Statistical analysis of the equivalent design rainfall

Statistical analyses of rainfall data are used for the design of sewerage systems and pump-stations, for the evaluation of the duration and the frequency of overflow in runoff detention facilities, for the determination of the critical influence on a municipal wastewater-treatment plant or for the protection of watercourses from storm-water runoff (e.g., from highways). The basic data in this calculation are the intensity and the duration of a rainstorm. Different procedures used in the analysis of Equivalent Design Rainfall (EDR) in Slovenia and abroad are described. The stochastic model used is presented in more detail because of its applicability for the determination of the probability of the occurrence of partial rainfalls of higher frequencies and the determination of the lower limit of rainfall evaluation. Computation procedures and the results of the evaluation of rainfall data according to the stochastic model are presented for Ljubljana

Clonidine for neonatal abstinence syndrome: a single neonatology department’s experience

Clonidine has been shown effective in reducing sympathetic hyperactivity in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The aim of this study was to analyze clinical and laboratory characteristics of a group of newborns treated with clonidine for NAS due to maternal drug addiction and due to withdrawal from opioid analgesic therapy. Only one full–term newborn presented with metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia; in others no clinical or laboratory adverse effects were detected. This report emphasizes the importance of alertness to potential adverse effects of clonidine therapy, and discusses possible pathophysiological aspects of hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis during treatment for NAS

Theoretical and experimental foundations for the manufacturing of mechanical insulation foams

This paper deals with the theoretical conditions necessary for the formation of stable mechanical insulation foam. In addition to this it gives concrete proposals for the formation of mechanical foam and its application to surfaces in the field of civil engineering. Mechanical foam is formed relatively easily, provided suitable conditions are present. The insulating character is provided by finely distributed air bubbles in the insulation layer Similar characteristics can be found in various products made of foamed concrete as well as foamed polystyrene, which are not manufactured on site but in manufacturing plants. The main objective is the formation of a porous mechanical foam on the construction site and its application onto construction elements. The foam must be stable enough to be applied to the construction surface and then solidify

Measurement and modelling of process impacts of substrates and filter media to the operation of wastewater treatment plants with fixed biomass

Substrates and filter media are built in wastewater treatment plants in various ways, and can have a high impact on their operation effect. As such, they can either only intensify the treatment processes, or they can act as a main treatment carrier. The specific treatment effects, which can be achieved by substrates or filter media application, were until now rarely exploited in the wastewater treatment plants design. The usual reason for this was insufficient knowledge about these materials as well as the high costs of membrane filtration technology. Especially interesting are those technological solutions that use the biological treatment processes in a combination with various substrates and filter media. This can be also seen from the research results provided in this paper. The relatively easy removal of phosphorus and heavy metals from the wastewater, via suitable substrates, can, for example, take place in the percolators and constructed wetlands. It was found that some substrate types provide much more suitable conditions for the development of bacterial communities than others. If the membrane filter is included into the treatment process, then the treatment efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant can be significantly improved, although its size remains the same. Using these techniques, relatively easy removal of viruses, bacteria, and some heavy metals can also be achieved

ระบบควบคุมแบบไฮบริดโดยอิงแรงและสัญญาณไฟฟ้ากล้ามเนื้อสำหรับหุ่นยนต์ทำกายภาพบำบัด

This paper presents a hybrid control system of rehabilitation robot with force and EMG signals. The proposed control system is implemented on the elbow joint of the 4 DOF universal exoskeleton. Admittance control method is applied to control this rehabilitation robot. However, the transient response of the admittance control cloud lead in a large overshoot when the user moves exoskeleton joint quickly then suddenly stops. Hence, the EMG sensor is used to detect the muscle contraction and then the force input will be set to zero for improving transient response of the hybrid controller. Furthermore, the generalized regression neural network (GRNN) is applied for predicting the static gravity force compensation. The experimental result indicates that the GRNN can predict the static gravity force with accuracy of 97.32%. Moreover, 83.13% of the transient response is improved by the utilization of the EMG signal in the hybrid controller

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution in Goričko Nature Park

This article deals with the impact of diffuse and point sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution on the environment in Goričko Nature Park. The park was divided into three parts: the Ledava, Big Krka (Velika Krka), and Kobilje Creek (Kobiljski potok) basins, which were then compared. The surface waters were monitored and their chemical composition was examined. All three areas are characterized by elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the water. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution results from unregulated manure pits on livestock farms, unregulated sewage systems, and runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds from farmland

Effective pre-treatment of dairy wastewaters\ud

Milk processing effluents typically present a considerable burden to the environemnt. The level of burden can be determined with the use of ATV (Allgemeine Technische Vertragsbedingungen), VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) and BAT (Best Available Techniques) standards, or via operational monitoring. Water emissions from dairy plants are associated with high water pollution costs. In our survey of dairy processing plants, we found water emissions in excess of ATV and BAT standard predictions. As dairy plants are usually connected to public sewer systems with centralized water treatment facilities, the economic viability of installing effective waste water pre-treatment plants is an important issue to examine. In Slovenia, dairy\ud plants pay water pollution fees and contribute to clean-up costs in centralized water treatment plants. This regime is similar to that in many other European countries. A preliminary test of the efficacy of flotation pretreatment\ud plants exhibited sufficient cleaning effects to reduce total anual burden by more than half. This level of cleaning efficiency could greatly lower the cost of water pollution. An investment in installing pretreatment\ud plants under such conditions would likely become cost-effective in a few years