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The Potential for Bio-Sustainable Organobromine-Containing Flame Retardant Formulations for Textile Applications - A Review
No full textThis review considers the challenge of developing sustainable organobromine flame retardants (BrFRs) and alternative synergists to the predominantly used antimony III oxide. Current BrFR effciencies are reviewed for textile coatings and back-coatings with a focus on furnishing and similar fabrics covering underlying flammable fillings, such as flexible polyurethane foam.The diffculty of replacing them with non-halogen-containing systems is also reviewed with major disadvantages including their extreme specificity with regard to a given textile type and poor durability.The possibility of replacing currently used BrFRs for textiles structures that mimic naturally occurring organobromine-containing species is discussed, noting that of the nearly 2000 such species identified in both marine and terrestrial environments, a significant number are functionalised polybrominated diphenyl ethers, which form part of a series of little understood biosynthetic biodegradation cycles.The continued use of antimony III oxide as synergist and possible replacement by alternatives, such as the commercially available zinc stannates and the recently identified zinc tungstate, are discussed. Both are effective as synergists and smoke suppressants, but unlike Sb203, they have effciencies dependent on BrFR chemistry and polymer matrix or textile structure. Furthermore, their effectiveness in textile coatings has yet to be more fully assessed.In conclusion, it is proposed that the future of sustainable BrFRs should be based on naturally occurring polybrominated structures developed in conjunction with non-toxic, smoke-suppressing synergists such as the zinc stannates or zinc tungstate, which have been carefully tailored for given polymeric and textile substrates
Bridging the skills gap: apprentice assistant practitioners having an impact in mental healthcare services. Part 2. The AAP experience
No full textIt is important to gain understanding in how Apprentice Assistant Practitioners (AAP) have an impact in mental health care services. This article is the second of a series of four looking at AAP’s in mental health care services focusing on the experiences of a group of AAP’s currently working towards their qualified AAP role. The challenge mental health care services face and their subsequent need for increasing the workforce will be introduced in terms of the developments in the AAP’s role.A small group of AAP’s approaching completion of the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (FdA H & SC) were voluntarily recruited to take part in filling out a questionnaire followed by a focus group. All participants currently work in mental health care services and consented to take part. They were asked to outline in the questionnaire how long they had worked in the service alongside the specific area they specialise in. This was followed by a focus group, which explored their experiences of engaging in the AAP programme and how this currently affects their role and that of the wider team. They were asked to give their opinion on the role development from commencement of the programme up to the final stages of the apprenticeship
Remarkable lives: Chantelle Garth in conversation with Jerome Carson.
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Chantelle Garth.Using a case study approach, Chantelle provides a short account of her background and is then interviewed by Jerome.Chantelle gives an account of her very troubled childhood and adolescence. Her adult life has been no easier. Life is a continuous challenge.It is hard to imagine a tougher life than Chantelle’s, yet her ambition has carried her through. A single account, yet one of the most powerful accounts in this series. There are few better accounts of resilience in the face of at times what seem like insurmountable obstacles. The belief that can be instilled by a single professional can have a profound effect in encouraging someone facing adversity. There are numerous accounts of individuals facing difficulties in life, then there is Chantelle’s. This is in a category of its own
Poetic connections: sympathy and community in Whitman’s Song of Myself
No full textIf to be sympathetic to others is a prerequisite for harmonious community, how does this function in the absence of identities in common? In his figurations of sympathy as auto-poetic affectivity, Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself offers a way; exceeding the humanist register on which much thinking about community relies
Technical and Operational Barriers that Affect the Successful Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Implementation: Case Studies of Abu Dhabi Power Industry
No full textMaintenance plays a significant role in asset management of power organisations. Utilisation of right maintenance strategy contributes to high availability and reliability of power plants. Inexperience in implementing modern maintenance programmes and lack of utilising effective maintenance strategies results in bad maintenance practices, low productivity, and a negative impact on financial performance. Thus, effective maintenance strategies become a complex task that deals with multifaceted nature of actions like irregular and uncertain nature. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is an ideal approach to support the development and implementation of operation performance improvement. It systematically aims to achieve zero breakdowns, zero defects and zero accidents in order to have high overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Implementation of TPM programme needs strategic planning. However, there has been almost no research applied in this area within Middle-East power plants. In the power sector of Abu Dhabi, assets management is extremely significant, and it thus requires efficient and effective support of equipment management. The aim of this paper is to investigate technical barriers to successful TPM implementation in the Abu Dhabi power industry. The study has been conducted in the context of a leading power company in the UAE. Questionnaires were distributed with 224 employees, including engineers, maintenance planners, technicians, and operators using a postal questionnaire. The findings of this research identified six key barriers, thus: maintenance policy and methods; maintenance resources, tools and spare parts; computerized maintenance management system (CMMS); housekeeping; participation of autonomous maintenance and maintenance audits. With respect to the understanding of these barriers and obstacles in TPM implementation, the findings can contribute towards improved equipment operations and maintenance in power organisations
APs in the nursing home: caring for those at the end of life.
No full textPalliative and end-of-life care must be a multidisciplinary approach and can be delivered in a range of settings. As the population ages, many older people who need palliative and end-of-life care may receive this care in a nursing home. The place a person spends their last few days varies, with most people wishing to die at home, whether that be living and dying in their own home or in a nursing or residential home (Age UK, 2010; Munday et al, 2007).The final article in this series of 4, with the 3 former looking at hospice care, hospice at home and day care (Brown and Smith, 2012a, b, c), will explore the role of the assistant practitioner (AP) in this environment. It will look at the way in which services are responsive to an ageing population and the issues of ageing, also the importance of creating a workforce that can meet this need.Furthermore, consideration will be given to the importance of good-quality care at the end of a person's life within a nursing home setting. Legal and ethical issues will also be examined. There will also be examination of the course that has been developed around end-of-life Care, and comments from a student about her experience
Novel metal complexes as potential synergists with phosphorus based flame retardants in polyamide 6.6
No full textAluminium (AlW), tin (II) (SnW) and zinc (ZnW) tungstates were previously found to increase char formation in polyamide 6.6 (PA66), but have never before been studied for their potential as synergists when present with phosphorus-containing (PFRs) flame retardants. We investigate this gap in the scientific knowledge in this publication. Tungstate-PFR interactions of PA66 composites were investigated by thermal analysis, limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL94, cone calorimetry and evolved gas analysis (TGA-FTIR). Of the three tungstates, AlW in the presence of aluminium diethylphosphinate (AlPi) or a mixture of AlPi and melamine polyphosphate (MPP), promotes the highest level of flame retardancy in terms of a balance of high LOI, V-rating and TGA residual char in air at 500oC and reduction in cone calorimetric peak heat release rate (RPHRR = 80%). This observation has been related to AlW having the highest Lewis acidic properties. While zinc tungstate displays the lowest levels of interaction with either PFR, it shows significant smoke suppressant properties. Elemental analysis of cone calorimetric chars suggests that while some loss of phosphorus occurred from SnW/AlPi/MPP-containing composites, most likely via volatile diethyl phosphinic acid formation, nearly 10% reduction also occurred in the Sn/W molar ratio indicating some volatilisation of tin. The TGA (in air)-FTIR results for carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrocarbon fuel species evolution enabled discussions of the effect that each tungstate had on the flame retardant mechanisms operating
Engineering students in transition: the academic and vocational divide
No full textThe research reported in this thesis is a comparative study between students holding academic and vocational qualifications transitioning into Aerospace Engineering from further to higher education. The study investigates both a full time and a degree apprenticeship route. The research adopted a longitudinal empirical study methodology through the collation of both qualitative and quantitative data in a college of further education in the North of England, commencing in the academic year 2015-16. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and a focus group with students provided empirical data. The research identified the key challenges faced by engineering students during and beyond their transition into higher education, taking into consideration their entry routes, whilst comparing the student experience and their overall academic achievements.The research addressed gaps in knowledge regarding the impact of entry qualifications on transition experiences and success rates. Outcomes from the research showed that there was commonality in the transition experiences in relation to entry routes, however, academic achievement was a stronger driving focus for the A-Level entrants, whilst the importance of individual maturation and peer / tutor interaction was more evident amongst the vocational entrants.The experiences and journeys traversed to arrive on a higher education engineering programme have both benefit and impact upon individuals in different ways and some clear patterns emerged across the different entry routes. It was evidenced that strengths from one route can be limitations with the other. Although the academic achievement for the A-Level entry route was higher overall, and is still deemed of higher educational stature, findings lean towards justification that the benefits of a hybrid feeder qualification into higher education, particularly in the specific research focused area of Aerospace Engineering, could prove highly fruitful, as could better support mechanisms for transitioning students generally
Growth of digital supply chains for SMEs transformation
No full textOver the past years supply chain has undergone a massive change, from operational function which reported to sales or manufacturing which then focused on ensuring the supply of production lines and delivery to customers, to an independent supply chain management team which is led by Chief Supply Chain Officer in some organisation. Industry 4.0 and their innovative technologies has created a disruption which requires the organisations to redesign their supply chain. Emergence of the industry 4.0 has paved the way for next level of supply chain- Digital Supply Chain. Global market leading manufacturers has positioned themselves with the world of supply chain 4.0 to meet the expectation of their end customers. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) plays has major role in supporting the global market leaders. But SMEs lacks the knowledge of significance of digitalising themselves with the extremely complex supply chain 4.0 which may lead them to losses and closures if they do not transform themselves with the latest innovative technologies and adopt digital supply chain (DSC). This paper aims to review the current literature's on digital supply chain to gain insight of current status of relevant literature's which focus on Digital transformation of supply chain within manufacturing SMEs