Use And Disposal Research Articles

REVIEW OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN IRAQ

Solid waste management (SWM) in Iraq faces significant challenges due to inadequate infrastructure, insufficient regulatory frameworks, and low public awareness. This review explores the current state of SWM in various Iraqi cities, highlighting key issues and proposing recommendations for improvement. In Babylon Governorate, open dumping and poor collection processes are prevalent, with waste production expected to increase significantly by 2030. Kerbala's SWM system is hindered by limited funds, requiring better disposal and recycling infrastructure and stakeholder engagement. Al-Nassyriah residents expressed dissatisfaction with current SWM practices, indicating a need for increased public awareness and proper waste sorting infrastructure. Sulaimania faces environmental threats from open dumping, with seasonal variations in waste generation and inadequate medical waste management. In Erbil, substantial recyclable materials remain untapped due to a lack of efficient treatment technologies and public awareness. Najaf's exploration of waste-to-energy solutions presents a promising alternative for addressing waste management issues. This review underscores the necessity of developing modern infrastructure, enforcing stringent regulations, enhancing public education, and integrating waste management with energy production to achieve sustainable SWM in Iraq.

In silico simulations of diffusion tensors and tortuosity in cells grown on 3D-printed scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering is set to revolutionise regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and cancer biology. For this to succeed, improved 3D imaging methods that penetrate non-invasively into the developing tissue is fundamental to guide the design of new and improved 3D supports. In particular, it is very important to characterise the time- and space-heterogeneous pore network that continuously changes as the tissue grows, since delivery of nutrients and removal of waste is key to avoid the development of necrotic tissues. In this paper, we combine high-resolution microfocus Computed Tomography (μCT) imaging and in silico simulations to calculate the diffusion tensor of molecules diffusing in the actual pore structure of a tissue grown on 3D-printed plastic scaffolds. We use such tensors to derive information about the changing pore network and derive tortuosity, a key parameter to understand how pore interconnection changes with cell proliferation. Such information can be used to improve the design of 3D-printed supports as well as to validate and improve cell culture protocols.

Options for reducing a city's global biodiversity footprint – The case of food consumption in Vienna

Urban food consumption contributes significantly to global biodiversity loss. To ensure a sustainable food supply for the growing urban population a transformation of food production and consumption patterns is necessary. Here, options for reducing the food-related biodiversity footprint of Vienna (Austria), a high-income city in Europe were assessed regarding measures of product substitution, demand reduction through avoidance of waste and caloric overconsumption and a shift from imports to domestic production. The biodiversity footprints of 24 food consumption patterns were calculated with a life-cycle-assessment approach applying country- and primary biomass-specific factors for vertebrate species loss derived from a high-resolution global countryside species-area-relationship model that incorporates land-use intensity and spatially-explicit information on Vienna's source regions. Compared to the baseline food consumption in Vienna of 2010, diets with less animal products could reduce the footprint by 21%–43%, while waste reduction and adhering to the recommended caloric intake could reduce the footprint by 5% and 9%, respectively. Decreasing the demand for primary biomass under alternative diets could also free up domestic cropland and allow for reducing imports and relocating production from abroad to Austria. This could reduce Vienna's biodiversity footprint additionally by 5%–21%, depending on diet and demand level, due to comparatively higher yields and lower native species richness in Austria. Results further indicate that shifting towards a vegetarian diet requires the least product substitution per footprint reduction among the examined alternative diets. Substituting animal products with plant-based alternatives from area-efficient production systems located outside of biodiversity hotspots emerges as a promising strategy for Western cities to reduce their biodiversity footprint.

Neighborly social pressure and collective action: Evidence from a field experiment in Tunisia.

Research on political participation almost unanimously assumes that social pressure by neighbors induces collective behavior. Yet most experimental studies focus on individually based forms of political and civic behavior, such as voting and recycling, in Western industrialized societies. The paper tests the effect of neighborly social pressure on collective action in Tunisia. In a field experiment, I manipulate whether neighbors or community outsiders invite citizens to contribute to a public good (i.e., trash collection). I run the experiment in three neighborhoods of varying socioeconomic composition in Tunis (n = 1199). I do not find evidence to suggest that neighborly social pressure encourages participation in neighborhood cleanups, with low participation rates both for the neighbor and outsider contact conditions. While the effect of social pressure does not significantly vary across communities, overall participation rates do. Residents of the poor neighborhood are most likely to respond in a socially desirable way when asked about their intentions but least likely to participate. The paper also discusses some limitations of the study and outlines avenues for future research.

Assessing the Efficiency of Solid Waste Management by Private Companies in Lusaka City: Case of Kabwata Constituency.

This study examined the effect of private companies’ solid waste management on Lusaka’s waste management. The general objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of solid waste management by private companies in Lusaka city. The specific objectives are to determine if there are any policy inadequacies in the public-private partnership which leads to accumulation of solid waste in the city, to determine whether household income has a bearing on solid west management by private companies, to determine if there are sufficient private companies collecting refuse to cater for the increasing population in Kabwata constituency and to determine whether management of solid waste by private companies reduces solid waste accumulation in undesignated places. Applying a qualitative inductive case study approach, both the households and the business community indicated that the Lusaka City Council (LCC) did not have sufficient companies to undertake solid waste collection under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy. Additionally, the study revealed that household and business income had no influence on solid waste collection by private companies, and the majority of the respondents indicated a minimal reduction in the accumulation of solid waste. Key informants from the Lusaka city council indicated policy inadequacies to compel residents and business communities to adhere to strict solid waste management guidelines and to compel them to register with a solid waste company designated by LCC. Therefore, the study recommends that measures be undertaken to increase the number of companies engaged in solid waste management and policy measures should be enforced to compel residents and business entities to subscribe to private companies and adhere to solid waste management guidelines as prescribed by the law.

Background and issues surrounding the enactment of the "Ordinance for Prohibiting the Removal of Recyclable Waste" in Kawasaki City

Background and issues surrounding the enactment of the "Ordinance for Prohibiting the Removal of Recyclable Waste" in Kawasaki City

Діагностика перспектив розвитку підприємств з переробки ТПВ

The article diagnoses the prospects for the development of enterprises for the processing of solid household waste (SHW). It is specified that improving the quality of services provided by enterprises and the transition to European standards in the field of removal, utilization and processing of solid waste is a top priority, as Ukraine seeks to become a member of the EU in the future. It is noted that recycling is an important component of sustainable development and contributes to the creation of a more efficient and environmentally conscious economy for enterprises and the country. The most common types of solid waste recycling are presented, each of which is aimed at transforming a specific type of waste. The paper analyzes successful business cases that have already been implemented as a result of recycled solid waste and introduced into practice in other countries of the world. It is noted that some Ukrainian enterprises in collaboration with foreign partners have actively begun to implement similar cases. It is noted that a promising direction is the energy sector, which is currently also related to the processing of solid waste. It is noted that, even taking into account the active hostilities taking place on the territory of Ukraine, there are enterprises, organizations and institutions that are already actively working or just starting their business activities in the field of SHW processing. It is concluded that it is an important aspect, in particular, firstly, how the growing awareness of society about the problems of environmental pollution and the need to protect it creates a demand for environmentally friendly technologies and services, including waste recycling. Secondly, legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at reducing waste and improving waste management create a favorable framework for the development of this sector. Thirdly, technological progress in the field of recycling makes it possible to create new products from waste and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Also, the development of this sector can stimulate investment and contribute to the creation of new jobs in the field of ecological economy. All this testifies to the potentially high investment attractiveness and prospects for the development of solid waste processing enterprises.

Biomaterial-assisted strategies to improve islet graft revascularization and transplant outcomes.

Islet transplantation holds significant promise as a curative approach for type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the transition of islet transplantation from the experimental phase to widespread clinical implementation has not occurred yet. One major hurdle in this field is the challenge of insufficient vascularization and subsequent early loss of transplanted islets, especially in non-intraportal transplantation sites. The establishment of a fully functional vascular system following transplantation is crucial for the survival and secretion function of islet grafts. This vascular network not only ensures the delivery of oxygen and nutrients, but also plays a critical role in insulin release and the timely removal of metabolic waste from the grafts. This review summarizes recent advances in effective strategies to improve graft revascularization and enhance islet survival. These advancements include the local release and regulation of angiogenic factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF), co-transplantation of vascular fragments, and pre-vascularization of the graft site. These innovative approaches pave the way for the development of effective islet transplantation therapies for individuals with T1D.

TO THE ISSUE OF EQUIPPING A CATEGORY O2 TRAILER TRAIN

Summary. In recent years, enterprises and private manufacturers of Ukraine have mastered the production of a wide range of trailers. Today, trailer manufacturers offer a wide range of various designs, including those with large dimensions and strong sides. Thanks to this, the devices can transport not only bulky goods, but also those that are not recommended for transportation in the car cabin. The trailer, in particular a multifunctional one, will become indispensable for the transportation of construction materials, the removal of garbage and other waste after repairs, the transportation of heavy equipment, office and household furniture, etc. In the production of multi-functional trailers of the PVBF type, the main component products (running and braking systems, coupling devices, parking risers, winches, element base for fixing sides and doors, etc.) manufactured by the companies "Knott", "AI-Ko Kober", " Reynolds transport systems (Europe)", "Aluvan", etc., which meet modern certification requirements. For these trailers, the general characteristics of the mass and dimensional parameters of the five main groups of the standard size series, which differ in gross weight (1500, 2000,……3500 kg) and trailer base (2500...5000 mm), are defined. Taking into account that the weight of the trailer should not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle, you can choose your own towing vehicle for each group of the size series. When choosing a traction vehicle, you should proceed from the condition of ensuring the movement of the road train at maximum speed. Under this condition, the maximum engine power of the traction vehicle for a road train with a trailer weight of 1,500 to 3,500 kg is determined. The obtained power of the motor train engine for the entire standard-sized series of trailers is significantly less than the real power of the traction vehicle engine. Therefore, the traction vehicle must be selected based on mass indicators from the vehicles that are operated in Ukraine. Keywords: car, multi-functional trailer, road train, standard size range, mass, speed, power

Physical Exercise Alters Egress Pathways for Intrinsic CSF Outflow: An Investigation Performed with Spin-labeling MR Imaging.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance is essential for maintaining a healthy brain and cognition by removal of metabolic waste from the central nervous system. Physical exercise has been shown to improve human health; however, the effect of physical exercise on intrinsic CSF outflow in humans remains unexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate intrinsic CSF outflow pathways and quantitative metrics of healthy individuals with active and sedentary lifestyles. In addition, the effect of exercise was investigated among the sedentary subjects before and after 3 weeks of physical activity. This study was performed on 18 healthy adults with informed consent, using a clinical 3-Tesla MRI scanner. We classified participants into two groups based on reported time spent sitting per day (active group: < 7 hours sitting per day and sedentary group: ≥ 7 hours sitting per day). To elucidate the effect of exercise, sedentary individuals increased their activity to 3.5 hours for 3 weeks. We show that there are two intrinsic CSF egress pathways of the dura mater and lower parasagittal dura (PSD). The adults with an active lifestyle had greater intrinsic CSF outflow metrics than adults with a more sedentary lifestyle. However, after increased physical activity, the sedentary group showed improved CSF outflow metrics. This improvement was particularly notable at the lower PSD, where outflow metrics were highest among the active group. Our findings describe the relationship between physical activity and intrinsic CSF outflow and show a potential selective outflow pathway with increasing physical activity in the lower PSD pathway, potentially from the perivascular space or cortical venous subpial space.

Validation of Trypanosoma cruzi inactivation techniques for laboratory use.

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent of Chagas' disease, a parasitic infection responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in Latin America. The current treatments have many serious drawbacks and new drugs are urgently required. In the UK, T. cruzi is classified by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) as a Hazard Group 3 organism and strict safety practices must be adhered to when handling this pathogen in the laboratory. Validated inactivation techniques are required for safe T. cruzi waste disposal and removal from Containment Level 3 (CL3) facilities for storage, transportation and experimental analysis. Here we assess three T. cruzi. inactivation methods. These include three freeze-thaw cycles, chemical inactivation with Virkon disinfectant, and air drying on Whatman FTA cards (A, B, C, Elute) and on a Mitra microsampling device. After each treatment parasite growth was monitored for 4-6 weeks by microscopic examination. Three freeze-thaw cycles were sufficient to inactivate all T. cruzi CLBrener Luc life cycle stages and Silvio x10/7 A1 large epimastigote cell pellets up to two grams wet weight. Virkon treatment for one hour inactivated T. cruzi Silvio x10/7 subclone A1 and CLBrener Luc both in whole blood and cell culture medium when incubated at a final concentration of 2.5% Virkon, or at ≥1% Virkon when in tenfold excess of sample volume. Air drying also inactivated T. cruzi CLBrener Luc spiked blood when dried on FTA A, B or Elute cards for ≥30 minutes and on a Mitra Microsampler for two hours. However, T. cruzi CLBrener Luc were not inactivated on FTA C cards when dried for up to two hours. These experimentally confirmed conditions provide three validated T. cruzi inactivation methods which can be applied to other related ACDP Hazard Group 2-3 kinetoplastid parasites.

Integrated MSW management system in the Russian Federation: problems of interpretation and formation

The object of the study is the formation of an integrated MSW management system within the framework of the national project "Ecology" and the federal project "Integrated Solid Municipal Waste management System". The subject of the study is organizational, methodological, legal, financial, economic, industrial and technological problems that make it difficult at the federal and regional levels to achieve the annual and final planned indicators of these projects in 2024. The purpose of the work is a general description of the integrated MSW management system being created, as well as to identify the main problems of its formation in the new financial and economic environment reality. The author considers the planned target indicators of the federal project and their correlation with the indicators achieved in 2019-2022. Special attention is paid to the three-fold decrease in the initial planned indicator for recycling, which occurred due to insufficient development of the MSW recycling infrastructure, and the threat of non-fulfillment of the utilization indicator in 2024, which persists even after that. The methodological basis of research is an integrated approach that allowed the use of methods of systematic, comparative, factorial and economic-statistical analysis, content analysis, and also synthesis. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the disclosure of an integrated system as a set of methods for handling MSW, located among themselves in a certain hierarchy of applications, the last of which is waste disposal, and the smaller its scale and the damage caused to the environment, the greater the level of consistency the system demonstrates. Neutralization and energy utilization do not fully solve the problem, since they leave a lot of harmful combustion products. Recycling is much more environmentally friendly, the degree of development of which should be considered as the second important criterion for the development of an integrated waste management system. The reduction by the curators of the MSW management reform of the initially stated recycling targets for 2024 by three times is actually an official recognition of the global underdevelopment of the domestic recycling and processing industry and the lack of real state participation in its formation and development.

On the issue of building an integrated waste management system: World practice and its application in the Russian Federation

The problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the world is increasing every year. According to the World Bank, more than 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) are produced annually in the world. The paper shows that problem of waste management is growing all over the world. And if the developed countries have the opportunity to build an effective circulation system, then the developing countries, which are the majority, still solve this problem through open landfills and burial. It shows that only the presence of a balanced comprehensive program of the MSW management system will allow solving the problem of accelerated creation and effective functioning of the modern waste management industry.

Conceptual Design of a Trash Collecting Machine for Highways in Arequipa, Peru

Cleanliness, a crucial component of our daily life, is reflected in the significant role played by street sweepers day to day. Due to the limited manpower and the risks of the highway itself, it cannot be done effectively daily. Mechanization of road sweeping activity is gaining importance, especially in metropolitan cities. With the need for cleaning that requires less human effort and is adjusted to the dimensions of Peruvian highways, the objective of this work is to conceptually design a Trash Collection Machine (TCM) with a drag mechanism. With this, the aim is to improve efficiency and safety in cleaning, transforming urban waste management, and contributing to environmental sustainability. Highway “Variante de Uchumayo” (HVU) in Arequipa, Peru is considered as a practical case in this study. The methodology implemented for this design is based on the Pahl and Beitz Model. First, visits were made to the HVU, and the problems of accumulation, efficiency, and safety were recognized. Then task clarification, conceptual design, embodiment design, and detail design of the machine are carried out. As a result, the technical specifications and systems involved in Trash Collection Machine (TCM) are synthesized. Also, the TCM was evaluated technically and economically according to the standard VDI 2225, highlighting its superiority over the manual cleaning process. This solution offers an efficient and low-cost alternative for highway cleaning. Likewise, the manufacturing and automation of the machine are considered as a future study.

Design and Prototype Development of Trash Collector Boat

Every year, millions of tons of trash find their way into the rivers and streams around our country, contaminating the water and endangering the all those whose lives depend on it. A significant portion of the rubbish is floating, insoluble material, which is more hazardous since it creates a barrier between air and water. The design of an ocean cleaner is suggested in order to remove garbage from the sea or to create a cleaner atmosphere. This floating rubbish can be taken out of the water's surface by this system. The system uses a conveyor belt-style arrangement that is powered by an electric motor. The conveyor belt continuously goes upward, collecting trash along the way thanks to spike arrangements. After that, a trash collection tank is supplied, where the same are momentarily stored. An advantage of this type of device is that it may be made to float, allowing it to move on the water's surface and continuously gather floating rubbish. On the roof, we can also employ solar power cells to supply electricity. The river cleaning system may eventually include a rubbish level indicator assembly.

Trash Collection Gadget: A Multi-Purpose Design of Interactive and Portable Solution for Beach Cleanup

Beach pollution has become a pressing environmental concern with increased human activities. It calls for innovative solutions that can not only address the problem but also engage and educate individuals in the long run. Herein, a prototype robotic cleanup system was introduced in this project in response to such a requirement. The project aims to design and develop a playful and user-friendly robotic system to accompany families and children during beach visits while actively gathering land rubbish or marine debris. The device is made up with three primary components, including a control system, a collection system, and a rubbish storage container. The control system receives operation instruction from cell phones through Bluetooth connection to direct the moving mode of the device. The collection system is equipped with plastic spikes and conveyor belts that can pick up and deposit trash into the storage container. The entire system is featured to be a portable “beach buddy” that only takes up one cubic foot of space, allowing for easy transportation and operation. The performance of the beach buddy was evaluated both on the land and in the water, showing promise for collection of rubbish under various circumstances. By combining entertainment, portability, and environmental consciousness, the design of robotic “beach buddy” in this study is expected to promote both ecological awareness and a sense of responsibility among users.

Optimizing Waste Collection Efficiency by NodeMCU enabled Ultrasonic Trash Can Surveillance and ThingSpeak Dashboards

The use of inflexible route schedules for garbage collection results in inadequate waste disposal, posing environmental risks and incurring high operational expenses, including fuel costs and landfill fees, even when the waste containers are not completely full. This study utilizes a cost-effective Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring system to facilitate dynamic routing. The aim is to enhance the efficiency and frequency of waste collection by optimizing it based on real-time fill levels, rather than following fixed cycles. The prototype employs an ultrasonic distance sensor in conjunction with a NodeMCU ESP8266 micro-controller to detect the fill level of a trash can. The collected data is then transmitted to the ThingSpeak cloud platform. Real-time visualization dashboards display live data on waste levels in different containers, providing guidance for collection scheduling. The estimated scope entails conducting circuit simulation using Proteus, optimizing PCB layout, and developing an integrated IoT prototype connected to ThingSpeak for IoT analytics. Ultimately, integrating cost-effective IoT edge sensors such as ultrasonic ranging with cloud analytics dashboards greatly enhances effectiveness, sustainability, and intelligent allocation of resources in public trash collection. This results in economic and environmental advantages by reducing landfill overflow through the digitalization of smart cities.

Connecting the Dots: The Cerebral Lymphatic System as a Bridge Between the Central Nervous System and Peripheral System in Health and Disease.

As a recently discovered waste removal system in the brain, cerebral lymphatic system is thought to play an important role in regulating the homeostasis of the central nervous system. Currently, more and more attention is being focused on the cerebral lymphatic system. Further understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of cerebral lymphatic system is essential to better understand the pathogenesis of diseases and to explore therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the structural components and functional characteristics of cerebral lymphatic system. More importantly, it is closely associated with peripheral system diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidney. However, there is still a gap in the study of the cerebral lymphatic system. However, we believe that it is a critical mediator of the interactions between the central nervous system and the peripheral system.

Optimal metabolite transport in hollow fibre membrane bioreactors

Hollow fibre membrane bioreactors provide a fast and efficient method for engineering functional tissue for use in medical treatments. Flow is utilised to overcome mass transport limitations by perfusing a nutrient-rich culture medium through the fibre lumen, which can then transport along the fibre lumen or across the porous membrane wall. Cells seeded at the outer membrane wall consume the nutrient and subsequently produce waste metabolites, which are transported away through an external extra-capillary space (ECS) along with excess nutrient. We present and investigate a two-dimensional axisymmetric model for fluid flow and solute transport through a single-fibre bioreactor configuration, with cells seeded to the external fibre wall. Fluid flow is modelled by steady lubrication and Darcy equations, which are coupled to the solute transport problem modelled by a system of advection–diffusion equations, supplemented with a reaction term to model the cell layer. Our model analysis reveals how spatially varying wall permeability distributions can be utilised to provide uniform nutrient delivery to a spatially uniform, homogeneous cell population. We also reveal how maximising the transmural pressure drop across the membrane wall is the dominant mechanism for waste removal rather than traditional experimental methods of flushing the ECS.

Poor Diet Leading to the Increasing Risk of Atherosclerosis in the World

Atherosclerosis Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease (ASICD), one of the leading causes of global deaths, is mainly caused due to the development of plaque on the inner walls of arteries of the human heart. Ischemia refers to the lack of enough oxygen (O2), nutrient delivery, and improper waste removal in the cardiac cells. About 90% of cardiovascular diseases in the present world are due to the formation of lipid/cholesterol-based plaques that can form under the lining of the smooth epithelial blood cells. In the US, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology estimated that poor diet is responsible for about 45% of Cardiovascular Disease. Atherosclerosis doesn’t cause much effect until and unless the plaque becomes unstable due to the accumulation of thrombus that shows Acute Coronary Syndrome. Acute Coronary Syndrome is the result of blockage of blood vessels leading to Myocardial Infarction (Unstable Angina Pectoris). Cardiac Cells require a sufficient amount of Oxygen to function properly. Thus, the demand and supply of oxygen to the cardiac cells should be properly balanced. Atherosclerosis Ischemic Cardiovascular syndrome can worsen if the person is more involved in exercise or emotional stress because at that time their body requires higher oxygen but blood flow gets disrupted due to the formation of plague. Later in the paper, we will discuss the New York Heart Association classification, followed by the top 3 poor diets that are considered to be increasing the cases of cardiovascular disease around the world.