Recycled incomplete identification procedures for blood screening

The operation of blood bank systems is characterized by two crucial factors: testing procedures and perishability. We propose a new testing procedure that we term Recycled Incomplete Identification Procedure (RIIP). In RIIP, groups of pooled blood units which are found contaminated in a so-called ELISA test are divided into smaller subgroups and again group-tested by ELISA, and so forth, until finally a so-called PCR test is conducted for those subgroups which are found clean. We analyze and optimize the performance of RIIP, maximizing the profit associated with the procedure. Our numerical results suggest that it may indeed be profitable to do several cycles at ELISA

Revisiting nested group testing procedures: new results, comparisons, and robustness

Group testing has its origin in the identification of syphilis in the US army during World War II. Much of the theoretical framework of group testing was developed starting in the late 1950s, with continued work into the 1990s. Recently, with the advent of new laboratory and genetic technologies, there has been an increasing interest in group testing designs for cost saving purposes. In this paper, we compare different nested designs, including Dorfman, Sterrett and an optimal nested procedure obtained through dynamic programming. To elucidate these comparisons, we develop closed-form expressions for the optimal Sterrett procedure and provide a concise review of the prior literature for other commonly used procedures. We consider designs where the prevalence of disease is known as well as investigate the robustness of these procedures when it is incorrectly assumed. This article provides a technical presentation that will be of interest to researchers as well as from a pedagogical perspective. Supplementary material for this article is available online.Comment: Submitted for publication on May 3, 2016. Revised versio

Ozone-Based Decolorization of Food Colorants: Characterization and Application to Fruit Leather Recycling

The commercial production of fruit leathers results in some material that is not to specification. Although this product remains edible and contains valuable ingredients such as fruit pulp, sugars and acidulates, it is not salable and its disposal is costly. Because these products are typically highly colored, recovery of fruit leather for recycling into the product requires colorant removal to avoid an unappetizing brownish color from the mixture of colorants. This research introduces a novel approach utilizing ozonation for color removal. The treatment was first applied to pure solutions of the commonly used food colorants 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (Red 40), tartrazine (Yellow 5), and erioglaucine (Blue 1). Color removal was measured by UV/Vis spectrometer, and a Hunter colorimeter. Byproducts from ozone-based colorant decomposition were identified and quantified with SPME-GC-MS. Removal of Yellow 5, Red 40 and Blue 1 was about 65%, 80% and 90% complete, respectively, with 70 g ozone applied to 1 kg aqueous fruit leather suspension solution. Given the known structures of these dyes, a concern with this approach is the potential formation of toxic ozonolysis byproducts. In initial work, carbonyl compounds were identified as major byproducts. Among these, benzaldehyde, 2-furfural, ethanal and hexanal were identified as byproducts of known toxicity at levels sufficient for concern. A head-space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method with on-fiber derivatization using o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) was optimized for detection and quantification of carbonyl compounds in ozonated fruit leather suspensions. Ethanal, hexanal, furfural and benzaldehyde were quantified with the newly developed method, and detection limits were in the range of 0.016 - 0.030 yg/L. For furfural, the ozonolysis byproduct noted in the literature as having the highest median lethal dose value, the maximum amount generated was determined to be under the detection limit, 0.016 yg/L of 100% fruit leather solution/suspension, while hexanal was the most abundantly generated, at 80.0 y 22.0 mg/L. A conservative risk assessment based on published toxicity information for the main ozonolysis products generated in this study suggests the acceptability of ozone-based decolorization in fruit leather recycling. A preliminary cost estimate suggests a potential $0.25 million annual profit on recycling a 1,000 tons of waste fruit leathers per year

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, 1989, volume 1

The 1989 Johnson Space Center (JSC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program was conducted by Texas A and M University and JSC. The 10-week program was operated under the auspices of the ASEE. The program at JSC, as well as the programs at other NASA Centers, was funded by the Office of University Affairs, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The objectives of the program, which began nationally in 1964 and at JSC in 1965, are: (1) to further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) to stimulate an exchange of ideas between participants and NASA; (3) to enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions; and (4) to contribute to the research objective of the NASA Centers

Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 291)

This bibliography lists 131 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in November 1986

OpenLine Newsletter, September 21, 2004

A monthly newsletter for Civil Service employees, Volume XXIX, Number 3, September 21, 2004.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/oln/1021/thumbnail.jp

Developing human biomonitoring as a 21st century toolbox within the European exposure science strategy 2020-2030

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a crucial approach for exposure assessment, as emphasised in the European Commission's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). HBM can help to improve chemical policies in five major key areas: (1) assessing internal and aggregate exposure in different target populations; 2) assessing exposure to chemicals across life stages; (3) assessing combined exposure to multiple chemicals (mixtures); (4) bridging regulatory silos on aggregate exposure; and (5) enhancing the effectiveness of risk management measures. In this strategy paper we propose a vision and a strategy for the use of HBM in chemical regulations and public health policy in Europe and beyond. We outline six strategic objectives and a roadmap to further strengthen HBM approaches and increase their implementation in the regulatory risk assessment of chemicals to enhance our understanding of exposure and health impacts, enabling timely and targeted policy interventions and risk management. These strategic objectives are: 1) further development of sampling strategies and sample preparation; 2) further development of chemical-analytical HBM methods; 3) improving harmonisation throughout the HBM research life cycle; 4) further development of quality control / quality assurance throughout the HBM research life cycle; 5) obtain sustained funding and reinforcement by legislation; and 6) extend target-specific communication with scientists, policymakers, citizens and other stakeholders. HBM approaches are essential in risk assessment to address scientific, regulatory and societal challenges. HBM requires full and strong support from the scientific and regulatory domain to reach its full potential in public and occupational health assessment and in regulatory decision-making