From thermal rectifiers to thermoelectric devices

We discuss thermal rectification and thermoelectric energy conversion from the perspective of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and dynamical systems theory. After preliminary considerations on the dynamical foundations of the phenomenological Fourier law in classical and quantum mechanics, we illustrate ways to control the phononic heat flow and design thermal diodes. Finally, we consider the coupled transport of heat and charge and discuss several general mechanisms for optimizing the figure of merit of thermoelectric efficiency.Comment: 42 pages, 22 figures, review paper, to appear in the Springer Lecture Notes in Physics volume "Thermal transport in low dimensions: from statistical physics to nanoscale heat transfer" (S. Lepri ed.

International nosocomial infection control consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Acute toxicity of drilling fluids used in Mexican offshore facilities tested with postlarvae white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus)

Static acute toxicity tests were carried out with seven generic drilling fluids and six drilling muds used in offshore drilling facilities in the Sonda of Campeche area and with sodium dodecyl sulfate as reference toxicant compound to evaluate the potential of postlarvae white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) as test specie for toxicological analysis of drilling fluids. Toxicity of seven generic drilling fluids tested simultaneously between Mysidopsis bahia and Litopenaeus setiferus indicated a similar response for both species according with the limit of 30,000 ppm in the suspended particle phase analysis due to only the EPA-83-001 fluid was toxic while the others did not. Non-acute toxic effects with Litopenaeus setiferus were in water-based drilling muds collected in field, while the oil-based muds were highly toxic although there was no toxicity criteria that could be applied to this type of muds. Replication and sensitivity tests with Litopenaeus setiferus using sodium dodecyl sulfate, showed a low variability and for instance, a constant response that highly suggest this organism, in postlarvae stage, as a reference specie for testing drilling systems and also, water quality indicator in the Sonda of Campeche, Mexico. Moreover, sensitivity of this organism was also similar to Mysidopsis bahia, reference specie used by EPA. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the SPE International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and gas Exploration and Production (Stavanger, Norway, 6/26-28/2000)

Acute toxicity of drilling fluids used in Mexican offshore facilities tested with postlarvae white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus)

Static acute toxicity tests were carried out with seven generic drilling fluids and six drilling muds used in offshore drilling facilities in the Sonda of Campeche area and with sodium dodecyl sulfate as reference toxicant compound to evaluate the potential of postlarvae white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) as test specie for toxicological analysis of drilling fluids. Toxicity of seven generic drilling fluids tested simultaneously between Mysidopsis bahia and Litopenaeus setiferus indicated a similar response for both species according with the limit of 30,000 ppm in the suspended particle phase analysis due to only the EPA-83-001 fluid was toxic while the others did not. Non-acute toxic effects with Litopenaeus setiferus were in water-based drilling muds collected in field, while the oil-based muds were highly toxic although there was no toxicity criteria that could be applied to this type of muds. Replication and sensitivity tests with Litopenaeus setiferus using sodium dodecyl sulfate, showed a low variability and for instance, a constant response that highly suggest this organism, in postlarvae stage, as a reference specie for testing drilling systems and also, water quality indicator in the Sonda of Campeche, Mexico. Moreover, sensitivity of this organism was also similar to Mysidopsis bahia, reference specie used by EPA. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the SPE International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and gas Exploration and Production (Stavanger, Norway, 6/26-28/2000)

Properties of antibacterial nano textile for use in hospital environments.

Abstract In hospital environments, there are several problems related to Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), contaminated hospital textiles, can contribute to the spread and transmission of (HAIs), due to retention of viruses and bacteria. The antibacterial metallic nanoparticles immersed in hospital textiles can allow reduction of microorganisms. This paper presents a technological surveillance of the principal properties of antibacterial nanotextiles to be used in hospital environments, based on international standards. Initially, the search equation was determined for “antibacterial” AND “nanoparticle.” Subsequently, the main properties were selected, by means of a multiple authors’ review. Afterwards, the properties were related to international standards. Finally, we present the results found associated to the materials used to develop nonwoven textiles, and their properties for hospital environments, the sizes of samples and also the equipment required for characterization.Resumo Nos ambientes hospitaleiros, existem vários problemas relacionados com as infecções associadas à atenção da saúde (HAI), os tecidos hospitalários contaminados, podem contribuir à propagação e transmissão dos HAIs, devido à retenção de vírus e bactérias. As nano partículas metálicas antibacterianas submergidas em tecidos hospitalários permitem reduzir os microorganismos. Este documento apresenta uma vigilância tecnológica das principais propriedades do nano têxtil antibacteriano para uso em ambientes hospitalários, baseados em padrões internacionais. Inicialmente, a equação de busca determinou-se "antibacteriano" e "nano partícula". Posteriormente, selecionaram-se as principais propriedades, mediante a revisão de diferentes autores. Posteriormente, as propriedades relacionaram-se com os padrões internacionais. Finalmente, apresentam-se os resultados encontrados associados aos materiais utilizados para o desenvolvimento de tecidos não tecidos e suas propriedades para ambientes hospitaleiros, tamanhos de amostras e também a equipe necessária para a caracterização.Resumen En los ambientes hospitalarios, existen varios problemas relacionados con las infecciones asociadas a la atención de la salud (HAI, por sus siglas en inglés), los tejidos hospitalarios contaminados, pueden contribuir a la propagación y transmisión de los HAIs, debido a la retención de virus y bacterias. Las nanopartículas metálicas antibacterianas sumergidas en tejidos hospitalarios permiten reducir los microorganismos. Este documento presenta una vigilancia tecnológica de las principales propiedades del nanotextil antibacteriano para uso en ambientes hospitalarios, basados en estándares internacionales. Inicialmente, la ecuación de búsqueda se determinó "antibacteriano" Y "nanopartícula". Posteriormente, se seleccionaron las principales propiedades, mediante la revisión de diferentes autores. Luego, las propiedades se relacionaron con los estándares internacionales. Finalmente, se presentan los resultados encontrados asociados a los materiales utilizados para el desarrollo de materiales no tejidos y sus propiedades para ambientes hospitalarios, tamaños de muestras y también el equipo necesario para la caracterización