Search

Sanitation is a critical issue in internally displaced people (IDP) camps, where the lack of proper infrastructure and services can pose major health and environmental dangers. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the sanitation situation in Kabarto 2 IDP Camp in Iraq using the Smart Sanitation Approach comprising of three tools: SFD (Shit Flow Diagram), CSDA (Citywide Sanitation Diagnostic Assessment), and ECAM (Energy and Carbon Assessment for Environmental Management). The results show that the camp's sanitation infrastructure is wholly unsafe, with faecal sludge (FS) not being properly contained, emptied, or treated. The operation of the desludging trucks and the incomplete treatment are the main causes of the sanitation system's greenhouse gas emissions. The paper offers recommendations for enhancing the design and construction of the containment systems and restoring or upgrading the treatment plant. In conclusion, the study suggests improving data collection and monitoring, clear roles and responsibilities for the developing a faecal sludge management policy. The paper also makes suggestions for potential future applications of these tools, including the use of these technologies in more IDP camps or humanitarian settings to produce more data and knowledge about the provision of sanitation services in these settings and promote service improvement in the region.

Object detection has made widespread development and remarkable progress in various fields, but, in complex application scenarios, often encounters the situation that the target features are inconspicuous and the scale range is large, making it incapable of achieving the desirable results, especially for small targets. This paper proposes a multi-scale object detector MSSD based on spatial pyramid depthwise convolution (SPDC) and efficient channel attention mechanism (ECAM) from the optimization of SSD. Firstly, use ResNet50 to replace VGG as backbone to obtain more representative features. Secondly, a plug-and-play spatial pyramid depthwise convolution module SPDC is proposed to enhance perceptual field and multi-scale feature extraction capabilities. Furthermore, we design a straightforward efficient channel attention mechanism (ECAM) to scale the weights of features on channels to derive more robust features. Finally, the feature pyramid network (FPN) with ECAM (ECAM-FPN) module is introduced in the prediction feature layer for deep feature fusion to obtain multi-scale features rich in semantic and detail information. For 300 × 300 input, MSSD achieves 82.5 % mAP on PASCAL VOC07+12 dataset at 56 FPS and 48.2 % mAP on MS COCO2017 dataset, which are 8.2 % and 7.0 % higher than SSD(300), respectively. Detection of small targets is improved by 0.8 % on COCO and by 6.5 % when scaled to 512 × 512. The proposed method has significant gains in cross-scale target detection while satisfying real time and is comparable with other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present scenario, electrochemical arc machining (ECAM) (hybrid of electric discharge erosion and electrochemical dissolution) is an evolving procedure for difficulty in machining the materials due to constraints of existing processes. This research aims to investigate the machinability of Ni 5 5. 7 Ti alloy through electrochemical arc drilling using molybdenum electrode. Electrolyte concentration (ethanol with ethylene glycol and sodium chloride), supply voltage, and tool rotation are considered as the variable factors to evaluate the ECAM performance characteristics in drilling blind hole operation concerning overcut (OC), tool wear rate (TWR) and materials removal rate (MRR). Consequently, response surface methodology is implemented for predictive modeling of various performance characteristics. Finally, multi-objective optimization through desirability function approach (DFA) has produced a set of optimal parameters to improve the productivity along with the accuracy, which is the prime requirement for the industrial applicability of the ECAM process. Results demonstrated that supply voltage is the influential key factor for improvement of machining rate. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs revealed the development of heat affected zone (HAZ), white layer, melted droplet, craters, re-solidified material, ridge-rich surface and voids as well as cavities around the end-boundary surfaces of a blind hole. Composition analysis through energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) indicated the oxygen content on the machined surface because electrolyte breakdown causes oxidation to take place at elevated temperatures across the machining zone. Moreover, carbide precipitation like TiC was found in the melting zone of the drilled hole, as revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, which has the affinity to reduce the SMA properties in HAZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We witness noteworthy developments in multifunctional materials progress through additive manufacturing techniques, enhanced by the revolution of Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things. Still, in specific circumstances, the performance of used materials is sometimes limited. Among the various existing techniques, the additive manufacturing (AM) process has gained much popularity over the last two decades and is one of the most revolutionary manufacturing techniques. In this comprehensive review, we have addressed the fundamentals of various Additive Manufacturing processes, including binder jetting, fused deposition modelling, Stereolithography, selective laser sintering/melting, direct energy deposition. Furthermore, recent advancements and emerging new technology in AM domain named electrochemical additive manufacturing is highlighted in this review as a major part. These processes' capabilities, advantages, limitations, and applications are also discussed. In the concluding sections of this work, future trends are offered and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For mechanical equipment, the wear particle in the lubrication system during equipment operation can reflect the lubrication condition, wear mechanism, and severity of wear between equipment friction pairs. To solve the problems of false detection and missed detection of small, dense, and overlapping wear particles in the current ferrography wear particle detection model in a complex oil background environment, a new ferrography wear particle detection network, EYBNet, is proposed. Firstly, the MSRCR algorithm is used to enhance the contrast of wear particle images and reduce the interference of complex lubricant backgrounds. Secondly, under the framework of YOLOv5s, the accuracy of network detection is improved by introducing DWConv and the accuracy of the entire network is improved by optimizing the loss function of the detection network. Then, by adding an ECAM to the backbone network of YOLOv5s, the saliency of wear particles in the images is enhanced, and the feature expression ability of wear particles in the detection network is enhanced. Finally, the path aggregation network structure in YOLOv5s is replaced with a weighted BiFPN structure to achieve efficient bidirectional cross-scale connections and weighted feature fusion. The experimental results show that the average accuracy is increased by 4.46%, up to 91.3%, compared with YOLOv5s, and the detection speed is 50.5FPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale-thick silver thin films (Ag-NTF) on indium tin oxide-coated glasses are fabricated at different deposition potentials (1.0–5.0 V) using an electrochemical three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The printing process is carried out using a nozzle with a diameter of 0.25 mm and a printing speed of 1.0 mm s–1. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data showed that the mean crystallite size of Ag is 17 nm. The optical and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) data revealed the uniform NTF nature of the Ag-NTF electrode. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data showed that Ag-NTF electrode particles have a spherical shape with an average size of 21 nm. Furthermore, electrochemical surface activity study showed that samples deposited at 3.0 V have the best electrochemical activity, and hence, the same are used to develop hydrogen peroxide sensors. The sensing measurements are done using a 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline (PBS) electrolyte. The sensitivity of the Ag-NTF comes out to be 25 ± 1 μA mM–1 cm–2 with a lower detection limit (LOD) of 1.0 μM. The selectivity of the electrode is tested using various interfering chemicals. The developed sensors showed excellent selectivity toward H2O2. Finally, the applicability of the Ag-NTF electrodes toward real-life samples is shown using bovine albumin serum (BSA) and rainwater. For the first time, this study has demonstrated the use of an electrochemical 3D printing process to fabricate electrodes for H2O2 sensing. The inherent nature of the process has the capability to eliminate the conventional tedious route to make such electrodes and to provide a one-step and efficient solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanitation is a critical issue in internally displaced people (IDP) camps, where the lack of proper infrastructure and services can pose major health and environmental dangers. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the sanitation situation in Kabarto 2 IDP Camp in Iraq using the Smart Sanitation Approach comprising of three tools: SFD (Shit Flow Diagram), CSDA (Citywide Sanitation Diagnostic Assessment), and ECAM (Energy and Carbon Assessment for Environmental Management). The results show that the camp's sanitation infrastructure is wholly unsafe, with faecal sludge (FS) not being properly contained, emptied, or treated. The operation of the desludging trucks and the incomplete treatment are the main causes of the sanitation system's greenhouse gas emissions. The paper offers recommendations for enhancing the design and construction of the containment systems and restoring or upgrading the treatment plant. In conclusion, the study suggests improving data collection and monitoring, clear roles and responsibilities for the developing a faecal sludge management policy. The paper also makes suggestions for potential future applications of these tools, including the use of these technologies in more IDP camps or humanitarian settings to produce more data and knowledge about the provision of sanitation services in these settings and promote service improvement in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we search for answers to modern medicine's most prevalent and challenging problems, the relationship between nutrition, immunity, and biological function of various natural compounds are preimminent. Nutritional research involving genomics provides rational capabilities for preventing disease. Scientific advances in genomic sequencing reveal opportunities for exploring diet-health relationships and potential for individual, genotype based dietary recommendations. Utilizing molecular and genetic technology to analyze impact of nutrition on genomics and metabolism reveals that nutrients may influence certain innate and/or acquired immune functions. By analyzing immune mechanisms including their cells and complex molecules, animal models have offered relevant insight that clarifies interrelations between immunity and nutrition. Plant products also provide numerous resources through bioengineering for designing novel pharmaceuticals. Having long been employed successfully in traditional and folk medicines, plant compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and angiogenic activity. As a result, we now have a promising arsenal for successful application of bioactive compounds.

Despite modern medicine's incredible innovation and resulting accumulation of valuable knowledge, many of the world's most problematic diseases such as Alzheimer Disease (AD) still lack effective cures and treatments. Western medicine has revealed many genetic, cellular, and molecular processes that characterize AD such as protein aggregation and inflammation. As the need for novel and effective treatments increases, researchers have turned towards traditional medicine as a resource. Modern, evidence based research examining traditional and complementary remedies for AD has generated promising results within the last decade. Animal based products inhibiting cellular toxicity, anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals such as omega-3 fatty acids, and plant based compounds derived from herbal medicine demonstrate viability as neuroprotective treatments and possible application in developing pharmaceuticals. Analysis of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective phytochemicals used in various traditional medicines around the world reveal potential to ameliorate and prevent the devastating neurodegeneration observed in AD.

This paper details the fundamental principles of the machining method spark assisted electrochemical machining (SAEM). SAEM is a further development of the electrochemical arc machining (ECAM) which makes use of the electrochemical discharge phenomenon to machine electrically conductive materials. ECAM is not able to drill micro-holes, but now, using SAEM a postponed electrochemical finishing of the SAEM drilled micro-hole can be realized. The mass flow calibration of a throttle plate can be done immediately after SAEM microdrilling by electrochemical machining (ECM) with a still axis-symmetrically located tool electrode with the same machining equipment, working media, and power source. To enable ECAM to drill micro-holes, its material removal mechanism is improved by combination with the contact arc as an additional mechanism. This mechanism is presented and explained herein. The machining efficiency of the newly developed SAEM is optimized by adjusting the gap control in such a way that the contact arc is generated with an adequate frequency. This reduces the machining time by almost 50 %. Some examples of SAEM drilled micro-holes, for which different electrolytes are used, are presented and the surface and heat affected zone of those micro-holes are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel transportable electronic platform aiming to characterize the performance of successive fast vertical visually guided pointing movements toward two fixed targets (eCAM test: electronic counting arm movement test) is described and one validation test is presented. This platform is based on an Arduino® micro-controller and a Processing® routine. It records both the pointing performance (number of clicks) and the elapsed time between two successive pointing movements. Using this novel platform, we studied the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied on the dominant upper limb in 15 healthy volunteers (mean age±SD: 22.3±4.3 years; 5 males/10 females). The following muscles were stimulated: flexor carpi radialis (FCR), extensor carpi radialis (ECR), biceps brachii (BB), and triceps brachii (TB). The intensities of the stimulation were 2 and 3 mA above the sensory threshold (ST). Movement times were lesser when performed against gravity and pointing performance improved with FES. We provide the first demonstration that low-intensity FES impacts on motor performances during successive vertical goaldirected pointing movements under visual guidance. The eCAM test is currently the sole electronic tool to assess quickly and easily the performances of successive vertical pointing movements. Future potential applications include, in particular, the follow-up of the effects of neurorehabilitation of neurological/ neurosurgical disorders associated with hand-eye incoordination, the functional evaluation of upper limb prosthesis or orthosis, and the analysis of the effects of FES in central or peripheral nervous system disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, single discharges of electrochemical arc machining are examined. The heat-affected zone is analyzed, and a model is set up to simulate the heat transfer into the workpiece. As an input parameter of the simulation, the temperature of the electrochemical arc machining process was determined to be 3,500 K by means of emission spectroscopy. The simulation shows that the diameter of the heat-affected zone is less dependent on discharge duration and heat transfer due to heat flux than on the arc spot diameter. As a result of the investigation, it became clear that varying diameters of the heat-affected zone have to evolve from different diameters of the plasma channel’s arc spot. Understanding the heat distribution into the workpiece in electrochemical arc machining with micro-machining parameters allows the further development of a micro-drilling process for electrically conductive materials based on electrochemical arc machining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most productive knitting machine, warp knitting machine has become one focus of the national "NC generation" mechanical product innovation project. This paper gives a detailed description of the high-speed data-bus, electronic gear, electronic cam, piezoelectric ceramic fast driving, which are the key technologies used in modern warp knitting machine CNC system. It also analyses the present situation and developing trend of warp knitting machine numerical control system systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the role of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) in the mobilization of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin by TNF-α and IL-1β in cultured human endothelial cells. Enzyme linked immunosorbent analysis (ELISA) was used to assess if ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin were expressed at the cell surface, and if PARP inhibition (using the selective PARP inhibitor GPI 6150) blocked the induced expression. Endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression was evaluated at 4 and at 24 h after cytokine stimulation. At 4 h ICAM-1 and E-selectin, but not VACM-1, were stimulated by both IL-1β and TNF-α. Blocking PARP via GPI 6150 only affected TNF-α induced E-selectin expression at 4 hours. ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin expression were all stimulated by both IL-1β and TNF-α in the 24 h assays. PARP inhibition with GPI 6150 blocked the IL-1β mediated stimulation of both ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression, and blocked TNF-α stimulation of ICAM-1 expression at 24 h. These experiments suggest that specific PARP inhibition may provide a novel method of controlling leukocyte dependent inflammation through the reduction of ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression in endothelial cells in response to cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Silver substrates are fabricated using a novel electrochemical 3D printing method. • LSPR-Raman detection of pharmaceutical drugs using fabricated silver substrates. • LSPR effect provides up to four times of enhancement in Raman signals. Quick detection of pharmaceutical drugs, such as paracetamol, pantoprazole sodium, and diclofenac sodium, by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) Raman using novel meniscus confined electrochemical additive manufacturing (ECAM) printed silver nanoparticle substrate is studied. The ECAM printing process produced pure phase silver substrates without any impurity, and the quality of the electro-deposited substrates is analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The electro-deposited nanoparticle substrate has average crystallite and particle size 18 nm and 60 nm respectively. The LSPR Raman spectra show up to four times enhancement in the original Raman signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The typical treatment scheme of a large municipal wastewater treatment plant (LWWTP) is almost always the result of design based on technical and economic criteria. Once a threshold in terms of population equivalent (PE) is reached, it is possible that additional sludge thermal treatment might be required. Aspects such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land use for the construction of the WWTP or the service landfill are considered marginal in current design practice; in a world that requires increasingly attention to the environment, these criteria cannot be ignored when defining the treatment scheme of a LWWTP. With the intent of providing a sustainable approach to design, this study aims to identify the best treatment scheme for a LWWTP with a 720,000 PE size. Methodologically, the study involves the development of an approach based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Six alternative treatment schemes were considered; two simplified schemes, without primary sedimentation, with extended aeration activated sludge processes and aerobic sludge stabilization; four full schemes, with primary sedimentation and anaerobic sludge digestion. Some schemes differ for the organic loading rate applied; others for the use of sludge incineration. Subsequently, six evaluation criteria (ECs) such as GHG emissions, electricity consumption, running costs, WWTP planimetric area, surface for the service landfill, as well as WWTP as biorefinery have been considered. The weighting of the ECs involved the participation of the main stakeholders in such a decision-making process, following a bottom-up approach. The resolution of the MCDA problem allowed the identification of the full scheme based on primary sedimentation, biological activated sludge at low organic load (0.210 kgBOD 5 /kgVSS/d) and anaerobic sludge digestion as the best solution. The sensitivity analysis, able to indirectly take into account the multitude of decision makers involved, allowed corroborating the results. The obtained treatment scheme was different from that generally adopted in current design practice for LWWTPs. • Six alternative schemes were considered to design a large wastewater treatment plant. • Unconventional criteria such as GHG emissions and energy consumption were considered. • Six stakeholders active in decision making processes of this kind were considered. • Best treatment scheme involves anaerobic digestion, avoiding sludge thermal treatment. • Five out of the six best treatment schemes came first in the final ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]