title: Biofibre Production from Chicken Feather

authors: Tseng, Fan-Chen Jeanie

subjects: feather

abstract: The global poultry industry generates at least 2 million tonnes of chicken feather every year. Feathers are currently hydrolysed into meal used for animal feed and fertilizer. Feather consists of 91% keratin, 1% lipid and 8% water. Raw feather also contains preen oil, offal, faecal matter and poultry processing water. Its morphology consists of barbs extending at an angle from a central hollow rachis. Impurities coat the entire feather, and particulates are trapped by layers of barbules and hooked barbicels holding adjacent barbs together. These substructures present an extensive and tortuous hydrophobic surface. Feather fibre is a multipurpose, cost effective reinforcement for polymer composites. Its incorporation in plastic, wood, concrete and cardboard makes the product lighter, insulate from heat loss and improve sound attenuation properties. The objective of this study was to develop a process to produce clean fibre recovered from chicken feather. In the treatment process, the heterogeneous characteristics of feather had to be considered. Raw feather was suspended in 25 L water in a pulper to be decontaminated using 2 stages of 0.1485% sodium hypochlorite adjusted to pH 10.0 with 1 M sodium hydroxide and cleaned in 3 stages of 0.15% hydrogen peroxide. The pulper disc impeller agitated the suspension at 10 Hz for 30 minute at each stage. Bacteriological tests confirmed pathogens such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae were removed during treatment. Off-white clean feathers were more than 10% whiter than dull yellow raw feather. Cleaned feather was comminuted in 300 L water using a centrifugal pump at a flow rate of 30Hz on full recycle for 4 hours. Rachis and partially cut feather were removed using a 5 mm aperture filter and fibre was recovered using a 1 mm filter. Wet fibre was dried to constant mass in an air-forced oven at 70°C. Fibre yield was 27% of feather input, or 54% of theoretical yield. Surface morphology showed no damage.

text: Biofibre Production from Chicken Feather The global poultry industry generates at least 2 million tonnes of chicken feather every year. Feathers are currently hydrolysed into meal used for animal feed and fertilizer. Feather consists of 91% keratin, 1% lipid and 8% water. Raw feather also contains preen oil, offal, faecal matter and poultry processing water. Its morphology consists of barbs extending at an angle from a central hollow rachis. Impurities coat the entire feather, and particulates are trapped by layers of barbules and hooked barbicels holding adjacent barbs together. These substructures present an extensive and tortuous hydrophobic surface. Feather fibre is a multipurpose, cost effective reinforcement for polymer composites. Its incorporation in plastic, wood, concrete and cardboard makes the product lighter, insulate from heat loss and improve sound attenuation properties. The objective of this study was to develop a process to produce clean fibre recovered from chicken feather. In the treatment process, the heterogeneous characteristics of feather had to be considered. Raw feather was suspended in 25 L water in a pulper to be decontaminated using 2 stages of 0.1485% sodium hypochlorite adjusted to pH 10.0 with 1 M sodium hydroxide and cleaned in 3 stages of 0.15% hydrogen peroxide. The pulper disc impeller agitated the suspension at 10 Hz for 30 minute at each stage. Bacteriological tests confirmed pathogens such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae were removed during treatment. Off-white clean feathers were more than 10% whiter than dull yellow raw feather. Cleaned feather was comminuted in 300 L water using a centrifugal pump at a flow rate of 30Hz on full recycle for 4 hours. Rachis and partially cut feather were removed using a 5 mm aperture filter and fibre was recovered using a 1 mm filter. Wet fibre was dried to constant mass in an air-forced oven at 70°C. Fibre yield was 27% of feather input, or 54% of theoretical yield. Surface morphology showed no damage.

year: 2011

title: An uncommon call: prospect for a new dialogue with Islam?

authors: Pratt, Douglas

subjects: Islam

abstract: This paper seeks to analyse and discuss the text of a most significant Muslim letter of 2007 addressed to the Christian Church, and the evidence of its reception within the Christian community in the year since it was delivered. It will also discuss some of the theological issues and challenges raised by the letter. Has a new era for dialogue with Islam been inaugurated by this epistolary event? What might the letter portend for the immediate and longer-term future of Christian relations with Islam? What does it raise in terms of theological issues and challenges? What challenges does this document signal for the ongoing quest of theology and interfaith engagement?

text: An uncommon call: prospect for a new dialogue with Islam? This paper seeks to analyse and discuss the text of a most significant Muslim letter of 2007 addressed to the Christian Church, and the evidence of its reception within the Christian community in the year since it was delivered. It will also discuss some of the theological issues and challenges raised by the letter. Has a new era for dialogue with Islam been inaugurated by this epistolary event? What might the letter portend for the immediate and longer-term future of Christian relations with Islam? What does it raise in terms of theological issues and challenges? What challenges does this document signal for the ongoing quest of theology and interfaith engagement?

year: 2008

title: Tihei Mauri Ora: A Māori response to health disparities

authors: Waitoa, Alieta Jei

subjects: Maori

abstract: Māori bear a disproportionate burden of health problems which, in concert with other factors (e.g. poor housing, low socio-economic status and low education attainment), contribute to and maintain low health status. It is noted that there have been multiple attempts to reduce health inequities – however, such attempts have been largely unsuccessful. Barriers to success include government reticence, restrictions on Māori participation in determining health directions/solutions, current contract paradigms and a reluctance to engage in meaningful partnerships with Māori. Those barriers occur within a cultural framework which defines (and therefore prioritises) the health of an individual over the needs of the collective.

The hypothesis of this research is that Māori health disparities are best addressed via the development and delivery of Māori health models by services which are oriented to kaupapa Māori principles. Utilising a case study approach, this thesis looks at the outcomes generated when a kaupapa Māori service applies key Māori principles to health service delivery. The case study, in tandem with focus group interviews identifies the key elements necessary to developing services which are responsive to the needs of Māori.

This study identified the importance of promoting change (and ultimately improve Māori health status) that encompasses the formation of a framework which considers collective benefit over individualism, encompasses Māori values, acknowledges and accepts Māoricentric clinical interventions. In addition, the thesis asserts that Māori health status will improve once Māori are active participants rather than recipients of health services.

text: Tihei Mauri Ora: A Māori response to health disparities Māori bear a disproportionate burden of health problems which, in concert with other factors (e.g. poor housing, low socio-economic status and low education attainment), contribute to and maintain low health status. It is noted that there have been multiple attempts to reduce health inequities – however, such attempts have been largely unsuccessful. Barriers to success include government reticence, restrictions on Māori participation in determining health directions/solutions, current contract paradigms and a reluctance to engage in meaningful partnerships with Māori. Those barriers occur within a cultural framework which defines (and therefore prioritises) the health of an individual over the needs of the collective.

The hypothesis of this research is that Māori health disparities are best addressed via the development and delivery of Māori health models by services which are oriented to kaupapa Māori principles. Utilising a case study approach, this thesis looks at the outcomes generated when a kaupapa Māori service applies key Māori principles to health service delivery. The case study, in tandem with focus group interviews identifies the key elements necessary to developing services which are responsive to the needs of Māori.

This study identified the importance of promoting change (and ultimately improve Māori health status) that encompasses the formation of a framework which considers collective benefit over individualism, encompasses Māori values, acknowledges and accepts Māoricentric clinical interventions. In addition, the thesis asserts that Māori health status will improve once Māori are active participants rather than recipients of health services.

year: 2014