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French secularism (laïcité) is often perceived as an exclusively French concept. However, this was not the understanding of secularism’s progenitors. Indeed, one of them – Aristide Briand – pointed to the “many supporters” of a “complete separation of church and state” to be found in Japan. Briand, a chronicler of France’s 1905 law on separation, made the comments in reference to a document signed by Alexandra Myrial, who used the alias David-Néel. This article identifies the sources used by Myrial when writing that text. It also reflects on the contrasting aims of Myrial – who evoked the politico-religious situation in Japan to promote secularism in France – with the intention of her Japanese source, who in contrast was in favor of the French concordat system.

In 2017, ScanPyramids project (www.scanpyramids.org) published a paper in Nature (Morishima et al., 2017) revealing the discovery of a big void (ScanPyramids Big Void BV) observed with nuclear emulsion films (Muography), it has a cross-section similar to that of the Grand Gallery and a minimum length of 30 meters situated above the Grand Gallery. In addition, a geometrically non-identified void in the Northern Face of the Pyramid (ScanPyramids Northern Face Corridor SP-NFC) was detected as well in 2017 followed by further detailed and focused muography measurements up to 2022 (Morishima and Procureur et al., 2023). ScanPyramids SP-NFC corridor has been investigated in more detail with a wider set of non-destructive techniques. The result of GPR, Ultrasonic and image fusion detected precisely the location and shape of ScanPyramids SP-NFC (Elkarmoty and Rupfle et al.,2023). In this paper, we present overview on the application of Muography, Ground Penetrating Radar, Ultrasonic Tomography, and Electrical Resistivity Tomography on the Chevron of the Great Pyramid where ScanPyramids SPNFC is located behind. The objective of the NDT measurements is to detect the geometry, location, orientation, and extension of ScanPyramids SP-NFC with more than one NDT method. The paper addresses the validity and limitations of each method used providing the limitations of each technique in this particular case study.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization endorsed (2010) the use of Xpert MTB/RIF and countries are shifting from smear microscopy (smear)-based to Xpert MTB/RIF-based tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic algorithms. As with smear, sputum quality may predict the likelihood of obtaining a bacteriologically-confirmed TB when using Xpert MTB/RIF. METHODS: From 08/12-11/2014, all people living with HIV were recruited at 22 clinics. For patients screened positive using the four TB symptoms their sputa were tested by Xpert MTB/RIF and smear. Laboratorians assessed and recorded sputum appearance and volume. The yield of bacteriologically-positive sputum evaluated using Xpert MTB/RIF and smear, likelihood-ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Among 6,041 patients enrolled 2,296 were presumptive TB, 1,305 (56.8%) had 1 sputa collected and 644/1,305 (49.3%) had both Xpert MTB/RIF and smear results. Since 1 sputa collected from 644 patients 954 sputa were tested by Xpert MTB/RIF and smear. Bacteriologically-positive sputum was two-fold higher with Xpert MTB/RIF 11.4% versus smear 5.3%, p = 0.001. Sputum appearance and quantity were not predictive of bacteriologically-positive results, except volume of 2ml to 3ml, tested by Xpert MTB/RIF LR+=1.26 (95% CI, 1.05,1.50). CONCLUSION: Xpert MTB/RIF test yield to bacteriologically-positive sputum was superior to smear. Sputum quality and quantity, however, were not consistently predictive of bacteriologically-positive results by Xpert MTB/RIF or smear.

Polycarboxylic acid-based superplasticizers are being used for various fields of concrete work, however little has reported on changing basic performance by thermal fluctuation. In this study, heating superplasticizers itself is hereinafter as referred to as “thermal stimulation”, the effect of thermal stimulation and heat retention of superplasticizer on the fresh mortar, moreover the influence of molecular structural changed of superplasticizer by thermal stimulation were investigated. As the result, it was confirmed that improving fluidity of the mortar flow on this condition the highly heat temperature and heat over a long time by thermal stimulation of superplasticizer. In addition, it turned out that this phenomenon was caused molecular structural changed by thermal stimulation, and the result was revealed that the effect of thermal stimulation varies according to the type of polymer.

Assuming precast concrete using expansion material, we will confirm the influence of curing conditions on the basic physical properties of mortar with regard to the free expansion coefficient, constraint expansion coefficient and strength, using two types of expansive materials widely used in Japan . As a result, it was confirmed that the higher the curing temperature, the higher the strength regardless of the addition of the expansion material. In addition, it was confirmed that both the free expansion coefficient and the constrained expansion ratio had an effect irrespective of the curing temperature of the lime type expansion material.

In recent years, the use of blast furnace slag material is being focused as environmental loading reduction and sustainable construction. However, in general, autogeneours shrinkage of the concrete using much amount of GGBFS is large in compared to normal concrete, therefore risk of cracking should be cared. On the other hand, strength development speed of concrete at early stage will be decreasing as the dosage of GGBFS increases, even under steam curing condition. It can be considered these points will be significant disadvantage in both productivity and quality of precast concrete. So in this study, early strength type expansive agent and setting accelerator were used in combination. As a result, it was confirmed that compressive strength at early stage is obviously increased. And steam curing temperature can be reduced about 10 degrees, and also, 600×10-6 of restraint expansion was obtained.

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The present paper deals with the system of equations comprising the pyramid yield criterion together with the stress equilibrium equations under plane strain conditions. The stress equilibrium equations are written relative to a coordinate system in which the coordinate curves coincide with the trajectories of the principal stress directions. The general solution of the system is found giving a relation connecting the two scale factors for the coordinate curves. This relation is used for developing a method for finding the mapping between the principal lines and Cartesian coordinates with the use of a solution of a hyperbolic system of equations. In particular, the mapping between the principal lines and Cartesian coordinates is given in parametric form with the characteristic coordinates as parameters.

In the construction, it is inevitable to perform plaster work in hot weather which causes the dehydration and rapid shrinkage on the paste during the early age. This research shows the studies of reducing the plastic shrinkage of mortar during the early age with such additives as the Shrinkage Reducing Agent (SRA), the Expansive Additive (EX), and the Fly Ash (FA) in controlled temperatures at 30°C and 40°C, with relative humidity between 60% and 70% according to the ASTM C1579-06 standard, with the strain gauge installed at 0.5 cm.from the surface. The shrinkage rate was measured starting from the Initial Setting Time and every 10 minutes afterwards for 24 hours. The results show that high temperature effects the cracking and how to use different formulas of additive under different circumstances is considerably important. To use only one additive is not sufficient in high temperature. To use the SRA in addition to the EX enhances better expansion than to use only the EX. Moreover, it is recommended to pay close attention in adding large amount of the FA into mortar with the EX and SRA added which extremely enhances the expansion and potential cracking.

The growing demand of construction around the world has led to an increased usage of concrete. However, convention concrete making materials are not entirely environmental friendly and this has enthused research on seeking greener alternative for concrete production. Agriculture industries are one of the major industries globally that harvested products such as food and biomass for organism around the world. After harvesting products, there are effluence of agriculture waste as left, straw and pseudostem. This research focusing on mechanical properties as compressive Strength Test of mortar cement adding with the pseudostem of banana dried powder (PBDP) by trial the percentage of PBDP and chemical properties as using scanning electron microscope (SEM). These findings indicate that 10% of PBDP replacement is the best ratio and element of PBDP which C was the most element in PBDP as 59.96% of mass and 71.49 % of atomic.

Thermoelectric technology is thought to be a great solution in near future for producing electrical power and recovering low grade waste heat to cut the cost of power generation because of its consistency and eco-friendly affability. Though commercial accessibility of TEG is available currently but heat to electricity conversion efficiency is still low and cost of the module is reasonably high. It’s essential to use the modules competently which is strongly depends on suitable heat exchanger design and selection of proper operating conditions. In this work, TEG module has been selected from the commercially available modules with efficiency of 1.91% for the targeted low-grade waste heat temperature of Th=90°C and Tc=15°C which validated by experiment. Mathematical model has been proposed to simulate TEG based power generation system; the model can predict maximum net power, choose optimum operating conditions and dimensions of heat exchanger. Lab scale design with channel length 1 m, width 0.08 m and gap size 9 mm which is suitable for 50 TEG module (4 mm x 4 mm) have been simulated using proposed mathematical model. For above temperature range, predicted optimum net power was 76.45 W with optimum flow rate 0.94 L/s (56.4 L/min). This lab scale setup will be used for experimental validation of the proposed mathematical model. The obtained results from experiments and simulation are closely matched.

Despite the current energy crisis, a large amount of low grade heat (below 100oC) is being wasted for the lack of cost effective energy conversion technology. In the case of the conventional Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) based geothermal power stations, only about 20% of available heat can be utilised due to a technological limitation as there is a phase change in the working fluid involved during the addition of heat which decreases utilisation effectiveness of the system. Therefore, in this paper, a trilateral flash cycle (TFC) based system has been studied to find out its prospect for utilizing more power from the same heat resources as the ORC. The TFC is a thermodynamic cycle that heats the working fluid as a saturated liquid from which it starts its expansion stage. The flash expansion is achieved by feeding the saturated high-pressured liquid working fluid through a convergent-divergent nozzle at which point it undergoes a flash expansion in the low-pressure environment of the generator housing. The momentum of the working fluid is extracted via a Pelton wheel and the cycle is completed with working fluid condensation and pressurisation. The analytical comparative study between the ORC and TFC based system shows that the TFC has about 50% more power generation capability and almost zero contribution on global warming.

Ideal plastic flows are those for which all material elements follow minimum work paths. Ideal flow solutions are widely used as the basis for inverse methods for the preliminary design of metalworking processes. The present paper provides the first ideal flow solution in pressure-dependent plasticity. In particular, the process of bending under tension is considered and it is shown that there are relations between the bending moment and tensile force that result in ideal flow paths.