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Reactive pollutant dispersion in a 3-D urban street canyon is numerically investigated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code (Ansys-CFX), with the k –ε turbulence model and includes transport equations for NO, NO 2 , and O 3 with simple photochemistry. An area emission source of NO and NO 2 was considered in the presence of background O 3 with an ambient wind perpendicular to the along-canyon direction. The results showed that the magnitude of NO x (NO+NO 2 ) concentrations on the leeward side of the upstream buildings was much larger than the windward side of the downstream building, due to the entrainment and dispersion of traffic emissions by the primary vortex. The reverse is the case for ozone with higher concentrations on the windward side compared to the leeward side. The model has been validated against no-reactive pollutant experimental data of the wind tunnel experiments of Hoydysh and Dabberdt [1].

The pathology that appears in reinforced concrete structures, old and new, is inevitable and involves all stakeholders at all levels of responsibility, from the technician to the decision maker at the highest level. It also concerns engineers from design offices and experts from offices responsible for diagnosing existing structures, as well as engineers from repair companies. Like all countries in the world, the study of the pathology and safety of civil engineering buildings is one of the big problems encountered in the field of construction in Algeria. The foundations are among of the structural elements of the buildings most affected by this damage, these constitute the link between the structure and the soil, they allow the transmission of loads from the structure to the soil. If these structural elements are damaged, they affect the general stability of the building. Depending on the severity of the damage, it can cause the building collapse. The main objective of this paper is to study a pathological case of foundation failure of a residential building: from diagnosis to reparation. This repair was carried out according to an intervention plan comprising stages spread over time, this allowed the strengthening of the infrastructure and gave the building an acceptable level of security.

Presently, Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) are extensively utilised in several industrial sectors, and the modelling of their mechanical behaviour is consistently advancing. Most studies investigate the impact of layers on the mechanical characteristics, resulting in a discontinuity in the material. In the present study, the extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) technique is used to analyse the damage in a Metal/Ceramic plate (FGM-Al/SiC) with a circular central notch. The plate is subjected to a uniaxial tensile force. The maximum stress criterion was employed for fracture initiation and the energy criterion for its propagation and evolution. The FGM (Al/SiC) structure is graded based on its thickness using a modified power law. The plastic characteristics of the structure were estimated using the Tamura-Tomota-Ozawa (TTO) model in a user-defined field variables (USDFLD) subroutine. Validation of the numerical model in the form of a stress-strain curve with the findings of the experimental tests was established following a mesh sensitivity investigation and demonstrated good convergence. The influence of the notch dimensions and gradation exponent on the structural response and damage development was also explored. Additionally, force-displacement curves were employed to display the data, highlighting the fracture propagation pattern within the FGM structure.

The present study deals with the influence of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 4000 in the protection of Piroxicam polymorphs which could appear during the processes of formulation of extended release tablets. The physico-chemical tests and the dissolution profiles of polymorphs and tablets showed that the metolose incorporated in the tablets at a rate equivalent to 5% could possibly act doubly; initially by protecting the piroxicam polymorphism transition (form II) during compression, then modulating its in vitro release (extended release).

Casing wear is a persistent issue in oil and gas drilling facilities that call for innovative more wear-resistant materials to mitigate casing failures. The present work examines the tribological performance of a novel composite lining comprised of Kevlar honeycomb in a matrix of epoxy reinforced with Zirconia particles against hardband drillpipe tooljoint (DP-TJ). Three side loads (1000, 1200, and 1400 N) and three DP-TJ speeds (0.43, 0.76, and 1.02 m/s) were considered under dry sliding conditions. The results showed that the specific wear rate (K) increased with speed at all side loads. However, K value was found to reach a maximum, reaching 20.3*10−8 MPa−1 at 1200 N before dropping to about 8.5*10−8 MPa−1 when the load is increased to 1400 N. This decline in specific wear rate at the load of 1400 N was attributed to the growth of a double transfer layer through the alignment of zirconia particles in the lining. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of worn surfaces revealed that higher K values are associated with more adhesion, delamination, and fiber breakage. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the worn surface and the debris collected after the wear test reveals minimal wear of DP-TJ. The epoxy/Kevlar-honeycomb composite lining demonstrated appreciable wear resistance even under dry sliding conditions.

Background: Over the past decades, Capparis spinosa has been reported as a therapeutic traditional medicine to relieve various ailments. Mastitis causes a decrease in milk production and treated usually using of injectable and intra-mammary antibiotics. Aim: Investigating the therapeutic effect of ethanolic root extract of Capparis spinosa on subclinical mastitis in sheep. Methods: A total of 164 lactating ewes were selected randomly from the flocks found in some areas belongs to Al-Najaf City (Najaf, Iraq) during September-December (2022). Each study animal was subjected for direct sampling of milk prior, and once each week for 6 weeks (42 days) post treatment to be tested directly by the California mastitis test (CMT). Results: Concerning phytochemical testing of ethanolic roots extract of C. spinosa, the findings were revealed a significant increase in concentration of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols and tannins when compared to other components; coumarins, saponin, glycosides, amino acid and steroid. In this study, there were 44.51% infected ewes with subclinical mastitis involving 25.61%, 13.41% and 5.49% for scores 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In comparison with pre-treatment week, insignificant alteration was seen in values of all scores of the therapeutic week 1. However, significant differences were initiated in values of score 0 in the week 2; score 0 and score 2 in the week 3; score 0, score 1 and score 2 in the week 4; and values of all scores in weeks 5 and 6. Conclusion: This represents the first Iraqi study aimed for treatment of subclinical mastitis in sheep using the root extract of C. spinosa. Phytochemical testing of ethanolic extract revealed the presence of variable amounts of chemical compounds that reflect their effects on treated animals through decreasing the number of infected ewes with the disease. Moreover, studies are of great importance to detect the effect of other parts of C. spinosa such as leaves and seeds on the disease and other animal diseases. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(3.000): 814-821]

The need to ensure food security and promote environmental sustainability has led to a transformative period in agriculture. This period is characterized by the use of novel technology, which provides solutions that effectively address ecological concerns while also ensuring economic viability. Emerging technologies, such as precision farming enabled by drones, sensor-based monitoring systems and genetic editing techniques that result in drought-resistant crops, are significantly changing the agricultural sector. The integration of data analytics and machine learning algorithms is transforming supply chain management and enhancing the capabilities of predictive analytics in the context of crop diseases. Technological interventions serve to optimize efficiency and minimize the adverse ecological effects associated with farming, promoting the goals of sustainable agriculture. However, it is important to carefully address ethical and socio-economic considerations, including accessibility and data privacy, to manage these effects effectively. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the contributions of emerging technology to sustainable agriculture, evaluate its constraints, and suggest a comprehensive framework for its ethical and equitable integration. Communication technology has also impacted the agricultural sector, particularly with the increased use of connected devices. Artificial intelligence and deep learning advancements make processing collected data faster and more efficient, leading to more sustainable agricultural production using free, open-source software and sensor technology solutions. This technology enhances land optimization and boosts agricultural productivity, making sustainable farming practices more viable for both large and small-scale farmers. Our bibliometric analysis indicates a notable increase in interest in integrating sustainable agricultural methods with new technologies, particularly since 2018. It also revealed a strong link between precision agriculture, smart farming, machine learning, and the Internet of Things. However, awareness of technology is not very prevalent in the Asian region, especially among small-scale farmers. As a result, excessive usage of agricultural resources and wastage bring many adverse repercussions, and it's a high constraint to sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

The importance of antioxidants has gained much attention due to the increase in the prevalence of various non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases, which occur due to excess reactive species. The widespread use of synthetic antioxidants in the food industry has raised concerns about their potential harmful effects on health. As a result, the utilization of natural antioxidants to preserve food and as a source of dietary antioxidants has gained attention. Essential oils extracted from Apiaceae family plants are an excellent source of antioxidants. In this review, research findings regarding the antioxidant activity of selected Apiaceae family members and their applications are discussed.

Annona fruit, leaves, seeds, roots, and bark have been conventionally used in many countries for medical treatments as they are considered ideal sources of pharmacologically active compounds, but Annona remains an underutilized fruit in many countries. The fruit of these plants is delicately flavored and is used in industrial products such as ready-to-serve beverages, wine, jellies, jam, and fruit-butter preserve, while the seeds generally go to waste. Annona seed oil contains numerous health-benefiting factors such as vitamins, minerals, bioactive compounds, fatty acids, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds, which are responsible for various biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. Cancer is a worldwide major health problem that remains unresolved. Even though the current treatments can manage to reduce tumor growth, there is an urgent need to investigate more efficient but less expensive novel techniques to overcome some of the restrictions in treating tumors. Annona might offer an indispensable choice besides chemotherapy and radiotherapy, especially for terminally ill patients, as the Annona genus contains secondary metabolites in nearly every component of Annona plants. Research has shown that many Annona species contain promising components that could potentially exhibit anticancer activity, but the information available is scarce and inconsistent. Annona muricata (Soursop, “Katuanoda”), Annona squamosa (Sweetsop, “Seenianoda”), and Annona reticulata (Custard apple, “Welianoda”) are three commonly cultivated edible Annona species in Sri Lanka. The main objective of the review was to present an updated comprehensive literature analysis of the putative chemopreventive functions against cancer cell lines/the anticancer effect on cancers, phytochemical properties, and antioxidant properties possessed by the seed oils of three selected common Annona species. Although there are some in vitro and in vivo experimental investigations supporting the benefits of Annona seed oils, clinical investigations are still needed to explore concealed areas, determine the effects on the human body, determine the safest concentration, and determine health-contributing benefits before they are submitted to clinical trials.

This work demonstrates the development and effectiveness of a novel diagnostic device that uses virtual reality (VR) and micro-heating touch feedback to measure the size and temperature of lung tumors. This cutting-edge technology helps with the accurate diagnosis and localization of tumors by providing users with a warm sensation when they touch a 3D rendering of a tumor inside a VR environment. By integrating thermal feedback with immersive VR, we enhance the accuracy and intuitiveness of tumor detection, potentially contributing to better diagnostic results and enabling more efficient treatment planning. The integration of thermal feedback not only enhances the realism of the virtual interaction but also makes it easier for the user to locate tumors precisely based on temperature changes. This new method offers a more thorough and interactive way to assess the identification and localization of lung cancers, which is a significant improvement in medical diagnostics. Rapid identification and detection are crucial as they can significantly enhance survival probabilities, especially since early detection is often challenging. This paper presents the development of a novel device for lung tumor analysis, employing VR and thermal technologies to provide thermal touch feedback. At the core of this device is the innovative use of microheater-based technology, integrating new techniques for thermal sensation. Through the use of a VR interface, our microheater device was examined. Users were able to interact with 3D-rendered lung tumors and experience a heat sensation that was different from the surrounding lung tissue. The MEMS microheater demonstrated a response time of approximately 16 seconds, significantly faster than the 200 seconds required by traditional Peltier devices. The preliminary results show that our microheater device offers optimal performances in terms of response time and allows low energy consumption (range of milliwatts), compared to the Peltier actuator. The results further demonstrate that our microheater’s optimized thermal touch feedback produces precise and safe temperatures for tumor detection.

The Special Capital Region (DKI) of Jakarta is an area that experiences population growth every year, which raises the number of housing-related needs and reduces the amount of available vacant land for housing. In order to get around the lack of land for housing, a plan for flats—like the West Jatinegara Flats—must be implemented. The spaces in an apartment that are designed by an architect are required to produce a design that takes into account the comfort factor of the space for the occupants or users in addition to aesthetics. Residents feel comfortable if they are at a thermal temperature of between 22.8℃-25.8℃ with humidity of 70%. The study, "Evaluation of Space Comfort based on Occupant Satisfaction in West Jatinegara Flats Residential Units," attempts to ascertain whether or not improving strategies are required to raise space comfort based on occupant satisfaction and whether or not an appropriate level of space comfort is achieved. This study employs the quantitative method, which entails gathering primary and secondary data and conducting interviews with at least 10% of the resident population selected at random. This study's results indicate that improvement strategies are required to improve room comfort. These strategies include organizing each room to make it cozier and more compact, considering the type of opening material, the opening area ratio, and the materials used for the glass and frame to prevent breakage and damage to the windows and handles. Every room in the residential unit needs to have optimal air exchange during strong wind conditions.

Due to their attractive properties and simplicity, chaotic systems have garnered a lot of attention recently as a source of randomness and unpredictability. In many areas of computer applications, including information security, simulation, gaming etc., their inherent properties, such as sensitivity to the initial conditions, random-like behavior, and unpredictability, are highly desired. The usefulness of such systems as a source of randomness, however, is diminished by the fact that the digital implementation of such systems directly affects their dynamical behavior. This work aims to propose a simple and effective circuit for minimizing the effects of the digitization process on the behavior of chaotic systems and to achieve a strong and secure chaos-based PRNG. The proposed circuit has two main parts. The first is meant to make the digitized chaotic map even more random, and the second is meant to make the cycle-length longer. The proposed circuit has been performed on the logistic chaotic map. The improved map underwent several evaluations using a set of mathematical and statistical tools to affirm the improvement made to it. The simulation results have shown that the improved chaotic map provides better randomness and statistical properties. On the other hand, the designed improved map was synthesized on the Xilinx ZYNQ 7000 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) where it provided better performance with low implementation cost compared with other proposals.

This research work focused on the study of morphological diversity in 270 types of Artemisia herba-alba, known as “white wormwood,” from different bioclimatic stages and its relationship with the distribution and adaptation of the species. The phenotypic parameters studied include the aerial vegetative part of the leaves and the flowers. The existing relationships between the ecological conditions and the genetic dynamics expressed by the morphological polymorphism of the populations concerned have been established. Results obtained allowed us to admit that we have two ecotypes in Algeria: the first one has five flowers per capitulum and can be found at the level of the three bioclimatic floors studied; whereas the second one has eight flowers per capitulum occupying only the territories with a Saharan climate. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and UPGMA dendrogram allowed us to observe a very significant intra- and inter-population morphological polymorphism at the level of each site and between the different sites. This wide variability thus observed for A. herba-alba could help research on a large collection of individuals and therefore to choose the most effective ecotypes in order to reintroduce this species in the steppe areas of Algeria.

Abstract The valorization of paper mill sludge (PMS) is the main goal of this study. The emissions of PMS continue to increase at global scale, especially from packaging paper and board sectors. The raw sludge was used to prepare an adsorbent to remove toxic pollutants from wastewater, the methylene blue (MB), an organic dye. Firstly, the physico-chemical characterization of PMS was done determining the crystalline phases of PMS fibers, the content of main elements, and the pH zero point charge, which was determined at around pH 7. The adsorption of MB on PMS powder was studied at 18 °C with an agitation of 200 rpm, being the best operating conditions 30 min of contact time, 250 mg L−1 of initial MB concentration and 0.05 g in 25 mL of adsorbent dose. Experimental data of MB adsorption was fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. The Langmuir model was more accurate for the equilibrium data of MB adsorption at pH 5.1. The PFOM and PSOM were adjusted to experimental adsorption kinetics data, being PSOM, which describes better the MB adsorption by PMS powder. This was confirmed by calculating the maximum adsorption capacity with PSOM, which was 42.7 mg g−1, being nearly similar of the experimental value of 43.5 mg g−1. The analysis of adsorption thermodynamics showed that the MB was adsorbed exothermically with a ΔH0 = − 20.78 kJ mol−1, and spontaneously with ΔG0 from − 0.99 to − 6.38 kJ mol−1 in the range of temperature from 291 to 363 K, respectively. These results confirm that the sludge from paper industry can be used as biosorbent with remarkable adsorption capacity and low cost for the treatment of wastewater. PMS can be applied in the future for the depollution of the effluents from the textile industry, which are highly charged with dyes.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance (AR) poses a significant threat to both public health and aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as potential hotspots for disseminating AR in the environment. However, only a limited number of studies have been conducted on AR dissemination through WWTPs in Sri Lanka. To address this knowledge gap in AR dissemination through WWTP operations in Sri Lanka, we critically examined the global situation of WWTPs as hotspots for transmitting antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) by evaluating more than a hundred peer-reviewed international publications and available national publications. Our findings discuss the current state of operating WWTPs in the country and highlight the research needed in controlling AR dissemination. The results revealed that the impact of different wastewater types, such as clinical, veterinary, domestic, and industrial, on the dissemination of AR has not been extensively studied in Sri Lanka; furthermore, the effectiveness of various wastewater treatment techniques in removing ARGs requires further investigation to improve the technologies. Furthermore, existing studies have not explored deeply enough the potential public health and ecological risks posed by AR dissemination through WWTPs.

This study explores the potential of olive leaves, long integral to Mediterranean traditional medicine, as a rich source of valuable compounds. The challenge lies in their considerable water content, hindering these compounds’ full valorization. Four drying methods (air-drying, oven-drying, freeze-drying and solar-drying) were investigated for their impact on nutrient and bioactive compound content in the leaves of four olive varieties (“Arbequina”, “Koroneiki”, “Menara” and “Picholine Marocaine”) cultivated in Morocco. In their fresh state, “Picholine Marocaine” exhibited the highest protein levels (6.11%), “Arbequina” had the highest phenolic content (20.18 mg gallic acid equivalents/g fresh weight (FW)), and “Koroneiki” and “Menara” were highest in flavonoids (3.28 mg quercetin equivalents/g FW). Specific drying methods proved optimal for different varieties. Oven-drying at 60 °C and 70 °C effectively preserved protein, while phenolic content varied with drying conditions. Air-drying and freeze-drying demonstrated effectiveness for flavonoids. In addition, an analytical approach using high-performance liquid chromatography and diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was applied to investigate the effects of the different drying methods on the bioactive fraction of the analyzed samples. The results showed qualitative and quantitative differences depending on both the variety and the drying method used. A total of 11 phenolic compounds were tentatively identified, with oleuropein being the most abundant in all the samples analyzed. The freeze-dried samples showed the highest content of oleuropein in the varieties “Arbequina” and “Picholine Marocaine” compared to the other methods analyzed. In contrast, “Koroneiki” and “Menara” had higher oleuropein content when air dried. Overall, the obtained results highlight the importance of tailored drying techniques for the preservation of nutrients and bioactive compounds in olive leaves.

Abstract Detecting detonators is a challenging task because they can be easily mis-classified as being a harmless organic mass, especially in high baggage throughput scenarios. Of particular interest is the focus on automated security X-ray analysis for detonators detection. The complex security scenarios require increasingly advanced combinations of computer-assisted vision. We propose an extensive set of experiments to evaluate the ability of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models to detect detonators, when the quality of the input images has been altered through manipulation. We leverage recent advances in the field of wavelet transforms and established CNN architectures—as both of these can be used for object detection. Various methods of image manipulation are used and further, the performance of detection is evaluated. Both raw X-ray images and manipulated images with the Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE), wavelet transform-based methods and the mixed CLAHE RGB-wavelet method were analyzed. The results showed that a significant number of operations, such as: edges enhancements, altered color information or different frequency components provided by wavelet transforms, can be used to differentiate between almost similar features. It was found that the wavelet-based CNN achieved the higher detection performance. Overall, this performance illustrates the potential for a combined use of the manipulation methods and deep CNNs for airport security applications.

Penicillium digitatum causes severe damage to postharvest and stored citrus fruits, making it necessary to seek acceptable solutions limiting environmental and sanitary impacts. The seaweed liquid extracts (SLEs) obtained from the green macroalgae Ulva lactuca have previously shown anti-fungal activities towards postharvest green mold due to P. digitatum. Moreover, treatment with aqueous and ethanolic extracts had an influence on disease incidence and lesion severity on wounded oranges “Valentia late”. Therefore, we studied the abilities of the U. lactuca extracts and chlorophyll a (as a standard) to activate defense mechanisms in oranges. The analyses showed modifications in the protein concentrations and activities of β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase in orange tissues, with a maximum activity level reached at 72 h after treatments. It appears that the SLEs were able to fight P. digitatum infections in the absence of direct contact with the pathogen, reflecting that the induction of host resistance is also a probable mode of action. Ulva lactuca fractions are rich in chlorophyll a, polyphenols, organic acids and ulvans, which might be the key molecules involved in the defense mechanism of oranges’ albedo. The use of these natural substances could be an alternative way to control postharvest citrus rot.

In the world the demand and consumption of raw materials and minerals is sharply increasing, which has encouraged countries around the world to intensify the mining of different materials and ores such as phosphate. In Algeria, while phosphates are one of the country's most important natural resources; they are ranked third in the world in terms of proven reserves with 2,200,000 tones, mining of this ore is low. The Bled El Hadba deposit is one of the promising Djebel Onk’s deposits with 841 million tons of reserves and which starts mining in 2020. The ore is exploited by the open pit method, therefore a large quantity of waste rock will be evacuated to appropriate surfaces called waste rock dumps, and will consequently induce an increasingly serious destruction of the eco-environment. Intelligent use of solid mine waste to compensate for resource scarcity and protect the environment appears to be a necessity. The main purpose of our research work involves the characterization and environmental management of sand waste rocks from Bled El Hadba phosphate deposit. In this context, we studied a series of runs: Particle size analysis, Cleanliness by the equivalent of sand, and chemical analysis. The results obtained are promising and encouraging for the use of sand waste from the mining of phosphates from Bled El Hadba in the glass and building materials industry.