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Abstract Biosynthesized nanoparticles have a variety of applications, and microorganisms are considered one of the most ideal sources for the synthesis of green nanoparticles. Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) is a pest that has many generations per year and can affect 123 plant species from 49 families by absorbing sap from bark, forming honeydew, causing sooty mold, and attracting invasive ant species, leading to significant agricultural losses. The purpose of this work was to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) from marine actinobacteria and evaluate their insecticidal effects on Icerya aegyptiaca (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae), in addition to explaining their effects on protein electrophoresis analysis of SDS‒PAGE proteins from control and treated insects after 24, 72 and 120 h of exposure. In all, seven actinobacterial isolates, the most potent of which has the potential to produce titanium hydroxide-based nanoparticles (TiO2-NP2), have DNA sequences that are 99.9% like those of Streptomyces rubrolavendulae (MCN2) according to nucleotide alignment and a phylogenetic tree. The produced TiO2-NPs were verified by UV examination and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM, EDX, and DLS analyses. Toxicological results revealed that TiO2-NPs have insecticidal effects and high mortality rates reaching 55, 62.5, 80 and 95% at TiO2-NPs dose 120,250,500 and 1000 ppm respectively. Compared with the control, TiO2-NP spraying caused changes in the protein pattern of I. aegyptiaca, as indicated by the disappearance of normal bands and the appearance of other bands, as well as quantitative and qualitative changes in protein content after 24, 72 and 120 h of exposure. The application of TiO2-NPs by MNC2 offers a new alternative strategy to control I. aegyptiaca and is considered a modern approach to nanotechnology.

Abstract The Klein-Gordon problem (KGP) is one of the interesting models that appear in many scientific phenomena. These models are characterized by memory effects, which provide insight into complex phenomena in the fields of physics. In this regard, we propose a new robust algorithm called the confluent Bernoulli approach with residual power series scheme (CBCA-RPSS) to give an approximate solution for the fractional nonlinear KGP. The convergence, uniqueness and error analysis of the proposed method are discussed in detail. A comparison of the numerical results obtained by CBCA-RPSS with the results obtained by some well-known algorithms is presented. Numerical simulations using base errors indicate that CBCA-RPSS is an accurate and efficient technique and thus can be used to solve linear and nonlinear fractional models in physics and engineering. All the numerical results for the studied problems were obtained through implementation codes in Matlab R2017b.

Abstract Background Auricular avulsion can cause severe psychological effects. There are no established protocols for surgical treatment for such injuries. Acute care involves various procedures like graft reattachment, skin flap reconstruction, Baudet approach, and microvascular repair. Objectives Reviewing the literature regarding various reattachment techniques for managing complete auricular avulsion was the goal of this review. It also aimed to help the surgeon choose the best total reconstruction method considering the available materials and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Methods We thoroughly reviewed relevant research on publications describing total auricular avulsion repaired with reattachment which were indexed in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus. The study accepted and reviewed English-language papers without determining their publication date, using a database search based on key words. Conclusions According to the literature, microvascular restoration is more successful for avulsed ears, although composite grafts are better aesthetically. Early hyperbaric oxygen and surgical treatment can improve patient outcomes. Recently, 3D printing is a big step forward in auricular reconstruction, providing a patient-specific, customizable, and efficient alternative for people with auricular loss.

Abstract Aluminum alloys have been widely studied because of their current engineering applications. Due to their high strength and lightweight, cracking can easily initiate on their surface, deteriorating their overall functional and structural properties and causing environmental attacks. The current study highlights the significant influence of incorporating 1 wt% silica nanostructure in aluminum-10 zinc alloys. The characteristics of the composites were examined using Vickers hardness, tensile, and electrochemical testing (OCP, Tafel, and EIS) at various artificial aging temperatures (423, 443, and 463 K). Silica nanorods may achieve ultrafine grains, increase hardness by up to 13.8%, increase σUTS values by up to 79% at 443 K, and improve corrosion rate by up to 89.4%, surpassing Al-10 Zn bulk metallics. We demonstrate that silica nanorods contribute to the creation of a superior nanocomposite that not only limits failure events under loading but also resists corrosion. Our findings suggest that silica nanocomposite can produce unique features for use in a variety of automotive, construction, and aerospace applications. This improvement can be attributed mainly to the large surface area of nano-silica particles, which alters the Al matrix. Microstructural, mechanical, and electrochemical studies revealed that the effects of structure refinement were dependent on nano-silica.

Water scarcity is a challenging task for the vast majority of people in the world, which has occurred due to changes in weather patterns due to less rainfall than usual. According to perceptions, in some parts of the world, water scarcity will be more frequent and intense now. Over 200 published articles and reports from the period 2003–2023 were considered for the measurement of the global impact of water shortages on livelihoods in arid areas. Such a type of review study is designed for a systematic approach. The manuscript illustrated different dimensions of water scarcity impacts by using electronic search engines, including Google, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, and Web of Science. The study was then distinguished by including the word water scarcity with keywords such as landscape, vulnerability, adjustment, displaced person, health effect, and risk management to inquire about the necessary articles. The study results illustrated that the shortage of water during the drought period increased the misery of affected people. Droughts affect the livelihood of these people in agronomic activities, food production and security, and natural assets, causing prolonged suffering.

Abstract In this paper, two problems involving nonlinear time fractional hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) and time fractional pseudo hyperbolic PDEs with nonlocal conditions are presented. Collocation technique for shifted Chebyshev of the second kind with residual power series algorithm (CTSCSK-RPSA) is the main method for solving these problems. Moreover, error analysis theory is provided in detail. Numerical solutions provided using CTSCSK-RPSA are compared with existing techniques in literature. CTSCSK-RPSA is accurate, simple and convenient method for obtaining solutions of linear and nonlinear physical and engineering problems.

Groundwater is a vital source of safe drinking water in Bangladesh and most South Asian countries. The study aimed to identify the sources and assess the contamination of Fe, Mn, and Pb in groundwater. The study considered published articles, reports, and data repositories of concerned departments over the past two decades using various search engines, including Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. The study results showed the concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb in groundwater exceeded 55.93, 75.44, and 37.50%, respectively, of different standards, including the World Health Organization and United Nations Environmental Protection Agency. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb ranged from 0.003 to 16.6, 0.00063 to 3.11, and 0.0006 to 5.01 mg/L, respectively, and followed the order Fe > Mn > Pb in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Sources of Fe and Mn in groundwater are mostly geogenic in origin, while Pb contamination in groundwater is anthropogenic and derives from industry dust piles, vehicle exhaust discharge, lead pipes, faucets, fixtures, and batteries. The higher levels of heavy metals in groundwater cause health and environmental hazards. The study recommended that the higher concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb in groundwater make it unsuitable for drinking purposes and should be treated before consumption. HIGHLIGHTS Higher concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb were in groundwater.; The sources of Fe and Mn in groundwater are mostly geogenic.; Pb contamination in groundwater was anthropogenic.; The higher levels of these heavy metals in groundwater concern human health.;

Abstract The composite concrete-encased steel (CCES) column member is made by the steel section embedded and covered in concrete from all sides. Due to the ability of the composite sections to bear heavy loads while using smaller sections, CCES columns have been widely used. Analytical studies on the CCES columns’ behavior using crushed dolomite coarse aggregate (CDCA) with different shear connectors (SCs) types/shapes and sizes under axial loads are described here. This study also aims to evaluate the current design methods to determine the ultimate capacity of the CCES with CDCA concrete columns using nine available codes. The results show that the finite element (FE) analysis could accurately predict the ultimate capacity of the CCES columns; the column’s capacity improved by about 41.75% as f cu increased by 60%. Increasing the IPE-shaped steel strength (f ss ) strategy is not very effective and gives brittle behavior even though enhancing the f ss improves the capacity. The column's capacity increased as the tie stirrups and steel bars ratios increased. The column’s capacity increased by about 17.63%, as steel bars ratios increased by 155.49%. The efficiency factors increased slightly as tie stirrups were raised but slightly decreased as steel bar ratios increased. Using the SCs system increases the columns’ capacity by an average value of about 4.9% of the specimen without SCs. The computed capacities using the nine available codes are conservative and safe. The closest estimates made by the YB9082-06 code are 26% less on average than the test results; in contrast, the safest predictions made by the ECP-LRFD code are 68% less, on average, than test results. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Carbon steel is widely used in the petroleum industry for pipelines, storage tanks, and equipment due to its mechanical properties, and strength. However, challenges such as environmental conditions and corrosive materials can affect its lifespan and require maintenance and repair. This work aimed to prepare pyrazalone-sulfonamide hybrids, and confirmed by mass spectra, FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. These compounds were examined as mild steel corrosion inhibitors in 1 M HCl solutions at 298–323 K using the gravimetric technique, electrochemical measurements, scanning electronic microscope analysis, and quantum chemical calculations. The values of inhibitory efficiency identified by electrochemical and non-electrochemical techniques exhibit good agreement. At various temperatures and in the 50 to 500 ppm concentration range. During the adsorption process, these substances connect to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Some adsorption isotherm and kinetic parameters have been developed and discussed. The metal surface had a thin inhibitory protective layer, according to investigations using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). These findings demonstrated the potential of pyrazolone-sulfonamide as effective organic corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel.

Abstract The present study explores the preparation of Al–10wt.%Zn alloy by the casting process. Nano CuO was prepared by the Co-precipitation method. The effect of adding nanostructure of (1wt.% CuO) to Al–10Zn alloy was studied the corrosion effects as-cast and with different aging temperatures (423, 443, and 463 K) for 2 h in 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution after homogenized for 2 h at 500 K at room temperature. Electrochemical measurements (OCP, Tafel, and EIS) were performed to determine the corrosion rate (C.R.) and corrosion current density (Icorr.) to find out corrosion behavior. In addition, microstructures of Al–10Zn and Al–10Zn–1CuO were observed using a scanning electron microscope, EDX mapping, and the optical microscope to investigate the effect of the nanoparticle’s addition before and after aging and the corrosion test. The average crystal size and the dislocation density were calculated from the XRD pattern. The results show that the appropriate addition of CuO nanoparticles can refine the Al–10Zn alloy and shift the Al–10Zn alloy to a more noble direction.

Abstract The large-scale wind energy conversion system (WECS) based on a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) has gained popularity in recent years because of its various economic and technical merits. The fast integration of WECS with existing power grids has caused negative influence on the stability and reliability of power systems. Grid voltage sags produce a high overcurrent in the DFIG rotor circuit. Such these challenges emphasise the necessity of the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability of a DFIG for ensuring power grid stability during voltage dips. To deal with these issues simultaneously, this paper aims to obtain the optimal values of injected rotor phase voltage for DFIG and wind turbine pitch angles for all operating wind speeds in order to achieve LVRT capability. Bonobo optimizer (BO) is a new optimization algorithm that is applied to crop the optimum values of injected rotor phase voltage for DFIG and wind turbine pitch angles. These optimal values provide the maximum possible DFIG mechanical power to guarantee rotor and stator currents do not exceed the rated values and also deliver the maximum reactive power for supporting grid voltage during faults. The ideal power curve of a 2.4 MW wind turbine has been estimated to get the allowable maximum wind power for all wind speeds. To validate the results accuracy, the BO results are compared to two other optimization algorithms: particle swarm optimizer and driving training optimizer. Adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system is employed as an adaptive controller for the prediction of the values of rotor voltage and wind turbine pitch angle for any stator voltage dip and any wind speed.

This paper presents the results of assessing the performance of Trimble Applanix PCDA™ SLAM-based technology to simultaneously optimize any mobile mapping system trajectory and LiDAR point cloud data in a GNSS-denied environment. The simultaneous use of inertially-aided GNSS data along with LiDAR point clouds to optimally correct shifts and/or drifts in the trajectory in GNSS-denied environments is addressed in detail in this paper. A number of Trimble MX50 Mobile Mapping System data sets were acquired in Germany particularly to assess the performance of PCDA™. The land mobile mapping data sets were acquired in deep urban canyons which were purposely acquired that way to reach the most challenging land mobile mapping data sets in a GNSS-denied environment. The PCDA™ technology assessment results are presented in detail. In summary, the results show how LiDAR data can successfully be used to correct the trajectory shifts and drifts due to GNSS outages by simultaneously optimizing both point cloud and trajectory data.

Background The threat of malpractice liability could alter anesthesiologists’ clinical attitudes and behavior leading them to practice defensive medicine (DM) which aims at protecting doctors from medicolegal claims.Purpose To explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Egyptian anesthesiologists towards DM and their attitude and previous experience regarding medical malpractice liability.Methods An online cross-sectional questionnaire was done on a convenience sample of anesthesiologists. The questionnaire involved physician data, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding DM, their attitude and previous experience regarding medical malpractice liability, and justifications for practicing DM.Results The questionnaire was completed by 177 anesthesiologists. Only 10.7% of participants received training about malpractice liability. The concern of malpractice litigation was reported by 81.4% and 92.1% of participants thought that malpractice lawsuits will have a negative influence on their performance. Most of the anesthesiologists (70.6%) reported that at least one of their colleagues was named in malpractice lawsuits, while 32.7% of them reported being investigated for malpractices. Based on “Defensive Medicine Behavior Scale”, 61% of the participants had a very high score. The highest reported justification for DM was fatigue 27.7%.Conclusions Despite the fact that more than half of the participants’ knowledge of DM was insufficient, about 61% had a very high score for DM-related behaviors. This highlights the DM current situation among them which could endanger physicians’ proficiency, quality of care, patient rights, and cost. Efforts with medicolegal training should be made to keep physicians' risk perception and anxiety in balance to avoid DM.

Wave phenomena in bianisotropic media have been broadly scrutinized in classical electrodynamics because these media offer additional degrees of freedom to engineer electromagnetic waves. However, the majority of investigations concerning such systems have so far been limited to stationary (time-invariant) media. Temporally varying the magnetoelectric coupling manifesting bianisotropy engenders a unique prospect to manipulate wave-matter interactions in new ways. In this paper, we theoretically contemplate electromagnetic effects in weakly dispersive bianisotropic media of all classes when the corresponding magnetoelectric coupling parameter suddenly jumps in time, creating a time interface in spatially uniform bianisotropic media. We investigate scattering effects at such time interfaces, revealing novel polarization- and direction-dependent phenomena. Some of these phenomena are validated through the use of simulation software. We anticipate that our work paves the road for further exploration of time-varying bianisotropic metamaterials (metasurfaces) and bianisotropic photonic time crystals, thus opening up interesting possibilities to control wave polarization and amplitude in reciprocal and nonreciprocal manners.

In the context of sustainable buildings, an ecological study of building and insulating materials is critical since it may assist affirm or shift the path of new technology development. Utilising sustainable material is a part of the sustainable improvement. For this reason, material fabrication is the primary process for the energy usage and release of intense environmental gaseous. The fabrication of the insulation and building materials, as in every fabrication process, comprises an energy consumption of crude materials in addition to the pollutants’ release. In buildings, insulation is a relevant technological resolution for cutting energy usage. This study aims to assess the primary energy consumption and the environmental effects of the fabrication of building and thermal isolation materials by using a new hybrid MCDM model. The proposed new hybrid MCDM model includes Fuzzy FUCOM, CCSD and CRADIS methods. While the subjective weights of the criteria were determined with the fuzzy FUCOM method, the objective weights of the criteria were determined with the CCSD method. Construction materials were listed with the CRADIS method. According to the fuzzy FUCOM method, the most important criterion was determined as the CR3 criterion, while the most important criterion according to the CCSD method was determined as the CR1 criterion. According to the combined weights, the most important criterion was determined as the CR3 criterion. According to the CRADIS method, the material with the best performance was determined as Cement Plaster. The methodology used in this study is a novel approach therefore it has not been used in any study before. In addition, since the CRADIS method is a newly developed MCDM method, the number of articles related to this method is low. Therefore, this research gap will be filled with this study.

Radiation shielding is crucial in many types of medical, industrial, and nuclear facilities due to the widespread usage of radioactive isotopes. In this research, we examine the impact of tellurite 65TeO2–(35-x)V2O5-xSm2O3 glasses, where x ranges from 0.1 to 5 mol%, for its nuclear security and radiation shielding versus gamma attenuation capabilities. For gamma, the effect that the systematic replacement of Sm2O3 with V2O5 has on the shielding qualities was dissected in great depth. In addition, comparative research was carried out using the most recent borate glasses and the typical shielding materials considered the industry standard. In this study, we utilized the FLUKA algorithm and the FLAIR graphical interface to calculate the attenuation coefficients of glass compositions in the 65TeO2–(35-x)V2O5-xSm2O3system. The gamma energies of 0.356, 0.662, 1.332, and 2.614 MeV, commonly used in gamma shielding investigations, were selected as the radiation source. A comparison between the simulation results by FLUKA and theoretical calculations for mass attenuation coefficients demonstrated excellent agreement, confirming the reliability and accuracy of the FLUKA simulation method. The findings of the current research point to the fact that the TVS5 sample has the highest GMAC and lowest GHVL and GMFP, among other glasses. This points to the possibility that the TVS5 sample might be used in radiation shielding activities, which would result in increased nuclear safety.

This study considered three different water quality indices (WQIs) for groundwater data collected from the middle-west part of Bangladesh, and the quantitative results were justified with the globally accepted water quality guidelines. It compared the results between the Canadian WQI with the Weighted Average WQI, and the Canadian WQI and Mierels WQI for drinking and irrigation purposes, respectively. The results revealed that the Canadian method categorized water as ‘fair’ quality while the Weighted WQI model results showed ‘unsuitable’ for drinking usage. Besides, the Meireles method showed that the water quality is classified as ‘good’ to ‘excellent’, while the categorization of the groundwater using the Canadian method was ‘fair’ to ‘good’ for the suitability of irrigation. When comparing the results of the Canadian method with the Weighted Average technique for drinking, the latter one gave the abnormal results; and pair difference statistics showed the significant negative correlation (r=−0.91) between them. Similarly, the analysis of the two methods (Canadian and Mierels) for irrigation use exhibited that there was no statistical variance between the two techniques at a significant correlation matrix (r=+0.71). The study concluded that the Canadian WQI for drinking and Mierels WQI for irrigation would deliver better results. HIGHLIGHTS The methods used in this study clearly illustrated the conditions for groundwater to be used for drinking and irrigation purposes.; Three water quality indices (WQIs) were used and discussed the guidelines to improve the efficacy.; The findings of this study can be used to develop and improve the quality of water that directly affects public health and crop production.;

There are many irrigation water quality indices used to assess water suitability, despite having limitations. It is therefore imperative to develop a water quality index to evaluate irrigation water more accurately. This study highlights an Integrated Irrigation Water Quality Index (IIWQIndex) using the sub-index and aggregated equations. This proposed index model was improved and updated across four characteristics: the verified desirable and permissible value of parameters, maximum hazard class, and modified rating system of diversified parameters. The proposed IIWQIndex model classified irrigation water into five categories: rejection, poor, moderate, good, and excellent. This model assessed two types of water to justify the model by categorizing the irrigation waters. The calculated results showed that the index values were 75.77 and 36.51, and the water category was ‘good’ and ‘rejected’ for the calcite (Ca–HCO3) and sodic (Na–Cl) water, respectively. This index model also satisfactorily evaluated different types of water datasets of eight geographic locations in the world. The study illustrated that the IIWQIndex evaluated values and water categories were rational and comprehensive at predicting the suitability of irrigation water. HIGHLIGHTS Critically reviewed the previous irrigation water quality (IWQ) indices.; Proposed a water quality index model (IIWQIndex) considering the maximum water quality parameters and hazard classes.; Modified the rating value and acceptable limit of parameters.; Evaluated the suitability and rationality of the index model for irrigation purposes.;

This investigation is aimed at exploring the mobilization and sources of Fe, Mn, and As in aquifers through geochemical characterization, spatial analysis, and statistical approaches. Analytical results showed that the average concentrations of Fe (10.17 mg/L) and Mn (3.6 mg/L) crossed the guideline value but not As in all samples. In this study, the elevated levels of dissolved organic carbon, salinity, total hardness, and log10 pCO2; the lower value of dissolved oxygen; and some oxidizing groups of samples influence the reductive environment of Fe and Mn weathering. The investigation illustrated that the source of both metals on the upper platform is consolidated silty soil and aquifer sediment, whereas, in the river valley, they originate from Fe and Mn-bearing nodules in the rich clay layer and tidal mud. In addition, the frequent fluctuation of river flow, excess water mining, and an unbalanced recharge/discharge ratio are the causes of higher concentrations of both metals. The correlation matrix and factor analysis of Fe and Mn with redox-sensitive water variables confirmed that a favourable reductive situation fosters the Fe and Mn release process. Studies have also shown the significant possibility of forming a metal complex with organic and inorganic substances. The higher dissolution of Fe and Mn minerals causes As to be adsorbed on them, leading to less release of As into groundwater. This investigation provides a basis for the rational use of groundwater and the defense of public health in zones with high Fe and Mn contents.

Arsenic contamination of alluvial aquifers of the Bengal delta plain causes a serious threat to human health for over 75 million people. The study aimed to explore the impacts of chemical fertilizer on arsenic mobilization in the sedimentary deposition of the alluvial Bengal delta plain. It selected ten comparatively highly affected districts and the least affected two divisions as a referral study site. The countrywide pooled concentration of arsenic in groundwater was 109.75 μg/L (52.59, 166.91) at a 95% confidence interval, which was double the national guideline value (50 μg/L). The analysis results showed a strong positive correlation (r ≥ 0.5) of arsenic with NO3, NH4, PO4, SO4, Ca, and K, where a portion of those species originated from fertilizer leaching into groundwater. The results showed that PO4 played a significant role in arsenic mobilization, but the role of NO3, SO4, and NH4 was not clear at certain lithological conditions. It also showed that clay, peat, silt-clay, and rich microbial community with sufficiently organic carbon loaded soils could lead to an increase in arsenic mobilization. Finally, the study observed that the overall lithological conditions are the main reason for the high arsenic load in the study area. HIGHLIGHTS The groundwater of the Bengal delta basin is highly contaminated with arsenic.; Arsenic significantly correlated with originated fertilizer species: NO3, NH4, PO4, SO4, Ca, and K.; Clayey, peaty, and silt-clay soil with heavy microbial and organic matters enhanced the arsenic mobilization by fertilizers leaching.; Lithological conditions are the major reasons for arsenic toxicity in groundwater.;

The present investigation was carried out during two successive Cabbage seasons (2016-2017 and 2017- 2018), to study the impact of entomopathogenic fungi on Brevicoryne brassica L. The aphid Populations were evaluated in the field early in the season in December 2016 which began to appear on cabbage plants. Thereafter number of aphids increased gradually to reach a peak of abundance during December 2016 & 2017 and January 2017 & 2018). Three concentrations were used (1 x105, 1 x 106 and 1 x 107 spores/ ml.). Under laboratory conditions, the results showed that V. lecanii, M. anisopliae, and B. bassiana have high toxicity and mortality rates occurred after 3rd day from treatment. The maximum percent of mortality (100 %) occurred after the 10th day from treatment with the 3rd concentration in V. lecanii. The 3rd concentration (1 x 107spores/ ml.) was highly toxic in V. lecanii, B. bassiana, and M. anisopliae to the adult of Brevicoryne brassica L. compared with the other two concentrations.Under field conditions, the third concentration (1 x 107) also, was the best concentration against Brevicoryne brassica L. after the third application in V. lecanii, B. bassiana, and M. anisopliae. The percent of reduction was ranged between 93.3 to 99.2% and 92.0 to 97.7 in the high concentrations, in the two seasons, respectively. V. lecanii and B. bassiana were highly effective than M. anisopliae against Brevicoryne brassica L. These results confirmed that V. lecanii, B. bassiana, and M. anisopliae isolates are promising agents for Brevicoryne brassica L. control in the field.

This paper introduces the Phase One Aerial System 150, a next generation fully integrated fully digital aerial camera system with one single digital camera head and lens which almost matches the perfect geometry of a film camera for all airborne mapping applications. It is the first true replacement for the simplicity, geometry and efficiency established by film cameras for traditional airborne mapping. Several test flights were planned to be flown with the Phase One Aerial System 150 over the Greater Denver Area, Colorado, U.S.A. during the Winter of 2020. Two lenses are planned to be used, namely: 1) 50 mm lens for wide coverage and a geometry closest to that of a film camera which is suitable for most mapping applications, and 2) 90 mm lens which provides a higher resolution (smaller GSD) and a narrower field of view which is suitable for applications where less building lean might be required. Multiple flight altitudes are flown in order to end up with a GSD of 10 cm, and 20 cm, respectively. One dual-altitude flight was planned to characterize and calibrate the integrated system including camera in-flight calibration and camera/IMU boresight calibration. The remaining flights are planned to be used to validate system accuracy and productivity as well as the mapping product accuracy. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and poor weather, only one full dual-altitude light has been flown. Therefore, system calibration, assessment, and validation are done using this single test flight. The remainder of the test flights intended for map production evaluation and accuracy assessment will be flown during the Spring of 2020, which results will be shared with the ISPRS audience during the congress presentations.

Abstract Background Endotracheal intubation requires optimum position of the head and neck. In obese females, the usual ramped position might not provide adequate intubating conditions. We hypothesized that a new position, termed modified-ramped position, during induction of anesthesia would facilitate endotracheal intubation through bringing the breasts away from the laryngoscope and would also improve the laryngeal visualization. Methods Sixty obese female patients scheduled for general anesthesia were randomly assigned into either ramped or modified-ramped position during induction of anesthesia. In the ramped position (n = 30), the patient head and shoulders were elevated to achieve alignment of the sternal notch and the external auditory meatus; while in the modified-ramped position (n = 30), the patient shoulders were elevated using a special pillow, and the head was extended to the most possible range. Our primary outcome was the incidence of failed laryngoscopic insertion in the oral cavity (the need for patient repositioning). Other outcomes included time till vocal cord visualization, time till successful endotracheal intubation, difficulty of the mask ventilation, and Cormack-Lehane grade for laryngeal view. Results Fourteen patients (47%) in ramped group required repositioning to facilitate introduction of the laryngoscope in the oral cavity in comparison to one patient (3%) in the modified-ramped position (p

Abstract The study aimed to expose the level of pollution owing to textile dyeing effluents and assess the coagulant efficiency of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) for treating the textile dyeing effluents. The discharged of untreated textile dyeing effluents have severely polluted water and soils, threatened the entire environment. The study analyzed the discharged and treated effluents using standard methods of analysis. The optimized parameters of the coagulant PAC were the dose, contact time, temperature, and agitation speed. The color removal efficiency study observed that the coagulant PAC removed the color from 85 to 95% of three dyeing effluents at optimum conditions. The result showed that the maximum reduction of EC, TDS, TSS, COD, BOD, Cl−, HCO3 − and SO4 2− were found to be 83.66, 85.7, 82.05, 82.05, 83.45, 66.91, 66.91 and 72.88%, respectively. It also showed that the coagulant efficiently reduced heavy metals and the highest percentage of reduction achieved was 72.7 and 98.52 for Fe and Pb, respectively, from the effluents. Hence, the PAC would be a potential coagulant for treating the textile dyeing effluents that help to build a sustainable environment.

Abstract Background Data on the best norepinephrine bolus dose for management of hypotension are limited. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of two norepinephrine bolus doses in the rescue management of maternal hypotension during cesarean delivery. Methods This randomized, controlled trial included mothers scheduled for cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia with a prophylactic norepinephrine infusion. Following spinal anaesthesia administration, a participant was considered hypotensive if systolic blood pressure was ≤80% compared to the baseline reading. Participants were allocated to receive either 6 mcg or 10 mcg norepinephrine bolus for the management of hypotensive episodes. The hemodynamic response after administration of norepinephrine bolus was recorded. The episode was considered successfully managed if systolic blood pressure returned to within 80% from the baseline reading within 2 min after norepinephrine bolus administration, and did not drop again within 6 min after the norepinephrine bolus. The primary outcome was the incidence of successful management of the first hypotensive episode. Other outcomes included systolic blood pressure, heart rate, incidence of maternal bradycardia, and reactive hypertension. Results One hundred and ten mothers developed hypotensive episodes and received norepinephrine boluses for management. The number of successfully managed first hypotensive episodes was 50/57 (88%) in the 6 mcg-treated episodes and 45/53 (85%) in the 10 mcg-treated episodes (p = 0.78). Systolic blood pressure was comparable after administration of either bolus dose. Heart rate was lower after administration of 10 mcg bolus compared to 6 mcg bolus, without significant bradycardia requiring atropine administration. The incidence of reactive hypertension was comparable between both groups. Conclusion In mothers undergoing elective cesarean delivery under prophylactic norepinephrine infusion at 0.05 mcg/kg/min, there was no advantage to the use of 10 mcg norepinephrine bolus over 6 mcg norepinephrine bolus for the rescue management of first hypotensive episode. Neither of the 2 bolus doses reached a 100% success rate. The incidences of bradycardia and reactive hypertension were comparable between both norepinephrine doses. Trial registration At clinicaltrial.gov registry system on January 4, 2019 Clinical trial identifier: NCT03792906 .

Abstract Background Weaning of patients from the mechanical ventilation remains one of the critical decisions in intensive care unit. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of thoracic fluid content (TFC) as a predictor of weaning outcome. Methods An observational cohort study included 64 critically ill surgical patients who were eligible for extubation. Before initiating the spontaneous breathing trial, the TFC was measured using the electrical cardiometry technology. Patients were followed up after extubation and divided into successful weaning group and failed weaning group. Both groups were compared according to respiratory and cardiovascular parameters. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the ability of TFC to predict weaning outcome. Results The number of successfully weaned patients was 41/64 (64%). Twenty (31%) patients had impaired cardiac contractility, and of them, 13/20 (64%) patients were successfully extubated. Both groups, successful weaning group and failed weaning group, were comparable in most of baseline characteristics; however, the TFC was significantly higher in the failed weaning group compared to the successful weaning group. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) showed moderate predictive ability for the TFC in predicting weaning failure (AUC [95% confidence interval] 0.69 [0.57–0.8], cutoff value > 50 kΩ−1), while the predictive ability of TFC was excellent in the subgroup of patients with ejection fraction < 40% (AUC [95% confidence interval 0.93 [0.72–1], cutoff value > 50 kΩ−1). Conclusions Thoracic fluid content showed moderate ability for predicting weaning outcome in surgical critically ill patients. However, in the subgroup of patients with ejection fraction less than 40%, TFC above 50 kΩ−1 has an excellent ability to predict weaning failure.

This study highlights the use of 89Zr-oxalate in diagnostic applications with the help of WinAct and IDAC2.1 software. It presents the biodistribution of the drug in various organs and tissues, including bone, blood, muscle, liver, lung, spleen, kidneys, inflammations, and tumors, and analyzes the maximum amount of nuclear transformation per Bq intake for each organ. The retention time of the maximum nuclear transformation and the absorbed doses of the drug in various organs and tissues are also examined. Data from clinical and laboratory studies on radiopharmaceuticals are used to estimate the coefficients of transition. The accumulation and excretion of the radiopharmaceutical in the organs is assumed to follow an exponential law. The coefficients of transition from the organs to the blood and vice versa are estimated using a combination of statistical programs and digitized data from the literature. WinAct and IDAC 2.1 software are used to calculate the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the human body and to estimate the absorbed doses in organs and tissues. The results of this study can provide valuable information for the biokinetic modeling of wide-spectrum diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. The results show that 89Zr-oxalate has a high affinity for bones and a relatively low impact on healthy organs, making it helpful in targeting bone metastases. This study provides valuable information for further research on the development of this drug for potential clinical applications.

Overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation and radical changes of river morphology in the Bengal basin has posed difficulties to sustainable management of this resource. Forty groundwater samples were collected from tube wells of the pre-monsoon and postmonsoon seasons in 2020, and the water parameters were analyzed. The hydrogeochemical studies, bivariate plots, and multivariate techniques were used to evaluate the rock-water interactions, influencing factors, and contamination pathways. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract several directions in the data space and understand the different geochemical processes. Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis coupled with the post hoc ANOVA test of variance was also used to divide the sampling sites based on the geochemical water facies. The PHREEQC-3v software was used to measure the partial pressure of CO2 in groundwater and elucidate the chemical reactions controlling the water chemistry. Near-neutral pH (7.4) and high EC (813.2 μS/cm), TDS (507.35 mg/L), and total hardness (383.45 mg/L) characterize the groundwaters of the study area. The research revealed that the order of abundance of cations was Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>K+ and of anions was HCO3−>>Cl->SO42−>NO3->PO43-. The PCA revealed that the chemical properties of the groundwater are derived from rock-water interactions. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that two distinct groundwater zones were affected by neighboring river flow and irrigation return flow. Several diagrams suggested that the water was mainly of Ca-HCO3 type originating from chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals with advanced water-rock interaction. The analyzed groundwater was supersaturated with calcite and partially saturated with dolomite. As a result, the chemical features of groundwater in the study area were largely dependent on the water-rock interaction, local lithological conditions, and neighboring river morphology. This study can be helpful for the improvement of water resource management, especially for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The demand for small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is massively increasing these days, due to the wide variety of applications utilizing such vehicles to perform tasks that may be dangerous or just to save time, effort, or cost. Small UAVs navigation system mainly depends on the integration between Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Inertial Measurement Unit (INS) to estimate the Positions, Velocities, and Attitudes (PVT) of the vehicle. Without GNSS such UAVs cannot navigate for long periods of time depending on INS alone, as the low-cost INS typically exhibits massive accumulation of errors during GNSS absence. Given the importance of ensuring full operability of the UAVs even during GNSS signals unavailability, other sensors must be used to bound the INS errors and enhance the navigation system performance. This paper proposes an enhanced UAV navigation system based on integration between monocular camera, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) system, and INS. In addition to using variable EKF weighting scheme. The paper also investigates this integration in the case of low density of UWB anchors, to reduce the cost required for such UWB system infrastructure. A GoPro Camera and UWB rover were attached to the belly of a quadcopter, an on the shelf commercial drone (3DR Solo), during the experimental flight. The velocity of the vehicle is estimated with Optical Flow (OF) from camera successive images, while the range measurements between the UWB rover and the stationary UWB anchors, which were distributed on the field, were used to estimate UAV position.

During the last decade, the number of applications of UAVs has continuously increased, making the global UAV market one of those with the highest rate of growth. The worldwide increasing usage of UAVs is causing an ever-growing demand for efficient solutions in order to make them usable in every kind of working condition. In fact, nowadays the main restriction to the usage of UAVs is probably the need of reliable position estimates provided by using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): since UAVs mostly rely on the integration of GNSS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) to properly fulfil their tasks, they face a major challenge while navigating in GNSS denied environments. The goal of this paper is that of investigating possible strategies to reduce such main restriction to UAV usage, i.e. enabling flights in GNSS denied environment by providing position estimates with accuracy quite comparable to that of standard GNSS receivers currently mounted on commercialized drones. To be more specific, this paper proposes the combined use of a novel Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) Radar, a set of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) devices, and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) measurements in order to compensate for the unavailability of the GNSS signal units. A 24-GHz micro FMCW radar and a UWB device have been attached to a quadcopter during the flight. The radar receives the reflections from ground scatterers, whereas the UWB system provides range measurements between a UWB rover mounted on the UAV and a set of UWB anchors distributed along the flying area.

Abstract The study was carried out to understand the hydro-geochemistry and ground water quality in the Rajshahi City of Bangladesh. A total of 240 groundwater samples were collected in 2 years, i.e., 2009 and 2010 covering the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Aquifer soil samples were collected from 30 locations during the monsoon in 2000. All the samples were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters according to standard methods of analysis, these includes pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, and total alkalinity, major cations such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Fe2+, major anions such as HCO3 −, NO3 −, Cl−, and SO4 2− and heavy metals such as Mn, Zn, Cu, As, Cd and Pb. The results illustrated that the groundwater was slightly acidic to neutral in nature, total hardness observed in all samples fall under the hard to a very hard category. The bicarbonate and calcium concentration in the groundwater exceeded the permissible limits may be due to the dissolution of calcite. The concentration of calcium, iron, manganese, arsenic and lead were far above the permissible limit in most of the shallow tube well samples. The study found that the major hydrochemical facies was identified to be calcium-bicarbonate-type (CaHCO3). A higher concentration of metals including Fe, Mn, As and Pb was found indicating various health hazards. The rock–water interaction was the major geochemical process controlling the chemistry of groundwater in the study area. The study results revealed that the quality of the groundwater in Rajshahi City area was of great concern and not suitable for human consumption without adequate treatment.

Recently, sophisticated multi-sensor systems have been implemented on-board modern Unmanned Aerial Systems. This allows for producing a variety of mapping products for different mapping applications. The resulting accuracies match the traditional well engineered manned systems. This paper presents the results of a geometric accuracy assessment project for unmanned systems equipped with multi-sensor systems for direct georeferencing purposes. There are a number of parameters that either individually or collectively affect the quality and accuracy of a final airborne mapping product. This paper focuses on identifying and explaining these parameters and their mutual interaction and correlation. Accuracy Assessment of the final ground object positioning accuracy is presented through real-world 8 flight missions that were flown in Quebec, Canada. The achievable precision of map production is addressed in some detail.

The present research investigated the chemical characterization and insecticidal activity of n-Hexane extracts of Epaltes divaricata (NH-EDx) along with their chief derivatives n-Hexadecanoic acid (n-HDa) and n-Octadecanoic acid (n-ODa) against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti and lepidopteran pest Spodoptera litura. Chemical screening of NH-EDx through GC–MS analysis delivered nine major derivatives, and the maximum peak area percentage was observed in n-Hexadecanoic acid (14.63%) followed by n-Octadecadienoic acid (6.73%). The larvicidal activity of NH-EDx (1000 ppm), n-HDa (5 ppm), and n-ODa (5 ppm) against the A. aegypti and S. litura larvae showed significant mortality rate in a dose-dependent way across all the instars. The larvicidal activity was profound in the A. aegypti as compared to the S. litura across all the larval instars. The sublethal dosages of NH-EDx (500 ppm), n-HDa (2.5 ppm), and n-ODa (2.5 ppm) also showed alterations in the larval/pupal durations and adult longevity in both the insect pests. The enzyme activity revealed that the α- and β-carboxylesterase levels were decreased significantly in both the insect pests, whereas the levels of GST and CYP450 uplifted in a dose-dependent manner of NH-EDx, n-HDa, and n-ODa. Correspondingly, midgut tissues such as the epithelial layer (EL), gut lumen (GL), peritrophic matrix (Pm), and brush border membrane (BBM) were significantly altered in their morphology across both A. aegypti and S. litura against the NH-EDx and their bioactive metabolites. NH-EDx and their bioactive metabolites n-HDa and n-ODa showed significant larvicidal, growth retardant, enzyme inhibition, and midgut toxicity effects against two crucial agriculturally and medically challenging insect pest of ecological importance.