Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), the world’s leading provider of Building Performance Analysis tools to the building design and refurbishment industry, has launched a plug-in to Google SketchUpTM, a free, easy-to-learn 3D design tool from Google. This plug-in links directly to IES’s free VE-Ware tool which accurately determines the Energy Use and associated Carbon Dioxide Emissions for any building, in any part of the world. This exciting new development means that anyone can pick up these FREE tools and start analysing how their home, office or school performs. So whether you’re a self builder or architect wanting to take energy consumption into account during design, a property developer, facilities manager, a student undertaking a project, or you’re just plain interested, it is now possible to scientifically analyse for FREE how much energy a building uses and how that translates to associated carbon emissions. You can even look at how modifications will affect the outcome.
VE-Ware is not just another carbon calculator. Its calculation engine is part of the IES Virtual Environment, which is an industry respected building performance analysis tool used by the world’s top architectural and engineering firms in the design of low-energy buildings. The calculations are based on real geometry, international data on local climate and weather conditions and the typical characteristics of different building, room and heating and cooling system types.
Dr. Don McLean, the Founder and MD of IES, commented: “I’m incredibly excited by today’s launch, in many ways it’s a culmination of 14 years of work. When I founded IES in 1994 my aim was to develop what were primarily academic tools and bring them into mainstream use. Buildings are incredibly important in mitigating climate change – they account for around 40% of global CO2 emissions, but at the same time it is this sector which is the most cost effective when it comes to reducing those emissions. VE-Ware and our link to Google SketchUp gives everyone the capability to get involved and really opens the door wide to the incredible mitigation potential building performance analysis offers.”
HOW TO DETERMINE A BUILDING’S ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS FOR FREE IN 5 EASY STEPS...
1. Model your building in Google SketchUp
2. Open VE-Ware and tell it where your building is in the world
3. Define your: Building type
Construction materials
Heating and cooling system types
Room types
4. Press a button - automatic detailed thermal simulation is
performed for you
5. Get output on: Energy consumption
CO2 emissions
US benchmark against the Architecture 2030
(Zero-Carbon) ChallengeIn addition, if you want to modify your building and assess what impact different options have on these factors, all you have to do is go back and make the required amends to the model or construction materials, etc. and re-run the analysis.
VE-Ware is available to download from: www.iesve.com/ve-ware
Google SketchUp is available to download from: http://sketchup.google.com/
The IES and Google SketchUp connectivity:
The direct link to VE-Ware takes the form of a Toolbar that sits within the SketchUp application. It is compatible with both the Free and Pro versions of Google SketchUp. The Toolbar also links to IES’s other more detailed building performance analysis tools: the VE-Toolkits and the full Virtual Environment. For many architects and other professionals in the building design and management industry, this level of integration with a mass market design tool is what they have been waiting for – it allows empowering analysis to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons. See the associated press release on the IES Google SketchUp plug-in for more information.
John Bacus, Product Manager of Google SketchUp, commented: “With SketchUp, we dreamed of a simple tool that would give people the ability to think fast and iterate often on complex building design problems. With this release, IES is plugging a set of energy analysis tools into SketchUp at just the right level of complexity — enabling designers to think not just about how a building might look, but also how it will perform in a sustainable world.”
This launch is a public beta and is being refined over the coming months.
About Building Performance Analysis:
Building performance analysis allows the study of how the orientation, shape, construction materials and room positioning etc. impacts on energy use and occupant comfort. It also allows you to determine how effective solar shading, natural ventilation and other passive design strategies will be, and the feasibility of using innovative low-energy technologies and renewable energy sources.
About IES:
Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) Ltd. is a company at the forefront of the use and development of powerful building performance simulation tools:
VE-Ware: Free energy and carbon analysis tool which makes basic performance analysis widely available to anyone;
VE-Toolkits: mid-level tools that allow a variety of early stage sustainability energy, carbon, solar and daylight analyses to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons;
The full VE: a powerful integrated suite of highly detailed performance analysis tools.
www.iesve.com
Google and Google SketchUp are licensed trademarks of Google Inc.
Source: Business Wire
Published Aug. 26, 2008
Showing posts with label new technologies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new technologies. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Food scientists confirm commercial product effectively kills bacteria in vegetable washwater
Research conducted by food science faculty at the University of Idaho and Washington State University indicate that a commercially available fruit and vegetable wash, when used in a food-manufacturing setting, can dramatically decrease the number of disease-causing organisms in produce-processing washwater. That could reduce by manyfold the potential for cross-contamination within the water by such "gram-negative" bacteria as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.
The product, sold commercially as FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash, not only proved much more effective than the commonly used chlorine dioxide but is made from ingredients like citric acid and distilled grapefruit oil that are generally regarded as safe. Chlorine dioxide, whose use in food plants can put workers at risk, was compromised by soils and plant debris in the washwater and killed only 90 percent of the target organisms in the food plant and followup laboratory studies. By contrast, FIT killed 99.9999 percent, according to associate professor of food science Dong-Hyun Kang of Washington State University. "If you had a million bacteria, you would have one left."
The research—unusual because part of it was conducted under real-world conditions in an Idaho freshpack potato operation—will be published by the Journal of Food Science in August and is currently available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jfds/0/0. University of Idaho Extension food scientist Jeff Kronenberg said the researchers chose potatoes for their study because their dirt-laden washwater poses the greatest challenge to products designed to control microbial contamination—not because of any food-safety threat potatoes pose. Indeed, Kronenberg said, "We have historically had zero problems with food-borne diseases in potatoes that are sold in grocery stores and restaurants because they're cooked."
Kronenberg believes FIT should be further investigated for fresh produce that has been associated with food-borne illness—including lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley and other leafy vegetables—where it is has the potential to save lives.
According to Kang, most food-processing firms cleanse their produce in flumes that operate as aquatic conveyor belts. "If a pathogen is introduced in the washwater, it will grow and continuously contaminate the new produce," he said. With 15 years of experience, Kang has found it "very, very difficult" to control disease-causing organisms in flume water and said he "didn't expect this kind of reduction. I'm really happy to see it."
WSU research technologist Peter Gray agreed, noting that the bacteria were "knocked down below the detection limit almost instantaneously" in the FIT treatments.
Source : University of Idaho
The product, sold commercially as FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash, not only proved much more effective than the commonly used chlorine dioxide but is made from ingredients like citric acid and distilled grapefruit oil that are generally regarded as safe. Chlorine dioxide, whose use in food plants can put workers at risk, was compromised by soils and plant debris in the washwater and killed only 90 percent of the target organisms in the food plant and followup laboratory studies. By contrast, FIT killed 99.9999 percent, according to associate professor of food science Dong-Hyun Kang of Washington State University. "If you had a million bacteria, you would have one left."
The research—unusual because part of it was conducted under real-world conditions in an Idaho freshpack potato operation—will be published by the Journal of Food Science in August and is currently available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jfds/0/0. University of Idaho Extension food scientist Jeff Kronenberg said the researchers chose potatoes for their study because their dirt-laden washwater poses the greatest challenge to products designed to control microbial contamination—not because of any food-safety threat potatoes pose. Indeed, Kronenberg said, "We have historically had zero problems with food-borne diseases in potatoes that are sold in grocery stores and restaurants because they're cooked."
Kronenberg believes FIT should be further investigated for fresh produce that has been associated with food-borne illness—including lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, parsley and other leafy vegetables—where it is has the potential to save lives.
According to Kang, most food-processing firms cleanse their produce in flumes that operate as aquatic conveyor belts. "If a pathogen is introduced in the washwater, it will grow and continuously contaminate the new produce," he said. With 15 years of experience, Kang has found it "very, very difficult" to control disease-causing organisms in flume water and said he "didn't expect this kind of reduction. I'm really happy to see it."
WSU research technologist Peter Gray agreed, noting that the bacteria were "knocked down below the detection limit almost instantaneously" in the FIT treatments.
Source : University of Idaho
Sunday, April 13, 2008
NDSU, other land grant universities join to develop eXtension web site
The North Dakota State University Extension Service has teamed up with 73 other universities to develop eXtension, a Web site devoted to bringing solutions to today's complex challenges. The information-packed Web site can be accessed at http://www.extension.org/.
eXtension is a portal to the nation's largest educational and information system, its creators say. It provides reliable answers based on solid research and trustworthy, field-tested data, along with the knowledge of experts from land-grant universities across the nation. It complements and enhances the community-based programming the Extension Service provides.
Topics covered on the eXtension Web site include horticulture, personal finance, parenting, family issues, horses, beef and dairy cattle, entrepreneurship, geospatial technology, dealing with disasters, cotton, diversity, fire ants, wildlife damage and management, and a program that exposes youth to science, engineering and technology. More topics will be added in the coming months.
“I am excited to be involved in developing this resource because it will provide access to timely, unbiased and accurate information for consumers 24/7,” says Debra Pankow, NDSU Extension Service family economics specialist. Pankow chairs the group that gathers information on financial security.
eXtension provides information a number of ways, including articles from resource area experts and answers to frequently asked questions. However, unlike most other Web-based information resources, eXtension also has experts from universities throughout the country ready to answer specific questions within 48 hours. Once answered, the question and answer become part of the frequently answered questions section of a topic.
Source: NDSU Extension
eXtension is a portal to the nation's largest educational and information system, its creators say. It provides reliable answers based on solid research and trustworthy, field-tested data, along with the knowledge of experts from land-grant universities across the nation. It complements and enhances the community-based programming the Extension Service provides.
Topics covered on the eXtension Web site include horticulture, personal finance, parenting, family issues, horses, beef and dairy cattle, entrepreneurship, geospatial technology, dealing with disasters, cotton, diversity, fire ants, wildlife damage and management, and a program that exposes youth to science, engineering and technology. More topics will be added in the coming months.
“I am excited to be involved in developing this resource because it will provide access to timely, unbiased and accurate information for consumers 24/7,” says Debra Pankow, NDSU Extension Service family economics specialist. Pankow chairs the group that gathers information on financial security.
eXtension provides information a number of ways, including articles from resource area experts and answers to frequently asked questions. However, unlike most other Web-based information resources, eXtension also has experts from universities throughout the country ready to answer specific questions within 48 hours. Once answered, the question and answer become part of the frequently answered questions section of a topic.
Source: NDSU Extension
DuPont, USDA ARS to collaborate on new E. coli test in beef
DuPont and the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are teaming up to find new ways to detect an E. coli strain in beef that, even in low concentrations, can cause severe illness.
Through a cooperative research and development agreement, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, Neb., and DuPont Qualicon will develop a new test for E. coli 0157:H7, a pathogen that led to more than 30 million pounds of ground beef being recalled in 2007.
“Our mission is to develop scientific information and new technology to solve high priority problems for the U.S. beef, sheep and swine industries,” Mohammad Koohmaraie, USMARC director, said. “In the case of E. coli O157:H7 detection, we're looking at collaborative ways to quickly develop a new test.”
“We are committed to providing the meat industry with testing applications that use the best science available. This agreement allows us to work with experts from the USDA ARS toward our common goal of an E. coli O157:H7 test that is even faster, more accurate and more efficient,” Kevin Huttman, president,DuPont Qualicon, said.
E. coli O157:H7 is a food borne pathogen usually associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Even in low concentrations, it can cause severe illness, sometimes leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure in at-risk populations.
After several years of declining incidence, 2007 saw a resurgence with more than 30 million pounds of ground beef recalled due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
The DuPont Qualicon BAX system is currently used by food companies and governments around the world to reliably detect pathogens in food, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and more.
Through a cooperative research and development agreement, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, Neb., and DuPont Qualicon will develop a new test for E. coli 0157:H7, a pathogen that led to more than 30 million pounds of ground beef being recalled in 2007.
“Our mission is to develop scientific information and new technology to solve high priority problems for the U.S. beef, sheep and swine industries,” Mohammad Koohmaraie, USMARC director, said. “In the case of E. coli O157:H7 detection, we're looking at collaborative ways to quickly develop a new test.”
“We are committed to providing the meat industry with testing applications that use the best science available. This agreement allows us to work with experts from the USDA ARS toward our common goal of an E. coli O157:H7 test that is even faster, more accurate and more efficient,” Kevin Huttman, president,DuPont Qualicon, said.
E. coli O157:H7 is a food borne pathogen usually associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Even in low concentrations, it can cause severe illness, sometimes leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure in at-risk populations.
After several years of declining incidence, 2007 saw a resurgence with more than 30 million pounds of ground beef recalled due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
The DuPont Qualicon BAX system is currently used by food companies and governments around the world to reliably detect pathogens in food, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and more.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Heating bloc reduces testing costs claims manufacturer
A special heating bloc can reduce the handling time and costs of testing foods for pathogens, claims its France-based manufacturer.
BioMérieux claims its Vidas Heat and Go "significantly reduces technician handling time as well as material cost, while standardising a previously cumbersome step in pathogen detection".
The block is used on samples undergoing pathogen testing in bioMérieux's automated Vidas and mini Vidas systems.
"There is a clear need for improved productivity and traceability for microbiological control testing in the food industry and developing innovative solutions to address these needs is at the core of our strategy," stated Alexandre Mérieux, the company's corporate vice president for industrial microbiology.
Previously technicians used a boiling water bath asa typical protocol for heating food samples. Lab workers would manually label tubes and transfer samples in and out of the tubes and in and out of the boiling water bath.
"The Vidas Heat and Go dry heating block streamlines this process by eliminating the manual steps of labeling and transferring the sample tubes," the company claimed. "The use of a dry heating block offers food laboratories increased safety in pathogen detection."
The system also increases the traceability of sample results, eliminating the risk of mislabeling sample tubes. Additionally, the dry heating block ensures the appropriate temperature is maintained throughout the heating process, the company stated.
BioMérieux claims its Vidas Heat and Go "significantly reduces technician handling time as well as material cost, while standardising a previously cumbersome step in pathogen detection".
The block is used on samples undergoing pathogen testing in bioMérieux's automated Vidas and mini Vidas systems.
"There is a clear need for improved productivity and traceability for microbiological control testing in the food industry and developing innovative solutions to address these needs is at the core of our strategy," stated Alexandre Mérieux, the company's corporate vice president for industrial microbiology.
Previously technicians used a boiling water bath asa typical protocol for heating food samples. Lab workers would manually label tubes and transfer samples in and out of the tubes and in and out of the boiling water bath.
"The Vidas Heat and Go dry heating block streamlines this process by eliminating the manual steps of labeling and transferring the sample tubes," the company claimed. "The use of a dry heating block offers food laboratories increased safety in pathogen detection."
The system also increases the traceability of sample results, eliminating the risk of mislabeling sample tubes. Additionally, the dry heating block ensures the appropriate temperature is maintained throughout the heating process, the company stated.
New Point-Of-Care Technology For Detecting Bloodstream Infections Unveiled
Researchers at the UC Davis Health System and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have entered into a collaborative effort to develop two ‘Point-Of-Care’ (POC) prototype instruments for the detection of pathogens causing bloodstream infections, one in hospital settings and the other, a field portable device, for disaster management camps. The team, led by Gerald Kost, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Director of the Point-of-Care Testing Center for Teaching and Research (POCT-CTR), will develop these novel devices using the elementary technologies of other LLNL-developed instruments, such as the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System, designed for protection against bioterrorism. The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) has already granted a fund of around $8.5 million for the development of these devices.
DNA chip can catch eye disease pathogens
Hyderabad, Dec. 22An indigenously-developed DNA Chip which can pinpoint the culprit organism that is causing a particular eye disease in the shortest possible time has hit the commercial market.
Bangalore-based XCyton Diagnostics has launched the DNA macro chip, a molecular diagnostic kit, for identifying a range of pathogens causing eye diseases in the country recently.
The Managing Director of XCyton, Dr B.V. Ravi Kumar, said the company has created a Rs 3-crore facility in Bangalore to develop a range of DNA-based diagnostic products using this new platform. Work is on to develop a Deoxyribonucleac Acid (DNA)-based kit to detect Septecemia and a range of fevers like dengue, chikungunya, and typhoid, wherein early detection of the virus was key to managing the disease.
Awareness programme
XCyton, a product development company in human diagnostics, which has brought several diagnostic products for HIV, and Hepatitis C among others, has launched an awareness programme for doctors and clinicians on the new product. It is offering services to laboratories as well, Dr Ravi told Business Line.
Scientists from the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) along with clinicians at the L V Prasad Eye Institute, both in Hyderabad; from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, and the RP Centre, New Delhi, have under the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) programme of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), developed the DNA based diagnostic chip.
According to Dr Ch Mohan Rao, Deputy Director of CCMB, eye infections are the major causes of eye diseases and subsequent impairment of vision. Most of these diseases are curable, provided the infecting agent is identified at an early stage.
Common method
At present, the widely used method for detecting the infecting organisms is microbial culture. However, this process is time-consuming and the results are not immediately available to clinicians for making treatment decisions, he said.
Scientists have exploited the fact that by deploying the PCR method it is possible to detect the unique regions on a pathogen’s DNA, which can then be used as a signature. PCR methods are more sensitive and rapid.
M. Somasekhar
Bangalore-based XCyton Diagnostics has launched the DNA macro chip, a molecular diagnostic kit, for identifying a range of pathogens causing eye diseases in the country recently.
The Managing Director of XCyton, Dr B.V. Ravi Kumar, said the company has created a Rs 3-crore facility in Bangalore to develop a range of DNA-based diagnostic products using this new platform. Work is on to develop a Deoxyribonucleac Acid (DNA)-based kit to detect Septecemia and a range of fevers like dengue, chikungunya, and typhoid, wherein early detection of the virus was key to managing the disease.
Awareness programme
XCyton, a product development company in human diagnostics, which has brought several diagnostic products for HIV, and Hepatitis C among others, has launched an awareness programme for doctors and clinicians on the new product. It is offering services to laboratories as well, Dr Ravi told Business Line.
Scientists from the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) along with clinicians at the L V Prasad Eye Institute, both in Hyderabad; from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, and the RP Centre, New Delhi, have under the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) programme of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), developed the DNA based diagnostic chip.
According to Dr Ch Mohan Rao, Deputy Director of CCMB, eye infections are the major causes of eye diseases and subsequent impairment of vision. Most of these diseases are curable, provided the infecting agent is identified at an early stage.
Common method
At present, the widely used method for detecting the infecting organisms is microbial culture. However, this process is time-consuming and the results are not immediately available to clinicians for making treatment decisions, he said.
Scientists have exploited the fact that by deploying the PCR method it is possible to detect the unique regions on a pathogen’s DNA, which can then be used as a signature. PCR methods are more sensitive and rapid.
M. Somasekhar
Monday, December 17, 2007
New Point-Of-Care Technology For Detecting Bloodstream Infections Unveiled
December 4th, 2007 by The MediNEWS Team
Researchers at the UC Davis Health System and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have entered into a collaborative effort to develop two ‘Point-Of-Care’ (POC) prototype instruments for the detection of pathogens causing bloodstream infections, one in hospital settings and the other, a field portable device, for disaster management camps. The team, led by Gerald Kost, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Director of the Point-of-Care Testing Center for Teaching and Research (POCT-CTR), will develop these novel devices using the elementary technologies of other LLNL-developed instruments, such as the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System, designed for protection against bioterrorism. The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) has already granted a fund of around $8.5 million for the development of these devices.
Researchers at the UC Davis Health System and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have entered into a collaborative effort to develop two ‘Point-Of-Care’ (POC) prototype instruments for the detection of pathogens causing bloodstream infections, one in hospital settings and the other, a field portable device, for disaster management camps. The team, led by Gerald Kost, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Director of the Point-of-Care Testing Center for Teaching and Research (POCT-CTR), will develop these novel devices using the elementary technologies of other LLNL-developed instruments, such as the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System, designed for protection against bioterrorism. The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) has already granted a fund of around $8.5 million for the development of these devices.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
New kit cuts pathogen detection time down to hours
Scientists who claim to have developed what they say is the fastest food detector of its kind have received funding to mass produce their discovery.
Scientists who claim to have developed what they say is the fastest food detector of its kind have received funding to mass produce their discovery.
Scotland's Macaulay Institute said this week the scientists plan to roll out technology by 2010 that will cut detection times for food pathogens such as Campylobacter, Listeria and Salmonella to five hours from six days.
Cutting pathogen detection time is one of the holy grails of food microbiology. Brining down detection times to hours can help managers prevent contaminated foods from reaching consumers.
Brajesh Singh, who leads the project at the Institue, said the new technology could prevent many food poisoning outbreaks.
"The conventional methods for detecting food contamination used by industries and regulatory agencies are labour intensive, time consuming and costly," he stated.
"Our proposed technology offers for the first time, at low cost, the simultaneous detection of multiple contaminants within five to eight hours, and has the potential to revolutionise the food safety industry and save lives through prevention of food poisoning epidemics."
Seeded with £246,000 from the Scottish Enterprise's 'Proof of Concept' programme, the scientists aim is sell the detection kit worldwide by 2010 via a spin-out company.
The new company will also provide food sample analyse services and develop other similar technologies.
The test kit works by analysing a food sample for specific food pathogens, the Macaulay Institute stated.
The kit can be used to detect multiple microbial contaminants in food, water and environmental samples.
"This unique method allows dual detection of pathogens and determines if they are capable of producing toxins or whether they have antibiotic resistance," the Institute added. "It offers improved diagnostic potential to identify the source of contamination and therefore save lives."
Singh stated that the device is sensitive enough to accurately determine the level of contamination - which is a limitation of present methodologies.
"We believe that this technology provides a real opportunity to make Scotland a world-leader in microbial diagnostics and industrial microbiology," he stated.
While the new company will initially focus on contaminant detection in food and the environment, the kit has wider applications and will be attractive to healthcare, forensic and remediation industries, he noted.
"The project will allow Scotland to compete with North America and Continental Europe in this growing market, which estimates suggest will be worth US$2.4 billion by 2010 for the food sector alone," he stated.
The scientists will used the funding to develop a proof of concept, then once the technology is adjusted it will be licensed to a range of industries or service providers in microbial diagnostics.
The detection technology will also be marketed through a spin-off company that will manufacture the necessary kits and create a service centre for the UK.
The project also involves Colin Campbell and Fiona Moore of the Macaulay Institute, and Iain Ogden from the University of Aberdeen.
Scientists who claim to have developed what they say is the fastest food detector of its kind have received funding to mass produce their discovery.
Scotland's Macaulay Institute said this week the scientists plan to roll out technology by 2010 that will cut detection times for food pathogens such as Campylobacter, Listeria and Salmonella to five hours from six days.
Cutting pathogen detection time is one of the holy grails of food microbiology. Brining down detection times to hours can help managers prevent contaminated foods from reaching consumers.
Brajesh Singh, who leads the project at the Institue, said the new technology could prevent many food poisoning outbreaks.
"The conventional methods for detecting food contamination used by industries and regulatory agencies are labour intensive, time consuming and costly," he stated.
"Our proposed technology offers for the first time, at low cost, the simultaneous detection of multiple contaminants within five to eight hours, and has the potential to revolutionise the food safety industry and save lives through prevention of food poisoning epidemics."
Seeded with £246,000 from the Scottish Enterprise's 'Proof of Concept' programme, the scientists aim is sell the detection kit worldwide by 2010 via a spin-out company.
The new company will also provide food sample analyse services and develop other similar technologies.
The test kit works by analysing a food sample for specific food pathogens, the Macaulay Institute stated.
The kit can be used to detect multiple microbial contaminants in food, water and environmental samples.
"This unique method allows dual detection of pathogens and determines if they are capable of producing toxins or whether they have antibiotic resistance," the Institute added. "It offers improved diagnostic potential to identify the source of contamination and therefore save lives."
Singh stated that the device is sensitive enough to accurately determine the level of contamination - which is a limitation of present methodologies.
"We believe that this technology provides a real opportunity to make Scotland a world-leader in microbial diagnostics and industrial microbiology," he stated.
While the new company will initially focus on contaminant detection in food and the environment, the kit has wider applications and will be attractive to healthcare, forensic and remediation industries, he noted.
"The project will allow Scotland to compete with North America and Continental Europe in this growing market, which estimates suggest will be worth US$2.4 billion by 2010 for the food sector alone," he stated.
The scientists will used the funding to develop a proof of concept, then once the technology is adjusted it will be licensed to a range of industries or service providers in microbial diagnostics.
The detection technology will also be marketed through a spin-off company that will manufacture the necessary kits and create a service centre for the UK.
The project also involves Colin Campbell and Fiona Moore of the Macaulay Institute, and Iain Ogden from the University of Aberdeen.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Water Saving Sprinklers Put To The Test
Jul. 3, 2007 (KGO) - For the first time in years, Bay Area residents are being asked to conserve water. The Sonoma County Water Agency has gone as far as to issue mandatory water rationing. 7 On Your Side's Michael Finney has some tips on watering your lawn without wasting water.
A lot of water sprinklers claim to not waste any water. The Good Housekeeping Institute decided to put those claims to the test.
The institute placed cups with pennies in the center of the lawn. Then they turned on the sprinklers to see how much water filled each cup. Coming out on top for densely planted plots was the 'Tripod Sprinkler' by 'Rainforest.'
Kathleen Huddy, Good Housekeeping Institute: "We really like this sprinkler. It had a terrific distribution at over 600 feet and it has the adjustable legs so that you can place it over landscaping and not harm any plants. We didn't like the eco sprinkler from rainforest because it did not evenly distribute the water throughout the area."
The 'Noodlehead' sprinkler gets much better reviews because it can be adjusted to avoid overshooting.
Kathleen Huddy, Good Housekeeping Institute: "We really liked the 'Noodlehead' because it has 12 bendable tubes you can change and as your garden grows, you can customize it to the area you want to water."
And if you're tired of getting kinks in your garden hose, Good Housekeeping gave a thumbs up to the 'No-Crank Hose Reel.' It automatically winds your hose through a clever water-powered mechanism.
The inspiration for the 'Noodlehead' sprinkler came from investor Randy Cooper. He watched his wife put benders in her hair, instead of curlers. He then made the concept work in the yard too.
Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.
A lot of water sprinklers claim to not waste any water. The Good Housekeeping Institute decided to put those claims to the test.
The institute placed cups with pennies in the center of the lawn. Then they turned on the sprinklers to see how much water filled each cup. Coming out on top for densely planted plots was the 'Tripod Sprinkler' by 'Rainforest.'
Kathleen Huddy, Good Housekeeping Institute: "We really like this sprinkler. It had a terrific distribution at over 600 feet and it has the adjustable legs so that you can place it over landscaping and not harm any plants. We didn't like the eco sprinkler from rainforest because it did not evenly distribute the water throughout the area."
The 'Noodlehead' sprinkler gets much better reviews because it can be adjusted to avoid overshooting.
Kathleen Huddy, Good Housekeeping Institute: "We really liked the 'Noodlehead' because it has 12 bendable tubes you can change and as your garden grows, you can customize it to the area you want to water."
And if you're tired of getting kinks in your garden hose, Good Housekeeping gave a thumbs up to the 'No-Crank Hose Reel.' It automatically winds your hose through a clever water-powered mechanism.
The inspiration for the 'Noodlehead' sprinkler came from investor Randy Cooper. He watched his wife put benders in her hair, instead of curlers. He then made the concept work in the yard too.
Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.
USEPA Approves First Test Strip for Drinking Water Compliance
NEWS RELEASE
Published date: 07-03-2007 15:50 PM - CET
Industrial Test Systems, Inc., a water quality test strip manufacturer located in Rock Hill, SC, is pleased to announce that its SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water Check test strip is available for compliance testing as described in the Federal Register (Vol 72, No. 47, Monday, March 12, 2007, p.11204, ITS Method D99–003). SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water Check can now be treated as an equivalent to other free chlorine test kits. States will have the discretion to approve their use per authority at 40 CFR 141.74 (a) (2). The original recommendation letter (October 2003) from the EPA stated: "We (EPA) believe that the ITS test strips will provide the regulatory community with a valuable option for monitoring free chlorine levels in drinking water."
"Municipalities now have a rapid (40 seconds), accurate, and low-cost option for regulatory compliance monitoring without the worries of indicator "bleach-out" or monochloramine interferences. According to the EPA ; "The false positive and false negative rates were below 0-1%. Method precision and accuracy were characterized in multiple drinking water matrices at varying chlorine concentrations. For example, the validation studies showed that free chlorine recovery was approximately 100% and relative standard deviation (RSD) was generally below 20% for analysis of drinking water samples fortified with 0.1ppm of free chlorine or above; the chlorination level required by National Primary Drinking Water Regulations is 0.2ppm. Finally, results did not vary across different lots of ITS test strips."
As an alternative to DPD, SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water Check test strips avoid the errors inherent to currently available test methods. The patented design of the strip (US Pat. Nos. 5491094 & 6541269) makes this possible. All of the reagents needed to perform the test are embedded in a "solid state" in the reaction area of the aperture. In comparison to DPD, and according to the manufacturer "the problem with the use of reagent ‘pillows’ is that while the ‘pillows’ itself contains the precise amount of reagent needed to accurately test a defined amount of aqueous solution, the reagent from the open ‘pillows’ can come in contact with the operator's hands, can be spilled, or can have adulterants or contaminants accidentally added. This creates significant chance for error. If errors in the amount or condition of reagent occurs the test results, and the conclusions reached based on those results, are subject to error. These errors can result in unnecessary, and possibly dangerous, changes in water processing conditions predicated upon false readings. "
Sold in bottles of 50 test strips (part# 481026) and in 30 individually-wrapped packets with a color chart card (part# 481126), both with a detection range of 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, 2.6, 4.0, 6.0 mg/l, SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water check is affordable; with a retail price for either packing option of only $17.99. That's only $0.36 per test (based on a bottle of 50 test strips).
Industrial Test Systems, Inc, has been setting standards in water quality testing and producing water quality test strips and test kits since 1989. ITS offers test strips for a wide variety of ions as well as water quality meters, instrumentation, labware and much more.
ITS manufactures accurate test kits for over 30 parameters. Our latest product, the eXact EZ waterproof photometer, eliminates common testing errors since there are no vials, liquids, and tablets to handle. EZ is EPA-Compliant for Chlorine testing, features 0.01 ppm resolution, and measures 18 different parameters. For more information, visit www.sensafe.com
Mike McBride,
Marketing Manager
mmcbride@sensafe.com
Industrial Test Systems, Inc. 1875 Langston Street Rock Hill, SC 29730
Toll Free: 800-861-9712
Local: 803-329-9712
Fax: 803-329-9743
www.sensafe.com/epafreechlorine.php
Published date: 07-03-2007 15:50 PM - CET
Industrial Test Systems, Inc., a water quality test strip manufacturer located in Rock Hill, SC, is pleased to announce that its SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water Check test strip is available for compliance testing as described in the Federal Register (Vol 72, No. 47, Monday, March 12, 2007, p.11204, ITS Method D99–003). SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water Check can now be treated as an equivalent to other free chlorine test kits. States will have the discretion to approve their use per authority at 40 CFR 141.74 (a) (2). The original recommendation letter (October 2003) from the EPA stated: "We (EPA) believe that the ITS test strips will provide the regulatory community with a valuable option for monitoring free chlorine levels in drinking water."
"Municipalities now have a rapid (40 seconds), accurate, and low-cost option for regulatory compliance monitoring without the worries of indicator "bleach-out" or monochloramine interferences. According to the EPA ; "The false positive and false negative rates were below 0-1%. Method precision and accuracy were characterized in multiple drinking water matrices at varying chlorine concentrations. For example, the validation studies showed that free chlorine recovery was approximately 100% and relative standard deviation (RSD) was generally below 20% for analysis of drinking water samples fortified with 0.1ppm of free chlorine or above; the chlorination level required by National Primary Drinking Water Regulations is 0.2ppm. Finally, results did not vary across different lots of ITS test strips."
As an alternative to DPD, SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water Check test strips avoid the errors inherent to currently available test methods. The patented design of the strip (US Pat. Nos. 5491094 & 6541269) makes this possible. All of the reagents needed to perform the test are embedded in a "solid state" in the reaction area of the aperture. In comparison to DPD, and according to the manufacturer "the problem with the use of reagent ‘pillows’ is that while the ‘pillows’ itself contains the precise amount of reagent needed to accurately test a defined amount of aqueous solution, the reagent from the open ‘pillows’ can come in contact with the operator's hands, can be spilled, or can have adulterants or contaminants accidentally added. This creates significant chance for error. If errors in the amount or condition of reagent occurs the test results, and the conclusions reached based on those results, are subject to error. These errors can result in unnecessary, and possibly dangerous, changes in water processing conditions predicated upon false readings. "
Sold in bottles of 50 test strips (part# 481026) and in 30 individually-wrapped packets with a color chart card (part# 481126), both with a detection range of 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, 2.6, 4.0, 6.0 mg/l, SenSafe™ Free Chlorine Water check is affordable; with a retail price for either packing option of only $17.99. That's only $0.36 per test (based on a bottle of 50 test strips).
Industrial Test Systems, Inc, has been setting standards in water quality testing and producing water quality test strips and test kits since 1989. ITS offers test strips for a wide variety of ions as well as water quality meters, instrumentation, labware and much more.
ITS manufactures accurate test kits for over 30 parameters. Our latest product, the eXact EZ waterproof photometer, eliminates common testing errors since there are no vials, liquids, and tablets to handle. EZ is EPA-Compliant for Chlorine testing, features 0.01 ppm resolution, and measures 18 different parameters. For more information, visit www.sensafe.com
Mike McBride,
Marketing Manager
mmcbride@sensafe.com
Industrial Test Systems, Inc. 1875 Langston Street Rock Hill, SC 29730
Toll Free: 800-861-9712
Local: 803-329-9712
Fax: 803-329-9743
www.sensafe.com/epafreechlorine.php
Friday, June 22, 2007
Headhunter receives new Patent for Method of Wastewater Treatment
www.megayachtnews.com
Press Release:
Jun 21, 2007
Fort Lauderdale Florida USA, Thursday, June 14, 2007:
After nearly two years under review, on February 6, 2007, the United States Patent and Trademark office recognized the efforts of designers and engineers at Headhunter Inc of Fort Lauderdale Fl. with patent on a new method for treating wastewater. Among the many unique features of this new method is a patent on using cross-flow filtration for separation of solids in the process.
TIDALWAVE HMX® compact sewage treatment systems are U.S. Coast Guard certified Type II Marine Sanitation Devices that are also IMO Approved for worldwide compliance with Annex IV Regulation 3(1)(a)(i) of Marpol73/78, which provides regulations for the prevention of pollution by sewage from ships. These units are accepted in accordance with Resolution MEPC.2(VI) which outlines the performance standards required. Standard models are available to treat up to 50,000 US Gallons per day (189 cubic meters per day). These systems provide PLC controlled, state of the art processing of onboard sewage. Designed for quick starts and stops with the push of a button, the TIDALWAVE HMX system uses chemical oxidation, hydro-maceration and patented crossflow separation techniques to thoroughly destroy influent biomass. The optional Electrocatalytic system generates sodium hypochlorite onboard from seawater or brine, thus eliminating consumables during operation. The four-stage treatment system provides trouble free treatment of black and gray water with a sterile effluent for disposal. The PLC controller allows the treatment technique to be customized after installation for varying hydraulic and organic loading conditions, or to meet varying performance standards in different areas. These systems are provided in marine grade aluminum or steel construction with a durable, flexible ceramic, epoxy coating for superior corrosion protection.
To date nearly 100 HMX systems have been installed on yachts, drilling ships like Global Sante Fe’s Arctic IV, and a few very large fixed offshore structures for the production of natural gas in Brazil. Captain John Beadon of the M/Y Montrevel has had an TW-HMX 512 installed on a charter yacht since early 2004. A recent email to Headhunter is an unexpected testament to the reliability of the system, Captain Beadon wrote “Dear Mark,……As we have done about 11,000 hours during the last 3 years, is there anything on the unit that you suggest replacing other than the spares that you will be pricing? We are out of the water in Genoa, launching end Feb. Regards, John” The systems were conceived specifically for the marine industry where small spaces, light weight, and reliability above all else is the design criteria.
Headhunter Vice President of Sales mark Mellinger reports, “Everyone in the marine industry is familiar with the reverse osmosis process for creating fresh water from seawater, now Headhunter has mastered the application of this technique as applied to the wastewater treatment process. Further to this we have created a process, a recipe, that can be varied to meet the new IMO standards once they are ratified. We are very excited.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Triton · 757 SE 17th Street #1119 · Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · www.the-triton.com
or email editorial@the-triton.com
Copyright© 2007 The Triton. All rights reserved.
Press Release:
Jun 21, 2007
Fort Lauderdale Florida USA, Thursday, June 14, 2007:
After nearly two years under review, on February 6, 2007, the United States Patent and Trademark office recognized the efforts of designers and engineers at Headhunter Inc of Fort Lauderdale Fl. with patent on a new method for treating wastewater. Among the many unique features of this new method is a patent on using cross-flow filtration for separation of solids in the process.
TIDALWAVE HMX® compact sewage treatment systems are U.S. Coast Guard certified Type II Marine Sanitation Devices that are also IMO Approved for worldwide compliance with Annex IV Regulation 3(1)(a)(i) of Marpol73/78, which provides regulations for the prevention of pollution by sewage from ships. These units are accepted in accordance with Resolution MEPC.2(VI) which outlines the performance standards required. Standard models are available to treat up to 50,000 US Gallons per day (189 cubic meters per day). These systems provide PLC controlled, state of the art processing of onboard sewage. Designed for quick starts and stops with the push of a button, the TIDALWAVE HMX system uses chemical oxidation, hydro-maceration and patented crossflow separation techniques to thoroughly destroy influent biomass. The optional Electrocatalytic system generates sodium hypochlorite onboard from seawater or brine, thus eliminating consumables during operation. The four-stage treatment system provides trouble free treatment of black and gray water with a sterile effluent for disposal. The PLC controller allows the treatment technique to be customized after installation for varying hydraulic and organic loading conditions, or to meet varying performance standards in different areas. These systems are provided in marine grade aluminum or steel construction with a durable, flexible ceramic, epoxy coating for superior corrosion protection.
To date nearly 100 HMX systems have been installed on yachts, drilling ships like Global Sante Fe’s Arctic IV, and a few very large fixed offshore structures for the production of natural gas in Brazil. Captain John Beadon of the M/Y Montrevel has had an TW-HMX 512 installed on a charter yacht since early 2004. A recent email to Headhunter is an unexpected testament to the reliability of the system, Captain Beadon wrote “Dear Mark,……As we have done about 11,000 hours during the last 3 years, is there anything on the unit that you suggest replacing other than the spares that you will be pricing? We are out of the water in Genoa, launching end Feb. Regards, John” The systems were conceived specifically for the marine industry where small spaces, light weight, and reliability above all else is the design criteria.
Headhunter Vice President of Sales mark Mellinger reports, “Everyone in the marine industry is familiar with the reverse osmosis process for creating fresh water from seawater, now Headhunter has mastered the application of this technique as applied to the wastewater treatment process. Further to this we have created a process, a recipe, that can be varied to meet the new IMO standards once they are ratified. We are very excited.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Triton · 757 SE 17th Street #1119 · Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 · www.the-triton.com
or email editorial@the-triton.com
Copyright© 2007 The Triton. All rights reserved.
Drexel Researcher Develops Sensor to Test for E. coli in 10 Minutes
The latest outbreak of E. coli cases — now in 12 Western states and involving 6 million pounds of fresh and frozen meat — shows a need for better detection in food processing exists.
Dr. Raj Mutharasan, a professor of chemical engineering at Drexel University, has developed over the past five years sensor technology that can test for E. coli bacteria in just 10 minutes. He is working with a company that has licensed Drexel’s technology to commercialize the device and expects it to be in the hands of food-safety experts soon.
The sensor could also have wide applications in medical diagnostic testing (prostate cancer) and monitoring for biothreat agents (anthrax). In medical testing, the sensor can be used to analyze the four most widely tested fluids: blood, urine, sputum and spinal fluid.
The standard detection process of E. coli bacteria in food processing requires about 24 hours and involves a trip to a laboratory. Mutharasan’s sensor can be contained in a handheld device that is accurate and easy to use.
No direct test for minute amounts of proteins exists on the market. A study published in the April 1, 2007, issue of Analytical Chemistry using Mutharasan’s sensor detected E. coli in ground beef at some of the lowest concentrations ever reported.
Unlike salmonella, for example, no Food and Drug Admistration requirement to test food for E. coli exists. Requirements are in place, however, to ensure proper food-manufacturing practices are met to help avoid contamination, says Dr. Stanley Segall, Drexel professor emeritus of food science and nutrition.
E. coli outbreaks have increased in recent years because reporting systems have been more efficient and effective and food production has become more centralized, with distribution spanning the country in rapid time frames, Segall says.
The near-prototype sensor Mutharasan has developed contains a sensitivity of four cells per milliliter of solution. The sensor uses E. coli antibodies to detect the bacteria in a way similar to how our bodies work. Those antibodies are affixed to a narrow sliver of glass. A ceramic layer, attached to the other end of the glass, generates voltage in response to applied mechanical stress.
The sensor affixed with antibodies against E. coli can detect as low as four cells per milliliter of solution. A voltage is applied to a ceramic layer, causing it to expand and contract, vibrating the glass sliver. The sensor detects changes in the glass sliver’s resonate frequency (the point where vibration is the greatest) and determines the presence and concentration of E. coli bacteria.
Because the same principles of resonate frequency apply, the sensor can test liquid and solid samples. The sensor can be equipped with a range of antibodies to detect many pathogens or it can be homozygous with a single antibody, enabling the sensor to detect even the smallest amounts of the harmful bacteria.
Source: Drexel University
Dr. Raj Mutharasan, a professor of chemical engineering at Drexel University, has developed over the past five years sensor technology that can test for E. coli bacteria in just 10 minutes. He is working with a company that has licensed Drexel’s technology to commercialize the device and expects it to be in the hands of food-safety experts soon.
The sensor could also have wide applications in medical diagnostic testing (prostate cancer) and monitoring for biothreat agents (anthrax). In medical testing, the sensor can be used to analyze the four most widely tested fluids: blood, urine, sputum and spinal fluid.
The standard detection process of E. coli bacteria in food processing requires about 24 hours and involves a trip to a laboratory. Mutharasan’s sensor can be contained in a handheld device that is accurate and easy to use.
No direct test for minute amounts of proteins exists on the market. A study published in the April 1, 2007, issue of Analytical Chemistry using Mutharasan’s sensor detected E. coli in ground beef at some of the lowest concentrations ever reported.
Unlike salmonella, for example, no Food and Drug Admistration requirement to test food for E. coli exists. Requirements are in place, however, to ensure proper food-manufacturing practices are met to help avoid contamination, says Dr. Stanley Segall, Drexel professor emeritus of food science and nutrition.
E. coli outbreaks have increased in recent years because reporting systems have been more efficient and effective and food production has become more centralized, with distribution spanning the country in rapid time frames, Segall says.
The near-prototype sensor Mutharasan has developed contains a sensitivity of four cells per milliliter of solution. The sensor uses E. coli antibodies to detect the bacteria in a way similar to how our bodies work. Those antibodies are affixed to a narrow sliver of glass. A ceramic layer, attached to the other end of the glass, generates voltage in response to applied mechanical stress.
The sensor affixed with antibodies against E. coli can detect as low as four cells per milliliter of solution. A voltage is applied to a ceramic layer, causing it to expand and contract, vibrating the glass sliver. The sensor detects changes in the glass sliver’s resonate frequency (the point where vibration is the greatest) and determines the presence and concentration of E. coli bacteria.
Because the same principles of resonate frequency apply, the sensor can test liquid and solid samples. The sensor can be equipped with a range of antibodies to detect many pathogens or it can be homozygous with a single antibody, enabling the sensor to detect even the smallest amounts of the harmful bacteria.
Source: Drexel University
Friday, June 15, 2007
USA: Milliken launches new antimicrobial-charged fabric technology
LAS VEGAS: The one of largest privately-held textile and chemical manufacturers in the world, Milliken® & Company has announced a new antimicrobial-charged fabric technology called BioSmart™ that harnesses the sanitising power of EPA-registered chlorine bleach and helps to reduce the spread of infection-causing bacteria and viruses, including emerging antibiotic-resistant microbes, said Travis Greer, senior technologist for Milliken’s Apparel and Specialty Fabrics division in a release.
The product made with BioSmart are key to effective infection prevention strategies and programs in the workplace, in community settings and at home and extends the capabilities of EPA-registered chlorine base sanitisers – proven hygienic agents that do not promote resistant microbes, to maintain an effective antimicrobial barrier against contamination.
The technology can be applied to synthetics, cotton and poly/cotton fabrics and are ideal for industries where bacterial contamination is a concern, including food processing and services, healthcare, public safety, hospitality, sports apparel, activewear and military.
BioSmart fabrics are non-irritating to the skin and have passed the ISO skin irritation and skin sensitivity tests an it is both durable and effective for the life of most garments as the fabric technology literally recharges after every washing, thus providing a longer shelf life and optimising value for manufacturers, laundries and consumers alike.
In addition, BioSmart fabrics are odorless, dry quickly and wick moisture and is currently available in butcher coats and other garments for the food safety and processing industries through G&K Services.
BioSmart is a patent-pending textile technology that binds chlorine molecules to the surface of fabrics.
Founded in 1865, Milliken & Company is a privately held textile and chemical company that employs approximately 10,000 associates worldwide and operates nearly 50 manufacturing facilities in the US and eight countries.
The product made with BioSmart are key to effective infection prevention strategies and programs in the workplace, in community settings and at home and extends the capabilities of EPA-registered chlorine base sanitisers – proven hygienic agents that do not promote resistant microbes, to maintain an effective antimicrobial barrier against contamination.
The technology can be applied to synthetics, cotton and poly/cotton fabrics and are ideal for industries where bacterial contamination is a concern, including food processing and services, healthcare, public safety, hospitality, sports apparel, activewear and military.
BioSmart fabrics are non-irritating to the skin and have passed the ISO skin irritation and skin sensitivity tests an it is both durable and effective for the life of most garments as the fabric technology literally recharges after every washing, thus providing a longer shelf life and optimising value for manufacturers, laundries and consumers alike.
In addition, BioSmart fabrics are odorless, dry quickly and wick moisture and is currently available in butcher coats and other garments for the food safety and processing industries through G&K Services.
BioSmart is a patent-pending textile technology that binds chlorine molecules to the surface of fabrics.
Founded in 1865, Milliken & Company is a privately held textile and chemical company that employs approximately 10,000 associates worldwide and operates nearly 50 manufacturing facilities in the US and eight countries.
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