumented drilling, coring, and burrowing machines that utilize combinations of sonic and ultrasonic vibrational actuation. The main advantage of a folded horn, relative to a straight horn of the same resonance frequency, is that the folded horn can be made shorter (that is, its greatest linear dimension measured from the outside can be made smaller). Alternatively, for a given length, the resonance frequency can be reduced. Hence, the folded-horn concept affords an additional degree of design freedom for reducing the length of an ultrasonic power system that includes a horn.

The Majorana Parts Tracking Database

DOE PAGES

Abgrall, N.; Aguayo, E.; Avignone, F. T.; ...

2015-01-16

The Majorana Demonstrator is an ultra-low background physics experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The Majorana Parts Tracking Database is used to record the history of components used in the construction of the Demonstrator. The tracking implementation takes a novel approach based on the schema-free database technology CouchDB. Transportation, storage, and processes undergone by parts such as machining or cleaning are linked to part records. Tracking parts provides a great logistics benefit and an important quality assurance reference during construction. In addition, the location history of parts provides an estimate of their exposure to cosmic radiation.more » In summary, a web application for data entry and a radiation exposure calculator have been developed as tools for achieving the extreme radio-purity required for this rare decay search.« less

Effects of ultrasonic energy on dyeing of polyamide (microfibre)/Lycra blends.

PubMed

Merdan, Nigar; Akalin, Mehmet; Kocak, Dilara; Usta, Ismail

2004-04-01

Although ultrasonic energy is widely used cleaning and degreasing of parts and assemblies in automotive and other industries, the use of ultrasonic energy in an industrial scale for textile washing is very new. This is due to the complexity of controlling the combination of chemical and mechanical effects, whereas with degreasing of machine parts only the mechanical effects is applied. The use of ultrasonic energy in dyeing PA/Lycra fabrics with reactive dyes has been studied spectrophotometrically in this work. PA/Lycra (85/15) blends have been dyed using conventional and ultrasonic dyeing techniques with three reactive dyes containing different chromophore and reactive groups. The dyeing carried out conventionally and by the use of ultrasonic techniques. The results were compared in terms of percentage exhaustion; total dye transferred to the washing bath after dyeing and the fastness properties.

First results obtained within the European 'LAMA' programme (Large Active Mirrors in Aluminium)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozelot, J.-P.

1993-11-01

To investigate the feasibility of large size aluminum mirrors, studies have been undertaken in cooperation with European Southern Observatory (ESO), in the framework of a European program. The first phase, which is just now ended, addressed the following items: (1) tests to select the best aluminum alloy, (2) aluminum welding, homogeneity and stability, (3) aluminum high-precision machining, (4) nickel coating, (5) polishing of the nickel layer, (6) active optics. Furthermore, tests have been conducted to demonstrate that the quality of the mirrors is not altered at various temperatures and after a large number of aluminizing and cleaning cycles (corresponding to about 50 years' life). The mirror shape (whose specifications are fully compliant with those of the Very Large Telescope (VLT), as the program is conducted in cooperation with ESO) was computed under several causes of deformations: evidencing gravity as the predominant effect, and very low distortions as the high thermal conductivity limits the thermal transverse gradient to 0.025 C. Results show that it is quite possible to obtain high optical quality mirrors, mainly due to recent progress both in metallurgical processes (high precision machining -7 microns rms-) and active optics, that permit to correct residual aberrations of the surface. Such an alternative to classical glass mirrors will presently stand as a safe, economical solution that saves manufacturing time, for monolithic or segmented mirrors for innovative telescopes (e.g., lunar interferometric network).

Hardware-in-the-Loop emulator for a hydrokinetic turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rat, C. L.; Prostean, O.; Filip, I.

2018-01-01

Hydroelectric power has proven to be an efficient and reliable form of renewable energy, but its impact on the environment has long been a source of concern. Hydrokinetic turbines are an emerging class of renewable energy technology designed for deployment in small rivers and streams with minimal environmental impact on the local ecosystem. Hydrokinetic technology represents a truly clean source of energy, having the potential to become a highly efficient method of harvesting renewable energy. However, in order to achieve this goal, extensive research is necessary. This paper presents a Hardware-in-the-Loop emulator for a run-of-the-river type hydrokinetic turbine. The HIL system uses an ABB ACS800 drive to control an induction machine as a significant means of replicating the behavior of the real turbine. The induction machine is coupled to a permanent magnet synchronous generator and the corresponding load. The ACS800 drive is controlled through the software system, which comprises of the hydrokinetic turbine real-time simulation through mathematical modeling in the LabVIEW programming environment running on a NI CompactRIO (cRIO) platform. The advantages of this method are that it can provide a means for testing many control configurations without requiring the presence of the real turbine. This paper contains the basic principles of a hydrokinetic turbine, particularly the run-of-the-river configurations along with the experimental results obtained from the HIL system.

New Small Hydropower Technology to be Deployed in the United States

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hadjerioua, Boualem; Opsahl, Egil; Gordon, Jim

2012-01-01

Earth By Design Inc, (EBD), in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Knight Pi sold and Co., and CleanPower AS, has responded to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) published by the Department of Energy (DOE) in April 2011. EBD submitted a proposal to install an innovative, small hydropower technology, the Turbinator, a Norwegian technology from CleanPower. The Turbinator combines an axial flow, fixed-blade Kaplan turbine and generator in a compact and sealed machine. This makes it a very simple and easy technology to be deployed and installed. DOE has awarded funding for this two-year project that will be implementedmore » in Culver, Oregon. ORNL with the collaboration of CleanPower, will assess and evaluate the technology before and during the manufacturing phase and produce a full report to DOE. The goal of this phase-one report is to provide DOE Head Quarters (HQ), water power program management, a report with findings about the performance, readiness, capability, strengths and weakness, limitation of the technology, and potential full-scale deployment and application in the United States. Because of the importance of this information to the conventional hydropower industry and regulators, preliminary results will rapidly be distributed in the form of conference presentations, ORNL/DOE technical reports (publically available online, and publications in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature. These reports will emphasize the relevance of the activities carried out over the two-year study (i.e., performance, robustness, capabilities, reliability, and cost of the Turbinator). A final report will be submitted to a peer-reviewed publication that conveys the experimental findings and discusses their implications for the Turbinator application and implementation. Phase-two of the project consists of deployment, construction, and project operations. A detailed report on assessment and the performance of the project will be presented and communicated to DOE and published by ORNL.« less

Analysis of occupational accidents: prevention through the use of additional technical safety measures for machinery.

PubMed

Dźwiarek, Marek; Latała, Agata

2016-01-01

This article presents an analysis of results of 1035 serious and 341 minor accidents recorded by Poland's National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) in 2005-2011, in view of their prevention by means of additional safety measures applied by machinery users. Since the analysis aimed at formulating principles for the application of technical safety measures, the analysed accidents should bear additional attributes: the type of machine operation, technical safety measures and the type of events causing injuries. The analysis proved that the executed tasks and injury-causing events were closely connected and there was a relation between casualty events and technical safety measures. In the case of tasks consisting of manual feeding and collecting materials, the injuries usually occur because of the rotating motion of tools or crushing due to a closing motion. Numerous accidents also happened in the course of supporting actions, like removing pollutants, correcting material position, cleaning, etc.

Vortex nozzle for segmenting and transporting metal chips from turning operations

DOEpatents

Bieg, L.F.

1993-04-20

Apparatus for collecting, segmenting and conveying metal chips from machining operations utilizes a compressed gas driven vortex nozzle for receiving the chip and twisting it to cause the chip to segment through the application of torsional forces to the chip. The vortex nozzle is open ended and generally tubular in shape with a converging inlet end, a constant diameter throat section and a diverging exhaust end. Compressed gas is discharged through angled vortex ports in the nozzle throat section to create vortex flow in the nozzle and through an annular inlet at the entrance to the converging inlet end to create suction at the nozzle inlet and cause ambient air to enter the nozzle. The vortex flow in the nozzle causes the metal chip to segment and the segments thus formed to pass out of the discharge end of the nozzle where they are collected, cleaned and compacted as needed.

Audio Tracking in Noisy Environments by Acoustic Map and Spectral Signature.

PubMed

Crocco, Marco; Martelli, Samuele; Trucco, Andrea; Zunino, Andrea; Murino, Vittorio

2018-05-01

A novel method is proposed for generic target tracking by audio measurements from a microphone array. To cope with noisy environments characterized by persistent and high energy interfering sources, a classification map (CM) based on spectral signatures is calculated by means of a machine learning algorithm. Next, the CM is combined with the acoustic map, describing the spatial distribution of sound energy, in order to obtain a cleaned joint map in which contributions from the disturbing sources are removed. A likelihood function is derived from this map and fed to a particle filter yielding the target location estimation on the acoustic image. The method is tested on two real environments, addressing both speaker and vehicle tracking. The comparison with a couple of trackers, relying on the acoustic map only, shows a sharp improvement in performance, paving the way to the application of audio tracking in real challenging environments.

Tribological properties of fish scale inspired underwater superoleophobic hierarchical structure in aqueous environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lian, Zhongxu; Xu, Jinkai; Wan, Yanling; Li, Yiquan; Yu, Zhanjiang; Liu, Qimeng; Yu, Huadong

2017-10-01

Underwater superoleophobic surfaces are becoming increasingly important in regard to self-cleaning, anti-fouling, oil droplet transportation and water/oil separation. Although a great number of underwater superoleophobic surfaces have been demonstrated, their tribological properties remain impractical for the purposes of real-life applications. Herein, a two-step method of high speed wire electrical discharge machining and boiling water treatment was adopted to fabricate fish scale inspired underwater oil repellent hierarchical structure on an aluminum (Al) alloy 5083 surface. The hierarchical roughness and hydroxyl groups were obtained on the surface, and the surface exhibited the ability to prevent contact with organic fluids when submerged in water. Moreover, the tribological properties of underwater superoleophobic Al surfaces in aqueous environments were analyzed. The average friction coefficient of underwater superoleophobic surfaces was decreased compared with the polished Al surface. We believe that this research will contribute to the engineering application of underwater superoleophobic surfaces in the future.

Analysis of occupational accidents: prevention through the use of additional technical safety measures for machinery

PubMed Central

Dźwiarek, Marek; Latała, Agata

2016-01-01

This article presents an analysis of results of 1035 serious and 341 minor accidents recorded by Poland's National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) in 2005–2011, in view of their prevention by means of additional safety measures applied by machinery users. Since the analysis aimed at formulating principles for the application of technical safety measures, the analysed accidents should bear additional attributes: the type of machine operation, technical safety measures and the type of events causing injuries. The analysis proved that the executed tasks and injury-causing events were closely connected and there was a relation between casualty events and technical safety measures. In the case of tasks consisting of manual feeding and collecting materials, the injuries usually occur because of the rotating motion of tools or crushing due to a closing motion. Numerous accidents also happened in the course of supporting actions, like removing pollutants, correcting material position, cleaning, etc. PMID:26652689

Photonic quantum technologies (Presentation Recording)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, Jeremy L.

2015-09-01

The impact of quantum technology will be profound and far-reaching: secure communication networks for consumers, corporations and government; precision sensors for biomedical technology and environmental monitoring; quantum simulators for the design of new materials, pharmaceuticals and clean energy devices; and ultra-powerful quantum computers for addressing otherwise impossibly large datasets for machine learning and artificial intelligence applications. However, engineering quantum systems and controlling them is an immense technological challenge: they are inherently fragile; and information extracted from a quantum system necessarily disturbs the system itself. Of the various approaches to quantum technologies, photons are particularly appealing for their low-noise properties and ease of manipulation at the single qubit level. We have developed an integrated waveguide approach to photonic quantum circuits for high performance, miniaturization and scalability. We will described our latest progress in generating, manipulating and interacting single photons in waveguide circuits on silicon chips.

The ultrasound unit and infection control – Are we on the right track?

PubMed Central

Westerway, Susan C

2017-01-01

Best practice guidelines for the disinfection of ultrasound transducers and infection prevention in ultrasound departments are generally recommended by either government health groups or the ultrasound societies of individual countries. The literature shows a wide variance in not only transducer cleaning methods but basic hygiene practices in the ultrasound workplace. This paper describes results from a UK survey of disinfection of ultrasound transducers and hygiene practice in the workplace. The survey revealed that some ultrasound practitioners did not follow current guidelines with regard to the correct disinfection method of transducers, cords or ultrasound machine keyboards. Furthermore, the survey exposed the lack of training from the product manufacturers on how to use the disinfection product appropriately. These inconsistencies may be responsible for compliance issues and highlight the need for an awareness campaign and a unified approach to infection control by ultrasound practitioners. PMID:28228825

Successive approximation algorithm for beam-position-monitor-based LHC collimator alignment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valentino, Gianluca; Nosych, Andriy A.; Bruce, Roderik; Gasior, Marek; Mirarchi, Daniele; Redaelli, Stefano; Salvachua, Belen; Wollmann, Daniel

2014-02-01

Collimators with embedded beam position monitor (BPM) button electrodes will be installed in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during the current long shutdown period. For the subsequent operation, BPMs will allow the collimator jaws to be kept centered around the beam orbit. In this manner, a better beam cleaning efficiency and machine protection can be provided at unprecedented higher beam energies and intensities. A collimator alignment algorithm is proposed to center the jaws automatically around the beam. The algorithm is based on successive approximation and takes into account a correction of the nonlinear BPM sensitivity to beam displacement and an asymmetry of the electronic channels processing the BPM electrode signals. A software implementation was tested with a prototype collimator in the Super Proton Synchrotron. This paper presents results of the tests along with some considerations for eventual operation in the LHC.

[Cleanliness Norms 1964-1975].

PubMed

Noelle-Neumann, E

1976-01-01

In 1964 the Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach made a first survey taking stock of norms concerning cleanliness in the Federal Republic of Germany. At that time, 78% of respondents thought that the vogue among young people of cultivating an unkempt look was past or on the wane (Table 1.). Today we know that this fashion was an indicator of more serious desires for change in many different areas like politics, sexual morality, education and that its high point was still to come. In the fall of 1975 a second survey, modelled on the one of 1964, was conducted. Again, it concentrated on norms, not on behavior. As expected, norms have changed over this period but not in a one-directional or simple manner. In general, people are much more large-minded about children's looks: neat, clean school-dress, properly combed hair, clean shoes, all this and also holding their things in order has become less important in 1975 (Table 2). To carry a clean handkerchief is becoming oldfashioned (Table 3). On the other hand, principles of bringing-up children have not loosened concerning personal hygiene - brushing ones teeth, washing hands, feet, and neck, clean fingernails (Table 4). On one item related to protection of the environment, namely throwing around waste paper, standards have even become more strict (Table 5). With regard to school-leavers, norms of personal hygiene have generally become more strict (Table 6). As living standards have gone up and the number of full bathrooms has risen from 42% to 75% of households, norms of personal hygiene have also increased: one warm bath a week seemed enough to 56% of adults in 1964, but to only 32% in 1975 (Table 7). Also standards for changing underwear have changed a lot: in 1964 only 12% of respondents said "every day", in 1975 48% said so (Table 8). Even more stringent norms are applied to young women (Tables 9/10). For comparison: 1964 there were automatic washing machines in 16%, 1975 in 79% of households. Answers to questions which qualities men value especially in women and which qualities women value especially in men show a decrease in valutation of "cleanliness". These results can be interpreted in different ways (Tables 11/12). It seems, however, that "cleanliness" is not going out as a cultural value. We have found that young people today do not consider clean dress important but that they are probably better washed under their purposely neglected clothing than young people were ten years ago. As a nation, Germans still consider cleanliness to be a articularly German virtue, 1975 even more so than 1964 (Table 13). An association test, first made in March 1976, confirms this: When they hear "Germany", 68% of Germans think of "cleanliness" (Table 14).

Improved system for floor cleaning in health care facilities.

PubMed Central

Schmidt, E A; Coleman, D L; Mallison, G F

1984-01-01

A new system has been developed for sanitizing floors in hospitals; this system replaces the traditional procedure of daily dusting and wet mopping with a disinfectant-detergent solution and periodic buffing . This new system relies on a sequence of procedures consisting of dust mopping using a chemically treated dust mop, machine buffing of a sprayed-on polymer treatment, and a second dust mopping . The effectiveness of the procedures was evaluated by means of surface sampling for bacterial contamination and air sampling for airborne bacteria and dust. The level of bacterial contamination on the floors was reduced by 93.6% by using the new system, compared with 79.8% by using the conventional process of dust mopping and wet mopping with a disinfectant solution. The levels of airborne bacteria during and after the individual procedures did not vary significantly from the initial level (123.6 CFU/per m3 of air). A survey of representative colonies from air samples revealed staphylococci, gram-positive bacilli, gram-positive diplococci, yeast cells, and infrequent gram-negative rods. The distribution at the conclusion of the sanitizing process was similar to that at the outset. Similarly, the levels of airborne dust measured during and after the individual procedures did not vary significantly from the initial level. When compared with the traditional method of cleaning by wet mopping , the new method was significantly more effective in removal of microbial contamination and required less labor. PMID:6742835

Fabrication Characterization of Solar-Cell Silicon Wafers Using a Circular-Rhombus Tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pa, Pai-Shan

2010-01-01

A new recycling fabrication method using a custom-built designed circular-rhombus tool for a process combining of micro-electroetching and electrochemical machining for removal of the surface layers from silicon wafers of solar cells is demonstrated. The low yields of epoxy film and Si3N4 thin-film depositions are important factors in semiconductor production. The aim of the proposed recycling fabrication method is to replace the current approach, which uses strong acid and grinding and may damage the physical structure of silicon wafers and pollute to the environment. A precisely engineered clean production approach for removal of surface microstructure layers from silicon wafers is to develop a mass production system for recycling defective or discarded silicon wafers of solar cells that can reduce pollution and cost. A large diameter cathode of the circular-rhombus tool (with a small gap between the anode and the cathode) corresponds to a high rate of epoxy film removal. A high feed rate of the silicon wafers combined with a high continuous DC electric voltage results in a high removal rate. The high rotational speed of the circular-rhombus tool increases the discharge mobility and improves the removal effect associated with the high feed rate of the workpiece. A small port radius or large end angle of the rhombus anode provides a large discharge space and good removal effect only a short period of time is required to remove the Si3N4 layer and epoxy film easily and cleanly.

The microjetting behavior from single laser-induced bubbles generated above a solid boundary with a through hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abboud, Jack E.; Oweis, Ghanem F.

2013-01-01

An inertial bubble collapsing near a solid boundary generates a fast impulsive microjet directed toward the boundary. The jet impacts the solid boundary at a high velocity, and this effect has been taken advantage of in industrial cleaning such as when tiny bubbles are driven ultrasonically to cavitate around machined parts to produce jets that are believed to induce the cleaning effect. In this experimental investigation, we are interested in the jetting from single cavities near a boundary. By introducing a through hole in the boundary beneath a laser-induced bubble, it is hypothesized that the forming jet, upon bubble implosion, will proceed to penetrate through the hole to the other side and that it may be utilized in useful applications such as precise surgeries. It was found that the growth of the bubble induced a fast flow through the hole and lead to the formation of secondary hydrodynamic cavitation. The experiments also showed the formation of a counter jet directed away from the hole and into the bubble. During the growth phase of the bubble, and near the point of maximum expansion, the bubble wall bulged out toward the hole in a `bulb' like formation, which sometimes resulted in the pinching-off of a secondary small bubble. This was ensued by the inward recoiling of the primary bubble wall near the pinch-off spot, which developed into a counter jet seen to move away from the hole and inward into the bubble.

The microjetting behavior from single laser-induced bubbles generated above a solid boundary with a through hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abboud, Jack E.; Oweis, Ghanem F.

2012-12-01

An inertial bubble collapsing near a solid boundary generates a fast impulsive microjet directed toward the boundary. The jet impacts the solid boundary at a high velocity, and this effect has been taken advantage of in industrial cleaning such as when tiny bubbles are driven ultrasonically to cavitate around machined parts to produce jets that are believed to induce the cleaning effect. In this experimental investigation, we are interested in the jetting from single cavities near a boundary. By introducing a through hole in the boundary beneath a laser-induced bubble, it is hypothesized that the forming jet, upon bubble implosion, will proceed to penetrate through the hole to the other side and that it may be utilized in useful applications such as precise surgeries. It was found that the growth of the bubble induced a fast flow through the hole and lead to the formation of secondary hydrodynamic cavitation. The experiments also showed the formation of a counter jet directed away from the hole and into the bubble. During the growth phase of the bubble, and near the point of maximum expansion, the bubble wall bulged out toward the hole in a `bulb' like formation, which sometimes resulted in the pinching-off of a secondary small bubble. This was ensued by the inward recoiling of the primary bubble wall near the pinch-off spot, which developed into a counter jet seen to move away from the hole and inward into the bubble.

Overview Of Dry-Etch Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salzer, John M.

1986-08-01

With pattern dimensions shrinking, dry methods of etching providing controllable degrees of anisotropy become a necessity. A number of different configurations of equipment - inline, hex, planar, barrel - have been offered, and within each type, there are numerous significant variations. Further, each specific type of machine must be perfected over a complex, interactive parameter space to achieve suitable removal of various materials. Among the most critical system parameters are the choice of cathode or anode to hold the wafers, the chamber pressure, the plasma excitation frequency, and the electrode and magnetron structures. Recent trends include the use of vacuum load locks, multiple chambers, multiple electrodes, downstream etching or stripping, and multistep processes. A major percentage of etches in production handle the three materials: polysilicon, oxide and aluminum. Recent process developments have targeted refractory metals, their silicides, and with increasing emphasis, silicon trenching. Indeed, with new VLSI structures, silicon trenching has become the process of greatest interest. For stripping, dry processes provide advantages other than anisotropy. Here, too, new configurations and methods have been introduced recently. While wet processes are less than desirable from a number of viewpoints (handling, safety, disposal, venting, classes of clean room, automatability), dry methods are still being perfected as a direct, universal replacement. The paper will give an overview of these machine structures and process solutions, together with examples of interest. These findings and the trends discussed are based on semiannual survey of manufacturers and users of the various types of equipment.

Hadron Therapy in Latin America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreiner, A. J.; Bergueiro, J.; Burlon, A. A.; Di Paolo, H.; Castell, W.; Thatar Vento, V.; Levinas, P.; Cartelli, D.; Kesque, J. M.; Valda, A. A.; Ilardo, J. C.; Baldo, M.; Erhardt, J.; Debray, M. E.; Somacal, H. R.; Minsky, D. M.; Estrada, L.; Hazarabedian, A.; Johann, F.; Suarez Sandin, J. C.; Igarzabal, M.; Huck, H.; Repetto, M.; Obligado, M.; Lell, J.; Padulo, J.; Herrera, M.; Gonzalez, S. R.; Capoulat, M. E.; Davidson, J.; Davidson, M.

2010-08-01

The use of proton and heavy ion beams for radiotherapy is a well established cancer treatment modality in the first world, which is becoming increasingly widespread, due to its clear advantages over conventional photon-based treatments. This strategy is suitable when the tumor is spatially well localized. Also the use of neutrons has tradition. Here Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) stands out, though on a much smaller scale, being a promising alternative for tumors which are diffuse and infiltrating. On this sector, so far only nuclear reactors have been used as neutron sources. In this paper we briefly describe the situation in Latin America and in particular we discuss the present status of an ongoing project to develop a folded Tandem-ElectroStatic-Quadrupole (TESQ) accelerator for Accelerator-Based (AB)-Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) at the Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina. The project goal is a machine capable of delivering 30 mA of 2.4 MeV protons to be used in conjunction with a neutron production target based on the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction. These are the specifications needed to produce sufficiently intense and clean epithermal neutron beams to perform BNCT for deep-seated tumors in less than an hour. The machine being currently designed and constructed is a folded TESQ with a terminal at 0.6 MV as a smaller scale prototype. Since the concept is modular the same structure will be used for the 1.2 MV final accelerator.

Fire protection for launch facilities using machine vision fire detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwartz, Douglas B.

1993-02-01

Fire protection of critical space assets, including launch and fueling facilities and manned flight hardware, demands automatic sensors for continuous monitoring, and in certain high-threat areas, fast-reacting automatic suppression systems. Perhaps the most essential characteristic for these fire detection and suppression systems is high reliability; in other words, fire detectors should alarm only on actual fires and not be falsely activated by extraneous sources. Existing types of fire detectors have been greatly improved in the past decade; however, fundamental limitations of their method of operation leaves open a significant possibility of false alarms and restricts their usefulness. At the Civil Engineering Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, a new type of fire detector is under development which 'sees' a fire visually, like a human being, and makes a reliable decision based on known visual characteristics of flames. Hardware prototypes of the Machine Vision (MV) Fire Detection System have undergone live fire tests and demonstrated extremely high accuracy in discriminating actual fires from false alarm sources. In fact, this technology promises to virtually eliminate false activations. This detector could be used to monitor fueling facilities, launch towers, clean rooms, and other high-value and high-risk areas. Applications can extend to space station and in-flight shuttle operations as well; fiber optics and remote camera heads enable the system to see around obstructed areas and crew compartments. The capability of the technology to distinguish fires means that fire detection can be provided even during maintenance operations, such as welding.

Microbiological contamination in digital radiography: evaluation at the radiology clinic of an educational institution.

PubMed

Malta, Cristiana P; Damasceno, Naiana Nl; Ribeiro, Rosangela A; Silva, Carolina Sf; Devito, Karina L

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contamination rate of intra and extraoral digital X ray equipment in a dental radiology clinic at a public educational institution. Samples were collected on three different days, at two times in the day: in the morning, before attending patients, and at the end of the day, after appointment hours and before cleaning and disinfection procedures. Samples were collected from the periapical X-ray machine (tube head, positioning device, control panel and activator button), the panoramic X- ray machine (temporal support, bite block, control panel and activator button), the intraoral digital system (sensor), and the digital system computers (keyboard and mouse). The samples were seeded in different culture media, incubated, and colony forming units (CFU/mL) counted. Biochemical tests were performed for suspected colonies of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Gramnegative bacilli (GNB). Fungi were visually differentiated into filamentous fungi and yeasts. The results indicated the growth of fungi and Staphylococcus fromall sampling locations. GNB growth was observed from all sites sampled from the intraoral X-ray equipment. On the panoramic unit, GNB growth was observed in samples from activator button, keyboard and mouse. In general, a higher number of CFU/mL was present before use. It can be concluded that more stringent protocols are needed to control infection and prevent X-ray exams from acting as vehicle for cross contamination. Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.

Fire protection for launch facilities using machine vision fire detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schwartz, Douglas B.

1993-01-01

Fire protection of critical space assets, including launch and fueling facilities and manned flight hardware, demands automatic sensors for continuous monitoring, and in certain high-threat areas, fast-reacting automatic suppression systems. Perhaps the most essential characteristic for these fire detection and suppression systems is high reliability; in other words, fire detectors should alarm only on actual fires and not be falsely activated by extraneous sources. Existing types of fire detectors have been greatly improved in the past decade; however, fundamental limitations of their method of operation leaves open a significant possibility of false alarms and restricts their usefulness. At the Civil Engineering Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, a new type of fire detector is under development which 'sees' a fire visually, like a human being, and makes a reliable decision based on known visual characteristics of flames. Hardware prototypes of the Machine Vision (MV) Fire Detection System have undergone live fire tests and demonstrated extremely high accuracy in discriminating actual fires from false alarm sources. In fact, this technology promises to virtually eliminate false activations. This detector could be used to monitor fueling facilities, launch towers, clean rooms, and other high-value and high-risk areas. Applications can extend to space station and in-flight shuttle operations as well; fiber optics and remote camera heads enable the system to see around obstructed areas and crew compartments. The capability of the technology to distinguish fires means that fire detection can be provided even during maintenance operations, such as welding.

Comparative evaluation of rotary ProTaper, Profile, and conventional stepback technique on reduction in Enterococcus faecalis colony-forming units and vertical root fracture resistance of root canals.

PubMed

Singla, Mamta; Aggarwal, Vivek; Logani, Ajay; Shah, Naseem

2010-03-01

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of various root canal instrumentation techniques with different instrument tapers on cleaning efficacy and resultant vertical root fracture (VRF) strength of the roots. Fifty human mandibular first premolar roots were enlarged to ISO size 20, inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis [ATCC2912] for 72 hours and divided into 5 groups: group I: prepared with .02 taper hand instruments ISO size 40; group II: Profile .04 taper size 40; group III: Profile .06 taper size 40; group IV: ProTaper size F4; and group V (control group) further divided into: Va: with bacterial inoculation and no mechanical instrumentation; and Group Vb: neither bacterial inoculation nor mechanical instrumentation. Cleaning efficacy was evaluated in terms of reduction of colony forming units (CFUs). The VRF strength was evaluated using D11 spreader as wedge in an Instron testing machine. Root canals instrumented with ProTaper and 6% Profile instruments showed maximum reduction in CFUs, with statistically insignificant difference between them. The VRF resistance decreased in all instrumented groups. The difference of VRF between 2% and 4% taper Profile groups was statistically insignificant (P = .195). One-way analysis of variance showed that canals instrumented with ProTaper F4 showed maximum reduction in VRF resistance compared with control uninstrumented group. Profile 6% taper instruments offer the advantage of maximum debridement without significant reduction in root fracture resistance. Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparing for Combat Readiness for the Fight: Physical Performance Profile of Female U.S. Marines.

PubMed

Kelly, Karen R; Jameson, Jason T

2016-03-01

Females have been restricted from serving in direct combat arms' positions for decades. One reason for the exclusion derives from the perceived physical demands of these positions. As a result, many current efforts are directed toward defining the physical demands of combat arms' positions. The purpose of this study was to develop a physical performance and body composition profile of females who could overcome the physical demands of combat tasks that rely primarily on upper body strength. This study is based on an analysis of archival data from 2 separate samples of active-duty female Marines (n = 802), who had been recruited to participate in heavy lifting tasks. These tasks included lifting a heavy machine gun (HMG) lift (cohort 1, n = 423) and Clean and Press lifts (29.5-52.3 kg) (cohort 2, n = 379). To develop the physical performance profile, data from annual physical fitness tests were collected, which included run times, ammunition can lift, 804. Seven-meter (880-yard) movement to contact, and the maneuver under fire. In cohort 1, 65 females (∼15%; n = 423 females) successfully completed HMG; in cohort 2, 33 females (∼9%; n = 379 females) successfully completed another strength task, a Clean and Press of 52.3 kg. In both samples, female Marines who were successful on these tasks also outperformed their unsuccessful counterparts on the annual physical fitness tests. In addition, larger females typically outperformed their smaller counterparts. Females seeking assignment to closed combat arms' positions would thus be well served by targeting upper body strength, while maintaining overall physical fitness.

Effect of surface acid etching on the biaxial flexural strength of two hot-pressed glass ceramics.

PubMed

Hooshmand, Tabassom; Parvizi, Shaghayegh; Keshvad, Alireza

2008-07-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of surface acid etching on the biaxial flexural strength of two hot-pressed glass ceramics reinforced by leucite or lithium disilicate crystals. Forty glass ceramic disks (14-mm diameter, 2-mm thick) consisting of 20 leucite-based ceramic disks (IPS Empress) and 20 lithia disilicate-based ceramic (IPS Empress 2) were produced by hot-pressing technique. All specimens were polished and then cleaned ultrasonically in distilled water. Ten specimens of each ceramic group were then etched with 9% hydrofluoric (HF) acid gel for 2 minutes and cleaned ultrasonically again. The biaxial flexural strength was measured by the piston-on-three-ball test in a universal testing machine. Data based on ten specimens in each group were analyzed by two-way ANOVA (alpha= 0.05). Microstructure of ceramic surfaces before and after acid etching was also examined by a scanning electron microscope. The mean biaxial flexural strength values for each group tested were (in MPa): nonetched IPS Empress = 118.6 +/- 25.5; etched IPS Empress = 102.9 +/- 15.4; nonetched IPS Empress 2 = 283.0 +/- 48.5; and etched IPS Empress 2 = 250.6 +/- 34.6. The results showed that the etching process reduced the biaxial flexural strengths significantly for both ceramic types (p= 0.025). No significant interaction between the ceramic type and etching process was found (p= 0.407). From the results, it was concluded that surface HF acid etching could have a weakening effect on hot-pressed leucite or lithia disilicate-based glass ceramic systems.

Measured and simulated heavy-ion beam loss patterns at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermes, P. D.; Bruce, R.; Jowett, J. M.; Redaelli, S.; Salvachua Ferrando, B.; Valentino, G.; Wollmann, D.

2016-05-01

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN pushes forward to new regimes in terms of beam energy and intensity. In view of the combination of very energetic and intense beams together with sensitive machine components, in particular the superconducting magnets, the LHC is equipped with a collimation system to provide protection and intercept uncontrolled beam losses. Beam losses could cause a superconducting magnet to quench, or in the worst case, damage the hardware. The collimation system, which is optimized to provide a good protection with proton beams, has shown a cleaning efficiency with heavy-ion beams which is worse by up to two orders of magnitude. The reason for this reduced cleaning efficiency is the fragmentation of heavy-ion beams into isotopes with a different mass to charge ratios because of the interaction with the collimator material. In order to ensure sufficient collimation performance in future ion runs, a detailed theoretical understanding of ion collimation is needed. The simulation of heavy-ion collimation must include processes in which 82 + 208Pb ions fragment into dozens of new isotopes. The ions and their fragments must be tracked inside the magnetic lattice of the LHC to determine their loss positions. This paper gives an overview of physical processes important for the description of heavy-ion loss patterns. Loss maps simulated by means of the two tools ICOSIM [1,2] and the newly developed STIER (SixTrack with Ion-Equivalent Rigidities) are compared with experimental data measured during LHC operation. The comparison shows that the tool STIER is in better agreement.

Effect of laser beam conditioning on fabrication of clean micro-channel on stainless steel 316L using second harmonic of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sanasam Sunderlal; Baruah, Prahlad Kr; Khare, Alika; Joshi, Shrikrishna N.

2018-02-01

Laser micromachining of metals for fabrication of micro-channels generate ridge formation along the edges accompanied by ripples along the channel bed. The ridge formation is due to the formation of interference pattern formed by back reflections from the beam splitter and other optical components involved before focusing on the work piece. This problem can be curtailed by using a suitable aperture or Iris diaphragm so as to cut the unwanted portion of the laser beam before illuminating the sample. This paper reports an experimental investigation on minimizing this problem by conditioning the laser beam using an Iris diaphragm and using optimum process parameters. In this work, systematic experiments have been carried out using the second harmonic of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to fabricate micro-channels. Initial experiments revealed that formation of ridges along the sides of micro-channel can easily be minimized with the help of Iris diaphragm. Further it is noted that a clean micro-channel of depth 43.39 μm, width up to 64.49 μm and of good surface quality with average surface roughness (Ra) value of 370 nm can be machined on stainless steel (SS) 316L by employing optimum process condition: laser beam energy of 30 mJ/pulse, 11 number of laser scans and scan speed of 169.54 μm/s with an opening of 4 mm diameter of Iris diaphragm in the path of the laser beam.

Exploring surface cleaning strategies in hospital to prevent contact transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Lei, Hao; Jones, Rachael M; Li, Yuguo

2017-01-18

Cleaning of environmental surfaces in hospitals is important for the control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other hospital-acquired infections transmitted by the contact route. Guidance regarding the best approaches for cleaning, however, is limited. In this study, a mathematical model based on ordinary differential equations was constructed to study MRSA concentration dynamics on high-touch and low-touch surfaces, and on the hands and noses of two patients (in two hospitals rooms) and a health care worker in a hypothetical hospital environment. Two cleaning interventions - whole room cleaning and wipe cleaning of touched surfaces - were considered. The performance of the cleaning interventions was indicated by a reduction in MRSA on the nose of a susceptible patient, relative to no intervention. Whole room cleaning just before first patient care activities of the day was more effective than whole room cleaning at other times, but even with 100% efficiency, whole room cleaning only reduced the number of MRSA transmitted to the susceptible patient by 54%. Frequent wipe cleaning of touched surfaces was shown to be more effective that whole room cleaning because surfaces are rapidly re-contaminated with MRSA after cleaning. Wipe cleaning high-touch surfaces was more effective than wipe cleaning low-touch surfaces for the same frequency of cleaning. For low wipe cleaning frequency (≤3 times per hour), high-touch surfaces should be targeted, but for high wipe cleaning frequency (>3 times per hour), cleaning should target high- and low-touch surfaces in proportion to the surface touch frequency. This study reproduces the observations from a field study of room cleaning, which provides support for the validity of our findings. Daily whole room cleaning, even with 100% cleaning efficiency, provides limited reduction in the number of MRSA transmitted to susceptible patients via the contact route; and should be supplemented with frequent targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces, such as by a wipe or cloth containing disinfectant.

Personal Breathing Zone Exposures among Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Workers; Preliminary Analysis for Trends and Analysis of Work Practices That Resulted in the Highest Exposure Concentrations

PubMed Central

Osborn, Linda V.; Snawder, John E.; Kriech, Anthony J.; Cavallari, Jennifer M.; McClean, Michael D.; Herrick, Robert F.; Blackburn, Gary R.; Olsen, Larry D.

2015-01-01

An exposure assessment of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) paving workers was conducted to determine which of four exposure scenarios impacted worker exposure and dose. Goals of this report are to present the personal-breathing zone (PBZ) data, discuss the impact of substituting the releasing/cleaning agent, and discuss work practices that resulted in the highest exposure concentration for each analyte. One-hundred-seven PBZ samples were collected from HMA paving workers on days when diesel oil was used as a releasing/cleaning agent. An additional 36 PBZ samples were collected on days when B-100 (100% biodiesel, containing no petroleum-derived products) was used as a substitute releasing/cleaning agent. Twenty-four PBZ samples were collected from a reference group of concrete workers, who also worked in outdoor construction but had no exposure to asphalt emissions. Background and field blank samples were also collected daily. Total particulates and the benzene soluble fraction were determined gravimetrically. Total organic matter was determined using gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection and provided qualitative information about other exposure sources contributing to worker exposure besides asphalt emissions. Thirty-three individual polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) were determined using GC with time-offlight mass spectrometry; results were presented as either the concentration of an individual PAC or a summation of the individual PACs containing either 2- to 3-rings or 4- to 6-rings. Samples were also screened for PACs containing 4- to 6-rings using fluorescence spectroscopy. Arithmetic means, medians, and box plots of the PBZ data were used to evaluate trends in the data. Box plots illustrating the diesel oil results were more variable than the B-100. Also, the highest diesel oil results were much higher in concentration than the highest B-100 results. An analysis of the highest exposure results and field notes revealed a probable association between these exposures and the use of diesel oil, use of a diesel-powered screed, elevated HMA paving application temperatures, lubricating and working on broken-down equipment, and operation of a broom machine. PMID:24195533

Personal breathing zone exposures among hot-mix asphalt paving workers; preliminary analysis for trends and analysis of work practices that resulted in the highest exposure concentrations.

PubMed

Osborn, Linda V; Snawder, John E; Kriech, Anthony J; Cavallari, Jennifer M; McClean, Michael D; Herrick, Robert F; Blackburn, Gary R; Olsen, Larry D

2013-01-01

An exposure assessment of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) paving workers was conducted to determine which of four exposure scenarios impacted worker exposure and dose. Goals of this report are to present the personal-breathing zone (PBZ) data, discuss the impact of substituting the releasing/cleaning agent, and discuss work practices that resulted in the highest exposure concentration for each analyte. One-hundred-seven PBZ samples were collected from HMA paving workers on days when diesel oil was used as a releasing/cleaning agent. An additional 36 PBZ samples were collected on days when B-100 (100% biodiesel, containing no petroleum-derived products) was used as a substitute releasing/cleaning agent. Twenty-four PBZ samples were collected from a reference group of concrete workers, who also worked in outdoor construction but had no exposure to asphalt emissions. Background and field blank samples were also collected daily. Total particulates and the benzene soluble fraction were determined gravimetrically. Total organic matter was determined using gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection and provided qualitative information about other exposure sources contributing to worker exposure besides asphalt emissions. Thirty-three individual polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) were determined using GC with time-of-flight mass spectrometry; results were presented as either the concentration of an individual PAC or a summation of the individual PACs containing either 2- to 3-rings or 4- to 6-rings. Samples were also screened for PACs containing 4- to 6-rings using fluorescence spectroscopy. Arithmetic means, medians, and box plots of the PBZ data were used to evaluate trends in the data. Box plots illustrating the diesel oil results were more variable than the B-100. Also, the highest diesel oil results were much higher in concentration than the highest B-100 results. An analysis of the highest exposure results and field notes revealed a probable association between these exposures and the use of diesel oil, use of a diesel-powered screed, elevated HMA paving application temperatures, lubricating and working on broken-down equipment, and operation of a broom machine.

The selective cleaning behaviour of juvenile blue-headed wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) in the Caribbean.

PubMed

Dunkley, Katie; Cable, Jo; Perkins, Sarah E

2018-02-01

Through the removal of parasites, dead skin and mucus from the bodies of visiting reef fish (clients), cleaner fish have a significant ecosystem function in the ecology of coral reefs. Cleaners gain nutrition from these interactions and through offering a 'service' are afforded protection from predators. Given these benefits, it is unclear why more fish do not engage in cleaning, and why part-time cleaning strategies exist. On coral reefs, dedicated species clean throughout their life, whereas some species are facultative, employing opportunistic and/or temporary cleaning strategies. Here, we investigate the cleaning behaviour of a facultative species to assess the relative importance of this interaction to the cleaner. Using a combination of focal and event sampling from a coral reef in Tobago, we show that cleaning is not an essential food source for facultative juvenile blue-headed wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum), as cleaning rate was unrelated to their foraging rate on the substrate. These wrasse displayed two cleaning strategies: stationary versus wandering cleaning, with cleaning frequency being highest for stationary cleaners. A specific cleaning location facilitated increased cleaning frequency, and wrasse cleaning rate decreased as cleaner or client abundance increased. We also compared juvenile blue-headed wrasse cleaning behaviour to a resident dedicated cleaner, the sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae), and showed that, in comparison, juvenile wrasse clean a narrower client range, predominately cleaning three species of gregarious free-ranging surgeonfish (Acanthurus spp.). The wrasse, however, frequently approached these clients without cleaning, which suggests that their selective cleaning strategy may be driven by the acquisition of a particular parasitic food source. Juvenile blue-headed wrasse are generalist foragers, and may thus be limited in their cleaning behaviour by their nutritional requirements, the availability of a suitable cleaning site, and fish density, which ultimately means that they do not adopt more dedicated cleaning roles within the reef community. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluating the use of laser radiation in cleaning of copper embroidery threads on archaeological Egyptian textiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdel-Kareem, Omar; Harith, M. A.

2008-07-01

Cleaning of copper embroidery threads on archaeological textiles is still a complicated conservation process, as most textile conservators believe that the advantages of using traditional cleaning techniques are less than their disadvantages. In this study, the uses of laser cleaning method and two modified recipes of wet cleaning methods were evaluated for cleaning of the corroded archaeological Egyptian copper embroidery threads on an archaeological Egyptian textile fabric. Some corroded copper thread samples were cleaned using modified recipes of wet cleaning method; other corroded copper thread samples were cleaned with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser radiation of wavelength 532 nm. All tested metal thread samples before and after cleaning were investigated using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis unit. Also the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was used for the elemental analysis of laser-cleaned samples to follow up the laser cleaning procedure. The results show that laser cleaning is the most effective method among all tested methods in the cleaning of corroded copper threads. It can be used safely in removing the corrosion products without any damage to both metal strips and fibrous core. The tested laser cleaning technique has solved the problems caused by other traditional cleaning techniques that are commonly used in the cleaning of metal threads on museum textiles.

Food safety in raw milk production: risk factors associated to bacterial DNA contamination.

PubMed

Cerva, Cristine; Bremm, Carolina; Reis, Emily Marques dos; Bezerra, André Vinícius Andrade; Loiko, Márcia Regina; Cruz, Cláudio Estêvão Farias da; Cenci, Alexander; Mayer, Fabiana Quoos

2014-06-01

While human illness from milkborne pathogens may be linked to contamination of the product after pasteurization or improper pasteurization, such diseases are usually associated with consumption of raw milk or its by-products. Molecular biology tools were applied to investigate contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., some pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni in 548 raw milk samples from 125 dairy farms established in two regions from southern Brazil. Moreover, 15 variables were evaluated for their association with raw milk contamination levels, and the risk factors were determined by multiple regression analysis. Salmonella spp. were more frequently detected, followed by pathogenic E. coli. There was difference in contamination index between the regions, in which risk factors such as temporary cattle confinement, low milk production, low milking machine cleaning frequency, and milk storage area without tile walls were identified. The risk factors were specific to each region studied. Nevertheless, the data can be used to improve milk quality of dairy farms/herds with similar management practices.

VisualUrText: A Text Analytics Tool for Unstructured Textual Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zainol, Zuraini; Jaymes, Mohd T. H.; Nohuddin, Puteri N. E.

2018-05-01

The growing amount of unstructured text over Internet is tremendous. Text repositories come from Web 2.0, business intelligence and social networking applications. It is also believed that 80-90% of future growth data is available in the form of unstructured text databases that may potentially contain interesting patterns and trends. Text Mining is well known technique for discovering interesting patterns and trends which are non-trivial knowledge from massive unstructured text data. Text Mining covers multidisciplinary fields involving information retrieval (IR), text analysis, natural language processing (NLP), data mining, machine learning statistics and computational linguistics. This paper discusses the development of text analytics tool that is proficient in extracting, processing, analyzing the unstructured text data and visualizing cleaned text data into multiple forms such as Document Term Matrix (DTM), Frequency Graph, Network Analysis Graph, Word Cloud and Dendogram. This tool, VisualUrText, is developed to assist students and researchers for extracting interesting patterns and trends in document analyses.

Ultra-Flexible Thermal Bus for Use in the Astro-H Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimball, Mark O.; Shirron, Peter J.

2015-01-01

The adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) developed for the Astro-H Soft-X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) is a multi-stage solid-state cooler. It is capable of holding the SXS detector array at 0.050 K for greater than 24 hours with a recycle time of less than one hour. This quick recycle time relies upon high-conductivity thermal straps to couple the individual stages to a pair of heat switches without imposing a lateral load on the paramagnetic salt pills. To accomplish this we construct thermal straps using a technique of diffusion bonding together the ends of high-purity copper straps leaving the length between as individual foils. A thermal bus created this way has a thermal conductivity comparable to a solid strap of the equivalent thickness but with much-increased flexibility. The technique for selecting the base material, machining, cleaning, forming into final shape, and finally bonding together individual foils will be discussed along with examples of complete straps in various geometries.

Electricity, water, and natural gas consumption of a residential house in Canada from 2012 to 2014.

PubMed

Makonin, Stephen; Ellert, Bradley; Bajić, Ivan V; Popowich, Fred

2016-06-07

With the cost of consuming resources increasing (both economically and ecologically), homeowners need to find ways to curb consumption. The Almanac of Minutely Power dataset Version 2 (AMPds2) has been released to help computational sustainability researchers, power and energy engineers, building scientists and technologists, utility companies, and eco-feedback researchers test their models, systems, algorithms, or prototypes on real house data. In the vast majority of cases, real-world datasets lead to more accurate models and algorithms. AMPds2 is the first dataset to capture all three main types of consumption (electricity, water, and natural gas) over a long period of time (2 years) and provide 11 measurement characteristics for electricity. No other such datasets from Canada exist. Each meter has 730 days of captured data. We also include environmental and utility billing data for cost analysis. AMPds2 data has been pre-cleaned to provide for consistent and comparable accuracy results amongst different researchers and machine learning algorithms.

Unvoiced Speech Recognition Using Tissue-Conductive Acoustic Sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heracleous, Panikos; Kaino, Tomomi; Saruwatari, Hiroshi; Shikano, Kiyohiro

2006-12-01

We present the use of stethoscope and silicon NAM (nonaudible murmur) microphones in automatic speech recognition. NAM microphones are special acoustic sensors, which are attached behind the talker's ear and can capture not only normal (audible) speech, but also very quietly uttered speech (nonaudible murmur). As a result, NAM microphones can be applied in automatic speech recognition systems when privacy is desired in human-machine communication. Moreover, NAM microphones show robustness against noise and they might be used in special systems (speech recognition, speech transform, etc.) for sound-impaired people. Using adaptation techniques and a small amount of training data, we achieved for a 20 k dictation task a[InlineEquation not available: see fulltext.] word accuracy for nonaudible murmur recognition in a clean environment. In this paper, we also investigate nonaudible murmur recognition in noisy environments and the effect of the Lombard reflex on nonaudible murmur recognition. We also propose three methods to integrate audible speech and nonaudible murmur recognition using a stethoscope NAM microphone with very promising results.

Fabrication of hydrophobic compressed oil palm trunk surface by sol-gel process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muzakir, Syafiqah; Salim, Nurjannah; Huda Abu Bakar, Nurul; Roslan, Rasidi; Sin, Lim Wan; Hashim, Rokiah

2018-04-01

Improvement of the robustness of hydrophobic surfaces is crucial to achieving commercial applications of these surfaces in such various areas as self-cleaning, water repellency and corrosion resistance. Compressed oil palm trunk (OPT) panel is one of potential product which can be used as panelling and indoor furniture application. By adding hydrophobic properties to compressed oil palm trunk panel might increase the application of compressed oil palm trunk especially for outdoor application. In this study, fabrication is using the sol-gel technique. Sol-gel was prepared by adding ethanol with Hexadecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) solution with Tetraethyl Orthosilicate (TEOS) with surface modification of chlorotrimethylsilane (CTMS). The surface with hydrophobic coating was undergone surface analysis with contact angle machine with the aid of software SCA 20 and the determined of the morphology of surface with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The produced compressed oil palm trunk surfaces exhibited promising hydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 104° and the relatively better mechanical robustness.

Overview of the ATLAS Insertable B-Layer (IBL) Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kagan, M. A.

2014-06-01

The first upgrade for the Pixel Detector will be a new pixel layer which is currently under construction and will be installed during the first shutdown of the LHC machine, in 2013-14. The new detector, called the Insertable B-layer (IBL), will be installed between the existing Pixel Detector and a new, smaller radius beam-pipe. Two different silicon sensor technologies, planar n-in-n and 3D, will be used, connected with the new generation 130nm IBM CMOS FE-I4 readout chip via solder bump-bonds. A production quality control test bench was set up in the ATLAS inner detector assembly clean room to verify and rate the performance of the detector elements before integration around the beam-pipe. An overview of the IBL project, of the module design, the qualification for these sensor technologies, the integration quality control setups and recent results in the construction of this full scale new concept detector is discussed.

Pressurized fluidized-bed component test program shows good promise

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1985-04-01

The test program described has involved extensive theoretical and laboratory work since 1976, which culminated in a series of PFBC rig tests at the Coal Utilization Research Laboratories (CURL) in Leatherhead, England, and eventually in the design and construction of a component test facility (CTF) at the Oresund Power Station of Sydkraft in Malmo, Sweden. The rig tests are listed. Those preceding the 1000-hr test in 1979 were carried out with and without cooling tubes in the bed, and with different bed characteristics; the main emphasis was on gas clean-up, combustion efficiency, and emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Inmore » these tests, the exhaust gases from the PFBC were passed through a cyclone train containing two cyclones to remove particulate matter, and then through a static cascade that contained parts of turbine blades from an ASEA STAL GT-120 machine. Good performance data, for the most part, are reported. 4 references, 3 figures.« less

Electricity, water, and natural gas consumption of a residential house in Canada from 2012 to 2014

PubMed Central

Makonin, Stephen; Ellert, Bradley; Bajić, Ivan V.; Popowich, Fred

2016-01-01

With the cost of consuming resources increasing (both economically and ecologically), homeowners need to find ways to curb consumption. The Almanac of Minutely Power dataset Version 2 (AMPds2) has been released to help computational sustainability researchers, power and energy engineers, building scientists and technologists, utility companies, and eco-feedback researchers test their models, systems, algorithms, or prototypes on real house data. In the vast majority of cases, real-world datasets lead to more accurate models and algorithms. AMPds2 is the first dataset to capture all three main types of consumption (electricity, water, and natural gas) over a long period of time (2 years) and provide 11 measurement characteristics for electricity. No other such datasets from Canada exist. Each meter has 730 days of captured data. We also include environmental and utility billing data for cost analysis. AMPds2 data has been pre-cleaned to provide for consistent and comparable accuracy results amongst different researchers and machine learning algorithms. PMID:27271937

Dimensional feature weighting utilizing multiple kernel learning for single-channel talker location discrimination using the acoustic transfer function.

PubMed

Takashima, Ryoichi; Takiguchi, Tetsuya; Ariki, Yasuo

2013-02-01

This paper presents a method for discriminating the location of the sound source (talker) using only a single microphone. In a previous work, the single-channel approach for discriminating the location of the sound source was discussed, where the acoustic transfer function from a user's position is estimated by using a hidden Markov model of clean speech in the cepstral domain. In this paper, each cepstral dimension of the acoustic transfer function is newly weighted, in order to obtain the cepstral dimensions having information that is useful for classifying the user's position. Then, this paper proposes a feature-weighting method for the cepstral parameter using multiple kernel learning, defining the base kernels for each cepstral dimension of the acoustic transfer function. The user's position is trained and classified by support vector machine. The effectiveness of this method has been confirmed by sound source (talker) localization experiments performed in different room environments.

Thermostructural characterization and structural elastic property optimization of novel high luminosity LHC collimation materials at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borg, M.; Bertarelli, A.; Carra, F.; Gradassi, P.; Guardia-Valenzuela, J.; Guinchard, M.; Izquierdo, G. Arnau; Mollicone, P.; Sacristan-de-Frutos, O.; Sammut, N.

2018-03-01

The CERN Large Hadron Collider is currently being upgraded to operate at a stored beam energy of 680 MJ through the High Luminosity upgrade. The LHC performance is dependent on the functionality of beam collimation systems, essential for safe beam cleaning and machine protection. A dedicated beam experiment at the CERN High Radiation to Materials facility is created under the HRMT-23 experimental campaign. This experiment investigates the behavior of three collimation jaws having novel composite absorbers made of copper diamond, molybdenum carbide graphite, and carbon fiber carbon, experiencing accidental scenarios involving the direct beam impact on the material. Material characterization is imperative for the design, execution, and analysis of such experiments. This paper presents new data and analysis of the thermostructural characteristics of some of the absorber materials commissioned within CERN facilities. In turn, characterized elastic properties are optimized through the development and implementation of a mixed numerical-experimental optimization technique.

Limonene and tetrahydrofurfurly alcohol cleaning agent

DOEpatents

Bohnert, George W.; Carter, Richard D.; Hand, Thomas E.; Powers, Michael T.

1997-10-21

The present invention is a tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and limonene cleaning agent and method for formulating and/or using the cleaning agent. This cleaning agent effectively removes both polar and nonpolar contaminants from various electrical and mechanical parts and is readily used without surfactants, thereby reducing the need for additional cleaning operations. The cleaning agent is warm water rinsable without the use of surfactants. The cleaning agent can be azeotropic, enhancing ease of use in cleaning operations and ease of recycling.

Limonene and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol cleaning agent

DOEpatents

Bohnert, G.W.; Carter, R.D.; Hand, T.E.; Powers, M.T.

1997-10-21

The present invention is a tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and limonene cleaning agent and method for formulating and/or using the cleaning agent. This cleaning agent effectively removes both polar and nonpolar contaminants from various electrical and mechanical parts and is readily used without surfactants, thereby reducing the need for additional cleaning operations. The cleaning agent is warm water rinsable without the use of surfactants. The cleaning agent can be azeotropic, enhancing ease of use in cleaning operations and ease of recycling.

77 FR 44672 - Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts... a civil penalty of $1,750,000 to resolve its violations of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act... of coke oven gas. Under the Clean Water Act, Plaintiffs allege that Shenango violated the effluent...

40 CFR 423.11 - Specialized definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... chemical metal cleaning waste means any wastewater resulting from the cleaning of any metal process equipment with chemical compounds, including, but not limited to, boiler tube cleaning. (d) The term metal cleaning waste means any wastewater resulting from cleaning [with or without chemical cleaning compounds...

40 CFR 423.11 - Specialized definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... chemical metal cleaning waste means any wastewater resulting from the cleaning of any metal process equipment with chemical compounds, including, but not limited to, boiler tube cleaning. (d) The term metal cleaning waste means any wastewater resulting from cleaning [with or without chemical cleaning compounds...

Limonene and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol cleaning agent

DOEpatents

Bohnert, George W.; Carter, Richard D.; Hand, Thomas E.; Powers, Michael T.

1996-05-07

The present invention is a tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and limonene or terpineol cleaning agent and method for formulating and/or using the cleaning agent. This cleaning agent effectively removes both polar and nonpolar contaminants from various electrical and mechanical parts and is readily used without surfactants, thereby reducing the need for additional cleaning operations. The cleaning agent is warm water rinsable without the use of surfactants. The cleaning agent can be azeotropic, enhancing ease of use in cleaning operations and ease of recycling.

Bio-Inspired Self-Cleaning Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Kesong; Jiang, Lei

2012-08-01

Self-cleaning surfaces have drawn a lot of interest for both fundamental research and practical applications. This review focuses on the recent progress in mechanism, preparation, and application of self-cleaning surfaces. To date, self-cleaning has been demonstrated by the following four conceptual approaches: (a) TiO2-based superhydrophilic self-cleaning, (b) lotus effect self-cleaning (superhydrophobicity with a small sliding angle), (c) gecko setae-inspired self-cleaning, and (d) underwater organisms-inspired antifouling self-cleaning. Although a number of self-cleaning products have been commercialized, the remaining challenges and future outlook of self-cleaning surfaces are also briefly addressed. Through evolution, nature, which has long been a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers, has arrived at what is optimal. We hope this review will stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration among material science, chemistry, biology, physics, nanoscience, engineering, etc., which is essential for the rational design and reproducible construction of bio-inspired multifunctional self-cleaning surfaces in practical applications.

Laser Ablation Cleaning of Self-Reacting Friction Stir Weld Seam Surfaces: A Preliminary Evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nunes, A. C., Jr.; Russell, C. K.; Brooke, S. A.; Parry, Q.; Lowrey, N. M.

2014-01-01

Anodized aluminum panels were cleaned by three lasers at three separate sites with a view to determining whether more economical laser cleaning might supplant current manual cleaning methods for preparation of surfaces to be welded by the self-reacting friction stir process. Uncleaned panels yielded welds exhibiting residual oxide defect (ROD) and failing at very low stresses along the trace of the weld seam. Manually cleaned panels yielded welds without ROD; these welds failed at nominal stress levels along an angled fracture surface not following the weld seam trace. Laser cleaned panels yielded welds failing at intermediate stress levels. The inadequacy of the laser cleaning processes leaves questions: Was the anodized aluminum test too stringent to represent actual cleaning requirements? Were the wrong laser cleaning techniques/parameters used for the study? Is the laser cleaning mechanism inadequate for effective preweld surface cleaning?

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

Clean Agriculture Clean Agriculture is a voluntary program that promotes the reduction of diesel cleaner fuels. Clean Agriculture is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean information, see the Clean Agriculture website. Point of Contact Jennifer Keller National Clean Diesel

Mechanical vs. manual cleaning of hospital beds: a prospective intervention study.

PubMed

Hopman, J; Nillesen, M; de Both, E; Witte, J; Teerenstra, S; Hulscher, M; Voss, A

2015-06-01

Cleaning regimens for hospital beds were evaluated in the context of a rising prevalence of highly resistant micro-organisms and increasing financial pressure on healthcare systems. Dutch hospitals have to choose between standardized, mechanical bed-washers advised in national guidance and manual cleaning. To evaluate the quality of mechanical and manual bed-cleaning regimens. The multi-faceted analysis of bed-cleaning regimens consisted of three steps. In Step 1, the training of the domestic service team was evaluated. In Step 2, the cleaning quality of manual and mechanical regimens was assessed. Soiled beds, obtained at random, from different departments were evaluated using microbiological analysis (N = 40) and ATP (N = 20). ATP and microbiological contamination were measured in five predetermined locations on all beds. In Step 3, manual cleaning was introduced over a two-month pilot study at the surgical short-stay unit, and beds from other departments were processed according to the 'gold standard' mechanical cleaning. ATP levels were evaluated in three locations on 300 beds after cleaning. Training was found to improve the quality of cleaning significantly. Mechanical cleaning resulted in significantly lower ATP levels than manual cleaning. Mechanical cleaning shows less variation and results in consistently lower ATP levels than manual cleaning. Copyright © 2015 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mouse Cleaning Apparatus and Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Glenn L. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

The method of using the mouse pad cleaning apparatus is disclosed and claimed. The method comprises the steps of uncovering the mouse cleaning surface, applying the mouse and ball of the mouse to the cleaning surface, moving the mouse in a rotational pattern on the mouse cleaning surface, removing the mouse form the mouse cleaning surface, washing the cleaning surface, and covering the mouse cleaning surface. A mouse pad cleaning apparatus comprising a plurality of substrates, each said substrate having adhesive thereon, said plurality of substrates residing in and affixed to a receptacle. A single substrate having adhesive, which may be washable or non-washable, thereon may be employed. The washable adhesive may be an organopolysiloxane or gelatinous elastomer.

A Commercial IOTV Cleaning Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-12

manufacturer’s list price without taking into consideration of possible volume discount.  Equipment depreciation cost was calculated based on...Laundering with Prewash Spot Cleaning) 32 Table 12 Shrinkage Statistical Data (Traditional Wet Laundering without Prewash Spot Cleaning...Statistical Data (Computer-controlled Wet Cleaning without Prewash Spot Cleaning) 35 Table 15 Shrinkage Statistical Data (Liquid CO2 Cleaning

Clean Energy Solutions Center: Assisting Countries with Clean Energy Policy

Science.gov Websites

Energy Solutions Center: Assisting Countries with Clean Energy Policy NREL helps developing countries and adapting to climate change impacts, developing countries are looking for clean energy solutions supports clean energy scale-up in the developing world are knowledge, capacity, and cost. The Clean Energy

Active cleaning technique for removing contamination from optical surfaces in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shannon, R. L.; Gillette, R. B.; Cruz, G. A.

1973-01-01

An active cleaning technique for removing contaminants from optical surfaces in space was investigated with emphasis on the feasibility of using plasma exposure as a means of in-situ cleaning. The major work accomplished includes: (1) development of an in-situ reflectometer for use in conjunction with the contaminant film deposition/cleaning facility; (2) completion of Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) filter treatment experiments to assess the effects of plasma exposure on the UV transmittance; (3) attempts to correlate the atomic oxygen flux with cleaning rate; (4) completion of in-situ butadien contamination/plasma cleaning/UV reflectance measurement experiments; (5) carbon cleaning experiments using various gases; (6) completion of silicone contamination/cleaning experiments; and (7) experiments conducted at low chamber pressures to determine cleaning rate distribution and contamination of surfaces adjacent to those being cleaned.

Ultrasonic cleaning of conveyor belt materials using Listeria monocytogenes as a model organism.

PubMed

Tolvanén, Riina; Lunden, Janne; Korkeala, Hannu; Wirtanen, Gun

2007-03-01

Persistent Listeria monocytogenes contamination of food industry equipment is a difficult problem to solve. Ultrasonic cleaning offers new possibilities for cleaning conveyors and other equipment that are not easy to clean. Ultrasonic cleaning was tested on three conveyor belt materials: polypropylene, acetal, and stainless steel (cold-rolled, AISI 304). Cleaning efficiency was tested at two temperatures (30 and 45 degrees C) and two cleaning times (30 and 60 s) with two cleaning detergents (KOH, and NaOH combined with KOH). Conveyor belt materials were soiled with milk-based soil and L. monocytogenes strains V1, V3, and B9, and then incubated for 72 h to attach bacteria to surfaces. Ultrasonic cleaning treatments reduced L. monocytogenes counts on stainless steel 4.61 to 5.90 log units; on acetal, 3.37 to 5.55 log units; and on polypropylene, 2.31 to 4.40 log units. The logarithmic reduction differences were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. The logarithmic reduction was significantly greater in stainless steel than in plastic materials (P < 0.001 for polypropylene, P = 0.023 for acetal). Higher temperatures enhanced the cleaning efficiency in tested materials. No significant difference occurred between cleaning times. The logarithmic reduction was significantly higher (P = 0.013) in cleaning treatments with potassium hydroxide detergent. In this study, ultrasonic cleaning was efficient for cleaning conveyor belt materials.

78 FR 17229 - Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Amendment Under the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-20

... Act; the Clean Water Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Missouri Air Conservation Law; the Missouri Clean Water Law and the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law On March 14, 2013..., the Missouri Air Conservation Law, the Clean Water Act, the Missouri Clean Water Law, the Resource...

9 CFR 354.241 - Cleaning of rooms and compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... compartments. Rooms, compartments, or other parts of the official plant shall be kept clean and in sanitary... light fixtures in the official plant shall be kept clean. (c) All docks and rooms shall be kept clean... rooms should be kept clean at all times. (e) Floors in live rabbit holding rooms shall be cleaned with...

9 CFR 354.241 - Cleaning of rooms and compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... compartments. Rooms, compartments, or other parts of the official plant shall be kept clean and in sanitary... light fixtures in the official plant shall be kept clean. (c) All docks and rooms shall be kept clean... rooms should be kept clean at all times. (e) Floors in live rabbit holding rooms shall be cleaned with...

Manual cleaning of hospital mattresses: an observational study comparing high- and low-resource settings.

PubMed

Hopman, J; Hakizimana, B; Meintjes, W A J; Nillessen, M; de Both, E; Voss, A; Mehtar, S

2016-01-01

Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) are more frequently encountered in low- than in high-resource settings. There is a need to identify and implement feasible and sustainable approaches to strengthen HAI prevention in low-resource settings. To evaluate the biological contamination of routinely cleaned mattresses in both high- and low-resource settings. In this two-stage observational study, routine manual bed cleaning was evaluated at two university hospitals using adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Standardized training of cleaning personnel was achieved in both high- and low-resource settings. Qualitative analysis of the cleaning process was performed to identify predictors of cleaning outcome in low-resource settings. Mattresses in low-resource settings were highly contaminated prior to cleaning. Cleaning significantly reduced biological contamination of mattresses in low-resource settings (P < 0.0001). After training, the contamination observed after cleaning in both the high- and low-resource settings seemed comparable. Cleaning with appropriate type of cleaning materials reduced the contamination of mattresses adequately. Predictors for mattresses that remained contaminated in a low-resource setting included: type of product used, type of ward, training, and the level of contamination prior to cleaning. In low-resource settings mattresses were highly contaminated as noted by ATP levels. Routine manual cleaning by trained staff can be as effective in a low-resource setting as in a high-resource setting. We recommend a multi-modal cleaning strategy that consists of training of domestic services staff, availability of adequate time to clean beds between patients, and application of the correct type of cleaning products. Copyright © 2015 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Washing away your sins in the brain: physical cleaning and priming of cleaning recruit different brain networks after moral threat

PubMed Central

Tang, Honghong; Lu, Xiaping; Su, Rui; Liang, Zilu; Mai, Xiaoqin

2017-01-01

Abstract The association between moral purity and physical cleanliness has been widely discussed recently. Studies found that moral threat initiates the need of physical cleanliness, but actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning have inconsistent effects on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the underlying neural mechanism of actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning. After recalling moral transgression with strong feelings of guilt and shame, participants either actually cleaned their faces with a wipe or were primed with cleanliness through viewing its pictures. Results showed that actual physical cleaning reduced the spontaneous brain activities in the right insula and MPFC, regions that involved in embodied moral emotion processing, while priming of cleaning decreased activities in the right superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, regions that participated in executive control processing. Additionally, actual physical cleaning also changed functional connectivity between insula/MPFC and emotion related regions, whereas priming of cleaning modified connectivity within both moral and sensorimotor areas. These findings revealed that actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning led to changes in different brain regions and networks, providing neural evidence for the inconsistent effects of cleanliness on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. PMID:28338887

Washing away your sins in the brain: physical cleaning and priming of cleaning recruit different brain networks after moral threat.

PubMed

Tang, Honghong; Lu, Xiaping; Su, Rui; Liang, Zilu; Mai, Xiaoqin; Liu, Chao

2017-07-01

The association between moral purity and physical cleanliness has been widely discussed recently. Studies found that moral threat initiates the need of physical cleanliness, but actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning have inconsistent effects on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the underlying neural mechanism of actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning. After recalling moral transgression with strong feelings of guilt and shame, participants either actually cleaned their faces with a wipe or were primed with cleanliness through viewing its pictures. Results showed that actual physical cleaning reduced the spontaneous brain activities in the right insula and MPFC, regions that involved in embodied moral emotion processing, while priming of cleaning decreased activities in the right superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, regions that participated in executive control processing. Additionally, actual physical cleaning also changed functional connectivity between insula/MPFC and emotion related regions, whereas priming of cleaning modified connectivity within both moral and sensorimotor areas. These findings revealed that actual physical cleaning and priming of cleaning led to changes in different brain regions and networks, providing neural evidence for the inconsistent effects of cleanliness on subsequent attitudes and behaviors. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press.

Precision cleaning apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Schneider, T.W.; Frye, G.C.; Martin, S.J.

1998-01-13

A precision cleaning apparatus and method are disclosed. The precision cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning monitor further comprising an acoustic wave cleaning sensor such as a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), a flexural plate wave (FPW) sensor, a shear horizontal acoustic plate mode (SH--APM) sensor, or a shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH--SAW) sensor; and measurement means connectable to the sensor for measuring in-situ one or more electrical response characteristics that vary in response to removal of one or more contaminants from the sensor and a workpiece located adjacent to the sensor during cleaning. Methods are disclosed for precision cleaning of one or more contaminants from a surface of the workpiece by means of the cleaning monitor that determines a state of cleanliness and any residual contamination that may be present after cleaning; and also for determining an effectiveness of a cleaning medium for removing one or more contaminants from a workpiece. 11 figs.

Precision cleaning apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Schneider, Thomas W.; Frye, Gregory C.; Martin, Stephen J.

1998-01-01

A precision cleaning apparatus and method. The precision cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning monitor further comprising an acoustic wave cleaning sensor such as a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), a flexural plate wave (FPW) sensor, a shear horizontal acoustic plate mode (SH--APM) sensor, or a shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH--SAW) sensor; and measurement means connectable to the sensor for measuring in-situ one or more electrical response characteristics that vary in response to removal of one or more contaminants from the sensor and a workpiece located adjacent to the sensor during cleaning. Methods are disclosed for precision cleaning of one or more contaminants from a surface of the workpiece by means of the cleaning monitor that determines a state of cleanliness and any residual contamination that may be present after cleaning; and also for determining an effectiveness of a cleaning medium for removing one or more contaminants from a workpiece.

Dialyzer reuse--part II: advantages and disadvantages.

PubMed

Twardowski, Zbylut J

2006-01-01

Although single dialyzer use and reuse by chemical reprocessing are both associated with some complications, there is no definitive advantage to either in this respect. Some complications occur mainly at the first use of a dialyzer: a new cellophane or cuprophane membrane may activate the complement system, or a noxious agent may be introduced to the dialyzer during production or generated during storage. These agents may not be completely removed during the routine rinsing procedure. The reuse of dialyzers is associated with environmental contamination, allergic reactions, residual chemical infusion (rebound release), inadequate concentration of disinfectants, and pyrogen reactions. Bleach used during reprocessing causes a progressive increase in dialyzer permeability to larger molecules, including albumin. Reprocessing methods without the use of bleach are associated with progressive decreases in membrane permeability, particularly to larger molecules. Most comparative studies have not shown differences in mortality between centers reusing and those not reusing dialyzers, however, the largest cluster of dialysis-related deaths occurred with single-use dialyzers due to the presence of perfluorohydrocarbon introduced during the manufacturing process and not completely removed during preparation of the dialyzers before the dialysis procedure. The cost savings associated with reuse is substantial, especially with more expensive, high-flux synthetic membrane dialyzers. With reuse, some dialysis centers can afford to utilize more efficient dialyzers that are more expensive; consequently they provide a higher dose of dialysis and reduce mortality. Some studies have shown minimally higher morbidity with chemical reuse, depending on the method. Waste disposal is definitely decreased with the reuse of dialyzers, thus environmental impacts are lessened, particularly if reprocessing is done by heat disinfection. It is safe to predict that dialyzer reuse in dialysis centers will continue because it also saves money for the providers. Saving both time for the patient and money for the provider were the main motivations to design a new machine for daily home hemodialysis. The machine, developed in the 1990s, cleans and heat disinfects the dialyzer and lines in situ so they do not need to be changed for a month. In contrast, reuse of dialyzers in home hemodialysis patients treated with other hemodialysis machines is becoming less popular and is almost extinct.

Occupation and Bladder Cancer in a Population-Based Case-control Study in Northern New England

PubMed Central

Colt, Joanne S.; Karagas, Margaret R.; Schwenn, Molly; Baris, Dalsu; Johnson, Alison; Stewart, Patricia; Verrill, Castine; Moore, Lee E.; Lubin, Jay; Ward, Mary H.; Samanic, Claudine; Rothman, Nathaniel; Cantor, Kenneth P.; Beane Freeman, Laura E.; Schned, Alan; Cherala, Sai; Silverman, Debra T.

2010-01-01

Objectives We used data from a large, population-based case-control study in New England to examine relationships between occupation, industry, and bladder cancer risk. Methods Lifetime occupational histories were obtained by personal interview from 1,158 patients newly diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder between 2001 and 2004 among residents of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and from 1,402 population controls selected from Department of Motor Vehicle records (ages 30 to 64 years) or Medicare beneficiary records (65 to 79 years). Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for demographic factors, smoking, and employment in high-risk occupations other than the one being analyzed. Results Male precision metalworkers and metalworking/plasticworking machine operators had significantly elevated risks and significant trends in risk with duration of employment (precision metalworkers: OR=2.2; CI: 1.4, 3.4, Ptrend =0.0065; metalworking/plasticworking machine operators: OR=1.6; CI: 1.01, 2.6, Ptrend=0.047). Other occupations/industries for which risk increased significantly with duration of employment included: for men, textile machine operators, mechanics/repairers, automobile mechanics, plumbers, computer systems analysts, information clerks, and landscape and horticultural services industry workers; and for women, service occupations, health services, cleaning and building services, management-related occupations, electronic components and accessories manufacturing, and transportation equipment manufacturing. Men reporting use of metalworking fluids (MWF) had a significantly elevated bladder cancer risk (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.5), Conclusions Our findings for metalworkers and for MWF exposure support the hypothesis that some component(s) of MWF may be carcinogenic to the bladder in humans. Our results also corroborate many other previously-reported associations between bladder cancer risk and various occupations. More detailed analyses using information collected in job-specific questionnaires administered in this study may help to identify components of MWF that may be carcinogenic, and other bladder carcinogens to which people are exposed in a variety of occupations. PMID:20864470

Understanding space charge and controlling beam loss in high intensity synchrotrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cousineau, Sarah M.

Future high intensity synchrotrons will require unprecedented control of beam loss in order to comply with radiation safety regulations and to allow for safe, hands-on maintenance of machine hardware. A major cause of beam loss in high intensity synchrotrons is the space charge force of the beam, which can lead to beam halo and emittance dilution. This dissertation presents a comprehensive study of space charge effects in high intensity synchrotron beams. Experimental measurements taken at the Proton Storage Ring (PSR) in Los Alamos National Laboratory and detailed simulations of the experiments are used to identify and characterize resonances that affect these beams. The collective motion of the beam is extensively studied and is shown to be more relevant than the single particle dynamics in describing the resonance response. The emittance evolution of the PSR beam and methods for reducing the space-charge-induced emittance growth are addressed. In a separate study, the emittance evolution of an intense space charge beam is experimentally measured at the Cooler Injector Synchrotron (CIS) at Indiana University. This dissertation also investigates the sophisticated two-stage collimation system of the future Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) high intensity accumulator ring. A realistic Monte-Carlo collimation simulation is developed and used to optimize the SNS ring collimation system parameters. The finalized parameters and predicted beam loss distribution around the ring are presented. The collimators will additionally be used in conjunction with a set of fast kickers to remove the beam from the gap region before the rise of the extraction magnets. The gap cleaning process is optimized and the cleaning efficiency versus momentum spread of the beam is examined.

Effects of toothbrushing with fluoride abrasive and whitening dentifrices on both unbleached and bleached human enamel surface in terms of roughness and hardness: an in vitro study.

PubMed

Bolay, Sukran; Cakir, Filiz Yalcin; Gurgan, Sevil

2012-09-01

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the surface roughness and hardness of both unbleached and bleached (opalescence; 10% carbamide peroxide) human enamel brushed with water (without dentifrice), fluoride abrasive dentifrice (Colgate Total) and whitening dentifrice (Natural White). Human enamel samples were obtained from third molars and randomly divided into five groups (n = 8): G1 - Control (brushed with water without dentifrice), G2 - Colgate Total (fluoride abrasive dentifrice), G3 - Natural White (whitening dentifrice), G4 - Opalescence (10% carbamide peroxide) and then brushed with Colgate Total, G5 - Opalescence (10% carbamide peroxide) and then brushed with Natural White. Bleaching regimen was applied according to manufacturers' instructions. The brushing process was performed with a modified Nyffenegger's brushing machine. Surface roughness was analyzed with a profilometer. Microhardness testing was performed with a Brinell hardness tester. Results were statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA analysis and Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks tests. There were significant differences in surface roughness values for all groups, which showed an increase in roughness (p < 0.05). When the bleaching treatment combined with brushing with whitening dentifrice was performed (G5), there was a significant decrease in hardness values (p < 0.05). The other groups (G1, G2, G3, G4) showed no significant hardness differences (p > 0.05). It was concluded that toothbrushing procedures increased the enamel surface roughness, and that bleaching regimen performed with cleaning treatment, through brushing with whitening dentifrice decreased hardness values. When applied together, bleaching and cleaning treatments may alter the enamel surface roughness and hardness values.

Factors Affecting the Discharge of Micro-Plastic Fibers from Household Laundry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lange, N.

2017-12-01

Every day millions of loads of laundry are done in in the United States alone. Many, if not most, include synthetic fibers. During washing, micro-plastic fibers are released from the fabric, and discharged into the wastewater. These fibers have been detected in fresh water throughout the world and all of the oceans. These micro-plastic fibers are an emerging environmental contaminant that can adversely affect wildlife and are highly bio-accumulated in aquatic food-chains. Additionally, like other plastics, micro-fibers are not readily biodegraded and persist in the environment for a long time. In this research, I explored the effect of the way we wash clothes on the amount of micro-plastic fibers that are shed by common clothing materials containing man-made fibers. I collected discharge samples from wash and rinse cycles of a washing machine. I collected samples from a control wash using no detergent and then repeated five times. Next, I repeated the experiment five times using four different types of detergent. Large amounts of micro-plastic fibers were released during all wash cycles. However, the numbers decreased during the later rinse cycles. The use of laundry detergent increased the number of micro-plastic fibers released into the wash-water. Deep cleaning detergents produced over ten times more fibers than the no-detergent control. The gentlest detergent only released two times more fibers than the control. Therefore, it would be possible to affect the number of fibers released into the wastewater simply by selection of detergent. The ultimate goal of my research is to develop an optimized detergent that minimizes the number of micro-plastic fibers generated by washing and still effectively clean clothes.

Pilot-Scale Demonstration of Pefi's Oxygenated Transportation Fuels Production Technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

Coal-cleaning processes have been utilized to increase the heating value of coal by extracting ash-forming minerals in the coal. These processes involve the crushing or grinding of raw coal followed by physical separation processes, taking advantage of the density difference between carbonaceous particles and mineral particles. In addition to the desired increase in the heating value of coal, a significant reduction of the sulfur content of the coal fed to a combustion unit is effected by the removal of pyrite and other sulfides found in the mineral matter. WRI is assisting PulseWave to develop an alternate, more efficient method ofmore » liberating and separating the undesirable mineral matter from the carbonaceous matter in coal. The approach is based on PulseWave's patented resonance disintegration technology that reduces that particle size of materials by application of destructive resonance, shock waves, and vortex generating forces. Illinois No.5 coal, a Wyodak coal, and a Pittsburgh No.8 coal were processed using the resonance disintegration apparatus then subjected to conventional density separations. Initial microscopic results indicate that up to 90% of the pyrite could be liberated from the coal in the machine, but limitations in the density separations reduced overall effectiveness of contaminant removal. Approximately 30-80% of the pyritic sulfur and 30-50% of the mercury was removed from the coal. The three coals (both with and without the pyritic phase separated out) were tested in WRI's 250,000 Btu/hr Combustion Test Facility, designed to replicate a coal-fired utility boiler. The flue gases were characterized for elemental, particle bound, and total mercury in addition to sulfur. The results indicated that pre-combustion cleaning could reduce a large fraction of the mercury emissions.« less

Decontamination of blood soaked electronic devices using ultrasonic technology.

PubMed

Dudeck, Kimberly C; Brennan, Tamara C; Embury, Daniel J

2012-01-10

With advancements in technology allowing for the miniaturization of consumer electronics, criminal investigations of all types frequently involve the forensic examination of electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, smartphones, and portable flash memory; in some extreme, violent cases, these devices are found covered in blood. Due to the complexity of such devices, standard operating procedures for the complete removal of blood had not previously been established by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police prior to this study. The electronics industry has adopted the use of the ultrasonic cleaner for sanitizing printed circuit boards (PCBs) by removing residues and contaminants. High frequency sound waves created by the machine penetrate and remove dirt and residues; however, early research during the 1950s recorded these sound waves breaking the internal bonds of integrated circuit chips. Experimentation with modern ultrasonic technology was used to determine if internal components were damaged, as well as if ultrasonic cleaning was the most suitable method for the removal of dried and liquid blood from a PCB. Several disinfectant solutions were compared against the 0.5% Triton(®) X-100 detergent solution in the ultrasonic cleaner, including: 10% sodium hypochlorite bleach, 85% isopropyl alcohol, and Conflikt(®) disinfectant spray. The results not only demonstrated that the ultrasonic cleaner did not damage the vital memory chip on the PCB, but also, with the assistance of Conflikt(®), was able to remove all traces of blood as indicated by Hemastix(®) reagent strips. Of five methods experimented with, two cycles of ultrasonic cleaning followed by sanitization with Conflikt(®) proved to be the only procedure capable of removing all traces of blood, as confirmed with both Hemastix(®) reagent strips and the hemochromogen test. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

75 FR 11560 - Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-11

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air... for the Defendant's violations of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq., and the Clean Air Act... including the installation of water effluent controls, the rerouting of air emissions through control...

P-23 Highlights 6/10/12: Cygnus Dual Beam Radiographic Facility Refurbishment completed at U1A tunnel in Nevada NNSS meeting Level 2 milestone

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deyoung, Anemarie; Smith, John R.

2012-05-03

A moratorium was placed on U.S. underground nuclear testing in 1992. In response, the Stockpile Stewardship Program was created to maintain readiness of the existing nuclear inventory through several efforts such as computer modeling, material analysis, and subcritical nuclear experiments (SCEs). As in the underground test era, the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), formerly the Nevada Test Site, provides a safe and secure environment for SCEs by the nature of its isolated and secure facilities. A major tool for SCE diagnosis installed in the 05 drift laboratory is a high energy x-ray source used for time resolved imaging. This toolmore » consists of two identical sources (Cygnus 1 and Cygnus 2) and is called the Cygnus Dual Beam Radiographic Facility (Figs. 2-6). Each Cygnus machine has 5 major elements: Marx Generator, Pulse Forming Line (PFL), Coaxial Transmission Line (CTL), 3-cell Inductive Voltage Adder (IVA), and Rod Pinch Diode. Each machine is independently triggered and may be fired in separate tests (staggered mode), or in a single test where there is submicrosecond separation between the pulses (dual mode). Cygnus must operate as a single shot machine since on each pulse the diode electrodes are destroyed. The diode is vented to atmosphere, cleaned, and new electrodes are inserted for each shot. There is normally two shots per day on each machine. Since its installation in 2003, Cygnus has participated in: 4 Subcritical Experiments (Armando, Bacchus, Barolo A, and Barolo B), a 12 shot plutonium physics series (Thermos), and 2 plutonium step wedge calibration series (2005, 2011), resulting in well over 1000 shots. Currently the Facility is in preparation for 2 SCEs scheduled for this calendar year - Castor and Pollux. Cygnus has performed well during 8 years of operations at NNSS. Many improvements in operations and performance have been implemented during this time. Throughout its service at U1a, major maintenance and replacement of many hardware items were delayed due to programmatic requirements. It is anticipated that Cygnus will be in service at U1a for another 5 years. With this assumption, it was realized that significant resources and effort should be allotted to bring the hardware back to its original condition, or even to improve elements when appropriate. The Cygnus Refurbishment and Enhancement Project started in April, 2011 with the intent to encompass a major overhaul of Cygnus.« less

Supersonic Gas-Liquid Cleaning System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kinney, Frank

1996-01-01

The Supersonic Gas-Liquid Cleaning System Research Project consisted mainly of a feasibility study, including theoretical and engineering analysis, of a proof-of-concept prototype of this particular cleaning system developed by NASA-KSC. The cleaning system utilizes gas-liquid supersonic nozzles to generate high impingement velocities at the surface of the device to be cleaned. The cleaning fluid being accelerated to these high velocities may consist of any solvent or liquid, including water. Compressed air or any inert gas is used to provide the conveying medium for the liquid, as well as substantially reduce the total amount of liquid needed to perform adequate surface cleaning and cleanliness verification. This type of aqueous cleaning system is considered to be an excellent way of conducting cleaning and cleanliness verification operations as replacements for the use of CFC 113 which must be discontinued by 1995. To utilize this particular cleaning system in various cleaning applications for both the Space Program and the commercial market, it is essential that the cleaning system, especially the supersonic nozzle, be characterized for such applications. This characterization consisted of performing theoretical and engineering analysis, identifying desirable modifications/extensions to the basic concept, evaluating effects of variations in operating parameters, and optimizing hardware design for specific applications.

Diospyrin derivative, an anticancer quinonoid, regulates apoptosis at endoplasmic reticulum as well as mitochondria by modulating cytosolic calcium in human breast carcinoma cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Binod; Radiation and Cancer Biology Section, Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085; Kumar, Amit

2012-01-13

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Diospyrin diethylether (D7) caused oxidative stress-dependent activation of PC-PLC. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Activated PC-PLC induced a sustained-release of Ca{sup 2+} from endoplasmic reticulum. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The elevated cytosolic Ca{sup +2} led to the calpain-caspase12 dependent apoptosis. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer D7-Induced Ca{sup +2} also found to accentuate the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. -- Abstract: Diospyrin diethylether (D7), a bisnaphthoquinonoid derivative, exhibited an oxidative stress-dependent apoptosis in several human cancer cells and tumor models. The present study was aimed at evaluation of the increase in cytosolic calcium [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub c} leading to the apoptotic cell death triggered by D7 in MCF7 human breast carcinoma cells.more » A phosphotidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor, viz. U73122, and an antioxidant, viz. N-acetylcysteine, could significantly prevent the D7-induced rise in [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub c} and PC-PLC activity. Using an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Ca{sup 2+} mobilizer (thapsigargin) and an ER-IP3R antagonist (heparin), results revealed ER as a major source of [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub c} which led to the activation of calpain and caspase12, and cleavage of fodrin. These effects including apoptosis were significantly inhibited by the pretreatment of Bapta-AM (a cell permeable Ca{sup 2+}-specific chelator), or calpeptin (a calpain inhibitor). Furthermore, D7-induced [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub c} was found to alter mitochondrial membrane potential and induce cytochrome c release, which was inhibited by either Bapta-AM or ruthenium red (an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca{sup 2+} uniporter). Thus, these results provided a deeper insight into the D7-induced redox signaling which eventually integrated the calcium-dependent calpain/caspase12 activation and mitochondrial alterations to accentuate the induction of apoptotic cell death.« less

26 CFR 1.179A-1 - Recapture of deduction for qualified clean-fuel vehicle property and qualified clean-fuel vehicle...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... longer be propelled by a clean-burning fuel; (B) The vehicle is used by the taxpayer in a manner... vehicle property and qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling property. 1.179A-1 Section 1.179A-1 Internal... of deduction for qualified clean-fuel vehicle property and qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling...

Ultrasonic cleaning: Fundamental theory and application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fuchs, F. John

1995-01-01

This presentation describes: the theory of ultrasonics, cavitation and implosion; the importance and application of ultrasonics in precision cleaning; explanations of ultrasonic cleaning equipment options and their application; process parameters for ultrasonic cleaning; and proper operation of ultrasonic cleaning equipment to achieve maximum results.

Benchmarks of Global Clean Energy Manufacturing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sandor, Debra; Chung, Donald; Keyser, David

The Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center (CEMAC), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), provides objective analysis and up-to-date data on global supply chains and manufacturing of clean energy technologies. Benchmarks of Global Clean Energy Manufacturing sheds light on several fundamental questions about the global clean technology manufacturing enterprise: How does clean energy technology manufacturing impact national economies? What are the economic opportunities across the manufacturing supply chain? What are the global dynamics of clean energy technology manufacturing?

40 CFR 63.744 - Standards: Cleaning operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... system with equivalent emission control. (e) Exempt cleaning operations. The following cleaning...) Cleaning of aircraft and ground support equipment fluid systems that are exposed to the fluid, including... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Standards: Cleaning operations. 63.744...

40 CFR 63.744 - Standards: Cleaning operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... system with equivalent emission control. (e) Exempt cleaning operations. The following cleaning...) Cleaning of aircraft and ground support equipment fluid systems that are exposed to the fluid, including... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Standards: Cleaning operations. 63.744...

40 CFR 63.744 - Standards: Cleaning operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... system with equivalent emission control. (e) Exempt cleaning operations. The following cleaning...) Cleaning of aircraft and ground support equipment fluid systems that are exposed to the fluid, including... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Standards: Cleaning operations. 63.744...

40 CFR 63.744 - Standards: Cleaning operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... system with equivalent emission control. (e) Exempt cleaning operations. The following cleaning...) Cleaning of aircraft and ground support equipment fluid systems that are exposed to the fluid, including... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Standards: Cleaning operations. 63.744...

40 CFR 63.744 - Standards: Cleaning operations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... system with equivalent emission control. (e) Exempt cleaning operations. The following cleaning...) Cleaning of aircraft and ground support equipment fluid systems that are exposed to the fluid, including... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Standards: Cleaning operations. 63.744...

40 CFR 98.98 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... this definition. (1) In situ plasma process sub-type consists of the cleaning of thin-film production... within a broad process type. For example, the chamber cleaning process type includes in-situ plasma chamber cleaning, remote plasma chamber cleaning, and in-situ thermal chamber cleaning sub-types. Process...

40 CFR 98.98 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... this definition. (1) In situ plasma process sub-type consists of the cleaning of thin-film production... within a broad process type. For example, the chamber cleaning process type includes in-situ plasma chamber cleaning, remote plasma chamber cleaning, and in-situ thermal chamber cleaning sub-types. Process...

40 CFR 98.98 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... definition. (1) In situ plasma process sub-type consists of the cleaning of thin-film production chambers... within a broad process type. For example, the chamber cleaning process type includes in-situ plasma chamber cleaning, remote plasma chamber cleaning, and in-situ thermal chamber cleaning sub-types. Process...

Alternative Solvents and Technologies for Precision Cleaning of Aerospace Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grandelli, Heather; Maloney, Phillip; DeVor, Robert; Hintze, Paul

2014-01-01

Precision cleaning solvents for aerospace components and oxygen fuel systems, including currently used Vertrel-MCA, have a negative environmental legacy, high global warming potential, and have polluted cleaning sites. Thus, alternative solvents and technologies are being investigated with the aim of achieving precision contamination levels of less than 1 mg/sq ft. The technologies being evaluated are ultrasonic bath cleaning, plasma cleaning and supercritical carbon dioxide cleaning.

Cleaning Process Development for Metallic Additively Manufactured Parts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tramel, Terri L.; Welker, Roger; Lowery, Niki; Mitchell, Mark

2014-01-01

Additive Manufacturing of metallic components for aerospace applications offers many advantages over traditional manufacturing techniques. As a new technology, many aspects of its widespread utilization remain open to investigation. Among these are the cleaning processes that can be used for post finishing of parts and measurements to verify effectiveness of the cleaning processes. Many cleaning and drying processes and measurement methods that have been used for parts manufactured using conventional techniques are candidates that may be considered for cleaning and verification of additively manufactured parts. Among these are vapor degreasing, ultrasonic immersion and spray cleaning, followed by hot air drying, vacuum baking and solvent displacement drying. Differences in porosity, density, and surface finish of additively manufactured versus conventionally manufactured parts may introduce new considerations in the selection of cleaning and drying processes or the method used to verify their effectiveness. This presentation will review the relative strengths and weaknesses of different candidate cleaning and drying processes as they may apply to additively manufactured metal parts for aerospace applications. An ultrasonic cleaning technique for exploring the cleanability of parts will be presented along with an example using additively manufactured Inconel 718 test specimens to illustrate its use. The data analysis shows that this ultrasonic cleaning approach results in a well-behaved ultrasonic cleaning/extraction behavior. That is, it does not show signs of accelerated cavitation erosion of the base material, which was later confirmed by neutron imaging. In addition, the analysis indicated that complete cleaning would be achieved by ultrasonic immersion cleaning at approximately 5 minutes, which was verified by subsequent cleaning of additional parts.

Surface cleaning for negative electron affinity GaN photocathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, Jianliang; Yin, Yingpeng; Gao, Youtang; Niu, Jun; Qian, Yunsheng; Chang, Benkang

2012-10-01

In the preparation process for negative electron affinity (NEA) GaN photocathode, the surface cleanness is very important to activation, it influences the sensitivity and stability of NEA GaN photocathode. The traditional corrosion methods based on oxidizing and dissolving can't remove oxygen (O) and carbon (C) on GaN surface effectively. How to get an ideal atom clean surface is still an important question at present. The cleaning techniques for GaN photocathode was studied by using NEA photocathode activation system and XPS surface analysis system. The experiment sample is p-type GaN doped with Mg, doped concentration is 1.37×1017 cm-3, the transfer rate is 3.08 cm2/V-S, and the thickness of activation layer is 0.51 μm, the substrate is 300 μm thick sapphire. The sample was dealed with chemical cleaning depuration at first. And to get the atom clean surface, the vacuum heat cleaning process was needed. The methods of chemical cleaning and the vacuum heating cleaning were given in detail. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of GaN surface after chemical cleaning and the vacuum degree curve of the activation chamber during the heat cleaning, the cleaning effect and the cleaning mechanism were discussed. After the effective chemical cleaning and the heating of 700 Centigrade degree about 20 minutes in ultrahigh vacuum system, the oxides and carbon contaminants on cathode surface can be removed effectively, and the ideal atom clean surface can be obtained. The purpose of heating depuration process is that not only to get the atom clean GaN surface, but also to guarantee the contents of Ga, N on GaN surface stabilize and to keep the system ultra-high vacuum degree. Because of the volatilization of oxide and carbon impurity on the cathode surface, the vacuum degree curve drops with the rising of temperature on the whole.

40 CFR 420.110 - Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... alkaline cleaning subcategory. 420.110 Section 420.110 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... Alkaline Cleaning Subcategory § 420.110 Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory... alkaline cleaning baths to remove mineral and animal fats or oils from the steel, and those rinsing...

40 CFR 420.110 - Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... alkaline cleaning subcategory. 420.110 Section 420.110 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... Alkaline Cleaning Subcategory § 420.110 Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory... alkaline cleaning baths to remove mineral and animal fats or oils from the steel, and those rinsing...

40 CFR 420.110 - Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... alkaline cleaning subcategory. 420.110 Section 420.110 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... Alkaline Cleaning Subcategory § 420.110 Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory... alkaline cleaning baths to remove mineral and animal fats or oils from the steel, and those rinsing...

40 CFR 420.110 - Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... alkaline cleaning subcategory. 420.110 Section 420.110 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... Alkaline Cleaning Subcategory § 420.110 Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory... alkaline cleaning baths to remove mineral and animal fats or oils from the steel, and those rinsing...

40 CFR 420.110 - Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... alkaline cleaning subcategory. 420.110 Section 420.110 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... Alkaline Cleaning Subcategory § 420.110 Applicability; description of the alkaline cleaning subcategory... alkaline cleaning baths to remove mineral and animal fats or oils from the steel, and those rinsing...

Reading carbonate deposits from ancient water installations: why are they useful for geoarchaeology?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sürmelihindi, Gül; Passchier, Cees

2016-04-01

Water has always been a basic need of life, to remain alive and clean, and to irrigate fertile land, which provides food to people. While looking for a source of water suitable for their requirements, ancient civilizations considered three important factors: to have a reliable supply of water; in sufficient amount and quality; and at affordable costs to transport it to where it was needed. Water lifting and distribution devices were therefore selected and improved with these essential factors in mind. Our understanding of the development of water technology in ancient cultures is mainly based on archaeology and textural sources, focusing on details of the construction of water works and water machines, and on their location in individual settlements. However, the geographic distribution of water technology in Mediterranean and Middle East is poorly understood: both the local economical basis and palaeo-environmental conditions may have played a role in the choice of certain water technologies. As a consequence, some water-lifting devices, e.g. the bucket-chain and Archimedean screw, were only used where favorable conditions prevailed. The use of ancient water installations, however, cannot easily be studied from architectural remains alone: carbonate deposits in and around such installations can provide information, not only on their use but also on palaeo-environmental conditions during their functioning and on local economical conditions. This applies mostly to water installations of Roman or Medieval age. Since the Romans maintained their water technologies routinely, any thick carbonate deposit may give information on periods of economical hardship, too. Carbonate deposits (calcareous sinter) are presently mainly used to study palaeo-environmental changes from Roman aqueducts, but water lifting machines and water mills, which are commonly build of wood, can also be studied in this way. The Romans were the first to apply waterpower to several industrial applications, but little is known about their use. For example, did Roman water-powered flour mills operate continuously, or was their use interrupted because of water scarcity or decline in the Roman economy? Carbonate was deposited in the water channels that fed and drained these machines, and on the wood of the machines themselves. Theoretically, it should therefore be possible to see the frequency of use of the machines from the stable isotope cyclicity and other data stored in carbonate deposits. We are presently applying this technique to incrustations from the Barbegal watermill complex near Arles, France. Carbonate deposits can therefore act as archives that provide us an understanding of palaeo-environmental and economic changes over the last two thousand years and provide information on the use, distribution and age of water structures by means of annual lamina counting. With this great potential, we aim to generate new tools and techniques to study the history of science in the framework of geo-archaeology.

Predictive Big Data Analytics: A Study of Parkinson's Disease Using Large, Complex, Heterogeneous, Incongruent, Multi-Source and Incomplete Observations.

PubMed

Dinov, Ivo D; Heavner, Ben; Tang, Ming; Glusman, Gustavo; Chard, Kyle; Darcy, Mike; Madduri, Ravi; Pa, Judy; Spino, Cathie; Kesselman, Carl; Foster, Ian; Deutsch, Eric W; Price, Nathan D; Van Horn, John D; Ames, Joseph; Clark, Kristi; Hood, Leroy; Hampstead, Benjamin M; Dauer, William; Toga, Arthur W

2016-01-01

A unique archive of Big Data on Parkinson's Disease is collected, managed and disseminated by the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). The integration of such complex and heterogeneous Big Data from multiple sources offers unparalleled opportunities to study the early stages of prevalent neurodegenerative processes, track their progression and quickly identify the efficacies of alternative treatments. Many previous human and animal studies have examined the relationship of Parkinson's disease (PD) risk to trauma, genetics, environment, co-morbidities, or life style. The defining characteristics of Big Data-large size, incongruency, incompleteness, complexity, multiplicity of scales, and heterogeneity of information-generating sources-all pose challenges to the classical techniques for data management, processing, visualization and interpretation. We propose, implement, test and validate complementary model-based and model-free approaches for PD classification and prediction. To explore PD risk using Big Data methodology, we jointly processed complex PPMI imaging, genetics, clinical and demographic data. Collective representation of the multi-source data facilitates the aggregation and harmonization of complex data elements. This enables joint modeling of the complete data, leading to the development of Big Data analytics, predictive synthesis, and statistical validation. Using heterogeneous PPMI data, we developed a comprehensive protocol for end-to-end data characterization, manipulation, processing, cleaning, analysis and validation. Specifically, we (i) introduce methods for rebalancing imbalanced cohorts, (ii) utilize a wide spectrum of classification methods to generate consistent and powerful phenotypic predictions, and (iii) generate reproducible machine-learning based classification that enables the reporting of model parameters and diagnostic forecasting based on new data. We evaluated several complementary model-based predictive approaches, which failed to generate accurate and reliable diagnostic predictions. However, the results of several machine-learning based classification methods indicated significant power to predict Parkinson's disease in the PPMI subjects (consistent accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity exceeding 96%, confirmed using statistical n-fold cross-validation). Clinical (e.g., Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores), demographic (e.g., age), genetics (e.g., rs34637584, chr12), and derived neuroimaging biomarker (e.g., cerebellum shape index) data all contributed to the predictive analytics and diagnostic forecasting. Model-free Big Data machine learning-based classification methods (e.g., adaptive boosting, support vector machines) can outperform model-based techniques in terms of predictive precision and reliability (e.g., forecasting patient diagnosis). We observed that statistical rebalancing of cohort sizes yields better discrimination of group differences, specifically for predictive analytics based on heterogeneous and incomplete PPMI data. UPDRS scores play a critical role in predicting diagnosis, which is expected based on the clinical definition of Parkinson's disease. Even without longitudinal UPDRS data, however, the accuracy of model-free machine learning based classification is over 80%. The methods, software and protocols developed here are openly shared and can be employed to study other neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), as well as for other predictive Big Data analytics applications.

Cleaning Management in Higher Education: Value for Money Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, Edinburgh.

This report identifies key management issues for senior managers and heads of cleaning departments in developing and reviewing cleaning services to support improvement and enhance cost effectiveness. The cleaning costs incurred by higher education institutions (HEIs) represent 2.7 percent of the total spent nationally on cleaning services for both…

15 CFR 922.132 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

..., clean vessel generator cooling water, clean bilge water, or anchor wash; (D) For a vessel less than 300... except clean vessel engine cooling water, clean vessel generator cooling water, vessel engine or generator exhaust, clean bilge water, or anchor wash. (iii) Discharging or depositing from beyond the...

15 CFR 922.82 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... cooling water, clean vessel generator cooling water, clean bilge water, or anchor wash; or (iv) Vessel... or other matter from a cruise ship except clean vessel engine cooling water, clean vessel generator cooling water, vessel engine or generator exhaust, clean bilge water, or anchor wash. (4) Discharging or...

Benchmark Study of Global Clean Energy Manufacturing | Advanced

Science.gov Websites

Manufacturing Research | NREL Benchmark Study of Global Clean Energy Manufacturing Benchmark Study of Global Clean Energy Manufacturing Through a first-of-its-kind benchmark study, the Clean Energy Technology End Product.' The study examined four clean energy technologies: wind turbine components

75 FR 59973 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Control of Volatile...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-29

...; Cleaning of high precision optics; Stripping; Janitorial cleaning; cleaning of resin, coating, ink, and... laboratories; Cleaning operations in medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturing; and Cleaning operations related to performance or quality assurance testing of coatings, inks, or adhesives. COMAR 26.11.19.09-1...

Asbestos-fiber reentrainment during dry vacuuming and wet cleaning of asbestos-contaminated carpet. Report for January 1988-July 1989

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kominsky, J.R.; Freyberg, R.W.

A study was conducted to evaluate the potential for asbestos fiber reentrainment during cleaning of carpet contaminated with asbestos. Two types of carpet cleaning equipment were evaluated at two carpet contamination levels. Airborne asbestos concentrations were determined before and during carpet cleaning. Overall, airborne asbestos concentrations were two to four times greater during the carpet cleaning activity. The level of asbestos contamination and the type of cleaning method used had no statistically significant effect on the relative increase of airborne asbestos concentrations during carpet cleaning.

Aqueous cleaning and verification processes for precision cleaning of small parts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Gale J.; Fishell, Kenneth A.

1995-01-01

The NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Materials Science Laboratory (MSL) has developed a totally aqueous process for precision cleaning and verification of small components. In 1990 the Precision Cleaning Facility at KSC used approximately 228,000 kg (500,000 lbs) of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) 113 in the cleaning operations. It is estimated that current CFC 113 usage has been reduced by 75 percent and it is projected that a 90 percent reduction will be achieved by the end of calendar year 1994. The cleaning process developed utilizes aqueous degreasers, aqueous surfactants, and ultrasonics in the cleaning operation and an aqueous surfactant, ultrasonics, and Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) in the nonvolatile residue (NVR) and particulate analysis for verification of cleanliness. The cleaning and verification process is presented in its entirety, with comparison to the CFC 113 cleaning and verification process, including economic and labor costs/savings.

Designing and Testing of Self-Cleaning Recirculating Zebrafish Tanks.

PubMed

Nema, Shubham; Bhargava, Yogesh

2016-08-01

Maintenance of large number of zebrafish in captive conditions is a daunting task. This can be eased by the use of recirculating racks with self-cleaning zebrafish tanks. Commercially available systems are costly, and compatibility of intercompany products has never been investigated. Although various cost-effective designs and methods of construction of custom-made recirculating zebrafish racks are available in literature, the design of self-cleaning zebrafish tanks is still not available. In this study, we report the design and method of construction of the self-cleaning unit, which can be fitted in any zebrafish tank. We validated the design by investigating sediment cleaning process in rectangular and cylindrical tank geometries using time lapse imaging. Our results suggest that for both tank geometries, the tanks fitted with self-cleaning unit provided superior sediment cleaning than the tanks fitted with overflow-drain unit. Although the self-cleaning unit could clean the sediment completely from both geometries over prolonged period, the cleaning of sediments was faster in the cylindrical tank than the rectangular tank. In conclusion, cost and efforts of zebrafish maintenance could be significantly reduced through the installation of our self-cleaning unit in any custom-made zebrafish tank.

Public-Private roundtables at the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial, 17-18 April 2013, New Delhi, India

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crowe, Tracey

2013-06-30

The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum to share best practices and promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technologies and accelerate the transition to a global clean energy economy. The CEM works to increase energy efficiency, expand clean energy supply, and enhance clean energy access worldwide. To achieve these goals, the CEM pursues a three-part strategy that includes high-level policy dialogue, technical cooperation, and engagement with the private sector and other stakeholders. Each year, energy ministers and other high-level delegates from the 23 participating CEM governments come together to discuss clean energy, review clean energymore » progress, and identify tangible next steps to accelerate the clean energy transition. The U.S. Department of Energy, which played a crucial role in launching the CEM, hosted the first annual meeting of energy ministers in Washington, DC, in June 2010. The United Arab Emirates hosted the second Clean Energy Ministerial in 2011, and the United Kingdom hosted the third Clean Energy Ministerial in 2012. In April 2013, India hosted the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM4) in New Delhi. Key insights from CEM4 are summarized in the report. It captures the ideas and recommendations of the government and private sector leaders who participated in the discussions on six discussion topics: reducing soft costs of solar PV; energy management systems; renewables policy and finance; clean vehicle adoption; mini-grid development; and power systems in emerging economies.« less

Characterization of occupational exposures to cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks--a pilot study of hospital cleaners.

PubMed

Bello, Anila; Quinn, Margaret M; Perry, Melissa J; Milton, Donald K

2009-03-27

In recent years, cleaning has been identified as an occupational risk because of an increased incidence of reported respiratory effects, such as asthma and asthma-like symptoms among cleaning workers. Due to the lack of systematic occupational hygiene analyses and workplace exposure data, it is not clear which cleaning-related exposures induce or aggravate asthma and other respiratory effects. Currently, there is a need for systematic evaluation of cleaning products ingredients and their exposures in the workplace. The objectives of this work were to: a) identify cleaning products' ingredients of concern with respect to respiratory and skin irritation and sensitization; and b) assess the potential for inhalation and dermal exposures to these ingredients during common cleaning tasks. We prioritized ingredients of concern in cleaning products commonly used in several hospitals in Massachusetts. Methods included workplace interviews, reviews of product Materials Safety Data Sheets and the scientific literature on adverse health effects to humans, reviews of physico-chemical properties of cleaning ingredients, and occupational hygiene observational analyses. Furthermore, the potential for exposure in the workplace was assessed by conducting qualitative assessment of airborne exposures and semi-quantitative assessment of dermal exposures. Cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks were mixtures of many chemicals, including respiratory and dermal irritants and sensitizers. Examples of ingredients of concern include quaternary ammonium compounds, 2-butoxyethanol, and ethanolamines. Cleaning workers are at risk of acute and chronic inhalation exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOC) vapors and aerosols generated from product spraying, and dermal exposures mostly through hands. Cleaning products are mixtures of many chemical ingredients that may impact workers' health through air and dermal exposures. Because cleaning exposures are a function of product formulations and product application procedures, a combination of product evaluation with workplace exposure assessment is critical in developing strategies for protecting workers from cleaning hazards. Our task based assessment methods allowed classification of tasks in different exposure categories, a strategy that can be employed by epidemiological investigations related to cleaning. The methods presented here can be used by occupational and environmental health practitioners to identify intervention strategies.

Characterization of occupational exposures to cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks-a pilot study of hospital cleaners

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

Background In recent years, cleaning has been identified as an occupational risk because of an increased incidence of reported respiratory effects, such as asthma and asthma-like symptoms among cleaning workers. Due to the lack of systematic occupational hygiene analyses and workplace exposure data, it is not clear which cleaning-related exposures induce or aggravate asthma and other respiratory effects. Currently, there is a need for systematic evaluation of cleaning products ingredients and their exposures in the workplace. The objectives of this work were to: a) identify cleaning products' ingredients of concern with respect to respiratory and skin irritation and sensitization; and b) assess the potential for inhalation and dermal exposures to these ingredients during common cleaning tasks. Methods We prioritized ingredients of concern in cleaning products commonly used in several hospitals in Massachusetts. Methods included workplace interviews, reviews of product Materials Safety Data Sheets and the scientific literature on adverse health effects to humans, reviews of physico-chemical properties of cleaning ingredients, and occupational hygiene observational analyses. Furthermore, the potential for exposure in the workplace was assessed by conducting qualitative assessment of airborne exposures and semi-quantitative assessment of dermal exposures. Results Cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks were mixtures of many chemicals, including respiratory and dermal irritants and sensitizers. Examples of ingredients of concern include quaternary ammonium compounds, 2-butoxyethanol, and ethanolamines. Cleaning workers are at risk of acute and chronic inhalation exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOC) vapors and aerosols generated from product spraying, and dermal exposures mostly through hands. Conclusion Cleaning products are mixtures of many chemical ingredients that may impact workers' health through air and dermal exposures. Because cleaning exposures are a function of product formulations and product application procedures, a combination of product evaluation with workplace exposure assessment is critical in developing strategies for protecting workers from cleaning hazards. Our task based assessment methods allowed classification of tasks in different exposure categories, a strategy that can be employed by epidemiological investigations related to cleaning. The methods presented here can be used by occupational and environmental health practitioners to identify intervention strategies. PMID:19327131

Cleaning at Home and at Work in Relation to Lung Function Decline and Airway Obstruction.

PubMed

Svanes, Øistein; Bertelsen, Randi J; Lygre, Stein H L; Carsin, Anne E; Antó, Josep M; Forsberg, Bertil; García-García, José M; Gullón, José A; Heinrich, Joachim; Holm, Mathias; Kogevinas, Manolis; Urrutia, Isabel; Leynaert, Bénédicte; Moratalla, Jesús M; Le Moual, Nicole; Lytras, Theodore; Norbäck, Dan; Nowak, Dennis; Olivieri, Mario; Pin, Isabelle; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Schlünssen, Vivi; Sigsgaard, Torben; Skorge, Trude D; Villani, Simona; Jarvis, Debbie; Zock, Jan P; Svanes, Cecilie

2018-05-01

Cleaning tasks may imply exposure to chemical agents with potential harmful effects to the respiratory system, and increased risk of asthma and respiratory symptoms among professional cleaners and in persons cleaning at home has been reported. Long-term consequences of cleaning agents on respiratory health are, however, not well described. This study aimed to investigate long-term effects of occupational cleaning and cleaning at home on lung function decline and airway obstruction. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigated a multicenter population-based cohort at three time points over 20 years. A total of 6,235 participants with at least one lung function measurement from 22 study centers, who in ECRHS II responded to questionnaire modules concerning cleaning activities between ECRHS I and ECRHS II, were included. The data were analyzed with mixed linear models adjusting for potential confounders. As compared with women not engaged in cleaning (ΔFEV 1  = -18.5 ml/yr), FEV 1 declined more rapidly in women responsible for cleaning at home (-22.1; P = 0.01) and occupational cleaners (-22.4; P = 0.03). The same was found for decline in FVC (ΔFVC = -8.8 ml/yr; -13.1, P = 0.02; and -15.9, P = 0.002; respectively). Both cleaning sprays and other cleaning agents were associated with accelerated FEV 1 decline (-22.0, P = 0.04; and -22.9, P = 0.004; respectively). Cleaning was not significantly associated with lung function decline in men or with FEV 1 /FVC decline or airway obstruction. Women cleaning at home or working as occupational cleaners had accelerated decline in lung function, suggesting that exposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long-term respiratory health.

Correlating Cleaning Thoroughness with Effectiveness and Briefly Intervening to Affect Cleaning Outcomes: How Clean Is Cleaned?

PubMed Central

Hosford, Eve; Ong, Ana; Richesson, Douglas; Fraser, Susan; Kwak, Yoon; Miller, Sonia; Julius, Michael; McGann, Patrick; Lesho, Emil

2016-01-01

Objectives The most efficient approach to monitoring and improving cleaning outcomes remains unresolved. We sought to extend the findings of a previous study by determining whether cleaning thoroughness (dye removal) correlates with cleaning efficacy (absence of molecular or cultivable biomaterial) and whether one brief educational intervention improves cleaning outcomes. Design Before-after trial. Setting Newly built community hospital. Intervention 90 minute training refresher with surface-specific performance results. Methods Dye removal, measured by fluorescence, and biomaterial removal and acquisition, measured with culture and culture-independent PCR-based assays, were clandestinely assessed for eight consecutive months. At this midpoint, results were presented to the cleaning staff (intervention) and assessments continued for another eight consecutive months. Results 1273 surfaces were sampled before and after terminal room cleaning. In the short-term, dye removal increased from 40.3% to 50.0% (not significant). For the entire study period, dye removal also improved but not significantly. After the intervention, the number of rooms testing positive for specific pathogenic species by culturing decreased from 55.6% to 36.6% (not significant), and those testing positive by PCR fell from 80.6% to 53.7% (P = 0.016). For nonspecific biomaterial on surfaces: a) removal of cultivable Gram-negatives (GN) trended toward improvement (P = 0.056); b) removal of any cultivable growth was unchanged but acquisition (detection of biomaterial on post-cleaned surfaces that were contaminant-free before cleaning) worsened (P = 0.017); c) removal of PCR-based detection of bacterial DNA improved (P = 0.046), but acquisition worsened (P = 0.003); d) cleaning thoroughness and efficacy were not correlated. Conclusion At this facility, a minor intervention or minimally more aggressive cleaning may reduce pathogen-specific contamination, but not without unintended consequences. PMID:27196635

Correlating Cleaning Thoroughness with Effectiveness and Briefly Intervening to Affect Cleaning Outcomes: How Clean Is Cleaned?

PubMed

Clifford, Robert; Sparks, Michael; Hosford, Eve; Ong, Ana; Richesson, Douglas; Fraser, Susan; Kwak, Yoon; Miller, Sonia; Julius, Michael; McGann, Patrick; Lesho, Emil

2016-01-01

The most efficient approach to monitoring and improving cleaning outcomes remains unresolved. We sought to extend the findings of a previous study by determining whether cleaning thoroughness (dye removal) correlates with cleaning efficacy (absence of molecular or cultivable biomaterial) and whether one brief educational intervention improves cleaning outcomes. Before-after trial. Newly built community hospital. 90 minute training refresher with surface-specific performance results. Dye removal, measured by fluorescence, and biomaterial removal and acquisition, measured with culture and culture-independent PCR-based assays, were clandestinely assessed for eight consecutive months. At this midpoint, results were presented to the cleaning staff (intervention) and assessments continued for another eight consecutive months. 1273 surfaces were sampled before and after terminal room cleaning. In the short-term, dye removal increased from 40.3% to 50.0% (not significant). For the entire study period, dye removal also improved but not significantly. After the intervention, the number of rooms testing positive for specific pathogenic species by culturing decreased from 55.6% to 36.6% (not significant), and those testing positive by PCR fell from 80.6% to 53.7% (P = 0.016). For nonspecific biomaterial on surfaces: a) removal of cultivable Gram-negatives (GN) trended toward improvement (P = 0.056); b) removal of any cultivable growth was unchanged but acquisition (detection of biomaterial on post-cleaned surfaces that were contaminant-free before cleaning) worsened (P = 0.017); c) removal of PCR-based detection of bacterial DNA improved (P = 0.046), but acquisition worsened (P = 0.003); d) cleaning thoroughness and efficacy were not correlated. At this facility, a minor intervention or minimally more aggressive cleaning may reduce pathogen-specific contamination, but not without unintended consequences.

Cleaning practices and cleaning products in nurseries and schools: to what extent can they impact indoor air quality?

PubMed

Wei, W; Boumier, J; Wyart, G; Ramalho, O; Mandin, C

2016-08-01

In the framework of a nationwide survey on indoor air quality conducted from September 2009 to June 2011 in 310 nurseries, kindergartens, and elementary schools in all regions of France, cleaning practices and products were described through an extensive questionnaire completed on-site by expert building inspectors. The questionnaire included the cleaning frequencies and periods, cleaning techniques, whether windows were open during cleaning, and the commercial names of the products used. Analysis of the questionnaire responses showed that cleaning was generally performed daily for furniture and floors. It was performed mostly in the evening with wet mopping and with one or more windows open. Five hundred eighty-four different cleaning products were listed, among which 218 safety data sheets (SDSs) were available and analyzed. One hundred fifty-two chemical substances were identified in the SDSs. The typical substances in cleaning products included alcohols, chlorides, terpenes, aldehydes, and ethers; more than half of them are irritants. Two endocrine disruptors, 2-phenylphenol and Galaxolide, were identified in two cleaning products used every day to clean the floors, in seven kindergartens and in a nursery respectively. Eleven reactive substances containing C=C double bonds, mostly terpenes, were identified in a wide variety of cleaning products. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

On-farm comparisons of different cleaning protocols in broiler houses.

PubMed

Luyckx, K Y; Van Weyenberg, S; Dewulf, J; Herman, L; Zoons, J; Vervaet, E; Heyndrickx, M; De Reu, K

2015-08-01

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of 4 cleaning protocols designed to reduce the bacteriological infection pressure on broiler farms and prevent food-borne zoonoses. Additionally, difficult to clean locations and possible sources of infection were identified. Cleaning and disinfection rounds were evaluated in 12 broiler houses on 5 farms through microbiological analyses and adenosine triphosphate hygiene monitoring. Samples were taken at 3 different times: before cleaning, after cleaning, and after disinfection. At each sampling time, swabs were taken from various locations for enumeration of the total aerobic flora and Enterococcus species pluralis ( SPP:). In addition, before cleaning and after disinfection, testing for Escherichia coli and Salmonella was carried out. Finally, adenosine triphosphate swabs and agar contact plates for total aerobic flora counts were taken after cleaning and disinfection, respectively. Total aerobic flora and Enterococcus spp. counts on the swab samples showed that cleaning protocols which were preceded by an overnight soaking with water caused a higher bacterial reduction compared to protocols without a preceding soaking step. Moreover, soaking of broiler houses leads to less water consumption and reduced working time during high pressure cleaning. No differences were found between protocols using cold or warm water during cleaning. Drinking cups, drain holes, and floor cracks were identified as critical locations for cleaning and disinfection in broiler houses. © 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.

A single-dose regimen for antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent perioperative infection in urological clean and clean-contaminated surgery.

PubMed

Higuchi, Yoshihide; Takesue, Yoshio; Yamada, Yusuke; Ueda, Yasuo; Suzuki, Toru; Aihara, Kinue; Maruyama, Takuo; Kondoh, Nobuyuki; Nojima, Michio; Yamamoto, Shingo

2011-04-01

A single dose of antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) was administered parenterally for the prevention of perioperative infection in a total of 788 patients undergoing urological surgery, including 380 endoscopic-instrumental, 328 clean, and 80 clean-contaminated operations performed at our institute between January 2007 and December 2009. Surgical site infections (SSIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and remote infections (RIs) were prospectively surveyed. The definition for a single dose of AMP allowed for the administration of an additional dose of an antimicrobial during surgery if the procedure was longer than 3 h, but not for the parenteral or oral administration at the end of the procedure in the recovery room, or at a later time over a period of more than 24 h. UTI was observed in 12 (3.2%) patients after endoscopic-instrumental operation, 1 (0.3%) after clean operation, and 1 (0.9%) after clean-contaminated operation. SSI was observed in 2 (0.6%) patients after clean operation but in none after clean-contaminated operations. RI was observed in 1 (0.3%) patient after endoscopic-instrumental operation, 3 (0.9%) after clean operation, and none after clean-contaminated operations. A single-dose regimen of AMP was effective and feasible for the prevention of perioperative infections, including SSIs, UTIs, and RIs, in endoscopic-instrumental, clean, and clean-contaminated urological surgical procedures.

NREL's Impact Grows Through the Clean Energy Solutions Center and the New

Science.gov Websites

Clean Energy Design Studio - Continuum Magazine | NREL NREL's Impact Grows Through the Clean Energy Solutions Center and the New Clean Energy Design Studio The Clean Energy Solutions Center (Solutions Center) helps governments design and adopt policies and programs that support the deployment of

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Clean Cities Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Science.gov Websites

Clean Cities Celebrates 15th Anniversary to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Fuels Data Center : Clean Cities Celebrates 15th Anniversary on Facebook Tweet about Alternative Fuels Data Center: Clean Cities Celebrates 15th Anniversary on Twitter Bookmark Alternative Fuels Data Center: Clean Cities

Evaluation of two cleaning methods for the removal of asbestos fibers from carpet

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kominsky, J.R.; Freyberg, R.W.; Chesson, J.

The research study examined the effectiveness of dry vacuuming and wet cleaning for the removal of asbestos fibers from carpet, and evaluated the potential for fiber reentrainment during carpet cleaning activities. Routine carpet cleaning operations using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered dry vacuum cleaners and HEPA-filtered hot-water extraction cleaners were simulated on carpet artificially contaminated with asbestos fibers. Overall, wet cleaning the carpet with a hot-water extraction cleaner reduced the level of asbestos contamination by approximately 70 percent. There was no significant evidence of either an increase or a decrease in the asbestos concentration after dry vacuuming. The level ofmore » asbestos contamination had no significant effect on the difference between the carpet asbestos concentrations before and after cleaning. Airborne asbestos concentrations were between two and four times greater during the carpet cleaning activities. The level of asbestos contamination in the carpet cleaning activities. The level of asbestos contamination in the carpet and the type of cleaning method used had no statistically significant effect on the difference between the airborne asbestos concentrations before and during cleaning.« less

Physical cleaning by bubbly streaming flow in an ultrasound field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamashita, Tatsuya; Ando, Keita

2017-11-01

Low-intensity ultrasonic cleaning with gas-supersaturated water is a promising method of physical cleaning without erosion; we are able to trigger cavitation bubble nucleation by weak ultrasound under gas supersaturation and thus clean material surfaces by mild bubble dynamics. Here, we perform particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement of liquid flow and cavitation bubble translation in an ultrasonic cleaning bath driven at 28 kHz and then relate it to cleaning tests using glass slides at which silica particles are attached. The ultrasound pressure amplitude at the cleaning spot is set at 1.4 atm. We select the supersaturation level of dissolved oxygen (DO) as a parameter and control it by oxygen microbubble aeration. It follows from the PIV measurement that the liquid flow is enhanced by the cavitation bubble translation driven by acoustic radiation force; this trend becomes clearer when the bubbles appear more densely as the DO supersaturation increases. In the cleaning tests, the cleaned areas appear as straight streaks. This suggests that physical cleaning is achieved mainly by cavitation bubbles that translate in ultrasound fields.

Use of a fluorescent chemical as a quality indicator for a hospital cleaning program.

PubMed

Blue, Jennifer; O'Neill, Cindy; Speziale, Paul; Revill, Jeff; Ramage, Lee; Ballantyne, Lisa

2008-01-01

Hamilton Health Sciences is a large teaching hospital with over 1,000 beds and consists of three acute care sites, one Regional Cancer Center and two Rehabilitation/Chronic Care facilities. An environmental cleaning pilot project was initiated at the acute care Henderson site, following an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) due to antibiotic-resistant organisms are increasing in Southern Ontario. Environmental cleaning plays a key role in eradicating resistant organisms that live in hospital environments, thereby helping to reduce HAIs. The environmental cleaning practices on the Orthopaedic Unit were identified as a contributing factor to the VRE outbreak after visual assessments were completed using a Brevis GlitterBug product, a chemical that fluoresces under an ultraviolet (UV) lamp. These findings led to a hospital-wide cleaning improvement initiative on all units except critical care areas. The GlitterBug potion was employed by Infection Control and Customer Support Services (CSS) as a tool to evaluate the daily cleaning of patient washrooms as well as discharge cleaning of contact precaution isolation rooms. Over a four-week period, the GlitterBug potion was applied to seven frequently touched standard targets in randomly selected patient bathrooms on each unit and 14 frequently touched targets prior to cleaning in the rooms used for isolation. The targets were then evaluated using the UV lamp to detect objects that were not cleaned and the results were recorded on a standardized form. The rate of targets cleaned versus the targets missed was calculated. The overall rate for daily cleaning of bathrooms and cleaning of isolation rooms was poor with only 23% of the targets cleaned. Based on these findings, several interventions were implemented. This resulted in a significant improvement in cleaning practices during the pilot project. Greater than 80% of the targets were cleaned compared to the baseline findings of 23%. Subsequently, nosocomial cases of VRE have declined despite the increased prevalence of VRE in the Hamilton and surrounding regions. The GlitterBug product is an effective tool to evaluate environmental cleaning and adherence to policies and procedures and this method was superior to previous visual inspection methods. The use of GlitterBug potion improved physical cleaning and enhanced staff contribution. The Brevis GlitterBug product was incorporated into the CSS environmental cleaning program at Hamilton Health Sciences as a quality indicator to monitor environmental cleaning practices.

True Cost of Amateur Clean rooms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramsey, W. Lawrence

2005-01-01

This viewgraph document reviews the cost factors for clean rooms that are not professionally built, monitored or maintained. These amateur clean rooms are built because scientist and engineers desire to create a clean room to build a part of an experiment that requires a clean room, and the program manager is looking to save money. However, in the long run these clean rooms may not save money, as the cost of maintenance may be higher due to the cost of transporting the crews, and if the materials were of lesser quality, the cost of modifications may diminish any savings, and the product may not be of the same quality. Several examples are shown of the clean rooms that show some of the problems that can arise from amateur clean rooms.

Research progress of nano self - cleaning anti-fouling coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Zhao, Y. J.; Teng, J. L.; Wang, J. H.; Wu, L. S.; Zheng, Y. L.

2018-01-01

There are many methods of evaluating the performance of nano self-cleaning anti-fouling coatings, such as carbon blacking method, coating reflection coefficient method, glass microbead method, film method, contact angle and rolling angle method, organic degradation method, and the application of performance evaluation method in self-cleaning antifouling coating. For the more, the types of nano self-cleaning anti-fouling coatings based on aqueous media was described, such as photocatalytic self-cleaning coatings, silicone coatings, organic fluorine coatings, fluorosilicone coatings, fluorocarbon coatings, polysilazane self-cleaning coatings. The research and application of different kinds of nano self-cleaning antifouling coatings are anlysised, and the latest research results are summed.

Digital cleaning and "dirt" layer visualization of an oil painting.

PubMed

Palomero, Cherry May T; Soriano, Maricor N

2011-10-10

We demonstrate a new digital cleaning technique which uses a neural network that is trained to learn the transformation from dirty to clean segments of a painting image. The inputs and outputs of the network are pixels belonging to dirty and clean segments found in Fernando Amorsolo's Malacañang by the River. After digital cleaning we visualize the painting's discoloration by assuming it to be a transmission filter superimposed on the clean painting. Using an RGB color-to-spectrum transformation to obtain the point-per-point spectra of the clean and dirty painting images, we calculate this "dirt" filter and render it for the whole image.

XeCl excimer laser with new prism resonator configurations and its performance characteristics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benerji, N. S., E-mail: nsb@rrcat.gov.in, E-mail: bsingh@rrcat.gov.in; Singh, A.; Varshnay, N.

2015-07-15

New resonator cavity configurations, namely, the prism resonator and unstable prism resonator, are demonstrated for the first time in an excimer (XeCl) laser with interesting and novel results. High misalignment tolerance ∼50 mrad is achieved with considerably reduced beam divergence of less than ∼1 mrad without reduction in output power capabilities of the laser. The misalignment tolerance of ∼50 mrad is a dramatic improvement of ∼25 times compared to ∼2 mrad normally observed in standard excimer laser with plane-plane cavity. Increase in depth of focus from 3 mm to 5.5 mm was also achieved in case of prism resonator configurationmore » with an improvement of about 60%. Unstable prism resonator configuration is demonstrated here in this paper with further reduction in beam divergence to about 0.5 mrad using plano-convex lens as output coupler. The misalignment tolerance in case of unstable prism resonator was retained at about 30 mrad which is a high value compared to standard unstable resonators. The output beam spot was completely filled with flat-top profile with prism resonator configurations, which is desired for various material processing applications. Focusing properties and beam divergence in case of prism resonator have been investigated using SEM (scanning electron microscope) images. SEM images of the focused spot size (∼20 μm holes) on metal sheet indicate beam divergence of about 0.05 mrad which is about 1.5 times diffraction limit. Energy contained in this angle is thus sufficient for micro-machining applications. Clean and sharp edges of the micro-holes show high pointing stability with multiple shot exposures. Such characteristics of the excimer laser system will be extremely useful in micro-machining and other field applications.« less

XeCl excimer laser with new prism resonator configurations and its performance characteristics.

PubMed

Benerji, N S; Singh, A; Varshnay, N; Singh, Bijendra

2015-07-01

New resonator cavity configurations, namely, the prism resonator and unstable prism resonator, are demonstrated for the first time in an excimer (XeCl) laser with interesting and novel results. High misalignment tolerance ∼50 mrad is achieved with considerably reduced beam divergence of less than ∼1 mrad without reduction in output power capabilities of the laser. The misalignment tolerance of ∼50 mrad is a dramatic improvement of ∼25 times compared to ∼2 mrad normally observed in standard excimer laser with plane-plane cavity. Increase in depth of focus from 3 mm to 5.5 mm was also achieved in case of prism resonator configuration with an improvement of about 60%. Unstable prism resonator configuration is demonstrated here in this paper with further reduction in beam divergence to about 0.5 mrad using plano-convex lens as output coupler. The misalignment tolerance in case of unstable prism resonator was retained at about 30 mrad which is a high value compared to standard unstable resonators. The output beam spot was completely filled with flat-top profile with prism resonator configurations, which is desired for various material processing applications. Focusing properties and beam divergence in case of prism resonator have been investigated using SEM (scanning electron microscope) images. SEM images of the focused spot size (∼20 μm holes) on metal sheet indicate beam divergence of about 0.05 mrad which is about 1.5 times diffraction limit. Energy contained in this angle is thus sufficient for micro-machining applications. Clean and sharp edges of the micro-holes show high pointing stability with multiple shot exposures. Such characteristics of the excimer laser system will be extremely useful in micro-machining and other field applications.

Computer vision for automatic inspection of agricultural produce

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molto, Enrique; Blasco, Jose; Benlloch, Jose V.

1999-01-01

Fruit and vegetables suffer different manipulations from the field to the final consumer. These are basically oriented towards the cleaning and selection of the product in homogeneous categories. For this reason, several research projects, aimed at fast, adequate produce sorting and quality control are currently under development around the world. Moreover, it is possible to find manual and semi- automatic commercial system capable of reasonably performing these tasks.However, in many cases, their accuracy is incompatible with current European market demands, which are constantly increasing. IVIA, the Valencian Research Institute of Agriculture, located in Spain, has been involved in several European projects related with machine vision for real-time inspection of various agricultural produces. This paper will focus on the work related with two products that have different requirements: fruit and olives. In the case of fruit, the Institute has developed a vision system capable of providing assessment of the external quality of single fruit to a robot that also receives information from other senors. The system use four different views of each fruit and has been tested on peaches, apples and citrus. Processing time of each image is under 500 ms using a conventional PC. The system provides information about primary and secondary color, blemishes and their extension, and stem presence and position, which allows further automatic orientation of the fruit in the final box using a robotic manipulator. Work carried out in olives was devoted to fast sorting of olives for consumption at table. A prototype has been developed to demonstrate the feasibility of a machine vision system capable of automatically sorting 2500 kg/h olives using low-cost conventional hardware.

Regenerating using aqueous cleaners with ozone and electrolysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcginness, Michael P.

1994-01-01

A new process converts organic oil and grease contaminates in used water based cleaners into synthetic surfactants. This permits the continued use of a cleaning solution long after it would have been dumped using previously known methods. Since the organic soils are converted from contaminates to cleaning compounds the need for frequent bath dumps is totally eliminated. When cleaning solutions used in aqueous cleaning systems are exhausted and ready for disposal, they will always contain the contaminates removed from the cleaned parts and drag-in from prior cleaning steps. Even when the cleaner is biodegradable these contaminants will frequently cause the waste cleaning solution to be a hazardous waste. Chlorinated solvents are rapidly being replaced by aqueous cleaners to avoid the new ozone-depletion product-labeling-law. Many industry standard halocarbon based solvents are being completely phased out of production, and their prices have nearly tripled. Waste disposal costs and cradle-to-grave liability are also major concerns for industry today. This new process reduces the amount of water and chemicals needed to maintain the cleaning process. The cost of waste disposal is eliminated because the water and cleaning compounds are reused. Energy savings result by eliminating the need for energy currently used to produce and deliver fresh water and chemicals as well as the energy used to treat and destroy the waste from the existing cleaning processes. This process also allows the cleaning bath to be maintained at the peak performance of a new bath resulting in decreased cycle times and decreased energy consumption needed to clean the parts. This results in a more efficient and cost effective cleaning process.

Critical Care Health Informatics Collaborative (CCHIC): Data, tools and methods for reproducible research: A multi-centre UK intensive care database.

PubMed

Harris, Steve; Shi, Sinan; Brealey, David; MacCallum, Niall S; Denaxas, Spiros; Perez-Suarez, David; Ercole, Ari; Watkinson, Peter; Jones, Andrew; Ashworth, Simon; Beale, Richard; Young, Duncan; Brett, Stephen; Singer, Mervyn

2018-04-01

To build and curate a linkable multi-centre database of high resolution longitudinal electronic health records (EHR) from adult Intensive Care Units (ICU). To develop a set of open-source tools to make these data 'research ready' while protecting patient's privacy with a particular focus on anonymisation. We developed a scalable EHR processing pipeline for extracting, linking, normalising and curating and anonymising EHR data. Patient and public involvement was sought from the outset, and approval to hold these data was granted by the NHS Health Research Authority's Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG). The data are held in a certified Data Safe Haven. We followed sustainable software development principles throughout, and defined and populated a common data model that links to other clinical areas. Longitudinal EHR data were loaded into the CCHIC database from eleven adult ICUs at 5 UK teaching hospitals. From January 2014 to January 2017, this amounted to 21,930 and admissions (18,074 unique patients). Typical admissions have 70 data-items pertaining to admission and discharge, and a median of 1030 (IQR 481-2335) time-varying measures. Training datasets were made available through virtual machine images emulating the data processing environment. An open source R package, cleanEHR, was developed and released that transforms the data into a square table readily analysable by most statistical packages. A simple language agnostic configuration file will allow the user to select and clean variables, and impute missing data. An audit trail makes clear the provenance of the data at all times. Making health care data available for research is problematic. CCHIC is a unique multi-centre longitudinal and linkable resource that prioritises patient privacy through the highest standards of data security, but also provides tools to clean, organise, and anonymise the data. We believe the development of such tools are essential if we are to meet the twin requirements of respecting patient privacy and working for patient benefit. The CCHIC database is now in use by health care researchers from academia and industry. The 'research ready' suite of data preparation tools have facilitated access, and linkage to national databases of secondary care is underway. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bacterial contamination of stethoscope chest pieces and the effect of daily cleaning.

PubMed

Fujita, H; Hansen, B; Hanel, R

2013-01-01

Stethoscopes are a potential source of nosocomial infection for hospitalized humans, a phenomenon not previously studied in companion animals. To determine if daily cleaning of stethoscope chest pieces reduces bacterial contamination between cleanings. Client-owned dogs and cats. Prospective observational study. In phase 1, bacterial cultures were obtained from the chest pieces of 10 participant stethoscopes once weekly for 3 weeks. In phase 2, stethoscopes were cleaned daily and 2 culture samples were obtained once weekly, immediately before and after cleaning with 70% isopropyl alcohol, for 3 weeks. Daily cleaning eliminated bacteria immediately after each cleaning (P = .004), but did not reduce the rate of positive cultures obtained before cleaning in phase 2. Cultures were positive for 20/30 (67%) samples during phase 1 and 18/30 (60%) obtained before daily cleaning during phase 2. Recovered organisms included normal skin flora, agents of opportunistic infections, and potential pathogens. The only genus that was repeatedly recovered from the same stethoscope for 2 or more consecutive weeks was Bacillus sp. Daily cleaning was highly effective at removing bacteria, but provided no reduction in precleaning contamination. Cleaning stethoscopes after use on dogs or cats infected with pathogenic bacteria and before use on immunocompromised animals should be considered. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Chemical cleaning/disinfection and ageing of organic UF membranes: a review.

PubMed

Regula, C; Carretier, E; Wyart, Y; Gésan-Guiziou, G; Vincent, A; Boudot, D; Moulin, P

2014-06-01

Membrane separation processes have become a basic unit operation for process design and product development. These processes are used in a variety of separation and concentration steps, but in all cases, the membranes must be cleaned regularly to remove both organic and inorganic material deposited on the surface and/or into the membrane bulk. Cleaning/disinfection is a vital step in maintaining the permeability and selectivity of the membrane in order to get the plant to its original capacity, to minimize risks of bacteriological contamination, and to make acceptable products. For this purpose, a large number of chemical cleaning/disinfection agents are commercially available. In general, these cleaning/disinfection agents have to improve the membrane flux to a certain extent. However, they can also cause irreversible damages in membrane properties and performances over the long term. Until now, there is considerably less literature dedicated to membrane ageing than to cleaning/disinfection. The knowledge in cleaning/disinfection efficiency has recently been improved. But in order to develop optimized cleaning/disinfection protocols there still remains a challenge to better understand membrane ageing. In order to compensate for the lack of correlated cleaning/disinfection and ageing data from the literature, this paper investigates cleaning/disinfection efficiencies and ageing damages of organic ultrafiltration membranes. The final aim is to provide less detrimental cleaning/disinfection procedures and to propose some guidelines which should have been taken into consideration in term of membrane ageing studies. To carry out this study, this article will detail the background of cleaning/disinfection and aging membrane topics in a first introductive part. In a second part, key factors and endpoints of cleaning/disinfection and aging membranes will be discussed deeply: the membrane role and the cleaning parameters roles, such as water quality, storing conditions, cleaning/disinfection/aging agents/conditions/protocols. The third and last part will be developed the parameters, methods and ways of characterization at our disposal and commonly used to develop and implement membrane cleaning and/or ageing studies. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

75 FR 53567 - Gulf of the Farallones, Monterey Bay and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Technical...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-01

... matter from a cruise ship except clean vessel engine cooling water, clean vessel generator cooling water, vessel engine or generator exhaust, clean bilge water, or anchor wash. * * * * * 0 3. Appendix A to... matter from a cruise ship except clean vessel engine cooling water, clean vessel generator cooling water...

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Phoenix Cleans Up with Natural Gas

Science.gov Websites

Phoenix Cleans Up with Natural Gas to someone by E-mail Share Alternative Fuels Data Center : Phoenix Cleans Up with Natural Gas on Facebook Tweet about Alternative Fuels Data Center: Phoenix Cleans Up with Natural Gas on Twitter Bookmark Alternative Fuels Data Center: Phoenix Cleans Up with Natural

Clean Energy Solutions Center Services (Arabic Translation) (Fact Sheet)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

2014-06-01

This is the Arabic translation of the Clean Energy Solutions Center Services fact sheet. The Clean Energy Solutions Center (Solutions Center) helps governments, advisors and analysts create policies and programs that advance the deployment of clean energy technologies. The Solutions Center partners with international organizations to provide online training, expert assistance, and technical resources on clean energy policy.

The Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center (CEMAC): Providing Analysis and Insights on Clean Technology Manufacturing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Nicholi S

The U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center (CEMAC) provides objective analysis and up-to-date data on global supply chains and manufacturing of clean energy technologies. Policymakers and industry leaders seek CEMAC insights to inform choices to promote economic growth and the transition to a clean energy economy.

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Plug-In Vehicles to Harness Renewable Energy

Science.gov Websites

state has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy through the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative to adoption," Larson said. HCC supports the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between DOE and Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Honolulu Clean Cities National Clean Fleets Partnership Hybrid and Plug-In

First-Annual Global Clean Energy Manufacturing Report Shows Strong Domestic Benefits for the United States

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

EERE Office of Strategic Programs, Strategic Priorities and Impact Analysis Team

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) commissioned the Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center to conduct the first-ever annual assessment of the economic state of global clean energy manufacturing. The report, Benchmarks of Global Clean Energy Manufacturing, makes economic data on clean energy technology widely available.

Central venous catheter - dressing change

MedlinePlus

... will need: Sterile gloves Cleaning solution A special sponge A special patch, called a Biopatch A clear ... around the catheter. Clean the skin with the sponge and cleaning solution. Air dry after cleaning. Place ...

Plasma Cleaning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hintze, Paul E.

2016-01-01

NASA's Kennedy Space Center has developed two solvent-free precision cleaning techniques: plasma cleaning and supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2), that has equal performance, cost parity, and no environmental liability, as compared to existing solvent cleaning methods.

Visualization of flow during cleaning process on a liquid nanofibrous filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bílek, P.

2017-10-01

This paper deals with visualization of flow during cleaning process on a nanofibrous filter. Cleaning of a filter is very important part of the filtration process which extends lifetime of the filter and improve filtration properties. Cleaning is carried out on flat-sheet filters, where particles are deposited on the filter surface and form a filtration cake. The cleaning process dislodges the deposited filtration cake, which is loose from the membrane surface to the retentate flow. The blocked pores in the filter are opened again and hydrodynamic properties are restored. The presented optical method enables to see flow behaviour in a thin laser sheet on the inlet side of a tested filter during the cleaning process. The local concentration of solid particles is possible to estimate and achieve new information about the cleaning process. In the article is described the cleaning process on nanofibrous membranes for waste water treatment. The hydrodynamic data were compared to the images of the cleaning process.

Can Beach Cleans Do More Than Clean-Up Litter? Comparing Beach Cleans to Other Coastal Activities

PubMed Central

Wyles, Kayleigh J.; Pahl, Sabine; Holland, Matthew; Thompson, Richard C.

2016-01-01

Coastal visits not only provide psychological benefits but can also contribute to the accumulation of rubbish. Volunteer beach cleans help address this issue, but may only have limited, local impact. Consequently, it is important to study any broader benefits associated with beach cleans. This article examines the well-being and educational value of beach cleans, as well as their impacts on individuals’ behavioral intentions. We conducted an experimental study that allocated students (n = 90) to a beach cleaning, rock pooling, or walking activity. All three coastal activities were associated with positive mood and pro-environmental intentions. Beach cleaning and rock pooling were associated with higher marine awareness. The unique impacts of beach cleaning were that they were rated as most meaningful but linked to lower restorativeness ratings of the environment compared with the other activities. This research highlights the interplay between environment and activities, raising questions for future research on the complexities of person-environment interactions. PMID:28546642

Plasma surface cleaning using microwave plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsai, C.C.; Haselton, H.H.; Nelson, W.D.

1993-11-01

In a microwave electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma source, reactive plasmas of oxygen and its mixture with argon are used for plasma-cleaning experiments. Aluminum test samples (0.95 {times} 1.9 cm) were coated with thin films ({le} 20 {mu}m in thickness) of Shell Vitrea oil and cleaned by using such reactive plasmas. The plasma cleaning was done in various discharge conditions with fixed microwave power, rf power, biased potential, gas pressures (0.5 and 5 mtorr), and operating time up to 35 min. The status of plasma cleaning has been monitored by using mass spectroscopy. Mass loss of the samples after plasmamore » cleaning was measured to estimate cleaning rates. Measured clean rates of low pressure (0.5 mtorr) argon/oxygen plasmas were as high as 2.7 {mu}/min. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine cleanliness of the sample surfaces and confirm the effectiveness of plasma cleaning in achieving atomic levels of surface cleanliness. In this paper, significant results are reported and discussed.« less

Clean then Assemble Versus Assemble then Clean: Several Comparisons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welker, Roger W.

2004-01-01

Cleanliness of manufactured parts and assemblies is a significant issue in many industries including disk drives, semiconductors, aerospace, and medical devices. Clean manufacturing requires cleanroom floor space and cleaning technology that are both expensive to own and expensive to operate. Strategies to reduce these costs are an important consideration. One strategy shown to be effective at reducing costs is to assemble parts into subassemblies and then clean the subassembly, rather than clean the individual parts first and then assemble them. One advantage is that assembly outside of the cleanroom reduces the amount of cleanroom floor space and its associated operating cost premium. A second advantage is that this strategy reduces the number of individual parts that must be cleaned prior to assembly, reducing the number of cleaning baskets, handling and, possibly, reducing the number of cleaners. The assemble then clean strategy also results in a part that is significantly cleaner because contamination generated during the assembly steps are more effectively removed that normally can be achieved by hand wiping after assembly in the cleanroom.

Laser cleaning of the contaminations on the surface of tire mould

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Yayun; Jia, Baoshen; Chen, Jing; Jiang, Yilan; Tang, Hongping; Wang, Haijun; Luan, Xiaoyu; Liao, Wei; Zhang, Chuanchao; Yao, Caizhen

2017-07-01

During the manufacturing of tires, surface pollutants on tire mould will lead to the production of unqualified tires. Tire moulds need to be regularly cleaned. Laser cleaning is recognized as a non-destructive, effective, precise and environmental friendly method. In this paper, laser cleaning was used to remove contaminants on tire mould surface. First, laser induced damage experiments were performed. The results showed that the roughness and hardness of the cast steel sample surface seldom changed under the energy range of 140.1-580.2 mJ laser irradiation 1 pulse and the energy range of 44.7-168.9 mJ laser irradiation 100 pulses. In the laser cleaning experiments, the cleaning thresholds and the optimal cleaning parameters were obtained. Results indicated that laser cleaning was safe and effective for tire mould contamination removal.

Rudimentary Cleaning Compared to Level 300A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arpin, Christina Y. Pina; Stoltzfus, Joel

2012-01-01

A study was done to characterize the cleanliness level achievable when using a rudimentary cleaning process, and results were compared to JPR 5322.1G Level 300A. While it is not ideal to clean in a shop environment, some situations (e.g., field combat operations) require oxygen system hardware to be maintained and cleaned to prevent a fire hazard, even though it cannot be sent back to a precision cleaning facility. This study measured the effectiveness of basic shop cleaning. Initially, three items representing parts of an oxygen system were contaminated: a metal plate, valve body, and metal oxygen bottle. The contaminants chosen were those most likely to be introduced to the system during normal use: oil, lubricant, metal shavings/powder, sand, fingerprints, tape, lip balm, and hand lotion. The cleaning process used hot water, soap, various brushes, gaseous nitrogen, water nozzle, plastic trays, scouring pads, and a controlled shop environment. Test subjects were classified into three groups: technical professionals having an appreciation for oxygen hazards; professional precision cleaners; and a group with no previous professional knowledge of oxygen or precision cleaning. Three test subjects were in each group, and each was provided with standard cleaning equipment, a cleaning procedure, and one of each of the three test items to clean. The results indicated that the achievable cleanliness level was independent of the technical knowledge or proficiency of the personnel cleaning the items. Results also showed that achieving a Level 300 particle count was more difficult than achieving a Level A nonvolatile residue amount.

Clean Energy Manufacturing Boosting U.S. Competitiveness

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2015-09-14

Clean energy manufacturing is booming in the United States. U.S. clean energy investment topped $51 billion in 2014 alone, and even more growth is expected in the $250 billion clean energy market worldwide in coming years. America has an important opportunity to continue growing clean energy manufacturing industries, along with the high quality jobs and stronger local economies that come with them.

14 CFR 1260.34 - Clean air and water.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Clean air and water. 1260.34 Section 1260... AGREEMENTS General Provisions § 1260.34 Clean air and water. Clean Air and Water October 2000 (Applicable... the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 1857c-8(c)(1) or the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1319...

Clean Energy Manufacturing Boosting U.S. Competitiveness

ScienceCinema

None

2018-06-06

Clean energy manufacturing is booming in the United States. U.S. clean energy investment topped $51 billion in 2014 alone, and even more growth is expected in the $250 billion clean energy market worldwide in coming years. America has an important opportunity to continue growing clean energy manufacturing industries, along with the high quality jobs and stronger local economies that come with them.

14 CFR 1260.34 - Clean air and water.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 5 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Clean air and water. 1260.34 Section 1260... AGREEMENTS General Provisions § 1260.34 Clean air and water. Clean Air and Water October 2000 (Applicable... the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 1857c-8(c)(1) or the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1319...

Method for cleaning and passivating a metal surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexander, George B. (Inventor); Carpenter, Norman F. (Inventor)

1976-01-01

A cleaning solvent useful in the cleaning of metal surfaces, e.g. nickle-iron alloys, contains sulfamic acid, citric acid, a solvent for hydrocarbon residues, and a surfactant. Metal surfaces are cleaned by contacting the surface with the cleaning solvent and then passivated by contact with aqueous solutions of citric acid or sodium nitrite or a combination of the two.

40 CFR 88.305-94 - Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 21 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles. 88.305-94 Section 88.305-94 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CLEAN-FUEL VEHICLES Clean-Fuel Fleet Program § 88.305-94 Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling...

40 CFR 88.305-94 - Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 21 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles. 88.305-94 Section 88.305-94 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CLEAN-FUEL VEHICLES Clean-Fuel Fleet Program § 88.305-94 Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling...

40 CFR 88.305-94 - Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2014-07-01 2013-07-01 true Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles. 88.305-94 Section 88.305-94 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CLEAN-FUEL VEHICLES Clean-Fuel Fleet Program § 88.305-94 Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling...

40 CFR 88.305-94 - Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling requirements for heavy-duty vehicles. 88.305-94 Section 88.305-94 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CLEAN-FUEL VEHICLES Clean-Fuel Fleet Program § 88.305-94 Clean-fuel fleet vehicle labeling...

78 FR 15376 - Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Amendment Under the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-11

... Act; the Clean Water Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Emergency Planning and...'') for violations of the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Water Act... Herculaneum Lead Smelter Facility 12-month rolling average limit for SO 2 emissions and the 12-month rolling...

Cleaning interactions by gobies on a tropical eastern Pacific coral reef.

PubMed

Quimbayo, J P; Zapata, F A

2018-04-01

The present study describes the cleaning interactions among species of cleaner gobies Tigrigobius spp. and Elacatinus puncticulatus (family Gobiidae) and the client fish species they clean in a coral reef of Gorgona Island, Colombia. In 419 cleaning events, we observed 27 species acting as clients of Tigrigobius spp., whereas only nine were clients of E. puncticulatus. Paranthias colonus and Cephalopholis panamensis were the species most commonly cleaned by Tigrigobius spp., while Ophioblennius steindachneri and Stegastes acalpulcoensis were the clients most commonly cleaned by E. puncticulatus. The abundance (but not the body size) of clients was an important variable predicting the cleaning frequency observed for clients of Tigrigobius spp., but this was not the case for clients of E. puncticulatus. Additionally, Tigrigobius spp. preferred cleaning planktivores, sessile invertebrate feeders and territorial herbivores (Ivlev's index >0·15), whereas E. puncticulatus did not exhibit any preference. We observed two major peaks of cleaning activity for Tigrigobius spp., one in the early morning and another one in the late afternoon. These results suggest that Tigrigobius spp. is a specialized cleaner goby, whereas E. puncticulatus is a facultative cleaner that cleans sporadically. © 2018 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Precision Cleaning and Verification Processes Used at Marshall Space Flight Center for Critical Hardware Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, Salvadore V.; Cox, Jack A.; McGee, Kathleen A.

1998-01-01

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration performs many research and development programs that require hardware and assemblies to be cleaned to levels that are compatible with fuels and oxidizers (liquid oxygen, solid propellants, etc.). Also, MSFC is responsible for developing large telescope satellites which require a variety of optical systems to be cleaned. A precision cleaning shop is operated within MSFC by the Fabrication Services Division of the Materials & Processes Laboratory. Verification of cleanliness is performed for all precision cleaned articles in the Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Branch. Since the Montreal Protocol was instituted, MSFC had to find substitutes for many materials that have been in use for many years, including cleaning agents and organic solvents. As MSFC is a research center, there is a great variety of hardware that is processed in the Precision Cleaning Shop. This entails the use of many different chemicals and solvents, depending on the nature and configuration of the hardware and softgoods being cleaned. A review of the manufacturing cleaning and verification processes, cleaning materials and solvents used at MSFC and changes that resulted from the Montreal Protocol will be presented.

Precision Cleaning and Verification Processes Used at Marshall Space Flight Center for Critical Hardware Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, Salvadore V.

1999-01-01

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) performs many research and development programs that require hardware and assemblies to be cleaned to levels that are compatible with fuels and oxidizers (liquid oxygen, solid propellants, etc.). Also, the Center is responsible for developing large telescope satellites which requires a variety of optical systems to be cleaned. A precision cleaning shop is operated with-in MSFC by the Fabrication Services Division of the Materials & Processes Division. Verification of cleanliness is performed for all precision cleaned articles in the Analytical Chemistry Branch. Since the Montreal Protocol was instituted, MSFC had to find substitutes for many materials that has been in use for many years, including cleaning agents and organic solvents. As MSFC is a research Center, there is a great variety of hardware that is processed in the Precision Cleaning Shop. This entails the use of many different chemicals and solvents, depending on the nature and configuration of the hardware and softgoods being cleaned. A review of the manufacturing cleaning and verification processes, cleaning materials and solvents used at MSFC and changes that resulted from the Montreal Protocol will be presented.

An international survey of cleaning and disinfection practices in the healthcare environment.

PubMed

Kenters, N; Gottlieb, T; Hopman, J; Mehtar, S; Schweizer, M L; Tartari, E; Huijskens, E G W; Voss, A

2018-06-18

Antimicrobial resistance has become an urgent global health priority. Basic hygiene practices and cleaning and disinfection of the hospital environment are key in preventing pathogen cross-transmission. To our knowledge no studies have assessed the worldwide differences in cleaning and disinfection practices in healthcare facilities. The electronic survey described here was developed in order to evaluate differences in healthcare facility cleaning practices around the world. The International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC, formerly ISC), Infection Prevention and Control work group developed a survey with 30 multiple-choice questions. The questions were designed to assess the current cleaning practices in healthcare settings around the world. A total of 110 healthcare professionals, representing 23 countries, participated in the online survey. In 96% of the facilities a written cleaning policy was present. Training of cleaning staff occurred in 70% of the facilities at the start of employment. Cleaning practices and monitoring of these practices varied. The survey enabled assessment and recognition of widely differing global practices in approaches to environmental cleaning and disinfection. Development of guideline recommendations for cleaning and disinfection could improve practices and set minimum standards worldwide. Copyright © 2018 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.