Dust Levels Research Articles

A novel image enhancement algorithm to determine the dust level on photovoltaic (PV) panels

An accurate evaluation of the dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels enables the development of cleaning plans and improves the grid connection security of PV power stations. In this paper, a novel image enhancement algorithm is proposed to evaluate the dust accumulation on PV panels. An atmospheric scattering model was used to analyze the difference in the image characteristics of clean and dusty PV panels. A model was proposed to describe the relationship between the model coefficient and the dust level by minimizing the pixel difference between the images of the soiled and clean PV panels. An experiment system was designed to acquire the images of clean and soiled PV panels with different dust levels. The model parameters were determined by data fitting, and the model’s generalization ability was improved by adding a noise item. The results show that the model can estimate the dust level on PV panels with an accuracy of 83.78%. The average root mean square error (RMSE) of samples 1–4 is 1.67, and the error range is 2–3.5 g/m2. In addition, the proposed method has higher accuracy than the optical attenuation and weighing methods, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.61 g/m2. The method is simple and reliable for intelligent cleaning of PV panels.

Human Exposure to Pesticides in Dust from Two Agricultural Sites in South Africa.

Over the last decades, concern has arisen worldwide about the negative impacts of pesticides on the environment and human health. Exposure via dust ingestion is important for many chemicals but poorly characterized for pesticides, particularly in Africa. We investigated the spatial and temporal variations of 30 pesticides in dust and estimated the human exposure via dust ingestion, which was compared to inhalation and soil ingestion. Indoor dust samples were collected from thirty-eight households and two schools located in two agricultural regions in South Africa and were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We found 10 pesticides in dust, with chlorpyrifos, terbuthylazine, carbaryl, diazinon, carbendazim, and tebuconazole quantified in >50% of the samples. Over seven days, no significant temporal variations in the dust levels of individual pesticides were found. Significant spatial variations were observed for some pesticides, highlighting the importance of proximity to agricultural fields or of indoor pesticide use. For five out of the nineteen pesticides quantified in dust, air, or soil (i.e., carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, diuron and propiconazole), human intake via dust ingestion was important (>10%) compared to inhalation or soil ingestion. Dust ingestion should therefore be considered in future human exposure assessment to pesticides.

Benefits and limitations of field-based monitoring approaches for respirable dust and crystalline silica applied in a sandstone quarry

With the advent of new sensing technologies and robust field-deployable analyzers, monitoring approaches can now generate valuable hazard information directly in the workplace. This is the case for monitoring respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica concentration levels. Estimating the quartz amount of a respirable dust sample by nondestructive analysis can be carried out using portable Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) units. Real-time respirable dust monitors, combined with small video cameras, allow advanced assessments using the Helmet-CAM methodology. These two field-based monitoring approaches, developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), have been trialed in a sandstone quarry. Twenty-six Helmet-CAM sessions were conducted, and forty-one dust samples were collected around the quarry and analyzed on-site during two events. The generated data generated were used to characterize concentration levels for the monitored areas and workers, to identify good practices, and to illustrate activities that could be improved with additional engineered control technologies. Laboratory analysis of the collected samples complemented the field finding and provided an assessment of the performance of the field-based techniques. Only a fraction of the real-time respirable dust monitoring sessions data could be corrected with laboratory analysis. The average correction factor ratio was 5.0. Nevertheless, Helmet-CAM results provided valuable information for each session. The field-based quartz monitoring approach overestimated the concentration by a factor of 1.8, but it successfully assessed the quartz concentration trends in the quarry. The data collected could be used for the determination of a quarry calibration factor for future events. The quartz content in the dust was found to vary from 14% to 100%, and this indicates the need for multiple techniques in the characterization of respirable dust and quartz concentration and exposure. Overall, this study reports the importance of the adoption of field-based monitoring techniques when combined with a proper understanding and knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of each technique.

Improving Air Pollution Prediction System through Multimodal Deep Learning Model Optimization

Many forms of air pollution increase as science and technology rapidly advance. In particular, fine dust harms the human body, causing or worsening heart and lung-related diseases. In this study, the level of fine dust in Seoul after 8 h is predicted to prevent health damage in advance. We construct a dataset by combining two modalities (i.e., numerical and image data) for accurate prediction. In addition, we propose a multimodal deep learning model combining a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). An LSTM AutoEncoder is chosen as a model for numerical time series data processing and basic CNN. A Visual Geometry Group Neural Network (VGGNet) (VGG16, VGG19) is also chosen as a CNN model for image processing to compare performance differences according to network depth. The VGGNet is a standard deep CNN architecture with multiple layers. Our multimodal deep learning model using two modalities (i.e., numerical and image data) showed better performance than a single deep learning model using only one modality (numerical data). Specifically, the performance improved up to 14.16% when the VGG19 model, which has a deeper network, was used rather than the VGG16 model.

Applying Wind Erosion and Air Dispersion Models to Characterize Dust Hazard to Highway Safety at Lordsburg Playa, New Mexico, USA

Lordsburg Playa, a dry lakebed in the Chihuahuan Desert of southwestern New Mexico (USA), is crossed by Interstate Highway 10 (I-10). Dust from the playa threatens highway safety and has caused dozens of fatal accidents. Two numerical models—the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Single-Event Wind Erosion Evaluation Program (SWEEP) and the American Meteorological Society and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD)—were used to simulate and predict the generation and dispersion of windblown soil, dust, and PM10 from playa hotspots and estimate PM10 concentrations downwind. SWEEP simulates soil loss and particulate matter emissions from the playa surface, and AERMOD predicts the concentration of transported dust. The modeling was informed by field and laboratory data on Lordsburg Playa’s properties, soil and land use/land cover databases, and weather data from meteorological stations. The integrated models predicted that dust plumes originating on the playa—including a large, highly emissive area away from the highway and a smaller, less emissive site directly upwind of the interstate—can lead to hourly average PM10 concentrations of tens, to hundreds of thousands, of micrograms per cubic meter. Modeling results were consistent with observations from webcam photos and visibility records from the meteorological sites. Lordsburg Playa sediment contains metals, as will its dust, but human exposures will be short-term and infrequent. This study was the first to successfully combine the SWEEP wind erosion model and the AERMOD air dispersion model to evaluate PM10 dispersion by wind erosion in a playa environment. With this information, land managers will be able to understand the potential levels of dust and PM10 exposure along the highway, and better manage human health and safety during conditions of blowing dust and sand at Lordsburg Playa.

PM2.5 and PM10 exposure in selected animal feed processing facilities in Kiambu County, Kenya.

The high demand for animal feed in major towns in Kenya has escalated the proliferation of animal feed manufacturing and uncontrolled animal feed facilities. This exposes the workers to grain dust, which is harmful to their respiratory health. The exposure levels have not been extensively studied and reported in Kenya. The goal of the study was to assess the exposure levels of grain dust to animal feed mill workers in Kiambu County, Kenya. The animal feed facilities were purposely sampled. The grain dust exposure levels in the study sites were monitored using a portable particulate matter sensor. SPSS was used to process and analyze the collected data. The mean PM10 of 53.72 μg/m3 and PM2.5 of 36.54 μg/m3 exceeded the WHO Air Quality Guideline level of a 24-hour exposure time of 45 μg/m3 for PM10 and PM2.5, 15 μg/m3. The study recommends continued implementation of the dust control measures within the animal feed manufacturing facilities and adherence to the set safety and health guidelines by the feed processors.

Structural Equation Modeling using Partial Least Squares for Occupational Safety and Health Factors and Work Environment Factors Toward Occupational Diseases on Labors in Industry X Cimahi City

Occupational diseases can be caused by work, work tools, materials, processes, or the work environment. Efforts to control risk factors during the production process in the manufacturing industry are important. These efforts are carried out by monitoring and measuring the work environment for environmental prevention and management. Technical control, administrative control, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are some efforts to maintain their health condition and protect workers from health problems and adverse effects caused by work. This study wants to figure out the modeling of occupational safety and health factors, individuals, and the work environment that can cause occupational diseases in workers by using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The sample size in this study was 50 workers (respondents). The analysis used is Chi-Square and PLS-SEM. The results showed a significant relationship between the PPE use, years of service, air dust levels, illness history, and noise factor with the incidence of occupational diseases. In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between occupational safety and health factors (PPE use and noise factor) with occupational diseases, between individual factors (years of service and illness history) with occupational diseases, and between work environment factors (air dust levels) and occupational diseases. In suggestion, a control over workplace environmental parameters that exceeded the threshold value is required, such as dust, noise, lighting, temperature, and humidity levels. Further research on other risk factors that can affect the incidence of occupational diseases is required, such as gas parameters, ventilation, and the application of occupational safety and health management systems.

Prevalence of elevated blood lead levels and risk factors among children living in Patna, Bihar, India 2020.

Childhood lead exposure remains a key health concern for officials worldwide, contributing some 600,000 new cases of intellectually disabled children annually. Most children affected by high exposure to lead live in low- and middle-income countries. The leaded gasoline phase out in India was completed in 2000. Yet, in 2020, an estimated 275 million children aged 0 to 9 years had blood lead levels (BLLs) ≥ 5 μg/dL known to adversely affect intelligence and behavior. Lead sources reported in India include spices, cookware, paint, traditional medicines and cosmetics, and lead-acid battery recycling and repair. However, their relative contribution has not been characterized. More than 200 lead pollution sites related to battery recycling and repair activities were identified in Bihar and Jharkhand, India. Ninety percent of the recycling sites had soil lead concentrations exceeding the US Environmental Protection Agency's standards. We compared blood and environmental lead levels in two groups of children in Patna, Bihar. Households in proximity to battery recycling operations (Proximal n = 67) versus households distal to these operations (Distal n = 68). The average age of children was 40 months; 46% were female. Overall, the geometric mean (GM) BLL was 11.6 μg/dL. GM BLLs of children in Proximal and Distal households were not significantly different (10.2 μg/dL vs. 13.1 μg/dL respectively; p≤0.07). About 87% children, 56 Proximal and 62 Distal had BLLs ≥5 μg/dl. Lead concentrations in environmental samples were significantly higher in Proximal households (soil mean 9.8 vs. 1.6 μg/ft2; dust mean 52.9 vs. 29.9 μg/ft2 p<0.001; Proximal vs. Distal respectively) whereas concentrations in all spices were higher in Distal households (mean 46.8 vs 134.5 ppm p<0.001; Proximal vs. Distal respectively), and turmeric (mean 59.4 vs. 216.9 ppm Proximal vs. Distal respectively). In multivariate analyses for all children lead in spices and turmeric and number of rooms in the house were significant while for the Proximal group only lead in spices remained in the model. The predictive value of these models was poor. For the Distal group, a model with lead concentration in spices, turmeric and soil and number of rooms in the house was a much better fit. Of the 34 water samples collected, 7 were above the Indian standard of 10 ppb for lead in drinking water (2 in the Proximal area, 5 in the Distal area). Children in Patna, Bihar, India are exposed to multiple sources of lead, with lead levels in house dust and loose, locally sourced spices the most likely to increase blood lead levels. A holistic approach to blood lead testing and source identification and remediation are necessary to prevent lead exposure.

Use of a Distributed Micro-sensor System for Monitoring the Indoor Particulate Matter Concentration in the Atmosphere of Ferroalloy Production Plants

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is a concern for both occupational health and the environment, and, in the ferroalloy industry, the level of such particles in the air can be considerable. Small, low-cost sensors for measuring PM have generated interest in recent years, providing widespread monitoring of PM levels in the environment. However, such sensors have not yet been sufficiently tested under conditions relevant for the indoor environment of the metallurgical industry. This study aims to bridge this gap by benchmarking the commercial, low-cost Nova PM SDS011 particle sensor in two different ferroalloy plants. Benchmarking was performed against the Fidas 200S, which has been suitability-tested and certified according to the latest EU requirements (EN 15267, EN 16450). Twelve Nova sensors were tested over 3 months at a silicomanganese alloy (SiMn) plant, and 35 sensors were tested during 1 month at a silicon (Si) plant. The results showed that the low-cost Nova sensors exhibited all the same trends and peaks in terms of PM concentration, but measured lower dust concentrations than the Fidas 200S. The difference was larger at the silicon plant, which is in line with expectations, due to the size and mass fractions of particles in Si dust compared to SiMn dust, and to the larger measurement range of the Fidas, measuring down to 180 nm compared to the Nova which measures down to 300 nm. Despite the difference in absolute values, the Nova sensors were found to provide data for comparing dust levels over time for different processes, at different locations, and under different operational conditions.

Effect of Respiratory Muscle Stretch Gymnastics on Chest Expansion and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate among Sawmill Workers

Introduction: Sawmill workers are subjected to high levels of wood dust, which can significantly impair lung function. Many studies have found restrictive abnormalities associated with decreased breathing muscle strength and chest expansion. Respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics (RMSG) has been proposed as an additional form of rehabilitation for patients suffering from respiratory diseases. RMSG is intended to reduce chest wall stiffness, particularly in the respiratory muscles of the chest wall. Objective: The objective of this study was to look into the impact of RMSG on chest expansion and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in sawmill workers. Methodology: Fifty randomly selected sawmill workers aged 30–50 years in Chidambaram town were given RMSG training twice daily, four times each of five patterns for 4 weeks. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the subjects. Height, weight, and chest measurements were all part of the physical examination. Before and after training, the physiological parameter PEFR was measured. The extent of chest expansion was the primary outcome measure. Data Analysis and Outcomes: The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used to evaluate and analyze the data, with the level of significance set at P &lt; 0.05. The dependent t-test revealed a significant difference in chest expansion between pre- and posttraining (2.441.11) and (3.780.616) with a P = 0.001. At P = 0.001, there was also a statistically significant difference in the mean values of PEFR (341.80 77.13) and (479.8058.24). Conclusion: The study found that RMSG training improves chest expansion and pulmonary function (PEFR). According to the findings, RMSG is a simple, safe, and effective technique for increasing the overall functional capacity of sawmill workers. Our study clearly demarcates the difference in an angle that 40° or 45° recumbency is useful. With not much literature in such workers, we can say that this study is one of the early works in this field.

Парки г. Саранска как рекреационные объекты

The present study is devoted to the issue of creating a favorable urban environment in urbanized territories, as this is an important component of urban culture to ensure comfortable living and recreation conditions for citizens. It follows from history that green park areas in cities have long been of interest for the creation of natural objects of landscape architecture for recreational purposes. The authors of the article, relying on research in the field of landscape architecture, recreation, the creation of garden and park territories, Russian and foreign authors, cite key concepts related to the def-inition of the park and on their basis, formulate their own definition as an object of landscape architecture developed and artistically decorated for outdoor recreation, where the cultural and mass activities that meet the recreational needs of the city population are carried out. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the fact that park areas are the center of attraction for the recreation of citizens and play an important role in the life of both large megacities and small provincial cities. The city's park zones form the basis of its ecological framework, reducing the level of noise, dust and gas pollution of the air, and their landscaping adds variety to the landscape archi-tecture of the urban space. The authors gave a comparative description and assess-ment of the parks of Saransk, as a result of which their features and functional fea-tures were revealed, and a SWOT analysis revealed various aspects of the organiza-tion and further use of the studied recreational areas. The assessment of the identified factors of external and internal environment allowed to determine a set of measures that should be the basis for the development strategy of practical activities of urban parks as recreational facilities. Further development of urban park areas involves the effective use of available resources and their inclusion in tourism products.

Why are Silica Dust Exposures and Silica-Related Health Effects Still a Global Concern?

Background and aim Epidemiology studies of workers exposed to silica dust demonstrate that crystalline SiO2 is a multipotential hazard. Research among construction workers, miners, ceramic and brick workers, countertops workers, and sandblasters where respirable silica dust levels has been measured has demonstrated excess risk for silicosis, cor pulmopale, silica-tuberculosis (SiTB), several chronic respiratory conditions, coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), several auto-immune diseases, and cancers of the lung and gastro-intestinal tract. Methods Despite knowledge of these links over the past decades, occupational and environmental health professionals have not been able to address three new silica-related health issues. They are silicosis and CWP among US coal miners, severe silicosis and auto-immune ailments among countertop workers; and ongoing risk for SiTB among Africa miners. The author examined the literature for other novel silica-related health risks. Results Current workers and their managers seem to not have sufficient awareness of the occupational hazards of silica dust. There are new silica dust concerns including fracking sand, railroad ballast, and dust control in countertop machining. There are new cancer links with silica, including women and nonsmokers with excess lung cancer; excess lung cancer among patients with CWP; children’s dust exposure in small-scale gold mining; and excess lung diseases and pulmonary cancer among railroad workers. There is need for research on improved silica sampling techniques and protective gear. Pathologists should explore whether silicosis leads to differences in cell characteristics that produce silica-linked lung cancers compared to ‘garden variety’ malignancies. Conclusion Despite promises that global silica problems were controlled, that seems to be countered by excesses of CWP and SiTB that still bedevil the occupational medicine and public health communities. We need more worker education, prevention or regulatory policy, and basic silica biology and pathology to effectively intervene. Keywords Silica health effects, future prevention efforts; improved sampling methods

The Relationship Between Exposure to Coal Dust Levels and Acute Respiratory Infection: A Literature Review

Coal is a resource that humans use as fuel, including for steam power plant activities. In the process of generating electricity, coal must go through a combustion process which in the end leaves dust from burning the coal. This combustion residue contains compounds that can cause respiratory problems, one of which is acute respiratory infection (ARI). This study aimed to determine the relationship between exposure to coal dust levels and the incidence of ARI, and to identify the associations between the duration of exposure and dust concentration in coal combustion residues with the incidence of ARI. This was a literature review, with a sample of 11 journal articles obtained from Pubmed (n = 2), Proquest (n = 3), Science Direct (n = 1), EBSCO (n = 3), and Neliti (n = 1). The keywords used to search for the relevant articles were: “Acute Respiratory Infection” OR “Pneumocosis” OR “Pneumonia” AND “Coal Dust” OR “Dust” OR “PM₁₀” OR “PM₂,₅”. Thematic analysis was used to examine the results. 81.8% of the results from the articles showed that there was a relationship between exposure to coal dust levels and the incidence of ARI, while the remaining 18.2% showed no correlation. Exposure duration, dust particle size, threshold value and dust-forming compounds have a relationship with the incidence of ARI and other respiratory disorders.&#x0D; Keywords: acute respiratory infection, ARI, coal dust

Potential ecological and health risks of heavy metals for indoor and corresponding outdoor dust in Hefei, Central China.

The harm caused by indoor dust has received increasing attention in recent years. However, current studies have ignored comparisons with the corresponding outdoor dust. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of heavy metals in indoor and corresponding outdoor dust and the ecological and health risks they pose in Hefei, Central China. We analyzed O/I (outdoor/indoor concentration ratios) values, background comparison, and correlation analysis (heavy metal concentrations vs. particle size) and found that Cu, Zn, and Cd mainly existed in indoor sources, while V, Co, and As mainly existed in outdoor sources, and both family sizes and floor number influenced the variation of O/I. Through a new potential ecological risk assessment method, we determined that Cd risk levels in indoor and outdoor dust were extreme and high to extreme, respectively. Additionally, the carcinogenic risks of Ni, As, and Cr were not negligible. The risk of indoor dust was higher than that of outdoor dust for the heavy metals studied, implying a poor indoor environment. Notably, indoor dust from families with smaller sizes, lower floors, and smokers had higher ecological and carcinogenic risks.

Research on Engineering Application of Flue Gas Water Lifting Technology

The application of flue gas water lifting technology in thermal power plants can effectively balance the contradiction between thermal power development and water source protection in water shortage areas. However, at present, the engineering application of flue gas water lifting technology is limited, and the comprehensive research relying on field application is lacking. Based on the actual commissioning and performance test of flue gas water lifting system of a 660MW thermal power unit, the project trial operation and water-saving capacity are systematically studied in this paper. Through the system commissioning test, it is found that the water filling process should be considered in the design of circulating cooling water system in the form of closed water, and the operation safety can be improved by setting expansion tank and adding drainage points. The quantity of delivery water is affected by ambient temperature, circulating water quantity and cooling water temperature. Through the performance test, it is found that flue gas water lifting technology can meet the demand of water replenishment for desulfurization tower and has a positive effect on the suppression of flue gas side dust level.

Frequency of occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with anthracosilicosis in combination with arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease

Introduction. Clinical and experimental studies show the adverse effect of coal-rock dust not only on the bronchopulmonary, but also on the cardiovascular system. Coal mine workers have a high incidence of arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease. The key point in the prevention of the diseases of the circulatory system is the timely detection and correction of not only the main (non-occupational), but also occupational factors of cardiovascular risk. In this regard, the study of risk factors for arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease in coal mining workers is an urgent task. The study aims to explore the frequency and reveal the most significant non-occupational and occupational factors of cardiovascular risk in patients with anthracosilicosis in combination with arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease. Materials and methods. The study involved 269 coal mine workers: 139 miners with previously diagnosed anthracosilicosis and 130 miners in the control group without lung pathology. All of them underwent a comprehensive clinical, instrumental and laboratory examination to identify arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease and risk factors for the development of the diseases of the circulatory system. Results. According to the findings of the study, a significantly higher incidence of arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease was identified in the patients with anthracosilicosis compared with the miners who worked for a long time in harmful labour conditions but did not have occupational pulmonary pathology. The most significant non-occupational risk factors for arterial hypertension in the patients with anthracosilicosis were determined: age 50 years and older, the presence of fasting hyperglycemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, abdominal type of obesity, hypersthenic constitutional-morphological type according to the Rees-Eysenck index, blood group AB (IV). Occupational risk factors for the development of arterial hypertension in the patients with anthracosilicosis were also identified: work experience in hazardous working conditions of 25 years and more, the dust level in the working area exceeding the maximum permissible concentration by 10 times and more. In the patients with anthracosilicosis, the most significant risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease were: age 45 years and older, the presence of arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome, andromorphic constitutional-morphological type according to the Tanner index, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, increased levels of soluble fibrin-monomer complexes and C-reactive protein. Occupational risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease in the patients with anthracosilicosis were also identified: work experience in hazardous working conditions of 20 years and more, the presence of respiratory failure (as a complication of an occupational disease). Limitations. This study is limited to a sample of workers in the main occupations of coal mines who are examined at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. The age group of workers from 40 to 54 years old, with a long work experience in underground dusty conditions (more than 15 years) was studied. The study did not include persons with proven occupational diseases other than anthracosilicosis. Conclusions. The identified significant markers of cardiovascular risk can be applied to elaborate prognostic methods. Timely detection and elimination of cardiovascular risk factors as primary preventive measures should be used to reduce the level of cardiovascular incidence rate among individuals working in hazardous labour conditions. Ethics. This medical research involving a human was carried out in accordance with the ethical principles presented in the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association.

Physical Home Sanitation as a Risk Factor for Acute Respiratory Infection in Children under 5 at Labuan Regency, Central Sulawesi

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of physical home sanitation against acute respiratory infections in children under five in Labuan Regency, Central Sulawesi.&#x0D; Method: This study was done in Labuan District, Donggala Regency, from July 31 to October 28, 2021, as an observational study with a Case Control Study technique. All children under the age of five who have ARI in the Labuan Health Center Work Area, Labuan District, Donggala Regency, are included in the study. The research was approved by the Makassar Ministry of Health Poltekkes Ethics Committee Number 1068/KEPK-PTKMKS/IX/2020 on the basis of its ethical feasibility.&#x0D; Results: The physical sanitation condition of the house that does not meet the requirements for dust content is 52.9%. Home ventilation 58.6%. The lighting conditions are 47.1% and the humidity of the house is 35.7%. Bivariate analysis showed that there was a relationship between dust levels and the incidence of ARI (p=0.000), ventilation conditions with the incidence of ARI (p=0.000), lighting with the incidence of ARI (p=0.001) and humidity with the incidence of ARI (p=0.005) in children. in Labuan District, Donggala Regency. The incidence of ARI is more common in children aged 0-2 years, and the incidence of ARI has no difference between male and female sexes. Multivariate analysis showed that dust content (p=0.000 CI95% OR=9.56) and ventilation (p=0.001 CI95% OR=6.08) were the main variables that caused ARI in children in Labuan District, Donggala Regency.&#x0D; Conclusion: The main variables causing ARI in children in Labuan District, Donggala Regency are dust content (OR = 9.56) and ventilation (OR = 6.08)

Characteristics of Resuspended Road Dust with Traffic and Atmospheric Environment in South Korea

Characterizing the influencing factors of resuspended dust on paved roads according to the atmospheric environment and traffic conditions is important to provide a basis for road atmospheric pollution control measures suitable for various road environments in the future. This study attempts to identify factors in the concentration of resuspended dust according to the level of road dust loading and PM10 emission characteristics according to atmospheric weather environment and traffic conditions using real-time vehicle-based resuspended PM10 concentration measuring equipment. This study mainly focuses on the following main topics: (1) the increased level of resuspended dust according to vehicle speed and silt loading (sL) level; (2) difference between atmospheric pollution at adjacent monitoring station concentration and background concentration levels on roads due to atmospheric weather changes; (3) the correlation between traffic and weather factors with resuspended dust levels; (4) the evaluation of resuspended dust levels by road section. Based on the results, the necessity of research to more appropriately set the focus of analysis in order to characterize the resuspended dust according to changes in the traffic and weather environment in urban areas is presented.

Internet of Things (IoT) Applications in Hospitals: A Systematic Review

Context: The internet of things (IoT) is a system of wireless, interconnected and digital devices that can collect and store data in a network without needing to establish human-to-human or human-to-computer interactions. Objectives: Due to the importance of adopting up-to-date technologies in hospitals and health centers, this systematic review aimed to explore all aspects of the IoT applicable in hospitals.&#x0D; Methods: The present study was a systematic review conducted in 4 August 2021 according to PRISMA guidelines. The internet searches were performed to access three scientific databases of PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science using a combination of keywords, such as the IoT and hospital. Finally, the required data were extracted from original research articles investigating the IoT application in hospitals and were entered into EndNote X8 software. Quality assessment of the studies was carried out by two researchers independently.&#x0D; Results: A total of 18 articles were included in the study. The application of IoT had been introduced by 13 articles as an effective method in reducing and controlling dust levels as well as improving the quality of health in wards. Moreover, the possibility of using and installing IoT systems on mobile phones as well as their application for monitoring health improvement had been investigated by two articles. The advantages of using the IoT to save time and keep users’ information confidential had also been discussed by some other reviewed articles.&#x0D; Conclusions: It was concluded that the application of IoT system in hospitals increased the quality of healthcare and improved the patient satisfaction. It was also found that adopting IoT technology may have been extremely effective in controlling various hospital infections. Moreover, this technology was detected to have the true potential for improving the security of devices and databases in the hospital. Overall, the application of IoT was confirmed to increase the efficiency of hospitals and health centers.

Mode division multiplexing free space optics system with 3D hybrid modulation under dust and fog

Mode division multiplexing (MDM) is an emerging information transmission technique in which multiple data signals can be transmitted simultaneously on different modes of a single wavelength laser beam over a free-space channel. MDM is a potential technique for the realization of high-speed spectral efficient communication links for future generations of wireless networks. We present a novel MDM-based free-space optics (FSO) system. The system integrates a 3D hybrid modulation scheme produced by combining carrier suppressed-non-return-to-zero (CSNRZ), differential quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK), and polarization shift keying (PolSK) modulation schemes for beyond 100 Gbps applications. Three unrelated 40 Gbps data signals are modulated and transmitted on one optical carrier utilizing three distinct signal properties: amplitude (CSNRZ), phase (DQPSK), and polarization state (PolSK). The proposed 3D modulation scheme offers a high-capacity system, where each channel transmits 4 Gbps as compared to 1 Gbps in the case of OOK modulation. MDM using distinct Hermite Gaussian modes: (HG00 and HG01) of a laser beam is incorporated to boost the spectral efficiency and information rates of the FSO link. The proposed 120 Gbps single-channel MDM-FSO link performance is examined under the impact of different levels of dust and fog environmental conditions using quality factors and received eye diagrams as the performance metrics. This system achieved optimal performances up to 1250 m (very light dust), 540 m (light dust), 170 m (moderate dust), 750 m (low fog), and 425 m (medium fog). In the worst-case scenario, the system manages to work up to a 67 m range in dense dust with a maximum attenuation of 297.38 dB/km and a 200 m distance in heavy fog with only 90 dB/km attenuation which is less than 1/3rd of the attenuation measured for dense dust event. In addition, our results and the case studies confirm that dust introduces greater signal attenuation than fog. Therefore, an encounter with a dust environment should be considered as the bottleneck issue for FSO links. The creative contribution of this paper is to put forward a bandwidth-efficient MDM-FSO-enabled B5G system that could be deployed in harsh and challenging locations at reduced visibility. This is expected to be further technically sustainable owing to the use of advanced 3D hybrid optical orthogonal modulation and therefore find use in implementing 5G and 6G cellular and data networks.