Particle Size Distribution in Aluminum Manufacturing Facilities.

As part of exposure assessment for an ongoing epidemiologic study of heart disease and fine particle exposures in aluminum industry, area particle samples were collected in production facilities to assess instrument reliability and particle size distribution at different process areas. Personal modular impactors (PMI) and Minimicro-orifice uniform deposition impactors (MiniMOUDI) were used. The coefficient of variation (CV) of co-located samples was used to evaluate the reproducibility of the samplers. PM2.5 measured by PMI was compared to PM2.5 calculated from MiniMOUDI data. Mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and concentrations of sub-micrometer (PM1.0) and quasi-ultrafine (PM0.56) particles were evaluated to characterize particle size distribution. Most of CVs were less than 30%. The slope of the linear regression of PMI_PM2.5 versus MiniMOUDI_PM2.5 was 1.03 mg/m3 per mg/m3 (± 0.05), with correlation coefficient of 0.97 (± 0.01). Particle size distribution varied substantively in smelters, whereas it was less variable in fabrication units with significantly smaller MMADs (arithmetic mean of MMADs: 2.59 μm in smelters vs. 1.31 μm in fabrication units, p = 0.001). Although the total particle concentration was more than two times higher in the smelters than in the fabrication units, the fraction of PM10 which was PM1.0 or PM0.56 was significantly lower in the smelters than in the fabrication units (p < 0.001). Consequently, the concentrations of sub-micrometer and quasi-ultrafine particles were similar in these two types of facilities. It would appear, studies evaluating ultrafine particle exposure in aluminum industry should focus on not only the smelters, but also the fabrication facilities

Ischemic Heart Disease Incidence in Relation to Fine versus Total Particulate Matter Exposure in a U.S. Aluminum Industry Cohort.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been linked to exposures to airborne particles with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) in the ambient environment and in occupational settings. Routine industrial exposure monitoring, however, has traditionally focused on total particulate matter (TPM). To assess potential benefits of PM2.5 monitoring, we compared the exposure-response relationships between both PM2.5 and TPM and incidence of IHD in a cohort of active aluminum industry workers. To account for the presence of time varying confounding by health status we applied marginal structural Cox models in a cohort followed with medical claims data for IHD incidence from 1998 to 2012. Analyses were stratified by work process into smelters (n = 6,579) and fabrication (n = 7,432). Binary exposure was defined by the 10th-percentile cut-off from the respective TPM and PM2.5 exposure distributions for each work process. Hazard Ratios (HR) comparing always exposed above the exposure cut-off to always exposed below the cut-off were higher for PM2.5, with HRs of 1.70 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.60) and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.02-2.13) in smelters and fabrication, respectively. For TPM, the HRs were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.89-1.77) and 1.25 (95% CI: 0.88-1.77) for smelters and fabrication respectively. Although TPM and PM2.5 were highly correlated in this work environment, results indicate that, consistent with biologic plausibility, PM2.5 is a stronger predictor of IHD risk than TPM. Cardiovascular risk management in the aluminum industry, and other similar work environments, could be better guided by exposure surveillance programs monitoring PM2.5

Incident Ischemic Heart Disease After Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter: Accounting for 2 Forms of Survivor Bias.

Little is known about the heart disease risks associated with occupational, rather than traffic-related, exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5). We examined long-term exposure to PM2.5 in cohorts of aluminum smelters and fabrication workers in the United States who were followed for incident ischemic heart disease from 1998 to 2012, and we addressed 2 forms of survivor bias. Left truncation bias was addressed by restricting analyses to the subcohort hired after the start of follow up. Healthy worker survivor bias, which is characterized by time-varying confounding that is affected by prior exposure, was documented only in the smelters and required the use of marginal structural Cox models. When comparing always-exposed participants above the 10th percentile of annual exposure with those below, the hazard ratios were 1.67 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11, 2.52) and 3.95 (95% CI: 0.87, 18.00) in the full and restricted subcohorts of smelter workers, respectively. In the fabrication stratum, hazard ratios based on conditional Cox models were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.02) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.37) per 1 mg/m(3)-year in the full and restricted subcohorts, respectively. Long-term exposure to occupational PM2.5 was associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease among aluminum manufacturing workers, particularly in smelters, after adjustment for survivor bias

Rapid Assessment of Age-Related Differences in Standing Balance

As life expectancy continues to rise, in the future there will be an increasing number of older people prone to falling. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for comprehensive testing of older individuals to collect data and to identify possible risk factors for falling. Here we use a low-cost force platform to rapidly assess deficits in balance under various conditions. We tested 21 healthy older adults and 24 young adults during static stance, unidirectional and rotational displacement of their centre of pressure (COP). We found an age-related increase in postural sway during quiet standing and a reduction of maximal COP displacement in unidirectional and rotational displacement tests. Our data show that even low-cost computerized assessment tools allow for the comprehensive testing of balance performance in older subjects

PID vs LQ Control Techniques Applied to an Indoor Micro Quadrotor

The development of miniature flying robots has become a reachable dream thanks to the new sensing and actuating technologies. Micro VTOL1 systems represent a useful class of flying robots because of their strong abilities for small-area monitoring and building exploration. In this paper, we present the results of two model-based control techniques applied to an autonomous four-rotor micro helicopter called Quadrotor. A classical approach (PID) assuming a simplified dynamics and a modern technique (LQ), based on a more complete model. Various simulations were performed and several tests on the bench validate the control laws. Finally, we present the results of the first test in flight with the helicopter released. These developments are part of the OS42 project in our lab3

MSSM Higgs Couplings to Bottom Quarks: Two-Loop Corrections

We present the two-loop SUSY-QCD corrections to the effective bottom Yukawa couplings within the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model. The effective Yukawa couplings include the resummation of the non-decoupling corrections Delta m_b for large values of tg(beta). We have derived the two-loop SUSY-QCD corrections to the leading SUSY-QCD and top-induced SUSY-electroweak contributions to Delta m_b. The scale dependence of the resummed Yukawa couplings is reduced from O(10%) to the per-cent level. These results reduce the theoretical uncertainties of the MSSM Higgs branching ratios to the accuracy which can be achieved at a future linear e+e- collider.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Технология сборки и сварки основания для механизма поворота подъемно-транспортного сооружения

Цель работы – разработка технологии сборки и сварки основания из высокопрочной стали с помощью механизированной сварки плавящимся электродом в среде углекислого газа. Объектом исследования является технология сборки и сварки основания для механизма поворота подъемно – транспортного сооружения, выполненного из стали 30ХГСА. Результатом работы является разработанная технология сборки и сварки, которая позволит обеспечить качество, эффективность и безопасность труда.The aim of the work is to develop a technology for assembling and welding a base made of high-strength steel using a mechanized welding with a melting electrode in a carbon dioxide environment. The object of research is the technology of Assembly and welding of the base for the mechanism of rotation of the lifting and transport structure made of 30ХГСА steel. The result is a developed Assembly and welding technology that will ensure quality, efficiency and safety

Анализ термодинамических параметров нефтепровода с предварительным подогревом нефти в условиях Севера

Объектом исследования является трубопровод, на котором применяется технология перекачки нефти с предварительным подогревом. Цель работы – определить влияние термодинамических характеристик трубопроводного транспорта нефти в условиях Севера на эффективность технологии перекачки нефти с предварительным подогревом. В процессе исследования проводились гидравлические и тепловые расчеты, расчет оптимальной температуры транспорта, расчет экономической эффективности использования технологии транспорта с подогревом. Рассмотрены вопросы корректного описания вязкостно-температурной характеристики нефти для определения оптимальной температуры подогрева нефти, влияния термодинамических параметров системы «нефтепровод-окружающая среда» на эффективность применения предварительного подогрева.The object of research is the hot oil pipeline. Purpose - to determine the influence of the thermodynamic characteristics of the pipeline transport of oil in the North on the effectiveness of technology of hot oil transfer. The study carried out hydraulic and thermal calculations, the calculation of optimal transport temperature, calculation of economic efficiency of use of hot oil transport. The questions of the correct description of viscosity-temperature characteristics of the oil to determine the optimum temperature of heating oil, the effect of thermodynamic parameters of the system "pipeline-environment" on the effectiveness of transport. Presents measures for health and safety point of operation of oil heating, environmental protection, technical and economic part

Планирование карьеры в рамках деятельности Assessment- центра в обществе с ограниченной ответственностью микрофинансовая компания "Быстроденьги"

Объектом исследования является планирование карьеры в организации. Цель работы – рассмотреть особенности планирования карьеры в рамках деятельности Аssessment-центра в ООО МФК "Быстроденьги". В результате исследования были предложены пути совершенствования системы планирования карьеры с помощью технологии Аssessment-центра.The object of the research is career planning in the organization. The purpose of the work is to consider the features of career planning in the framework of the activity of the Assessment center in LLC MFC "Bystrodengi". As a result of the study, ways to improve the career planning system using the technology of the Asssessment center were proposed