Level Of Deterioration Research Articles

Soil-biodegradable mulch is an alternative to non-biodegradable plastic mulches in a strawberry-lettuce double-cropping system

Double-cropping strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) could be a sustainable alternative practice for diversified specialty crop growers. Plastic mulch is beneficial for strawberry and lettuce production with soil-biodegradable mulch (BDM) providing opportunities to reduce plastic waste generation and costs of mulch disposal. The objective of this study was to compare non-biodegradable plastic mulches and BDM to bare ground cultivation in a strawberry–lettuce double-cropping system in a Mediterranean climate. A split-plot randomized complete block design experiment with mulch treatment [non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) film, “weedmat” (woven, PE-based), BDM, and bare ground control] as the main factor and double-cropping rotation scheme (rotation 1 or 2) as the split-plot factor was conducted between 2020 and 2021. Strawberry yield was overall greatest when mulched with BDM, PE, and weedmat compared to the bare ground control. Total soluble solids (TSS), pH, and total titratable acidity (TA) of strawberry differed due to harvest date, but only pH differed due to mulch treatment. For lettuce canopy cover, rotation 2 had greater canopy cover (86%) compared with rotation 1 (66%) 30 days after transplanting. Average head weight (0.4 kg) and head length and diameter (both 20 cm) did not differ due to mulch or rotation. Average soil temperatures under PE and BDM were ~1.5°C higher than under weedmat and 2.5°C higher than the bare ground control. Soil under weedmat had the highest moisture content, whereas the PE, BDM, and bare ground treatments had similar levels. PE, BDM, and weedmat provided equivalent weed suppression, whereas the bare ground control had the most weeds. BDM deterioration estimated as percent soil exposure (PSE) was greatest (59% PSE) by the end of the experiment, whereas PE had 18% PSE and weedmat had no deterioration. Results show that despite high levels of deterioration, BDM performs similarly to PE in terms of soil temperature and moisture modification, weed suppression, and promotion of crop growth and yield in a double-cropped system. Double-cropping strawberry and lettuce is a promising alternative for growers to diversify their crop type and with potential economic benefits by increasing mulch lifespan.

An experimental investigation on tensile behaviour of corroded ultra-high-performance concrete

When UHPFRC is exposed to a corrosive environment, steel fibres may undergo corrosion which may affect the interfacial bond and therefore the overall tensile behaviour of UHPFRC. Previous studies have predominately investigated the influence of fibre corrosion on the tensile behaviour of UHPFRC using the flexural test method. In this approach, the significant variation in crack width may lead to variation in the level of corrosion, making it more difficult to develop material models. In this study, the influence of corrosion on the tensile resistance of UHPFRC has been studied using direct tensile test of thirty-nine grooved prisms with a range of different pre-cracking conditions and corrosion levels. The results show that even when crack widths are large, fibre corrosion has a relatively minor impact on the tensile performance of UHPFRC, and the expected level of deterioration is reduced due to self-healing of cracks and continued hydration of the cement when immersed in the chloride solution. When uncracked specimens are subjected to corrosive environments it was shown that the tensile strength was significantly increased due to enhanced hydration of the binder and associated pozzolanic reaction with silica fume. Despite the degree of experimental scatter and the competing mechanisms of corrosion and self-healing, the residual response of the corroded specimens has been found similar to that of the control specimens.

MTTF and availability of semi-Markov missions with non-identical generally distributed component lifetimes

We analyze mean time to failure and availability of systems that perform semi-Markov missions. The mission process is the minimal semi-Markov process associated with a Markov renewal process. Therefore, the successive phases of the mission follow a Markov chain, and the phase durations are generally distributed. The lifetimes of the non-identical components in the system are assumed to be generally distributed and are modeled using intrinsic aging concepts. Moreover, the lifetime parameters of the components and the configuration of the system change depending on the phases of the mission. We characterize the mean time to failure through solving a Poisson equation, and we analyze the system availability assuming that repair duration has a general distribution which is dependent on the phase of the mission during which the failure has occurred and on the deterioration level of the system.

Vibration-based diagnosis of adulterated ethanol in internal combustion engines

Ethanol adulterations include the addition of hydrated ethanol with anhydrous ethanol, methanol, or even water. These alterations are visually imperceptible but can affect the vehicle’s performance, the concentrations of pollutants emitted, and deterioration levels of parts, leading to high repair costs. There are no current safety devices in vehicles that inform if the fuel is adulterated — this analysis is carried out by regulatory agencies employing instruments. This study develops a method to determine the adulteration of ethanol in real-time and non-invasively. An Arduino-based system acquires the vibration signal emitted by the engine of a running vehicle, and Signal Analysis based on Chaos using Density of Maxima (SAC-DM)is employed to process the signal. Experimental tests were carried out in a combustion engine to develop and validate the method. Currently, there is no existing method to detect the adulteration of ethanol fuel in a running engine, and this is the first study to apply Chaos Theory to this end. There was a long-term correlation for vibration signals obtained from a running engine with adulterated fuel (different proportions of ethanol), which revealed a long-term decay that confirms the chaotic behavior of the signal. Also, the chaotic variable SAC-DM relates linearly with the percentage of ethanol in the fuel, with an average relative error in the estimate of 0.6%.

Strategic Inventory Management of Deteriorating Products with Demand Disruptions.

The retailer’s strategic inventory management can convince the supplier to present lower wholesale prices in later orders. In practice, there are always unavoidable factors that cause disruption in the supply chain with undeniable impacts on strategic inventories, such as COVID-19. This is of greater significance in regard to goods that lose their freshness by time. The impacts of disruption in such products on managed strategic inventories and the retailer’s and supplier’s consequent behavior have not been addressed in the literature. Therefore, this research investigated the impacts of disruption in demand for deteriorating items on strategic inventories managed by the retailer. The results demonstrated that strategic inventory management is not always a threat for the supplier, and it can even be useful in certain conditions. Changes in goods deterioration levels were found to affect profit more seriously if disruption increased demand in the first period. We also specified the consequences of a decision to or not to manage strategic inventories in different cases of disruption and inventory management cost.

Effectiveness of telehealth versus standard care on health care utilization, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of the review is to determine the effectiveness of telehealth versus in-person care on health care utilization, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations. Globally, an increasing number of people are becoming homebound. These individuals experience high levels of social isolation and deterioration of their well-being. Reports from homebound people and recent publications suggest that this cohort may benefit from accessing telehealth solutions from their homes to treat and prevent serious issues affecting their health and well-being. This review will synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of telehealth compared to standard care (in-person care) on health care utilization, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations. Studies including people living in community settings, whose daily life is physically limited to the boundary of their homes because of their ongoing health, energy, and psychosocial or socio-functional impairments will be considered for inclusion. This review will consider relevant, peer-reviewed primary experimental and quasi-experimental studies, with no limit on language or date. Databases to be searched include MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus, LILACS, JBI Evidence Synthesis (hand-searched for further studies), and Web of Science. Two independent reviewers will be involved in study selection and data extraction. Eligible studies will be critically appraised for methodological quality using the relevant JBI critical appraisal checklists, and statistical meta-analysis will be done (where possible). Findings will be presented in narrative form. PROSPERO CRD42021289578.

Investigation of bio-corrosion in galvanized steel by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and its mitigation by Butea monosperma leaf extract as green inhibitor

This work is intended to examine the microbially influenced corrosion on galvanized steel (GS) caused by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The efficacy of Butea monosperma (palash) leaf extract to mitigate the corrosion caused by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was investigated in modified Barr's medium. Weight loss and electrochemical analysis were performed to check the corrosion rate at regular time intervals. SEM images were performed to understand the level of deterioration of the metal surfaces. Image analysis of the unprotected sample showed the presence of pits. From the gravimetric study, the maximum inhibition efficiency (IE) of 98% was obtained with 500 ppm of Palash leaf extract for the fourth-week sample. With the addition of 500 ppm of palash extract, the sulfide concentration decreases to 0 ppm from 123 ppm. Outcomes of potentiodynamic polarization (PP) studies showed that the extract disturbs the cathodic reaction significantly and moves the corrosion potential to a more negative value and IE was about 71% from PP studies. FTIR and GC-MS analysis was performed to recognize the plausible chemical compounds present in Palash leaf powder. EIS results confirmed that the resistance to corrosion increases substantially with the addition of inhibitor. The mechanism for corrosion inhibition has been proposed based on the results obtained.

The Cuabal of Callejón de Los Patos, in Santa Clara: Need for Its Sustainability

In Cuba, the great diversity and high endemism of the plant formations on serpentine stand out. Cuabales (scrub xeromorphic thorny on serpentine) present important natural values for the sustainability of Cuban biodiversity, but with a high degree of vulnerability. Although there are currently several investigations into the flora and vegetation of these ecosystems, there is a scientific vacuum on the conservation of these plant formations, from the social point of view. In the Callejón de Los Patos of Santa Clara, there is a cuabal, although it presents a high level of deterioration, due to anthropic activity. This research focused on assessing environmental management for the sustainability of the cuabal of Callejón de Los Patos of Santa Clara. The methodological perspective that predominated in the research process was qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data was incorporated to better visualize the trend in the analysis of the results. The investigative methods used were: observation, document analysis, in-depth and structured interviews. The diagnosed results showed insufficient knowledge, in the inhabitants of Callejón de Los Patos, related to the cuabal, its sustainability, and its importance. The absence of collective projection of actions to mitigate environmental problems identified in the settlement, that affect the deterioration of said plant formation was detected; results demonstrate poor environmental management for the sustainability of cuabal.

Structural assessment of underground utility services pit using Bayesian inference

ABSTRACT Ageing infrastructure is becoming an increasing challenge as a result of deterioration and greater loading demands. Modern cities were built on top of complex underground infrastructure networks many of which are still in-service beyond their design life. The safety assessment of underground structures is of utmost importance to avoid catastrophic failures and develop cost-effective renewal and rehabilitation strategies. However, the lack of design documentation and absence of data on the level of structural deterioration make determination of current structural capacity a challenge. This paper presents a probabilistic based assessment framework for underground utility service pits using Bayesian updating technique, which is used to refine the probabilistic distribution of material properties from the prior distribution constructed using published data. A case study of an underground pit located in Central Melbourne is provided. Extensive experimental testing was conducted to characterise the material properties and a full-scale masonry wall was tested to understand the failure mode due to earth pressure and traffic load. The test data was used in strength prediction models to achieve a more accurate estimate for wall capacity. Further, the strength degradation models were integrated to develop the time-dependent material models, which were eventually used to compute reliability index.

Vouchers for Improving Sanitation: A Step toward Stopping Open Defecation.

Vouchers for Improving Sanitation: A Step toward Stopping Open Defecation.

Deterioration in myocardial work indices precedes changes in global longitudinal strain following anthracycline chemotherapy

BackgroundLeft ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) have conventionally been used for surveillance of cardiac function after cancer therapy, but indices of myocardial work (MW) are potentially superior for this purpose because they take into account both myocardial deformation and loading conditions. ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the usefulness of MW in the follow-up of children and young adults following anthracycline chemotherapy. MethodsConventional markers of LV function (LV fractional shortening [LVFS], LVEF, GLS) and MW indices (global work index [GWI], global constructive work [GCW], global wasted work [GWW], and global work efficiency [GWE]) were obtained from 2342 echocardiographic examinations in 598 patients (354 male, 12.2 [4.7–17.3] years at initiation of chemotherapy). ResultsGWI, GCW, GLS, LVFS, and LVEF all deteriorated significantly during and after anthracycline chemotherapy, while GWW decreased and GWE was preserved. On multivariable analysis, MW indices were correlated with conventional markers of LV function and with clinical information relating to underlying malignancy and chemotherapy. Cox regression analysis revealed that similar levels of deterioration in GWW, GWI, and GCW preceded those in GLS, LFS, and LVEF. ConclusionsNon-invasive MW indices correlate well with conventional markers of LV function. Indices of MW appear to provide an earlier and more sensitive marker of progression towards chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction. Future studies are warranted to validate whether the incorporation of non-invasive MW into the routine clinical surveillance in patients after chemotherapy would improve outcomes.

Multinational corporations’ oil exploration, poverty and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

In recent years, there has been much discussion and attention on the amount of poverty and environmental damage in Nigeria’s Niger Delta area as a result of oil drilling by international oil firms. There is little doubt that the actions of international oil firms have caused significant harm to this region’s oil producing areas. The ecological damage caused by oil exploration has rendered farming and fishing, which are the primary professions of this region’s rural population, obsolete. Several years of oil exploration by major international oil firms, as well as the risks of spills and gas flaring that accompany it, have destroyed the region’s ecosystem and left the town barren. As a result, this research investigates the effects of oil exploration on the inhabitants of the Niger Delta region. It also investigates the region’s level of environmental deterioration and deplorable poverty. The study will also address the interconnectivity dynamics that exist between environmental degradation and poverty in Nigeria’s Niger Delta area. In other words, the research investigates the extent to which oil exploration and environmental degradation are responsible for abject poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria’s Niger Delta area.

Preliminary Study of pH Sensor for Engine Oil Deterioration Detection Using Anodized Ta2O5 Nanotubular

pH sensor is one of the sensing principles that can be employed in detection of engine oil deterioration. To avoid unnecessary changing of engine oil while maintaining the oil quality consumed by car’s engine, engine oil deterioration sensor is required to continuously monitor the oil condition. In this work, we fabricated pH sensor sensing layer made up of tantalum thin film. Ta2O5nanotubular was constructed as the medium of interaction to measure the quality of engine oil. Anodization synthesis method was used to fabricate the sensing layer by varying the anodization time. Two samples anodized at 30 min and 60 min were tested in pH buffer solution at pH ranging from 2, 4, 7, 10 and 12. Further characterization using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was conducted to investigate the surface morphology properties, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) was conducted to obtain crystal properties of Ta2O5nanotubular. A homogeneous Ta2O5nanostructures with cubic crystal structure and pore diameter ranging between 15 to 20 nm was obtained. 30 min sample tested in pH buffer solution has better adsorption of H+ions with linear pH sensitivity of 31.616 mV/pH and good stability. Therefore, anodization method can be an alternative to fabricate pH sensor for oil deterioration detection system.Additionally, other study on chemical sensor for the detection of engine oil deterioration level wasalsodiscussed in this paper.

Application of Fminsearch Optimization to Minimize Total Maintenance Cost with the Aim of Reducing Environmental Degradation

This study examined a production system under deterioration and its impact on the degradation of the environment. The environment degrades as the production system reaches a certain level of deterioration. To reduce environmental degradation, the system's deterioration is monitored through scheduled inspections, after which preventive or corrective actions are taken. To achieve the optimum inspection dates that minimize the average total cost per time unit, the Fminsearch algorithm was applied to calculate the optimal inspection dates for two cases of sequential inspection: periodic and aperiodic. To validate the performance of the proposed Fminsearch algorithm, simulation results were compared with the Nelder-Mead method. The comparison results showed the superiority of the Fminsearch algorithm in optimizing inspection maintenance dates to reduce the environmental degradation ratio.

Exogenous methyl jasmonate enhances phytochemicals and delays senescence in harvested strawberries by modulating GABA shunt pathway

In order to illustrate the relationship between methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in maintaining the quality and improving the postharvest life of strawberry fruit, the harvested fruit were treated with MeJA for 16 h at 20 °C and stored at 3 ± 0.5 °C for 12 days. MeJA enhanced the expression levels of GABA shunt pathway-related genes, including glutamate decarboxylase, GABA transaminase, and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, leading to an increase in GABA accumulation. Treated fruit showed higher levels of total acids, anthocyanins, total phenolics, antioxidants, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, and lower levels of cell membrane deterioration, total soluble solids, polyphenol oxidase activity and decay incidence rate. The results suggest that the positive effects of MeJA in extending the fruit postharvest life, enhancing phytochemical compounds, and decreasing the decay incidence rate may be due to the effects on motivating GABA shunt pathway and PAL enzyme activity.

Assessment of Water Quality at Al-Hammar Marsh before and after Flow Improvement

Marshlands have been considered among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Marshlands existingin Mesopotamia are recently acknowledged by the United Nations as one of the international heritage sites.The current research highlights the deterioration level in the water quantity of the Al Hammar marshwhich is one of the famous marshes in the south of Iraq. Recently, pipe culverts were constructed to reducethe salinity of the Al Hammar marsh. Data on Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electric Conductivity (EC), andPower of Hydrogen (pH) from February 2019 to February 2020 at five stations (distributed within Al Hammarmarsh) were used to assess the water quality before and after the construction of pipe culverts. Two standardswere used in the assessment: the Iraqi Water Quality Standard (IWQS, No.417) and the World HealthOrganization (WHO) Standards for drinking, irrigation, and aquatic life. In addition, the quality of ecologicalhealth in the Al Hammar marsh was assessed by using the Canadian Water Quality Index. Results showthat the quality of water in the Al Hammar marsh is not recommended to be used for irrigation while theaquatic life is at a threat level.

Modulation of physiological responses and tolerance of Alternanthera tenella Colla (Amaranthaceae) to cadmium during in vitro cultivation

Abstract The use of plants that present clear physiological responses to heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) can assist in environmental monitoring. The aim was to evaluate physiological responses of Cd in Alternanthera tenella plants in micro-controlled conditions and to assess the its tolerance level and bioindicator potential. Nodal segments of A. tenella were grown in flasks containing semi-solid MS medium supplemented with (0, 50, 100, and 150 μM Cd). The total fresh and dry weight of the plants, in addition to physiological analyses, were determined after 30 days of cultivation. Plants submitted to Cd showed a reduction in biomass and photosynthetic pigments content. The decline in the Chl a/b ratio indicated the deleterious effects of Cd, as evidenced by the decrease in the density of active reaction centers (RC/CSM). The levels of deterioration in the functionality or structural integrity of the thylakoid membranes (WL) and the activity of the oxygen evolution complex (WK) increased as a function of Cd concentrations. The decreases in photochemical and non-photochemical quenching (qP and qN, respectively) observed in plants exposed to Cd indicated photochemical dysfunctions. Additionally, the increase in the quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation (ΦNO) indicated the presence of photodamage. Plants had a low/intermediate TI level (≥21.7) in the analyzed concentration range. A. tenella plants can bioaccumulate high amounts of Cd. The level of physiological responses of A. tenella is dependent on the concentration of Cd, which makes the use of this species even more promising as a bioindicator for this metal.

Static and fatigue behaviour of ECC link slabs in reinforced concrete girder Joint-Free bridges

Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) has been recommended for application in bridge deck link slabs to minimize long-term life cycle costs through enhanced durability. However, ECC link slab experimental tests documented in the literature to date have been limited to steel superstructure, despite the use of reinforced concrete (RC) girders as common practice in bridge construction. RC deck girder isolated ECC link slab specimens were tested under static and fatigue load up to 400,000 and 1,000,000 cycles with mean fatigue stress level varied from 40% to 55% of ultimate load. The fatigue-damaged specimens were then statically loaded to failure. Residual load, deflection, moment, rotation, stiffness, and energy absorbing of fatigued link slab specimens were compared with virgin specimens to determine the level of deterioration. Experimental results were compared with those obtained from analytical calculations for reinforced concrete girder joint-free bridges with EC link slabs.

Review of Culture in Maintenance Management of Public Buildings in Developing Countries

Studies have shown that culture is one of the significant elements that influence the behavior of doing things the right way, without which there is a hindrance to the attainment of set goals. It has also been stated that culture is essential to maintaining public buildings, which is significant to national development. However, the level of abandonment and deterioration of public buildings is high due to a lack of culture among stakeholders in the maintenance process. Therefore, through a literature review from over 100 recent publications, this study measured culture as a variable that influences effective maintenance management of buildings. This was carried out to enlighten maintenance managers and policymakers within the developing countries regarding the significance of maintenance culture and possible measures for improving the attitude of stakeholders on the maintenance process. It was also carried out to develop a new maintenance focus (behavioral change) for maintenance managers and policymakers, especially in developing countries, to manage the available public buildings and other proposed ones effectively.

Real‐time equilibrium moisture content monitoring to predict grain quality of corn stored in silo and raffia bags

AbstractThe use of silo and raffia bags for the temporary grain storage has been increasing in recent years. However, the methods for monitoring a stored product are limited to visual inspections and sampling. Thus, this research aimed to real‐time equilibrium moisture content monitoring to predict grain quality of corn stored in different conditions in silo and raffia bags using wireless sensor network prototype, Internet of Things (IoT) platform, and neural network algorithms. Experiments were conducted using corn grain with two initial water contents of 13% and 18% (w.b.), three storage environments with temperatures of 30, 23, and 17°C, and two types of packaging, that is, silo and raffia bags, for a 3‐month storage evaluation. During the monitoring of stored grain, variations in equilibrium moisture hygroscopic content were observed, which inferred changes in the corn quality. Water contents of 13% under a storage condition of 17°C showed the highest quality results, whereas storage in silo bags with water contents of 13% and 18% showed no differences at 23°C; however, at a temperature of 30°C, the grain suffered a high level of deterioration. The storage time influenced the reduction of grain quality for all factors. The physicochemical quality prediction results indicated a high coefficient of determination of the trained models, presenting itself as a promising perspective, mainly in developing embedded technologies for monitoring and predicting the qualitative variables of grain stored in silo and raffia bags.Practical ApplicationsThe application of sensor technology and the Internet of Thing (IoT) to monitor the temperature and relative humidity of intergranular air in real time for the determination of equilibrium moisture content became possible to predict the physical and physicochemical quality of grains stored in bag silos and raffia bags using artificial neural networks (ANN) algorithms. The results obtained were satisfactory and can replace the punctual sampling of the grains mass stored in hermetic packages. The application of a set of technologies possible to monitor the grain quality in real time and predict the grain storage time in bag and raffia silos to reduce losses.