Simple Equipment Research Articles

Computing Elastic Moduli of Igneous Rocks Using Modal Composition and Effective Medium Theory

Elastic constants of rock materials are the basic parameters required for modeling the response of rock materials under mechanical loads. Experimental tests for determining these properties are expensive, time-consuming and suffer from a high uncertainty due to both experimental limitations and the heterogeneous nature of rock materials. To avoid such experimental difficulties, in this paper a method is suggested for determining elastic constants of rock materials by determining their porosity and modal composition and employing effective medium theory. The Voigt–Reuss–Hill average is used to determine effective elastic constants of the studied igneous rocks according to the elastic moduli of their mineral constituents. Then, the effect of porosity has been taken into account by considering rock as a two-phase material, and the Kuster–Toksoz formulation is used for providing a close estimation of different moduli. The solutions are provided for different isotropic igneous rocks. This sustainable method avoids destructive tests and the usage of energy for performing time-consuming and expensive tests and requires simple equipment.

Mid-upper arm circumference as a substitute for body mass index in the assessment of nutritional status among adults in eastern Sudan

BackgroundBody mass index (BMI) remains the most used indicator of nutritional status despite the presence of a potentially credible alternative. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is an anthropometric measure that requires simple equipment and minimal training. The aim of this study was to compare MUAC with BMI and propose a MUAC cut-off point corresponding to a BMI of < 18.5 kg/m2 (underweight) and ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 (obesity) among Sudanese adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study using multistage cluster sampling was conducted in New-Halfa, eastern Sudan. Participants’ age and sex were recorded and their MUAC, weight and height were measured using the standard procedures. The MUAC (cm) cut-offs corresponding to < 18.5 kg/m2 and ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 were calculated and determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysisResultsFive hundreds and fifty-two adults were enrolled in the study. The median (interquartile range, IQR) of the participants age was 31.0 (24.0 ̶ 40.0) years and 331 (60.0%) of them were females. The medians (IQR) of BMI and MUAC were 22.4 (19.1 ̶ 26.3) kg/m2 and 25.0 (23.0 ̶ 28.0) cm, respectively.There was a significant positive correlation between MUAC and BMI (r = 0.673, p < 0.001).Of the 552 enrolled participants, 104 (18.8%), 282 (51.1%), 89 (16.1%) and 77 (13.9%) were normal weight, underweight, overweight and obese, respectively. Best statistically derived MUAC cut-off corresponding to a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (underweight) was ≤ 25.5 cm in both males and females (Youden’s Index, YI = 0.51; sensitivity = 96.0%; specificity = 54.0%), with a good predictive value (AUROCC = 0.82). Best statistically derived MUAC cut-off corresponding to a BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 (obesity) was ≥ 29.5 cm in both males and females (YI = 0.62, sensitivity = 70.3%, specificity = 92.0%), with a good predictive value (AUROCC = 0.86, 95.0% CI = 0.76 – 0.95).ConclusionThe results suggest that the cut-offs based on MUAC can be used for community-based screening of underweight and obesity

A 50 µm acoustic resonator microchannel enables focusing 100 nm polystyrene beads and sub-micron bioparticles

The manipulation and focusing of submicron/nanometre-scale objects are becoming increasingly important in the fields of biology, chemistry, and materials science. Acoustofluidics provides for the high throughput and precise manipulation of cells and particles with simple equipment. However, application to submicron/nanoparticles is challenging due to the particle volume dependence of the acoustic radiation force and the relatively larger effect of the viscous drag force on small objects. Here, we present an acoustofluidic device that can focus submicron/nanoparticles, bacterial cells, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) using a high-frequency two-dimensional acoustic standing wave. We fabricate 50 µm × 50 µm square cross-section channels as acoustic resonators and generate a two-dimensional acoustic standing wave at an actuation frequency of 14.9 MHz. This configuration enables a strong acoustic radiation force towards the centre of the microchannel and a cross-section-centred single-vortex stream that does not counteract the acoustic radiation force. Using this device, polystyrene beads ranging in diameter from 50 to 500 nm were focused toward the channel centre, where a focused bead stream width of less than 5 µm was achieved at a flow rate of 3 µL min−1 for 100 nm beads and 9 µL min−1 for 200 nm beads. Furthermore, bacterial cells were successfully focused at a flow rate of 40 µL min−1, and the focusing of EVs was also demonstrated. Our acoustofluidic device can become a promising tool for a wide range of biological analyses targeting submicron cells, viruses, and EVs.

Pelatihan dan Pendampingan Pengolahan Susu Pasteurisasi pada Kelompok Peternak Sapi Perah Langgeng Mulyo Desa Ngenep

Milk is a food product that is easily destroyed, therefore it needs to be handled or processed. One form of milk processing is pasteurized milk. The Langgeng Mulyo Farmer's Group is a group of dairy cows that have only produced fresh milk without being processed. Efforts to diversify dairy products are carried out by involving wives from the Langgeng Mulyo Farmer group. It is hoped that the women of the farmer’s group are productive, and can increase family income. This community dedication activity is carried out by means of training and assistance in processing pasteurized milk. Training and counseling on pasteurized milk processing is carried out using simple methods and simple equipment. The training activities include handling post-dairy milk with pasteurization, training on proper heating methods to kill bacteria using simple tools, product packaging. So that the absorption of the technology provided can be absorbed and applied, after the training, mentoring is carried out where participants try their own pasteurized milk processing. The results of the evaluation of the training and mentoring activities for processing pasteurized milk 95% of the participants have been able to apply the material provided.

Convolutional neural network method for damage detection of CFRP in electrical impedance tomography

Damage detection is vitally important for carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. When CFRP laminates are damaged, its impedance property is changed. Based on the electrical properties of CFRP laminates, the changed conductivity distribution can be reconstructed with the electrical impedance tomography (EIT) method. The detection method is attractive due to its simple equipment, low cost, and easy operation. However, image reconstruction of EIT faces a serious ill-conditioned nonlinear inverse problem. In order to solve this problem, a feature fusion convolutional neural network based on the dense connection (FF-D) method is applied in EIT to establish the mapping relationship between voltage measurement and conductivity distribution in this paper. The optimization can extract and utilize features to a greater degree and improve reconstruction accuracy and robustness. For the purpose of simulating the electrical properties of CFRP better, the conductivity values measured by an impedance analyzer are used as the data set. The correlation coefficient (CC) and root mean square error (RMSE) are used as indicators to evaluate the quality of image reconstruction. The simulation and experimental results suggest that the FF-D method can reconstruct images better than typical algorithms based on deep learning and conventional algorithms of EIT.

Safety and Quality of Milk and Milk Products in Senegal-A Review.

Historically, local milk production in Senegal has struggled to keep up with the demands of consumers, so there has been a heavy reliance on imported milk and milk products. More recently, efforts have been made to improve local dairy production by establishing large, organized dairies that collect milk from rural production areas and developing small-scale processing units, such as mini dairies. The local dairy value chain in Senegal consists of (1) informal collection systems where farmers commonly deliver milk directly to dairies; (2) traditional and artisanal processing using simple equipment and techniques; and (3) short local marketing and sale circuits. Most West African dairy sectors are dominated by raw, unpasteurized milk or traditional, spontaneously fermented milk products, such as lait caillé in Senegal, sold through small-scale channels without a cold chain, so the risk of food safety hazards may be increased. Microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards have been found in milk and milk products across West Africa. There is a need to educate milk producers, small-scale processors, and vendors on the importance of refrigerating milk immediately after milking as well as maintaining the cold chain until the milk is heat treated and, subsequently, until the milk is marketed to the consumer. However, without assistance, obtaining the equipment necessary for cold storage and processing of milk can be challenging.

Guide to in‐field assessment of the painful equine eye

Background: Using simple equipment and a systematic approach, it is possible to perform a thorough ocular equine examination in the field. Good-quality images and videos can be obtained on most smartphones and can prove invaluable both for monitoring the progress of ocular disease, or when seeking referral or advice from an ophthalmologist. Even in cases where referral is not an option, a significant amount can be achieved in the field by the first-opinion practitioner. Aim of the article: This article sets out a logical and systematic approach to the ocular examination, and outlines how to interpret the examination findings in order to arrive at an accurate diagnosis and instigate an initial treatment plan.

Study on intrinsic defects of graphene oxide membranes for gas separation

Gas membrane separation technology is a kind of mixed gas separation technology with low energy consumption, simple equipment, easy operation and no influence on the environment. Due to the special properties of graphene oxide (GO) membrane, GO membrane has become a research hotspot of mixed gas membrane separation technology. In this paper, A critical GO membrane thickness is demonstrated: when the thickness is less than 600nm, the conductance of the GO membrane is inversely exponential to the membrane thickness, but the conductance is inversely proportional to the thickness when the membrane is thicker than 600nm. Through the experimental study of Helium (He) through the GO membrane penetration, the gas through the GO membrane mathematical model is established. Through theoretical analysis, the transmission mechanism of gas through GO film is obtained, which provides support for GO membrane for gas separation in the future.

Effect of Hands-On Science Activities on Students’ Academic Achievement and Scientific Attitude

In this study, it is aimed to investigate whether the science course taught by using simple tools has an effect on academic achievement and attitude towards science. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental model with pretest-posttest control group was used. The study group of this research consists of a total of 40 students, 21 (52.5%) girls and 19 (47.5%) boys, studying in a secondary school in the southeast of Turkey in the 2021-2022 academic year. The “Force and Energy achievement test” was used to determine the effect of science activities with simple tools on the academic achievement of students. the “Attitude towards Science Scale” was used in order to determine students’ attitudes towards science. The data obtained from the data collection tools used in the study were analyzed with the SPSS program. As a result of the research, it was determined that the activities performed with simple tools were effective in student success. This shows that the activities made with simple equipment are more effective on the academic success of the student than the traditional method. In the study, a significant difference was found in favor of the experimental group when the scientific attitude scale results of the control group taught with the traditional approach and the science activities performed with simple tools and the experimental group were compared. In conclusion, it was determined that science activities made with simple tools from student diaries create positive attitudes.

In Situ Super-Resolution Imaging of Telomeres with DNA-PAINT

Telomeres are located at the ends of chromosomes and play an important role in maintaining the integrity of chromosomes and controlling the cycle of cell division. Studies have shown that abnormal telomere length may lead to the occurrence of some diseases. Therefore, accurate measurement of telomere length will be helpful for the prediction and diagnosis of related diseases. DNA point accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (PAINT) is an optical super-resolution technology that relies on the instantaneous binding of the fluorescent DNA imaging strand to the target epitope. Here, we present the first demonstration of DNA-PAINT-based in situ super-resolution imaging of telomeres as well as centromeres. For DNA-PAINT imaging, Cy5-labeled telomere DNA (5'-Cy5-TTTTTCCCTAACCCTAA-3') and Cy3-labeled centromere DNA (5'-Cy3-TTTTTAGCTTCTGTCTAGTTT-3') are utilized as the imager strands. Through an improved permeabilization strategy that we proposed, the imager strands can bind with intracellular telomeres and centromeres with high specificity, realizing super-resolution imaging of telomeres and centromeres. To check the applicability of DNA-PAINT in evaluating telomere length, we conducted an experiment using azidothymidine (AZT)-treated tumor cells as the imaging target. The DNA-PAINT imaging results clearly revealed the telomerase inhibition effect of AZT. Compared with single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) with peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), our method has the advantages of low cost, low toxicity, and simple equipment. Such a DNA-PAINT-based imaging strategy holds great potential in measuring telomere length with high accuracy, which would play an important role in the study of telomere-related diseases such as cancer.

Analisis dan Reduksi Waste pada Industri Tahu Skala UKM

Seeing the condition of the covid pandemic which is still engulfing most of the world to Indonesia which will have an impact on various aspects, both social and economic. The socio-economic impact is felt in the lower middle class. Failure to fulfill nutrients in food can have an impact on various things such as decreased intelligence, poor health and endurance. Protein sources derived from vegetables are predicted to have nutritional content that is not inferior to prices that are relatively cheaper and easy to obtain. The popularity of this tofu causes the tofu industry to be very large and spread across various regions in Indonesia. The tofu industry in Indonesia is still dominated by home-scale industries with very traditional processes using simple equipment. Lean manufacturing can be used as a method to optimize the production process by eliminating waste. By using lean manufacturing, waste will be eliminated in tofu production activities.

A Critical Review on the Removal and Recovery of Hazardous Cd from Cd-Containing Secondary Resources in Cu-Pb-Zn Smelting Processes

Due to the advancement of industrialization and the development of the metal smelting industry, cadmium (Cd), as a highly toxic heavy metal element, is discharged into the natural environment in the form of dust, slag, and waste solutions during the Cu-Pb-Zn smelting process, causing great harm to the soil, water environment, and human health. Meanwhile, Cd is a key component of Ni-Cd batteries and CdTe semiconductor materials. The removal and recovery of Cd from the Cu-Pb-Zn smelting process faces a dual concern with respect to resource recycling and environmental protection. This paper briefly introduces the Cd-containing secondary resources produced in the Cu-Pb-Zn smelting process, systematically reviews the recovery methods of Cd from dust, slag and waste solutions, and compares the technical principles, process parameters, separation efficiency, advantages and disadvantages, and application requirements. In addition, a new route to treat Cd-containing solutions via the foam extraction method was proposed, which has the advantages of a short reaction time, large handling capacity, high removal efficiency, and simple operation equipment, showing superior application prospects, especially for industrial bulk waste solutions with ultralow concentrations.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СКЛАДАННЯ ПЛАНЕРІВ ЛІТАКІВ, ЯКІ МІСТЯТЬ ЕЛЕМЕНТИ ІЗ КОМПОЗИЦІЙНИХ МАТЕ-РІАЛІВ

The results of the analysis of the possibility of using known methods for assembling the components of an aircraft airframe, containing, in particular, elements of composite materials (CM), are presented. The features of structures made of CM and their joints, which affect the subsequent assembly of such structures, are considered. Systematized information about the terminology in the home area. Alternative formulations of assembly-related terms are proposed.Some features of the choice of methods for assembling structures containing elements from CM are considered. The properties of CM that influence the choice of assembly bases are analyzed. Potentially possible bases for assembling components of aircraft structures from CM, as well as CM and metals in different proportions, in particular, the method of assembly using virtual bases, are proposed. The classification of methods for assembling aircraft all-metal structures is carried out, technological limitations of CM are indicated, which have a direct impact on the use of the corresponding elements of assembly equipment. Some cases of imitation of design solutions of aircraft structures made of metals into structures containing elements of CM are considered. The typification of the main assembly units of the airframe of the aircraft has been made, in terms of orientation to certain assembly methods.Formulas for calculating the value of the total error in the assembly of components made of metals are proposed. The factors influencing the magnitude of the total error for CM structures are substantiated. The current trends in the use of CM at the SE «ANTONOV» are formulated in an enlarged way. An adaptive scheme for choosing a method for assembling assembly units containing, in particular, elements from CM, obtained by extrapolation from all-metal structures, has been developed.Conclusions are drawn about the need to orient the developed aircraft structure to a certain assembly method, and the main conditions for carrying out assembly work on composite parts from CM are formulated. The possibility of assembling aircraft structures from CM, as well as CM and metals in different proportions, with predominantly based on holes using simple assembly equipment, has been determined.

Characterization of flow field of swirling flow conveying in bulk grain pipeline based on gas‐solid multiphase coupling

AbstractAn experiment was carried out to study the characteristics of swirling pneumatic conveying of grain particles in horizontal pipeline, which can provide a reference for the design and optimization of swirling pneumatic conveying system of bulk grain pipeline. The numerical simulation of swirling pneumatic conveying under the guidance of vane swirling generator was performed via CFD‐DEM coupling method. The axial velocity of grain particles was symmetrical along the radial direction, and the tangential velocity was symmetrical along the pipe axis. When the blade number of the swirling device was 6–9, the static pressure drop and standard deviation of the flow field were large, the instantaneous energy consumption of the system and the dispersion of particles were high, and the conveying effect was good. When the blade number was six, the spiral distance of the flow field in the pipe was longer with better quality of swirl flow. In accordance with the simulation results, the best effect of swirling conveying is achieved when the equivalent diameter of the grain particles is 4 mm, the multiphase flow conveying speed is 20 m/s, and the spiral blade number of the swirling flow generator with flow deflector is six.Practical applicationIn the practical application, the swirling flow generated by the swirling device can suppress the settlement of particles and the blockage of the pipeline in the straight pipe conveying, and avoid the high speed collision between particles and the pipe wall in the curved pipe conveying, slow down the impact, reduce the particle breakage and the wear of the pipe wall. The generation and maintenance of swirling flow play a key role in the long‐distance conveying of various chemical raw materials, grain, fertilizer and other granular materials. Swirling flow pneumatic conveying has the advantages of simple equipment structure, small occupation space, flexible pipeline layout, easy to automatic control, high production efficiency, recycling, environmental protection, and so on. It has become an important conveying mode in bulk material conveying.

Technical-Economic-Institutional Diagram of a Micro-Hydroelectric Power Station in Electrified Areas: Case Study in the Lingang-Foto Site of Cameroon

Access to electricity, reliable energy supply, and environmental protection are key elements that support economic development around the world. In most of Sub-Saharan African countries, the production deficit is a key issue. In addition, the network is made of long distance power lines, leading to huge voltage drops and frequent power cuts in remote electrified areas. Most of these areas offer a wealth of micro hydro power potential. It hence happens that the development of such project in an environment not prepared should address many issues from the technical, the economic and the institutional point of view. The aim of this paper is to examine how we could contribute to the design and development of such a project while taking into account the related constraints. From the findings and the literature review, we have suggested for each core aspect how we might overcome some difficulties. Given the similarity of the network architecture in remote areas in Africa, we have focused on one 148 kW case study in Cameroon to illustrate the implementation of the results. We got a 6.5$cents/kWh cost-effective project from an initial investment of 480 509USD with the need to use robust and simple equipment and the need to adjust the regulations. Since power cut is harmful and a hence issue for a grid connected plant, we have also designed an architecture to address this issue of load shedding from the grid.

Acoustic tethering of microorganisms.

We show how to construct and apply a setup to acoustically tether and enable behavioral observations of individual microorganisms using simple laboratory equipment and a standard light microscope. We explore the capability of the setup with the freely swimming dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum as the study organism. The setup allows us to tether cells in focus in the mid-plane of the sample chamber and make observations of individual organisms at high magnification without affecting their flagellar beat frequencies. We discuss the prospect of the method to explore appendage motion and swimming kinematics of other flagellates and ciliates, and we argue that the method will be applicable to a broad range of cell sizes and shapes.

2D MoS2 Pattern from Sol-Gel-Processed Precursors Using Jet Printer for TFT Application

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is one of the most studied layered TMDCs due to its excellent optical, electrochemical, and electrical properties. Monolayer MoS2 is a semiconductor with a direct band gap of 1.8 eV, but it has an indirect band gap in its bulk form, and make it possible to use 2D materials in the next generation of switching and optoelectronic devices.Many research groups have attempted to synthesize MoS2 with different methods to make good MoS2 quality. Mechanical exfoliation has been known as an uncomplicated way for flakes extracted from single crystals. However, several restrictions that method had to come up with were small and random flake size then extreme difficulty in the alignment for device fabrication. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been used to prepare MoS2 thin layers in large scale. Nevertheless, this method demanded vacuum, the use of Mo or MoO3 thin films as precursors included in four-step CVD process for reduction and sulfurization resulted in expensive MoS2 films. Solution based methods, by contrast, is promising for large area formation of controllable MoS2 film with simple equipment, time-saving at low cost. No report has been published using jet printing technology from MoS2 precursor solution but our group.Therefore, the goal of this research was to develop a new drop-on demand printing method for MoS2 atomic layers based on sol-gel synthesis method. We developed a unique solution process to obtain large-size and uniform MoS2 atomic layers without CVD. The sulfurization process is omitted to simplify the entire process, and wafer-scale and larger-scale synthesis of MoS2 can be achieved by simple thermal treatment. The atomic layers of the synthesized MoS2 were identified as 2 layers, 3 layers, and 5 layers for MoS2 concentrations. MoS2 patterns were made with highly uniform coverage using electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-jet printing for the first time. The EHD jet-printed MoS2 TFTs show good electrical properties of 19.4 cm2 V-1 s-1.

Induced air flotation for fat, oil, and grease recovery in urban wastewater: A proposed methodology for system optimization and case study

Induced air flotation (IAF) is a well-known technology that is widely applied in urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for fat, oil, and grease (FOG) removal. However, most IAF systems are not optimized and typically operate with fixed parameters, regardless of inflow variations. Furthermore, the optimization of IAF systems is limited by the lack of equipment in WWTP laboratories to determine FOG concentrations in wastewater. In this study, an adapted sulfo-phospho-vanillin method for FOG quantification in wastewater is proposed for optimization and automation of the IAF system. The proposed methodology requires simple equipment that is widely available in WWTP laboratories, paving the way for in situ FOG determination. The method was successfully employed to determine the optimal operating conditions of the IAF system in terms of hydraulic retention time and organic loading rate. Furthermore, a full-scale IAF system was optimized using this methodology and its energy demand was reduced by 40 %.

TEKNOLOGI BIOPORI DALAM PENGELOLAAN SAMPAI ORGANIK DI DESA CAU BELAYU, TABANAN BALI

This community service activity (PKM) is a collaborative activity between lecturers and students that must be carried out as part of the implementation of the Tridharma of higher education. Garbage is a problem that still cannot be solved in various regions in Indonesia, especially in the village of Cau Belayu, Tabanan Regency. Effective waste management can provide a solution in overcoming floods in the rainy season, one of which is the vetiver system and biopori technology. These two systems can accelerate the absorption of water into the soil. This method of implementing community service is carried out by providing education to the community about vetiver systems and biopori technology, and after that, implementing the two programs directly on the community pages that have been deemed worthy of the two programs. Both systems provide many benefits to the community, namely reducing organic waste and fertilizing the soil, this is due to a biological process that will turn the waste into compost. The holes are made, then given organic waste which will trigger soil biotas such as worms and ants, and plant roots to create cavities in the soil. This community service activity is carried out through three stages, namely assessment of the village, implementation, and evaluation. As a result of this community service, now the people of Cau Belayu village have implemented these two technologies in people's homes even though they use simple equipment. In addition, the two systems are also implemented in the environment around the temple and the shrines in the village.

Use of principles from axiomatic design in the case of equipment for studying abrasion resistance

The last two decades have highlighted the expanding use of plastic parts obtained by 3D printing processes. This expansion has facilitated the development of research on the various physical and mechanical properties of materials embedded in parts made by 3D printing. Such a property is the abrasion resistance of the plastics. The problem of designing simple equipment to facilitate experimental research on the abrasion resistance of test pieces obtained from plastics by 3D printing has been formulated. It was appreciated that the design of the equipment for the study of abrasion resistance could be performed using some axiomatic design principles. Specific steps have been considered to use axiomatic design to achieve a simple equipment solution for abrasion resistance testing. The functional requirements have been formulated, and appropriate solutions have been identified for the design parameters corresponding to the intended equipment. The axiomatic design facilitated the design of equipment for testing abrasion resistance.