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The installed filter system leak test method for cleanrooms and clean zones is described in ISO 14644-3, Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments—Part 3: Test method. Portions of the methods in ISO 14644-3 were adapted from IEST-RP-CC034.4[Schaumburg, Illinois, US: Institute of Environmental Science and Technology], which provides a set of recommended procedures for leak testing HEPA and ULPA filters in situ (in the field) with the aerosol photometer test method and the light scattering airborne particle counter (LSAPC) test method. Leak testing is performed to confirm that the final high efficiency air filter system is properly installed by verifying the absence of bypass leakage in the installation, and that the filters are free of defects (small holes and other damage in the filter medium, frame, seal and leaks in the filter bank framework). This study was conducted to compare the aerosol photometer and LSAPC methods. Testing in the study consisted of creating artificial leaks in the filter system, measuring the upstream and downstream concentrations with the aerosol photometer and with the LSAPC, and comparing the filter leak penetration results. Comparison testing was applied to the procedure for the installed terminal panel filter system leakage scan test (stationary measurement) and the procedure for evaluating overall leakage of high-airflow box-type filters mounted in a duct or air-handling unit (AHU) (overall leakage test). It was found that the aerosol photometer and the LSAPC gave similar results for filter leakage within experimental error. The comparison of the leakage scan tests (stationary measurement) showed that the penetration calculated for the channel ≥ 0.3 μm of the LSAPC with an air flow rate of 1cu ft/min (CFM) (28.3 l/min) was very similar to the penetration measured with the aerosol photometer for a leakage level >0.01 % of the upstream concentration. The comparison result of the overall leakage test showed that overall total penetration values, obtained after dilution of artificial calibrated leaks in the filter media, were identical, within the measurement uncertainty, for particles ≥0.3 μm whether the sampling rate of the LSAPC was 1 CFM (28.3 l/min) or 50 l/min. Several recommendations are provided. In particular, for filters mounted in a duct or AHU where the filter function is critical, the recommended method is the leakage scan test method, using a grid sampling method in a plane downstream of the filter (as agreed between customer and supplier).

In this study, energy resolution dependent on K-Parameters (Trapezoidal filter system optimizing the count rate) of EXOGAM2 detector with newly developed NUMEXO2 digital electronics using 152Eu radioactive source measured and analysed. This experimental study was carried out at the GANIL (Grand Accelerature National d'Ions Lourd) nuclear research center in France. The measurement and analysis results for different K parameters using a 152Eu radioactive source with low and high gamma energy levels were performed for two EXOGAM2 detectors. Without applying any K parameter, the resolution values expressed by FWHM for the 1.EXOGAM2 detector are measured as 2.360% FWHM for (344.2785 keV), 2.820% FWHM for (1408.006 keV), and 2.451% FWHM for (344.2785 keV), 2.975%FWHM for (1408.006 keV) for the 2.EXOGAM2 detector, respectively. For different K parameters (K=2µs, K=5µs ve K=10µs) detail results are shown below., Bu çalışmada, yeni geliştirilen dijital elektronik NUMEXO2 dijital elektronik ile EXOGAM2(EXOtic GAMma array spectrometer) dedektörünün K-Parametrelerine (sayım oranını optimize eden Trapezoidal filtre sistemi) bağlı enerji çözünürlüğü için 152Eu radyoaktif kaynak kullanılarak ölçüm ve analiz yapılmıştır. Yapılan bu deneysel çalışma Fransa’da bulunan GANIL (Grand Accelerature National d’Ions Lourd) nükleer araştırma merkezinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Düşük ve yüksek gama enerji seviyesine sahip 152Eu radyoaktif kaynak kullanılarak farklı K-parametreleri için gerçekleştirilen ölçüm ve analiz sonuçları iki EXOGAM2 dedektörü için gerçekleştirilmiştir. Herhangi bir K-parametresi uygulamadan 1.EXOGAM2 dedektörü için FWHM ile ifade edilen çözünürlük değerleri sırası ile (344. 2785 keV) için 2.360% FWHM, (1408.006 keV) için 2.820% FWHM olarak ölçülürken 2.EXOGAM2 dedektörü için ise sırasıyla 2.451% FWHM ve 2.975% FWHM olarak ölçülmüştür. Farklı K-parametreleri (K=2µs, K=5µs ve K=10µs) için ise sonuçlar detayları ile aşağıda gösterilmiştir.

Background The BLUE 400 filter system (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Oberkochen, Germany) has provided visualization of 5-ALA-induced fluorescence-guided surgery for more than 20 years. Nevertheless, constraints, e.g., limited background discrimination during hemostasis, obstruct fluency of surgery. A novel filter with improved background visualization was developed, requiring validation regarding fluorescence discrimination. The aim of this article is to determine diagnostic accuracy and perception of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) discrimination of a novel filter system with higher background illumination (BLUE 400 AR) compared with the gold standard, BLUE 400. Methods A surgical microscope equipped with both BLUE 400 and BLUE 400 AR was used. Comparisons were performed on a biological basis and on the visual perception of margins. High-resolution images were compared during and after surgery by senior neurosurgeons. In a predefined biopsy algorithm, four biopsies per patient at tumor margins of PpIX fluorescence and adjacent brain were acquired using BLUE 400 AR only from regions intended for resection and assessed for cell count and density. Results Thirty-two patients with malignant gliomas were included in this study. BLUE 400 AR markedly enhanced the brightness of the surgical field, allowing superior discrimination of brain anatomy. A total of 128 biopsies from fluorescence margins were collected. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 98.44% (95% CI, 90.06–99.77%) for malignant glioma. Residual median cell density in non-fluorescent tissue was 13% (IQR 13 to 31). Perception of the location of fluorescent margins on HD images was equivalent for both filter combinations. Conclusions BLUE 400 AR demonstrated superior background compared with conventional BLUE 400 in malignant glioma surgery but comparable fluorescence margins and PPV. Therefore, BLUE 400 AR can be considered safe and effective in supporting malignant glioma surgery.

Enteric viruses, generally found in sewage, are recognized as the main cause of waterborne and foodborne public health outbreaks. Among leading enteric viruses, the Rotavirus A (RVA) detection in wastewater appeared to be a novel approach to monitor the emergence of these viruses in some countries where the viral gastroenteritis surveillance is almost absent such as in Tunisia. The RVA detection and quantification in an industrial sewage purification plant of Charguia I (Tunis, Tunisia) were achieved to evaluate the performance of activated sludge procedures coupled to a macrofiltration monolamp ultraviolet irradiation type C (UV-C254) disinfection reactor. This UV-C254 system was preceded by a fiberglass cartridge filter system with an average porosity of 45 μm to clarify the water and thus increase its UV transmittance. A total of 140 composite sewage samples was collected from this line of treatment and analyzed for RVA detection. The detection and the viral load quantification of RVA were performed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The virological results showed in general that RVA were detected at high frequency of 98% (137/140). In fact, the RVA detection rates at the exit of the two studied wastewater treatment were about 100% at the exit of the activated sludge procedure. It means that all wastewater sampled at this last step of treatment was positive for RVA detection. On the other hand, 92.5% of the wastewater samples taken at the exit of the monolamp UV-C254 reactor were positive for the RVA. However, the RVA quantification results expressed as viral load showed a significant reduction in the means of RVA viral loads at the exit of the biological activated sludge procedure and the tertiary UV-C254 treatment, showing in general an improved treated wastewater virological quality. Therefore, the RVA load removal rates recorded at the two successive stages of treatment, the activated sludge and the UV-C254 treatment, were around 85% and 73%, respectively, as compared to the one with 100% registered for the raw wastewater. In addition, good physical-chemical and bacteriological qualities of the treated sewage were found at the exit of the two considered wastewater treatment procedures. The present investigation represents the first Tunisian environmental report showing the good effectiveness and performance of the biological and the tertiary treatments for RVA removal. Therefore, an improved and an optimized tertiary disinfection treatment was needed since it could be a good means for getting better viral water quality and for minimizing the transmission and dissemination of human infectious viral diseases.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a filter system to harvest plasma to assess failure of passive transfer (FPT) in newborn calves. Blood samples (n = 227) for serum and plasma harvesting were collected via jugular vein puncture from Holstein calves aged 1 to 7 d from 4 commercial dairy herds in Northeast Germany. Serum IgG concentrations were determined using a sandwich ELISA. Failure of passive transfer was defined as IgG concentrations10 mg/mL and used as a gold standard. One handheld optical refractometer (Euromex Holland, Arnhem, the Netherlands) and 2 digital Brix refractometers (device 1: HI 96801 digital refractometer, Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI; device 2: Misco PA201, Misco, Solon, OH) were used to analyze total proteins in serum or plasma. The colostrum uptake of the calf can thus be monitored and calves with FPT can be identified. Serum was obtained through centrifugation. Plasma was obtained through either a filter system or centrifugation. For plasma filtration, approximately 2 mL of lithium heparin blood was injected into the inlet reservoir of a plasma filter (2-Drop-Filter, Pharmadoc, Lübeck, Germany) using a disposable syringe. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine optimum thresholds for each of the 3 devices using different media. Sixty-seven (30%) calves had FPT. For the handheld optical refractometer, the optimum threshold was 5.6 g/dL [sensitivity 70.1%; specificity 80.0%; positive predictive value (PPV) 60.1%; negative predictive value (NPV) 86.2%; area under the curve (AUC) 0.85] using serum. For centrifuged plasma, the optimum threshold was 6.3 g/dL (sensitivity 82.1%; specificity 68.1%; PPV 52.5%; NPV 89.9%; AUC 0.84), and for filtered plasma, the threshold was 6.0 g/dL (sensitivity 56.7%; specificity 90.0%; PPV 70.9%; NPV 82.9%; AUC 0.80). For device 1, the optimum threshold was 8.9% Brix (sensitivity 82.1%; specificity 63.8%; PPV 48.7%; NPV 89.5%; AUC 0.81), 9.4% Brix (sensitivity 76.1%; specificity 73.7%; PPV 55.4%; NPV 87.8%; AUC 0.80), using serum and centrifuged plasma, respectively. For device 2, the optimum threshold was 8.7% Brix (sensitivity 74.6%; specificity 76.2%; PPV 57.4%; NPV 87.5%; AUC 0.83), 9.5% Brix (sensitivity 80.6%; specificity 70.6%; PPV 54.0%; NPV 89.5%; AUC 0.83), and 9.2% Brix (sensitivity 58.2%; specificity 87.5%; PPV 66.6%; NPV 83.0%; AUC 0.80) using serum, centrifuged plasma, and filtered plasma, respectively. Based on the AUC, the 3 devices yielded comparable test characteristics to identify calves with FPT. In conclusion, a filter system can be used to facilitate the evaluation of FPT as a point of care technique in calves without the need for serum centrifugation.

BACKGROUND Fluorescence-guided resections using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced tumor porphyrins have been established as an adjunct for malignant glioma surgery based on a phase III study using specifically adapted microscopes for visualizing fluorescing protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). New hardware technologies are being introduced, which claim the same performance as the original technology for visualizing fluorescence. This assumes that qualitative fluorescence detection is equivalent to the established standard, an assumption that needs to be critically assessed. OBJECTIVE To determine PPIX concentrations (cPPIX) in tissue that can be detected visually using the established BLUE400 filter system (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Oberkochen, Germany) as a basis for defining the performance of this system. METHODS Utilizing a hyperspectral imaging system, tumor samples from patients harboring different tumor tissues, with or without visible fluorescence, were analyzed. Absolute values of cPPIX were calculated after calibrating the system with fluorescence phantoms with known cPPIX. RESULTS A total of 524 tumor samples from 162 patients were analyzed. Visual fluorescence under the BLUE400 filter was documented by experienced neurosurgeons. A 0.9 μg/ml threshold of cPPIX was defined as the minimal concentration required to detect and discriminate visual fluorescence. CONCLUSION This is the first report providing data on the threshold of cPPIX, which is visually detected using the current generation of microscopes, thus defining the specificity and sensitivity of this technology as initially tested in a randomized trial. Novel technologies should show similar characteristics in order to be used safely and effectively. If more sensitive, such technologies require further assessments of tumor selectivity.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to illustrate a new low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) adsorption system, Delipid Extracorporeal Lipoprotein filter from Plasma (DELP) system, and evaluate its safety and efficacy in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This is an observational study of 22 acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent DELP treatment from March to August 2019. The DELP system was composed of a plasma filter JX-DELP, a COM.TEC cell separator and Tubing P1R Plasma Treatment Set. Clinical data and laboratory results including plasma lipids and some safety parameters before and after the apheresis were collected and analyzed. Results: The present study included 22 patients (15 males, 7 females, 59.95±13.71 years). The mean LDL-C was significantly reduced from 3.36±0.64 mmol/L to 2.30±0.53 mmol/L (31.5%, p p Conclusions: We concluded that the new LDL-C adsorption system is a promising method for timely and controllable LDL-C administration in acute ischemic stroke patients in view of its high efficacy, simple operation, and safety.

At present, most of the cleaning vehicles do not have the functions of recycling sewage, and the consumption rate of water resources is too fast, resulting in the decline of the driving capacity of the cleaning vehicles. After the cleaning, sewage is discharged directly, leading to the waste of water resources and environmental pollution. In view of the above problems, this study designs the sewage reuse system of cleaning vehicle according to the basic structure of cleaning vehicle, and established a complete sewage treatment system. The system includes the fan, water level sensor and filtration system and so on, which filters the sewage, converts it into clear water and recycles it to the clear water tank, to realize the recycling of sewage. The multi-stage filtration system is adopted to improve the filtration efficiency and accuracy, so that the filtered sewage can achieve the effect of re-cleaning, and meet the requirements of high-pressure water pumps and high-pressure nozzles. Through the simulation of the filter system, the system benefit model is established, and the calculated results fit well with the experimental data, which verifies the rationality of the research. The experimental results show that the system can save water consumption, prolong the single operation time of vehicles, and reduce the cost of cleaning vehicles.

Devido a preocupacao atual com a preservacao das fontes de agua potavel para as futuras geracoes, cada vez mais tem sido importante o estudo de novos processos e tecnologias para tratamento do esgoto gerado pela sociedade. Uma das tecnologias emergentes para tratamento e o sistema de filtracao lenta. E um sistema de câmaras compartimentadas com material granular, constituido de areia e pedregulho. Esse trabalho monitorou um sistema de filtro lento desenvolvido no campus da UNICAMP. O sistema possui dois filtros com camadas de material suporte em que em um existe, ainda, uma camada adicional de carvao ativado. O estudo durou nove semanas com coletas semanais para analise da DBO proveniente do esgoto do local. Os estudos mostraram que o sistema teve uma eficiencia de ate 70% para remocao da DBO para o filtro com camada adicional de carvao ativado, enquanto o filtro convencional teve desempenho na faixa de 60% na remocao.Palavras-chave: Filtro de areia, esgoto domestico, contaminacao, poluicao hidrica.Linha de Investigacao: Cidade e Ambiente. Topico: Meio ambiente, paisagem e alteracoes climaticas. ABSTRACTDue to the current concern with the preservation of drinking water sources for future generations, it has been increasingly important to study new processes and technologies for treating the sewage generated by society. One of the emerging technologies for treatment is the slow filtration system. It is a system of chambers compartmentalized with granular material consisting of sand and gravel. This work monitored a slow filter system developed on the UNICAMP campus. The system has two filters with layers of support material in which there is still an additional layer of activated carbon. The study lasted nine weeks with weekly collections for the analysis of BOD from the local sewage. Studies have shown that the system had an efficiency of up to 70% for BOD removal for the filter with an additional layer of activated carbon, while the conventional filter performed in the range of 60% in removal.Keywords: Filter sand, domestic sewage, contamination, water pollution.Research line: City and Environment.Topic: Environment, landscape and climate change.

Aim: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are a promising tool for cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. One major difficulty in establishing a MSC expansion protocol is the large volume of bone marrow (BM) required. We studied whether cells trapped within a collection bag and filter system could be considered as a source of MSC. Results: From the 20 BM collection bag and filter systems, we recovered an average of 1.68 × 108 mononuclear cells, which is the equivalent to 60 ml of filtered BM. Mononuclear cells were expanded ex vivo to 17 × 106 MSC, with purity shown by a CD44+, CD105+, CD90+ and CD73+ immunophenotype, a reduction of 20% proliferating cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction and also the ability of adipocyte differentiation. Conclusion: Long-term MSC cultures were established from the usually discarded BM collection bag and filter, maintaining an appropriate phenotype and function, being suitable for both investigation and clinical settings.

Objective To investigate the circulating tumour cells (CTCs) capture abilities of two technologies that are not dependent on cell-surface marker expression: a selection-free platform [AccuCyte® -CyteFinder® system (Rarecyte)] and a size-based platform [fluid-assisted separation technology (FAST)]. In addition, the combination of the two systems to more completely assess CTCs was investigated. Patients and methods In all, 28 patients with metastatic prostate cancer were included. Two 6 mL peripheral blood samples were taken from each patient at the same time-point. The samples were then subjected to the two different technology platforms in parallel. An additional group of samples was acquired by applying the waste chamber material from the FAST-group tests (flow-through that goes through the FAST filter membrane) to the Rarecyte system for the detection any CTCs that were not captured by FAST. Results The three groups had significantly different putative CTC-positive tests, with positive rates of 29% for Rarecyte, 57% for FAST, and 79% for the combination. We also assessed CTC phenotype: 56.6% of the CTCs were cytokeratin (CK)+/epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-, 3.1% were CK-/EpCAM+, and 40.3% were CK+/EPCAM+. The captured CTCs diameter ranged from 5.2 to 16.9 µm. The mean CTC size from the FAST waste chamber was significantly smaller. The diameters for each of the phenotypic groups were significantly different. Conclusions These data highlight disparities in the positive rates and enumerated CTC numbers detected by the two techniques. Notably, the combination of the two technologies resulted in the highest CTC-capture rates. Smaller CTCs were more likely to be missed by the FAST as they passed through the filter system. Sizes of CTCs varied with different cell surface marker phenotypes.

Separation and detection of exfoliated tumor cells (ETCs) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), namely the liquid biopsy of BALF, has been proved to be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of lung cancer. Herein, we established a rapid liquid biopsy of BALF based on a dual-layer PERFECT (precise, efficient, rapid, flexible, easy-to-operate, controllable and thin) filter system for the first time. Methods: The dual-layer PERFECT filter system consists of an upper-layer filter with large micropores (feature size of 49.4 ± 0.5 μm) and a lower-layer filter with small micropores (9.1 ± 0.1 μm). The upper-layer filter contributes to the isolation of cell clusters and removal of mucus from BALF samples, meanwhile the lower-layer one targets for the separation of single ETCs. First, separation of 10000 spiked A549s (cultured lung cancer cells) from 10 mL clinical BALF samples (n=3) were performed to investigate the performance of the proposed system in rare cell separation. Furthermore, separation and detection of ETCs and ETC clusters from clinical BALF samples were performed with this system to test its efficacy and compared with the routine cytocentrifuge. The clinical BALF samples were collected from 33 lung cancer-suspected patients with visible lesions under bronchoscope. The final histopathological results showed that 20 samples were from lung cancer positive patients while the other 13 cases were from lung cancer negative patients. Results: The recovery rate of spiked A549 cells from clinical BALF samples with the developed system (89.8 ± 5.2%) is significantly higher than that with the cytocentrifuge (13.6 ± 7.8%). In the preliminary clinical trial, although 33 clinical BALF samples with volume ranging from 6 mL to 18 mL showed greatly varied turbidity, filtrations could be finished within 3 min for 54.6% of samples (18/33), and 10 min at most for the rest. The dual-layer PERFECT filter system is proved to have a much higher sensitivity (80.0%, 95% CI: 55.7%-93.4%) than the routine cytocentrifuge (45.0%, 95% CI: 23.8%-68.0%), p=0.016 (McNemar test, two-tail). Moreover, the sensitivity of this platform is neither interfered by the variations of turbidity of the BALF samples, nor associated with the types of lung cancer. Conclusions: The easy and rapid processing of BALF samples with varying volume and turbidity, competitive sensitivity and good versatility for different lung cancer types will make the established dual-layer PERFECT filter system a promising approach for the liquid biopsy of BALF. The high-performance BALF-based liquid biopsy will improve the cytopathological identification and diagnosis of lung cancer.

Filter systems are software tools which survey, select, prioritize, and predict information, items and users. Through their content and form, they shape behaviour by collecting individuals and items into similarity-based neighbourhoods. They limit choice and amplify past trends in the name of efficiency and desire. As technologies of organizing, filter systems are thus updating, and perhaps exacerbating, the organizational consequences of media technologies. This raises thorny questions: What are the ramifications of this kind of similarity-based categorization, and of its affectively charged zones? What (class-based, racial, gendered) aspects are factored into its parameters directly or indirectly through proxies?

Ultrasonographic Doppler techniques have improved greatly over the years, allowing more sophisticated evaluation of breast tumor vascularity. Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with second-generation contrast agents are two representative up-to-date techniques. SMI is a sensitive Doppler technique that adopts an intelligent filter system to separate low-flow signals from artifacts. With the development of second-generation contrast agents, CEUS has also emerged as a useful Doppler technique for evaluating tumor microcirculation. Both techniques can improve the diagnostic performance of gray-scale ultrasonography by providing vascular information useful not only for the morphologic assessment of microvessels, but also for the quantitative analysis of perfusion. In this review, we explain the imaging principles and previous research underlying these two vascular techniques, and describe our clinical experiences.

This study proposes an approach to generate a uniform flat-top beam with a liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) to optimize ultrasensitive inertial measurement. The random incomplete Gaussian beam is modulated into a flat-top beam by uploading a beam shaping optimization algorithm on an LC-SLM. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The beam obtained from the experimental results with the 4f filter system optimization also conforms to the properties of the generated flat-top beam. Compared to existing beam shaping algorithms for simulation and experimental analysis, the beam shaping design based on the LC-SLM to optimize the ultrasensitive inertial measurement is realized. This method has also been verified to be effective in beam shaping in various beam situations. The application of this method in ultrahigh-sensitivity inertial measurement should prove significant.

Microorganisms in petroleum product, including jet fuel, have been found by some English andAmerican authors since the 20’s of the last century. In 1958, after Bakanaukas isolated many microorganisms in jet fuel JP4, this topic was especially concentrated. Most of microorganisms living in jet fuel are able to degrade hydrocarbon of the fuel to obtain energy and carbon source for their growth. The presence of microorganisms in jet fuel not only brings about the lost of fuel in store process, but also briefly changes the component and structure of jet fuel. Moreover, the products of their metabolism, such as organic acids, alcohols, H2S are corrosive. Hence, they cause many problems for fuel reservoirs and tanks, leak plugging pipelines. Besides, filter system and plugging pipeline can become obstructed because of microorganisms’ biomass. This influences the plane safety. Therefore, many countries in the world consider microorganisms criteria as an important standard to estimate the jet fuel quality. From 1985 to 1990, in our country, Vietnam, there were some science projects about microorganisms in TC1 fuel. At the present, as all country in Asia, Vietnam used to utilize and import hundred tons of jet A1. Tropical climate of Vietnam is the suitable condition for growing of microorganisms. With C8-C18 alkane chains, jet fuel is carbon source for a lot of microorganisms, especially bacteria and fungi, which harmfully affect plane safety. Therefore, we aimed Vietnam airlines company to control the number of microorganisms in jet fuel of all Vietnam airplanes, as well as study on the diversity of microorganisms in trace water in fuel samples, looking for the reason why filter is obstructed to contribute to the jet fuel storing and safety in Vietnam.

A method has been proposed to generate complex periodic discrete non-diffracting beams (PDNBs) via superposition of two identical simple PDNBs at a particular angle. As for special cases, we studied the superposition of the two identical squares (“4+4”) and two hexagonal (“6+6”) periodic wave fields at specific angles, respectively, and obtained a series of interesting complex PDNBs. New PDNBs were also obtained by modulating the initial phase difference between adjacent interfering beams. In the experiment, a 4 f Fourier filter system and a phase-only spatial light modulator imprinting synthesis phase patterns of these PDNBs were used to produce desired wave fields.

PURPOSE To evaluate feasibility and repeatability of measures for ocular sun exposure and conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (UVAF), and to test for relationships between the outcomes. METHODS Fifty volunteers were seen for two visits 14 ± 2 days apart. Ocular sun exposure was estimated over a 2-week time period using questionnaires that quantified time outdoors and ocular protection habits. Conjunctival UVAF was imaged using a Nikon D7000 camera system equipped with appropriate flash and filter system; image analysis was done using ImageJ software. Repeatability estimates were made using Bland-Altman plots with mean differences and 95% limits of agreement calculated. Non-normally distributed data was transformed by either log10 or square root methods. Linear regression was conducted to evaluate relationships between measures. RESULTS Mean (±SD) values for ocular sun exposure and conjunctival UVAF were 8.86 (±11.97) hours and 9.15 (±9.47) mm, respectively. Repeatability was found to be acceptable for both ocular sun exposure and conjunctival UVAF. Univariate linear regression showed outdoor occupation to be a predictor of higher ocular sun exposure; outdoor occupation and winter season of collection both predicted higher total UVAF. Furthermore, increased portion of day spent outdoors while working was associated with increased total conjunctival UVAF. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate feasibility and repeatability of estimating ocular sun exposure using a previously unreported method and for conjunctival UVAF in a group of subjects residing in Ohio. Seasonal temperature variation may have influenced time outdoors and ultimately calculation of ocular sun exposure. As winter season of collection and outdoor occupation both predicted higher total UVAF, our data suggests that ocular sun exposure is associated with conjunctival UVAF and, possibly, that UVAF remains for at least several months after sun exposure.

It is well known that a considerable amount of radioiodine is exhaled after radioiodine therapy (RIT) leading to unwanted radiation exposure through inhalation for non-involved persons. This study focuses on the amount of exhalation in the breath-out air of RIT-patients and the dosimetric consequences. Furthermore, the correlation between radioiodine uptake and exhalation was investigated. The radioiodine species were collected in a filter system and quantified over time by measurements with a scintillation counter. The dosimetric implications were then studied for different exposure scenarios. Of the activity administered to the patient, approximately 10-3% (50-110 ppm) is exhaled. The radioiodine inhalation taking place following exhalation in the vicinity yields doses of up to 500 μSv (children, staying with the patient immediately after application and for the next 8 h). Three days after administration the doses are significantly reduced. This study lays emphasis on previous assumptions that exhalation depends on thyroid storage. Regardless of the type of thyroid disease, the predominant form exhaled is organic radioiodine. The amount of exhaled radioiodine is small but from the point of view of radiation protection, by no means negligible immediately after administration. Radiation doses received by incorporation of exhaled radioiodine can easily exceed 100 μSv soon after administration of radioiodine. Three days after RIT the radioactivity can still be measured in the exhaled air but even at maximum, the annual doses lie far below 10 μSv and are thus comparatively low.

Air pollution is one of the most serious problems facing mankind because of its impact on ecosystems and human beings. Although particulate matter (PM) consists of both filterable PM (FPM) and condensable PM (CPM), most research has focused on eliminating only FPM. In this work, we introduce a filter system that removes both FPM and CPM from pollution source with high efficiency. The system consists of two reduced graphene oxide (rGO) filters and a condenser between them that can remove the usual FPM and at the same time CPM-induced FPM that typically leaves the pollution source unabated. The filters, quite effective in removing the PM with their three-dimensional structure, retain the removal capability even at high temperature and in acidic condition that prevail at the pollution source. The proposed rGO system could provide a complete solution for removal of both FPM and CPM from the pollution source.

In clinical delivery of PDT, in-situ measurement of PpIX concentration is rarely done, and yet point-probe measurements have shown extreme heterogeneity exists between patients and between lesions. Direct measurements of PpIX can provide guidance in PDT, informing critical decisions about treatment time and retreatment or further skin preparation. In this work, we present a smartphone-based fluorescence imaging system to map PpIX concentration onto a 2D image for the use in PDT treatment optimization. The hand-held system utilizes a custom application on an iPhone 6s in conjunction with a 3D-printed measurement base containing custom miniaturized light source and electronics and filter system. The prototype has been produced and tested in phantoms and in pre-clinical evaluation. Intralipid phantom measurements detected clinicallyrelevant concentrations of PpIX within the 0.05μM - 4μM range. Preclinical tests on mice showed the ability to detect PpIX concentration for topically applied ALA within 20-30 minute incubation. These results showcase the viability of the system to map pixel intensities to PpIX concentrations and perform in-vivo detection within a clinically relevant timeframe. Clinical trials are in preparation with results expected in the next few months.

When a large chemical company in the city of Novomoskovsk in Russia, opened its new drying and storage complex, it also installed a new filter system which excludes virtually all gas emissions. This article looks at the challenges faced by the filter installation as it deals with such large amounts of gas.

Ceramic Foam Filtration is a well-known process for effectively removing inclusions from the molten metal in DC casting. It has however limitations for the removal of small particles. In industrial application and for high metal flowrate 40 ppi (porous pore per inch) is almost the limit. Filter pads with fine pores are available but the priming is more difficult. Solutions that have been developed to improve priming of the fine pore filter pads are complex and expensive. A new priming technique was developed and tested both in laboratory and plant conditions. Excellent filtration performance was attained. It gives the possibility for the cast house to produce value added products with great flexibility and cost effectiveness. The technology is now available for plant implementation. This technology gives opportunity for plants that have no space for a bed filter to have similar inclusions removal performance result for specific alloys.

An optical add-drop filter system is used to generate ultra-short nanometer (nm) bandwidth soliton pulses to be transmitted along the nano communication nonlinear fiber optics. In order to reduce the loss during the transmission, ultra-short soliton pulses are recommended. The theoretical part of this study uses the Z-transform method to present the characteristic transmission of the optical add-drop filter system. The nonlinear refractive index of the fiber optic transmission link is 2.6×10-20 m2/W. The Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) can be performed to enhance the capacity of the system. This occurs when the bigger size of the ring resonator is used. Here, soliton pulses with bandwidths of 2.1 and 0.42 nm are generated and transmitted over the fiber optic length, where signals with a bandwidth of 55 and 200 ps are successfully detected at the end of the transmission link.

Domestic water treatment is a very important technology field. Now, mechanical water treatment technology is getting wide use in production. In the process of life water treatment, filter process is a very important step. In this paper, the strength and deformation of double-deck plates filter system which includes upper filter plate, lower filter plate and reinforced ribs were analyzed with ANSYS and useful results were got. Through the analysis on strength and deformation, the paper found the advantages and disadvantages of production and design of filter systems. After analyzing and comparing the stresses and deformations of several different design schemes, the paper provided the optimized design plan of filter system which can satisfy the strength need and decrease the creep deformation of plastic filter plates.

Background: Every day human skin is exposed to infrared A (IRA) radiation as part of the natural sun rays. As IRA radiation accounts for around one third of the solar radiation, it has gained great attention concerning its effects on the human body and skin. In the past few years it has been discussed controversially whether IRA radiation (of solar origin) is harmful or not. Nonetheless, there are several sunscreens on the German market that claim IRA protection for themselves. Aims: The present study seeks to find an experimental set-up and a test procedure for the determination and quantification of direct IRA protection (realized via reflection or absorption of the IRA radiation), since to our knowledge these do not yet exist. Methods: In this study we proved the usability of a set-up consisting of a light source, an IRA-transmissible filter system and a sensor unit, for the determination and quantification of the IRA protection of cosmetic and non-cosmetic samples. Results/Conclusion: The applicability of the IRA emission of the light source, the spectral detector, transmissivity of the filter systems and the sample carriers could be validated. This experimental set-up can be used as an in vitro test procedure for the determination of direct IRA protection.

Using formalism similar to the transfer matrix, we analyze the problem of direct and indirect coupling of cascaded cavities in resonator-waveguide systems based on the temporal coupled-mode theory. The recurrence relations between modes supported by the cascaded cavities are established by using transfer matrix technique. By setting two auxiliary cavities as the start and termination conditions, the optical properties of the cascaded cavity system can be obtained, especially convenient to get the transmission properties. We validate our method by comparing its prediction with the finite-difference time-domain method in a channel drop filter system in photonic crystals and obtaining excellent agreement between the two. The new analytical method provides a powerful tool to design and analyze complex cavity-waveguide systems.

a b s t r a c t Hybrid thin films, in which a Pd thin film was sandwiched between thin poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA layers, were prepared on a flexible substrate using a combination of sputtering and spin coating. In real- time electrical response tests to H2, Pd-PMMA hybrid nanogap sensors operated in an on-off manner for both air and N2 carriers. Due to the selective penetration of H2 and the density reduction of the cracks that formed in the trilayer of the hybrid thin films, the detection limit of the hybrid nanogap sensors (6000 ppm H2 in air and 600 ppm H2 in N2) was drastically reduced compared to that of Pd nanogap sensors without PMMA layers. Hybrid thin films have great promise in realizing sensors that can be used in air without additional filter system.

An ultraviolet detecting system for electrical faults is designed and built to locate the fault precisely and classify its pattern level as few studies have been done on. Self-organizing feature extraction method devotes itself to fault state recognition approach in high-voltage discharge. The established system including the filter system, image collection system, image preprocessing system, feature extraction, and pattern recognition could identify and classify device faults and operation conditions accurately tested by simulation.

Disaster from computer viruses has been ranked at the top of computer crime incidents by CSI/FBI. However, many anti-virus systems have high latency and consume a lot in the available CPU resources for malicious code filtering. Nevertheless, switching or updating anti-virus software within different operating systems is costly, tedious, and annoying. Therefore, we have proposed a standalone intelligent Embedded Email Virus Filter system to overcome these drawbacks. The associative Petri net model that integrates malicious behavior reasoning is adopted to detect the malicious executable. The experimental results show that our proposed system has great potential in email virus filtering.

It's manly proposed a type of filter system for divergent light output of full-spectrum which satisfies the needs of all skill requirements. It also gave out the materials of filters and placement in the optical system, after verification of the theory, the filter system meets the requirements of the spectral range and irradiance.

To study the plate washer sewage treatment, the mature theories and structures in other sectors were introduced the printing industry. Plate washer is a kind of printing auxiliary equipment, mainly used for the printing plate cleaning and washing wastewater treating and recycling, the sewage treatment system including filtration part and distillation part, filtering part which is based on design of automatic self-cleaning filter have two stage filtration system, distillation part use crude oil distillation tower as the distillation system model.

Background— Recent transcatheter aortic valve replacement studies have raised concerns about adverse cerebrovascular events. The etiopathology of the embolized material is currently unknown. Methods and Results— A total of 40 patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the use of a dual filter–based embolic protection device (Montage Dual Filter System, Claret Medical, Inc). Macroscopic material liberated during the transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure was captured in the device filter baskets in 30 (75%) patients and sent for histopathologic analysis. The captured material varied in size from 0.15 to 4.0 mm. Amorphous calcified material (size, 0.55–1.8 mm) was identified in 5 patients (17%). In 8 patients (27%), the captured material (size, 0.25–4.0 mm) contained valve tissue composed of loose connective tissue (collagen and elastic fibers) with focal areas of myxoid stroma, with or without coverage by endothelial cells and intermixed with fibrin. In another 13 (43%) patients, collagenous tissue, which may represent elements of vessel wall and valvelike structures, was identified. In 9 patients (30%), thrombotic material was intermixed with neutrophils (size, 0.15–2.0 mm). Overall, thrombotic material was found in 52% of patients, and tissue fragments compatible with aortic valve leaflet or aortic wall origin were found in 52% (21/40) of patients. Conclusions— Embolic debris traveling to the brain was captured in 75% of transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures where a filter-based embolic protection device was used. The debris consisted of fibrin, or amorphous calcium and connective tissue derived most likely from either the native aortic valve leaflets or aortic wall.

PAUCam is a large field of view camera designed to exploit the field delivered by the prime focus corrector of the William Herschel Telescope, at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos. One of the new features of this camera is its filter system, placed within a few millimeters of the focal plane using eleven trays containing 40 narrow band and 6 broad band filters, working in vacuum at an operational temperature of 250K and in a focalized beam. In this contribution, we describe the performance of these filters both in the characterization tests at the laboratory.

Fluorescent lamps generally involve mercury within their lamp bulbs. Thus if the lamps are disposed as they are, it might cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, as the life of the lamps depends on the degradation of the discharge performance, the fluorescent substance composing the fluorescent substance coating can be recycled by reusing them as the recycled fluorescent substance. Also, the glass material composing the glass bulbs can be reused. The range of search was limited in the open patents of USA (US), European Union (EU), Japan (JP), Korea (KR) and SCI journals from 1977 to 2011. Patents and journals were collected using key-words searching and filtered by filtering criteria. The trends of the patents and journals was analyzed by the years, countries, companies, and technologies. Recovery method of metals from spent fluorescent lamps is mainly the focus on the recovery of precious metals using acid treatment and, detoxification technology is related with controlling process of mercury using a filter system.

We developed a new artificial image enhancement system and evaluated its usefulness in controlling intraoperative reflection and enhancing of Brilliant Blue G (BBG) staining.The system was composed of three kinds of filters (a polarizing filter, a blue-enhancing filter, and a sharp-cut filter Y) and attached to the inferior surface of the operating microscope. Twenty-seven post-mortem extracted porcine eyes were used for a series of examinations. We performed surgery using the 23G-vitrectomy system with a halogen light and xenon lights and compared the reduction of intraoperative reflection under air condition and visibility and BBG contrast with and without this system. The evaluation of images was calculated in CIE 1976 (L*, a*, b*) color space (CIELAB) carried out by ImageJ software. The transmission of each filter and absorbance of BBG was measured by a spectrophotometer. We measured spectral irradiance at each wavelength about each filter from each light source with a spectroradiometer.Under both light sources, intraoperative reflection was controlled using a polarizing (PL) filter or combination of filters under air condition. Evaluation of the value of L* within the cutter surface was changed by 37.8 % under the halogen light, and 61.6 % (averaged) under the xenon light with inserted filters versus no filter. The BBG intensity difference was obtained with sharp-cut Y filter under both light source and PL with blue enhancing filter under the halogen light using each L*, a*, b* parameter with statistically significant (p0.01, 0.05). However, there was a relative decrease in the observation illuminance when the filter inserted according to the attenuation total spectral irradiance.This system can reduce intraoperative reflections under the air condition and obtain an excellent BBG staining intensity induced by various light sources.

MA Jalil1, Afroozeh Abdolkarim2, T Saktioto2, CT Ong3, Preecha P Yupapin41Ibnu Sina Institute of Fundamental Science Studies, Nanotechnology Research Alliance, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM),81310, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; 2Institute of Advanced Photonics Science, Nanotechnology Research Alliance, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; 3Department of Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; 4Nanoscale Science and Engineering Research Alliance (N'SERA), Advanced Research Center for Photonics, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandAbstract: In this study, we have generated terahertz (THz) frequency by a novel design of microring resonators for medical applications. The dense wavelength-division multiplexing can be generated and obtained by using a Gaussian pulse propagating within a modified PANDA ring resonator and an add/drop filter system. Our results show that the THz frequency region can be obtained between 40–50 THz. This area of frequency provides a reliable frequency band for THz pulsed imaging.Keywords: THz imaging, THz technology, MRRs, PANDA, add/drop filter

Africa is one of the most water-scarce continents in the world but it is the lack of potable water which results in diarrhoea being the leading cause of death amongst children under the age of five in Africa (696 million children under 5 years old in Africa contract diarrhoea resulting in 2000 deaths per day: WHO and UNICEF, 2009 ). Most potable water treatment methods use bulk water treatment not suitable or available to the majority of rural poor in Sub-Saharan Africa. One simple but effective way of making sure that water is of good quality is by purifying it by means of a household ceramic water filter. The making and supply of water filters suitable for the removal of suspended solids, pathogenic bacteria and other toxins from drinking water is therefore critical. A micro-porous ceramic water filter with micron-sized pores was developed using the traditional slip casting process. This locally produced filter has the advantage of making use of less raw materials, cost, labour, energy and expertise and being more effective and efficient than other low cost produced filters. The filter is fitted with a silicone tube inserted into a collapsible bag that acts as container and protection for the filter. Enhanced flow is obtained through this filter system. The product was tested using water inoculated with high concentrations of different bacterial cultures as well as with locally polluted stream water. The filter is highly effective (log 10 > 4 with 99.99% reduction efficiency) in providing protection from bacteria and suspended solids found in natural water. With correct cleaning and basic maintenance this filter technology can effectively provide drinking water to rural families affected by polluted surface water sources. This is an African solution for the more than 340 million people in Africa without access to clean drinking water ( WHO and UNICEF, 2008 ).

By using the knowledge filter system and entrepreneurship theory, the paper focused on the relationship of university-specific R&D spillovers and innovative growth based on the modified knowledge production function (KPF). Taking “New 3-Zone Interaction Engineering” as the example, the results demonstrated that the entrepreneurship could penetrate the knowledge filter system and stimulate the commercialization of the knowledge, consequently promoted the contribution of the spatial knowledge spillovers to the regional economic growth. “New 3-Zone Interaction Engineering” referred to the project of co-operation and interaction of the university, the science park and the community, which had been recently launched in Dalian High-technology Zone.

The main purpose of this design is to raise the drawing power of the vacuum cleaner. All researches were done at the original vacuum model which typed U36. After analyzing the structure and work principle of the vacuum cleaner, a related influence factor of vacuum inhalation efficiency and combine the principle of an experiment method were put forward. Then Improvement design of motor, seal system, filter system and blow vent had been analyzed and tested by experiment method respectively. At last, the total effect of drawing power and noise testing had been tested. The results showed that the improvement design is successful.

A pure rotational Raman lidar is constructed for measurements of vertical temperature profiles of atmosphere. A fiber-coupled, double-grating monochromator is used as the filter system so that a high spectral resolution of

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, swept over the world in 2003, with 8,096 probable cases and 774 fatalities in 26 countries. Not immune to the outbreak, Taiwan accounted for 346 probable cases and 37 deaths. Exhaust air in negative isolation wards of SARS hospital is discharged through air shafts, extending directly to the roof; the shaft passes through the filter box and connects with a 5m chimney air shaft, where the exhaust is discharged into the atmosphere. The exhaust air has been tested to prove as safe to the public before exiting to the free air. However, to lower the sense of fear in the public, a dispersion model is requested by the Centers of Disease Control in Taiwan. The dispersion model can be an important reference if the filter system does not work properly. A CFD code is applied to calculate the non-dimensional concentration exhausting air from negative isolation wards. The predicting value of both the maximum concentration and the mean concentration is smaller than 0....