Investigating the mechanical and physical properties of wood plastic composites (WPC)

Wood and plastic wastes have been a major environmental concern not only in Egypt but also worldwide. Plastic wastes are classified as recyclable plastic such as bottles and non-recyclable plastic such as plastic bags especially contaminated bags (rejected plastic). Plastic waste is a non biodegradable material calling for an appropriate method of disposal; however, the current approach adopted in Egypt relies mainly on throwing away in dumpsites. Therefore, it is a costless raw material which needs to be invested. In this thesis, the wood waste and the rejected plastic were recycled to produce new useful product; Wood Plastic Composite (WPC), having characteristics similar or close to commercial wood. An innovative, clean, cheap, and effective yet simple technology with different procedures was introduced in this thesis to demonstrate the suitability of wood plastic composites\u27 techniques for developing countries. Testing was done for some important mechanical properties; flexural strength and modulus, and physical properties; water absorption and thickness swelling, which has proven an acceptable final product and promising results; especially regarding the physical test. The design and analysis of experimental work was built on using design of experiments. Special type of experimental designs; design with mixtures, was adopted because it deals with dependent factors; mixture ingredients. Talc was added to the mixture as a mineral additive. The impact of factors (wood waste, plastic waste, and talc) on the physical and mechanical properties of the WPC (flexural strength and modulus, water absorption and thickness swelling) was investigated based on full analysis of variance (ANOVA). It showed that the plastic waste was the most negative affecting factor; this was contributed to the variability in batches produced in addition to the impurities content. Talc resulted in increasing the flexural strength and modulus. Wood with size of up to 0.5mm has proven to affect the flexural modulus response negatively; when increased. A mathematical model and a response surface representing the factors and their responses; that could be used for future forecasting of the properties without performing physical experiments, were obtained for flexural strength and modulus after conducting several trials till reaching the final experimental design within the navigation space. All these trials were based on an algorithm that was introduced to reach the best feasible model and response surface. A completed residual analysis of the model was done in every trial of the algorithm; where every point within the design was analyzed, till reaching the final model. The best possible mix that enhances the flexural strength to the maximum possible was obtained when the talc was close to 30%, plastic waste 50% and wood waste (of particle size up to 1.18mm) and wood waste (particle up to 0.5mm) of average percentages of 10%. For the flexural modulus, best mix values were obtained when talc is close to 35%, plastic waste 40%, and wood waste (particle up to 1.18mm) about 15% and wood waste (particle up to 0.5mm) 10%. A comparison study; using hypothesis testing, between 7 types of commercial wood (plywood, pinewood, beech wood, maple wood, Fiberboard, Medium Density Fiber wood (MDF), and compressed wood) and WPC was conducted to validate the application of the WPC. It showed that the WPC had the lowest water absorption and thickness swelling percentages compared to others (maximum of 1.7%, average of 0.4% and standard deviation of 0.28%); in addition, it showed that WPC flexural strength performs like compressed wood. However, flexural strength and modulus were less regarding other types of wood

Energy management control strategy for renewable energy system based on spotted hyena optimizer

Hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other pollutants from the transportation sector harm human health in many ways. Fuel cell (FC) has been evolving rapidly over the past two decades due to its efficient mechanism to transform the chemical energy in hydrogen-rich compounds into electrical energy. The main drawback of the standalone FC is its slow dynamic response and its inability to supply rapid variations in the load demand. Therefore, adding energy storage systems is necessary. However, to manage and distribute the power-sharing among the hybrid proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC), battery storage (BS), and supercapacitor (SC), an energy management strategy (EMS) is essential. In this research work, an optimal EMS based on a spotted hyena optimizer (SHO) for hybrid PEM fuel cell/BS/SC is proposed. The main goal of an EMS is to improve the performance of hybrid FC/BS/SC and to reduce the amount of hydrogen consumption. To prove the superiority of the SHO method, the obtained results are compared with the chimp optimizer (CO), the artificial ecosystem-based optimizer (AEO), the seagull optimization algorithm (SOA), the sooty tern optimization algorithm (STOA), and the coyote optimization algorithm (COA). Two main metrics are used as a benchmark for the comparison: the minimum consumed hydrogen and the efficiency of the system. The main findings confirm that the minimum amount of hydrogen consumption and maximum efficiency are achieved by the proposed SHO based EMS

Comparison of gene nature used in real-time PCR for porcine identification and quantification: a review

Pork adulteration has been a major concern nowadays for Halal verification. Unintentional pork inclusion by contamination in highly processed food materials involves a minute amount of porcine DNA to be detected, emphasizing the need of specific and sensitive method for porcine detection. Real-time PCR is a widely used technique for species identification that can serve this purpose besides providing a powerful quantification method. Incorporation of a highly sensitive and specific probe can greatly improve the specificity and sensitivity of the assay. However, derivation of PCR primers, either from nuclear DNA (nDNA) or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can relatively affect the sensitivity and specificity of the reaction as well as the quantitative measurement. In this review, both types of DNA are compared in terms of their characteristics and their influence on species identification and quantification using real-time PCR

Ceramide 24 Level in Hepatitis C Virus- Patients and Healthy Persons

Background: There are 170 million people in the globe living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which causes inflammation and hepatic fibrosis in various degrees. A portion of these patients will develop cirrhosis and other end-stage liver disease problems over the course of twenty to forty years. Low levels of serum ceramide 24 (Cer24) are linked to severe liver fibrosis and poor response to antiviral therapy in those with chronic HCV infection. Objective: This study was designed to assess level of ceramide 24 in chronic HCV and normal individuals. Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out as a case control study at Tropical Medicine Department, Clinical Pathology Department in Zagazig University Hospitals and at Viral Hepatitis Treatment Unit in Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital. The study included 60 individuals who were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 30 case and group 2 was 30 healthy subjects as control. All patients were clinically evaluated, had routine laboratory investigations and measurements of circulating levels of ceramide 24. Abdominal ultrasonography was done. Results: Serum ceramide 24 level in HCV patients (cases) is 15.16 ± 6.93 while its level in normal individuals (control) is 65.01 ± 65.84. Conclusion: It was found that serum ceramide 24 level was significantly reduced in case group

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries