Chemical exposures from upholstered furniture with various flame retardant technologies

Upholstered furniture is often manufactured with polyurethane foam (PUF) containing flame retardants (FRs) to prevent the risk of a fire and/or to meet flammability regulations, however, exposure to certain FRs and other chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects. This study developed a new methodology for evaluating volatile organic compound (VOC) and FR exposures to users of upholstered furniture by simulating use of a chair in a controlled exposure chamber and assessing the health significance of measured chemical exposure. Chairs with different fire-resistant technologies were evaluated for VOC and FR exposures via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact exposure routes. Data show that VOC exposure levels are lower than threshold levels defined by the US and global indoor air criteria. Brominated FRs were not detected from the studied chairs. The organophosphate FRs added to PUF were released into the surrounding air (0.4 ng/m³) and as dust (16 ng/m²). Exposure modeling showed that adults are exposed to FRs released from upholstered furniture mostly by dermal contact and children are exposed via dermal and ingestion exposure. Children are most susceptible to FR exposure/dose (2 times higher average daily dose than adults) due to their frequent hand to mouth contact.     

A smart process controller framework for Industry 4.0 settings

This paper presents a smart supervisory framework for a single process controller, designed for Industry 4.0 shop floors. This digitization of a full supervisory suite for a single process controller enables self-awareness, self-diagnosis, self-prognosis, and self-healing (by definition, these "self" elements are missing from other supervisory frameworks diagnosing numerous controllers in parallel). The proposed framework is aligned with the concept of a Cyber Physical System (CPS), since its implementation generates a rich cyber physical entity of the controlled process. This CPS entity can either be considered as the process digital twin, or can provide a solid basis for generating it. Finally, the framework includes the main characteristics of Industry 4.0, such as advanced use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analysis. The framework is based on four modules: (1) Control and Awareness module—performing both continuous process control and adjustments, as well as machine learning (ML) and statistical process control (SPC) for identifying abnormalities that require further diagnosis; (2) Process -diagnosis module—performing continual (recurrent) analysis of the process state and trends; (3) Prognosis and Healing module—performing prognosis and automated intervention via parameter changes, re-configurations, and automated maintenance; (4) External Interaction Platform—an interactive module for interfacing with experts, presenting them with the process analysis information and obtaining feedback from them as part of a learning process. Using an implementation showcase to illustrate the methodological framework’s applicability, we demonstrate its real-world potential. The proposed framework could serve as a guide for implementing smart process control and maintenance systems in Industry 4.0 shop floors. It could also provide a firm basis for comparison with future suggested frameworks. Future research directions could include pursuing improvements to the proposed process control framework and validating the framework by case studies of its implementation.

     

Correction to: A note on the three methods of item analysis

Behaviormetrika - In the original publication of the article, Appendix A was published incorrectly.     

Treatment capability of a physical—Chemical package plant

A short-term study of a commercially-available physical—chemical waste treatment plant is reported. Results indicate that an excellent quality of effluent can be consistently obtained despite wide fluctuations of influent wastewater characteristics. Physical, chemical, and biological parameters were monitored. The short-term data obtained offer some evidence of superior treatment efficiency in terms of COD, color, turbidity, and phosphorus removals when compared to more conventional treatment methods.     

作为设计教学战略的异常事物与惯例辩证法——1996～2007哈佛大学第一学年工作室课程

在教育刚开始的阶段,核心课程教育是本源。第一年的核心课程教学受着双重的束缚。问题来源于这样一个认识:今天最好的建筑师不是那些有着杰出的想法或是卓越技术之人,而是那些能在所拥有的各种想法和所掌握的技术手段之间产生神奇魔力之人。观念和技术的融合是难以传授的,也没有批评和论述的标准。因此,在建筑设计工作室里,主要的教学方式便是讲故事。积累起来的大量故事让人能通过类推的方式来表达那些难以直接描述的事情。教育的核心沿着两条平行的轨迹在运行:一条着眼于建筑和建造的类型学,另一条着眼于几何学和建构。不管是哪一个方面,那些自相矛盾和似是而非的问题总会扰乱在理论上协调一致的类型学或者事物的秩序,这种类型学或秩序作为一种手段将约定俗成的概念引入建筑学之中。意识到这个事实的建筑师必须完善他们固有的建筑观念,或者建立起与知识体系相协调的观念。总之,对问题的质疑成了建筑学中所有事情的主角,对问题的设计和如何敏锐感知这些问题成了设计教学的核心。     

Morality and Architecture

In the 1870s and 1880s, when the establishment of schools of architecture in the United States was in its infancy, one of the main methods of architectural education for builders, carpenters and others who wished to advance in the field was to study the many books on architecture being published after the Civil War. Even professional architects had frequent recourse to books (and also periodicals) for design ideas, theory and contemporary issues.     

Immune and Anticancer Responses Elicited by Fully Synthetic Aberrantly Glycosylated MUC1 Tripartite Vaccines Modified by a TLR2 or TLR9 Agonist

The mucin MUC1 is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated by many epithelial cancer cells manifested by truncated O‐linked saccharides. Although tumor‐associated MUC1 has generated considerable attention because of its potential for the development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine, it has been difficult to design constructs that consistently induce cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes (CTLs) and ADCC‐mediating antibodies specific for the tumor form of MUC1. We have designed, chemically synthesized, and immunologically examined vaccine candidates each composed of a glycopeptide derived from MUC1, a promiscuous T_helper peptide, and a TLR2 (Pam₃CysSK₄) or TLR9 (CpG‐ODN 1826) agonist. It was found that the Pam₃CysSK₄‐containing compound elicits more potent antigenic and cellular immune responses, resulting in a therapeutic effect in a mouse model of mammary cancer. It is thus shown, for the first time, that the nature of an inbuilt adjuvant of a tripartite vaccine can significantly impact the quality of immune responses elicited against a tumor‐associated glycopeptide. The unique adjuvant properties of Pam₃CysSK₄, which can reduce the suppressive function of regulatory T cells and enhance the cytotoxicity of tumor‐specific CTLs, are likely responsible for the superior properties of the vaccine candidate 1 .     

The power of propagation: when GAC is enough

Considerable effort in constraint programming has focused on the development of efficient propagators for individual constraints. In this paper, we consider the combined power of such propagators when applied to collections of more than one constraint. In particular we identify classes of constraint problems where such propagators can decide the existence of a solution on their own, without the need for any additional search. Sporadic examples of such classes have previously been identified, including classes based on restricting the structure of the problem, restricting the constraint types, and some hybrid examples. However, there has previously been no unifying approach which characterises all of these classes: structural, language-based and hybrid. In this paper we develop such a unifying approach and embed all the known classes into a common framework. We then use this framework to identify a further class of problems that can be solved by propagation alone.     

Decision‐making in multi‐agency groups at simulated major incident emergencies: In situ analysis of adherence to UK doctrine

When major incident emergencies occur in the UK (e.g., a terrorist attack), senior representatives convene from local emergency services, civil resource organizations, health agencies, and government. These groups make decisions that minimize the societal and economic impacts of major incidents. Their adherence to UK doctrine was assessed using video footage of 18 groups responding to a major incident in a simulation suite, and six groups responding to a large‐scale exercise. There were marked between‐group differences in the sequencing of decision‐making activities, and limited consideration of alternative courses of action. These results provide an impetus for future policy, guidance, and training to address (a) between‐group inconsistency in decision processes and (b) the lack of consideration of alternative courses of action.     

Constance Kamii's research and recent math reforms

Constance Kamii. (1990). Multiplication of two‐digit numbers: Two teachers using Piaget's theory. [Videotape.] New York: Teachers College Press. ISBN 0–8077–3086–6, Cdn $86.