Filtration of Aerosolized Oils with Layered Filter Media and Drainage Channels

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the efficiency of four different filter media with two different drainage channel materials when filtering out aerosolized oil. The filter media include 2 micron stainless steel fibers, 6.5 micron stainless steel fibers, 2 micron woven glass fibers, and 6 micron woven glass fibers. The drainage channel materials are 500 micron Teflon (PTFE) and nylon mesh. One major application that this research is targeted towards is air compressors. Air compressors use lubricating oil to minimize wear and corrosion. During operation some of this lubricating oil is aerosolized into the outgoing air stream. Inhalation of the aerosolized lubricating oil could potentially result in concentrations in the body high enough to cause respiratory irritation and other effects [2]. Filtering the oil out, allowing it to drain and recirculate back to the compressor will also help to reduce the oil loss in the compressor, reducing the amount of preventative maintenance required. Another significant aspect of this project is to test alternative filter media. Recent awareness of potential side effects man made mineral fibers (MMMF) which contain silica have raised concerns about the production and usage of woven fiberglass filter media. This experiment tests woven stainless steel filter media which could be a potential alternative to fiberglass should restrictions be put into place on the production and usage of fiberglass filter media. The experiment was conducted using the experimental setup in ASEC 81 C. The setup utilizes compressed air to aerosolize lubricating oil and pass it through the filter media. A scanning mobility particle sizer which uses an electrode to separate droplets of particular size and a condensation particle counter were used to detect the change in concentration of droplets across the filter. The pressure drop across the filter was also recorded. These values were used to generate quantities called the filter efficiency and filtration index. Filter efficiency is dependent on the concentration gradient and the filtration index incorporates the filter efficiency as well as pressure drop across the filter. At smaller fiber diameters the change in drainage material did not significantly affect the efficiency or filtration index. The exception to this is the nylon run. One potential explanation for this is the highly wetting nature of nylon towards oil [1]. As these were the first set of experiments run, it may be better to attribute these results to inexperience operating the experiment. At larger fiber diameters the change in drainage material resulted in a more dramatic shift in efficiency, pressure drop and filtration index. The nylon as previously stated has a higher wettability than the Teflon. It would appear from the data that the lower wettability of Teflon allowed the filter media to drain more easily and achieve higher efficiencies with a lower pressure drop. Comparing small fiber sizes to large fiber sizes it was seen that the efficiencies of the small fibers were roughly comparable for stainless steel, but with a much higher pressure drop and lower filtration index with the 2 micron fibers. This is due to the capillary forces that were discussed previously which causes the filtration media to compress, decreasing the porosity and increasing the pressure drop. The efficiencies of the 2 micron glass fibers were higher than the 6 micron fibers, but with an increased pressure drop and lower filtration index due to the smaller pore size. With regards to this project further trials are recommended using greater variations in filter material, drainage material, and different dimensions of both. This trial is largely limited due to the amount of time it takes to run each experiment which was typically a little over four hours

Nutritional interventions for thyroid function in adolescent academy footballers

Thyroid function is vital for health, with direct impacts on metabolic rate and energy production. Research has established that exposure to various stress factors can inhibit thyroid function and supresses circulating thyroid hormones (THs). These stress factors include maturation, fasting, poor nutritional intake and increased exercise energy expenditure (EEE). It is hypothesised that these adaptations are due to altered peripheral conversion of thyroxine (T4) away from the active hormone triiodothyronine (T3) and toward the inhibitor reverse-triiodothyronine (rT3). Consequently, adolescent athletes are a unique population in the sense that they can be presented with a plethora of these stress factors concurrently, yet the combined impact of this on thyroid function has not been confirmed. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate the impact of various stress factors on thyroid function in adolescent male footballers and identify periods in maturation and the sporting season when thyroid function could be at risk, with the final intention of developing a nutritional intervention in an attempt to mitigate any suppression of THs. It was hypothesised that thyroid function would be supressed under high training loads, under low energy availability (EA), during maturation and when carbohydrate intakes were low. As such it was hypothesised that providing a nutritional load to rectify the energy and carbohydrate deficits would help to preserve thyroid hormone concentrations during periods of high stress. In Study One and Two, Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was confirmed as a valid, reliable and logistical method for assessing THs in adolescents and it was suggested that body temperature and blood pressure could potentially be surrogate markers for thyroid function. Study Three showed that those in peak height velocity, with low EA and with low carbohydrate intakes were more likely to have supressed TH concentrations, particularly after a competitive football match. Study Four suggested that a post-exercise carbohydrate drink can mitigate some of the acute suppression of T3 (<60 mins), however for longer term benefits, a more systematic approach to increase energy intake might be required. This work extends understanding of supressed TH concentrations during periods of stress and provides valuable insight into when thyroid function might be at risk within adolescent male footballers. These findings highlight the importance of adequate energy and carbohydrate intakes in adolescent athletes, particularly when undergoing bouts of heavy training and during maturation

Bridging the Gap: Motivations, Challenges, and Successes of Veteran Entrepreneurs

This exploratory study seeks to better understand veterans\u27 business journey experience. As a result, this research study spans several areas of the business ownership, including finances, mentorships and networks, educational and learning styles, and challenges/barriers. Helpful for anyone who seeks an awareness of the veteran entrepreneurship industry

A Review of the Application of Rate Theory to Simulate Vacancy Cluster Formation and Interstitial Defect Formation in Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel

The beltline region of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is subject to an extreme radiation, temperature, and pressure environment over several decades of operation; therefore it is necessary to understand the mechanisms through which radiation damage occurs and how it affects the mechanical and chemical properties of the RPV steel. Chemical rate theory is a mean field rate theory simulation model which applies chemistry to the evaluation of irradiation-induced embrittlement. It presents one method of analysis that may be coupled to other distinct methods, in order to analyze defect formation, ultimately providing useful information on strength, ductility, toughness and dimensional stability changes for effects such as embrittlement, reduction in ductility and toughness, void swelling, hardening, irradiation creep, stress corrosion cracking, etc. over time as materials are subjected to reactor operational irradiation. This paper serves as a brief review of rate theory fundamentals and presents several examples of research that exemplify the application and importance of rate theory in examining the effects of radiation damage on RPV steel

Advancing Veteran Success in Higher Education: Case Highlights of Veteran-Friendly Programs at Professional Schools at Syracuse University

Made possible through support from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC),this paper highlights findings from schools at Syracuse University. The goal of this study and paper is twofold: to identify challenges and best practices with creating, recruiting, and sustaining veteran-friendly programming and initiatives and to share recommendations for other schools and college campuses on how to become more veteran-friendly, with particular emphasis on addressing the needs of today’s student veteran

The State of Veteran Entrepreneurship Research: What We Know and Next Steps

This paper reviews the current state of research on veteran entrepreneurship, identifies critical gaps, and offers recommendations for future research. Helpful for awareness of the entrepreneurship industry

Working to improve the management of sarcoma patients across Europe: a policy checklist

Background: The Sarcoma Policy Checklist was created by a multidisciplinary expert group to provide policymakers with priority areas to improve care for sarcoma patients. Main body: This paper draws on this research, by looking more closely at how France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom are addressing each of these priority areas. It aims to highlight key gaps in research, policy and practice, as well as ongoing initiatives that may impact the future care of sarcoma patients in different European countries. A pragmatic review of the published and web-based literature was undertaken. Telephone interviews were conducted in each country with clinical and patient experts to substantiate findings. Research findings were discussed within the expert group and developed into five core policy recommendations. The five identified priority areas were: the development of designated and accredited centres of reference; more professional training; multidisciplinary care; greater incentives for research and innovation; and more rapid access to effective treatments. Most of the countries studied have ongoing initiatives addressing many of these priorities; however, many are in early stages of development, or require additional funding and resources. Conclusion: Gaps in access to quality care are particularly concerning in many of Europe’s lower-resourced countries. Equitable access to information, clinical trials, innovative treatments and quality specialist care should be available to all sarcoma patients. Achieving this across Europe will require close collaboration between all stakeholders at both the national and European level

The potential nutrition-, physical- and health-related benefits of cow’s milk for primary-school-aged children

Cow's milk is a naturally nutrient-dense foodstuff. A significant source of many essential nutrients, its inclusion as a component of a healthy balanced diet has been long recommended. Beyond milk's nutritional value, an increasing body of evidence illustrates cow's milk may confer numerous benefits related to health. Evidence from adult populations suggests that cow's milk may have a role in overall dietary quality, appetite control, hydration and cognitive function. Although evidence is limited compared to the adult literature, these benefits may be echoed in recent paediatric studies. This article, therefore, reviews the scientific literature to provide an evidence-based evaluation of the associated health benefits of cow's milk consumption in primary-school aged children (4-11 years). We focus on seven key areas related to nutrition and health comprising nutritional status, hydration, dental and bone health, physical stature, cognitive function, and appetite control. The evidence consistently demonstrates cow's milk (plain and flavoured) improves nutritional status in primary-school aged children. With some confidence, cow's milk also appears beneficial for hydration, dental and bone health and beneficial to neutral concerning physical stature and appetite. Due to conflicting studies, reaching a conclusion has proven difficult concerning cow's milk and cognitive function therefore a level of caution should be exercised when interpreting these results. All areas, however, would benefit from further robust investigation, especially in free-living school settings, to verify conclusions. Nonetheless, when the nutritional-, physical- and health-related impact of cow's milk avoidance is considered, the evidence highlights the importance of increasing cow's milk consumption

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Anemia among Children 6–59 Months Old in Haiti

Anemia has serious consequences on child growth, development, and survival. This study was conducted in Fond des Blancs and Villa, Haiti, to assess the prevalence of childhood anemia and its risk factors in order to inform program design. Children 6–59 months old (n = 557) were selected using a cross-sectional multistage sampling methodology. Hemoglobin was measured using the HemoCue technique. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to determine prevalence and factors associated with anemia. The prevalence of childhood anemia was 38.8% (23.9% mild, 14.7% moderate, and 0.2% severe). Mean hemoglobin was 11.2 ± 1.2 g/dL. Variables associated with child anemia were age less than 24 months (OR = 2.6; P = 0.000), stunting (OR = 2.2; P = 0.005), and mother's low hemoglobin level (OR = 1.8; P = 0.011). Anemia among young children in Fond des Blancs and Villa is a public health problem. Predictors of child anemia in this region include child's age, stunting, and mother's anemia. Interventions and strategies aimed at addressing effectively anemia in this population must therefore target mothers and children under two years of age

Black & African Americans in the Military: From Service to Civilian Life

This infographic provides key highlights of Black and African American service members and veterans. The information and statistics in this document are from our various data collection efforts centered on military life, transition, employment, entrepreneurship, and higher education