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This study seeks to profile the shoppers' propensity to reuse shopping bags and the type of shopping bags they reuse on the basis of demographics. The study used an observation method to record the consumers' shopping habits and a short questionnaire to record the participants' demographics. A binary regression analysis and a multinomial regression analysis were used to analyse data. The results indicated that the mature aged, women, and low income shoppers were more likely to practice reuse of plastic shopping bags than their respective counterparts. There were no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of young aged shoppers compared to mature aged shoppers and low income shoppers compared to high income shoppers using cotton bags than plastic bags. There were also no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of young aged shoppers compared to mature aged shoppers and male shoppers compared to female shoppers using paper bags than plastic bags. However, the results indicated a statically significant result in how males compared to females differed in their using of cotton bags than plastic bags and a statistically significant result in how low income shoppers compared to high income shoppers differed in their use of paper bags than plastic bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for particleboard has been increasing over the years. Currently, most particleboards are produced from wood which may not be sustainable in the long term. Therefore, there is need of exploring alternative materials such as making particleboards from waste materials. This study investigated the mechanical properties of particleboard consisting of waste leather shavings and waste papers blended together by unsaturated polyester. A single-layered particleboards were manufactured using compression method. Different resin contents (60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) and leather/paper ratios (100:0, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25) were used to determine the effects on the mechanical properties (internal bond, bending strength, compression, and impact strength) of fabricated boards. From the results of this study, it was found that leather shavings and waste papers can be used as alternative raw materials for particleboard production and that mechanical properties were depended on the resin content and the blend ratio. Also, mechanical properties were reduced with resin content increment, except for impact strength, and improved by high paper blend ratio. It could be concluded that the produced particle panels could be used for indoor application or interior equipping. Additionally, it is recommended that further studies can be done on morphological analysis to establish the bonding between the particles and matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of fiber properties during recycling processes, especially the loss of tensile strength, raises concerns that paper products made from recycled fibers might not satisfy quality requirements. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the deterioration of tensile strength and the damage in paper sheets made of recycled fibers using the theory of damage mechanics and machine learning methods. Experiments were carried out to recycle wood fibers and nonwood fibers four times, and the physicochemical properties of the handsheets made from these fibers were measured after each recycling. Water retention value and relative bonded area were selected as the features to estimate and predict tensile strength during recycling because they had strong correlations with tensile strength. This paper proposed a damage index to quantitatively express the severity of the damage in paper sheets based on the experimental investigation and the theory of damage mechanics. Thus, the deterioration of tensile strength could be estimated and predicted. To determine the damage index, a curve fitting model based on the hyperbolic theory of pulp properties was developed. The proposed quantitative expression of the damage index is: D = (Ds - h)²/a2 - (Dh - k)²/b2, where the coefficients were determined through the curve fitting model. This paper also developed a long short-term memory recurrent neural network model to determine the damage index according to the sequence of recycling. Both models were trained with the experimental data of water retention value and relative bonded area. The estimation and prediction by the curve fitting model were more accurate than those of the neural network model. The root mean square errors by the curve fitting model were 0.0278 for estimation, 0.1667 for prediction; and by the neural network model were 0.2445 for estimation, 0.2206 for prediction, respectively. After the damage index was determined, the deterioration of tensile strength then could be calculated as T = T0 (1-D). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of concrete with waste paper ash (WPA) as cement replacing material. The chemical composition of WPA was reported, and Portland cement was partially replaced with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of WPA to explore its effect on both fresh and hardened properties of C—25 concrete. The result of this study indicated that the chemical compositions of WPA were not classified as Pozzolanic material. Setting times of blended cement paste with WPA were lengthened and its consistency was also increased. The cement paste with replacement up to 10% showed a normal consistency within the standard range. The workability of concrete was tested immediately after preparing the concrete mix, whereas the compressive strength was tested after 7 and 28 days of curing. The results indicated that the workability of concrete containing WPA decreases as the WPA content increases. This study also revealed that there is a significant improvement in the compressive strength of concrete. Replacement of ordinary Portland cement by WPA up to 10% results in better compressive strength than that of the control mix. An improvement of 5.6% & 1.2% was observed, respectively, when compared with the 28-day compressive strength of the control mix. But the compressive strength decreases as the WPA replacement increases over 10%. Maximum compressive strength of 37.89 MPa was obtained for concrete containing 5% of WPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a bid to develop a cheaper alternative material for particleboard, fiber/particulate reinforced cement-paper composites were produced. The paper-cement matrix had 12 wt. % of cement and the matrix was reinforced with 10 wt. % fixed amount of coconut shell powder and varied amount of palm kernel fiber (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 wt. %). Two separate groups of samples were produced; one containing untreated fiber (UPKF), in varied proportions of 0–2.5 wt. % and the second containing alkaline-treated fiber (TPKF), in varied proportion of 0–2.5 wt. % fiber. Samples produced were cured for 28 and 49 days and examined for physical, mechanical, and thermal properties as well as microstructural features. The result obtained revealed improvement in properties of samples as fiber proportion increased. Comparison of the properties obtained indicates that alkaline-treated samples gave a better performance than the untreated counterparts, which was reflected in the sum of property ratio for each mix. The value for TPKF samples was higher than the value for UPKF samples. Also, samples cured for 49 days had better performance than the ones cured for 28 days for both UPKF and TPKF. Evaluation of the three experimental variables, fiber addition, alkaline treatment, and curing length proved that curing was more effective in enhancing the properties of the composites developed, especially the mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intent of the present research work is to explore the prospect of replacing natural soil used in brick making by some extent with industrial waste, that is, lime mud, as obtained from paper mill waste. Extensive adoption of this mill waste as a brick making material will deter the environmental effects of this waste disposal. Moreover, its adoption will not only solve the problem of stocked waste piles but also scale down the usage of natural soil as a brick making material. In consideration of the central intend of this study to utilize industrial waste as an alternate raw material, yet another industrial waste—fly ash, has also been blended to the mix to manufacture unburnt bricks, such that, it may produce cementitious compounds with lime mud. So, the materials used for brick making in this study are: lime mud, collected from the dumping site of M/s Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited, Jagiroad, Assam, India; soil, collected from a brick manufacturing unit also near Jagiroad; and fly ash, collected from National Thermal Power Station, Badarpur, Delhi, India. The materials have been characterized with respect to their chemical and geotechnical properties. Then, experiments have been conducted on hand-moulded bricks of aforementioned mix in distinct proportions. In this study, all the bricks have been dried in the natural condition and then tested for compressive strength conforming to International standards. It has been duly noted that none of the treated unburnt bricks satisfies the requirements of standard codes. Nonetheless, in case of burnt bricks, the compressive strength satisfies the requirements of International standard codes wherein lime mud has been added up to a certain percentage (=20%) in soil-lime mud mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete, a widely used building material, should minimize its environmental impact to align with the construction sector's Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers worldwide are investigating the possibility of e-waste in building materials incorporating various recyclable elements. This paper conducts a thorough review of research on e-waste as a building material. Various E-waste products are used as fine and coarse aggregate replacements in concrete. The study uses a bibliographic approach with the Scopus database to delve into the literature discussing E-waste in construction materials from 2007 to 2022. Data are extracted specifically from Scopus, which identifies 731 papers based on the keyword "Electronic waste used as building materials". The second step involves scientometric analysis, which focuses on patterns within the articles, such as the most prolific countries, sources, frequently used keywords, and reports containing relevant research. Each research phase contains a summary of the results obtained at various stages. Detailed quantitative and qualitative discussions are also conducted to achieve the three primary goals: a summary of quantitative data, a discussion of the existing application, and identifying future research directions. These findings will be useful for subsequent academic studies on transforming e-waste into building materials. The scientometric review provides a path for researchers from various countries to share new ideas and information while encouraging research collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide a model that combines reconfiguration with Unit Commitment (UC) and analytically examine Storage Capacity Increment Effects (SCIEs) in Micro-Grid (MG) operation. The case study includes batteries as the storage system and a conventional 10-bus MG with Wind Turbine (WT) and Micro-Turbines (MTs) as energy sources. The load demand and energy estimation of the Wind Unit (WU) with respect to wind speed changes are considered uncertain parameters. Additionally, a newly introduced algorithm and an objective function based on MG's day-ahead benefit are employed to tackle the problem. According to Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), a few scenarios are created for modeling uncertainties, and the MG's optimal operation is examined under these situations. This study is based on two cases: the first examines the MG's scheme with just one battery, and the second investigate SCIEs. This paper seeks to maximize MG's benefit and optimize power exchange with increasing storage capacity. The statistical analysis results show that the proposed strategy can offer more cost-effectiveness, reliability, and power quality, though challenges remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new variant of the Bees Algorithm (BA) called Bees Algorithm with 2-parameter (BA2), which is a population-based metaheuristic algorithm designed to solve continuous and combinatorial optimisation problems. The proposed algorithm simplified the BA's parameters by combining exploration and exploitation strategies while preserving the algorithm's core principles to efficiently search for optimal solutions. The paper provides a detailed description of the algorithm's core principles and its application to two engineering problems, the air-cooling system design (ACSD) and the printed circuit board assembly sequence optimisation (PASO). The results show that BA2 outperforms previous versions of the basic BA in terms of convergence speed and solution quality. However, the authors acknowledge that further research is needed to test the scalability and generalisability of the algorithm to larger and more diverse optimisation problems. Overall, this paper provides valuable insights into the potential of metaheuristics for solving real-world optimisation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design of a novel trajectory tracking control strategy and the development of a mathematical model for a non-holonomic differential-drive wheeled mobile robot. The proposed control system utilizes a dual-loop approach, where the inner loop controls the dynamics by employing Adaptive Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control (AFSMC), and the outer loop, handles kinematics by utilizing an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System ;(ANFIS). The ANFIS is employed to minimize the error between the actual and desired velocities, providing a desired input for the inner loop. Meanwhile, the AFSMC is used to effectively control the system dynamics. The use of these dual-loop controllers considerably improves the system's overall efficiency. The inner controller compensates for dynamic disturbances, while the outer controller manages velocity errors. We integrate the actuator dynamics and the chopper effect of the wheels in the dynamics modeling, which helps to increase the models accuracy. MATLAB was used to implement the controller, while circular and eight-shaped trajectories were generated to assess the performance of the proposed controller. In addition, a comparative analysis of different controllers such as PID, SMC, AFSMC, and AFSMC with ANFIS was presented. The simulations were conducted under uncertainties, and the proposed controller is better than other controllers at tracking desired trajectories. The Lyapunov stability analysis is employed to verify the stability of the proposed controller. This paper shows that the proposed dual-loop controller is stable and more robust to internal parameter variation and external disturbance for the examined system. In general, the AFSMC with ANFIS is superior in trajectory tracking for the examined system compared to other controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the field of cybersecurity. The paper illuminates key applications of AI and ML in cybersecurity, while also addressing existing challenges and posing unresolved questions for future research. The paper also emphasizes the ethical and legal implications associated with their implementation. The researchers conducted a thorough survey by reviewing numerous papers and articles from respected sources such as IEEE, ACM, and Springer. Their focus centered on the latest AI and ML breakthroughs in cybersecurity, while also exploring current challenges and open research questions. The results indicate that integrating AI and ML into cybersecurity systems shows great potential for future research and development. Intrusion detection and response, malware detection, and network security are among the most promising applications identified. According to the survey, 45% of organizations have already implemented AI and ML in their cybersecurity systems, while an additional 35% plan to do so. However, 20% of organizations believe that it is not yet the right time for adopting these technologies. Overall, this paper serves as a reliable reference for researchers and practitioners in the field of cybersecurity, offering a comprehensive overview of the use of AI and ML. It not only highlights the potential applications but also addresses the challenges and research gaps. Additionally, the paper raises awareness about the ethical and legal considerations associated with leveraging AI and ML in the cybersecurity domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the uses of particle board is in the design of speaker/woofer casing, but with increasing demand, the cost is skyrocketing, effects of which lead to the high cost of end-use woofer gadgets. Cement–paper composite reinforced with snail shell powder/banana fiber was developed as an alternative. The fiber was grouped into two; untreated banana fiber (UBF) and treated banana fiber (TBF) (treated with 1 M NaOH). Fibers were infused into the composite at 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% by weight of paper pulp while snail shell powder was added at 15 wt.% constant proportion for all samples produced. Curing was carried out for 28 and 56 days, respectively. The composite boards produced were examined for physical, mechanical, and microstructural properties. Results obtained indicated an uptrend in water absorption and thickness swelling at increasing fiber loading. Internal bond strength, screw holding strength, moduli of rupture, and elasticity were observed to be enhanced with increment in fiber proportion. It was further noticed that alkaline TBF performed better than the untreated fiber, hence recommended for paperboard production. Experimental trend and performance analysis engaged in revealed hydration to be the most efficient experimental variable and important for overall property maximization in cement–paper composite. Performance evaluation conducted showed effective property index was noticed to be highest for composite board doped with 2.5 wt.% TBF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the generations in Bangladesh power system are based on fossil fuels which is 99% of its total generation. Following other countries, Bangladesh is also planning to adopt renewable energy system (RES). It has a plan to incorporate 55 MW wind turbine generator (WT) and 100 MW solar photovoltaic generator (PV) in Western grid of its power system. Though RES is green energy but from stability aspect it needs to be studied as RES has limitations in generating reactive power and maintaining inertia. So, voltage stability and rotor angle stability should be given more attention. However, if any stability problem arises, flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices can be adopted. With a tuned power oscillation damper, FACTS can reduce the expected rotor angle and voltage stability problem which are associated with RES. This paper examines the stability of the Western grid with the incorporation of hybrid energy of both wind and solar power and shows the positive effect of FACTS devices like thyristor controlled series compensator and static synchronous compensator with respective tuned controller. In present paper, the combination of WT and PV is also examined which shows only incorporation of WT reduces both the steady and dynamic stability more than the only adoption of PV. Inclusion of both WT and PV, reduce the both types of stability more than their individual inclusion. This paper shows that FACTS can improve the stability with individual or both kinds of RES penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception in the early 1970s by Daniel Gurney, the Gurney flaps have proven to be an effective means of enhancing the aerodynamic performance of an airfoil. Current applications of Gurney flaps include wind turbine blades, race car spoilers, helicopter rotors, and certain high-lift devices. This study compares the influence of Gurney flaps on flow characteristics and the effects of design parameters of the flap, namely the length and position of the flap on a NACA 23,112 airfoil. A review of the studies conducted so far has shown that studies have been carried out on a select few airfoils only and mainly studied the effects of variation of only one of the characteristics, like length, position, or angle. This paper has been crried out to find the optimum balance between these design parameters. Additionally, this paper aims to investigate the accuracy and feasibility of numerical investigation methods to estimate the aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils and wings compared to conventional techniques like wind tunnel testing. This cost-effective computation method is less susceptible to external factors like weather changes. The CFD process also allows testing at conditions that might otherwise be impractical to test in wind tunnels. The workflow comprised a review of literature, validation of solver settings, preparation and testing of the model, extraction of results and analysis of results. Autodesk Fusion360 and Ansys Workbench 22R1 were used to make and test the models. The airfoil designs were tested at Re = 2 × 106, at angles of attack varying from 0° to 15°. The GF height ranged from 1% to 3% chord and placed at 95% to 100% chord. A reliable methodology has been arrived at and validated by implementing the best practices prescribed for CFD. The k-ω SST turbulence model, along with second-order spatial discretization, was used. Coefficients of lift and drag were considered the study parameters. Gurney flaps were found to increase the performance of the airfoil, and better results were obtained at higher angles of attack. The modified designs noted the separation point further downstream than the baseline model. Overall, the presence of Gurney flaps proved beneficial over the baseline model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a mathematical model approach to predict the Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) of concrete. This paper presents the formulation, calibration, evaluation, and validation of the proposed UPV model. An experimental program was developed to calibrate and evaluate the proposed model. Furthermore, the model was validated using a separate group of measurements in the experimental program, to test its accuracy and generalization capability. Analysis of the results reveals that the proposed model provides a good fit to the experimental data and does not contain outliers or discerning pattern. The corresponding standard error and determination coefficient are 45 m/s and 0.92, respectively. Model validation demonstrates high predictability and generalization capability. The corresponding standard error and determination coefficient are 74 m/s and 0.91, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although corporations have been propelled to adapt eco-innovation strategies including decent work practices, responsible consumption and production, and transition from linear economy to circular economy model to integrate natural ecosystems, businesses, and waste management, inversely, the actual impact of the circular economy implementation (CEI) in Ghana is yet to be felt. This paper aims to analyse the implications of corporate green culture (CGC) on CEI behaviour, and to design a model that explains the mediating roles of environmental innovativeness (EI) and green intellectual capital (GIC) on the relation between CGC and CEI behaviour from the perspective of a lower resource economy context. Our paper is positioned on positivists' reasoning and quantitative research approach. A survey-based structured questionnaire has been used to collect data from 300 manufacturing firms in Ghana. Our hypotheses have been tested with the aid of SMART-PLS and structural equation modelling. The indicative results have shown that CGC positively affect CEI behaviour. Moreover, EI and GIC have significant and positive effects on CEI behaviour, Besides, GIC serves as a medium through which CGC indirectly impacts on CEI behaviour. The implications of the study include the emergence of baseline model to encourage CEI behaviour in Ghana and other Sub-Saharan African countries. The paper recommends that the newly developed model be used by practitioners to explain coordinated economic, ecological and social development, and restore ecological environment. Policymakers are encouraged to facilitate the reinforcement of environmental policies and subsequent realization of Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most common and simple technique to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases can be detected effectively if ECG signals are monitored for a long time, producing innovative clinical outcomes to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. Due to skin irritation and degradation of signal quality with time, traditional wet electrodes are unsuitable for long-term ECG monitoring. Researchers are trying to fabricate flexible, wearable, highly conductive and lightweight ECG sensors, which can be applied for long-term monitoring of ECG signals and the detection of several cardiovascular diseases. Graphene is used for fabricating dry ECG electrodes because it exhibits robust mechanical flexibility, good environmental stability and excellent carrier mobility. This review paper presents the progress of various fabrication methods to make graphene-based ECG electrodes and provides the researcher's clarification on recent advancements and direction in this domain. This paper focuses on a systematic review and comparative study of various fabrication methods of graphene-based ECG electrodes, such as screen printing, dip coating, drop casting, wet transfer, electrospinning, wet transfer and dry patterning, spin coating, spray coating, inkjet printing etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to develop mitigation techniques for the implications that affect the city planning sectors in Egypt during COVID-19, which will guide urban planners and policymakers to enhance Egyptian citizen life during pandemics. A statistical thematic methodology was adopted by the research. The research method divided into three phases. The first phase considers the attitude of Egyptian citizens toward the global pandemic through conducting surveys. These surveys discuss the global effects of the pandemic and if these effects are felt in the Egyptian context or not. The second phase targets the citizen that disagree with the global effects as a result of the phase one survey through structured interviews. These interviews concluded the reasons behind the disagreement of the surveys in phase one as well as the effects that they personally suffer from during the pandemic. The third phase targets the policymakers and planners inside Egypt and their perspectives on the suitable mitigation techniques that can be implemented in the Egyptian context. This will finally lead to suggesting a set of mitigation techniques suitable for Egyptian cities. The research paper identified through a review of literature the mostly affected city planning sectors during COVID-19 which were 6 sectors. In addition, 25 global mitigation measures were identified through the literature. Results of the Surveys and structured interviews confirmed that the most affected sectors are transport & land use, housing, and ICT respectively. Findings of data analysis showed that 10 extra mitigation measures were encountered to better enhance the Egyptian cities. These findings help planners and policy makers to plan cities that can cope with future pandemics. This research presents mitigation techniques for the implications that affect the city planning sectors in Egypt during COVID-19. It was based on research from case studies, a literature review, and a survey questionnaire. The mitigation techniques developed in a practical procedure where the goals of the research; required activities; techniques, and tools; elaborated the citizen needs and outputs. The mitigation techniques was authenticated by 24 of the Egyptian professionals' planners and policy makers to ensure its viability and practicability for implementation. The research categorized and examined the global effects that changed the quality of life during pandemics. Moreover, real life case study authenticated the global effects and explored the most successful mitigation countermeasures that suites the Egyptian context. The study focused on a subject that has recently attracted interest on a global scale. In addition, this paper developed 10 extra mitigation measures to better enhance the Egyptian cities and other developing countries of similar context. It represents a novel contribution that planners and policy makers can employ in similar context to the Egyptian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify and select an appropriate business model for the utilization of maize shelling technologies in small-scale farming practices. Though a very old practice, agriculture is still the central activity of the entire globe due the reason that it directly or indirectly affects the livelihood of the inhabitants. West Gojjam zone of the Amhara National Regional State (ANRS) in Ethiopia is among the known maize producing zones in Country for both consumption and as a cash crop. But, the problem is the high wastage of production due to post-harvest losses (PHL) due to mechanical shelling practices. Aiming to solve this PHL of maize production, at the shelling stage, assessments and discussion with the maize growing farmers and experts concerned were conducted. This paper tries to present an appropriate business model for enabling local small holder farmers get access to different maize shelling technologies. The research follows a survey-type design which provides both a quantitative and a qualitative description of operational and business variables, attitudes, or opinions of a population in the target area, and overall insight of the technology market. The current data shows that rental maize shelling service is feasible for the fragmented maize production of the West Gojjam zone, in the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia. Hence, a generic conceptual model has been developed based on the feedbacks of local smallholder farmers, agricultural agents, service providers and suppliers. This model shows how to select and make available appropriate maize shelling technologies that will fit the actual demand at household level. It also shows a rent-to-own approach of maize shelling service that will help the unemployed youth in the localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although collaborative decision-making with multiple stakeholders in supply chain has become an important research issue in recent years, current research on the mechanism/process, methods, and performance assessment of collaborative decision-making still lags behind the practical needs in supply chain management. This paper reviews the existing literature in the past decade on collaborative supply chain from the perspective of decision-making in four stages with a causal framework. This paper reveals a general retrospect of the main subjects developed and investigated with related applications of cases, which includes both theoretical assumptions and practical data. The findings indicate that most articles in this field are based on a direct relationship between collaboration and performance improvement but lack of a mechanism between them. Additionally, dynamic collaboration with members in the whole supply chain both horizontally and vertically has not been conducted by previous studies. This paper provides a new conceptual framework and future research directions for further study in supply chain collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a profound transformation in the educational landscape in recent months. Educators worldwide have been challenged to tackle academic issues they could never have imagined. Among the most stressful situations faced by students and teachers is implementing online assessments. This paper proposes a system that includes exam prototypes for computer architecture modules at the higher education level. This system generates a wide range of questions and variations on the server side, supported by a set of simulators, resulting in many unique examination proposals. This system streamlines the monitoring process for the teacher, as it eliminates the possibility of two students receiving similar exams and reduces student stress by allowing them to practice with a limitless number of exam samples. This paper also highlights several indicators that demonstrate the advantages of this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting source code vulnerabilities is an essential issue today. In this paper, to improve the efficiency of detecting vulnerabilities in software written in C/C++, we propose to use a combination of Deep Graph Convolutional Neural Network (DGCNN) and code property graph (CPG). Specifically, 3 main proposed phases in the research method include: phase 1: building feature profiles of source code. At this step, we suggest using analysis techniques such as Word2vec, one hot encoding to standardize and analyze the source code; phase 2: extracting features of source code based on feature profiles. Accordingly, at this phase, we propose to use Deep Graph Convolutional Neural Network (DGCNN) model to analyze and extract features of the source code; phase 3: classifying source code based on the features extracted in phase 2 to find normal source code and source code containing security vulnerabilities. Some scenarios for comparing and evaluating the proposed method in this study compared with other approaches we have taken show the superior effectiveness of our approach. Besides, this result proves that our method in this paper is not only correct and reasonable, but it also opens up a new approach to the task of detecting source code vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a validation framework to guide future validation practitioners towards completing utility validation projects in small and medium enterprise successfully and in shorter duration compared to current practice. Design/methodology/approach: Literature review was carried out on various existing validation frameworks to analyse the positive and negative elements of the frameworks. The identified positive key elements from this analysis were incorporated to develop a comprehensive validation framework that can be used by future validation practitioners to validate utility system in manufacturing companies. Findings: The case study results proved the capability and effectiveness of the new framework as the validation of the reverse osmosis water system was completed successfully with proper documentation and within shorter period compared to previous validation projects in the case study company. Research limitations/implications: The proposed validation framework is well suited for use in small and medium enterprise companies. Further studies should be carried out to ascertain the effect of the framework. Originality/value: This paper provides a comprehensive validation framework that can guide future validation practitioners towards completing validation projects in small and medium enterprise companies successfully and in shorter period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising use of electric mobility has weakened the relationship between wholesale energy prices and price-responsive demand such as charging Electric vehicles (EV). This adversely affects network flows. The situation can further worsen, causing congestion in the distribution network and a rise in energy prices. In this paper, an attempt is made to resolve this issue through Distributed generators (DGs) placed in a grid-connected microgrid. The authors propose a methodology based on "Distribution Locational Marginal pricing (DLMP)" and the use of "Hybrid optimal Firefly Particle Swarm Optimization" with "TOPSIS" (HFPSO-TOPSIS) approach for optimal DG sizing in this methodology. The methodology consists of two stages. The first stage is locating DGs on the bus, and the second stage is sizing DGs and their participation in providing ancillary service of congestion management through a grid-connected microgrid. The method is tested on a "modified IEEE 33 bus radial active distribution system". Two different system conditions in which congestion can occur are analyzed and congestion is successfully removed by this proposed method. Power Loss reduction of more than 75% is achieved in each case after the implementation of the proposed methodology. Minimization of voltage deviation and maximization of voltage stability is achieved. The generation cost is minimized by almost 70%. The results obtained show better performance of HFPSO-TOPSIS as compared with other existing techniques. The results obtained exhibit that the methodology is generic and can be implemented for any congestion condition and can successfully remove congestion with improvement in system performance bringing social welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and development concerning the electrification of the easily affordable two-wheel vehicle segments operating at low power capacity are significant for a highly populated country like India to attain sustainable transportation. Hence, a novel approach is proposed in this paper focussing on the investigation of bi-directional quasi-Z source inverter (BD-qZSI) using a modified shoot through hysteresis current control (STHCC) loop for brushless direct current (BLDC)-motor-based low power electric vehicle (EV) applications to address this issue. The practical vehicle dynamics, without the computational burden of the complete drive cycle. are suitably established in this research work by achieving different speed and torque conditions with the inclusion of five different modes of operations consisting of three motoring modes (eco, coast, and wrap) and two regenerative braking modes (soft regen and hard regen). The combination of the closed loop speed control of BLDC motor involving PI control in cascade with modified STHCC for the operation of BD-qZSI is analysed in MATLAB/Simulink environement. The performance of the bidirectional power transfer in a single stage including regenerative braking is examined. The results confirm the validity of the proposed system for low-power EV applications. The modified STHCC is easy to implement with quick response compared to other control methods. The performance of single stage BD-qZSI is superior to the conventional two stage converter topologies and to that of Z source inverters. The commutation ripple observed in the torque profile is insignificant in low-power BLDC drive applications. The overall drivetrain efficiency of 84.82% is achieved at rated load condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a tractable Kumaraswamy Bell exponential (KwBE) distribution as a submodel of the Kumaraswamy Bell-G family of distributions. Several well-established properties are obtained for the KwBE distribution, such as the linear functional representation, $r$ r th moment, incomplete moment, moment generating function using Wright generalized hyper-geometric function, conditional moment and Réyni entropy. Based on the KwBE model, a group acceptance sampling plan (GASP) for the truncated life test is presented using median life as a quality index. Moreover, the essential design parameters are derived by defining the consumer risk and the test termination duration. The comparative study of GASP with ordinary sampling plan (OSP) is performed. A simulation study is performed to highlight the behavior of the estimates. On the inferential side, the associated parameters are estimated using a well-established maximum likelihood estimation method. The detailed model's comparison analysis, graphical as well as numerical evidence to real-data applications, supports the theoretical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastomers are the class of materials that are widely used in a variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications due to their unique mechanical properties, including high elasticity, high flexibility, and high resilience. However, there are many challenges in machining of elastomers such as poor surface finish, build up of heat, degradation of elastomers, etc. To overcome these challenges, cryogenic cooling assistance has been introduced as a means of improving the machinability of elastomers. This paper presents a soft computing approach for optimizing the surface roughness and cutting force during turning of elastomers under different lubrication conditions. Three types of elastomers, namely Nitrile Rubber (NBR), Polyurethane Rubber (PU), and Neoprene Rubber (CR), are studied, and a cryogenic fluid delivery system is employed to improve the machining process. Taguchi's L27 array is used to vary the input parameters, and a Back-Propagation Artificial Neural Network (BPANN) model is developed to predict the cutting force and surface roughness. The cutting force and surface roughness are analyzed under different cooling conditions, cutting speeds, feeds, and depths of cut for various elastomers. The results show that changes in cutting conditions significantly affect the cutting force and that the type of lubrication used affects the cutting force by altering the material's physical properties. Cutting force is significantly influenced by cutting conditions, and NBR requires the highest cutting force compared to PU and CR. Further, at a cutting speed of 55 m/min, a feed of 0.11 mm/rev, and a depth of cut of 0.25 mm, the cutting force for NBR (85.1 N), while for PU (75.1 N) and CR (80.3 N), respectively. Finally, with LN2 lubrication conditions, the Cutting Force decreased by 45% and Surface Roughness decreased by 16.9%. This study provides insights into the factors affecting the elastomer machining process, which can be useful for optimizing the machining process parameters and improving machining efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a highly efficient approach for progressive image secret sharing through the Discrete Hartley Transform (DHT), offering distinct advantages over existing methods. Leveraging DHT in the color domain, our approach achieves progressive sharing of color images while maintaining robustness and minimal visual impact. By optimizing quantization table selection, our method focuses on maximizing image recovery fidelity. Our extensive experiments showcase the efficacy of our proposed method, highlighting its potential for secure image sharing and superior image quality enabled by the real-number DHT transformation. Notably, our approach demonstrates strong security robustness and high-quality image reconstruction through histogram analysis. Objective assessment values of $88.106$ 88.106 (PSNR), $0.884$ 0.884 (NCC), $0.095$ 0.095 (NAE), and $0.895$ 0.895 (SSIM) underscore the superiority of our method. These results, coupled with its unique contributions and key factors, position our work as a promising solution in the field of image security and distribution, motivating further exploration and inspiring related research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses about process input optimization to obtain desired output characteristics such as Surface Roughness (microns), Thrust Force (N) and Torque (N-m) during drilling of AISI 316 L Stainless Steel under minimum quantity formulated neem oil lubrication condition based on Taguchi Design of Experiments (TDOE), Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Desirability Functional Analysis (DFA) by varying flow rate (ml.min−1), stand-off distance (mm), flow pressure (Bar) and nozzle exit diameter (mm). Formulated Neem Oil possesses natural lubricating properties that reduce friction and heat generation, thus prolonging the tool life and improving surface finish. Additionally, it is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, making it a sustainable choice for machining operations. From the experimental investigation using TDOE, it was observed that there was considerable improvement in thrust force, surface roughness and torque with modified neem oil as a lubricant. Further, plot for main effects and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) are successfully used to identify the optimum process input parameters and their percentage of contribution (P%) on output parameters. RSM is successfully used to generate a second order mathematical model which can be effectively used to analyze the process parameters. Further, from Desirability Functional Analysis (DFA), minimum surface roughness (0.34 microns), thrust force (1292.37 N) and torque (14.71 N-m) value were predicted. Finally, Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network (BPANN) analysis has been adopted to predict the surface roughness, thrust force and torque with a minimal error of 1.46%, 0.017% & 0.17%, respectively. The adoption of Neem oil formulations has been successful in improving machining characteristics. Its versatility across an array of machining processes and materials, in tandem with the global momentum toward greener manufacturing paradigms, positions it as a promising lubricant for various machining practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread availability of cheap, mass-produced balloons puts a strain on the financial and manufacturing capacities of most aerial interception systems. In the past, high-altitude guided balloons that were between 65,000 ft (19.812 m) and 95,000 ft (27.432 m) in the air have been destroyed successfully by modifying bombers and airplanes to use a high-power laser system. High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with laser systems are also on the market. Nevertheless, the cost to produce and maintain these systems is extremely high. A very cost-effective alternative is to create a mini—Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Interceptor (UAVI) that can intercept and bring down a balloon at a height of 65,000 ft (19.812 m) and has a Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) under 100 kg. To enable mass production, the UAVI should make use of readily available components and a simplified carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) structure. The vehicle also has a commercial microjet engine with an appropriate air intake and nozzle. This paper introduces the design of a cost effective UAVI to minimize the cost this analysis starts from existing, off-the-shelf Radio Commanded (RC) models. An ad-hoc design was then compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation based on FLUENT software was performed to analyze the flow and heat transfer of the accident pipeline network in the water hammer burst accident of a thermal power plant in Jiangsu Province, China. Furthermore, the CFD simulation is also performed on the modified pipeline network to verify the effect of pipe network modification. The simulation results from the original accident pipeline show that in the accident pipeline, the steam velocity can reach up to 50 m/s due to the aggregation of liquid water. And when the high-velocity steam strikes the pipe elbow, it will lead to a sharp pressure change and cause the burst accident finally. Then it can be concluded that in the modified pipeline network, the distribution of temperature, pressure, and velocity at the pipe burst place is more uniform and reasonable. In addition, the simulation is also used to analyze the variable working conditions, which ensures that the new design of the pipe network can be used in more complex conditions. The paper is expected to guide the design of other similar pipelines and ensure the safe production and operation of thermal power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the work done on science and technology of aircraft seat ejection with history, present, and futuristic interest. It is topic of interest that is receiving significant attention in the recent years due to importance of the pilot life saving during war, mishaps, and emergencies. In the early days, the ejection seats used the concept of compressed air and simple mechanical springs. The escape of the aircrew from high-speed aircraft is a serious drawback during World War (WW) II. The jumping out of aeronauts from high-speed aircraft is extremely difficult because of high blast wind pressure, turbulence around the exposed cockpit, and accelerations during the aircraft maneuvers. All these systems are dangerous and damage to the vertebra column of an aviator. As the speed of the aircraft is low, the pilot has to jump out with his parachute. However, as the speed of the aircraft increases, jumping out from the disabled aircraft with the parachute is merely a matter of luck and does not guarantee the aeronaut’s survival. Therefore, it is highly essential to use an ejection seat when damage is caused due to either the fighter or trainer plane. The ejection of the pilot is of utmost importance to the services. Hence, the lives of the pilots are crucial than saving military planes. Safeguarding the pilots from disabled aircraft plays a significant role in services such as Indian Air Force and Indian Navy since their introduction. Different policies and regulations are enforced to ensure the survival and safety of pilots. These are considered an essential area in the safety programs. Security and safety are always threat to the pilots. The novelty of this research paper is to bring about the historical developmental concepts to advanced concepts through science and technologyelated aircraft seat ejection. This paper is based on oration presented by the author on the occasion of National Science Day in Feb 2021. Therefore, an attempt is also made to highlight the important contributions made by various scientists, researchers in the frontier areas related to science and technology of ejection seat for military fighter aircraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional highway design approaches have primarily focused on the use of guidelines in the design of highways. These design guidelines provide nominal safety where conservative percentile values of the design inputs are used to account for the uncertainty associated with the inputs. Reliability-based analysis (RBA) been one of the elements of reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) has been identified as an effective method to account for the uncertainty in the design input and to assess the risk related to a particular design. RBA approaches have effectively been used for certain purposes in other disciplines. In highway geometric design literature, these methods were also investigated and showed promise. Given the compelling importance of RBA in highway design, this paper provides a systematic analysis and evaluation of RBA applications for ten highway geometric elements: stopping sight distance, passing sight distance, intersection sight distance, horizontal curve design, vertical curve design, number of freeway lanes, highway grade length, truck escape ramp, and design guide calibration. The review consists of four parts: the concept of RAMS, background on reliability theories, applications in highway geometric design, and guidelines for the use of reliability analysis. The literature review revealed that the application of reliability-based analysis in highway geometric design leads to significant improvements in traffic safety. It is our hope that this paper will serve as a source of information on RBA for highway designers and practitioners, promoting its development and application in highway geometric design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the development of modern vehicles is primarily intended for electronics, control systems, artificial intelligence and electromobility. There is an increasing number of information interactions between the vehicles, the vehicle and the transport infrastructure, the vehicle and its manufacturer or service point, the vehicle and rescue system, the vehicle and critical information systems managed by the government or third parties. This communication is associated with the quality of data in the information systems involved in the communication, especially in terms of unique vehicle identification worldwide using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The paper describes the analysis in which an average error rate of 8% was found in this key identifier in various governmental information systems. Incorrect vehicle identification can have a major impact on the speed and quality of the intervention of the components of the integrated system in a crashed vehicle and thus directly endanger human health or life. The paper, based on statistically oriented research, analyzes the causes of the error and proposes, describes ways to ensure the accuracy of the VIN identifier for vehicles in various information systems, especially for the purposes of security and rescue services, which belong to critical infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criminal networks continue to utilize the global financial system to launder their proceeds of crime, despite the broad enactment of anti-money laundering (aml) laws and regulations in many countries. Money laundering consumes capital resources and the tax revenue needed to fund infrastructure development and alleviate poverty in developing market economies. This paper, therefore, expands on the tools available for enabling privacy-preserving data mining in multidimensional datasets to combat cross-border money laundering. Most importantly, this paper develops a novel measure for detecting anomalies in cross-border financial networks, allowing financial institutions and regulatory organizations to identify suspicious nodes. The research used a sample dataset comprising international financial transactions and a hypothetical dataset to demonstrate the measure of node importance and the symmetric-key encryption algorithm. The results support the argument that the proposed network measure can detect node anomalies in the cross-border financial flows network, enabling regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies to investigate financial transactions for suspicious activity and criminal conduct. The encryption algorithm can ensure adherence to information privacy laws and policies without compromising data reusability. Hence, the proposed methodology can improve the proactive management of money laundering risks associated with cross-border fund flows for the global financial system’s benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of recycled aggregates concrete (RAC) contributes effectively to reduce CO2 emissions from concrete manufacturing process while also protecting natural resources by utilizing existing available concrete as an aggregates source for a new one. Studies on the behaviour of RAC have revealed negative effects on concrete strength and microstructure development, resulting in deterioration of mechanical and durability properties. As a result, numerous practical studies have been implemented to enhance the RAC properties using various treatment techniques such as chemical, physical and heating treatments. However, most of these techniques are ineffective compared to conventional concrete applications due to poor mechanical performance of RAC, insufficient environmental requirements, and prolonged treatment times. Recently, the use of nanomaterials has been given significant concern in RAC research. Their nano-sized particles can help to reduce micropores formation by acting as a filling agent to produce a high-density microstructure, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties and durability of RAC. This had led to a wide range of studies being published on improving RAC properties by using nanomaterials. However, relatively few literatures had been conducted on the effects of different types of nanomaterials on the performance of RAC exposed to various types of loads and various external environmental impacts. Besides, the conditions used by authors in these literatures limit comparisons, and in some cases contradictory findings are observed. Thus, this paper aims to bridge the knowledge gap between researchers. This would allow the potential of nanotechnology in innovations to be applied in appropriate areas of RAC applications to benefit the general public good. This paper aims to provide a critical review and comprehensive conclusions on the performance of nano-modified RAC under external loads, environmental impacts and other various conditions. The effects of nanomaterials on the compressive, tensile, and flexural strength of RAC are discussed. The nanomaterials considered are nano-SiO2, nano-CaCO3, nano-TiO2, nano-Clay, nano-Al2O3, and nano-Carbon. Durability characteristics including water absorption, chloride penetration, fire exposure, abrasion resistance, acid and carbonation diffusions are extensively discussed. Microstructure characteristics using SEM, XRD, EDS, and micro-hardness of nano-modified RAC are addressed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, stems from the rapid advancement of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Production Systems. It has the potential to weave positive changes to firms and impact organizational structure layers. Therefore, it provides an impetus for the collaboration of factories, suppliers, and customers. Nevertheless, due to the difference of Industry 4.0 vision among companies, there is a lack of unified perception and approach of its implementation roadmap. Therefore, many firms in both developed and developing countries that step in the way of digital transformation encounter not only organizational, technological, and operational challenges but are also compelled to cope with a large deal of confusion. Hence, this paper aims to identify the main concepts, characteristics, and technology enablers related to Industry 4.0 to provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of this paradigm. It then clusters and matches the derived concepts and characteristics associated with Industry 4.0. Further, the paper provides an analysis of how these clusters are supported by technology enablers of Industry 4.0, as well as managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scenario of the Automobile Industry has changed, not only in India but also for the world as a whole. Rise in demand for more sustainable mobility and vehicles with increased usage of renewable energies have given rise to a revolution. This revolution has not only been affecting mankind for better implementation of resources but has also shown tremendous greener and cleaner effects on the flora and fauna of the land as a whole. There has been electrification of vehicles, addition of superior systems to generate lesser harmful effluents and also changing the guidelines of emissions to cleaner and more sustainable ones. The purpose of this paper is to review and state the existence of different pieces of literature for the transition from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI). Much has been written about the transition to BS-VI, the difficulties, and the positive effects on vehicle reliability, economy and the environment. In particular, this work explores the parallels between BS-VI and the corresponding Euro norms and their sequence of implementation. The aforesaid transition has increased the number of oil refineries in India that produce BS-VI-compliant fuels, keeping in mind the increased need for it. This paper explores the current state of the literature and throws light on many of the questions regarding this significant transition. The authors have tried to study the ongoing issues including the stress of inventory management of dieselrun passenger cars, the different refinements required to process and manufacture the BS-VI-compliant vehicles, people's reaction on the changes brought in by the issuing bodies with respect to the norms, to name a few. The focus of the research has been on Bharat Stage emission norms, their implementation challenges and automobile pollution in India to name a few. The authors also discuss the needs, advantages and challenges faced by the industry, producers and customers and conclude that this change is one of the reasons for the decline in car sales in India as it may affect the buying power of the customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From several countries trend bamboo has been used as a scaffolding material in building projects. Nonetheless, Ethiopia is known for the high population of bamboo vegetation such utilization of the material remained untapped. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that influence bamboo’s structural suitability as a temporary material and to create a conceptual map for using it as an alternative structural material. Following the identification of important applications influencing parameters via literature analysis, both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to identify significant factors. The paper also used a series of protocols; at first, several documents were selected based on criteria to provide an overview of bamboo- based construction systems. Following that, four major categories for SWOT analysis were chosen to examine the Ethiopian construction industry’s stance on the use of bamboo as a scaffolding material. Finally, a scoring model was employed as a quantitative analysis protocol to calculate the weight of factors (safety, procedure and implementation, time, and cost) through expert opinions. The investigation revealed that the use of bamboo has a cost and time savings advantage, while an increase in trash at acute and intermittent areas was one of the challenges. Furthermore, one of the challenges in creating bamboo formwork is a lack of complementary joinery techniques. Besides that, it is expected that the bamboo content will fall short of technical requirements. On the Brightside, every single respondent stated unequivo- cally that bamboo-made formwork meets a low-cost requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the Egyptian building design strategies for different building envelope shapes based on the green building design using the DesignBuilder program by simulating the outdoor climate conditions depending on the Egyptian meteorological data. The simulated results are applied to Minia City as one of the hotdesert climate regions in Egypt. The research is performed on the hottest day in summer according to the analysis of climatic data overall months using the climate consultant tool. This research studies two main variables to characterize the quantitative relationships between the building form and the Natural Ventilation (NV) of thermal comfort to be achieved, which are mixed-mode maximum wind speed, and natural ventilation setpoint temperature. The research focuses on two output parameters, which are air velocity and pressure, relating to natural outdoor ventilation. The simulation findings revealed that the circle form offers the best case, which has a significant role in achieving thermal comfort that optimized the value between the two major parameters in building design, while the worst case is the U-shaped building based on the same two optimized values. Finally, the usage of natural ventilation, simultaneously with choosing the suitable building geometry, is principal for adapting the current outdoor air velocity and pressure, thus reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Practical application: This paper studies the relationship between building form and natural ventilation to achieve outdoor thermal comfort and its effects on buildings. The study assesses the wind speed and temperature parameters using the DesignBuilder tool. The study suggests a combination between natural ventilation and choosing the suitable building form to adapt the air velocity and pressure to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theore- tical study of the effects of sintering temperature on the mechanical and filtration properties of clay ceramic water filters (CWFs). CWFs produced from 50:50 volume proportion mixtures of clay and sieved sawdust (porogen) were sintered at 850°C, 900°C and 950°C to produce micro- and nano-porous structures. The sintered clay structures were then characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The flow and filtration characteristics of the filters were then elucidated using a combination of theory and fluid flow experiments, before exploring the effects of porosity on E. coli removal and flow rates through the filter. The E. coli removal efficiency is shown to be inversely proportional to the sintering tempera- ture, with log removal values (LRV) of 4.89, 4.59 and 4.46 for the CWFs sintered at 850°C, 900°C and 950°C, respectively. The paper also examines the effects of sintering temperature on the compressive and flexural strengths, as well as the fracture toughness of the CWFs. The compressive strengths of the CWFs increased (between 6.55 and 7.02 MPa), whereas the flexural strengths (between 3.05 and 2.22 MPa) and the fracture toughness values (between 0.21 and 0.14 MPa pm) both decreased in response to the increased porosities induced by the increased sintering temperature. The underlying fracture and toughening mechanisms are then eluci- dated before discussing the implications of the results for the fabrication, trans- portation, and handling of robust ceramic water filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we searched for the latest literature on the use of deep learning applications to combat COVID-19 and these were identified from several search engines including IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. This involved a comprehensive analysis of the studies to identify the challenges associated with the use of deep learning models with a view to highlight the possible future trends in the development of deep learning systems that are efficient and more reliable for the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. This paper provides information related to the deep learning techniques used to detect COVID-19. This paper discusses the Convolutional Neural Networks’ (CNNs) structure, how to train CNNs, and highlights the different pre-trained models of CNNs that can be used for the detection of COVID-19. This paper explores the latest developments in the diagnosis of COVID-19 using deep learning applications that rely on the use of X-ray images taken from medical imaging samples. A review of the different models developed to facilitate effective diagnosis of COVID-19 provides information regarding the experimental data, the data splitting techniques used, as well as the proposed architecture for detecting COVID-19 and the different evaluation metrics for each model. This paper is a useful resource for medical and technical experts, as it helps them to develop a sound understanding of how deep learning techniques can be harnessed to stop the spread of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key aspects of digitalization brought by Industry 4.0 is driven by the Internet of Things. Perhaps, the most interesting component of digital transformation is Augmented Reality. Augmented reality is merging the digital and physical worlds in the same experience. This new technology is accepted and applications are initiated in various areas including manufacturing. The main usage area in manufacturing is planning, execution, and verification of the assembly and maintenance operations. Likewise, augmented reality is used in the training of inexperienced people and to guide them by remote expert support. However, the augmented reality application selection, especially for non-technology savvy manufacturing organizations is challenging. Detailed and time-consuming analyses are required to understand the key features to compare and select the most suitable augmented reality application. In this paper, the most critical nine augmented reality software selection criteria are identified. To help organizations to apply such criteria and make a selection that is most suitable for the enterprise, a multi criteria decision-making approach is suggested. The suggested method is based on a fuzzy spherical number. The complex proportional assessment method is used to calculate the rankings. Therefore, the suggested method is called SF-COPRAS. Moreover, the detailed definition of augmented reality features and terminologies is explained. Several augmented reality use-case scenarios are discussed for manufacturing organizations on their Industry 4.0 initiatives. This paper aims to guide decision makers on their augmented reality software selection journey. The offered framework aims to save time for investigating augmented reality solution features systematically and objectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vision Guided Robotic systems (VGR) is an essential aspect of modern intelligent robotics. The VGR is rapidly transforming manufacturing processes by enabling robots to be highly adaptable and intelligent reducing the cost and com- plexity. For any sensor-based intelligent robots, vision-based planning is considered as one of the most prominent steps followed by controlled actions using visual feedback. To develop robust vision-based autonomous systems in robotic applica- tions, path-planning and localization can be implemented along with Visual Servoing (VS) for robust feedback control. In the available literature, most of the reviews are focused on a particular module of autonomous systems like path planning, motion planning strategies, or Visual Servoing techniques. In this paper overall review of different modules in vision-guided robotic systems is presented. So, this review provides researchers with broader in-depth knowledge about different modules that exist in the vision-guided autonomous system. The review also includes different vision sensors that are commonly used in industries covering their characteristics and applications. In this work, overall, 227 research papers in path planning and vision-based control algorithms are reviewed with recent intelligent techniques based on optimization and learning-based approaches. The graphical analysis illustrating the advancements of research in the field of vision-based robotics using Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also discussed. Lastly, this paper con- cludes by discussing some of the research gaps, challenges, and future directions existing in vision-based planning and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lean implementation in the service sector has a dilemma related to defining the gap of the lean system and identifying the flaws in the processes which affect the overall performance and efficiency. This paper presents an innovative model that can help service companies to improve lean implementation and inte- grate appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with the strategic goals. The aim of this paper is to also investigate different forms of waste that affect services performance by using the data of a global best practice. It also aims to apply and integrate the KPIs with Lean Management Tools to overcome the potential limita- tions of the traditional ones. As a first step of improvement, designing a new KPI lean method can lead to determining and reducing all different forms of existing wastes. Furthermore, such a method is expected to (i) improve the existing pro- cesses; (ii) enhance performance, (iii) increase time efficiency; and (iv) improve work accuracy. A new model that focuses on low-performance processes has been designed. The proposed model is also used to develop KPIs that are measurable and capable of detecting flaws and identify the possible improvements. When the model is continuously applied by service providers, the waiting time and non-adding value activities are expected to be significantly minimized. Likewise, monitoring and control of internal processes and activities can be improved. Furthermore, lean management is advantageous for the telecommunication sector as it allows a quick response to rapid changes in the telecom technology and, thus, improves the customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering carbon emissions when making supply chain decisions has been an essential contributor for keeping this world more sustainable. This paper presents a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to optimize production and transportation decision where the transportation activities involve a multimodal combination. The proposed mathematical model was aimed at mini- mizing the total costs incurred from supply chain activities as well as the emissions generated. Carbon cap is used to ensure that the emissions produced in the whole activities do not exceed the allowable limit. In this research, we address a multi- product, multi-plant, multi-departure, and arrival stations where multiple customers are to be served for multiple periods. The numerical tests show that the demand, carbon tax, and distance significantly affected the total emissions and the total costs. Interestingly, we observed that the decisions are much more affected by the logistical costs rather than the emission costs. The model presented in this paper can assist the decision makers to make production, delivery, and inventory decisions when multi-modal transportation is involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash (CFA) is a coal ignition buildup at thermal power plants, which has been viewed as a hazardous waste globally. The major problems with CFA are the large volume of land needed for its disposal and poisonous weighty metal sifted to groundwater. CFA has been considered a waste and water pollutant until recently; however, CFA is a helpful material and has shown its useful value, espe- cially in the construction industry. This review paper aims to evaluate CFA properties and validate its utilization in the construction industry to save the planet from damages associated with its disposal. The current paper surveys the potential uses of CFA as a crude material in the construction industry in catalysis, soil stabilization and replacement, brick production, cement replacement highway embankment, bricks construction, material for soil replacement and stabilization, and dams, asphalt pavement, and road construction. This review was conducted through systematic consultation of mostly recent relevant literature with a few old pub- lications to evaluate the efficiency of CFA utilization in the construction industry. Moreover, all the literature rated CFA as a suitable material for use in the con- struction industry. A major drawback of CFA usage in concrete is the slow early strength development. However, this can be taken care of by accelerating the admixtures in the concrete mix. Future research tends towards production of CFA with more improved features suitable for advanced construction technology as in 3D printing construction. Conclusively, CFA is recommended for use in the con- struction industry based on its performance success recorded from the research findings reviewed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative for researchers to study construction projects in all industries, in order to find lasting solutions to the occurrence of time overruns during projects. Considering the myriad of studies on time overruns in construction projects, there is a scarcity of such studies in the construction of cell sites for the telecom industry. Therefore, this paper sought to investigate time overruns in the construction of cell sites, and quantitatively, to determine the real causal factors of its occurrence within the context of the Ghanaian telecom industry. As a mixed method approach, this study used the expert interview method in the case study, and structured questionnaires in the survey study to elicit information from practi- tioners with direct project management responsibilities in cell site construction. The findings indicate that time overruns, ranging from three weeks to two months, occur across the industry, with the overall impact of loss of revenue and business value. After the EFA and CFA analysis, 9 out of 28 factors were retained, forming two principal components named “project planning” and “project control”. The findings and recommendations made by this paper would enlighten the perspective of project management practitioners in their quest to deliver successful cell site con- struction. Both scholars and industry players can use the research methodology that has been designed to aid and facilitate the conduct of any such study in any industry in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study came into consideration following reported cases of women and girls using unhygienic materials such as old towels to keep themselves dry during their menses. The materials can be improved in quality and usability. The polymer that replaced wood pulp is not environmentally friendly. Water hyacinth and maize stalks have proven high absorbency properties, which are from ancient and current research. The objective was to optimize the hydroscopic properties of maize stalk and water hyacinth pulp and subsequent use in the design of sanitary pad. The methodology was done according to the standard KS 507:2005. The process of extraction was done using the alkaline method, and rinsing was done to remove excess NaOH. The pulp was studied for hydroscopic properties that included the retention capacity, absorbency rate and moisture content followed by the design of the sanitary pad. The absorbency rate and the retention capacity of maize are 50% and 150 s, respectively. The absorbency properties of maize internal tissue pulp are high, and it is feasibly viable. The retention and moisture content indicate over 50% and 57%, respectively. Water hyacinth pulp has a high absorbency rate (106 s). Also, the water retention and moisture content of water hyacinth pulp is over 50% and 59%, respectively. Upon blending, the water retained and held, and absorption rate improved to 50% in 24 h, 50% (25 ml) and 2 min. The significance levels for absorbency were 15 ml to 40 ml per minute and it holds and retains up to 500 times its weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climate change becomes an urgent issue that must be tackled immediately, several disciplines are making efforts to mitigate its effects. One of the disciplines that must be addressed to mitigate the negative impacts it has on the environment is the installation of telecommunication towers. An ever-increasing number of telecommunication towers may have negative impacts on the environment because of the use of diesel, not environmentally friendly materials or the waves emitted to the surrounding environment. Literature review showed different sustainable approaches that were proposed for use in telecommunication towers. However, there is a gap in having a comprehensive approach for making the overall factors of the telecommunication towers more sustainable. Green rating systems are used as guidelines for making buildings more sustainable. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is the most widely used green rating system in the world; however, it doesn't have any guidelines for applying sustainable measures in telecommunication towers. Therefore, this paper proposes a green rating system that is based on LEED's main categories, to limit the negative impacts telecommunication towers have on the environment. Then, 21 questionnaires were distributed among engineers from various backgrounds in Egypt as a case study to come up with proposed weights for categories and subcategories. The questionnaire analysis is based on Analytical Hierarchy Process. It is concluded that the sustainable site category has the highest weight, as the optimum selection of site would help in improving the overall factors that affect the environmental behavior of the tower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]