Foldscope Microscope Innovation

http://www.microbeworld.org/component/jlibrary/?view=article&id=11975

Stanford University Graduate students under the direction of Manu Prakash helped develop a foldable microscope for use in disease diagnostic work in third world countries.  The material cost for the microscope is 50 cents US. 

Update: I have provided some images taken with the foldscope microscope attached to a cellphone camera.

Different microscopes can be designed for different disease identification.  The scopes work using a standard microscope slide.   In addition to third world applications this could also be used for field identification of fungal organisms during mold investigations.  I would like to determine if the optic quality is good enough to do quick read of an Air-o-Cell cassette slide.

The microscope folds together like origami.



http://www.pddnet.com/videos/2014/03/50-cent-microscope-folds-origami

They are field testing 10,000 of theses microscopes around the world. You can sign up here to be part of the foldscope field test. 

This pdf document on the foldscope microscope provides the technical information.

Manu Prakash Ted talk - Foldscope Applications - 9 minutes



Pondering a solar power installation in Minnesota.

2.0 Megawatt Solar Array west of Slayton, MN

I am considering installing a solar panel in my backyard.  It won't be as large as the 7.5 football field array in Slayton, MN.  This is a link to the Fickr slide show of the Solar array in Slayton, MN

Doing the calculations a square foot of  standard efficiency solar PV yields between 10 and 13 Watts/hr in the proper location

The cost for installation in the US is roughly $5 per watt.  I'm looking at about a 1kW installation with an upfront cost of about $5k.  Minnesota has some tax credits available. So the final out of pocket cost would be less.

Feel free to relay your experience with a PV solar installation in the comment section below.  I'd be interested in your experiences.

MN Solar Resources

https://mn.gov/commerce/energy/consumers/Solar-Systems/

http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/get-answers/03/11/2008/solar-small-wind-installers-minnesota

http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/sites/default/files/CERTs_Solar_SimpleSteps_1.pdf

http://mn.gov/commerce/energy/images/Solar-System-FAQ.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_Minnesota

http://ips-solar.com/

Biological Control of Zebra Mussels

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html

MN Dept. of Agriculture has released guidelines for using Psuedomonas fluorescens strain CL145A to control zebra and quagga mussels as part of a one year trial permit.

The irradiated bacterial strain under the product name Zequanox appears to have no effect on native mussels and fish populations in concentrations at 100 ppm at the application point and 1ppm downstream.

Zebra Mussels background information - 5 minutes

EPA - Design for environment Product labeling chemical list DfE - Webinar

EPA has been updating its safer chemical ingredient list for manufactures attempting to  reduce the toxicity and  environmental impact of the chemicals used in products.   A key to the symbols for each chemical is found at the bottom of the list.

Clive Davies from the EPA will be presenting a webinar on the DfE program on March 18, 2014 1 to 2 PM CDT. 

Roland Cliff - 22 min.  Chemical Engineering Ecology

 

3D printer ventilation and hazard assessment

The U of MN College of Design has a DigiFabLab 3D printing lab that opened on October 14, 2011.

http://www1.umn.edu/news/prod/groups/ur/@pub/@ur/@news/documents/multimedia/ur_multimedia_359504.jpg

Consumer Grade 3-D printers produce ultrafine nano particles.  According to a July 25, 2013 article by Nicole Bogart, Global News the hazards posed by the ultrafine particles are similar to those posed by cooking, scented candles and possibly cigarette smoke.

Michael Molitch-Hou 3D Printing industry July 29, 2013 reports on a French study that notes an increase in the number of ultrafine particles during the operation of multiple 3D printers in one room.  The particle generation is similar to that noted during cooking.  The toxicity of the particles is not known.  The authors recommend local exhaust ventilation.  A chart of the ultrafine particle production is listed below.

http://cdn.3dprintingindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/chart-450.jpg (click to enlarge)

Sentry Air Systems provides a good background into the toxicity of 3-D printing. (ABS or PLA)

The primary chemicals used in ABS 3-D printing are Acrylonitrile, Butadiene and Styrene.  These chemicals have relatively low exposure limits ranging from 1 to 50 ppm averaged over 8  hours and 10 ppm for a 15 minute short term exposure limit for Acrylonitrile.

For information on PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) - Wikipedia  -  The material is good for containing materials at room temperature.  It will melt if used for hot beverages. 

Nano particle production (physics.org - 2013) :  Illinois Institute of Technology researchers

PLA - lower temperature   20 billion nanoparticles per minute
ABS - higher temperature  200 billion nanoparticles per minute.

From this information it would be prudent to use local exhaust ventilation for 3D printers using ABS and HEPA filtration for PLA. 

Bioremediation of Fracking water with Dr. Larry Wackett

Dr. Larry Wackett

Dr. Larry Wackett gave a talk on bioremediation of shale Fracking water at our University of Minnesota staff retreat.  He uses bacteria encased in a filter media to breakdown a wide variety of chemicals into carbon dioxide and water.  He is looking for a partner to scale it up for on site application.

The U of MN news service also provided a feature article on Cleaning up water from Fracking 

Summary of Dr. Larry Wackett's Talk 

 

Turning wine into water with Doc Hendley

http://winetowater.org/

CNN reports on a former bartender, Doc Hendley's efforts to turn wine into water.  He takes money earned through tips and wine tasting events  and his website WinetoWater.org and uses it to buy and install filters for water in war ravaged or disaster plagued countries such as Syria and the Philippines.  He also personally travels to the areas at considerable risk to personal safety.

Wine to Water



Doc Hendley's TED Talk

Mold Remediation Course April 22 - 23, 2014- cancelled - U of M Minneapolis, MN

The U of MN School of Public Health is offering a 16 hour Mold Remediation course starting on April 22, 2014. - Cancelled

The course is a good refresher for public health specialists, hospital facilities managers, property managers, mold remediation specialists, building inspectors and indoor air quality professionals.  Students will learn how to conduct an inspection for mold in a building and  how to respond to a water event.  Hands on training includes sampling techniques for mold identification, use of  thermal imaging and moisture meters.  Individuals will also have the opportunity to suit up and construct a containment barrier.

Click on the highlighted text for more information on the mold remediation training.  Cost for the two day workshop is $400.  Class size is limited to less than 14 people.

Example of training provided at the workshop on contact agar and tease tape sampling.

Victims of Fungal Meningitis Still Struggling

NPR reporter Nancy Shute interviewed Dr. Thomas Kerkering about patients recovery from the injections of fungal contaminated steroids from the NECC.

The numbers:

751 contracted fungal meningitis
64 died.

Symptoms: strokes, back pain, headaches fevers.

Read the full article in the New England Journal of Medicine: Fungal Infections Associated with Contaminated Methylprednisolone Injections  N. Engl. J. Med. 2013; 369:1598-1609 October 24, 2013.

Meningitis Outbreak in the US Nov 2012

IRSST Publication - Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the workplace 8th Edition

IRSST Publication - Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the workplace 8th Edition is available for free download. 

In the nonregulated ROHS section I have some concerns.

Be careful when using it to interpret standards.  The level listed for isoflurane is 80 mg/cubic meter based on a Swedish study.  More recent NIOSH recommendations are 2 ppm as either a STEL or an 8 hour TWA.

The spore limit is listed at 13 spores per cubic meter and there is no reference given for this number.