Application Of Available Technologies Research Articles

An Overview of carbonate complex characteristics on dam sites along The Neretva River

1. Extended abstractAn extensive inventory of engineering rock properties presents an essential feature for characterization of the site which is of vital importance for engineering activities. Geotechnical modelling is a highly sophisticated procedure that considers number of influential factors on rock mass conditions and properties which are of particular interest in design of large, capital buildings. In specific geological environments, such as karst, it is practically impossible to obtain specific design parameters without multidisciplinary approach that involves experts in various fields (engineers, hydrologists, geologists, speleologist) coupled with the application of available technologies and methods to survey the site and foreseen possible risks for the project.Carbonate complexes are present in the maritime and central belt of the Dinaric Alps through which Neretva River flows. In river’s central basin, Salakovac and Grabovica hydroelectric gravity dams were constructed, the case study sites analysed in this paper. In this area, numerous field and laboratory tests of mechanical and dynamic properties had been carried out. The current work is a continuation of previous studies conducted by Selimoviæ (2004) and further deepened by Špago (2010) and related publications and aims to provide an overview of the practice and methods, highlight common issues and risks of designing and building in karst and to draw the lines among a spectra of rock characterization parameters used to describe carbonate complexes in Neretva River area.Validated regression models that examine the correlation between rock properties were used to create clusters of rock mass quality and the corresponding values for static and dynamic parameters to enable faster yet sufficiently accurate input data for geotechnical modelling process for initial project stages. With each construction project in the surrounding, given dataset should be supplemented with newly obtained data that would improve the accuracy of the model and open an opportunity for development of new model types to make geotechnical analysis more reliable while deepening the understanding on local conditions for designing and building in the karst areas of Neretva.

Engineered technologies for the separation and degradation of microplastics in water: A review

In recent years, the presence of the group of contaminants, termed as microplastics (MPs) has been recognized as significant water pollutants with considerable potential for exerting adverse impacts on human health and wildlife. Natural attenuation has practically no effect while conventional treatment processes are not capable of entirely removing MPs which are reported to accumulate in the environment, in organisms in the aquatic food web and, potentially reaching humans. This in-depth review critically evaluates the state-of-the-art engineered technologies suitable for the separation and degradation of microplastics in water with potential for real-scale application. The outcomes of the review confirmed that very limited number of studies are reported in this field, the majority from recent years and have focused on using phase-changing processes, including coagulation-flocculation, flotation, and membrane processes. A few other studies have reported the use of chemical or biological digestion, and even fewer, engineered removal using biodegradation, wet oxidation, and advanced oxidation processes. This paper focuses on the type of MPs being removed, the process conditions and the outcomes reported in research literature. The emerging trends in the field are also highlighted as well as the identification of current knowledge gaps and future research directions along with perceptive comments and recommendations related to the application of available technologies for water treatment.

East Village at Knutsford: A Case Study in Sustainable Urbanism

With increasing pressure to ensure that sustainability features in homes are commercially viable, demonstration projects are vital to highlight the real-world challenges and opportunities for innovation. This paper documents the incorporation of sustainability objectives into the “East Village at Knutsford” residential “living laboratory” development, within the Knutsford urban regeneration precinct, approximately 1.5 km east of the Fremantle central business district in Western Australia. The sustainability objectives for the project include being a “Net Zero Energy Development” using 100% renewable energy and maximizing the self-supply of energy, reducing mains water consumption as much as is practical, and using the landscape design to complement these objectives without compromising a best-practice urban greening outcome. The paper documents the design initiatives and strategies that have been included to achieve these objectives in a commercially viable project and the results of modelling where it has been used to test the design against the objectives to ensure their validity. The key features that have been incorporated into the townhouses component of the development are outlined, illustrating integrated design and systems thinking that builds on previous demonstration projects, incorporating solar energy storage and electric vehicle charging plus significant mains water savings by adopting water-sensitive features in the homes and the within the private and public gardens. The expected grid energy and mains water consumption levels in the homes through modelling compared to the metropolitan average is 80% lower. The project is presented as an important step in the application of available technologies and design features to meet stated sustainability objectives, highlighting the benefits of an embedded living laboratory research approach.

The Introduction of the Laryngeal Mask Airway for Surfactant Administration in Neonates with Respiratory Distress in Azerbaijan

In coordination with the the United States of America’s Fulbright Program for Visiting Scholars, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan invited a neonatologist from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Nashville, TN, USA) to Baku to discuss the advanced care of and application of available technologies to care for critically ill and premature infants. One of the main focuses of this visit was to introduce a new method for the administration of pulmonary surfactant through the placement and use of the laryngeal mask airway. Training consisted of both theoretical and practical sessions held at the Shaki Perinatal Centre, Ganja Perinatal Centre, Azerbaijan Medical University, Scientific Research Institute of Pediatrics, Scientific Research Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Republican (Central, National) Perinatal Centre and Republican (Central, National) Clinical Hospital. Nearly two hundred neonatal physicians were trained to use this device. The objective of this paper is to review Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome and discuss treatment of this common neonatal problem with a laryngeal mask airway and the instillation of surfactant.

Advances in post-fermented wine clarification by centrifugal technology

Wine clarification processes are deeply determined by complex interaction of wine constituents and application of available technologies as well as use of fining agents. Among others, centrifuge is a consolidated technique applied for many separation duties in the winery. Important advances on improvement of the performance of centrifugal technology have beeen focused on gentle wine treatment, minimal dissolved oxygen and significant reduction of energy consumption helping to dispel old beliefs on a technique considered to be traditional. This paper reviews the development of technology and recent advances on centrifuge improvement and aims to show, through field experimental observation, the importance of removing a portion of particles responsible of haze in the light of very low level of dissolved oxygen and complementarity of alternative recent techniques of wine filtration like cross-flow microfiltration.

Advances in post-fermented wine clarification by centrifugal technology

Wine clarification processes are deeply determined by complex interaction of wine constituents and application of available technologies as well as use of fining agents. Among others, centrifuge is a consolidated technique applied for many separation duties in the winery. Important advances on improvement of the performance of centrifugal technology have beeen focused on gentle wine treatment, minimal dissolved oxygen and significant reduction of energy consumption helping to dispel old beliefs on a technique considered to be traditional. This paper reviews the development of technology and recent advances on centrifuge improvement and aims to show, through field experimental observation, the importance of removing a portion of particles responsible of haze in the light of very low level of dissolved oxygen and complementarity of alternative recent techniques of wine filtration like cross-flow microfiltration.

Conflict Resolution Through Effective Communication

Freedom of expression has surfaced in large parts of the world, particularly the newly independent nations and the countries that remained in isolation, along with the spread of democracies in those countries. With the rise of free expression of views often contesting with one another, conflicts of different kinds that were under suppression earlier, also emerged. Conflict in itself is considered neither good nor bad but it is judged by its outcome. Study of conflict, specifically the causes behind it relating to power struggle, economic competition, is important for achieving peace. One of the important tools for resolving conflicts is effective communication. Despite the stupendous advancement of information and communication technologies (ICTs), existence of digital divide has presented serious constraints in the application of available technologies. Potential of ICTs in conflict resolution is being increasingly recognized as it assists in promoting peace, preventing conflict through the use of early warning system. While the mobile technology generated SMS is credited for success of 'Arab Spring', considered as a non-violent method for regime change, there are also problems associated with it in fueling conflicts. It is, thus, necessary for communication, particularly media, to become transparent, reliable and ethical. Use of English language in doing business today cannot be overemphasized. Sometimes it requires more than language to resolve conflicts arising out of national interest related issues of the countries concerned. Sustainable peace demands intervention of a non-violent nature with consideration given to social justice and human rights. Effective communication in not merely an act of entering into dialogue and relaying views and perceptions to conflicting parties but also securing their trust and confidence in order to arrive at a mutually agreeable agreement for securing peace.

The Application of Available Technologies for the Utilization and Commercialization of Resources and Benefits Obtained from Solar Energy

Abstract The objective of this study is to analyze the limits of, both, medium and long-term economic competitiveness of solar energy in Spain, studying the level of development that this form of energy production would presumably have, and the role that companies and the government should play to become competitive with fossil fuels, and other emerging developing sources. Using grounded theory and the study of cases, an analysis of the solar industry in Spain, focused on solar technology, was developed. Moreover, as tools to characterize the sector PESTEL analysis, Porter's five forces and Porter's Diamond model were used. The conclusions of the analysis show that Spain could become a world reference model if the involved agents have coordination of value amongst them.

Augmented Reality: An Enhancer for Higher Education Students in Math's Learning?

In this text, we intend to answer to the following question: is Augmented Reality an enhancer for Higher Education students in math's learning? For this purpose, we define augmented reality and present a state of the art mapped mainly by studies that focus AR in educational contexts. We also describe our research, including methodological aspects in data collection and the creation of 3D contents in AR. Then, we synthesize the analysis of some preliminary data, briefly presenting perceptions and practices of students in math's learning with AR contents. Finally, we conclude that the challenges that are nowadays put to teaching methods, acquisition and subsequent knowledge consolidation may be met, to some extent, by the application of available technologies. These, in turn, should enhance a more complete understanding of contents, leading to knowledge endogenization and also to the internalization of more sustained competencies. Among those technologies, we highlight augmented reality since it can encourage motivation, comprehension and a higher involvement with the contents to be learned. Thus, it may increase the use of information and the access to knowledge, improving digital and info-inclusion.

39IN - Will Circulating Biomarkers Help to Deliver Precision Medicine?

ABSTRACT Precision or personalised medicine represent an emerging approach in treating prostate cancer (PrCa) through the application of available technologies to identify molecular alterations that will allow us to tailor treatments to each particular case. Nonetheless, a preliminary critical step for the application of personalised medicine is to validate this approach through clinical trials that aim either to validate a predictive biomarker of response in a non–‐selected population or to treat a selected population based on a strong biological rationale. A key handicap limiting the general implementation of this approach is the need of available tumour tissue. Since the clonal or polyclonal origin of metastatic disease remains controversial, repeated biopsies may be required as the disease advances. This difficulty in acquiring tumour tissue has prompted many efforts to identify and validate blood—based circulating biomarkers. Such markers are repeatable, less invasive, and could be easily implemented in clinical practice. The isolation of circulating tumour cells (CTCs)is a good example with a potential utility in delivering precision medicine. CTCs are a surrogate of tumour tissue and have already been employed to identify the expression of targets (i.e. IGF—1R, HER2), tumour mutations (i.e. AR) and genomic events (i.e. AR amplification,TMPRSS2-ERG). Recently, the identification of the alternative splicing variant AR-V7 from CTCs has been suggested as a marker of resistance to enzalutamide or abiraterone and its implementation on clinical trials to stratify patients for these therapies is underway. Genomic wide association studies (GWAS) have previously been used to study PrCa risk, but nowadays are being applied to identify genetic common variants associated with outcomes, treatment response and toxicities. Furthermore, whole blood expression profiling has also proven to be able to stratify advanced PrCa and may hold some potential in selecting patients for immunotherapy. Lastly, the isolation of tumour exosomes as well as circulating— free (cf)—DNA may provide another priceless source tumour material. Current technologies allow to identify genetic/genomic aberrations from cf—DNA, representative of different tumour clones. Disclosure: waiting disclosure from speaker.

Current Laboratory Instrumental Methods for Detecting Environmental Radioactivity

The composite technologies required to provide data on environmental radioactivity encompass the following specialties: · Radiochemistry · Radiation Physics · Radiation detectors · Computer systems and programming · Quality Control/Quality Assurance · Regulations · A black-box understanding of electronics sufficient to package the technologies into a useful system. This paper concentrates on "Laboratory Instrumental Methods" and touches on other subjects only insofar as they are applied directly to this subject. As a treatise on instrumental methods the emphasis is on a practical application of available technologies in a modern analytical laboratory. Radiation physics is mentioned from the reference frame of a laboratory analyst as a prelude to the specific topics of instrumentation, calibration, sensitivity, quality control and data processing.