System and Method for Sensing a Characteristic of a Fluid and Related Apparatus

An apparatus for intended use in measuring, sensing, or detecting a characteristic of a fluid, such as a liquid food product, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body having a pocket for positioning adjacent to the opening in a pipe or like structure for receiving a portion of a fluid therein. In one possible use, a first optical medium, such as an optical fiber, transmits light from a source toward a portion of the fluid flow entering the pocket. Light received by one or more optical mediums positioned in backscatter, sidescatter, or transmission configurations relative to the first optical medium is detected by a corresponding sensor or detector. Using the output of this sensor or detector, an optical characteristic of the fluid may be measured. An overall system using the apparatus and related method for detecting an optical characteristic of a fluid are also disclosed

Biomass Gasifier Combustor

The present invention is directed to a biomass gasifier combustor which operates by gasification and combustion of the biomass to produce a clean effluent gas which can be used directly for grain drying or other applications where thermal energy is required. The biomass gasifier combustor burns crop residue clean enough so that the combustion gases can be used directly for grain drying without the need for a heat exchanger to isolate the combustion gases from the drying air. The biomass gasifier combustor includes a screw feeder tube having a screw feeder disposed therein. The screw feeder forces the biomass into a first combustion chamber. Primary combustion of the biomass produces a first combustion gas. A venturi gas pump creates a negative pressure region in the gasifier, drawing the first combustion gas into a second combustion chamber. An air passage is provided having a cross sectional area which increases the resistance to the flow of the first combustion gas into the second gas combustion chamber. A secondary combustion takes place, completely oxidizing the organics in the primary combustion gas and producing a clean exhaust gas which can be used directly for grain or other drying purposes. An improved first chamber includes a manifold section for preventing the biomass from escaping into the secondary combustion chamber, and a variable height grate for allowing the ash product to fall through the holes in the variable height grate. A damper may be provided at the air inlets to control the flow rate of secondary air. A damper may be placed on the exhaust eductor or venturi pump for regulating the thermal output of the system. The level of biomass in the first combustion chamber may also be monitored and automatically controlled

A statistical analysis of selected freight commodities terminated by New England Class I railroads, 1931-1950

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit

Puffing Biological Material

A method and apparatus for puffing biological material such as fruits and vegetables are provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) placing the material in a pressure chamber; (b) subjecting the material to a puffing gas such as carbon dioxide at an increased pressure between substantially 400 and 1200 psi; (c) quickly releasing the puffing gas pressure in less than 1 second to puff the material; and (d) drying the material after puffing to set it in the puffed state. The material is prepared for puffing by sizing so as to include at least one dimension of between substantially 0.025 and 1.0 inches. The moisture content is also reduced or increased to between substantially 15 and 60% wet basis. Puffing gas usage may be minimized by overpressuring with an inert gas such as nitrogen. The apparatus includes a variable volume pressure chamber that also allows usage of puffing gas to be minimized. More specifically, the volume of the chamber is maintained relatively small during charging with puffing gas. Conversely, when releasing the gas and puffing the material, the volume of the chamber is increased to allow room for the material to expand

01/06/1949 Inaugural Luncheon Invitation

Invitation for Louis-Philippe Gagné to the Innaugural Luncheon for Honorable and Mrs. Frederick G. Payne.https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/fac-lpg-letters-1949/1009/thumbnail.jp

Health and Aging in Low-Resource Contexts: Three Essays on Healthy Life Expectancy in the Developing World

The population of the world is getting older. In 2010, worldwide, there were about 524 million people over the age of 65; by 2050, over 1.5 billion people will be in this age group. This shift in population will not affect only developed countries, however—much of this increase in the elderly population will occur in low- and middle-income countries. As populations age, low-income countries will need to invest in health care for older adults and in disease prevention programs to prevent or delay the onset of non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer). Past research on population-level health in the developing world has been widely hindered by a lack of high-quality longitudinal data. My dissertation uses recently-collected longitudinal data to gain insight into overall trends in health in low- and middle-income contexts. My first chapter uses a multi-state life table approach to investigate the overall level of health and functional ability (the ability to carry out tasks of daily life) among the rural population in Malawi. I find that this population experiences a substantial burden of disability in later life, and that these high levels of disability greatly limit work efforts among older individuals. In my second chapter, I conduct a cross-national comparison of health and disability-free life expectancy using data from recent longitudinal surveys in Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the US. I find that current disability-free life expectancy at age 65 is comparable across these populations, though future trends are uncertain. My third chapter investigates how Malawi’s 2008 rollout of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) to rural clinics affected overall population health and mortality. I find that the introduction of ART led to substantial declines in mortality and an increase in adult life expectancy, and that population morbidity also decreased after the introduction of ART

Predictive Ability from ePortfolios of Student Achievement Associated with Professional Teaching Standards: An Exploratory Case Study

This exploratory case study, focused on a music teacher preparation program, examined the coursework ePortfolios of pre-service music teachers to determine if any parts of the ePortfolio process predicted teaching effectiveness in the classroom during the student teaching semester. Sixty-five undergraduate pre-service music teachers made up the sample of the study. Data collected for each student consisted of coursework ePortfolios, summative student teaching assessments from both elementary and secondary placements, and selected licensure-related requirements as mandated by the state board of education. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant relationships between ePortfolio performance and student teaching assessments. Specifically, student teacher reflections (as part of the portfolio process) were found to be the lone significant predictor of teaching effectiveness for both elementary and secondary placements as measured by Danielson’s framework. While not significant, it should be noted that the Praxis II: Music Content Test should be examined further as the numbers of cases increased due to the nature of its relationship with the domain of planning and preparation in the secondary area. As this is an exploratory case study, further examination of the predictive ability of the ePortfolio process should be undertaken to better define the impact of the portfolio process within a pre-service teacher program

Biomass Gasifier Combustor

The present invention is directed to a biomass gasifier combustor which operates by gasification and combustion of the biomass to produce a clean effluent gas which can be used directly for grain drying or other applications where thermal energy is required. This biomass gasifier combustor burns crop residue clean enough so that the combustion gases can be used directly for grain drying without the need for a heat exchanger to isolate the combustion gases from the drying air. The biomass gasifier combustor includes a screw feeder tube having a screw feeder disposed therein. The screw feeder forces the biomass into a first combustion chamber. Primary combustion of the biomass produces a first combustion gas. A venturi gas pump creates a negative pressure region in the gasifier, drawing the first combustion gas into a second combustion chamber. A secondary combustion takes place, completely oxidizing the organics in the primary combustion gas and producing a clean exhaust gas which can be used directly for grain drying purposes. An improved first chamber includes a manifold section for preventing the biomass from escaping into the secondary combustion chamber, and a variable height grate for allowing the ash product to fall through the holes in the variable height grate. A damper may be provided at the air inlets to control the flow rates or primary and secondary air. A damper may be placed on the exhaust eductor or venturi pump for regulating the thermal output of the system. The level of biomass in the first combustion chamber may also be monitored and automatically controlled

Biomass Gasifier Combustor

The present invention is directed to a biomass gasifier combustor which operates by gasification and combustion of the biomass to produce a clean effluent gas which can be used directly for grain drying or other applications where thermal energy is required. This biomass gasifier combustor burns crop residue clean enough so that the combustion gases can be used directly for grain drying without the need for a heat exchanger to isolate the combustion gases from the drying air. The biomass gasifier combustor includes a screw feeder tube having a screw feeder disposed therein. The screw feeder forces the biomass into a first combustion chamber. Primary combustion of the biomass produces a first combustion gas. A venturi gas pump creates a negative pressure region in the gasifier, drawing the first combustion gas into a second combustion chamber. A secondary combustion takes place, completely oxidizing the organics in the primary combustion gas and producing a clean exhaust gas which can be used directly for grain drying purposes. An improved first chamber includes a manifold section for preventing the biomass from escaping into the secondary combustion chamber, and a variable height grate for allowing the ash product to fall through the holes in the variable height grate. A damper may be provided at the air inlets to control the flow rates or primary and secondary air. A damper may be placed on the exhaust eductor or venturi pump for regulating the thermal output of the system. The level of biomass in the first combustion chamber may also be monitored and automatically controlled