Conventional Blocks Research Articles

Optimizing plastic waste inclusion in paver blocks: Balancing performance, environmental impact, and cost through LCA and economic analysis

Rising waste plastic and cement used in construction raises environmental concerns. Substituting cement with recycled plastic waste (PW) in paver blocks offers an eco-friendly solution. However, a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) economic and performance analysis is lacking. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the compressive strength and durability properties of PSPB while also conducting LCA and economic evaluations to identify the most optimal solutions for enhanced performance. Compressive strength tests determined that a 30% PW replacement yielded optimal results. The durability tests showed that PW paver blocks have significantly lower water absorption compared to conventional blocks, and they maintained a compressive strength of 20 MPa, which is acceptable for light traffic applications, even at elevated temperatures. LCA highlights that cement usage accounts for over 80% of climate change emissions for conventional blocks. Sensitivity analysis shows shipping distance, truck capacity, and energy use greatly affect environmental outcomes. Complete replacement of cement with PW is considered more environmentally friendly. Economic analysis indicates plastic pavers are 52% more cost-effective than cement-based ones. This research offers vital insights into the practicality, environmental impact, and financial sustainability of integrating PW into paver blocks.

Inovasi Paving Block Bentuk Ikan Pari

The weak interlock system in paving blocks can cause discomfort for drivers when passing over them. The more frequently traversed by vehicles, paving blocks with poor interlock systems will experience displacement. The compressive strength of paving blocks also affects their quality, thus supporting the performance of the paving block interlock system. This research aims to produce paving block products with a better interlocking system. The method used in this research is experimental and conducted in a laboratory setting. The results of the compressive strength test on stingray-shaped paving blocks, conducted at 14 days and converted to 28 days, showed superior compressive strength with an average of 24.04 MPa compared to conventional square and hexagonal paving blocks tested at 28 days, each with an average compressive strength of 20.07 MPa and 22.25 MPa, respectively. The water absorption test of the stingray-shaped paving blocks conducted at 7 and 14 days showed average water absorption rates of 5.67% and 4.31%, respectively, meeting the quality requirements of Grade B according to SNI -03-0691-1996, which requires less than 6%. Interlock system testing of the stingray-shaped paving blocks indicated superiority with an average displacement of 5.514 mm compared to conventional square and hexagonal paving blocks, each with an average displacement of 11.802 mm and 9.744 mm, respectively. The cost calculation for stingray-shaped paving blocks amounted to Rp. 2263.22 per paving block, 24,559% more economical than the total cost for conventional hexagonal paving blocks, which amounted to Rp. 3000.00.

Accelerated carbonation of alkali-activated vibro-compacted pervious concrete paving blocks

This study explores the use of an accelerated carbonation curing method to enhance the performance of non-structural precast alkali-activated fly ash pervious concrete paving blocks. Using a predefined production process, pervious paving blocks measuring 200 mm × 100 mm × 60 mm were manufactured and subjected to a 3-stage curing process. The blocks were produced with a dry consistence to allow for vibrocompaction, closely mirroring the manufacturing techniques used in the precast industry and enabling immediate demoulding. Initially, all blocks underwent thermal curing at 70 °C for 24 hours, followed by storage in a climatic chamber (20 ± 3 °C, 65 ± 10 % relative humidity) for 7–14 days. Finally, they were exposed to a carbonation chamber with 5 % CO2 at 23 ± 2 °C, and 60 ± 10 % RH for up to 7 days. Blocks cured without carbonation served as control specimens. All blocks were tested following the European standard EN 1338, which governs the conformity of conventional concrete pavement blocks. Additional properties such as water permeability and water stability were also assessed. The results demonstrated that the accelerated carbonation curing significantly improved the performance of the blocks. Increases of 30 % and 60 % in compressive and splitting tensile strengths, respectively, were reported for the 7-day CO2-cured blocks when compared to their control counterparts. The 7-day carbon-cured blocks showed significantly improved abrasion resistance, with mass loss due to abrasion decreasing from 8.2 % to 5.6 % with 7 days of CO2 exposure. Additionally, microstructural enhancements were observed for the carbonated specimens, positively impacting their overall performance and making them compliant with the standard for practical paving block applications. However, further research is recommended to explore automation in the production process to ensure consistent results and facilitate future standardisation and certification of these blocks.

Biaya dan Waktu pada Pelaksanaan Pekerjaan Struktur Balok Precast dan Balok Konvensional

Concrete is a construction material that is widely used in Indonesia, when compared to the use of wood and steel materials, there are two methods of concrete work, namely the conventional method and the precast method. In the Kuta Art Market Development Project there are several blocks using the conventional method and some using the precast method. How to compare the cost and time of conventional beam work and the precast method and which method is more effective to use. To be able to determine the choice of the right method to use, an analysis of costs and implementation time is carried out. Furthermore, the results of the analysis are compared so as to get an effective method to use. From the results of the analysis carried out at the Kuta Art Market Development Project, a comparison of costs and implementation time obtained that the total cost for the work of 5 conventional blocks was IDR 47,656,004.04 and the time needed to complete the work of 5 conventional blocks was 5 days. Whereas the total cost required for the work of 5 precast beams is Rp. 46,006,742.42 and the time required to complete the work of 5 precast beams is 4.09 days. When compared, the cost of precast beam work is Rp. 1,649,301.32 (3.5%) cheaper and the execution time for precast beam work is 0.91 days (18%) faster than conventional beam work.

A Standard-Cell-Based Neuro-Inspired Integrate-and-Fire Analog-to-Time Converter for Biological and Low-Frequency Signals - Comparison With Analog Version.

Continuous-time asynchronous data converters namely, analog-to-digital converters and analog-to-time converters, can be beneficial for certain types of applications, such as, processing of biological signals with sparse information. A particular case of these converters is the integrate-and-fire converter (IFC) that is inspired by the neural system. If it is possible to develop a standard-cell-based (SCB) IFC circuit to perform well in advanced technology nodes, it will benefit from the simplicity of SCB circuit designs and can be implemented in widely available field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). This way, this paper proposes two IFC circuits designed and prototyped in a 130 nm CMOS standard process. The first is a novel SCB open-loop dynamic IFC. The latter, is a closed-loop analog IFC with conventional blocks. This paper presents a through comparison between the two IFC circuits. They have a power dissipation of 59 μW and 53 μW, and an energy per pulse of 18 pJ and 1060 pJ, SCB and analog IFC, respectively. The SCB IFC has one of the lowest energy per pulse consumption reported for IFC circuits. The analog IFC, being fully differential, is to our knowledge the first of its kind. Moreover, they do not require an external clock. They can convert signals with a peak-to-peak amplitude from 1.6 mV to 28 mV and 0.6 mV to 2.4 mV, and a frequency range of 2 Hz to 42 kHz and 10 Hz to 4 kHz, SCB and analog IFC, respectively. Presenting low normalized RMS conversion plus reconstruction errors, below 5.2%. The maximum pulse density (average firing-rate) is 3300 kHz, for the SCB and 50 kHz, for the analog IFC.

Prediction of axial compressive stresses in ultra-high-performance concrete blocks using non-destructive ultrasonic techniques

The application of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in civil engineering structures is growing rapidly. On the other hand, previous non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques mainly focused on determining the relationship between the acoustic characteristics and elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, cracking resistance, and strength. This study presents an experimental approach utilizing ultrasonic techniques to predict the axial compressive stresses in UHPC structures. Both cubic and prismatic UHPC blocks were designed and tested under different compressive axial loading conditions, and their ultrasonic acoustic characteristics were evaluated in detail. Normal strength concrete (NSC) blocks were also included in the investigation for comparison purposes. A detailed account of the tests results is provided, including the relationships between the compressive stresses in UHPC blocks and the typical time- and frequency-domain acoustic parameters. Based on the experimental results, an analytical working stress evaluation method for UHPC components using the ultrasonic acoustic parameters is proposed. It is shown that there is close correlation and high prediction stability between the compressive stress in UHPC blocks and the ultrasonic velocity, which is suggested as the main acoustic parameter for stress detection. The correlation between the acoustic amplitude parameters and concrete compressive stress is also shown to be significant, yet is associated with relatively low prediction stability. Moreover, in comparison with conventional NSC blocks, greater correlation and regularity ratios are observed between the typical acoustic parameters and the axial compressive stress in UHPC specimens. Overall, the analytical models proposed in this study are shown to be in close agreement with the experimental results, and can be used, in conjunction with the ultrasonic NDT techniques, to provide a reliable prediction of the level of compressive stresses in UHPC members.

An attention-based deep learning for acute lymphoblastic leukemia classification

The bone marrow overproduces immature cells in the malignancy known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). In the United States, about 6500 occurrences of ALL are diagnosed each year in both children and adults, comprising nearly 25% of pediatric cancer cases. Recently, many computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems have been proposed to aid hematologists in reducing workload, providing correct results, and managing enormous volumes of data. Traditional CAD systems rely on hematologists’ expertise, specialized features, and subject knowledge. Utilizing early detection of ALL can aid radiologists and doctors in making medical decisions. In this study, Deep Dilated Residual Convolutional Neural Network (DDRNet) is presented for the classification of blood cell images, focusing on eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. To tackle challenges like vanishing gradients and enhance feature extraction, the model incorporates Deep Residual Dilated Blocks (DRDB) for faster convergence. Conventional residual blocks are strategically placed between layers to preserve original information and extract general feature maps. Global and Local Feature Enhancement Blocks (GLFEB) balance weak contributions from shallow layers for improved feature normalization. The global feature from the initial convolution layer, when combined with GLFEB-processed features, reinforces classification representations. The Tanh function introduces non-linearity. A Channel and Spatial Attention Block (CSAB) is integrated into the neural network to emphasize or minimize specific feature channels, while fully connected layers transform the data. The use of a sigmoid activation function concentrates on relevant features for multiclass lymphoblastic leukemia classification The model was analyzed with Kaggle dataset (16,249 images) categorized into four classes, with a training and testing ratio of 80:20. Experimental results showed that DRDB, GLFEB and CSAB blocks’ feature discrimination ability boosted the DDRNet model F1 score to 0.96 with minimal computational complexity and optimum classification accuracy of 99.86% and 91.98% for training and testing data. The DDRNet model stands out from existing methods due to its high testing accuracy of 91.98%, F1 score of 0.96, minimal computational complexity, and enhanced feature discrimination ability. The strategic combination of these blocks (DRDB, GLFEB, and CSAB) are designed to address specific challenges in the classification process, leading to improved discrimination of features crucial for accurate multi-class blood cell image identification. Their effective integration within the model contributes to the superior performance of DDRNet.

A Comparison of Conventional Blocks and Stabilized Earth Blocks as Building Materials in Uganda

A Comparison of Conventional Blocks and Stabilized Earth Blocks as Building Materials in Uganda

Optimization of block-scaled integer GeMMs for efficient DNN deployment on scalable in-order vector processors

A continuing rise in DNN usage in distributed and embedded use cases has demanded more efficient hardware execution in the field. Low-precision GeMMs with optimized data formats have played a key role in more memory and computationally-efficient networks. Recently trending formats are block-scaled representations stemming from tight HW-SW co-optimization, that compress network size by sharing exponents per data block. Prior work mostly focuses on deploying such block-scaled GeMM operations on domain-specific accelerators for optimum efficiency at the cost of flexibility and ease of deployment. In this work, we exploit and optimize the deployment of block-scaled GeMMs on fully-programmable in-order vector processors using ARM SVE. We define a systematic methodology for performing design space exploration to optimally match the workload specifications with processor vector-lengths, different microkernels, block sizes and shapes. We introduce efficient intrinsics-based microkernels with effective loop unrollings, and data-transfer efficient fused requantization strategies to maximize kernel performance, while also ensuring several deployment configurations. We enable generalized block-scaled kernel deployments through tunable block sizes and shapes, which helps in accommodating different accuracy-speed trade-off requirements. Utilizing 2D activation blocks instead of conventional 1D blocks, the static and dynamic BS-INT8 configurations yielded on average 3.8x and 2.9x faster speedups over FP32 models respectively, at no accuracy loss for CNN classification tasks on CIFAR10/100 datasets.

Stress Strain Behaviour of Solid Block Masonry Prism under Axial Compression

Masonry is possibly the primary construction element currently in widespread use throughout the world. Load-bearing masonry building is prevalent in developing countries for home construction. When properly constructed, masonry is frequently a more cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to reinforced concrete for wall building. In addition to performing the dual roles of supporting weight and enclosing space, structural masonry boasts a high level of fire resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation, and exposure protection. The remarkable durability and low maintenance costs are further evident benefits. Masonry has a significant role in building construction, particularly in structures, as it is regarded as the primary component of the building. The eco-friendly solid block is prepared by adding the following by-products like coal ash, granite powder, olivine sand etc., all these ingredients used for manufacturing the solid block are waste materials from various industries. Thus, extensive testing is necessary to assess their load carrying capacity and secant modulus accurately. Masonry prisms were developed with five-layer solid blocks and tested for their stress-strain characteristics and secant modulus and the test outcomes were compared with conventional fly ash cement blocks. Eco-friendly solid blocks offer a persuasive substitute for ecologically conscious approaches to building by preserving structural integrity and functionality while promoting sustainability.

NnSegNeXt: A 3D Convolutional Network for Brain Tissue Segmentation Based on Quality Evaluation.

Accurate and automated segmentation of brain tissue images can significantly streamline clinical diagnosis and analysis. Manual delineation needs improvement due to its laborious and repetitive nature, while automated techniques encounter challenges stemming from disparities in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition equipment and accurate labeling. Existing software packages, such as FSL and FreeSurfer, do not fully replace ground truth segmentation, highlighting the need for an efficient segmentation tool. To better capture the essence of cerebral tissue, we introduce nnSegNeXt, an innovative segmentation architecture built upon the foundations of quality assessment. This pioneering framework effectively addresses the challenges posed by missing and inaccurate annotations. To enhance the model's discriminative capacity, we integrate a 3D convolutional attention mechanism instead of conventional convolutional blocks, enabling simultaneous encoding of contextual information through the incorporation of multiscale convolutional features. Our methodology was evaluated on four multi-site T1-weighted MRI datasets from diverse sources, magnetic field strengths, scanning parameters, temporal instances, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Empirical evaluations on the HCP, SALD, and IXI datasets reveal that nnSegNeXt surpasses the esteemed nnUNet, achieving Dice coefficients of 0.992, 0.987, and 0.989, respectively, and demonstrating superior generalizability across four distinct projects with Dice coefficients ranging from 0.967 to 0.983. Additionally, extensive ablation studies have been implemented to corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed model. These findings represent a notable advancement in brain tissue analysis, suggesting that nnSegNeXt holds the promise to significantly refine clinical workflows.

Spectral optical performance of phase-change-material-filled glass-block system: Experimental evaluation and comparative exploration

Research on sustainable building design is pushing boundaries to introduce innovative solutions that enhance energy efficiency and improve user comfort. The integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) into transparent façade elements has gained substantial attention; however, its widespread application in current construction practices remains limited. This study examined the solar/light transmittance of PCM-based materials embedded in transparent façade elements, focusing on providing and comparing the optical properties of modular glass blocks integrated with PCM measured experimentally in a laboratory setting. Optical properties of multi-layer and non-homogeneous systems represent a more complex problem in terms of proper characterisation. To overcome this limitation, more comprehensive approaches can be considered, including integrating spheres to perform measurements on the complex nonhomogeneous glass system. This study employed spectrophotometric measurements within the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectra by two different measurements methods: a direct method and one using an integrating sphere. Additionally, the investigation was based on a comparison between clear and various PCM-filled glass blocks. The results demonstrated that the direct method facilitated reliable spectral transmittance measurements with deviations not exceeding 3 %. In addition, the results revealed that paraffinic PCM glass blocks in liquid phases could achieve up to 90 % of light transmission and act as a highly transparent system in the visible region compared with conventional air-based glass blocks (up to 77 %). However, in the NIR region, the spectral transmission of PCM glass blocks was reduced by half (around 46 %). Depending on the PCM type in solid phases, the visible transmission is significantly reduced, which is from 5 % to a maximum of 19 %. This study contributes to the expanding knowledge base on adaptive building systems, particularly those related to PCM integration in transparent façade components.

Interlocking Joints with Multiple Locks: Torsion-Shear Failure Analysis Using Discrete Element and Equilibrium-Based SiDMACIB Models

SiDMACIB (Structurally informed Design of Masonry Assemblages Composed of Interlocking Blocks) is the first numerical model capable of extending the equilibrium problem of limit analysis to interlocking assemblies. Adopting the concave formulation, this model can compute the stress state at the corrugated faces with orthotropic behaviour, such as their combined torsion-shear capacity. Generally speaking, finding the plastic torsion-shear capacity of planar faces shared between conventional blocks is still a fresh topic, while investigating this capacity for interlocking interfaces is particularly rather unexplored. Upon the authors’ previous works that focused on interlocking blocks with a single lock, in this paper, an extension to blocks composed of several locks (multi-lock interfaces) is presented and the SiDMACIB model is upgraded accordingly. For this purpose, the shear-torsion results obtained from the original SiDMACIB formulation are validated and subsequently compared with those derived from distinct element analysis conducted using the 3DEC 7.0 software. Based on this comparison, revisions to the SiDMACIB model are proposed, involving a reduction in the number of locks affecting torsion-shear capacity.

Deciphering Serous Effusions Using the New International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology.

Introduction Serous effusion cytopathology is a minimally invasive, cost-effective procedure and plays a crucial role in diagnosing a spectrum of pathological conditions, rangingfrom benign to malignant. The International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology (ISRSFC) offers a standardized framework for reporting serous effusions, aiding in better communication and clinical decision-making. Aims and objectives This study aimed to categorize effusions using the ISRSFC reporting system. In addition, we sought to estimate the risk of malignancy (ROM) for each diagnostic category and evaluate the diagnostic performance of conventional smear versus cell block techniques. Materials and methods Thiscross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology over one year. We applied the ISRSFC criteria to serous effusions and categorized them accordingly. The ROM for each category was assessed with histopathology serving as the gold standard. Then, the diagnostic performanceincluding sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using conventional smear and cell block techniques. Results The study included185 serous effusion cases, with ages ranging from two months to 85 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. Most effusions were pleural fluids constituting about 133 cases (71.9%), followed by peritoneal fluids (47 cases, 25.4%)and pericardial fluids (five cases, 2.7%). Among the fluids, four (2.2%) were diagnosed as non-diagnostic (ND), 152 (82.2%) as negative for malignancy (NFM), four (2.2%) as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), nine (4.8%) as suspicious for malignancy (SFM), and 16 (8.6%) as malignant (MAL).The overall ROM was 25% for ND, 8.5% for NFM, 50% for AUS, 77% for SFM, and 100% for MAL. The sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were superior when combining conventional smear with the cell block technique. Conclusions Our findings underscore the use of ISRSFC in categorizing effusion samples, assessing the ROM, and guiding clinical management. Moreover, our study highlights the benefits of employing a combined approach using conventional smears and cell blocks for enhanced diagnostic accuracy in serous effusions.

EFFICACY OF PERICAPSULAR NERVE GROUP BLOCK AS A MODALITY FOR POSTOPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ARTHROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT

The postoperative pain after hip arthroscopy remains a major challenge in the immediate postoperative period. Adequate postoperative analgesia has been associated with increased patient satisfaction and decreased consumption of opioids. We evaluated the efficacy of pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) versus fascia iliaca block (FIB) in reducing post-operative pain and analgesic consumption within the first 24 hours following arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).Thirty-nine patients (17 females and 25 males, ages 18–42 years, mean ± SD (27.9 ± 6.2), and mean BMI of 25.13±5.08 kg/m2 were scheduled for primary arthroscopic management of FAI. Included patients were randomized into two groups according to the block used in each. Group (A) 19 patients were included and had FIB and group (B) 20 patients were included and received PENG block. The efficacy of both techniques was clinically and statistically valuated using VAS score and quadriceps muscle power.There was a statically significance difference in the mean at rest between the two groups at all measured time points following surgery (6, 12, 18 and 24 h). Also, in dynamic pain scores (with hip flexion) scores were statistically significant at 24 hours post-operative (P = .001). Total opioid consumption in the first 24 hours postoperative was lower in the PENG group with significant difference of mean 16.5 ±9.9 mg for PENG group versus 27.5±9.6 mg for FIB group (P < .005). Five patients (26.31%) in FIB group had weaker quadriceps muscle power while none in PENG group patients had quadriceps weakness.PENG block might be considered as an ideal regional anesthesia modality for hip arthroscopy. As an alternative to more conventional regional nerve blocks such as a fascia iliaca block. PENG block is easily performed in the preoperative setting, and appears to spare motor function while providing a prolonged sensory pain relief.

Research on Surface Defect Detection of Strip Steel Based on Improved YOLOv7.

Surface defect detection of strip steel is an important guarantee for improving the production quality of strip steel. However, due to the diverse types, scales, and texture structures of surface defects on strip steel, as well as the irregular distribution of defects, it is difficult to achieve rapid and accurate detection of strip steel surface defects with existing methods. This article proposes a real-time and high-precision surface defect detection algorithm for strip steel based on YOLOv7. Firstly, Partial Conv is used to replace the conventional convolution blocks of the backbone network to reduce the size of the network model and improve the speed of detection; Secondly, The CA attention mechanism module is added to the ELAN module to enhance the ability of the network to extract detect features and improve the effectiveness of detect detection in complex environments; Finally, The SPD convolution module is introduced at the output end to improve the detection performance of small targets with surface defects on steel. The experimental results on the NEU-DET dataset indicate that the mean average accuracy (mAP@IoU = 0.5) is 80.4%, which is 4.0% higher than the baseline network. The number of parameters is reduced by 8.9%, and the computational load is reduced by 21.9% (GFLOPs). The detection speed reaches 90.9 FPS, which can well meet the requirements of real-time detection.

Utilization of Aluminosilicate Industrial Wastes as Precursors in CO2-Cured Alkali-Activated Precast Concrete Pavement Blocks

This research focuses on the utilization of recently investigated aluminosilicate industrial wastes as precursors to produce non-structural precast alkali-activated concrete pavement blocks. For this purpose, conventional blocks (200 mm × 100 mm × 80 mm) were produced using electric arc furnace slag and municipal solid waste incineration bottom ashes as the sole binders. Portland cement and fly ash blocks were produced as references. The blocks underwent a curing regimen comprising thermal, dry, and carbonation curing stages. Control uncarbonated specimens were subjected to dry curing instead of CO2-based curing to evaluate the influence of carbonation on the blocks’ strength development. The specimens were subsequently examined following EN 1338, which is the European standard for assessing and ensuring the conformity of conventional concrete pavement blocks. The carbonated blocks revealed improved mechanical and physical properties in relation to the uncarbonated ones. All blocks met standard dimensions, showed minimal skid potential (most indicating extremely low potential for slip for reporting unpolished slip resistance values exceeding 75), and had enhanced abrasion resistance due to carbonation, showing 30% and 11% less volume loss due to abrasion for fly ash and bottom ash, respectively. Carbonated blocks performed better than non-carbonated ones, displaying lower water absorption (0.58% and 0.23% less water absorption for bottom ash and slag, respectively) and higher thermal conductivity (20%, 13%, and 8% increase in values for fly ash, slag, and bottom ash, respectively). These results confirm the effectiveness of the accelerated carbonation curing technique in improving the block’s performance. Despite the promising outcomes, further optimization of the alkaline solution and carbonation curing conditions is recommended for future research.

A Comparison of Conventional Blocks and Stabilized Earth Blocks as Building Materials in Uganda

In Uganda, the high cost of conventional cement and sand blocks has driven the widespread adoption of alternative building materials, such as wattle bricks, compressed earth blocks, and burnt bricks. Among these, compressed earth blocks have gained popularity due to their eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and biodegradable nature. Made by compressing damp soil at high pressure, these blocks offer an environmentally sustainable solution by minimizing deforestation and eliminating the need for firewood, which is often used in the production of traditional bricks. This study employed a case study methodology and utilized deliberate sampling to gather data, which was then analyzed using SPSS v20. The findings revealed that Stabilized Earth Materials (SEMs) have a stronger positive correlation with user satisfaction compared to conventional blocks, with a satisfaction rating of 0.651 for SEMs versus 0.602 for conventional blocks. Additionally, the study showed that SEMs had a notable impact on reducing construction costs, with a 4.8% cost difference in favor of SEMs. Based on these results, it is recommended that construction managers should consider increasing the use of stabilized earth materials. This shift could not only lead to significant cost reductions but also improve the overall quality of construction, making it a more sustainable and viable option for Uganda’s building industry.

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block in patients with chronic lumbar facet joint pain: A prospective case-controlled study.

The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block and compare with the conventional physical therapy in chronic low back pain (LBP). This prospective case-controlled study included patients with chronic LBP. Their clinical and demographic data were obtained, and they were divided into two groups for conventional physical therapy and ESP blocks. Prior to treatment, on the first day, the second week, and the third month, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were evaluated. The study included 43 patients, 21 in the ESP block group and 22 in the conventional physical therapy group. The VAS in movement was higher in the ESP block group at baseline (p = 0.047). On the first day after the treatments, the ESP block group showed lower resting (p < 0.001) and movement (p = 0.001) VAS values than the conventional physical therapy group. At the end of 3 months, both groups had improved VAS and ODI scores (all p < 0.001). US-guided ESP block might be considered a successful, safe, and technically simple alternative treatment in patients with chronic LBP to control pain and reduce the cost of physical therapy and lost workdays.

Experimental Study on Mechanical and Durability Behaviour of a Sustainable Masonry Block Incorporating Agricultural and Industrial Wastes

Objectives: The production of conventional cement blocks consumes significant amount of cement. The production of cement, involves significant energy consumption and releases carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to carbon footprint. However, advancements in sustainable masonry block production have been made to minimize these drawbacks. Hence, this research aims to develop a sustainable masonry solid block by incorporating Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Flay Ash (FA). Methods: The manuscript discusses the mechanical and durability properties of sustainable masonry block and comparing the result with the conventional cement blocks. The materials used are FA, Lime, Gypsum, RHA, Marble Dust Powder (MDP), Stone Quarry Dust (SQD). The solid blocks tested for Compressive strength, Density, Water absorption, Initial rate of water absorption, efflorescence, and chemical resistance. Findings: The results showed that, the addition of RHA, FA, and MDP enhanced the compressive strength of the solid blocks upto 46% when compared to convention cement block. A density reduction of 2.5% was achieved. It also exhibited a reduction in water absorption of 29.2%. IRA tests evident that the sustainable solid blocks shows reduced water absorption levels at both the one-minute and two-minute time intervals in comparison to conventional cement solid blocks. At a one-minute time, the rate of absorption for M4 is 69% lower when compared to conventional cement solid blocks. The RHA, FA and MDP admixed blocks showed better durability properties in terms of efflorescence, and chemical resistance. Novelty : This solid block production method is an innovative methodology that supports the conservation of natural resources, reduces pollution, and preserves the environment. As a result, it encourages the advancement of eco-friendly technology. Keywords: Sustainable building blocks, Fly ash, Lime, Rice husk ash, Marble dust, Stone quarry dust