Application of flammability testing methods for conveyor belts intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in order to select suitable types for field application

The conveyor belts are widely used and can be found, for example, in the underground and surface mining industry as well as in other industries involving the transport of various products, materials, etc. The need to ensure the transport of various products, materials, involves the use of conveyor belts in normal environments as well as in environments with a potentially explosive atmosphere. When used in potentially explosive atmospheres, conveyor belts shall not be sources of ignition for the explosive atmospheres generated by gases, vapors, flammable mists and/or combustible dusts in the mixture with the air. This involves the use of conveyor belts in a particular construction, compliance with the applicable essential safety and health requirements as well as granting a special attention to the identification/selection of types suitable for the specific field application. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the importance of testing by accredited laboratory tests, the flammability properties of conveyor belts intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, in order to easily identify/select, by end users, the types of conveyor belts adequate for specific application.

Comparative Assessment of Physico-Chemical Results of Air, Water and Soil Samples Tested at Accredited and Non-accredited Laboratories

There are thousands of results produced by the environmental testing laboratory for the air, water and soil parameters. The results produced by the environmental testing laboratories are always basis of the policy decision on various occasions. The results produced by the environmental testing laboratory provide the basis for the water whether it is fit for drinking purposes or not. The soil of a particular area is fit for specific agriculture or not. Similarly, the air of a specific location is under the permissible limit of the required component or not. Over some time the environmental testing laboratories are increasing in our county and these laboratories can be segregated broadly into two categories namely accredited laboratories and non-accredited laboratories. The accreditation is done by the independent authoritative body as per the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. It is believed that the accredited laboratory has a quality management system and proven technical competence to perform a specific type of testing. This work presents the comparative studies of the physico-chemical results of air, water and soil samples tested by accredited and non-accredited laboratories. In case of soil, the pH and sulfate is tested by the accredited and non-accredited laboratories in the specific environment. Similarly, construction water and drinking water are tested for various parameters as per the relevant standard. The air samples were collected from the same site and analysis was done for the various parameters like PM2.5, PM10 and other toxic gases present in air. It is observed that there is a considerable difference between the results produced by the accredited and non-accredited laboratories. It is believed that the results produced by the accredited laboratory are more reliable in comparison to the non-accredited laboratory.

Analysis of Selected Water Quality Indicators from Runoff during Potato Cultivation after Natural Precipitation

When growing wide-row crops on sloped lands, there is significant surface runoff. In relation to the runoff process, potatoes are classified as a risk crop. This study aimed to grow potatoes in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, where the protection zone of the water supply reservoir of Švihov is also located. At selected experimental areas, water samples were taken after precipitation events when surface runoff and water erosion occurred. These samples were analysed (nitrates, total P, and selected pesticides used for potato growing) in an accredited laboratory. We located three different variants of nitrogen fertilisation in each experimental area. Precipitation and the amount of water from surface runoff after each higher precipitation event were also measured in the experimental areas. By knowing the acreage of each experimental area, the volume of surface runoff water and the concentration of nitrates, phosphorus, and pesticides, it was possible to calculate the balance of these substances. We also calculated the percentage of surface runoff. The results imply that a new potato cultivator in the technology of stone windrowing should be designed for weed control as part of a weed control system with reduced herbicide application requirements. Innovative agrotechnical processes reducing pollution of water sources by phosphorus and nitrates should also be enhanced. These are based on a precise application of mineral fertiliser into the root area of plants within the period of an intensive intake of nutrients.

Design, construction and implementation of relative humidity and temperature climatic chamber for metrology laboratory

For the calibration of thermohygrometers it is necessary to have a means of generating temperature and relative humidity for this reason in this development we will build a climatic chamber which will generate and control these two magnitudes. For the generation of temperature a thermoresistance was used and the decrease of relative humidity was done through a silica gel trap through which the air inside the chamber is recirculated with the use of a vacuum pump. On the other hand, an ultrasonic humidity generator also known as fogger was used to increase the relative humidity. For the construction of the chamber, acrylic was used as the main material, since it is translucent and facilitates the visualization of the thermohygrometers’ indications. For the control of the process variables such as temperature and relative humidity, an Arduino card was used, which through PWM pulse width modulation, the control was performed achieving a variation of 0.3 °C and 2 %RH, which will be evaluated by an accredited laboratory in the characterization of isothermal media certified by ONAC, since it is in this way that the inhomogeneity, stability and thermal load of the medium, components that affect the uncertainty of the instruments under calibration, are evaluated. It should be remembered that this development was carried out in order to create an air medium with which temperature and relative humidity measuring instruments can be calibrated in the metrology laboratory VALIDACIONES Y METROLOGIA LM S.A.S., since it is in the process of growth and one of its main objectives is to be accredited in the magnitudes of temperature and relative humidity before the accreditation body in Colombia (ONAC), which is the entity that will finally give the technical approval to release the chamber and put it into operation.

Experimental and Theoretical Fuel Property Comparison of Four Different Waste Biomass with A Commercial Counterpart

This study focuses on determining the fuel properties of apple pulp, pomegranate seeds, pomegranate peel and orange peel wastes and converting them into pellet fuel. Within the scope of the study, the organic wastes were dried, ruined into small pieces and then pressed to take the pellet form. Moisture content, ash content, volatile matter determination, fixed carbon content, total sulfur content, hydrogen content, lower heating value and higher heating value were analyzed as solid fuel characterization process. Experiments were carried out in an internationally accredited laboratory in accordance with ASTM and TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 Standards. Considering the results, it was determined that the pellet obtained from fully dry state pomegranate seed had a calorific value of 4244 kcal/kg, whereas the commercial pellet was 4759 kcal/kg under the same conditions. On the other hand, the moisture contents of the commercial pellet and pomegranate seed sample were 5.42% and 1.83%, respectively. The drying process was one of the costliest stages of pellet production. The low moisture contents can reduce the production cost and shorten the time.

Water-soluble vitamins in honeys of various botanical origin and their change during storage of honey

The richest chemical composition of honey determines its extremely high biological activity. The composition and concentration of bioactive compounds of honey largely depend on its botanical origin, i.e. they are determined by nectar and the pollen chemical composition of the nectariferous plant, on the soil on which they grow, as well as on climate and weather conditions. Along with enzymes and minerals, vitamins are found in honey in small but measurable amounts. Vitamins of honey are mainly represented by B-group vitamins. The content of vitamins in honey varies according to its botanical origin. The following types of honey were used for the study: acacia, sunflower, chestnut, linden, buckwheat. The quantitative determination of water-soluble B-group vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid) in honey of various botanical origin was carried out in the accredited laboratory of the direction of chemical and biological research of beekeeping products of the Federal Research Center of Beekeeping by the method of capillary electrophoresis. It was revealed that chestnut and buckwheat honey present the highest levels of water-soluble vitamins content; that confirms the prospects of their use as a source of vitamins. Vitamins are unstable compounds that can be easily destroyed by various factors. Under the impact of daylight, the studied water-soluble vitamins contained in honey are destroyed during storage. The dynamics of changes in the vitamins content was traced during the storage of honey for 12 months in a dark place and in the light. Riboflavin andnicotinic acid, which is significantly reduced, is caracterized by a higher sensitivity to the action of daylight during storage of honey.

Case study for estimation of the amount of contaminants stored in soil in an industrial area

One of the main sources of contaminants in the soil is industrial activity which has become one of the major environmental problems of the last few decades. The development of geoinformatics as well as the introduction of standards and regulations has led to a decreased risk of soil contamination and the cost-effective optimization of remediation activities. Based on the above, the aim of our study is to demonstrate the geoinformation processing of the remediation performed in an industrial area located in the Great Hungarian Plain, with special regard to the estimation of the amount and spread of the contaminants accumulated in the soil. In order to reveal the lithological and hydrogeological properties of the investigated area and the environmental status of the underground areas, we performed a large number of shallow land drillings (115). During the field sampling, 1000–1500 grams of samples were collected from the drill bit and were processed in an accredited laboratory. Based on the concentration and volume models created it can be concluded that with the estimations performed via modeling, we were able to locate the most critical areas from the standpoint of contamination. It was revealed that the focal point of the contaminants accumulated in the soil was in the central part of the investigated area. Furthermore, the model demonstrated the effect of lithological factors, since contaminants tend to accumulate more heavily in cohesive soils compared to porous rocks. The extent of contaminant concentration in the aquifer increased with decreasing depth; however, after reaching the floor clay the extent of contaminant concentration began to decrease. The lithological layer closest to the surface contained the most contaminants.

Assessment of Comprehensive Mutational Profiling in T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL): A Single Center Experience

Introduction/Objective T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) is a malignancy arising from immature precursor T cells with T-ALL involving bone marrow/blood and T-LBL occurring in the thymus and nodal/extranodal sites. Studies have now revealed >100 recurrently altered genes that are not necessarily disease initiating but can provide diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive information which can then be utilized in personalized therapy. Methods/Case Report Next-generation sequencing was performed on DNA and/or RNA extracted from blood/marrow aspirates or tissue at an external CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory. The hematology panel sequenced DNA of 406 genes, introns of 31 gene rearrangements, and RNA of 265 genes. This retrospective single-center study highlights salient findings noted in genomic profiles of 15 T-ALL/LBL cases out of 83 total patients with ALL from 2018-2021. While the majority were B-ALL cases, T-ALL accounted for 18%, and all but 1 case were pediatric patients (ages 9-21 years). Results (if a Case Study enter NA) In our pediatric cohort (14 patients; 9 males, 5 females), as in literature, NOTCH signaling was most frequently involved with NOTCH1 (50%) and FBXW7 (36%) mutations, followed by those in cell cycle process CDKN2A/2B (36%) and PTEN (28%) mutations. Other mutations: PHF6 (21%), BCOR and TAL1 (14%) each. The prognostic effect of mutations: NOTCH1 favorable, FBXW7 no effect but trend toward favorable when FBXW7 co-occurs with NOTCH1 while PTEN is unfavorable (3 patients had relapses). Some unusual or useful findings: a patient diagnosed initially as AML with aberrant CD3 was re-classified as early T-cell precursor ALL, supported by RELN mutation (occurs in 4% ETP-ALL). The adult with NOTCH1 and BCOR mutations in addition to BCR-ABL1 fusion was diagnosed as having T-ALL blasts with CML. We could not study detailed nuances in mutational profiles of T-ALL vs T-LBL with only 1 case of T-LBL showing FBXW7, PTEN, NF1, RB1, BCOR and NRAS mutations (latter is typically noted in pediatric T-LBL cases). Conclusion Clinical molecular testing in our pediatric T-ALL patients revealed gene alterations that provide refinement of diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification. It also contributes a useful data set for further analysis and potential use of clinically actionable therapeutic targets in some cases. Longer term follow-up incorporating therapy and outcomes information would be valuable.

Olympic anti-doping laboratory: the analytical technological road from 2016 Rio De Janeiro to 2021 Tokyo

The summer Olympic Games is the major mega sports event since the first modern era Olympiad, held in Athens, Greece in 1896. International Olympic Committee (IOC) has the responsibility of the organization of the summer and winter Games ensuring the broadcast in all corners of earth. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is the responsible organization of the fight against doping in sports. IOC and WADA support the event's country WADA Accredited Laboratory to incorporate the maximum of the new analytical technologies to become applicable during the event's antidoping testing. The current study reviewed the last 5 years progresses of the antidoping system with emphasis on the laboratory field.

Determination of Eleven Veterinary Drugs in Chicken Meat and Liver

Brazil chicken production is around 13 million tons and about a third is exported to over 150 countries, placing Brazil as the world largest chicken meat producer, and therefore it is crucial to follow the legislation of all importer markets. This study conducted a survey by chance in 45 meat industries able to export. Therefore, 2580 chicken meat samples were collected and submitted to 11 analyte extraction and chromatographic verification of compliance in an accredited laboratory. Ten chemical residues (amoxicillin, bacitracin, colistin, dinitolmide + zoalene, spectinomycin, roxarsone, tiamulin, tylosin, trenbolone acetate and virginiamycin) were investigated in chicken meat and one (halofuginone hydrobromide) in chicken liver. The results showed that no compound exceeded the maximum residue limits established by seven legislations. All residue concentrations found were below the method quantification limit, thereby confirming the capability of Brazilian chicken meat industries in complying to foreign markets.