Items Of Equipment Research Articles

Natech accidents triggered by cold waves

Natural events are a widely recognized hazard for industrial sites where relevant quantities of hazardous substances are handled, due to the possible generation of cascading events resulting in severe technological accidents (Natech scenarios). To date, research efforts were mainly dedicated to the study of Natech scenarios triggered by earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. However, a number of recent events evidenced the potential hazard of Natech scenarios triggered by cold waves and winter storms. The present study aims at providing a comprehensive analysis of past accidents involving hazardous substances triggered by cold waves affecting the industrial infrastructure. A dataset of over 740 Natech events was collected from specialized sources. A detailed analysis of the primary events and damage modes of the equipment items involved was carried out, highlighting that most of the accidents were linked to the phase transition from the liquid to the solid state of the process fluid or of atmospheric water. The analysis of the events allowed the identification of several aspects of the cause-consequence chains, such as the technological scenarios and the equipment items more frequently involved. A specific focus was also on the vulnerability and failure modes of safety barriers. The lessons learned derived from the analysis of the accidents provide key elements to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. These were used to suggest specific safety barriers integrating winterization and freeze protection programs.

Management of receivables and payables as an element of ensuring the economic security of an enterprise: practical aspects

The article is devoted to the problem of the effectiveness of accounts receivable and accounts payable management in an enterprise. The object of the study is the LLC XXX leasing company that specialises in financial leasing of cars, road freight vehicles, specialised equipment and other items. Works on relevant subjects of Russian and foreign authors served as a theoretical basis of the study. The goal of the study is to prepare recommendations aimed at improving settlements with creditors and debtors, avoiding and minimising the number of overdue receivables and payables as well as improving the overall economic security of the enterprise. Based on the analysis and synthesis of the results obtained by the authors in previous studies, a set of recommendations was proposed. Their potential impact on the components of the enterprise’s economic security was assessed, and the results that can be achieved in case accounts receivable and accounts payable are properly managed were presented. The method of combining ABC analysis with accounts receivable aging reports, which gives a full picture of creditors and debtors, was described.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Photovoltaic Hydrogen Production Considering Technological Progress Uncertainty

The application of photovoltaic (PV) power to split water and produce hydrogen not only reduces carbon emissions in the process of hydrogen production but also helps decarbonize the transportation, chemical, and metallurgical industries through P2X technology. A techno-economic model must be established to predict the economics of integrated PV–hydrogen technology at key time points in the future based on the characteristics, variability, and uncertainties of this technology. In this study, we extracted the comprehensive technical factors (including PV tracking system coefficient, PV conversion efficiency, electrolyzer efficiency, and electrolyzer degradation coefficient) of an integrated PV–hydrogen system. Then, we constructed a PV hydrogen production techno-economic (PVH2) model. We used the levelized cost of hydrogen production (LCOH) method to estimate the cost of each major equipment item during the project lifetime. We combined the PVH2 and learning curve models to determine the cost trend of integrated PV–hydrogen technology. We developed a two-dimensional Monte Carlo approach to predict the variation interval of LCOH for PV–hydrogen projects in 2030 and 2050, which described the current technology variability with variable parameters and the uncertainty in the technology advancement with uncertain parameters. The results showed that the most critical factors influencing LCOH are PV conversion efficiency and the capital cost of the electrolyzer. The LCOH of PV to hydrogen in China will drop to CNY 18–32/kg by 2030 and CNY 8–18/kg by 2050. The combination of a learning curve model and a Monte Carlo method is an effective tool to describe the current variability in hydrogen production technologies and the uncertainty in technological progress.

Low-cost rapid-installation data monitoring and analysis system for operating status of refrigeration plant

For refrigeration plants without building automation systems (BAS), a low-cost rapid-installation data monitoring and analysis system has been developed that can be installed without affecting the normal operation of the refrigeration system. Typical installation time is two days, and the hardware and installation cost for a canonical set of systems is approximately 5600 Chinese Yuan (780 US Dollar). Temperature data were collected from low-cost wireless measurement points on the equipment and piping of the refrigeration plant and then stored, pre-processed, and analyzed to extract parameters related to the operating status of the plant. This paper describes the methods and rules for pre-processing the data and the methods for identifyingAuthor Statement the system operating state using algorithms, including algebraic operations, statistical parameter identification based on empirical rules, and curve similarity identification. The low-cost, rapid-installation data monitoring and analysis system was applied to several refrigeration plants, and the relevant data were analyzed. The rapid data monitoring and analysis system successfully calculated and identified the energy consumption, Coefficient of Performance, Water Transport Factor, ON/OFF status, and other operating status and energy efficiency-related parameters of each item of refrigeration equipment. It also identified fault information, such as frequent start-stop and water bypass, which are common in refrigeration plants. The system costs 10% less than a traditional monitoring system. It is expected to help refrigeration plants without BAS to take the first step in establishing a monitoring system, allowing operations and maintenance personnel to better understand the operating status of the refrigeration system from a remote location, discover faults and energy-consuming behaviors in a timely manner, and improve the overall energy efficiency of the system.

Late La Tène horse equipment of the Scordisci - trefoil-shaped terret rings from Eastern Croatia

The various Late La T?ne items of horse equipment found at the sites of the Scordisci include trefoil-shaped terret rings made of copper alloy. Two shape types have been identified; the much more numerous type has a rounded, protruding and decorated plate. These terret rings have parallels in the south-eastern Alpine region and at sites in Central Europe; their abundance at the sites of the Scordisci probably indicates that they were made in local workshops. Just like other Late La T?ne items of horse equipment, these terrets can be associated with mounted warriors, who had the most prominent position in communities.

Data acquisition for digitisation in the paraffin candle production process

By utilising digital technology, digitisation helps businesses streamline procedures, increase efficiency and cut costs. Moreover, it enables businesses to gather knowledge and make data-driven choices that enhance product quality, customers’ satisfaction, and market competitiveness. Data acquisition, which permits the collection and analysis of real-time data from equipment and processes, is a crucial component of the digitalisation of industrial automation. Predictive maintenance may, therefore, be utilised to decrease downtime, enhance quality control, and optimise operations. The paraffin candle production process is being discussed, and its key variables are being identified for the purpose of digitisation. The study proposes data collection and processing methods from a candle production line and uses an IoT-enabled controller to collect and analyse data. The PLC software that reads, processes, and saves data in a SQL database on a remote PC is then built based on these techniques. An MSSQL database is used to store information on process variables, including temperatures, cycle times, and downtimes, for the different candle production stages, including the paraffin preparation tank, extruder, and conveyor for cutting candles. The database acts as a storage location for the gathered information, which can then be utilised to analyse and improve the manufacturing process. Python and the open-source package Streamlit were used to provide a user-friendly interface for operators. The interface allows the user to select historical data for each item of equipment by time and relevant variables, and it shows the filtered data in an understandable graphical style. This allows the operator to evaluate the production process, spot trends, and optimise it. With the use of support and assistance technologies, the data may be used for decision-making in future.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ ТРЕНУВАЛЬНОГО ПРОЦЕСУ ІЗ SUP-СПОРТУ В ЗИМОВИЙ ПЕРІОД ЧАСУ

The article describes the features of the training process in the winter time period. Certain aspects of the implementation of the SUP-sport training process in the winter period, the choice of sports equipment and equipment according to weather conditions are investigated in the research. The rules of water safety are substantiated in a scientific study. The excellent characteristics of the implementation of the training process in SUP sports are considered. Researchers believe that the choice of a wetsuit and equipment according to weather conditions ensures high efficiency of the training process in the cold period of the year without a high risk for the paddler’s health, since one of the most important directions that determine the development of modern SUP-sport is the choice of high-quality and equipment for training. The most important item of equipment in SUP sports is the paddler’s clothing. Choosing the right equipment and following the appropriate safety measures allow athletes to row regardless of water temperature and weather conditions.

Organization of the Clothing Supply of the Russian Army during the First World War

The article deals with an under-researched problem of the history of the supply of the Russian army during the First World War — the organization of clothing supply. The author adopts a micro-historical approach, focusing his interest on the Shuiskii district of the Vladimir province. On the basis of the analyzed archival documents, the author comes to the conclusion that during the first year of the war, supplies were provided without the creation of special organizations. The situation changed in the summer of 1915. In July — August 1915, a network of army supply committees was created in the Vladimir province. This was the result of an attempt by the state and public organizations to build a single vertical of supply. After that, a range of items supplied to the army from the Shuiskii district expanded significantly — in addition to short fur coats, it includes sledges, carts, bushings, wheels, shell boxes. However, in the real process of fulfilling these orders the administrative and technological chain for the procurement of complex items of equipment was constantly faltering. This led to the refusal to work on complex orders — from the summer of 1916, the Shuiskii Committee switched exclusively to the delivery of cloth for foot wraps and woolen gloves to the army. In general, a detailed analysis of the work of the Shuiskii Supply Committee reveals the main reasons for the inconsistency in the work of zemstvos for supplying the army in 1914–1917.

ЗАДАЧА РОЗПОДІЛУ ПРЕДМЕТІВ РЕЧОВОГО МАЙНА ТА ПРОДОВОЛЬЧОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ В ЕЛЕМЕНТАХ КОМПЛЕКСУ БОЙОВОГО ЕКІПІРУВАННЯ ВІЙСЬКОВОСЛУЖБОВЦЯ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ГВАРДІЇ УКРАЇНИ

The development of the military sphere of activity is ongoing and comprehensive. One of the areas of such development is the equipment of military personnel. Nowadays, much attention is paid to combat equipment in the armies of all countries of the world. According to the Concept for the Creation of a Combat Equipment Complex for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, combat equipment is a set of items that constitute the equipment of a serviceman during combat missions. A combat equipment complex is generally understood to mean the combat equipment of servicemen created to increase the effectiveness of their personal actions in combat (hostilities), as well as as part of a unit in the squad, platoon, company, and battalion. A modern combat equipment complex includes a large number of elements that are interconnected, and their interaction generates properties that are not inherent in its individual elements. Each element of this kit has its own weight, dimensions, and operational features, which together create a load on the serviceman, forming the distribution of mechanical forces and moments on the human body. Consequently, there is a contradiction between the growing capabilities provided by each element of the combat equipment complex for a soldier in combat and the limited physical capabilities of the soldier as a carrier of the equipment and its user. One of the ways to resolve this contradiction is to divide the elements of the combat equipment complex into echelons. Taking into account the differences in the content of tasks, duration of actions and conditions of their performance, it is important to create preconditions for achieving high efficiency of servicemen in the performance of each type of task. An important role in creating such prerequisites is played by the distribution of a set of items provided for by the supply standards by echelons. A rational distribution will allow a serviceman to carry those items that are necessary for life support during the performance of specific tasks, without overloading him with unnecessary (surplus) property. The task of echeloning the combat equipment complex of a serviceman of the NGU by elements of material and food supply can be formulated using a theoretical-multiple approach. In order to find effective solutions for the echeloning of items of clothing and food supply, it is necessary to identify and study the factors that affect the needs of a serviceman in combat equipment items for specific special (combat) tasks, to introduce appropriate indicators, selection criteria and quantitative restrictions imposed on the values of the echelons' parameters.

Strategic schematic design process for realization of ultra-low-carbon buildings

The goal of the present research is to support decision-making in the schematic design phase for the realization of ultra-low-carbon buildings by improving the design procedures. Therefore, this research attempts to build an energy model that allows the designer to determine the equipment and specifications based on energy performance at the schematic design stage. Based on the schematic design outline, the present paper investigates whether the numerical targets that represent the energy performance of the building and the evaluation indexes that can be used at the schematic design stage are examined. In addition, recent system trends, decision specifications, and functions are investigated at the schematic design stage for each equipment item, thereby clarifying the decision level.

GLOVES: DOS AND DON’TS

Standard infection-prevention and control procedures must be in place during all healthcare contacts, regardless of whether a patient is known to be contagious or not, to stop the transmission of infection. As with all the items of personal protective equipment, the need for gloves must be subject to careful risk assessment of the task to be carried. Having decided that gloves should be used, a choice between sterile and non-sterile gloves must be made depending on the tasks undertaken.
 Sterile gloves are worn to prevent the transmission of microorganisms from healthcare workers (HCWs) to patients. In addition, they also protect against blood and body fluids during surgical and aseptic procedures. The recommendation to wear sterile gloves includes all surgical interventions, vaginal delivery, Insertion of indwelling devices (IV line, urinary catheter, etc.), performing lumber punctures, giving epidurals, etc., invasive radiological procedures, preparing total parenteral nutrition and chemotherapeutic agents (1). 
 Non-sterile gloves are used to protect the HCWs from acquiring microorganisms from patients and contaminated environments, coming in direct contact with blood and body fluids by contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes, e.g., vaginal examination, oral/dental care, emptying urine bags, suctioning of endotracheal tubes and by contact with the potential presence of infectious agents, e.g., MRSA both on intact and non-intact skin. Non-sterile gloves are also to be worn by contacting blood and body fluids indirectly by handling and cleaning contaminated items and equipment, handling clinical waste, and cleaning up spills of blood and body fluids (1).
 However, misuse and carelessness while wearing gloves can lead to cross-contamination, and infection spread rather than infection prevention and control. Possible microbial transmission has been documented where used gloves were not removed or changed before performing care activities requiring asepsis, not changing gloves while moving from one patient to the other, taking care of multiple patients with the same pair of gloves, wearing layers of gloves and then removing the outer layer as they move from room to room (2).
 Failure to change or remove contaminated gloves is also a significant cause of poor compliance with hand hygiene, creating a high risk of microbial transmission. Gloves are never meant to be worn in lieu of hand hygiene. Healthcare workers should wash their bare hands according to the World Health Organization's five moments of hand hygiene (3) Hand hygiene has to be followed strictly before donning and after the doffing of gloves. Gloves should only be worn in cases of the indications listed above. In some areas, HCWs are usually seen wearing gloves when there is no need. Besides contact precautions, gloves are not recommended while taking vitals, injecting intramuscularly and subcutaneously, giving oral medicines, vascular line manipulation in the absence of blood leakage, using the telephone, writing in patients’ charts, and moving patients’ furniture. Gloves should never be worn in the hallways or elevators, moving from one place to another within the hospital premises, or serving multiple patients. Gloves are not meant to be worn over and over or washed in between usage (4).
 Adhering to hand hygiene and rationalizing the use and type of gloves in any healthcare setting can help prevent microbial contamination of the environment and for the safety of patients and HCWs from microorganisms.

Technology equipment lending in an academic library: Understanding patron usage and proficiency through quantitative assessment

Clemson University Libraries offers a variety of technology equipment for loan by the campus community. The collection includes cameras, video camcorders, audio equipment, projectors, and VR/AR headsets. The program is popular with patrons, with technology equipment items accounting for 21 % of all library loans in 2021. This paper examines patron usage and proficiency with the technology equipment through a user survey and usage data. The results reveal differences in proficiency and usage across the types of equipment, types of patrons, and patron departmental affiliation. These results will help the program develop instruction and make collection decisions.

Игры населения Византийской Таврики (по данным археологических источников)

Games were a popular form of leisure activities in Byzantium. The aim of this article is to reconstruct the complex of games practiced by the population of Byzantine Taurica. The source base comprises of items of gaming equipment excavated at the Byzantine towns of the Crimea. Following to the nature of the gameplay, the games are divided into three groups: tactical, gambling, games of dexterity. The first group includes chess and board games, the Nine Men’s Morris, in particular. The second group includes games with six-sided dice and four astragali. The third group consists of two more games with astragali: knucklebones and πεντέλιθα. The games, archaeologically documented in the Byzantine towns of the Crimea, are typical for the entire territory of the empire and adjacent territories.

VALUATION OF MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT WITH RANDOMLY DEGRADED OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS

Traditionally used methods of machinery and equipment valuation do not take into account the probabilistic nature of the process of their operation. Meanwhile, stochastic models of degradation of technical systems are widely used to solve various problems of the theory of reliability. This article refers to the direction of research in which the models of technical systems degradation used in the reliability theory are applied to the problems of machinery and equipment valuation. The objects of our research are equipment items subject to degradation and random failures. The subject of research is the service life of equipment and their market value. We define the (pre-tax) benefits from the use of equipment as the market value of the work they perform minus operating costs. The market value of equipment is determined by the sum of discounted benefits from its future use. The process of equipment degradation (deterioration of its technical and economic characteristics) is described by a Poisson random process of failures, and for each failure, the performance of the equipment is multiplied by a random coefficient. Operating costs are divided into a variable part depending on the amount of work performed by the equipment and a fixed part. We accept that equipment that has begun to bring negative benefits is decommissioned. The constructed model makes it possible to obtain explicit expressions for the market value of a unit of work performed by equipment, the average value and the coefficient of variation of its service life, and also to find the dependence of the equipment market value on its performance. In some cases, appraiser only knows the age of the equipment being assessed and has no information about its performance. However, equipment of the same age may have different performance. In this situation, he can only estimate the average market value of equipment of a given age.We got an integro-differential equation to calculate this average value. It turned out that in this model it can be expressed as a function of the relative age of the value (the ratio of its age to the average service life) and the coefficient of variation of the service life. The results obtained are presented as graphs that can be directly used to estimate the market value of used machinery and equipment.

Preparation of thin histological sections from archaeological bone and tooth samples

Histological analysis of osteological remains from archaeological excavations provides data and information that can be difficult or impossible to obtain from macroscopic description and examination. Furthermore, the microscopic perspective provides important evidence for taxonomically indeterminate samples lacking morphologically diagnostic marks, e.g. determination of human/non-human bone origin, and can provide further information about analysed individual, e.g. studying of developmental stress in dental enamel. Microscopy of bone and tooth samples requires preparation of good quality thin histological sections for transmitted and polarized light microscopy examination and analysis. This paper presents detailed methodology description in several main steps which were modified to fit our laboratory. Finally, we suggest an easily repeatable protocol and know-how fitting in similar or identical laboratory conditions, including equipment, consumables, and other items

Measurement of sound levels in a neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

High sound levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can alter preterm newborn hemodynamics and cause long-term neuro-developmental delays and hearing loss. The study aims to collate data on sound levels in a level IV NICU of a tertiary care hospital, identify the factors associated with them, and compare them with the international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We carried out a cross-sectional study in NICU from 8th April 2019 to 30th June 2019. Sound levels were recorded for 480h, using a portable sound meter, the Larson Davis 824. We captured sound levels on alternate days, during different shifts and shift changes and in open pods and single isolation rooms within the NICU. Additionally, we documented the total census, acuity of care, number of staff, number of procedures, and number of items of equipment used. The data was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. The average sound level (Leq) and the maximum level (Lmax) recorded were 60.66±2.99dBA and 80.19±2.63dBA, respectively, which exceeds international recommendations. The sound level gradually decreased from morning to night hours. The major increase in sound was observed during nursing shift change. Similarly, a significant increase in sound was observed in open bays compared to isolation rooms. However, no difference in sound levels was recorded during weekdays and weekends. The number of healthcare professionals and the number of procedures performed were strongly associated with an increased noise level. Sound levels in NICU were beyond the safety range and international recommendations. We observed a significant sound increment during morning hours and at the time of nursing shift change. High sound levels were associated with increased number of healthcare workers and bedside procedures in NICU.

Indexing Anthropogenic Litter as a Contamination Gradient from Rivers to Beaches in Southeast Brazil

Ribeiro, V.V.; Póvoa, A.A.; De-la-Torre, G.E., and Castro, Í.B., 2022. Indexing anthropogenic litter as a contamination gradient from rivers to beaches in southeast Brazil. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(6), 1172–1180. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Rivers are important contributors to marine anthropogenic litter (AL), but riparian vegetation remains to date poorly investigated. Brazilian AL study procedures are unstandardized while overlooking sources and river contributions. Boiçucanga is located in a highly visited Brazilian city, with an urban gradient from a river stream towards the beach between a state park and a marine protected area. This study used a multi-indexing approach to assess sources, distribution, and composition of AL at Boiçucanga riparian forest and beach locations. Cigarette butts (CBs) and smoking were the most common AL composition and source, following the urban gradient. CBs leak pollutants, representing a hazardous form of AL. Despite being very clean, AL was found in all sites, showing a level of threat to this highly environmentally vulnerable area. Personal protective equipment items related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are becoming a ubiquitous issue worldwide, representing 0.8% of AL in this study. These study results provide a better understanding of the multiple variables influencing AL contamination in riparian ecosystems and beaches.

User Authentication and Authorization Framework in IoT Protocols

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become one of the most attractive domains nowadays. It works by creating a special network between physical devices such as vehicles, home equipment, and other items. In recent days, the common technologies of communication such as Wi-Fi and 2G/3G/4G cellular networks are insufficient for IoT networks because they are designed to serve appliances with immense processing capabilities such as laptops and PCs. Moreover, most of these technologies are centralized and use an existing infrastructure. Currently, new communication technologies such as Z-Wave, 6LowPAN, and Thread are dedicated to the IoT and have been developed to meet its requirements. These technologies can handle many factors such as range, data requirements, security, power demands, and battery life. Nevertheless, the security issues in IoT systems have major concerns and issues because vulnerabilities in such systems may result in fatal catastrophes. In this paper, an enhanced IoT security framework for authentication and authorization is proposed and implemented to protect the IoT protocols from different types of attacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks, reply attacks, and brute force attacks. The proposed framework combines an enhanced token authentication that has identity verification capabilities and a new sender verification mechanism on the IoT device side based on time stamps, which in turn can mitigate the need for local identity verification methods in IoT devices. The proposed IoT security framework was tested using security analysis with different types of attacks compared with previous related frameworks. The analysis shows the high capability of the proposed framework to protect IoT networks against many types of attacks compared with the currently available security frameworks. Finally, the proposed framework was developed using Windows applications to simulate the framework phases, check its validity through the real network, and calculate the payload time added.

Civic engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic and the system of public support to non-governmental organisations

Civil society organizations and grassroot initiatives have not stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept Poland voluntary organizations and spontaneous civic initiatives have demonstrated huge potential of solidarity embodied in the Polish society and its readiness to genuine, creative and effective responses. The article highlights the irreplaceable role of voluntary organizations and spontaneous citizen led activities during the pandemic and before 2020 in mobilizing social support, providing frontline help and essential services and to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Civil society organisations and grassroot initiatives provided food, personal protection equipment and essential sanitary items, often filling the gap when public administration was slow to respond. The article outlines the central and local governments policies aimed at creating an enabling environment for the work of civil society to respond to the spread of COVID-19.

A Petri-net approach for firefighting force allocation analysis of fire emergency response with backups

Fire is one of the main accident scenarios occurring in chemical and process plants, and it can lead to domino effects due to thermal radiation. Emergency response is necessary to prevent fire escalation, in addition to safety barriers. In major industrial fire accidents, backup is usually required in emergency response, due to the lack of emergency response capacity of a single emergency response department. A method addressing the optimal allocation of emergency response forces, specifically considering the front-line departments, is developed in the present study. The emergency response of the front-line departments can reduce the thermal radiation received by the equipment adjacent to the primary fire and thus prolong the time to failure of the equipment, such that the backups have more time to get to the fire scene. The allocation analysis of emergency response teams is carried out considering the dynamic ttf of an adjacent equipment item resulting from the change in time of the thermal radiation received. A timed colored hybrid Petri-net (TCHPN) approach is proposed to model the emergency response process. The probability of preventing fire escalation is obtained from the TCHPN model and the optimal allocation of firefighting forces is determined. A case study illustrates the proposed approach, two scenarios are compared and results show that if a request for backup can be issued immediately according to the fire state, fewer emergency forces can be deployed on the front line department, such as the reduction from 6 emergency response teams to 3 teams to maintain the success probability of 0.91. The influence of other factors such as the position of fire departments and the layout of tanks on the allocation of emergency forces is also discussed.