To a More Sustainable Construction Method for Electrically Conductive Heated Pavement Systems

Snow and ice damage to the pavement in the United States, particularly in colder regions, costs the US economy millions of dollars each year. Conventional methods for keeping snow off roads after heavy snowfall are judged prohibitively expensive. As a result, an alternative solution is required to reduce costs while also improving pavement resiliency. An electrically heated pavement system (EHPS) has been regarded as a viable alternative to older approaches in recent years. The majority of earlier research concentrated on improving the conductivity characteristics of paving materials. On the other hand, this study takes a different approach by focusing on the construction method rather than changing the properties of materials. This study focuses on the construction method, followed by using two ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COMPOSITE materials, such as WPU-GP and EP-GP, and coated on the PCC substrate using the parallel stripe method. The results show that the construction approach utilizing WPU-GP produced 22.5%, and EP-GP produced 17.5% GP validated the concept of sustainable EHPS construction. Furthermore, increasing the coating thickness improves the heating effect of the pavement surface, and resistive heating performance improves steadily with higher voltage application, although lower coating spacing demonstrated better surface heating performance

ASSESSING PROFITABILITY AND GROWTH OF INSURANCE SECTOR IN SAUDI ARABIA: USING FINANCIALS AND TANGIBLES

The purpose: The purpose of this study to find out the contribution of internal (financial) and external (tangible & human resource) factors of growth and development of the Saudi insurance sector and facilitate suggestions. Methodology: The study considers financial data of insurance companies of Saudi Arabia for the period 2013 to 2017for internal analysis while data from 2010 to 2015 for external analysis. Trend indices (chain based index numbers & fixed base index numbers) from financial statements and insurance establishments and human resources of the insurance industry are prepared to know the internal and external factors responsible for growth and development. The averages of trend indices are obtained to get the results of the analysis. Findings: The study finds that there is negativity in operational efficiency. It also finds that the internal liabilities or shareholders’ equities are decreasing continuously. Also, establishments engaged in insurance activities are not enough to cover all prospective customers. Implications: The finding implies that the increase in revenues is not enough. The findings also imply a weak long term paying ability towards this the study recommends further investment in profitable options like securities and avoid excess liquidity and increase insurance penetration. Novelty: This study is one of the few that assesses the performance of the insurance sector of Saudi Arabia. In the process, it performs internal analysis using operational and financial factors; and an external analysis using tangibles and intangibles

A Review of Electrically Conductive Cement Concrete Pavement for Sustainable Snow-Removal and Deicing: Road Safety in Cold Regions

Within cold U.S. regions, winter storms can cause interruptions in transportation networks, affecting transportation entities’ revenue streams. Conventional snow-removal methods on roadways efficiently remove snow and ice, yet their adverse environmental impacts further make winter maintenance more challenging. In response to these concerns, electrically conductive cement concrete (ECCC) pavement has become an effective alternative for deicing and snow melting on road surfaces. ECCC utilizes the Joule heating principles to effectively melt snow and ice by incorporating conductive elements into conventional concrete. This paper comprehensively reviews the current literature on ECCC pavement. Previous studies have diligently explored various aspects of ECCC pavement, including concrete conductivity enhancement, heat transfer processes, and meticulous performance assessments, ranging from controlled laboratory scale experiments to small-scale field evaluations. The conclusions drawn from these investigations highlight the potential of ECCC pavement to considerably enhance winter road maintenance, consequently improving road safety and minimizing traffic interruptions during winter storms. The present review emphasizes ECCC pavement as a promising paradigm for effectively addressing the complexities associated with winter road maintenance in colder regions. Moreover, its environmentally friendly deicing capabilities present a sustainable departure from conventional methodologies. However, certain limitations currently impede widespread adoption of ECCC pavement, mainly concerning optimizing cost-effective construction techniques, ensuring long-lasting durability, and enhancing energy efficiency. Addressing these limitations could accelerate the broader adoption of ECCC pavement, promoting safer and more sustainable winter transportation practices

Towards Sustainability: A New Construction Method for Electrically Heated Rigid Pavement System

Snow and ice damage to U.S. airport pavements, particularly in colder regions, poses an ongoing challenge, resulting in significant annual economic losses. Traditional snow removal methods are often perceived as cost-prohibitive, driving the quest for cost-effective alternatives to mitigate the adverse impacts on pavement sustainability. In response, this research investigates an innovative construction approach utilizing an electrically conductive composite (ECC) comprised of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and graphite (Gp). The ECC is applied to a portland cement concrete (PCC) substrate using the parallel stripe technique, safeguarded by an additional layer of conventional concrete to withstand the friction caused by tires. This study rigorously assesses the resistive heating performance of two types of specimens: exposed and sandwiched under varying conditions. Some critical factors that affect the results include Gp concentrations in ECC preparation, ECC thickness, spacing between ECC stripes, applied voltages, and testing at both room temperature and the challenging -17°C freezing temperature. The ECC with a Gp content of 22.5\% Vol. emerges as the most promising ECC for the sustainable construction of heated pavement systems (HPS). The exposed specimen demonstrates an impressive 19.94°C/hr increase in surface temperature, while the sandwiched specimen shows a substantial 15.46°C/hr increase, representing a promising outcome. The results challenge the conventional HPS practice of modifying pavement materials with embedded heating elements and underscore the potential of a more sustainable construction method. This study provides innovative insights and highlights the feasibility of economically viable, enduring solutions to address winter weather challenges on airport runways. By emphasizing that this construction method can minimize the potential annual costs associated with snow removal from the pavement, this research paves the way for developing more sustainable strategies

Airway management in a patient with bullous pemphigoid

Airway management in patients with pemphigoid lesions has anaesthetic implications. We report a case of a 23 years old female with bullous pemphigoid who presented with laryngeal stenosis and critical airway narrowing. The airway was initially managed with jet ventilation. Anaesthesia was maintained with propofol infusion and ventilation was performed by introducing a size 10 French gauge suction catheter through the stenotic laryngeal orifice. Thirty minutes into anaesthesia, she developed subcutaneous emphysema and decreased air entry on right side of the chest but remained hemodynamically stable. The airway was further managed by tracheostomy. This case report highlights complications that can occur during the anaesthetic management of such cases