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The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture ANNUAL REPORTING FORM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Larry Wadsworth, Professor Emeritus Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science Annual Performance Period: January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 A. SUMMARY AND IMPACTS. 1. Summary. Provide an overall summary (500 words or less) of your accomplishments during the reporting period. Improvement of filtration efficiency and protection of facemasks. Further work has been done on cotton-comfortable multi-ply face mask (FM) fabrics which were developed at The University of Tennessee’s Textiles and Nonwovens Development Center (TANDEC). These FM fabrics have a repellent finished outer spunbond (SB) polypropylene (PP) layer, a middle layer of electrostatically charged (EC) melt blown (MB) PP, and a face side of a cotton-rich nonwoven. The EC MB PP layer effectively filters out aerosols and particulate containing bacteria and viruses, thereby protecting both the wearer and other personnel in the environment. In addition, a cotton-rich nonwoven layer on the body side provides the aesthetics and comfort of cotton, and also better retains antibacterial finish for neutralizing any microbes that penetrate the EC filter media. Electrostatic charging developed by Tsai and Wadsworth (U.S. Patents 5,441,550 and 5,686,050) of MB PP filter media resulted in filtration efficiency (FE) to 0.1 ìm NaCl of 80-86% and in bacterial filtration efficiency to Staphyloccus aureus bacteria (BFE) values of 98.1-99.6% compared to non-charged FM, which had only 38% FE to 0.1 ìm NaCl and an unsatisfactory BFE of 94.3%. Likewise, viral filtration efficiency (VFE) values of the charged FM were 99% or greater. FMs which were given antimicrobial (AM) treatments on the cotton side and either fluorochemical (FC) only or FC plus AM on the outer SB side showed 99.99+% kill rate of bacteria after exposure during the BFE test compared to 63% reduction when no protective finishes were applied to FM with a 30 g/m2 100% cotton hydroentangled inner layer. However another control sample with EC MB filter media and with no finish and an inner layer of cotton-surfaced nonwoven (CSN) with 13 g/m2 of 60% cotton/40% PP on 12 g/m2 SB PP had a false positive kill rate of 99.99+% as well, possibly indicating that electret charges may also kill bacteria. The testing of other non-finished FMs with and without charged MB media gave mixed results in regards to charged media’s effectiveness in killing bacteria, warranting further study. It was also shown that if the outside and inside layers of FM laminate were first given protective finishes and then laminated with non-charged MB PP media, the MB filter media in the laminates was effectively electrostatically charged without the finishes on the outer layers interfering with charging, resulting in average FEs to 0.1ìm NaCl ranging from 95.9%-98.6%. This allows much flexibility concerning processing steps in finishing, laminating and electrostatic charging of the FM laminates. More Breathable Electrostatically Charged ePTFE Film. It is known that expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) film is an excellent barrier to chemical/biological (CB) aerosols. A combination of longitudinal and transverse stretching of the PTFE membrane during manufacturing results in a lattice-like porous structure of micro-sized inter-connected fibrils and nodes. However, its moisture vapor transfer rate (MVTR) is too low to allow for sufficient moisture transport for soldiers to be comfortable in high heat-stress situations for extended periods of time. Although the mean pore size and porosity of ePTFE increases with increasing longitudinal stretching ratio, transverse stretching ratio, and heat-treating temperature, additional stretching beyond that here-to-fore found to be satisfactory may result in penetration of harmful CB aerosols through the film. A grant of $58,431 was received from the Army Natick Soldier Center, Natick, MA for the period October 1, 2005-December 31, 2006 to determine if electrostatic charging of the ePTFE membrane will preferentially attract CB agents, thereby enabling the mean more size and over-all porosity of the film to be increased by greater stretching of the ePTFE film to provide substantially higher moisture transport and consequentially more comfort with at least the same protection and possibly improved safety against aerosols. The data obtained supports this hypothesis and should lead to additional funding by the Army in this area. Development of Method for Applying Durable Safe Pesticide to Netting for Killing Mosquitoes. Larry Wadsworth has continued to collaborate on a project led by Doug Hayes, BESS, in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Hayes’s program created wash-durable malaria bed nets by applying pesticide (deltamethrin, a chemical agent that readily kills mosquitoes on contact) and a thin polymer layer to commercially available netting in which the polymer film was formed by applying monoimer, and polymerizing the latter by sunlight to entrap the deltamethrin. Similarly, Hayes and Wadsworth have entrapped deltramethrin in latex by applying a commercial latex, and curing the latter by heating to 50°C or less for 15 minutes to form a thin film. The resultant nets were notably active against mosquitoes, even after six washing cycles. The results were presented by Hayes at the AATCC International Conference in Atlanta, GA in October 2006. Based on the encouraging results, Hayes and Wadsworth will be submitting a proposal for additional funding in this area in 2007. Enhancement of Agriculture with Textile Materials. Work continued on the use of phase change materials (PCMs) in floating crop cover fabrics which release radiant heat over a relatively wide temperature range during traditional melt and freeze cycles to protect plants, increase productivity, and lengthen the growing season, while at the same time eliminating the need for frozen water to insulate vegetables and fruits. If this approach can be proven to be both productive and economical, the positive implications for agriculture are far reaching, with the technology being expanded to strawberries, vegetables, nursery crops and possibly to apples, peaches, oranges and other crops. The preliminary data from the field supports the theory that PCMs embedded in floating row cover fabric notably warms the air between the fabric and strawberry plants during overnight freeze conditions compared to fabric alone and no row cover. During 2006, the treatments were optimized to make this warming effect more significant and cost effective. 2. Impacts. List up to three significant impacts of your program. Impact statements should be one to three sentences and should be written in a way that would be meaningful to the public. 1) This technology for more protective and comfortable cotton-based surgical face masks has strong potential for allowing patients and medical workers to have full protection from pathogenic contact while providing breathable comfort; could substantially reduce disease transmission in hospitals without sacrificing comfort; and could increase the consumption of cotton in protective apparel for medical and industrial sectors, as well as provide protection to disaster victims and to people in risk of biological threats. 2) More breathable, protective apparel containing ePTFE films will enable soldiers to wear the protective clothing longer and maintain protection from CB aerosols. This technology could not only make the soldier more safe and effective, but would also have positive implications for first responders and other personnel at risk of CB aerosols and toxic industrial chemicals. 3) Development of an inexpensive method to treat and retreat bed netting for protection against mosquitoes would improve health in Third World countries and could also provide protection to soldiers, first responders and other people at risk from mosquitoes serving as vectors of natural or biologically induced diseases. 4) The use of strawberry beds to evaluate the use of latex-bound phase change materials (PCMs) in floating crop covers will hopefully provide a direct and inexpensive way to increase the growing/harvesting season by protecting plants from freezing while allowing them to have needed exposure to sunshine, water, and air. B. PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS (EXTENSION, RESEARCH AND TEACHING). As applicable, list title, names of participants (PIs, Leaders, Co-PIs, Co-leaders, Collaborators etc.), project number, sponsor, your role ( leader/co-leader/collaborator) and your percent effort on the project as stated in the project description or document. C. INSTRUCTION, TEACHING AND EXTENSION EDUCATION. Detail credit and non-credit instruction and teaching activities. 1. College credit instruction. List courses in which you were an instructor or guest lecturer during the current calendar year. Include special topics, independent study and internship courses. Provide course number and title, your involvement, semester(s), credit hours and number of students. Please append a summary of teaching evaluations (student and/or peer) if this information is available.
2. Formal continuing education (certification programs, seminar series, in-service training, field days, faculty and/or staff training, journal club, etc.). Provide descriptive title of activity, your involvement, number of participants or students involved, number and duration of each session.
3. Extension presentations and workshops. Indicate title, type, and scope of presentation; number of times presented; attendance estimates. Include evidence of effectiveness (e.g. evaluation summaries) where applicable.
4. Public addresses to lay audiences (TV/radio presentations, service groups, etc.). Indicate title, type, scope of presentation; number of times presented; attendance estimates. Include evidence of effectiveness (e.g. evaluation summaries) where applicable.
5. Presentations at professional meetings, without published abstracts. List presenter, co-authors (if any), title, date and name of meeting (list scientific oral or poster presentations having published abstracts or proceedings at D5). 6. Student mentoring. Fill in the boxes to indicate number of students in each category.
7. Student or commodity club activities (e.g. club advisor, team competitions, honor or professional societies, etc.). List the club or group; your role with the club or group; and the activities, honors or awards received by this group under your mentorship. 8. Other instructional and teaching activities. Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China – Taught Comprehensive Course on Nonwovens Technologies to class of 10 graduate students during May 23-June 30, 2006 D. PUBLICATIONS. List only publications that were published during the annual reporting period (for #8, submitted during reporting period). Format citations as typical and appropriate for outlet. If a co-author(s) is a student or was working under your direct supervision, place an asterisk after that person's name. 1. Refereed articles or refereed reviews appearing in peer-reviewed professional journals. 2. Book chapters or books. 3. Bulletins, reports, circulars, pamphlets, factsheets. 4. Popular press, trade, UTIA magazine or newsletter articles. 5. Abstracts from scientific or discipline meetings, papers from conference proceedings, etc. Hayes, D. G., and L. C. Wadsworth. 2006. "Wash-Durable Malaria Bednets through In-Situ Curing of Latex Polymer onto Nets for Entrapment of Pyrethroid, AATCC IC&E 2006, Atlanta, GA, October 31-November 2, 2006. Wadsworth, L. C. 2006. “New Nonwoven Technologies,” TANCON 2006-15thTutorial on Melt Blowing, Spunbonding, Staple Fibers and New Developments, Knoxville, TN, April 18-20, 2006. Wadsworth, L. C., and P. P. Tsai. 2006. “Enhancements of Face Masks for Protection from Microbial Threats,” TANCON 2006-15th Annual TANDEC Nonwovens Conference, Knoxville, TN, April 18-20, 2006. Wadsworth, L. C., and P.P. Tsai. 2006. “Enhancement of Face Masks with Electret Filter Media and Protective Finishes for Safety from Biological Threats,” AATCC Symposium on Innovations in Medical, Protective, and Technical Textiles,” Cary, NC, February 1-2, 2006. Wadsworth, L. C., R.M. Broughton, Jr., C.A.Eash, and P. T. Tsai. 2006. “Advanced High Temperature Melt Blown Polyphenylene Sulfide Filter Media,” INDA Filtration 2006 Conference, Philadelphia, PA, November 28-30, 2006. Wadsworth, L. C., and Y. E. Lee. 2006. “Polymer-Laid Thermoplastic Polyurethanes for Protective Apparel,” 2006 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Utilization Nonwovens Conference, San Antonio, TX, January 5-6, 2006. (invited) 6. Theses/Dissertations completed by students that you directed. Eastman, C. R., and L. C. Wadsworth. 2006. Preparation and Characterization of Melt Blown and Electrospun Polyurethane Webs, M.S. Thesis, December 2006. 7. Other publications. 8. Articles submitted during the reporting period that are in review, in press or rejected. Please do not list articles in preparation. Wadsworth, L. C., and P. P. Tsai. 2006. “Cotton-Comfortable Face Masks with Protective Finishes and Electret Filter Media for Safety from Microbial Threats,” Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, accepted for publication, November 2006. (in press) E. FUNDING. Format each entry as a citation, include as applicable: investigators (with percent effort shown on grant or contract document), title, source/agency. 1. Grant and contract proposals submitted but not awarded during this reporting period. Indicate date of submission and status (still pending, rejected). Hayes, D. G. (35%), R.R. Gerhardt (35%), L. C. Wadsworth (30%). Effective, Inexpensive, and Environmentally-Friendly Apparel for Mosquito Protection. SARE. 6/1/06. $208,762. (rejected) Wadsworth, L. C. (35%), C.E. Sams (35%), D.E. Deyton (30%). Development of Floating Row Covers Containing Phase-Change Chems for Frost Protection of Food Crops. SARE. 5/18/06. $192,425. (rejected) Jennings, L. K. (30%), L. C. Wadsworth (25%), Zhang, C. (15%), Bresee, R. R. (15%), Besnon, R. S. (15%). Development of a Novel Endovascular Device. NIH. 5/22/06. $2,500,000. (rejected) 2. Grants and contracts awarded during this reporting period. List inclusive period of support (start and end dates) and total amount of award. 3. Grants and contracts awarded in past years that continued into this reporting period. List inclusive period of support (start and end dates) and total amount of award. Wadsworth, L. C. (70%), P. P. Tsai (%). More Breathable Electrostatically Charged ePTFE Film. U. S. Army Soldier Center. 10/1/05-9/30/06. $58,431. 4. Gifts. List recipients, donor, items or amount donated and dollar equivalent received during the reporting period. 5. Grant reports submitted. List authors, title, to whom submitted, date submitted. 6. Other (e.g. sales, royalties). F. OTHER CREATIVE ACTIVITIES.
G. SERVICE. List client outreach activities (both public and private sectors) and professional service.
H. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (meetings, workshops, classes, trips, etc.). List the event or activity, sponsor, duration of event and your role. Gave paper at international technical conferences to Nonwovens Conference of beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio, TX in January 2006; gave paper at AATCC symposium in Cary, NC in February 2006; organized tutorial on nonwovens at TANCON 06 in Knoxville, TN in April 2006 and gave three presentations; gave paper at INDA Filtration Conference in Philadelphia, PA in November 2006 I. PERSONNEL SUPERVISION. List the postdoctoral fellows, research associates, research assistants, technicians, extension associates, extension assistants, graduate assistants, undergraduate students, clerical personnel or others that you supervised during the year.
J. HONORS AND AWARDS. List honors and awards received during reporting period, including the name of the organization presenting the award. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||