Testing alternative fuels, solar-thermal systems

The Terrestrial Energy Systems Technical Committee works to advance the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution and conservation of energy for terrestrial uses

Development and Validation of Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Methods for the Analysis of Veterinary Drugs in Various Biological and Feed Matrices Utilizing Efficient Extraction Protocols

The transfer of farming practices from low intensity farming systems for livestock production to commercial enterprises which employ intensive practices has resulted in the use of veterinary drugs becoming a critical component of food production. Resulting residues of veterinary drugs occurring in food of animal origin may give rise to potential health risks to consumers. The aim of this research is the development of analytical methods capable of screening and confirming increased number of these residues in more target matrices by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Its focus is the analysis of nitroimidazole residues in food of animal origin and authorised and prohibited medicinal additives in animal feed. This research resulted in the development and validation of methods for analysis of nitroimidazoles (NMZs) in plasma, eggs, milk and honey and prohibited and authorised medicinal additives in animal feed. The analytical technique used in all methods was the highly selective and sensitive LC-MS/MS. This technique allowed for multi-analyte methods to be developed for different matrices. NMZ residues examined were metronidazole, dimetridazole, ronidazole, ipronidazole, ternidazole, ornidazole, carnidazole and tinidazole along with three metabolite, hydroxymetronidazole, 2-Hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (HMMNI) and hydroxy-ipronidazole. Chloramphenicol was included with the analysis of NMZs in the matrices of milk and honey. Fourteen medicinal additives; metronidazole, dimetridazole, ronidazole, ipronidazole, clopidol, carbadox, sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, dinitolimide, chloramphenicol, ethopabate, avilamycin, tylosin and virginiamycin were analysed for in animal feed. The final method developed allowed for coccidiostats; halofuginone, robenidine, nicarbazin, diclazuril, decoquinate, iii semduramicin, lasalocid, salinomycin, monensin, narasin and maduramicin to be analysed for at levels related to unavoidable carryover in feed. All veterinary residue methods used were validated in accordance with EU legislation; Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. This legislation is concerned with the performance of analytical methods and the interpretation of results. Validation criteria were examined using protocols set out in this legislation and these included specificity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, decision limits (CCα), detection capabilities (CCβ) along with measurement uncertainty (MU). In the four methods developed for the analysis of NMZ residues in plasma, egg, milk and honey the accuracy and precision for all analytes ranged from 87.2% to 108.9% and 3.7% to 11.3% respectively in all matrices. CCα and CCβ for all nitroimidazole residues ranged from 0.33 to 1.60 g L-1 / g kg-1 and 0.56 to 2.64 g L-1 / g kg-1 respectively with MUs ranging from 18 to 90% for all compounds in the various matrices. Chloramphenicol CCα and CCβ values were below its minimum required performance level (MRPL) of 0.3 g L-1 / g kg-1. At present there is no legislation in place describing validation approaches for methods used for the analysis of medicinal additives in animal feed. Therefore for the validation of the two feed methods developed as part of this research the veterinary residue legislation was used as a basis. In the case of the analysis of coccidiostats at unavoidable carry over levels; the method was validated entirely in accordance with veterinary residue legislation, Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. However the method for the analysis of 14 prohibited medicinal additives in feed was validated with some adaptations to this legislation. To ensure that the method was fit for purpose a wide variety of feed was used in validation and a wider concentration range was examined. Parameters of specificity, accuracy, precision, iv repeatability, reproducibility were all examined and deemed to be acceptable along with measurement uncertainty

Generation and Use of Reactive Intermediates Exploiting Flow Technology

Continuous flow technology has matured into a valuable and widely exploited technology across academic and industrial laboratories. The safe and on-demand generation of reactive intermediates using miniaturized flow set-ups is of particular value to realize safer and more streamlined synthesis routes yielding important chemical building blocks. This focused review provides an update on recent studies highlighting the use of photochemistry, metalation reactions and electrochemistry to generate a variety of reactive intermediates showcasing successful implementations of flow processing as well as areas offering further opportunities

Development of a Simplified Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Screening Tool

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea has become recognized as one of the most common, under-diagnosed chronic diseases. Recently studies have shown increased numbers among the pediatric and adolescent population. OSA in children is associated with behavioral problems, poor school achievements, and in severe cases, pulmonary hypertension. OSA is often the Achilles heel of pediatric sedation and analgesic programs; during sedation, children with OSA have an increased vulnerability of their airway undergoing pharyngeal collapse and of having upper airway obstruction. Consequently, pediatric dentists who practice sedation dentistry should exercise extra precautions when treating patients with risk of sleep apnea. Currently there is no screening tool used in pediatric dentistry for diagnosing OSA during the pre-operative appointment or consultation for patients undergoing minimal and moderate oral conscious sedation. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a concise and easy-to-use questionnaire as a screening tool to aid in the diagnosis of OSA in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of 180 patients under the age of 18, who completed a polysomnogram at the VCU Center for Sleep Medicine between February 2011 and February 2013. A validated adult questionnaire, STOPBANG, was modified using more typical pediatric risk factors for OSA: presence of snoring (S), tonsillar hypertrophy (T1), tiredness; pESS\u3e10 (T2), observed obstruction (O), neuroPsych-behavioral symptoms such as ADHD or daytime irritability (P), BMI percentile for age (B), age at diagnostic screening (A), presence of neuromuscular disorder (N), and presence of genetic/congenital disorder (G). A positive scoring from these variables was measured against the standard OSA measure, Apnea-Hypopnea Index. A multiple logistic regression analysis tested for relationships. Results: There was a statistically significant relationship P= .0007 for the S(T1)OPBANG scale, with a minimum of 4 variables needed to have a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 78%. There was also a statistically significant relationship P= .0040 for the S(T2)OPBANG, the cutoff\u3e5 yielding sensitivity=36%, and specificity=90%. Only obstruction, BMI, and age showed a strong significant relationship to OSA. The presence of an obstruction was positively related to apnea (P = 0.0010). Most of the other components had an odds-ratio larger than one (indicating a nominally positive relationship). Conclusions: While both STOPBANG screening tools showed a statistically significant relationship, only obstruction, BMI, and age showed a predictive relationship to OSA. Consequently, consideration of other risk factors may be beneficial for future studies

Aromatic Selection for Surrogate Jet Fuel

The aromatic component of jet fuel is limited to 25% by volume in the current aviation specification for commercial flight. Aromatic hydrocrabons present in petroleum fuels are acknowledged to contribute to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and subsequently high levels of soot. Non-volatile particulate matter in the form of soot, or black carbon, contributes significantly to global warming, contrail formation, the degradation of combustion liner walls and has an adverse effect on human health. There is significant interest in minimising the emission levels of non-volatile particulate matter and smoke by varying the source and chemical composition of Jet fuel. While the overall volumetric proportion of aromatics is currently regulated, there is no indication as to the effect of the molecular composition of the aromatic component. The composition of conventional and surrogate fuels with specific focus on the variation of aromatic type and composition is investigated in this work with the goal of reducing the emission of nVPM in the aviation sector. In this report, a metadata analysis of the correlation between aromatic and naphthalene content and the smoke point of fuel samples finds a week correlation between the two variables as determined by the Jet fuel specification. The composition of Jet fuel is then discussed as is the contemporary understanding of the various formation mechanisms of non-volatile particulate matter. A literature review of the effect of molecular composition of the aromatic component on soot formation found a correlation with total aromatic volume, naphthalene volume, hydrogen mass proportion and the proportion of ring carbon present, although no individual factor agreed consistently with experimental results. A knowledge gap was identified as to 0 the effect of varying individual aromatic species in an aviation context. This report presents experimental data collected using a Rolls Royce Tay single can combustor using extractive laser induced incandescence to measure the mass concentration of black carbon emitted by thirteen different aromatic species in four blend proportions (7.5%, 12.5%, 17.5%, 22.5% vol/vol) in an alkene paraffinic surrogate for Jet-A. Data for the same configuration is also presented using a differential mobility analyser to determine the size distribution and total number concentration when combusting sixteen aromatics in three blend proportions (8%, 13%, 18% vol/vol). Fuel global density and the aggregate Unified YSI were found to be of statistical significance and regression models were developed to estimate black carbon mass and number exhaust concentrations with high accuracy

Telegram from Reverend Mother Mary Clare Cronly to Mrs. Winnie Carter

Telegram from Reverend Mother Mary Clare Cronly of The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word to Mrs. Winnie Carter upon the death of Amon Giles Carter. The telegram expresses condolences about his death.https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_meachamcarterpapers/1344/thumbnail.jp

Development and Validation of a Rapid Multi-class Method for the Confirmation of Fourteen Prohibited Medicinal Additives in Pig and Poultry Compound Feed by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A confirmatory method has been developed to allow for the analysis of fourteen prohibited medicinal additives in pig and poultry compound feed. These compounds are prohibited for use as feed additives although some are still authorised for use in medicated feed. Feed samples are extracted by acetonitrile with addition of sodium sulphate. The extracts undergo a hexane wash to aid with sample purification. The extracts are then evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in initial mobile phase. The samples undergo an ultracentrifugation step prior to injection onto the LC-MS/MS system and are analysed in a run time of 26 minutes. The LC-MS/MS system is run in MRM mode with both positive and negative electrospray ionisation. The method was validated over three days and is capable of quantitatively analysing for metronidazole, dimetridazole, ronidazole, ipronidazole, chloramphenicol, sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, dinitolimide, ethopabate, carbadox and clopidol. The method is also capable of qualitatively analysing for tylosin, virginiamycin and avilamycin. A level of 100 μg kg-1 was used for validation purposes and the method is capable of analysing to this level for all the compounds. Validation criteria of trueness, precision, repeatability and reproducibility along with measurement uncertainty are calculated for all analytes

The effect of alternative fuels on gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emission performance in an auxiliary power unit (APU)

There is a growing interest in the use of alternative fuels in gas turbine engines to reduce emissions. Testing of alternative fuels is expensive when done on a large-scale gas turbine engine. In this study, a re-commissioned small gas turbine auxiliary power unit (APU) has been used to test various blends of Jet A-1, synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) and diesel with as well as eight other novel fuels. A detailed analysis of performance, gaseous emissions and particulate emissions has been presented in this study. It is observed that aromatic content in general as well as the particular chemical composition of the aromatic compound plays a vital role in particulate emissions generation. SPK fuel shows substantially lower particulate emissions with respect to Jet A. However, not all the species of aromatics negatively impact particulate emissions. Gaseous emissions measured are comparable for all the fuels tested in this study

Job characteristics and mental health for older workers

Background: Adverse job characteristics have been linked with increased incidence of depression and anxiety in working populations. However, the association between job characteristics and mental health, in an older working population while controlling for personality traits, is less well known. Aims: To examine the association between job characteristics (job demands and job control) and mental health (depression and anxiety) for older workers while controlling for personality traits. Methods: A sample of workers aged 50-69 years were recruited from a primary health care clinic in Southern Ireland. Job characteristics were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire; demands (quantitative and cognitive) and control (influence at work and possibilities for development). Personality traits were measured using the Ten-Item Personality Inventory, depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Descriptive analysis, simple and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. Results: The final sample size was 1025 with an initial 67% response rate. Multiple linear regression analysis showed job characteristics (in particular, job demands) to be significant positive predictors of symptoms of depression and anxiety. The inverse was true for job control variables and symptoms of depression. Neither possibilities for development nor influence at work were associated with symptoms of anxiety. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that despite potential confounders, higher demands at work can impact the worker's mental health negatively. Reducing job demands and encouraging role development may benefit the mental health of older workers

Pursuit eye movements in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Pursuit eye movements made by goldfish were investigated with an optical technique in which the horizontal orientations of both eyes were measured automatically. Moving targets were provided by: 1. (1) a striped drum which rotated about the vertical axis concentrically with the animal's head, and2. (2) tangent screens on either side. Movement seen by either eye alone caused both to move, but the response was greater when both viewed the drum. The angular velocities of the eyes were always less than that of the drum. The ocular velocity depended upon the velocity, area, and contrast of the target, over wide ranges, and upon the state of adaptation and the recent history of the visual system. Evidence is offered supporting the hypothesis that the pursuit movements are controlled by directionally-selective movement-sensitive retinal ganglion cells.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34131/1/0000415.pd