scholarly journals Assessing Safety and Suitability of Old Trails for Hiking Using Ground and Drone Surveys

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiou Yih Lee ◽  
Chengju Du ◽  
Zhihui Chen ◽  
Hao Wu ◽  
Kailang Guan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Strength Distribution ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Hiking Trails ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Trail Condition ◽  
Recreation Site

Hiking is a popular recreational activity and to cater to public demand, it is apt to increase the number of hiking trails. Various methodologies have been proposed to evaluate the suitability of forest trails to be constructed as hiking trails, but they can be costly and require relevant knowledge in analyzing digital information through a high-throughput dataset. Therefore, there is a need to come up with a simple method to obtain first-hand information on the trail condition, particularly considering the aspects of safety and suitability to hikers, using both on-ground and aerial observations. In this study, we introduce a new assessment approach to analyze and select old forest trails to be reconstructed as new hiking trails. This is useful for park managers who prioritize safety, comfort, and aesthetic features of the recreation site for their visitors. Trail condition assessment was carried out along the trail whereby a 2×2 m sampling plot was constructed at every 100 m. Aerial drone survey was conducted to produce an ortho-mosaic that revealed the percentage of exposed trail from above. Potential phytotourism products and scenic spots were identified and recorded for their locations along the trail to promote the aesthetic value of the recreation site. A strength distribution plot was prepared based on the trail condition, canopy coverage, and aesthetic features along the trail that were categorized using three altitude ranges (n ≤ 150 m, 150 < n < 250 m, n ≥ 250 m a.s.l.). This is to assess the trade-offs in safety, comfort, and aesthetic features along the trail. The development of this methodology offers a direct and cost-effective, yet informative approach to evaluate the quality of a potential hiking trail, thus could effectively aid in the promotion of nature-based tourism.

Coating of Polystyrene Surface with REDV-Gelatin Conjugate for Selective Isolation of Endothelial Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 904 ◽  
pp. 287-292
Author(s):  
Wan Song Zhang ◽  
Ya Jie Fu ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Xuan Hui Qiu ◽  
Ze Yuan Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
Internal Surface ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cell Viability Assay ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Migration Assay ◽  
Gelatin Coating

Endothelial cells (EC), which line the internal surface of blood vessels, play various essential roles in controlling vascular function. The mouse is an important animal model for the study of vascular biology and cardiovascular diseases. However, the isolation of primary EC from the murine aorta is challenging because they are readily contaminated by smooth muscle cells (SMC). A previous study developed a simple method to isolate murine EC from SMC. By taking advantage of the differential sedimentation rate between the two cells, the EC was selectively enriched with collagen-coated polystyrene surfaces. Our study further improved this method by introducing a biomimetic peptide REDV (Arg-Glu-Asp-Val), which may bind specifically to EC but not to SMC or fibroblasts. Firstly, REDV-gelatin conjugate was synthesized by using the amine-to-sulfhydryl crosslinker SMCC. REDV-gelatin coating was then prepared on polystyrene surfaces, and their affinities to EC and SMC were subsequently investigated. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis showed that EC adhesion to the gelatin coating was significantly promoted by REDV peptide conjugation. Moreover, cell migration assay and cell viability assay also showed that the conjugation of REDV does not affect EC migration, and this coating did not show cytotoxicity against EC. This gelatin-REDV coating provides a cost-effective and straightforward tool for isolating EC from SMC, which may facilitate in vitro investigations of EC from mice.

An Innovative Cost-Effective Approach for Characterization of Removable Prosthesis - Case Series

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tushar
Keyword(s):  
Case Series ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Functional Rehabilitation ◽  
Denture Base ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
Removable Denture ◽  
Removable Prosthesis ◽  
Cost Effective Alternative ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
The Cost

Esthetics plays a crucial role in rehabilitation of removable dentures to achieve a pleasant smile. Denture esthetics is the effect produced, which improves the beauty and attractiveness of a person. With the advances of implants and ceramics, the conventional removable denture needs to be updated. denture characterization is a must in avoiding denture look and giving natural look. Giving the prosthesis as close as possible to the natural apparatus before the tooth loss is the key to a successful prosthetic, esthetic and functional rehabilitation. As a prosthodontist dealing in fulfilling the aesthetic challenges an economical alternative to high-end costly procedures is a must considering the Indian scenario, keeping in mind the biocompatibility and longevity of the treatment. As per literature light cure, gum staining is one of the techniques for masking denture base color and imparting natural color to mucosa but considering the cost involved many patients requiring aesthetic enhancement of prosthesis avoid going for such treatment thereby compromising their aesthetic. the present case series describe an innovative cost-effective alternative to the previously describe technique for masking the denture base color by using composite mixed with stains to replicate the natural apparatus.

scholarly journals Energy Sustainability Study of a Rural ICT Telecenter at the Bario Highland

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Omar Abdullah ◽  
Voon Chun Yung ◽  
Audra Anak Jom ◽  
Alvin Yeo Wee ◽  
Martin Anyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Combined System ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Simple Method

The eBario project has won the eAsia Award and the Mondialogo Engineering Award in 2004 and 2005 respectively for it’s successful implementation of an Information and Telecommunications Technology Center (ICT) and solar renewable energy-incentive rural community project at the Bario Highland of Sarawak, East Malaysia, Borneo (http://www.unimas.my/ebario/). Although solar photovoltaic (PV) energy has been opted for power generation at the ICT Telecenter for the past five years, there is still a need to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the current energy setup as well as to conduct sustainability study taking into account factors such as system efficiency, weather, costs of fuel, operating costs, as well as to explore the feasibility of implementing alternative energy resources for the rural ICT Telecenter. Recent theoretical study conducted has shown that renewable combined power systems are more sustainable in terms of supplying electricity to the ICT Telecenter, and in a more cost-effective way compared to a standalone PV system which is subject to the cloud and the recent dense haze problems. For that purpose, two combined power systems are being put into consideration namely PV-Hydro and PV-Hydro-Fuel Cell, where the total simulated annualized cost for these two system configurations are US$10,847 and US$76,010 respectively as far as the present location is concerned. The PVHydro-Fuel Cell produces electrical energy at the amount of 3,577 kWh/yr while the annual energy consumption is 3,203 kWhr/yr. On the other hand, PV-Hydro produces 3,789 kWhr/yr of electricity annually load which consumes energy at 3,209 kWhr/yr. Results thus obtained has shown that the PVHydro scheme is expected to have advantages over the existing PV standalone system. Firstly, it is more cost-effective. Secondly, it provides the best outcomes for the local indigenous community and the natural highland environments both for now and the future. Thirdly, it also able to relate the continuity of both economic and social aspects of the local society as a whole. As the combined PV-Hydro system had been chosen, plus for completeness purposes, the present paper also discussed the custom design and construction of a small waterwheel breast-shot hydro-generator, suited to the local location and existing water energy resources. Energy saving design calculations and Sankey diagram showing the energy flows for the new combined system are also given herein. Finally, the energy system performance equations and the performance curves introduced in this study provide a new simple method of evaluating renewable energy systems.

ADAPTIVE DATA DISSEMINATION IN MOBILE SENSOR NETWORKS

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (04) ◽  
pp. 435-457
Author(s):  
ATHANASIOS KINALIS ◽  
SOTIRIS NIKOLETSEAS
Keyword(s):  
Sensor Networks ◽  
Data Dissemination ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Inhibition Mechanism ◽  
Delivery Ratio ◽  
Message Delivery ◽  
Network Parameter ◽  
Trade Offs

Motivated by emerging applications, we consider sensor networks where the sensors themselves (not just the sinks) are mobile. Furthermore, we focus on mobility scenarios characterized by heterogeneous, highly changing mobility roles in the network. To capture these high dynamics of diverse sensory motion we propose a novel network parameter, the mobility level, which, although simple and local, quite accurately takes into account both the spatial and speed characteristics of motion. We then propose adaptive data dissemination protocols that use the mobility level estimation to optimize performance, by basically exploiting high mobility (redundant message ferrying) as a cost-effective replacement of flooding, e.g. the sensors tend to dynamically propagate less data in the presence of high mobility, while nodes of high mobility are favored for moving data around. These dissemination schemes are enhanced by a distance-sensitive probabilistic message flooding inhibition mechanism that further reduces communication cost, especially for fast nodes of high mobility level, and as distance to data destination decreases. Our simulation findings demonstrate significant performance gains of our protocols compared to non-adaptive protocols, i.e. adaptation increases the success rate and reduces latency (even by 15%) while at the same time significantly reducing energy dissipation (in most cases by even 40%). Also, our adaptive schemes achieve significantly higher message delivery ratio and satisfactory energy-latency trade-offs when compared to flooding when sensor nodes have limited message queues.

scholarly journals “Adherent” versus Other Isolation Strategies for Expanding Purified, Potent, and Activated Human NK Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senthamil R. Selvan ◽  
John P. Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Adoptive Cell Therapy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Antitumor Potential ◽  
Healthy Donors

Natural killer (NK) cells have long been hypothesized to play a central role in the development of new immunotherapies to combat a variety of cancers due to their intrinsic ability to lyse tumor cells. For the past several decades, various isolation and expansion methods have been developed to harness the full antitumor potential of NK cells. These protocols have varied greatly between laboratories and several have been optimized for large-scale clinical use despite associated complexity and high cost. Here, we present a simple method of “adherent” enrichment and expansion of NK cells, developed using both healthy donors’ and cancer patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and compare its effectiveness with various published protocols to highlight the pros and cons of their use in adoptive cell therapy. By building upon the concepts and data presented, future research can be adapted to provide simple, cost-effective, reproducible, and translatable procedures for personalized treatment with NK cells.

Nasal sarcoidosis: a cause for a medical rhinoplasty?

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (10) ◽  
pp. 1073-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
J van Griethuysen ◽  
R Kuchai ◽  
A S Taghi ◽  
H A Saleh
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nasal Reconstruction ◽  
Nasal Deformity ◽  
Effective Technique ◽  
Nasal Bridge ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Cost Effective Technique ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Long Acting

AbstractObjective:We report the use of triamcinolone injections to correct severe nasal deformity due to sarcoidosis, as an alternative to formal surgical rhinoplasty.Case report:A 30-year-old woman with a long-standing history of sarcoidosis presented to a tertiary referral rhinology clinic complaining of breathing difficulty and nasal deformity. Flexible nasoendoscopy revealed red nasal plaques typical of nasal sarcoidosis, together with significant widening of the nasal bridge. Triamcinolone, a long-acting corticosteroid, was injected both intralesionally and subcutaneously over the nasal dorsum, at zero, three and eight months, resulting in long-lasting improvement of the nasal shape.Conclusion:Sarcoidosis is a non-caseating, granulomatous, epithelioid inflammation. Otorhinolaryngological manifestations occur in approximately 10 per cent of patients; however, there is little published experience of nasal reconstruction in such patients. We describe a quick, simple and relatively cost-effective technique, with little or no co-morbidity, with which to improve the aesthetic and symptomatic outcomes of nasal sarcoidosis.

Analysis and Optimization of a Passive Micromixer With Curved-Shaped Baffles for Efficient Mixing With Low Pressure Loss in Continuous Flow

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar A. Cortes-Quiroz ◽  
Alireza Azarbadegan ◽  
Emadaldin Moeendarbary ◽  
Mehrdad Zangeneh
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Mixing Efficiency ◽  
Outlet Section ◽  
Optimization Strategy ◽  
Mixing Index ◽  
Trade Offs

Numerical simulations and an optimization method are used to study the design of a planar T-micromixer with curved-shaped baffles in the mixing channel. The mixing efficiency and the pressure loss in the mixing channel have been evaluated for Reynolds number (Re) in the mixing channel in the range 1 to 250. A Mixing index (Mi) has been defined to quantify the mixing efficiency. Three geometric dimensions: radius of baffle, baffles pitch and height of the channel, are taken as design parameters, whereas the mixing index at the outlet section and the pressure loss in the mixing channel are the performance parameters used to optimize the micromixer geometry. To investigate the effect of design and operation parameters on the device performance, a systematic design and optimization methodology is applied, which combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with an optimization strategy that integrates Design of Experiments (DOE), Surrogate modeling (SM) and Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) techniques. The Pareto front of designs with the optimum trade-offs of mixing index and pressure loss is obtained for different values of Re. The micromixer can enhance mixing using the mechanisms of diffusion (lower Re) and convection (higher Re) to achieve values over 90%, in particular for Re in the order of 100 that has been found the cost-effective level for volume flow. This study applies a systematic procedure for evaluation and optimization of a planar T-mixer with baffles in the channel that promote transversal 3-D flow as well as recirculation secondary flows that enhance mixing.

scholarly journals Consuming sustainable seafood: guidelines, recommendations and realities

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 1503-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna K Farmery ◽  
Gabrielle O’Kane ◽  
Alexandra McManus ◽  
Bridget S Green
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Seafood Consumption ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Seafood Industry ◽  
Consumption Advice

AbstractObjectiveEncouraging people to eat more seafood can offer a direct, cost-effective way of improving overall health outcomes. However, dietary recommendations to increase seafood consumption have been criticised following concern over the capacity of the seafood industry to meet increased demand, while maintaining sustainable fish stocks. The current research sought to investigate Australian accredited practising dietitians’ (APD) and public health nutritionists’ (PHN) views on seafood sustainability and their dietary recommendations, to identify ways to better align nutrition and sustainability goals.DesignA self-administered online questionnaire exploring seafood consumption advice, perceptions of seafood sustainability and information sources of APD and PHN. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via open and closed questions. Quantitative data were analysed with χ2 tests and reported using descriptive statistics. Content analysis was used for qualitative data.SettingAustralia.SubjectsAPD and PHN were targeted to participate; the sample includes respondents from urban and regional areas throughout Australia.ResultsResults indicate confusion around the concept of seafood sustainability and where to obtain information, which may limit health professionals’ ability to recommend the best types of seafood to maximise health and sustainability outcomes. Respondents demonstrated limited understanding of seafood sustainability, with 7·5 % (n 6/80) satisfied with their level of understanding.ConclusionsNutrition and sustainability goals can be better aligned by increasing awareness on seafood that is healthy and sustainable. For health professionals to confidently make recommendations, or identify trade-offs, more evidence-based information needs to be made accessible through forums such as dietetic organisations, industry groups and nutrition programmes.

Decarbonisation - Act Now: An Accessible Pathway for All Upstream Operators to Reduce Direct Emissions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Jones ◽  
Adam Joyce ◽  
Nikhil Balasubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Abatement Cost ◽  
Cost Curve ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Novel Technologies

Abstract Objectives/Scope There are many different views on the Energy Transition. What is agreed is that to achieve current climate change targets, the journey to deep decarbonisation must start now. Scope 3 emissions are clearly the major contributor to total emissions and must be actively reduced. However, if Oil and Gas extraction is to be continued, then operators must understand, measure, and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This paper examines the constituent parts of typical Scope 1 emissions for O&G assets and discusses a credible pathway and initial steps towards decarbonisation of operations. Methods, Procedures, Process Emissions from typical assets are investigated: data is examined to determine the overall and individual contributions of Scope 1 emissions. A three tiered approach to emissions savings is presented: – Reduce overall energy usage – Seek to Remove environmental losses – Replace energy supply with low carbon alternatives A simple method, used to assess carbon emissions, based on an abatement of carbon from a cost per CO2 tonne averted basis is described. This method, Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC), is based solely on cost efficiency. Other criteria such as safety, weight, footprint and reliability are not considered. Credible pathway for reduction of Scope 1 emissions is presented. Taking appropriate actions as described in the pathway, contributors are eliminated in a strategic order, allowing operators to contribute to deep decarbonisation. Results, Observations, Conclusions A typical offshore installation was modelled with a number of carbon abatement measures implemented. Results are presented as cost effective or non-cost-effective CO2 measures together with the residual CO2 emissions. Based on the data presented, many of the replace measures have a higher cost per tonne of CO2 abated than reduce and remove measure. These findings indicate that additional technological advancement may be needed to make alternative power solutions commercially viable. It also indicates that several CO2 abatement measures are cost effective today. The pathway proposes actions to implement carbon savings for offshore operators, it differentiates actions which can be taken today and those which require further technological advancement before they become commercially viable. The intent of this pathway is to demonstrate that the energy transition is not solely the preserve of the largest operators and every company can take positive steps towards supporting decarbonisation. Novel/Additive Information The world needs security of energy supply. Hydrocarbons are still integral; however, oil and gas operators must contribute to carbon reduction for society to meet the energy transition challenges. As government and societal appetite for decarbonisation heightens, demands are growing for traditional hydrocarbon assets to reduce their carbon footprint if they are to remain part of the energy mix. Society and therefore regulators will demand that more is done to address emissions during this transitional phase, consequently necessitating that direct emissions are reduced as much as possible. The pathway is accessible to all today, we need not wait for novel technologies to act.

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