Candle Burning Research Articles

Virtual cleaning of sooty mural hyperspectral images using the LIME model and improved dark channel prior

Murals, as important carriers of cultural heritage and historical records, showcase artistic, aesthetic, social, and political significance. In ancient times, religious activities such as burning incense and candles in temples led to many murals being polluted by soot, causing them to darken, lose details, and, in severe cases, completely blacken. As a result, the development of efficient virtual cleaning methods has become a key strategy for addressing this issue. In this study, we use synthetic true colour and false colour images in different bands of the hyperspectral spectrum, and use a guided filter fusion technique to fuse these two images into a new image of the sooty mural. Through analyzing the histograms and colour distribution scatterplots of the synthetic sooty mural images, we observed significant similarities to low-luminance images. To enhance the synthesized murals, we applied the LIME model. In addition, comparisons of the histograms and colour distribution scatterplots of the enhanced sooty mural images with those of haze images revealed notable similarities. Therefore, we applied the dark channel prior algorithm to remove soot from the mural images. Considering that soot particles are larger than haze particles, we introduced guided filtering to refine the transmission map and created a nonlinear transformation function to enhance its details. In terms of both visual perception and quantitative analysis, the proposed method significantly outperforms previous methods in the virtual cleaning of sooty murals. This technology can not only restore the colours and details of murals but also provide new clues for subsequent mural studies, allowing people to once again appreciate the true beauty of the murals.

Deactivated fused silica tubing: A solution for flexible time weighted averaging needle trap sampling

In time-weighted averaging (TWA) with needle trap extraction (NTE), the control of the sampling rate is critical for accurate analysis. By adjusting the diffusion length and cross-sectional area, the sampling rate can be modified in accordance with Fick's first law of diffusion. In this study, deactivated fused silica tubing (DFST) of varying lengths was used to fine-tune these parameters, allowing for precise control of the sampling rate in TWA-NTE devices.The fabricated devices were used to extract benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene (BTEX), and selected alkanes as model compounds. Experimental sampling rates were obtained using a standard gas flow generating system and compared to theoretical values, showing statistical similarity. The devices were tested in various real-world environments, including a parking lot, garages, and a box containing a burning candle, and their practical applicability was confirmed. The use of DFST effectively controlled both diffusion length and cross-sectional area, thereby enhancing sampling performance.The results of this study demonstrate that DFST serves as a versatile and adjustable attachment for needle trap devices (NTD), significantly broadening the range of NTD applications in terms of concentration and sampling time. This approach not only reduces analysis costs but also improves adherence to Fick's law by minimizing the influence of other mass transfer mechanisms. Consequently, more consistent and predictable extraction behavior was observed, particularly for higher molecular weight species, strengthening the overall applicability of the TWA-NTE method.

Schlieren Image Velocimetry and colorimetry for a burning candle and its thermal plume

Schlieren Image Velocimetry and colorimetry for a burning candle and its thermal plume

The Effect of Burnable Poison Np-237 on the Conceptual Design of the GFR-2400 MWt Using MCANDLE Burnup Strategy

This study was used to design the Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) with 2400 MWt power as well as to implement a modified CANDLE (MCANDLE) burning strategy. Metallic uranium with Neptunium-237 at a concentration of 1% to 10% was used as burnable poison in the fuel while helium was applied as a coolant. Neptunium has been produced in conventional reactors by the decay product of plutonium obtained from U-238. This isotope has a relatively high absorption cross-section. As a nuclear waste, it is very useful to utilize as a burnable poison to reduce waste in the future and extend reactor operation lifetime with negligible reactivity. Moreover, the reactor was designed to operate for 100 years of burnup. Nuclear Fuel cell level calculations were conducted using the PIJ module and the reactor core was analyzed using the CITATION module contained in the SRAC. The core height was found to be 420 cm while the diameter was 300 cm and it was designed to have a refueling period of ten years. The survey parameters evaluated include burnup level, factor multiplication, conversion ratio, atomic density, and power distribution. The calculation conducted at the fuel cell level showed that the maximum value in the 76th year for the infinite multiplication factor was 1.30097. It was also discovered that the reactor core for the effective multiplication factor parameter with a fuel fraction of 55% was 1.094 without the addition of burnable poison.

In-situ online detection of carbon during combustion via laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

The combustion of fossil fuels is primarily responsible for disrupting the carbon cycle equilibrium by releasing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Therefore, detecting GHG emissions from fossil fuels is extremely important. In this study, utilizing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), a new method for real-time in-situ detection of carbon fluctuations during combustion has been developed. The combustion of fossil fuels is emulated through the controlled burning of candles within a confined area, and the elemental content of the surrounding air during this process is analyzed. Fluctuations in the intensity of CN spectral lines were tracked to reveal changes in carbon concentration. The backpropagation neural network (BPNN) is used to identify and verify local air with different carbon concentrations, and the predictions are accurate. In conclusion, the integration of BPNN and LIBS for the purpose of identifying variations in carbon content during combustion provides an effective method for environmental management.

Mot nini Tradition: Dialogue with Ancestors in Noemuti Village

This study aims to describe the dialogue with the ancestors in traditional events mot nini (burning candles), which is usually done by indigenous peoples in Noemuti Village, North Central Timor. The method that was used for this study is ethnographic analysis. The research used a qualitative research method by direct observation and interviews. The description of this study is also based on a realist ethnographic analysis. From the research results, it was found that the people of Noemuti Village dialogue with their ancestors to ask for help and assistance regarding the difficulties they face. People believe that their ancestors will help. The implication is that people believe more in the strength and help of their ancestors even though people have a religion they believe in. People always take the time to carry out this traditional ceremony. In conclusion, the people of Noemuti Village believe that their ancestors have supernatural powers and also a strong inner connection with the community, so the community believes that what they ask for and convey to their ancestors will definitely be given and helped. More than that, this traditional ceremony is also a form of respect and an unbreakable brotherhood between the people of Noemuti Village and their ancestors

Plastic Surgery: Beware the Candle Burning at Both Ends.

Plastic surgery dates back to 800 BC, where forehead flaps were used to reconstruct noses in India. Today, it is one of the most romanticized fields in medicine. Due to the influence of social media, there has never been a larger spotlight. Ironically, this spotlight brings a narrowed perception of the scope of plastic surgery. This study aimed to assess the scope through the eyes of the average American to identify gaps in knowledge to better represent the field. A series of questions were developed under survey methodologists and administered by Qualtrics. Responses were gathered, and data were analyzed to assess the public's knowledge of plastic surgery's scope. Two thousand five hundred responses were obtained, balanced across demographics similar to that of the United States. The US population has a poor understanding of the scope of plastic surgery and how to obtain board certification. This survey demonstrates a gap in awareness of plastic surgery as a field and the scope outside aesthetic procedures dramatized by the media. There remains no clear understanding of the qualifications of plastic surgeons or the provider makeup of the field of cosmetic surgery. Subspecialties proved to be overlooked, and knowledge of board certification was sparse. Further effort is needed to educate both the public and patients of the scope of plastic surgery, so that they might seek and gain access to appropriate treatment in the most efficient manner to optimize outcomes regarding the form and function of the body.

Carbon nanomaterials as nonlinear optical modulators for pulsed laser generation at near-infrared region

In this study, carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) were experimentally investigated as novel saturable absorbers (SAs) capable of delivering strong ultrashort pulses in a passively Q-switched fiber laser. Carbon nanoparticles produced by candle burning and laser ablation can act as saturable absorbers (SAs). In addition, the nonlinear saturable absorption properties of the two synthetic CNPs in telecommunication region (1.5 μm) are investigated. Nonlinear optical measurements show that both SAs have good saturable absorption properties with average modulation depths of about ∼1 and 5 % at 1560 nm. These candle soot carbon nanoparticles (CSC-np) and laser ablation carbon nanoparticles (LAC-np) based SAs, can be used as a building blocker for the generating of stable Q-switched pulses in the near-infrared region. The shortest pulse duration measured with CSC-np and LAC-np are 5.62 and 3.87 μm, respectively. The pulse energy, peak power and SNR were also compared with both SA types at the highest pump power. The damage threshold and long-term stability of the CSC-cn SA and LAC-np were also explored. To the best of the author's knowledge, it is the first comparison of performance and long-term stability of EDFL based on two experimental techniques CSC-np and LAC-np based SAs. These results indicate that LAC-np SA provide have several advantages, including a high damage threshold, good saturable absorption, and optimum stability over a long time compared to CSC-np SA.

Fine Particulate Matter Exposure and Health Impacts from Indoor Activities

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an important contributor to global human disease burden, particularly indoors where people spend the majority of their time and exposure is highest. We propose a framework linking indoor PM2.5 emissions from human activities to exposure and health impacts, expressed in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY). Derived dynamic indoor PM2.5 concentrations—capturing temporal variations through different window-opening scenarios and air renewal rates—are used to estimate uncertainty for a parametric model (up to a factor of 114). Intake fractions (fraction of emitted substance taken in (μgintake/μgemitted)), effect factors (μDALY/μgintake), related impact characterisation factors (health impact per unit mass emitted (μDALY/μgemitted)), and impact scores (health impact per hour activity (μDALY/hactivity)) are provided for 19 one-hour indoor activities and can be flexibly scaled to real activity durations. Indoor concentrations exceeded recommended World Health Organization (WHO) limits for all activities at low ventilation rates. Per person, 98 to 119 μDALY/hactivity (52 to 63 minuteslost/hactivity) was associated with traditional fuel cook stoves, with high air renewal rates (3 and 14 h-1). The burning of candles, at low air renewal rates of 0.2 to 0.6 h-1, results in 7 to 11 μDALY/hactivity (4 to 11 minuteslost/hactivity). Derived impact scores and characterisation factors serve as a starting point for integrating indoor PM2.5 emissions and exposure into life cycle impact and public health assessments.

Fabrication of Zwitterionic Polymer-Functionalized Onion-like Carbon Nanoparticles as Aqueous Lubricant Additives.

Onion-like carbon (OLC) is a kind of carbon material with a graphene-like structure and large interlayer spacing, favorable to a good lubricating performance. Herein, a facile method is presented for the preparation of functionalized OLC nanoparticles from candle soot with surface modification. The OLC nanoparticles are collected from combustion soot with candle burning via a simple heat treatment, and then the zwitterionic polymer (polyethylenimine-quaternized derivative, PEIS) can self-assemble onto the OLC surface with epigallocatechin gallate via Michael addition and Schiff-base reaction, thus obtaining PEIS-functionalized OLC nanoparticles (PEIS@OLC). The grafting zwitterionic polymer PEIS endows the OLC nanoparticles with good hydrophilic performance, so the as-obtained PEIS@OLC exhibits outstanding dispersion and lubricating property as a water-based lubricant additive. Compared to pure water, the average coefficient of friction decreases to 0.110 from 0.512, and the corresponding wear volume is reduced by 61.02% with 1.5 wt % addition. The improved lubricating property is mainly due to the synergetic effect of the protective film induced by the tribochemical reaction and the hydration film of zwitterionic polymer PEIS. Besides, the OLC nanoparticles could also display the nanoscale rolling and repairing effects at the friction contact interface, resulting in reduction of friction and wear.

Size-resolved emission rates of episodic indoor sources and ultrafine particle dynamics

Indoor airborne ultrafine particles (UFPs) are mainly originated from occupant activities, such as candle burning and cooking. Elevated exposure to UFPs has been found to increase oxidative stress and cause DNA damage. UFPs originating from indoor sources undergo dynamic aerosol transformation mechanisms. This study investigates the dynamics of UFPs following episodic indoor releases of the six distinct emission sources: 1) candle, 2) gas stove, 3) clothes dryer, 4) tea & toast, 5) broiled fish, and 6) incense. Based on the analytical model of aerosol dynamic processes, this study reports size-resolved source emission rates along with relative contributions of coagulation, deposition, and ventilation to the particle size distribution dynamics. The study findings indicate a significant variation in the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and size-resolved number concentration over time for the sources that emit a substantial amount of UFPs smaller than 10 nm. As the emission progresses, the UFP number concentrations increase in a log-normal distribution, while the GMD shows a tendency to increase over time. The observed result suggests that coagulation can have a considerable impact on UFP number concentration and size, even during the indoor UFP emission. The estimated emission rates of the six indoor sources appear to follow a log-normal distribution while the emission rate ranges from 107 min−1 to 1012 min−1. The indoor UFP concentration and size distribution dynamics are substantially affected by the interplay of the three aerosol loss mechanisms that compete with each other, and this impact varies according to the source type and the indoor environmental conditions. Ultimately, using the aerosol transformation mechanisms examined in this study, researchers can refine exposure assessment for epidemiological studies on indoor ultrafine particles.

One-step fabrication of soot particle-embedded fibrous membranes for solar distillation using candle burning-assisted electrospinning

Solar distillation, a promising technique for water purification and desalination, requires photothermal materials to efficiently convert solar energy into heat. In this study, a novel method is proposed wherein fresh carbonaceous (soot) particles, as a photothermal material, are embedded into electrospun fibrous membranes by burning candles (to produce soot) and electrospinning of polymer material simultaneously. The proposed method can produce several types of membranes with various particle positions (interior or exterior) in the polymer fiber. The particle positions were adjusted by changing the introduction points of particles using a polymer jet. Polymer fibers with diameters of several hundred nanometers were fabricated. Experiments revealed that the soot particle position did not influence the photothermal conversion performance of the membranes. The fabricated membrane could improve the heat localization up to 194.5% and exhibited water distillation and desalination rates as high as 1.60 and 1.55 kg m−2h−1, respectively, under 1-sun solar light irradiation. The proposed method opens a new route for the functionalization of polymer membranes.

Using observation and measurement data in the constructing scientific explanations among elementary pre-service teachers

Observing phenomena and constructing scientific explanations is an essential for a student, as well as for a teacher. This case study was conducted through one-on-one interviews to gain the process of constructing a scientific explanation, an in-depth understanding of the impact of observation and measurement data. The participants of this study were four elementary pre-service teachers who non-science majored. The participants observed footage of the burning process of a candle in an airtight glass container and constructed scientific explanations in the process of verifying the measurement data. The measurement data used in this study were obtained through measurement experiments with Arduino and sensors, which measured changes in temperature, humidity, pressure, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentrations during the burning of candles. Participants described their thought processes aloud in the process of checking observation and measurement data. Each participant performed the same protocol procedure. Along the way, we were able to identify patterns in the use of observational and measurement data on how scientific explanations are constructed. Through the case analysis of this study, we suggested a model for the construction of scientific explanations in the process of using observational data.

Airway and systemic biomarkers of health effects after short-term exposure to indoor ultrafine particles from cooking and candles – A randomized controlled double-blind crossover study among mild asthmatic subjects

BackgroundThere is insufficient knowledge about the systemic health effects of exposure to fine (PM2.5) and ultrafine particles emitted from typical indoor sources, including cooking and candlelight burning. We examined whether short-term exposure to emissions from cooking and burning candles cause inflammatory changes in young individuals with mild asthma. Thirty-six non-smoking asthmatics participated in a randomized controlled double-blind crossover study attending three exposure sessions (mean PM2.5 µg/m3; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ng/m3): (a) air mixed with emissions from cooking (96.1; 1.1), (b) air mixed with emissions from candles (89.8; 10), and (c) clean filtered air (5.8; 1.0). Emissions were generated in an adjacent chamber and let into a full-scale exposure chamber where participants were exposed for five hours. Several biomarkers were assessed in relation to airway and systemic inflammatory changes; the primary outcomes of interest were surfactant Protein-A (SP-A) and albumin in droplets in exhaled air – novel biomarkers for changes in the surfactant composition of small airways. Secondary outcomes included cytokines in nasal lavage, cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), epithelial progenitor cells (EPCs), genotoxicity, gene expression related to DNA-repair, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as metabolites in blood. Samples were collected before exposure start, right after exposure and the next morning.ResultsSP-A in droplets in exhaled air showed stable concentrations following candle exposure, while concentrations decreased following cooking and clean air exposure. Albumin in droplets in exhaled air increased following exposure to cooking and candles compared to clean air exposure, although not significant. Oxidatively damaged DNA and concentrations of some lipids and lipoproteins in the blood increased significantly following exposure to cooking. We found no or weak associations between cooking and candle exposure and systemic inflammation biomarkers including cytokines, CRP, and EPCs.ConclusionsCooking and candle emissions induced effects on some of the examined health-related biomarkers, while no effect was observed in others; Oxidatively damaged DNA and concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins were increased in blood after exposure to cooking, while both cooking and candle emissions slightly affected the small airways including the primary outcomes SP-A and albumin. We found only weak associations between the exposures and systemic inflammatory biomarkers. Together, the results show the existence of mild inflammation following cooking and candle exposure.

Impact of smoking and candle burning on air concentrations of PCB in a PCB contaminated indoor environment

Long-lasting elevated indoor air concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) can cause contamination of indoor surface materials because these compounds have physical-chemical properties causing them to be sorbed (and desorbed) from various surfaces in the indoor environment. Due to this material-gas partitioning and the extensive area of surface materials, the surfaces have the potential to counteract changes in gaseous air concentrations by re-emitting or absorbing SVOCs. In the air itself a partitioning between the gaseous and particulate bound SVOCs exists, relying on among other things the amount and characteristics of the particles. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of increased particle matter in a contaminated environment, i.e. whether an increase in particles would increase the total air concentration of SVOC through a displacement from the gaseous to the particle phase and at the same time a re-establishment of the gaseous concentration caused by desorption from the surface materials. The study was conducted by measuring the gas and particle bound concentration of SVOCs among a range of congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in indoor air and quantify the influence of an increased concentration of particulate matter. The experiments were conducted in a room within a dwelling that had elevated levels of PCBs for the last five decades. The increased amount of particulate matter was generated by burning candles and cigarettes, which was measured as particle number concentration and size fractions. Increased cigarette particle concentration increased the indoor air concentration of the sum of all congeners measured by almost 70% compared to background level. Particles from candle burning did not have a similarly significant effect, even though their number concentration was higher. This was likely due to the chemical composition of the particles; cigarette smoke consists primarily of organic particles, while the steady burning of candles produces smaller, mainly inorganic particles. The concentrations of 15 PCB congeners were determined and it was observed that their sorption to cigarette smoke increased with increasing chlorination. A partitioning model indicates absorptive behaviour of PCB to cigarette particles. The results show that smoking inside a residence with long-lasting, elevated PCB concentrations can further increase the concentration of PCB in the air due to its interaction with particulate matter.

Impact of ventilation type on indoor generated PM and VOC levels for different indoor activities

Residential ventilation systems target in an energy efficient manner an indoor atmosphere fulfilling people’s desired comfort requirements with regard to CO2, temperature, and RH. However, the reach of an indoor atmosphere is not limited to comfort only. Ensuring a healthy indoor atmosphere reducing the risk of acute and chronic diseases caused by the inhaled air is also of importance. A number of elements contribute to indoor air pollution, such as: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), infectious aerosols, and Particulate Matter (PM). These elements combined with the larger proportion of time spent indoors by humans put an emphasis on creating healthy spaces indoors. This investigation treats and discusses in-situ indoor measurements with the Renson Sense of PM1,2.5,4,10, and VOCs caused during the following activities: induction cooking of a typical European meal, vacuuming, and burning of regular and scented candles. All activities were carried out according to a fixed schedule. Both PM and VOC were measured in several rooms of a single, airtight dwelling in Belgium while the following ventilation options were considered: no ventilation, window ventilation, intensive ventilation via a cooker hood, Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV = natural supply, mechanical exhaust), and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR = mechanical supply and exhaust). The exhaust flow rate of both MEV and MVHR was set identical to avoid the impact of different air exchange rates on building level. The following main findings were derived from the results. Particle diameters <1 µm (PM1) were dominantly present during all activities and for all considered ventilation options, possibly due to the sensor technology. The spread of cooking-related PM was confined to the floor where the activity took place, and a cooking hood was most effective in reducing PM, as could be expected. Furthermore, no ventilation exhibited logically the slowest decay of PM1, whereas this was most pronounced for window ventilation followed by an equal decay for MEV and MVHR. Burning scented candles led to higher PM levels compared to regular candles, while the PM peak was observed for both when extinguishing the candle. The spread of PM from burning candles was also restricted to the floor where the activity took place, window ventilation clearly reduced the spreading throughout the floor compared to the other ventilation options. Vacuuming activity created much lower PM levels compared to induction cooking and burning candles and therefore the spread of this PM throughout the dwelling was generally non-significant. Regarding VOC, the impact from induction cooking and burning candles was apparent in contrast to vacuuming for all considered ventilation conditions. Next to this, the spread of VOC throughout the building was more limited compared to PM.

Gas-Particle Partitioning of Semivolatile Organic Compounds in a Residence: Influence of Particles from Candles, Cooking, and Outdoors.

Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) represent an important class of indoor pollutants. The partitioning of SVOCs between airborne particles and the adjacent air influences human exposure and uptake. Presently, little direct experimental evidence exists about the influence of indoor particle pollution on the gas-particle phase partitioning of indoor SVOCs. In this study, we present time-resolved gas- and particle-phase distribution data for indoor SVOCs in a normally occupied residence using semivolatile thermal desorption aerosol gas chromatography. Although SVOCs in indoor air are found mostly in the gas phase, we show that indoor particles from cooking, candle use, and outdoor particle infiltration strongly affect the gas-particle phase distribution of specific indoor SVOCs. From gas- and particle-phase measurements of SVOCs spanning a range of chemical functionalities (alkanes, alcohols, alkanoic acids, and phthalates) and volatilities (vapor pressures from 10-13 to 10-4 atm), we find that the chemical composition of the airborne particles influences the partitioning of individual SVOC species. During candle burning, the enhanced partitioning of gas-phase SVOCs to indoor particles not only affects the particle composition but also enhances surface off-gassing, thereby increasing the total airborne concentration of specific SVOCs, including diethylhexyl phthalate.

A Combination of Real-World Experiments and Augmented Reality When Learning about the States of Wax—An Eye-Tracking Study

Burning candles show the solid and liquid states of wax on a macroscopic level. With augmented reality, the submicroscopic and symbolic level of all three states of wax can be shown. The augmented reality environment developed in this study lets students test their knowledge about the position of the three states of wax. So far, how the design parameters of augmented reality learning environments influence users’ eye movement and learning performance has not been researched. Twenty-three German students between the ages of 9 and 15 form the randomized sample of this study with three different groups. AR learning scenarios were created, varying only in one design parameter: ‘congruence with reality’. Our analysis using audio, video, and eye-tracking data showed that all the participants learned mostly the same and that the participants who saw the real experiment on screen experienced the highest degree of immersion. This study indicates that the presented AR learning environment is an opportunity to learn about what exact part of a candle is burning with the submicroscopic level shown in comparison; before using the learning environment, the students were uncertain about what substance burns when a candle is lit and what function the wick has. This study suggests teachers should think about implementing learning environments such as this to help students connect different levels of representation.

Detection of microparticles through the LoRa module

Particles in the PM2.5 size range can enter the respiratory system and go to the lungs. Short-term health impacts from exposure to these microscopic particles include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and breathing difficulties, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. The lungs can be harmed by exposure to these minute particles, which can also raise the risk of heart disease and asthma. According to scientific studies, daily PM2.5 exposure increases are linked to an increase in mortality as well as cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Studies have shown that exposure to fine particulate matter for an extended period of time may also increase the risk of developing chronic bronchitis, reduce lung function, and raise the mortality rate from heart disease and lung cancer. Studies have shown that PM2.5 causes about 400,000 preterm deaths every year in EU countries. Significant links between long-term PM 2.5 exposure and both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease have been found. Indoor and outdoor sources are the two main sources of fine particles. external sources. mostly from the exhausts of cars, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles. Tobacco smoke, cooking fires, burning candles, etc. are examples of indoor sources of fine particles.

Lust and Loss in Ravenhill’s Shopping and F****ing &amp; Kane’s Blasted: Troubling Trends in a New Culture

As the modern world hangs on a string of utter moral collapse, several writers unleash moral restraints, thus bringing immorality to the market square to consumers who seem to yearn for the collapse of moral walls in their world. Hearkening to such cravings, Mark Ravenhill’s provocative title and play, Shopping and Fucking (1996), and Sarah Kane’s flaming play, Blasted (1995), present morally bankrupt characters clothed in the garments of modern humanity. Glued to wild and recurrent sexual habits, suggesting, as it were, the unceasing erosion of human dignity, these characters cling, with menacing sternness, to sex at all times and in all lieu. Like burning candles that consume their own heights, chronic sexual drives and activities in the works of the foregoing playwrights depict our world and diminish the statue of humanity. Set in an economically dejected and drug-redden East End of London, Shopping and F****ing serves as a canopy under which sits rancorous, impulsive, and rampant sex and drugs with the attendant loss they create. In a similar vein, Sarah Kane’s Blasted, set in a war-torn city, which duplicate the ruins of our societies, depicts depraved characters who have sex at whim and with impunity.