Dangerous Levels Research Articles

Mitigation of aflatoxin contamination of maize, groundnut, and sorghum by commercial biocontrol products in farmers' fields across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo.

Aflatoxin contamination by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi poses a significant threat to food security and public health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Maize, groundnut, and sorghum are staple crops frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, sometimes at dangerous levels. Despite its detrimental effects, many farmers in SSA lack access to effective tools for mitigating aflatoxin contamination. Biocontrol based on atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus is an effective tool to limit aflatoxin contamination. The development, testing, registration, and commercial use of the aflatoxin biocontrol product Aflasafe BF01 for use in Burkina Faso is described. In addition, the deployment of the biocontrol technology across Mali, Niger, and Togo is documented, and for the first time, the use of aflatoxin biocontrol in sorghum is reported. In all four countries, treated crops had significantly (P < 0.05) less aflatoxins than crops from untreated fields. Most treated crops met the stringent tolerance threshold for human consumption, 4 ppb total aflatoxin. Using native atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus and employing a multi-disciplinary approach, aflatoxin biocontrol products have demonstrated significant success in reducing aflatoxin levels in treated crops compared to untreated ones. This multi-year, multi-funded source study underscores the effectiveness of biocontrol strategies in mitigating aflatoxin contamination at scale, offering a regional approach for sustainable management in West Africa and potentially unlocking significant health and economic benefits for the region. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43170-024-00313-3.

Can self-testing be enhanced to hasten safe return of healthcare workers in pandemics? Random order, open label trial using two manufacturers' SARS-CoV-2 lateral flow devices concurrently and nested viral culture study.

Covid-19 healthcare worker testing, isolation and quarantine policies had to balance risks to patients from the virus and from staff absence. The emergence of the Omicron variant led to dangerous levels of key-worker absence globally. We evaluated whether using two manufacturers' lateral flow tests (LFTs) concurrently improved SARS-CoV-2 Omicron detection significantly and was acceptable to hospital staff. In a nested study, to understand risks of return to work after a 5-day isolation/quarantine period, we examined virus culture 5-7 days after positive test or significant exposure. Fully-vaccinated Liverpool (UK) University Hospitals staff participated (February-May 2022) in a random-order, open-label trial testing whether dual LFTs improved SARS-CoV-2 detection, and whether dual swabbing was acceptable to users. Participants used nose-throat swab Innova and nose-only swab Orient Gene LFTs in daily randomised order for 10 days. A user-experience questionnaire was administered on exit. Selected participants gave swabs for viral culture on days 5-7 after symptom onset or first positive test. Cultures were considered positive if cytopathic effect was apparent or SARS-CoV-2 N gene sub-genomic RNA was detected. Two hundred and twenty-six individuals reported 1466 pairs of LFT results. Tests disagreed in 127 cases (8.7%). Orient Gene was more likely (78 cf. 49; OR: 2.1, 1.1-4.1; P = 0.03) to be positive. If Innova was swabbed second, it was less likely to agree with a positive Orient Gene result (OR: 2.7, 1.3-5.2; P = 0.005); swabbing first with Innova made no significant difference (OR: 1.1, 0.5-2.3; P = 0.85). Orient Gene positive Innova negative result-pairs became more frequent over time (OR: 1.2, 1.1-1.3; P < 0.001). Of individuals completing the exit questionnaire, 90.7% reported dual swabbing was easy, 57.1% said it was no barrier to their daily routine and 65.6% preferred dual testing. Respondents had more confidence in dual versus single test results. Viral cultures from days 5-7 were positive for 6/31 (19.4%, 7.5%-37.5%) and indeterminate for 11/31 (35.5%, 19.2%-54.6%) LFT-positive participants, indicating they were likely still infectious. Dual brand testing increased LFT detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen by a small but meaningful margin and was acceptable to hospital workers. Viral cultures demonstrated that policies recommending safe return to work ~ 5 days after Omicron infection/exposure were flawed. Key-workers should be prepared for dynamic self-testing protocols in future pandemics. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN47058442 (26 January 2022).

Potential ecological risk assessment of microplastics in environmental compartments in Mexico: A meta-analysis.

Microplastic (MP) environmental contamination has been widely studied in Mexico; however, the evaluation of the associated risk to MP in environmental compartments is scarce. Therefore, this study addresses this issue using diverse indicators such as the Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Polymer Risk Index (PRI), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). The results of a meta-analysis revealed high MP contamination levels in most of the studied compartments, which included marine and estuarine waters, beach sand, freshwater, sediments, and biota. Regarding the risk assessment indicators, PLIs indicated low (56%), dangerous (22%), moderate (12%), and high (10%) levels across compartments. Meanwhile, PRIs displayed concerning values, with 36%, 35%, 20%, and 9% exhibiting dangerous, high, moderate, and low levels, respectively. Thus, high PRI values emphasized the significant rise in MP pollution, largely attributed to high-hazard polymer compositions. Otherwise, PERIs showed low (56%), very dangerous (29%), moderate (6%), high (5%), and dangerous (4%) levels. Thus, the ecological risk in Mexico is widespread and mainly linked to MP abundance, polymer type, environmental matrix, and organisms' characteristics. This study represents the first attempt at MP ecological risk assessment in Mexico, providing crucial insights for developing mitigation strategies to address concerns about MP contamination.

Characteristics of rock strength failure and identification of hazardous areas in the roof of deep mining stope

The roof of deep mining stopes is notoriously unstable and challenging to manage due to high in-situ stress and deteriorating rock conditions. To address this issue, a comprehensive approach was employed, incorporating indoor physical experiments, numerical simulations, and field tests to investigate the stope roof rock composition characteristics and strength failure modes in the Laoyingshan deep coal mine. The study revealed the distribution characteristics of the high in-situ stress field in this mining area and delineated different levels of hazards in the roof. The results indicate that, under identical lithological conditions, the mineral composition of deep rock formations is complex. Changes in some mineral components and properties were observed, leading to increased expansiveness and water absorption in clay minerals such as sodium montmorillonite and kaolinite within the basic roof layer. In simulated tests of surrounding rock strength in deep mining stopes, as stress levels approached 2 MPa, the damage factor increased, showing a trend of localized concentration. Internal damage began to exhibit noticeable spatial evolutionary expansion patterns and gradual nucleation. When stress exceeded 8 MPa, rocks transitioned from macroscopic fracture surfaces to microscopic fragmentation zones, with a sudden decrease in stiffness degradation values, internal instantaneous collapse, and phenomena akin to “rock burst” under high stress disturbance. In-situ stress testing determined that the stress field in the deep mining zone of Laoyingshan is in a thrust fault stress state, with horizontal stress predominance. The maximum stress direction is predominantly southwest-northeast, with stress magnitude reaching 25.49 MPa. By arranging post-mining and pre-mining borehole observation stations and utilizing image grayscale fracture recognition technology in MATLAB, the roof was classified into four danger levels: “extremely broken,” “broken,” “significant fractures,” and “minor fractures.” Main control measures for coupling grouting in deep-shallow zonation rigidity were proposed based on these classifications.

Development of Rail Camera for Bridge inspection with Attitude Control using Thrust of Rotors

A lot of concrete structures are deteriorating to dangerous levels throughout Japan. These concrete structures need to be inspected regularly to ensure they are safe enough to be used. According to national standards, a visual inspection of the bridge is required once every five years. In the visual inspection, the worker checks the bridge with their own eyes directly. So, it is necessary to set up scaffolding to access the bridge's underside for visual inspection. Alternatively, it is an essential aerial work platform. However, setting up of scaffolding and aerial work platforms is not economical in time and money. So, we developed an inspection device for the check of bridges called a Rail camera. This inspection device connects a rod and a rail and the connection has a rotational degree of freedom. Rotors are attached to the tip of the rod and it can be attitude controlled by thrust of rotors. So, half of the device's weight is lifted by the thrust of the rotors. And it can be taken with a camera mounted on an electric slider on the rail. The worker on the bridge can check the underside of the bridge safely by holding the rod with one hand and operating the rail camera with another hand. The rail camera developed had a rail length of 2 m and a weight of 2.5 kg. Magnesium was used for the rail and rod to reduce weight. Coaxial rotors were used to cancel the counter-torque caused by the rotation of the propeller. To verify the performance, a visual inspection was performed on the bridge. As a result, it was confirmed that the horizontal attitude was maintained by the rotor thrust.

Comprehensive Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Soil-Plant Systems and Health Risks from Wastewater-Irrigated Vegetables

A research study examined the origins, human health impacts, and risks associated with pollutants in vegetables grown in soil irrigated with wastewater. The study analyzed 164 samples from water sources, irrigated soil, and harvested vegetables for eight heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The focus was on the potential health effects of consuming heavy metal-contaminated vegetables grown in wastewater-irrigated soil. The findings revealed significant accumulation of heavy metals in soil and plants from Mianwali, Pakistan, posing potential health risks to consumers. When compared to vegetables produced with freshwater irrigation, the concentration levels of heavy metals in the soil irrigated with untreated wastewater were significantly greater (P≤0.001) and above the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results showed that heavy metals in the soil had significantly increased, and crops had subsequently absorbed these metals. Produce raised in soil watered with wastewater showed higher levels of heavy metals than the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the WHO recommended. Among the veggies, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were found to have higher Hazardous Quotient Indices (HRIs) than one. This indicates that both adults and children may have been exposed to dangerous levels of these metals. Additionally, for Brassica oleracea, Raphanus sativus, and Spinacia oleracea, nickel (Ni) surpassed HRIs larger than 1, indicating a significant health risk connected to these veggies' ingestion.

Assessing urban fire risk: An ensemble learning approach based on scenarios and cases

Urban fires represent a significant hazard to people’s lives and property, which makes it critical to estimate the risk adequately. Existing urban fire evaluation methods lack applicability because they do not take into account individual scene components and previous cases. As a result, this study offers the scenario- and case-based urban fire risk assessment approach (SCBUFRA), which seeks to achieve a more thorough and accurate urban fire risk assessment. First, the technique uses fire case and scenario data, as well as the recursive feature elimination method, to pick the elements utilized to assess urban fire risk. Second, the data-driven empowerment technique and stability analysis are utilized to determine the precise fire risk value and correctly quantify the fire danger level in each part of the city. Next, the Affinity Propagation (AP) technique is used to cluster scene elements. Ensemble learning is then used to create a risk prediction model by refining the weighting strategy of R2. Finally, Shapley additive explanations are used to investigate the elements causing urban fires. The findings show that SCBUFRA outperforms popular machine learning methods, that the number of crimes, gross population, and house price are the most important variables for fire prediction, and that the research is applicable to urban fire risk management and firefighting resource allocation.

A Brief Meta-analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Lead and Cadmium in Meat, Liver, and Kidney of Livestock in Iran

Background: Red meat from livestock is an excellent source of high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the levels of two of the most toxic heavy metals; lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in meat and edible offal (liver and kidney) of livestock (sheep, buffalo, and cow) in Iran with assessing their health risk of developing cancer. Methods: A systematic search was conducted covering ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Finally, data from 4 articles including 624 samples were analysed. Results: Pooled results show that the mean concentrations of Pb and Cd were 0.18 mg/kg and 0.13 mg/kg respectively which were both higher than their eligible maximum limits by FAO/WHO. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of Pb and Cd in meat, liver, and kidney for adults and children was lower than the Total Daily Intake (TDI) limits. The consumers' non-carcinogenic risk (THQ) for meat consumption was generally safe in terms of Cd and Pb in all cities except for Pb in Hamadan which was greater than one (unsafe) for both adults and children. Carcinogenic Risk (CR) for meat consumption was generally safe or within the acceptable range in terms of Cd and Pb in all cities except for Pb in Hamadan which had a Pb-CR greater than safe/permissible level for children. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the dangerous levels of CR and THQ of meat in terms of Pb in Hamadan warrant concern and further study.

Healthy air for healthy minds

Abstract Background The adverse health effects from exposure to air pollution is increasingly known. A recent report shows that at least 95% of the world’s population breathe air containing dangerous levels of pollutants. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution is related to 4.2 million deaths every year. Less is known about the association between indoor air (especially particulate matter 2.5 and volatile organic compounds (VOC) pollution and mental health conditions. Many sources of indoor air pollution exist, such as pressed wood products, pesticides, secondhand smoke, stoves, heaters, overcrowding and fireplaces. Aims We aim to synthesize knowledge on the effects of particulate matter 2.5 in indoor air and mental health conditions. Methods We systematically reviewed the association of indoor air pollution with mental health conditions using the databases Pubmed and EMBASE. Results Exposure to indoor air pollutants is associated with increased anxiety and depression and less cognitive performance. These results are robust; however, the impact of PM2.5 is larger for less-educated and female respondents. Females cook with solid fuels and biomass more often. Physical exposure and gender factors overlap in the exposure to indoor air pollutants. Discussion Poor indoor air quality should be part of a comprehensive assessment of factors influencing mental health and cognition. Neuroinflammation might explain the effects of poor air on mental health and cognition. Further research is needed to combine research on the social determinants of mental health and the effects of indoor air. Studies in different settings such as home, work, and hospitals are needed to better understand the specific exposures of indoor air pollution and mental health conditions in different population groups.

Development of an air quality communication strategy with underserved groups

Abstract Air quality is the greatest environmental health threat. Effective communication can support individuals to take actions to protect themselves, however, we know some groups are less likely to engage with exposure reducing behaviours than others. We aimed to explore what information individuals want to receive about raised air pollution levels, when, where and how they would like to receive it. In this qualitative study individuals participated in either semi-structured interviews (n = 6) or focus groups (n = 8) in North East England between Oct23-Feb24. We used purposive sampling underpinned by extensive community-based engagement to ensure inclusion of those who were underserved and/ or at risk of digital exclusion. The Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behaviour model was used to help guide discussions and the data thematically analysed using an inductive approach. Fifty individuals participated, many of whom were of non-white ethnicity (n = 23, 46%), spoke English as an additional language (n = 12, 24%), and had lower educational attainment levels (i.e., no-qualifications n = 7, 14%). Participants discussed four aspects that they deemed important to include in air quality communication: (1) the risk and harms of air pollution should be stated, and be tailored because “what’s a dangerous level for one person isn’t a dangerous level for another”(P41) (2) Participants felt detail about the pollutants should be included such as: “what is causing the air pollution?”(P15) to “avoid the exposure to this source”(P21). (3) Messages should also include actionable recommendations about how to protect oneself and, (4) various ways to communicate these messages (text-message-based approaches being the most popular) were suggested. Our findings indicated using a combined communication strategy including text messages and community-based approaches. This work can inform the development of inclusive future air quality information communication Key messages • Effective communication can support individuals to take actions to protect themselves from air pollution. • A combined communication strategy including text messages and community-based approaches were suggested as being effective communication strategies.

Do enhanced school zone policies improve pedestrians' safety? A deep learning-based case study of Osan City, South Korea

This study investigates the effectiveness of strengthened penalty policies in South Korean school zones by analyzing the changes in road users' behaviors, focusing on pedestrian-vehicle interactions. This study employed three surrogate safety measurements: vehicle speed, Pedestrian Safety Margins (PSM), and Predicted Collision Risk (PCR) level. The comprehensive analysis covers a spectrum of behaviors, from simple to complex, assessing the policy's impact in urban environments. The findings reveal several important insights. First, the policy enforcement resulted in a positive impact on vehicle speeds, with average speeds aligning with posted speed limits. Second, an increase was observed in yielding behaviors, particularly in school zones. However, much of this behavior appeared to be cosmetic, emphasizing the need for more safety-oriented yielding practices. Finally, the policy enforcement had a mixed impact on PCR levels, with a reduction in danger levels in school zones, yet an unexpected increase in danger levels in non-school zones. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of strengthened penalty policies in school zones, particularly the development of a safe and sustainable urban environment.

ВСПОМОГАТЕЛЬНАЯ ПОЛИЦИЯ В СИСТЕМЕ НАЦИСТСКОГО ОККУПАЦИОННОГО РЕЖИМА НА СОВЕТСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЯХ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ БЕЛОРУССКОЙ ССР)

This article is devoted to the study of the role and place of the collaborationist auxiliary police, which was an important part of the Nazi security forces during the occupation of Soviet territories. The reasons for the appearance and genesis of such police formations are shown on the example of the Belarusian SSR. Their typology is considered, with the help of which it was possible to establish that the main types of police in the territory of this Soviet republic were the «service of order», «self-defense» and Auxiliary Police of order, the reasons for the creation of which directly depended from the increase in the level of partisan danger in the occupied territories. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that the auxiliary police were the most massive collaborationist formations in the occupied Soviet territories, and their role in Nazi repressive policies (for example, participation in the Holocaust) is quite significant. Nevertheless, the level of combat capability of the police remained low for a number of reasons and only decreased with the course of the occupation, which forced the Nazi administration to look for other forms of military collaboration. One of these reasons was the interethnic relations on the territory of the Belarusian SSR, which allows us to call the auxiliary police an essential factor in the dynamics, for example, of Belarusian-Polish and Belarusian-Russian relations.

Spatial Dynamics Of Tsunami Prone Areas In Kalianda Sub-District, South Lampung Regency

Kalianda Sub-District is one of the areas that is vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis because it is located on the west coast of Sumatra Island and the Sunda Strait has a potency from the eruption of Anak Krakatau Volcano. Increasing population growth also increases the risk of disaster impacts that are difficult to predict. This research aims to analyze the spatial dynamics of tsunami-prone areas in Kalianda District. This research uses multi-temporal land cover data, driving data on built-up land development factors, existing roads, slope, distance from the coastline, and distance from rivers. The method used is Cellular Automata Markov Chain which is used to model the development of built-up land, and the Berryman method for tsunami hazard analysis . Based on modeling results for 2031, the type of built land cover will experience a large increase. The tsunami danger level in Kalianda District is dominated by the low level covering an area of 4,741.80 ha, then the high level covering an area of 3,047.29 ha and the medium level covering an area of 1,243.66 ha. According to research results, the number of tsunami-prone areas increases every year. Therefore, we need to improve education and outreach to the public about tsunami dangers and effective evacuation procedures. The development and maintenance of evacuation support infrastructure, as well as the implementation of a reliable early warning system, are also very important to increasing community preparedness for tsunami disasters.

The station system measures the water level and amount of rain that can save the data and online through Web Server

This research paper, the aim is to create a water level and rain gauge station system that can record data and online through Web Server. To be monitor the water level of the river and the amount of water in the rainy season easily by looking through the website. The design of the water level measurement system and the amount of rain is measured with a hydrostatic sensor, Tipping Bucket. A small measuring station, easy to install, uses solar energy and has a Data Logger to record data in parallel with an online database. In the research process, the principle of correlation is used to find the relationship between two variables to find the error of the sensor, namely the water level sensor (Hydrostatic) and the rain sensor (Tipping Bucket). Through research, it was found that the measuring station, the database system can work correctly and with high stability, the water level measurement sensor is highly accurate, the error value is between 0.01 - 0.36 m, the accuracy rate is 97.38%. 98.97% compared to water level measurement stations in nearby areas. For the rain sensor, from the actual count compared to the count with the program 3 times, it is seen that there is 1 error with a deviation value of 0.3 mm. From the recorded data of 2 months (July and August) it was found that the water level is still low to moderate, away from the dangerous water level of 6.84 meters and the amount of rain is still quite high with the amount of rain. The days account for 64.51% and 54.83% of July and August respectively, but the amount of rain will be moderate to moderate. The speed used to send data from the measuring station to the web server via 3G Internet will be between 4 – 6 seconds.

A Temperature-Sensitive Fluorescent Supramolecular Polymer Constructed by Discrete Platinum(II) Metallacycle and Pillar[5]arene-Based Host-Guest Interactions.

The application of thermosensitive fluorescent supramolecular polymers in advanced optical materials, chemical sensors, artificial optical devices, and external stimulus responses remains underdeveloped. In this study, we introduced a novel method for constructing a mechanically interlocked fluorescent supramolecular polymer utilizing host-guest interactions, including C-H···π interactions and π-π stacking. This polymer exhibits outstanding temperature-sensitive fluorescence properties and is environmentally friendly due to its recyclability. Leveraging the polymer's fluorescence response at critical temperature ranges, we developed a high-temperature warning device. This device utilizes the temperature-sensitive fluorescence characteristic of the polymer to indicate dangerous temperature levels, thereby demonstrating its potential in practical safety applications.

Microwave Ablation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Effect of Metabolic Heat on Temperature Distribution

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the main cause of liver cancer and one of the most occurring cancers worldwide. Microwave Ablation (MWA) is a method to destroy cancer cells by heating tumours above 50°C. Cancerous tissues can have high metabolic heat rates and affect temperature gain and distribution in thermal therapies. This research clarifies the metabolic heat effects in MWA therapy of liver cancer. Using Pennes Bioheat transfer equation with finite element numerical method, this research simulates temperature distribution with metabolic heat value ranging from 368,1 W/m3 to 29000 W/m3. The heat generated by metabolic heat is lower than the MWA heat source. However, the temperature increase should be considered as it can increase healthy surrounding tissue temperature to dangerous levels.

Non-Invasive Diagnostic Approaches for Kidney Disease: The Role of Electronic Nose Systems

Kidney diseases are a group of conditions related to the functioning of kidneys, which are in turn unable to properly filter waste and excessive fluids from the blood, resulting in the presence of dangerous levels of electrolytes, fluids, and waste substances in the human body, possibly leading to significant health effects. At the same time, the toxins amassing in the organism can lead to significant changes in breath composition, resulting in halitosis with peculiar features like the popular ammonia breath. Starting from this evidence, scientists have started to work on systems that can detect the presence of kidney diseases using a minimally invasive approach, minimizing the burden to the individuals, albeit providing clinicians with useful information about the disease’s presence or its main related features. The electronic nose (e-nose) is one of such tools, and its applications in this specific domain represent the core of the present review, performed on articles published in the last 20 years on humans to stay updated with the latest technological advancements, and conducted under the PRISMA guidelines. This review focuses not only on the chemical and physical principles of detection of such compounds (mainly ammonia), but also on the most popular data processing approaches adopted by the research community (mainly those relying on Machine Learning), to draw exhaustive conclusions about the state of the art and to figure out possible cues for future developments in the field.

SISTEMA PARA DETECÇÃO DE VAZAMENTO DE GÁS

Gas poisoning, such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), is responsible for around 19,000 deaths annually, due to its high flammability and toxic effects when inhaled in large quantities(Science Advances, 2024). In response to this, a prototype low-cost LPGgas detection system was developed, based on Arduino. The system uses sensors to identify leaks and trigger alerts via LEDs, buzzer, fan and relay, an LCD board and an android app that receives the data sent viaBluetooth to the owner. Tests have confirmed the system’s efficiency in detecting dangerous levels of gas, with positive results for residential and commercial safety.

Analysis of existing means of the cutting tool path visualization in the CNC systems

BACKGROUND: Currently, machines for processing metals and other materials are used in various industry sectors. Operation of these machines defined with the CNC is impossible without using the corresponding systems, which ensure performing real-time configuring of the system for solving various technological tasks by means of machine drives control. AIM: Analysis of functional capabilities of the visualization module of the AksiOMA Kontrol CNC system in comparison with other well-known same-type systems with consequent enlarging of capabilities of this module. Based on this, the study aim is formulated as follows: broadening the functional capabilities of the module of cutting tool motion path visualization in the AksiOMA Kontrol CNC system by means of development of the path analysis module. METHODS: For achieving the aim, the next task to broaden the functional capabilities of the module of cutting tool path visualization in the AksiOMA Kontrol CNC system is formulated as follows: analysis of existing means of cutting tool path visualization in the CNC systems. RESULTS: The study result is the fact that the visualization interface is critically important for operation, as it helps the operator to assess the abnormal situation quickly. Mistakes can be found at every stage of part machining setting-up. The mistakes can be made when positioning the part or the tool, at zero-point binding, at axes offset setting-up, etc. When machine equipment is set up, generally, difficulties take place if there is a different set-up for the other order. For these cases, in the CNC systems, such functional capabilities as processing visualization are necessary. This functionality is critically important, as it helps to find a mistake in time, to assess the danger level, and to fix it in time, that helps to prevent both the machine and the tool from failure and excessive mechanical impact. CONCLUSION: The study, which contains solving the tasks of analysis of cutting tool motion path in the AksiOMA Kontrol CNC system, is completed. The analysis conducted in the paper revealed that majority of CNC systems does not have the presented functional capabilities that does not help to conduct the complete analysis of the machining process.

Energy coupling and surge wave superposition of upstream series double surge tanks of pumped storage power station

Pumped storage power station with surge tank is common, and surge wave superposition can cause more dangerous water levels. This paper aims to study the energy coupling and surge wave superposition of upstream series double surge tanks of pumped storage power station. Firstly, the simulation model of pumped storage power station based on method of characteristics is established. Combined operating conditions are illuminated. Then, surge wave control strategies coupling gravitational search algorithm, relative objective proximity and marginal analysis principle are designed. Coupling control domains are determined to perform surge wave superposition analyses under single objective and multi-objective. Finally, the energy coupling and conversion mechanisms are revealed. The results show that the coupling control domains of combined operating conditions with same initial operating condition are the same. Control domains for undamped and damped systems contain two and three sub control domains, respectively. Based on energy conversion mechanisms between discharges and water levels, the number of discharge superposition points of pipelines affects energy coupling strength by changing coupling oscillations of water levels in surge tanks, which is related to the pipeline parameters, surge tank parameters and system damping. Energy coupling affects surge wave superposition by changing the actual control water level.