Potential use of waste from tree pruning and recovered plastic to obtain a building material: Case study of Merida, Mexico

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1222-1230
Author(s):  
Ricardo Herbé Cruz-Estrada ◽  
Javier Guillén-Mallette ◽  
Carlos Vidal Cupul-Manzano ◽  
Josué Iván Balam-Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Building Material ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Plastic Composite ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Tree Pruning ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Better Than

This work presents a study on the use of wood and plastic wastes generated in abundance in Merida, Mexico, to help to reduce them in order to mitigate environmental deterioration. The use of these wastes is proposed to obtain a low-cost building material. So, the escalation process (i.e., extrusion) at the pilot level to obtain a prototype of a wood–plastic composite (WPC) corrugated sheet to evaluate the technical feasibility to make a low-cost product is reported. A corrugated sheet with recycled high-density polyethylene (R-HDPE) was produced. The R-HDPE was collected from Merida’s Separation Plant. The wood came from the trimmings of different varieties of trees and shrubs that are periodically pruned. WPC sheets with virgin HDPE were prepared to assess its effect on the materials’ mechanical performance. The wood/HDPE weight ratio was 40/60. The performance of the WPC sheets was compared with that of commercial products with similar characteristics, namely acrylic and polyester sheets reinforced with fibreglass, and black asphalt-saturated cardboard sheets. Thus, the effect of natural weathering on the maximum tensile tearing force and on the maximum flexural load of the different types of sheets was evaluated. Although the mechanical performance of the WPC sheets was lower than that of the acrylic and polyacrylic sheets, their performance was much better than that of the cheap black asphalt-saturated cardboard sheets. So, they are a good option to be used as low-cost temporary roofing.

scholarly journals The use of extruded finite-element models as a novel alternative to tomography-based models: a case study using early mammal jaws

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (161) ◽  
pp. 20190674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Melisa Morales-García ◽  
Thomas D. Burgess ◽  
Jennifer J. Hill ◽  
Pamela G. Gill ◽  
Emily J. Rayfield
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Stress And Strain ◽  
Finite Element Models ◽  
Average Width ◽  
Performance Results

Finite-element (FE) analysis has been used in palaeobiology to assess the mechanical performance of the jaw. It uses two types of models: tomography-based three-dimensional (3D) models (very accurate, not always accessible) and two-dimensional (2D) models (quick and easy to build, good for broad-scale studies, cannot obtain absolute stress and strain values). Here, we introduce extruded FE models, which provide fairly accurate mechanical performance results, while remaining low-cost, quick and easy to build. These are simplified 3D models built from lateral outlines of a relatively flat jaw and extruded to its average width. There are two types: extruded (flat mediolaterally) and enhanced extruded (accounts for width differences in the ascending ramus). Here, we compare mechanical performance values resulting from four types of FE models (i.e. tomography-based 3D, extruded, enhanced extruded and 2D) in Morganucodon and Kuehneotherium . In terms of absolute values, both types of extruded model perform well in comparison to the tomography-based 3D models, but enhanced extruded models perform better. In terms of overall patterns, all models produce similar results. Extruded FE models constitute a viable alternative to the use of tomography-based 3D models, particularly in relatively flat bones.

scholarly journals Integration of child–parent screening and cascade testing for familial hypercholesterolaemia

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S Wald ◽  
Nicholas J Wald
Keyword(s):  
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
Median Cost ◽  
Cascade Screening ◽  
Cascade Testing ◽  
Screening Study ◽  
Index Cases ◽  
Better Than

Objective To integrate child–parent screening and cascade testing into a single pathway-child-parent cascade screening (CPCS), for the identification of familial hypercholesterolaemia in the population and to estimate the number of new familial hypercholesterolaemia cases identified per child screened and the associated costs. Methods We applied the results from the published MRC Child–Parent Screening Study to 10,000 children, together with cascade testing first degree relatives of parents with a familial hypercholesterolaemia mutation identified by child–parent screening. We estimated the number of familial hypercholesterolaemia cases identified per child screened, the median cost per familial hypercholesterolaemia case identified and the median cost per child screened to identify one case using a range of cholesterol and familial hypercholesterolaemia mutation testing costs. We present a case study to illustrate the application of CPCS in practice. Results CPCS identifies one new familial hypercholesterolaemia case per 70 children screened at a median estimated cost of £960 per new familial hypercholesterolaemia case or £4 per child screened. CPCS identifies an average of four new familial hypercholesterolaemia cases per family. In the case study, six new familial hypercholesterolaemia cases were identified, and preventive treatment started in five, with the index child expected to start when older. Conclusion CPCS for familial hypercholesterolaemia are complementary strategies. The sustainability of cascade testing relies on identifying new unrelated index cases. This is achieved with population-wide child–parent screening. Integrated CPCS is currently better than either method of familial hypercholesterolaemia detection alone. It has the potential to identify all, or nearly all, individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia in the population at low cost.

Phytoremediation: using plants as biopumps to improve degraded environments

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Robinson ◽  
Steve Green ◽  
Tessa Mills ◽  
Brent Clothier ◽  
Marijn van der Velde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Plant Physiology ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Water ◽  
Leaf Fall ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Basic Plant ◽  
Potential Use

Plants pump large amounts of water, solutes, and organic matter as part of their normal physiological processes. This pumping action can be exploited to improve degraded environments by stabilising, removing, or breaking-down contaminants in the substrates. In addition, soil amendments such as fertilisers and microbes may also be added to enhance the efficacy of the operation. Basic plant physiology sets limits on the capacity of phytoremediation. However, combining this technology with the production of saleable products may render the extra time needed for clean-up relatively unimportant. Phytoremediation is still poorly developed, particularly the phytoextraction of heavy metals. Continual innovation will greatly expand the scope and efficacy of phytoremediation. The greatest potential use for this technology may be in developing countries that have the highest levels of environmental degradation, and scant funds for remediation. Phytoremediation could provide a low-cost and sustainable way to improve local economies. Here a case study is reported on the phytoremediation of a 3.6 ha sawdust pile that was leaching unacceptable amounts of boron (B) into local waterways. High water-use poplars were used to control leaching and potentially remove B from the site via phytoextraction. Selected trees that are coppiced before leaf-fall could be mulched and used to provide 'organic' B on nearby orchards that are deficient in this element.

scholarly journals Kinetic and equilibrium isotherm studies for the removal of acid blue 113 dye by dried corallina officinalis alga as a novel eco-friendly adsorbent

2021 ◽  
Vol 240 ◽  
pp. 02004
Author(s):  
Latifa Boukarma ◽  
Rachid Aziam ◽  
Said Baroud ◽  
Elhassane Eddaoudi ◽  
Fouad Sinan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Corallina Officinalis ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Pseudo Second Order ◽  
Acid Blue 113 ◽  
Langmuir And Freundlich Models ◽  
Acid Blue ◽  
Better Than

Water pollution is an alarming problem in developing countries. Dried algae can be considered as potential and suitable bio-sorbents due to their fast and easy growth and high availability. The special surface properties of these algae allow them to adsorb different types of organic and inorganic pollutants from solutions. In this context, the removal of anionic acid blue 113 dye (AB113) from aqueous solutions by dried Corallina officinalis alga as low-cost bio-sorbent was chosen as a case study of a typical remediation process of water contaminants. The effect of various environmental and physicochemical parameters has been studied. The results show that the equilibrium adsorption was established within 120 min. The sorption phenomenon was investigated by determining the process kinetics at different concentrations and the adsorption isotherms at different temperatures. The kinetics results showed that the pseudo second-order kinetics model generates the best agreement with the experimental data. The modeling results showed that linear Langmuir and Freundlich models appear to fit the adsorption data better than Temkin model for the adsorption of AB113 onto dried C. officinalis alga. It can be concluded that C. Officinalis alga can be successfully used as adsorbent.

Low Temperature Fault Isolation Using Soft Defect Localization

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristopher D. Staller
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Cold Temperature ◽  
Multiple Point ◽  
Defect Localization ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract Cold temperature failures are often difficult to resolve, especially those at extreme low levels (< -40°C). Momentary application of chill spray can confirm the failure mode, but is impractical during photoemission microscopy (PEM), laser scanning microscopy (LSM), and multiple point microprobing. This paper will examine relatively low-cost cold temperature systems that can hold samples at steady state extreme low temperatures and describe a case study where a cold temperature stage was combined with LSM soft defect localization (SDL) to rapidly identify the cause of a complex cold temperature failure mechanism.

Kajian Model Fisik Pengaruh Freeboard dan Susunan Buis Beton Sebagai Pemecah Gelombang Tenggelam Ambang Rendah (Pegar) Dalam Mereduksi Gelombang

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Zulkarnain Zulkarnain ◽  
Nadjadji Anwar
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Relative Depth ◽  
Submerged Breakwater ◽  
Wave Flume ◽  
Concrete Cylinder ◽  
Engineering Department ◽  
Sea Area ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Transmission Test ◽  
Better Than

The Research Center and Development of Water (Puslitbang) is currently developing the Submerged Breakwater in shallow sea area (PEGAR). The author is interested to examine the material that easily obtained in the field of RCP concrete cylinder. The observation is how it to be ability in function as submerged breakwater an go green and low cost. The physical model of wave transmission test is how the response to the structure in ability to damping of wave as the breakwater function. In this research breakwater used is submerged breakwater type by using concrete cylinder (buis beton). The purpose from this research is to know how the response of breakwater structure to the waves through it, with some variation of the structure by creating a structure with three variations of the arrangement and freeboard that is the relative depth with the crest width is constant. The wave generated test in this study is using regular waves in wave flume at FTSP Civil Engineering Department of Institute Technology Ten November. From the analysis of the effect of the installation of submerged breakwater by using concrete cylinder to the wave damping value, it can be concluded that the factors that are very influential is the freeboard and the composition of concrete cylinder. Scenario A (rigid vertical massive) is capable of producing the smallest value of kt is 0.33. As for scenario B (rigid horyzontal massive) with a damping value of 0.5, while the scenario C (rigid permeable) is only able to produce kt value of 0.71. Scenario A is better than scenario B and C Because the position of arrangement of A is very good used to damp wave in small or big freeboard conditions.

A Novel Wideband transition from Substrate Integrated Waveguide to Rectangular Waveguide

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyur Mahant ◽  
Hiren Mewada ◽  
Amit Patel ◽  
Alpesh Vala ◽  
Jitendra Chaudhari
Keyword(s):  
Rectangular Waveguide ◽  
Printed Circuit Board ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Circuit Board ◽  
Substrate Integrated Waveguide ◽  
Ka Band ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Millimeter Wave Circuits ◽  
Wideband Transition

Aim: In this article, wideband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and rectangular waveguide (RWG) transition operating in Ka-band is proposed Objective: In this article, wideband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and rectangular waveguide (RWG) transition operating in Ka-band is proposed. Method: Coupling patch etched on the SIW cavity to couple the electromagnetic energy from SIW to RWG. Moreover, metasurface is introduced into the radiating patch to enhance bandwidth. To verify the functionality of the proposed structure back to back transition is designed and fabricated on a single layer substrate using standard printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication technology. Results: Measured results matches with the simulation results, measured insertion loss is less than 1.2 dB and return loss is better than 3 dB for the frequency range of 28.8 to 36.3 GHz. By fabricating transition with 35 SRRs bandwidth of the proposed transition can be improved. Conclusion: The proposed transition has advantages like compact in size, easy to fabricate, low cost and wide bandwidth. Proposed structure is a good candidate for millimeter wave circuits and systems.

Assessing Pruning Knowledge towards Effective Tree Maintenance: A case study of four Local Authorities in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (13) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Norainiratna Badrulhisham ◽  
Noriah Othman
Keyword(s):  
Publishing House ◽  
Knowledge Level ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
International Publishing ◽  
Maintenance Activities ◽  
Tree Pruning ◽  
Open Access Article

Pruning is one of the most crucial tree maintenance activities which give an impact on the tree's health and structure. Besides, improper pruning will contribute to the risk of injury to property and the public. This study aims to assess pruning knowledge among four Local authorities in Malaysia. Results found that 69.3 percent of tree pruning workers have a Good pruning knowledge level. However, Topping, pruning types and pruning cut dimension shows the lowest mean percentage of the correct answer. The findings also show that there is a significant positive relationship between pruning knowledge and education level and frequency attending pruning courses.Keywords: Tree pruning; knowledge; sustainable practices; urban treeseISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2054 

Municipal wastewater treatment with pond–constructed wetland system: a case study

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 325-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Wang ◽  
X. Bai ◽  
J. Qiu ◽  
B. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Oxidation Pond ◽  
System A ◽  
Treated Effluent ◽  
Wetland System ◽  
Oxidation Ponds ◽  
Better Than

The performance of a pond–constructed wetland system in the treatment of municipal wastewater in Kiaochow city was studied; and comparison with oxidation ponds system was conducted. In the post-constructed wetland, the removal of COD, TN and TP is 24%, 58.5% and 24.8% respectively. The treated effluent from the constructed wetland can meet the Chinese National Agricultural and Irrigation Standard. The comparison between pond–constructed wetland system and oxidation pond system shows that total nitrogen removal in a constructed wetland is better than that in an oxidation pond and the TP removal is inferior. A possible reason is the low dissolved oxygen concentration in the wetland. Constructed wetlands can restrain the growth of algae effectively, and can produce obvious ecological and economical benefits.

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