Observer-Reporter, By Cara Host

RJLG Responds to NIOSH Asbestos Roadmap – back to top
By Brian Strohmeier, Corporate Laboratory Operations Manager

RJLG’s Dr. Richard Lee and Dr. Brian Strohmeier made a joint presentation at a public meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 4, 2007, concerning the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Draft Document titled: “Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific Research.” Asbestos has been a highly visible issue in public health for over three decades and there is abundant information regarding asbestos in the scientific literature.

The purpose of the public meeting was for NIOSH to obtain comments and guidance from scientists and representatives from government agencies, industry, labor, and other stakeholders regarding the NIOSH Roadmap, which proposes needed research on asbestos concerning asbestos definitions, analytical issues, health effects, and risk assessment. The emphasis of the research proposed is on providing answers to current scientific questions, reducing scientific uncertainties, and providing a sound scientific foundation for future worker protection policy development. It is expected that the products of this research will influence how NIOSH views occupational exposure to various minerals when there is a risk of inhalation to fiber-shaped particles. 

Dr. Lee’s presentation summarized various controversies that have existed for more than 40 years regarding asbestos risk assessment studies and analytical methodologies; and, he made suggestions for improvements in these areas. Dr. Strohmeier presented recent research conducted at RJLG on the use of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) as a complementary tool to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for enhanced morphological characterization of particles in mixed mineral dusts and for distinguishing between asbestos fibers and non-regulated amphibole mineral cleavage fragments. One of the conclusions of the presentation was that improved analytical methodologies for asbestos characterization and measurement need to be supplemented with SEM techniques such as those developed by RJLG. A booklet comparing TEM images and three-dimensional FESEM stereo images of various asbestos and non-asbestos particles was distributed at the meeting. 

Limitations of Current Analytical Protocols as they relate to Public Policy: 
The Libby, Montana Puzzle
Authors: Richard J. Lee PhD., Glynnis Anne Bowman CHMM, Brian R. Strohmeier PhD. and Drew Van Orden P.E.

On June 6, 2007, R Lee Group’s (RJLG) Glynnis Bowman presented “Limitations of Current Analytical Protocols as they relate to Public Policy- The Libby, Montana Puzzle” at the annual American Industrial Hygiene Association Conference and Expo (AIHce) in Philadelphia, PA.  The presentation was a summary of RJLG’s study on soil and air samples collected in the community of Libby, MT.

For more information on the presentation, please click here.

RJLG’s Education Group Awarded NSF Phase 1 SBIR Grant – back to top
By Kristy Anderson, Manager of Corporate Outreach Services

RJ Lee Group (RJLG) has been awarded another Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to demonstrate the feasibility of developing an innovative virtual analysis environment to educate, train and test post-secondary students and professionals in the use of microscopic analysis of materials in the areas of geology, forensic trace evidence, asbestos and concrete petrography.  The key innovative foundation of the program will be the development of an advanced polarized light microscope (PLM) simulator. 

For the complete story, please click here.

RJLG Acquires Licensing Agreement to Manufacture and Distribute the UNC Passive Aerosol Sampler
By, Kristy Anderson, Corporate Outreach Manager

RJ Lee Group (RJLG) has recently been granted the exclusive license to manufacture and market the University of North Carolina (UNC) Passive Aerosol Sampler. This innovative and cost effective device can be used to collect particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in indoor and ambient air environments. The sampler is about the size and weight of a dime and consists of a standard scanning electron microscope (SEM) stub which is enclosed by a 150µm mesh cap. Material collected by the sampler is analyzed using computer controlled SEM (CCSEM) methods to determine particulate concentrations.

For the complete story, please click here.

In the Laboratory – back to top

Criminal Forensics
A cemetery containing burials from the last days of the Inca Empire tells a very different story of the Spanish Conquest than that told by the conquistadors. See RJ Lee Group’s expert analysis of one of those burials whose well-preserved skeleton reveals horrific injuries.

Find more links to the story by clicking here.

Medical Devices
By Dr. Matt Perricone, Senior Scientist

Task Force Assembled for Medical Device Group
RJ Lee Group’s (RJLG) Director of Biomedical Services, Steve Schlaegle, assembled a Medical Device Task Team (MDTT) composed of staff dedicated to developing the Company’s customer base within the Medical Device community. In particular, the Team is focused on capitalizing on the recent successes of RJLG in the medical implant field and the high customer satisfaction associated with those accomplishments. The Team is headed by Steve Schlaegle (Business Development) and is composed of Tricia Egry (Corporate Marketing), Jerome Shafer (Corporate Sales), Dr. Matt Perricone (Technical Consulting Services), and Tricia Wood (FDA Interactions). The MDTT is confident in RJLG’s ability to impact the materials analysis segment of the medical devices market by bringing the significant expertise of its technical staff to bear on the materials challenges facing the medical community and is committed to creating opportunities for the Company to demonstrate its technical proficiency and customer service.

Industry Specific Experience
RJ Lee Group (RJLG) has consistently demonstrated the ability to provide the highest quality particulate analysis of wear debris from tested spinal implant assemblies, and has directly contributed to several successful applications for FDA approval. The ability to analyze such a high number of particles in such a short amount of time through the use of computer controlled SEM (CCSEM) techniques reduces assumptions about how representative a given sample is, and provides the customer with a much higher level of confidence in the data than the competition.Furthermore, RJLG has forged a collaborative relationship with Lisa Ferrara of OrthoKinetic Technologies, LLC, one of the leading biomechanical engineers in the field of spinal implants specializing in FDA submittals, which will help to provide our clients the highest level of support when seeking FDA approval.

Society News
Dr. Matt Perricone was recently invited by the ASM (American Society of Metals) president, Laurence Wagner, to represent RJ Lee Group (RJLG) at the ASM International Strategic Planning Meeting, held in conjunction with ASM’s 18th AeroMat Conference & Exposition in Baltimore, MD. The meeting attendees also included ASM Officers, the ASM Board of Trustees, and other ASM stakeholders. This meeting provided the unique opportunity to directly contribute to defining the mission and direction of one of the leading professional societies in materials science & engineering and helped to raise the profile of RJLG among the leaders of the materials community.

Satellite Sites – back to top

New York, NY
By Dr. Farrell Melnick, Manager of New York Operations

The New York office is providing Health Care services for major health system networks. This includes performing audits of the Pharmacy Departments. Those audits focus on the current status of compliance with USP 797, the standard for sterile compounding, as well as what recommendations would have to be implemented to bring the facilities into compliance. In addition, RJ Lee Group also offers monthly air and surface testing with each of the facilities. Contact the Project Director, Farrell Melnick for more information.

Waynesburg, PA
By Matt Sedlak, Program Manager

Air Force EHM+DRC: Program Update
New in Software Development, RJ Lee Group (RJLG) has gone “live” with the Engine Health Management + Data Repository Center (EHM+DRC) system at EverGreene Technology Park in Waynesburg, PA, in what the US Air Force refers to as a Field Service Evaluation (FSE). The FSE is considered a system pilot deployed on a smaller scale to ensure it’s proven and successful before a larger scale roll-out. Specific applications deployed include the “Data Push Software” or DPS used to transfer engine source files to the EHM+DRC for storage in the DRC located at EverGreene Technolgy Park. The FSE is currently deployed at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, and Buckley AFB, Colorado. The Air Force will determine to deploy the system at a larger scale to 33 Air Force Bases that contain the F110 engines (GE engine used on the F-16 fighter aircraft) posting final results and outcomes from the FSE.

RJLG also went “live” with another EHM+DRC application called the “Propulsion Data Exchange Utility” (PDEU) and used to search and download engine source files stored in the EHM+DRC.  The Air Force will also determine a larger scale deployment posting final results and outcomes from this FSE.

Moving Forward
RJ Lee Group and the US Air Force are currently extending the existing EHM+DRC system to additional engines such as the F108 and F100, and ultimately expanding to a potential of 13 engines. Additional initiatives on the horizon within the EHM+DRC program include reporting, data mining, and analytical capabilities. 

The EHM+DRC team has recently undertaken a new DoD joint initiative developing a prototype demonstration called EMLI (Engine Management Logistics Infrastructure).  EMLI is a very high profile DARPA project (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) within the Air Force, providing engine prognostics such as revealing how much life of an engine part has been consumed and how much life remains.  The goal is to optimize maintenance schedules with increased engine “time on wing” (engine remaining on aircraft longer before overhaul is needed) and save billions of dollars over the long haul supporting the Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) program within DoD.

Contract Wins
Two multi-million dollar contracts were recently awarded to RJ Lee Group including: 1) Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) application development within the EHM+DRC system as well as F101 (GE engine used on the B-1 bomber aircraft) and TF34 (GE engine used on the A-10 close support aircraft) engine inclusion into the EHM+DRC, and 2) National Security System (NSS), Engine Trending & Diagnostics (ET&D) and Engine Health Management Plus (EHM+) program contracts. 

Projects – back to top

Failure Analysis – Medical Impact Device
The number of medical devices being implanted is on the rise. Unfortunately, from time to time the device fails after implant resulting in claims by individuals, suppliers and manufacturers. RJLG has investigated the cause of failure for a number of different types of medical devices. The investigations have included evaluation of the raw material used in the component parts, surface etch patterns and coatings, and whether they meet manufacturer specifications.  RJLG experts employ a range of analytical tools including optical and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and mechanical testing. Microscopic images collected and stored during the analysis document component conditions and serve as demonstrative evidence at arbitration hearings and trial.

For more information on projects, please click here.