Landslide and Siphon Method

Landslide is one of the major disasters for damage and loss of life in the world. Every year, this disaster happens. Because of this, many research had been done and method had been introduced in controlling this disaster and reducing the effects. The major factor triggering landslide is the excess of pore water pressure in the soil. The excess of pore water pressure in the slope comes from the groundwater. Controlling the level of groundwater in the soil is vital in order to prevent landslide occurrence. This research aims to control the water level in the soil by the using siphon method and to verify the effects of this system on soil moisture content. This research also analyzes the influence of rainfall on moisture content of soil. Soil's moisture content, bulk density, shear strength and internal angle of internal friction are identified for calculation of factor of safety (FoS). The siphon model was constructed using pvc pipes and two pails. Data collections are divided into several parts. For moisture content, six (6) samples were collected and recorded. From this data, the relationship between rainfall and moisture content of soil is ploted using graphs. The finding shows that the moisture content increases with the presence of rainfall from 0.20 gig to 0.30 gig. The moisture content then slowly decreases to 0.20 at the sixth day. The particle size distribution and shear box analyses, were conducted in the study. The data were recorded by using computer and software of ELE international. The results show that soil with siphon pipe has a cohesion and moisture content of 4.85 k:Pa and 0.3 g/g compared to the soil without siphon pipe which are -4.00 k:Pa and 0.37 gig respectively. As such, siphon system can be applied to control the groundwater level for preventing landslide

Landslide and Siphon Method

Landslide is one of the major disasters for damage and loss of life in the world. Every year, this disaster happens. Because of this, many research had been done and method had been introduced in controlling this disaster and reducing the effects. The major factor triggering landslide is the excess of pore water pressure in the soil. The excess of pore water pressure in the slope comes from the groundwater. Controlling the level of groundwater in the soil is vital in order to prevent landslide occurrence. This research aims to control the water level in the soil by the using siphon method and to verify the effects of this system on soil moisture content. This research also analyzes the influence of rainfall on moisture content of soil. Soil's moisture content, bulk density, shear strength and internal angle of internal friction are identified for calculation of factor of safety (FoS). The siphon model was constructed using pvc pipes and two pails. Data collections are divided into several parts. For moisture content, six (6) samples were collected and recorded. From this data, the relationship between rainfall and moisture content of soil is ploted using graphs. The finding shows that the moisture content increases with the presence of rainfall from 0.20 gig to 0.30 gig. The moisture content then slowly decreases to 0.20 at the sixth day. The particle size distribution and shear box analyses, were conducted in the study. The data were recorded by using computer and software of ELE international. The results show that soil with siphon pipe has a cohesion and moisture content of 4.85 k:Pa and 0.3 g/g compared to the soil without siphon pipe which are -4.00 k:Pa and 0.37 gig respectively. As such, siphon system can be applied to control the groundwater level for preventing landslide

Carbapenemase typing and resistance profile of enteric bacteria isolate with reduced sensitivity to carbapenems in a Lebanese tertiary care center

Objective: nowadays resistant bacteria represent worldwide a public health problem leading in some cases to a stalemate without any possible treatment. Therefore early detection and identification of carbapenemase producing gram-negative bacteria (GNB) is of crucial importance. Consequently we conducted a study in a tertiary care hospital to analyze the resistance phenotype of the carbapenem resistant GNB (CRGNB). Methods: we collected all the CRGNB from September 2014 till January 2016, we took randomly 40/126 strains and performed a sensitivity test in addition to a real time multiplex PCR to detect the exact carbapenemase coding genes (bla SPC , bla IMP1, bla VIM , bla NDM , bla KPC , et bla OXA-48). The studied strains were: Escherichia coli (70%), Klebsiella pneumonia (20%), Enterobacter aerogenes (2,5%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.5%) et Klebsiella oxytoca (2.5%). Results: 100% of the studied strains were intermediate or resistant to ertapenem, 85% intermediate or resistant to imipenem and/or meropenem. 33 / 40 strains (82.5%) are bla OXA-48 positive et one strain (2.5%) is bla NDM positive. the OXA-48 were urinary strains of E coli. 6 / 40 strains (15%) did not express carbapenemase genes in molecular studies. Conclusion: we note a marked emergence of CPGNB especially bla OXA-48 with high resistance pattern leading to narrow therapeutic options. This requires a rapid detection of such strains of GNB so that to initiate quickly the right preventive and therapeutic measures to avoid hospital epidemics with disastrous consequences

Design of an Automatic Defect Identification Method Based ECPT for Pneumatic Pressure Equipment

In this paper, in order to achieve automatic defect identification for pneumatic pressure equipment, an improved feature extraction algorithm eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) is presented. The presented feature extraction algorithm contains four elements: data block selection; variable step search; relation value classification; and between-class distance decision function. The data block selection and variable step search are integrated to decrease the redundant computations in the automatic defect identification. The goal of the classification and between-class distance calculation is to select the typical features of thermographic sequence. The main image information can be extracted by the method precisely and efficiently. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the capabilities and benefits (i.e., reducing the processing time) of the proposed algorithm in automatic defect identification

Adsorption of gentamicin on surfactant-kaolinite and its antibacterial activity

Kaolinite is a common component of soil. Negatively-charged kaolinite can act as an adsorbent material and it has the ability to adsorb antimicrobial agents. In this study, local natural kaolinite was used to adsorb gentamicin and cationic surfactant molecules. Gentamicin-loaded surfactant-kaolinite (GSK) was prepared firstly by the attachment of cationic surfactant 4.0 mM hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium (HDTMA) on raw kaolinite to produce surfactant-kaolinite (SK), which was then loaded with gentamicin sulphate (50 and 200 mg/L) to yield GSK. Gentamicin-loaded kaolinite (GK) was also prepared and compared. All samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and CHNS elemental analysis. The characterisation results proved that the framework structure of kaolinite was not disrupted after modification with antimicrobial agents. The antibacterial activity of the samples was tested against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229) and Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) through disc diffusion technique (DDT). Based on the technique, raw kaolinite did not exhibit antibacterial activity but showed antibacterial activity when HDTMA and/or gentamicin was loaded on kaolinite. In addition, GSK showed better antibacterial activity compared to GK and performed better on Gram-positive bacteria compared to Gram-negative bacteria. As a conclusion, immobilisation of HDTMA on kaolinite proved that kaolinite can act as an adsorbent to adsorb antibiotics and it has the potential to be developed as an enhanced antimicrobial agent

Designing large-scale antenna array using sub-array

Antenna array of large scale have been examined for different applications including 5G technology. To get better data rate or a reliable link substantial number of antenna arrays have been utilized to provide high multiplexing gains as well as array gains with high directivity. In this paper a simple but efficient implementation technique of using sub-arrays for the improvement of large-sized uniform arrays. By repeating a small sub-array multiple times large arrays can be designed. This implication of utilizing small array simplifies the design of a larger array which allows the designer to concentrate on the smaller sub-array before assembling larger arrays. So, by investigating the sub arrays the performance and radiation characteristics of large arrays can be anticipated. The array-factor for a planar sub-array of 2x2 (4 elements) is analyzed using Mat-lab software and then a large array is formed by placing the 2x2 sub-array indifferent configurations in a rectangular arrangements up to 8x8 planar array. And then the results are validated with CST (Computer simulation technology) simulation results.In this way the array-factors, directivities, HPBWs, and side lobes of the constructed large arrays are analyzed and associated with the small sub-array

Design of a flexible textile antenna for early breast tumor detections

The breast tumor is the form of tumor that is diagnosed more frequently than any other type of tumor and it is the leading cause of death from breast cancer among females globally. Breast cancer has the greatest incidence and fatality rate among women worldwide. Early on, it was largely elderly women who were affected, but that has since shifted. Younger women have been more affected by breast tumor in recent years. The most effective methods for dealing with this condition right now include screening for it in early stages and diagnosing it. Rather than relying solely on traditional approaches, it encourages the researcher to instead focus on cutting-edge technologies. Objectives: Breast tumor detection using a textile�based (jeans) flexible antenna. Methods: As a substrate, jeans serve as a model for the proposed textile antenna, while copper serves as a patch (tuning fork shape) and ground plane in a simulated version of the antenna. Multiple simulations were run on CST MWS-2021 to determine the return loss (S11), VSWR, 3- D & 2-D radiation pattern, surface current radiation efficiency (%) with a focus on the specific absorption rate (SAR) all of which are important for optimizing antenna performance and ensuring human safety in the presence of electromagnetic waves. In order to guarantee the identification process for tumor of varying sizes (R= 10, 20 & 30 mm), the return loss results are compared across several cases. The tuning fork shape textile antenna operates on ISM band (5.79 GHz). Findings: With the primary goal of identifying breast tumor, the proposed structure was designed with a flexible textile substrate (jeans), low cost and an excellent radiation efficiency %. Application: The proposed structure is a significant improvement over prior studies in terms of low fabrication cost, adaptability and radiation efficiency %, directivity, SAR value. The SAR value was simulated and found 1.37 W/Kg, 0.837 W/Kg for 1 gm and 10 gm tissue. The suggested antenna meets the SAR standards given by the FCC (1 gm) and the ICNIRP (10 gm). The most significant advantage, however, is that the proposed antenna can be used in conjunction with microwave scattering technology to aid in the identification and detection of breast tumor with just a marginal difference between healthy and unhealthy breast

Rubber Tire Dust-Rice Husk Pyramidal Microwave Absorber

Rubber tire dust-rice husk is an innovation in improving the design of pyramidal microwave absorbers to be used in radio frequency (RF) anechoic chambers. An RF anechoic chamber is a shielded room covered with absorbers to eliminate unwanted refection signals. To design the pyramidal microwave absorber, rice husk will be added to rubber tire dust since the study shows that both have high percentages of carbon. This innovative material combination will be investigated to determine the best reflectivity or reflection loss performance of pyramidal microwave absorbers. Carbon is the most important element that must be in the absorber in order to help the absorption of unwanted microwave signals. In the commercial market, polyurethane and polystyrene are the most popular foam- based material that has been used in pyramidal microwave absorber fabrication. Instead of using chemical material, this study shows that agricultural waste is more environmentally friendly and has much lower cost. In this paper, three combinations of rubber tire dust and rice husk are fabricated to investigate the performance of microwave absorber reflection loss in operating in the frequency range from 7 GHz to 12 GHz

Sizing and economic analysis of stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic-wind system for rural electrification: A case study Lundu, Sarawak

Energy Consumption has been increasing at an alarming rate due to the growing energy need. More and more non-renewable sources are harvested to fulfill the energy demand resulting in and rising environmental health issues. However, harvesting Solar and Wind energy is considered as the best alternative in generating energy as these resources are renewable. Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) has been grabbed the attention recently, as it involves with renewable, environmentally friendly sources to generate energy. The limitation of single Renewable Energy (RE) system is overcome by systems such as HRES. Even though it has been introduced different sizing and optimization techniques, due to the lack of system function, it had posed issues in calculating the optimized cost of a hybrid system considering the solar, wind resources and load demand as the optimization of the system cannot be predicted accurately. The aim of this research was to obtain optimization of a Hybrid PV-wind system in term of sizing and cost over the 20 years of the period of interest. The simulation of the PV-Wind Hybrid system using MATLAB for the verification purpose. This work includes detailed calculation using the Life Cycle Cost method for identifying all possible combinations. The combination of eleven Solar Panels, one Wind Turbine and nine Batteries was identified as the optimal Combination with LCC of RM 221,329.97 and has been verified using simulation results. Lastly, a sensitivity test was carried out using the exiting results of verified by the simulation to identify the most deterministic system in affecting LCC of the Hybrid system. Further, total Cost distribution for the Optimized hybrid PV-Wind system was conducted and identified that 50% of system cost was contributed by the Wind turbine. Determination of LCC, was done as a combination of Component and Operation costs. It was identified that Replacement cost contributed the highest while Wind turbine showed the highest Operation cost from the system cost. Thus, this work was included with the sensitivity test assuming 10% price increment for each component and it was concluded that price changes in Wind turbine results the greatest difference in LCC while further verified with the results of the simulation