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The use of ordnance gelatine has been widespread in the field of ballistics as a simulant for soft tissue when assessing ballistic threats. However, the traditional method of preparing ordnance gelatine is time-consuming and requires precision to ensure that the final mold meets the required specifications. Furthermore, temperature control is necessary post-production, and there are limitations on its usage duration. To address these issues, manufacturers have developed pre-mixed, gelatine-like products that are stable at room temperature and require less preparation time. Nonetheless, it is uncertain whether these new products can perform in the same manner as the gold standard of ordnance gelatine. This study used five types of blocks, including ordnance gelatine (10% and 20%), Clear Ballistics (10% and 20%) and Perma-Gel (10%) and subjected them to 9 mm, 0.380 Auto fired from a universal receiver and a 5.56 × 45 mm ammunition fired by a certified firearms instructor. Delta-V and total energy dissipation were measured after each test using data collected from ballistic chronographs placed in front of and behind each block. High-speed video was recorded, and a cut-down analysis conducted. The findings revealed variations in energy dissipation and fissure formation within the block, with greater energy based on fissure formation observed in the ordnance gelatine. Additionally, the high-speed video showed the occurrence of secondary combustions occurring in the premixed gelatines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining a ship's identity is usually based on a critical and integral analysis of several approaches and lines of evidence. Based on Harpster's seminal work, an insight into this endeavour is developed here for the Deltebre I site. The archaeological information obtained since 2008 from the remains of the cargo, hull structure, equipment, and personal possessions, combined with documentary data, helped to address the dating, type, function, and provenance of the vessel. More specifically, we discuss its links with the British ordnance ships Southampton and Magnum Bonum, lost in 1813 at the mouth of the Ebro river, Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project, reported in three parts, focuses on Henry Nock’s ‘screwless lock’, or, as it is called in documents at the time of its manufacture, the ‘Duke’s Lock’, in the most important production variant of this novel and sophisticated design. This is the 5.5in long ‘Type 2’ Duke’s Lock, as fitted to the final design iteration of the Board of Ordnance’s Duke of Richmond’s Musket (DoRM), namely its rammer-to-the-muzzle (RTM) version. The three papers report the results of the first published systematic assessment of the Duke’s Lock’s interchangeability. No statement has yet been found in archival material to suggest that the lock is, or was considered to be, interchangeable, or that it has interchangeable components, but the authors of many secondary works think that it was, and therefore we set out to investigate this important matter systematically. This, the first paper, presents the findings of a five-lock component exchange experiment, which permits 20 component interchange tests. Measurements of key dimensions have also been made to assist in understanding the fits at which interchangeability was achieved. The exchange experiments establish that from 50% to 100% of the lock’s small components are interchangeable, with two especially surprising results: all cocks exchange on the large centres of the locks (20/20 or 100%), and all sears which can be tested are found to exchange between bents (17/17 or 100%). Tests assessing the complete assembly of all components in the lock thickness direction, omitting problematic individual components, show success rates of 16/20 (80%) and 14/20 (70%). The results of this process are placed in a material context through metallographic analysis of components of a less well-preserved Board of Ordnance 5.5in Duke’s Lock by Nock, and, for comparison, on an almost contemporary Board of Ordnance India Pattern Musket lock. The analysis has revealed that many components of the Duke’s Lock are made of steel rather than wrought iron, and that, for the centres and some other key components, these steels were selected because their properties suited machine turning, and this reflects Nock’s expert use of lathes within a factory that was using steam power by 1795. The analysis is supported by the disassembly and technical examination of some locks, including one that was partially completed, to analyse methods of construction. As regards archival sources, we have built upon Howard Blackmore’s seminal paper of 1956 by discovering additional archival data in the Ordnance Bill books, specifically the records of transactions with Nock’s executors after his death in 1804, to as late as 1808. This has allowed an improved understanding of the number of locks supplied and the uses to which they were put. The Ordnance Bill Books show that Nock delivered 12,010 Duke’s Locks in only 29 months, between 4 July 1793 and 25 November 1795. Together the papers explore how Henry Nock was able to produce the remarkable figure of 12,010 interchangeable locks in 1793–95, five years before the production of 10,000 interchangeable locks was achieved in France by Honoré Blanc, who is widely regarded as the first in this field. Significantly, Nock’s work also preceded that of Samuel Bentham, Mark Brunel and Henry Maudslay on the famous machines for making interchangeable components – in wood – for the blocks required for ships’ rigging; the three principals began their work on this in 1799. The present three-part study not only firmly establishes Henry Nock’s leading position in the field of firearm development but also as one of the pioneers of interchangeable manufacture at scale in engineering more widely, both nationally and internationally. Part 2 uses studies of the marks on a sample of 25 locks to reveal more about the manufacturing system for Duke’s Lock and how the people within the system were organised. The final paper, Part 3, discusses the small changes in design and inspection made during and after production that are revealed in the earlier Parts, and also how the design of George Bolton’s later patent lock was influenced by Nock’s work and the experience of his workmen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borehole ground‐penetrating radar (BGPR) measurements allow for the detection of objects and structures in the subsurface and are often applied to the detection of unexploded ordnance (UXO). If omnidirectional borehole antennas in reflection mode are used for the measurement, the localization of UXO is only possible if the data from a multitude of boreholes are analysed. Data analysis is usually still done by manual picking of reflections. We propose novel approaches to process and visualize data from BGPR measurements in a more advanced and appealing manner. Therein, the reflected energy recorded in the radargrams is projected back to all potential reflection points in the three‐dimensional space around the boreholes. If the projection direction is considered, we obtain a vectorized energy projection image. Superposition of projected energy yields an easy‐to‐grasp indicator of possible locations of UXO and of regions of interest that ought to be investigated in more detail. These approaches have been applied to synthetic data and to data measured on a test site with buried UXO. The results show that energy projection is a useful tool for BGPR data visualization, although the result is dependent on data pre‐processing. The proposed methods provide novel representations of BGPR data based on an objective algorithm which will at least complement the conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artillery designers are always searching for means of improving a gun’s external and internal ballistic properties and this resulted in both new theories surrounding gun construction based on the properties of materials and new methods of building guns capable of firing heavier projectiles to greater ranges. The concept of the accelerator gun sought to achieve the same result without the need for larger and heavier guns and reducing recoil through the use of multiple propellant charges fired sequentially, thus accelerating the projectile without the need for a single high-pressure discharge. It was a quest initiated in France, pursued in the United States and then adopted by a desperate Germany during the latter years of World War 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the corrosion behavior and microstructural changes in seventeenth-century cast iron cannons exhibited at the Archaeological Museum in Goa. Chipped samples from four cannons underwent analysis for surface morphology, microstructure, and elemental composition using optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, and X-ray diffraction. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to identify the molecular structure of organic compounds, metal oxides, and oxyhydroxides on the surface. The findings reveal that the pearlite matrix of the cast iron contains graphite flakes, leading to a distinctive form of graphitic corrosion on the cannon surface. Highly localized graphitic corrosion areas on the surface have resulted in pits or series of pits, posing a potential risk to the structural integrity of the cannons over time. The study identifies the presence of chloride as a contributing factor to the corrosion process, working in tandem with graphitic corrosion of the cast iron. Understanding these corrosion mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to ensure the long-term preservation of these historical artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the determination of the critical crack depth in howitzer cannon barrels, which is essential for ensuring operational safety, particularly under high-pressure conditions during firing. The fracture-mechanics-based approach, emphasizing the stress intensity factor Ki, is employed to evaluate crack propagation. Specifically, the R6 procedure is applied to assess the failure assessment diagram (FAD), crucial for identifying critical pressures concerning varying crack shapes and depths. The study examines the utilization of high-strength steel 35NiCrMoV12-5 in two distinct heat treatments (materials A and B). Experimental tensile tests and measurements of the critical stress intensity factor Kic were conducted on both materials. The Finite Element Method (FEM) using Abaqus/CAE software was used in combination with experimental results. The FEM model was used to analyses semielliptical cracks of different depths and two different shapes. Stress intensity factor distributions along the crack tip were derived, indicating the material resistance to crack propagation.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the fragmentary apologia for pederasty by Thomas Cannon. Published in pamphlet form in 1749, it was suppressed and prosecuted, and lost to history until its recent recovery. The recovery of the text is only partial, as it was preserved in quoted excerpts in the wording of the indictment against it. Despite its fragmentary state, it is one of the earliest defences of same-sex love, and classical texts and examples naturally form a major part of its argument. Although Cannon's treatise is important for the history of sexuality and translation studies, it has received limited attention from classicists, despite containing multiple translations from classical authors, together with Cannon's editorial comments. This paper explores the contribution of the pamphlet to the history of sexuality, through a focus on Cannon's translations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in the marine environment is a high-risk activity. Structured risk assessment (RA) can be a helpful tool to provide EOD experts with decision-making support. This paper hypothesizes that existing RA approaches that address unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the sea do not meet the requirements of EOD RA. To test this hypothesis, the paper proposes a novel categorization tool. It uses five review criteria: study type (qualitative vs. quantitative), level of decision-making (strategic vs. applied), risk component (probability vs. consequence), spatial scale (global vs. local), and temporal scale (long-term vs. short-term). The categorization tool is used to identify the requirements of EOD RA and to test whether nine existing RA methods fulfill these requirements. The study finds that none of the investigated RAs meets the requirements and, hence, concludes that a new method should be developed. However, some aspects of the existing studies should be considered when designing a new method. This includes using risk factors (type and mass of explosive material, type and state of the fuze, and water depth) that are relevant for EOD RA. It also involves setting up a directed graph to assess the complex interdependencies between these risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumptuary laws that regulated clothing based on social status were an important part of the political economy of premodern states. We introduce a model that captures the notion that consumption by ordinary citizens poses a status threat to ruling elites. Our model predicts a non-monotonic effect of income—sumptuary legislation initially increases with income, but then falls as income increases further. The initial rise is more likely for states with less extractive institutions, whose ruling elites face a greater status threat from the rising commercial class. We test these predictions using a new dataset of country and city-level sumptuary laws. It is unfortunately an established fact that both men and womenfolk have, in utterly irresponsible manner, driven extravagance in dress and new styles to such shameful and wanton extremes that the different classes are barely to be known apart. —Nuremberg Ordnance of 1657, Quoted in Hunt (1996) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we document the use of hail cannons in Mexico to dispel or suppress heavy rain episodes, a common practice among farmers, without scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. This study uses two rain databases: one compiled from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission and the other generated with the implementation of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The aim is to explore the association between heavy rain episodes and hail cannon locations. The analysis includes two geographic features: a pair of coordinates and a 3 km radius area of influence around each hail cannon. This dimension is based on the size and distribution of the heavy rainfall events. This study analyzes four years of half-hourly rain data using the Python ecosystem environment with machine learning libraries. The results show no relationship between the operation of hail cannons and the dissipation or attenuation of heavy rainfall events. However, this study highlights that the significant differences between the GPM and WRF databases in registering heavy rain events may be attributable to their own uncertainty. Despite the unavailability of ground-based observations, the inefficiency of hail cannons in affecting the occurrence of heavy rain events is evident. Overall, this study provides scientific evidence that hail cannons are inefficient in preventing the occurrence of heavy rain episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China escalates its assertive tactics in the South China Sea, the United States must take bolder action to support its regional allies and partners, starting with the Philippines. This article argues that the United States should begin directly escorting Philippine vessels within their exclusive economic zone, employing nonlethal measures like water cannons to counter Chinese harassment. This measured but resolute stance would send a clear deterrent signal to Beijing, build confidence with Manila and other Asian allies, and emulate the gray-zone tactics China itself uses. Additionally, the United States should encourage the Philippines' "assertive transparency" strategy to rally broader international condemnation of China's expansionist claims. While stopping short of overt military conflict, this multifaceted approach would demonstrate the United States' reliability as a regional security partner and put pressure on China to adhere to international norms. Concrete action to defend the Philippines' sovereignty is a critical first step in countering China's ambitions across the Indo-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix multiplication plays a crucial role in various engineering and scientific applications. Cannon's algorithm, executed within two-dimensional systolic arrays, significantly enhances computational efficiency through parallel processing. However, as the matrix size increases, reliability issues become more prominent. Although the previous work has proposed a fault-tolerant mechanism, it is only suitable for scenarios with a limited number of faulty processing elements (PEs). This paper introduces a pair-matching mechanism, assigning a fault-free PE as a proxy for each faulty PE to execute its tasks. Our fault-tolerant mechanism comprises two stages: in the first stage, each fault-free PE completes its designated computations; in the second stage, computations intended for each faulty PE are executed by its assigned fault-free PE proxy. The experimental results demonstrate that compared to the previous work, our approach not only significantly improves the fault tolerance of systolic arrays (applicable to scenarios with a higher number of faulty PEs) but also reduces circuit areas. Therefore, the proposed approach proves effective in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unexploded ordnance (UXO), often deployed in WWI and WWII, are still present on the seabed posing a risk to seabed construction. UXO surveys identify potential UXO targets which are then investigated and removed where necessary; however, approximately 96 per cent of targets investigated on projects included in this study were non-UXO (false positives). Here we investigate methods of improving statistical confidence in targets picked through the improved classification of magnetic response, utilizing simulation methods and historic data. A simulation of the induced magnetism of UXO was developed to model the most likely dimensions and orientation of a given source item. Modelling results and measured variables were combined in an optimization algorithm, hereon referred to as 'the classifier'. We document the results of integrating the magnetic responses of 3027 targets from 18 offshore wind projects into the classifier. Five of these projects were performed as tests in which the target results were unknown during classification. Finally, the classifier was deployed on a live project, Hollandse Kust Zuid 3 and 4 Offshore Wind Farm, in which it enabled the removal of 67 targets from the from the 1200-target investigation list. The classifier proved to be a valuable additional tool to assist the target rationalization process, reliably and repeatably distinguishing UXO from other items, thereby reducing false positives and repeatably demonstrating no threshold UXO false negatives. Assumptions and limitations of this methodology were highlighted, which must be understood and considered when integrating this approach on future projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1854 and 1856 the shape of private and public collections of arms, armour, and ordnance were influenced directly by the conflict with Russia, especially from the main theatre in the Crimea and its key military engagements including Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, and Sevastopol. While antiquities and some examples of militaria had entered private collections through personal travel during the first half of the nineteenth century, it was the outbreak of war with Russia that perhaps had the strongest influence on collections. The new theatre of war provided fresh opportunities to begin a collection or expand an existing one. Moreover, a greater number of individuals from all levels of society were given chances to acquire objects than hithertofore, from militaria to objets d'art to ordinary domestic items. Pictures and photographs were often the most highly prized, particularly of the time before war had started and the destruction of cities such as Sevastopol had occurred.1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple diseases and disorders are connected with occupational and environmental exposure risk. It is also well-established that chemicals and chemical mixtures have an influence on the immune cells of humans. This is an important field of research that has been pursued extensively in relation to autoimmune illnesses, allergy/asthma, and lung cancer, but Prostate Carcinoma has received rare reports. Chronic chemical exposure is known to produce inflammation, which is one of the most prominent characteristics of all malignancies. Changes in the ratio of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory molecules are thought to be a key factor in the emergence of inflammation. Prostate gland cells express the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18), which is a major facilitator of immunological responses. Conversely, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is linked to immune responses and inhibits the development of an inflammatory environment. Our goal is to investigate the inflammatory status of IL-18 (pro-) and IL-10 (anti-) in a variety of occupationally exposed populations in patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and patients with Prostate Carcinoma. The present study was conducted with 664 subjects, comprising 285 Prostate Carcinoma patients, 94 BPH patients and 285 controls. The subjects of BPH and Prostate Carcinoma were screened and confirmed on the basis of Prostate Serum Antigen (PSA) and pathological biopsy. All subjects were categorized as per their occupational exposure into various groups. The pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory Interleukins (IL-18 and IL-10) and serum PSA levels were analysed by using corresponding quantitative ELISA kits. The results showed that as compared to control participants, the serum PSA levels were higher in the Prostate Carcinoma and BPH groups. When mean levels of IL-18 were compared between various occupational groups, Tanners (tanning industry), Agriculture, and Ordnance workers had significantly higher levels (P < 0.05) of IL-18 than sedentary workers. The pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-18) levels were also found to be aggravated in Prostate Carcinoma compared to BPH and controls. According to the findings of the current study, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-18 and IL-10) in various occupational groups of BPH, Prostate Carcinoma, and controls were altered. Long-term occupational exposure may have a negative influence on inflammation levels and the immune system; therefore, preventative measures should be explored for improved health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of a deep learning neural network (DLNN) as a tool to improve maritime safety by classifying the potential threat to shipping posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) objects. Unexploded ordnance poses a huge threat to maritime users, which is why navies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) around the world are using dedicated advanced technologies to counter this threat. The measures taken by navies include mine countermeasure units (MCMVs) and mine-hunting technology, which relies on the use of sonar imagery to detect and classify dangerous objects. The modern mine-hunting technique is generally divided into three stages: detection and classification, identification, and neutralisation/disposal. The detection and classification stage is usually carried out using sonar mounted on the hull of a ship or on an underwater vehicle. There is now a strong trend to intensify the use of more advanced technologies, such as synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) for high-resolution data collection. Once the sonar data has been collected, military personnel examine the images of the seabed to detect targets and classify them as mine-like objects (MILCO) or non mine-like objects (NON-MILCO). Computer-aided detection (CAD), computer-aided classification (CAC) and automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithms have been introduced to reduce the burden on the technical operator and reduce post-mission analysis time. This article describes a target classification solution using a DLNN-based approach that can significantly reduce the time required for post-mission data analysis during underwater reconnaissance operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In creole bovine breeds, it is essential to know the change in morphological traits related to the size of the animal; this morphological change is known as allometry. With allometric studies, the function of body structures and their relationship with the performance and survival of breeds and species can be analyzed. The aim of this study was to describe the allometric growth of certain body parts of the Sanmartinero creole bovine breed, from an early age. A total of 79 females with an age range of 0.5 to 10 years were studied. Body measurements were obtained individually: cannon perimeter, thoracic perimeter, body length, withers height, and body weight. Functional and production indices were obtained for animals aged more than 3 years: corporal index, anamorphosis index, dactylo thoracic index, and the relative thickness of the cannon. The correlation between body weight and cannon perimeter did not show any tendency towards a plateau. In other words, in the Sanmartinero bovine, a very early development of the cannon perimeter is detected, which could cause bone fragility in heavier animals. The data suggest a low harmony with appendicular bone development, that is, less robust shaft bones to support body mass. Therefore, the measurement of the thoracic perimeter, the withers height, and the thorax perimeter should be considered in genetic improvement programs of the Sanmartinero creole bovine. The variation in the dimensions of the body of living beings in relation to their size, function, or shape is known as allometry. Allometry studies allow the analysis of the function of body structures and their relationship with the performance and survival of breeds and species. The aim of this study was to describe the ontogenetic characteristics of the weight of certain bone elements of the Sanmartinero creole bovine breed, from an early age (6 months) until maturity. A total of 79 females of the Sanmartinero creole bovine breed with an age range of 0.5 to 10 years were studied. Body measurements were obtained individually using standard procedures: cannon perimeter, thoracic perimeter, body length, withers height, and body weight. Functional and production indices were obtained for animals aged more than 3 years (n = 53): corporal index, anamorphosis index, dactylo thoracic index, and the relative thickness of the cannon. The correlation between body weight and the cannon perimeter showed no trend towards a plateau. In the Sanmartinero creole bovine, therefore, a very early development of the cannon perimeter is detected, which could lead to bone fragility in heavier animals. Therefore, data suggest little harmony with appendicular bone development, i.e., with less robust cannons which are those necessary to support body mass. It is suggested that in genetic improvement programs of the Sanmartinero creole bovine, the measurement of the cannon perimeter, the withers height, and the thoracic perimeter should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advancements in both the quality and collection speed of magnetic data captured by uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-based systems, there is a growing need for robust and efficient systems to automatically interpret such data. Many existing conventional methods require manual inspection of the survey data to pick out candidate areas for further analysis. We automate this initial process by implementing unsupervised machine learning techniques to identify small, well-defined regions. When further analysis is conducted with magnetic inversion algorithms, then our approach also reduces the nonlinear computation and time costs by breaking one huge inversion problem into several smaller ones. We also demonstrate robustness to noise and sidestep the requirement for large quantities of labeled training data: two pitfalls of current automation approaches. We propose first to use hierarchical clustering on filtered magnetic gradient data and then to fit ellipses to the resulting clusters to identify subregions for further analysis. In synthetic data experiments and on real-world datasets, our model successfully captures all true targets while simultaneously proposing fewer computationally costly false positives. With this approach, we take an important step towards fully automating the detection of high-risk subregions, but we wish to emphasize the importance of prudent skepticism until it has been tested and proven on more diverse data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers logistics and supply in the China Relief Expedition. In the China campaign, as in all armed conflicts, the availability of matériel and subsistence determined what military options were available to commanders. In 1900, because of a strong industrial base and a burgeoning logistical network, the US Army, Marine Corps, and Navy demonstrated an increased capacity and capability to project power on hemispheric scales. Throughout the entirety of their intervention in China, Americans moved animals, artillery, medical supplies, men, ordnance, and subsistence across great distances – over sea and land, to and within the theatre of operations – with remarkable efficiency under difficult conditions. Thus, the China Relief Expedition was instructive for the US profession of arms, and pointed to a future in which large-scale combat operations on land and at sea would require careful integration and more extensive logistical support than military operations of nineteenth-century conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The transcript is of one from a number of interviews with disaster risk reduction (DRR) "pioneers" carried out in 2022 as a part of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) project to record the history of the field. It aims to enable one of the "pioneers" to explain his role in the emergence of disaster studies and provide critical commentary on what he considers is wrong with current DRR approaches. Design/methodology/approach: Terry Cannon was interviewed to explain the beginnings of his involvement in disasters research and to comment on his views on progress in the field of disaster risk reduction since his early work in the 1980s. The transcript and video were developed in the context of the UNDRR project on the history of DRR. Findings: The interview provides an account of the origins of the book "At Risk" and why it was considered necessary. This is put into the context of how the field of DRR has emerged since the 1980s. It elicits opinions on what he considers the gaps in both his early work (especially in the book "At Risk" of which he was a co-author) and in the field of DRR recently. Originality/value: It provides historical context on how early disaster research developed the alternative framework of "social construction" of disasters, in opposition to the idea that they are "natural". It challenges some of the approaches that have emerged as DRR and has been institutionalised, including its increasing difficulty in supporting the ideas of social construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Problems of Mechatronics. Armament, Aviation, Safety Engineering / Problemy Mechatroniki. Uzbrojenie, lotnictwo, Inżynieria Bezpieczeństwa is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Linking free-text addresses to unique identifiers in a structural address database [the Ordnance Survey unique property reference number (UPRN) in the United Kingdom (UK)] is a necessary step for downstream geospatial analysis in many digital health systems, e.g., for identification of care home residents, understanding housing transitions in later life, and informing decision making on geographical health and social care resource distribution. However, there is a lack of open-source tools for this task with performance validated in a test data set. Methods: In this article, we propose a generalisable solution (A Framework for Linking free-text Addresses to Ordnance Survey UPRN database, FLAP) based on a machine learning–based matching classifier coupled with a fuzzy aligning algorithm for feature generation with better performance than existing tools. The framework is implemented in Python as an Open Source tool (available at Link). We tested the framework in a real-world scenario of linking individual’s (n = 771,588) addresses recorded as free text in the Community Health Index (CHI) of National Health Service (NHS) Tayside and NHS Fife to the Unique Property Reference Number database (UPRN DB). Results: We achieved an adjusted matching accuracy of 0.992 in a test data set randomly sampled (n = 3, 876) from NHS Tayside and NHS Fife CHI addresses. FLAP showed robustness against input variations including typographical errors, alternative formats, and partially incorrect information. It has also improved usability compared to existing solutions allowing the use of a customised threshold of matching confidence and selection of top n candidate records. The use of machine learning also provides better adaptability of the tool to new data and enables continuous improvement. Discussion: In conclusion, we have developed a framework, FLAP, for linking free-text UK addresses to the UPRN DB with good performance and usability in a real-world task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8-month-old, 80 animals, including 40 males and 40 females of Rakhshani sheep were randomly selected from Pirkani sheep farm district, Naseerabad, Baluchistan. The results showed that the average cannon bone circumference in Rakhshani ram was 8.05±0.20 cm and in ewe was 7.53±0.11 cm, statistically significant between male and female of Rakhshani breed. The body weight was higher (P<0.05) in male which was 27.08±0.64 kg and in female 23.91±0.38 kg. The average body height was 65.47±0.82 and 59.98±0.58 cm in rams and ewes, which was significantly higher in rams (male) as compared to ewes (female). The body length was observed as 69.89±0.54 cm and 63.37±0.84 cm in rams and ewes. Rakhshani rams have larger (P<0.05) body length compared to ewes. The cannon bone circumference has strong positive influence on body weight, body height and body length of Rakhshani sheep (P<0.05). The genetic correlation of cannon bone circumference for body weight, body height, body length for male was 0.657, 0.830, 0.783, and for body weight, body height 0.725, 0.639 whereas for body height and body length 0.895. However, for female it was 0.597, 0.810, 0.699 in between cannon bone circumference vs. body weight, body height and body length, and for body weight vs. body height, body length 0.675, 0.619, whereas for body height vs. body length, it was 0.798. In conclusion, the Rakhshani rams have significantly higher cannon bone circumference and has significant influence on body weight, body height and body length of Rakhshani sheep breed of Baluchistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs about the history of the M61A1 Rotary Cannon in RAAF service, tracing its origins back to Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling's invention in 1862. Topic include that It discusses the evolution of Gatling's gun, its incorporation of an electrical motor in 1893, and its resurgence in the post-World War II era with the development of the M61A1 Rotary Cannon for aircraft use.

Copyright of ABEI Journal: The Brazilian Journal of Irish Studies is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Estudos Irlandeses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The principle of the compressed air cannon is that compressed air in the reservoir expands rapidly to propel the projectile. Previous studies assume that the tube pressure in front of the projectile is constant because the tube pressure was too low compared to the compressed air pressure in the reservoir. However, when the projectile actually travels in the tube, a compression wave is generated in front of the projectile. In this study, the theoretical prediction for the velocity of the projectile was performed using the tube pressure in front of the projectile affected by the compression wave as a variable. The results show that the maximum velocity decreases compared to previous studies. This difference from the constant tube pressure assumption cases becomes larger as the maximum velocity of the projectile increases. The theoretical prediction considering the compression wave shows a more realistic deceleration than when the tube pressure is constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction To address the military gap in the standardized collection of lifetime blast exposures across clinical and research endeavors, researchers at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) completed a quality improvement project that utilized systematic, iterative focus groups that leveraged the input from various stakeholders including subject matter experts, clinical providers, and service members (SMs) to develop a comprehensive, self-report blast exposure inventory that could be completed within 5-10 minutes. This manuscript outlines the process of the development of this inventory. Materials and Methods This project included three phases of focus groups that occurred at the NICoE between August 2020 and March 2021 to collect feedback and input from relevant military stakeholders. The study team utilized related assessments available in the literature, together with clinical experience with the NICoE patient population, to inform the development of an initial draft inventory. Phase 1 consisted of blast injury research subject matter experts who had extensive experience researching and providing clinical care to SMs exposed to blast. Phase 2 consisted of NICoE clinicians across numerous clinical specialties. Phase 3 included current active duty patients in the NICoE intensive outpatient program. Results Following completion of the focus groups, a lifetime blast exposure inventory was developed in the form of a single page table including incoming, outgoing, training, and operational exposures and broken down by levels of weapon systems as well as breaching and explosive ordnance disposal exposures. In addition, select questions related to the first and most recent blast exposures and experience as an instructor for explosive ordnance disposal- and breaching-related training were included. Conclusions Researchers at the NICoE developed a self-report blast exposure inventory through a quality improvement project that included active, ongoing participation and feedback of clinical experts and military SMs. The end result is a brief, single page inventory that can be administered within 5-10 minutes. Although additional research is needed to refine and validate the inventory, the project team believes that the tool begins to address a long-standing gap in the DoD in the standardized collection of lifetime blast exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1853, at the sale of the collection of the Count of Milan of Sicily, the Ordnance Office at the Tower of London purchased a South Italic panoply, ostensibly from Cumae, for £200. The set included a winged helmet, a cuirass, a pair of greaves, thigh protectors, a belt, a sword and scabbard, and a spearhead. The Cumae armour, belonging to a high-status warrior, can be broadly dated on stylistic grounds to about 375–25 BC and exhibits a sophisticated interplay of imagery relating to Hermes, Gorgons, and boars. The weapons date to the eighth century BC and are thought to have been added to the panoply in the nineteenth century to make a more attractive and visually 'complete' collection for display or sale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/purpose: Decades of dealing with unexploded ordnance (UXO) in some areas of the Republic of Serbia have confirmed that it presents a substantial hazard to the security of people, property, and the environment. Even though the terrain has been cleaned, various threats from difficult-tofind UXO components remain serious. Inadequate systemic solutions for UXO management can have significant harmful consequences. Methods: Based on the spatial distribution analysis and different UXO types and quantities, this article studies the effects of dangerous components of unexploded ordnance on human lives and the environment. Two different geospatial analyses were performed including the guidelines for risk management through risk elimination based on multiple criteria, the GIS, and the Remote Sensing analysis. Results: Two different geospatial analyses resulted in the areas at high risk of remaining UXO. Conclusion: The article significantly contributes to creating an environmental risk management strategy for UXO-contaminated regions. It presents an effective technique for addressing risk assessment challenges in such sites. The analysis considers both risk analysis and environmental protection options. Using the multi-criteria analysis and the GIS, it estimates the exposure of built structures, people, soil types, and plant species to UXO dangers in key locations. This paper serves as a guideline for environmental risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

William Roy was the son of a Lanarkshire estate factor, born into a locally influential and solidly Presbyterian family. Through contacts with the powerful Dundas family, his career path took him away from Clydesdale to make a significant contribution to the improvement and accuracy of the mapping of Great Britain. Following the defeat of the Jacobite army at Culloden, he came to the attention of David Watson, appointed Deputy-Quartermaster-General in Scotland and tasked with producing a survey of North Britain based on his own scheme. This was part of a wider military programme to improve the road network and the defences of several key Scots castles. Although to the wider public Roy is most closely associated with this Military Survey, it was Watson's concept and was carried out for a military purpose. It was subsequently described by Roy himself as 'rather ... a magnificent military sketch, than a very accurate map of a country' and this may have influenced his later career. Roy worked throughout as a civilian and only received his army commission after the Survey was completed. Although this was only part of his contribution to the advancement of knowledge, it is possible that, in Scotland, it is the one part of his career which won him most renown. While surveying southern Scotland, he developed an interest in military, particularly Roman, antiquities which led to the posthumous publication of his major study in 1793. Unlike other Scots figures alive during the Scottish Enlightenment, his real contribution to cartography was particularly British and was instrumental in the foundation of the Ordnance Survey. For the first time, readers have the opportunity to consider his life in the round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/land cover sits alongside other basic types of information about a country, such as its population and economy. However, in contrast with population data, which have been supplied by the decennial British Population Census since 1801 (apart from 1941), the routine and periodic collection of land‐use/land‐cover data has proved more challenging. Notable exceptions include the First and Second Land Utilisation surveys of the 1930s and 1960s, and the Countryside Surveys using a stratified sample of 1‐km grid squares undertaken periodically since 1984. The focus here is on the land‐use/land‐cover data collected by the Ordnance Survey from the 1850s to 1880s as part of the cadastral mapping of the country at 1:2500 scale. This information was published in Parish Books of Reference. These documents for parishes covering the South Downs, a National Character Area and National Park, in East and West Sussex provide the attribute data for the land parcels that have been joined to digitised polygons in order map land use/land cover across this area for the mid‐1870s. Classification of these data into 20 land‐use/land‐cover types enabled visual assessment and quantitative analysis using statistical techniques and spatial indices to explore the complexity of the landscape. Having shown the feasibility of mapping land‐use/land‐cover data for the South Downs, the paper concludes by considering issues involved in extending this work to other counties for which the Books of Reference were published. The Ordnance Survey's Parish Books of Reference and other data sources have been used to create a land‐use/land‐cover map for the mid‐1870s covering the South Downs, a National Character Area and National Park in East and West Sussex. The spatial pattern of land use/land cover has been examined using descriptive measures and landscape metrics. The potential to extend such mapping to other parts of the country has also been considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that recent work of Song implies that torsion‐free hyperbolic groups with Gromov boundary S2$S^2$ arerealized as fundamental groups of closed 3‐manifolds of constant negative curvature if and only if the solution to an associated spherical Plateau problem for group homology is isometric to such a 3‐manifold, and suggest some related questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes, from a historical and anthropological perspective, the influence Chile's inaugural practice of heritage protection, promoted between 1925 and 1970, has had on the management of National Monuments during the Chilean social outbreak, which began in October 2019. The study reveals that this inaugural practice -characterized by the heritagization of assets representative of an indigenous (archeological and paleontological), colonial and republican legacy- has resulted in a vindication of the contemporary presence of indigenous cultures and the emergence of counter-narratives that decolonize and denationalize the cannon of Hispanic and Republican narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Arkeologi Malaysia is the property of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malay Institute of Nature & Civilization and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Nuestra América is the property of Edicoes Universidade Fernando Pessoa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Colombia has hundreds of historical shipwrecks, but systematic research on this topic is scarce, which makes locating wreck sites problematic. Colombia is home to the Caribbean archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence, and Santa Catalina. Its complex environmental conditions make it a “ship trap”. On 2 February 1894, the USS Kearsarge ran aground on Roncador Cay, one of the Archipelago’s islets, and the location of the wreck site remains uncertain. Due to its role in the American Civil War, the Kearsarge is important naval heritage. Based on historical and cartographic records, orthophotographs, Landsat images, and light-detection-and-ranging (LiDAR) data, this study aimed to estimate the location of the wreck site in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Court-martial records, particularly nautical data and astronomical coordinates, were reviewed, including a study from 1894 indicating the wreck’s location on a map without coordinates. Nautical charts were also analyzed to find the Kearsarge wreck symbol. To identify the wreck site’s ordnance, logbooks and information on previous salvage efforts were examined. The analysis of nautical charts revealed a few shipwrecks, but not the Kearsarge. Historical and remote-sensing data were processed in a GIS, along with the most recent nautical chart of Roncador Cay from 2017, to obtain a possible geographical location. This resulted in coordinates, which were used to detect features associated with the USS Kearsarge in the processed data. Although the wreck was not detected, the data helped to estimate the approximate coordinates for where the wreck could be located, quantifying our degree of uncertainty.

Mist cannon trucks have been widely applied in megacities in China to reduce the road dust, since they are considered to be more water saving and efficient than the traditional sprinkling trucks. However, their effect on the formation of water-soluble organic compounds and the pollution control of fine particles (PM 2.5) remains unknown. We characterized the variations of chemical compositions in PM 2.5 collected on the road sides during the simulated operations of mist cannon truck and traditional sprinkling truck via Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. The mass concentrations of water-soluble organic carbon in PM 2.5 showed a significant increase (62 %–70 %) after air spraying. Furthermore, we found that water-soluble organic compounds, particularly organic nitrates, increased significantly via the interactions of reactive gas-phase organics, atmospheric oxidants and aerosol liquid water after air spraying, although the air spraying had a better effect on suppressing road dust than the ground aspersion. Moreover, the formation of PM 2.5 on the road segment where the mist cannon truck passed by was promoted, with an increase of up to 13 % in mass concentration after 25–35 min, on average. Thus, the application of mist cannon trucks potentially worsens the road atmospheric environment through the increase in PM 2.5 levels and the production of a large number of water-soluble organic compounds in PM 2.5. The overall results provide not only valuable insights to the formation processes of water-soluble organic compounds associated with aerosol liquid water in the road environment but also management strategies to regulate the operation of mist cannon trucks in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landmines and explosive remnants of war are still present in the Western Balkans and remain a deadly legacy of the hostilities at the end of the 20th century. Over the years, several incidents have occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Serbia, and in Croatia where intact ordnance has caused injuries and fatalities. Floods, torrential flows, and gravitational mass movements pose a particular threat. Landmines and explosive remnants of war are mobilized and displaced into previously uncontaminated areas. We first discuss the historical and technical background of this hazardous situation. We then show which hydro-morphological processes are responsible for the mobilization and displacement. We then illustrate how a prediction of the likely contaminated areas can be obtained. We show that the problem can only be tackled using a stochastic-deterministic model. However, for the eventual development of risk-hazard maps, preliminary work using laboratory experiments and field surveys is required. The article, therefore, proposes a novel approach to the problem in an international research project. The aim would be to produce risk-hazard maps that can be used by elected decision-makers, administrative authorities, and emergency personnel in affected municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insecticides are applied on a large scale in the environment to control the oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) for the protection of human health. Drift of the insecticides to non-target areas is a risk for the surrounding biodiversity. Since the habitats of the caterpillars are usually restricted to the treetops, the sprayers used to apply biocidal products must be able to transport the droplets over longer distances. Therefore, cannon sprayers are often used. In this study, spray drift in an oak avenue from a cannon sprayer with hydraulic atomisation was measured with two different nozzles. The aim of this study is to compare spray drift when using a cannon sprayer with different drift-reducing nozzles with cannon sprayers with pneumatic atomisation to find options to reduce drift to non-target areas. Results: The results show that compared to the basic drift values for biocidal products using a cannon sprayer with pneumatic atomisation, a cannon sprayer with ID-120-05 POM nozzles achieves a drift reduction of 75% and a classification in this reduction class. No drift reduction could be determined with a cannon sprayer with AirMix 110-05 nozzles. Conclusions: Better knowledge of drift of biocidal products is of utmost urgency in order to be able to compare and classify the currently used technologies. When using a cannon sprayer, this study shows that specific drift values are recommended based on the type of atomisation, as droplet size is an important factor in reducing drift. By choosing the technology with the highest drift reduction, the drift of biocidal products into the environment can be minimised by 75%, thus ensuring a much better protection of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on events linked to controlled underwater explosions of World War 2 (WW2) ordnances which were included in the Reviewed Event Bulletin (REB). Data used for the study were provided by seismic stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS) in 2020. Examined events were triggered by devices of different charge size and took place in several locations in Europe. There were also other, previously detected WW2 ordnance underwater explosions which could be compared to events in 2020. It is shown that these relatively small underwater explosions listed in the REB, with good coupling to the ground, are located by the IMS network within 20 km from the ground truth. Charge size of explosive material was related to event magnitude. Results were compared to magnitudes published for underwater explosions of larger sizes. The conclusion is that an in-water explosion will result in seismic waves with amplitudes equivalent to the amplitudes of seismic waves from an in-ground explosion with 17.2 times the yield in kT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Problems of Mechatronics. Armament, Aviation, Safety Engineering / Problemy Mechatroniki. Uzbrojenie, lotnictwo, Inżynieria Bezpieczeństwa is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper shows a hypercomplex function theory emerging in the representation of paravector‐valued monogenic functions over the (m+1)$$ \left(m+1\right) $$‐dimensional Euclidean space through a basic set (or basis) of hypercomplex monogenic polynomials. We derive the properties of the arising hypercomplex Cannon function and present an extension of the well‐known Whittaker‐Cannon theorem to special monogenic functions defined in an open hyperball in ℝm+1$$ {\mathbb{R}}^{m+1} $$. More precisely, we determine what conditions should be applied to a basic set of special monogenic polynomials to attain the effectiveness property in an open hyperball employing Hadamard's three‐hyperballs theorem. We also provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a special monogenic Cannon series to represent every function near the origin that is special monogenic there. Additionally, we investigate the effectiveness of a non‐Cannon basis and show that the underlying hypercomplex Cannon function maintains similar properties in both cases, the Cannon basis and the non‐Cannon basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising kind of functional material, highly reactive thermite energetic materials (tEMs) with outstanding reactive activation can release heat quickly at a high reaction rate after low-energy stimulation, which is widely used in sensors, triggers, mining, propellants, demolition, ordnance or weapons, and space technology. Thus, this review aims to provide a holistic view of the recent progress in the development of multifunctional highly reactive tEMs with controllable micro/nano-structures for various engineering applications via different fabricated techniques, including the mechanical mixing method, vapor deposition method, assembly method, sol-gel method, electrospinning method, and so on. The systematic classification of novel structured tEMs in terms of nano-structural superiority and exothermic performance are clarified, based on which, suggestions regarding possible future research directions are proposed. Their potential applications within these rapidly expanding areas are further highlighted. Notably, the prospects or challenges of current works, as well as possible innovative research ideas, are discussed in detail, providing further valuable guidelines for future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colombia has hundreds of historical shipwrecks, but systematic research on this topic is scarce, which makes locating wreck sites problematic. Colombia is home to the Caribbean archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence, and Santa Catalina. Its complex environmental conditions make it a "ship trap". On 2 February 1894, the USS Kearsarge ran aground on Roncador Cay, one of the Archipelago's islets, and the location of the wreck site remains uncertain. Due to its role in the American Civil War, the Kearsarge is important naval heritage. Based on historical and cartographic records, orthophotographs, Landsat images, and light-detection-and-ranging (LiDAR) data, this study aimed to estimate the location of the wreck site in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Court-martial records, particularly nautical data and astronomical coordinates, were reviewed, including a study from 1894 indicating the wreck's location on a map without coordinates. Nautical charts were also analyzed to find the Kearsarge wreck symbol. To identify the wreck site's ordnance, logbooks and information on previous salvage efforts were examined. The analysis of nautical charts revealed a few shipwrecks, but not the Kearsarge. Historical and remote-sensing data were processed in a GIS, along with the most recent nautical chart of Roncador Cay from 2017, to obtain a possible geographical location. This resulted in coordinates, which were used to detect features associated with the USS Kearsarge in the processed data. Although the wreck was not detected, the data helped to estimate the approximate coordinates for where the wreck could be located, quantifying our degree of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A few promising solutions for thermal imaging Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) detection were proposed after the start of the military conflict in Ukraine in 2014. At the same time, most of the landmine clearance protocols and practices are based on old, 20th-century technologies. More than 60 countries worldwide are still affected by explosive remnants of war, and new areas are contaminated almost every day. To date, no automated solutions exist for surface UXO detection by using thermal imaging. One of the reasons is also that there are no publicly available data. This research bridges both gaps by introducing an automated UXO detection method, and by publishing thermal imaging data. During a project in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2019, an organisation, Norwegian People's Aid, collected data about unexploded ordnances and made them available for this research. Thermal images with a size of 720 × 480 pixels were collected by using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at a height of 3 m, thus achieving a very small Ground Sampling Distance (GSD). One of the goals of our research was also to verify if the explosive war remnants' detection accuracy could be improved further by using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). We have experimented with various existing modern CNN architectures for object identification, whereat the YOLOv5 model was selected as the most promising for retraining. An eleven-class object detection problem was solved primarily in this study. Our data were annotated semi-manually. Five versions of the YOLOv5 model, fine-tuned with a grid-search, were trained end-to-end on randomly selected 640 training and 80 validation images from our dataset. The trained models were verified on the remaining 88 images from our dataset. Objects from each of the eleven classes were identified with more than 90% probability, whereat the Mean Average Precision (mAP) at a 0.5 threshold was 99.5%, and the mAP at thresholds from 0.5 to 0.95 was 87.0% up to 90.5%, depending on the model's complexity. Our results are comparable to the state-of-the-art, whereat these object detection methods have been tested on other similar small datasets with thermal images. Our study is one of the few in the field of Automated UXO detection by using thermal images, and the first that solves the problem of identifying more than one class of objects. On the other hand, publicly available thermal images with a relatively small GSD will enable and stimulate the development of new detection algorithms, where our method and results can serve as a baseline. Only really accurate automatic UXO detection solutions will help to solve one of the least explored worldwide life-threatening problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) are considered a global concern and a persistent hazard due to their capability to endanger civilians and the place where they are located, and the probability of remaining active explosives even after decades of ending a conflict. Hence, risk education is crucial for providing individuals with life-saving knowledge on recognizing, avoiding, and reporting UXO threats. The main objective of this study is to develop a web augmented reality (AR) application to investigate the effect of WAR on non-explosive ordnance risk education. Firstly, UXO 3D models are edited and constructed using the Blender 3D computer graphics software. Secondly, the proposed web AR application is developed using MindAR JavaScript-based library. Finally, the web application QR code and UXO Hiro codes are printed on infographics and brochures to be distributed to secondary school students aged 12 to 18 at six public and private schools in Tikrit City, Salah al-Din governorate, Iraq. Survey questions are validated and distributed to be collected from 137 respondents. The present study shows that the proposed web AR application increased respondents' information in identifying UXO by 54.7%. Approximately 70% of respondents use the Internet for more than 3 h daily. Institutions should use new risk education methods in line with the tremendous technological growth and invest students' knowledge and time in this field. Better risk education teaching methods can save lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize accurate and fast firefighting at sea, a control method for water cannons of unmanned fireboats considering wind and ship motion disturbances is presented. This method combines information fusion, computer vision, and prediction technology based on neural network. Firstly, a prediction model of the jet trajectory of the fire water cannon considering the disturbances of constant horizontal wind is established, and the effective range of the water cannon's angles under the target working environment is obtained. Secondly, fusing the visual recognition information and predicted ship motion attitudes information, a double adaptive fuzzy controller is designed to compensate for the disturbances caused by the change in ship motion attitudes. Meanwhile, the online particle swarm optimization (PSO) is applied to fuzzy control to improve operational accuracy while enhancing the ability to adapt to environmental changes. The proposed control method was experimentally verified. As a result, the adaptive fuzzy controller based on the PSO can self-adjust the parameters to adapt to the changes in the working environment within 0.6 s, and the efficiency is improved by about 20%∼50% compared with the traditional fuzzy control. The double adaptive fuzzy control can reach a stable and effective working state within 10 simulation steps, and the RMSE of the drop point error is only 3  × 10 − 3 m for 40 simulation steps after stabilization, which can effectively resist disturbances and improve efficiency and control accuracy. The control method can provide a practical reference for engineering applications of water cannon control of unmanned fireboats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic cannon (Gauss cannon or Gauss rifle) experiment is notable for its cross-disciplinary nature within relevant physics concepts. It is simple, quick, and easy to execute, with a rich supply of mechanics and magnetism to be observed. It has an easy-to-use structure made of a few steel spheres positioned linearly on a rail. Taking these advantages into account, this paper presents a theoretical and experimental study of the Gauss cannon for classroom application using magnetism, kinematics, and energy and momentum conservation principles. The development was based on educational models of energy conservation in the Gauss cannon and was expanded to present a model that uses the principles of linear energy conservation and the potential energy of the magnets. The end result was the acquisition of an ejection velocity equation that could be tested experimentally. It was capable of accommodating more sphere configurations than the two works observed in the literature, and furthermore, it presents a more accurate values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]