scholarly journals A Century of Riverbank Protection and River Training in Bangladesh

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Oberhagemann ◽  
A. M. Aminul Haque ◽  
Angela Thompson
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Protection Technology ◽  
River Training

Protecting against riverbank erosion along the world’s largest rivers is challenging. The Bangladesh Delta, bisected by the Brahmaputra River (also called the Jamuna River), is rife with complexity. Here, an emerging middle-income country with the world’s highest population density coexists with the world’s most unpredictable and largest braided, sand-bed river. Bangladesh has struggled over decades to protect against the onslaught of a continuously widening river corridor. Many of the principles implemented successfully in other parts of the world failed in Bangladesh. To this end, Bangladesh embarked on intensive knowledge-based developments and piloted new technologies. After two decades, successful, sustainable, low-cost riverbank protection technology was developed, suitable for the challenging river conditions. It was necessary to accept that no construction is permanent in this morphologically dynamic environment. What was initially born out of fund shortages became a cost-effective, systematic and adaptive approach to riverbank protection using improved knowledge, new materials, and new techniques, in the form of geobag revetments. This article provides an overview of the challenges faced when attempting to stabilize the riverbanks of the mighty rivers of Bangladesh. An overview of the construction of the major bridge crossings as well as riverbank protection schemes is detailed. Finally, a summary of lessons learned concludes the impressive progress made.

scholarly journals Affordable stroke therapy in high-, low- and middle-income countries: From Theradrive to Rehab CARES, a compact robot gym

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205566831770873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Jillian Johnson ◽  
Roshan Rai ◽  
Sarath Barathi ◽  
Rochelle Mendonca ◽  
Karla Bustamante-Valles
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Stroke Therapy ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Improve Access

Affordable technology-assisted stroke rehabilitation approaches can improve access to rehabilitation for low-resource environments characterized by the limited availability of rehabilitation experts and poor rehabilitation infrastructure. This paper describes the evolution of an approach to the implementation of affordable, technology-assisted stroke rehabilitation which relies on low-cost mechatronic/robot devices integrated with off-the-shelf or custom games. Important lessons learned from the evolution and use of Theradrive in the USA and in Mexico are briefly described. We present how a stronger and more compact version of the Theradrive is leveraged in the development of a new low-cost, all-in-one robot gym with four exercise stations for upper and lower limb therapy called Rehab Community-based Affordable Robot Exercise System (Rehab C.A.R.E.S). Three of the exercise stations are designed to accommodate versions of the 1 DOF haptic Theradrive with different custom handles or off-the-shelf commercial motion machine. The fourth station leverages a unique configuration of Wii-boards. Overall, results from testing versions of Theradrive in USA and Mexico in a robot gym suggest that the resulting presentation of the Rehab C.A.R.E.S robot gym can be deployed as an affordable computer/robot-assisted solution for stroke rehabilitation in developed and developing countries.

Design of a Small Scale Gas Turbine for a Hybrid Propulsion System

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Bryner ◽  
David Ransom ◽  
John Bishop ◽  
Shane Coogan ◽  
Grant Musgrove
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Propulsion System ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Gas Generator ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Hybrid Propulsion

As part of the Great Horned Owl (GHO) program Southwest Research Institute© (SwRI©) has developed a small, lightweight gas-turbine generator to provide power for an electric or hybrid electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This original design for a fuel-to-electricity component of a hybrid propulsion system was designed, built and tested at the SwRI facility in San Antonio, TX. The design is based on a patented SwRI gas-turbine configuration and went through five major design iterations leading to the final configuration. The design iterations of the gas generator were driven by aggressive targets for weight, size and performance that were part of program requirements. The design of the GHO machine evolved from the initial concept based on lessons learned from previous testing at SwRI and considerations to improve manufacturability and operability. Improvements to the design were also incorporated to meet performance goals and increase life of hot section parts. This machine is low-cost and simple to operate and in addition to the original design intent of fuel-to-electricity use in a hybrid propulsion system can be used as a technology demonstration platform. SwRI plans to use the GHO machine in projects such as instrumentation development, as a test bed for new technologies such as ceramic or additive manufactured parts and for use as a component in a hardware-in-the-loop system.

scholarly journals DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE BATHYMETRIC ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES USING NON-CONVENTIONAL PAYLOAD FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE INSPECTIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W15 ◽  
pp. 807-811
Author(s):  
F. Mugnai ◽  
A. Ridolfi ◽  
M. Bianchi ◽  
M. Franchi ◽  
G. Tucci
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Navigation Systems ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Sea Floor ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Spatial Reconstruction ◽  
Underwater Navigation

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> This paper focuses on the implementation of new techniques for bathymetric inspections. The scope is the exploitation of sensors, usually and commonly used for navigation, namely the altimeter and the Forward Looking Sonar (FLS), for identifying objects which are laying on the sea floor. In this particular framework, the low spatial resolution and coverage of these sensors have been enhanced through the application of classical computational geometry. The altimeter and the FLS are part of the most common underwater navigation systems, and they are vastly mounted on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. Although they are not designed for this kind of accurate measurements and for 3D spatial reconstruction, they are quite cost-effective if compared with standard multibeam acoustic systems. Developing a technique for exploiting such an affordable low cost and widely used sensor will empower the Cultural Heritage community of users, giving a feasible opportunity to perform effective archaeological campaigns also within small funded projects.</p>

scholarly journals Role of Fibrinolytic Enzymes in Anti-Thrombosis Therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farwa Altaf ◽  
Shourong Wu ◽  
Vivi Kasim
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Efficacy Rate ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Fibrinolytic Enzymes ◽  
Effective Manner

Thrombosis, a major cause of deaths in this modern era responsible for 31% of all global deaths reported by WHO in 2017, is due to the aggregation of fibrin in blood vessels which leads to myocardial infarction or other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Classical agents such as anti-platelet, anti-coagulant drugs or other enzymes used for thrombosis treatment at present could leads to unwanted side effects including bleeding complication, hemorrhage and allergy. Furthermore, their high cost is a burden for patients, especially for those from low and middle-income countries. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel and low-cost drugs for thrombosis treatment. Fibrinolytic enzymes, including plasmin like proteins such as proteases, nattokinase, and lumbrokinase, as well as plasminogen activators such as urokinase plasminogen activator, and tissue-type plasminogen activator, could eliminate thrombi with high efficacy rate and do not have significant drawbacks by directly degrading the fibrin. Furthermore, they could be produced with high-yield and in a cost-effective manner from microorganisms as well as other sources. Hence, they have been considered as potential compounds for thrombosis therapy. Herein, we will discuss about natural mechanism of fibrinolysis and thrombus formation, the production of fibrinolytic enzymes from different sources and their application as drugs for thrombosis therapy.

scholarly journals Moving conferences online: lessons learned from an international virtual meeting

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1961) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paris V. Stefanoudis ◽  
Leann M. Biancani ◽  
Sergio Cambronero-Solano ◽  
Malcolm R. Clark ◽  
Jonathan T. Copley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Economies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Income ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
International Conference ◽  
Virtual Meeting ◽  
Person Experience

We consider the opportunities and challenges associated with organizing a conference online, using a case study of a medium-sized (approx. 400 participants) international conference held virtually in August 2020. In addition, we present quantifiable evidence of the participants' experience using the results from an online post-conference questionnaire. Although the virtual meeting was not able to replicate the in-person experience in some aspects (e.g. less engagement between participants) the overwhelming majority of respondents found the meeting an enjoyable experience and would join similar events again. Notably, there was a strong desire for future in-person meetings to have at least some online component. Online attendance by lower-income researchers was higher compared with a past, similar-themed in-person meeting held in a high-income nation, but comparable to one held in an upper-middle-income nation. This indicates that online conferences are not a panacea for diversity and inclusivity, and that holding in-person meetings in developing economies can be at least as effective. Given that it is now relatively easy to stream contents of meetings online using low-cost methods, there are clear benefits in making all presented content accessible online, as well as organizing online networking events for those unable to attend in person.

scholarly journals Neonatal innovations in resource-limited settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 82-86
Author(s):  
Neha Agarwal ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Girish Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Neonatal Mortality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Care Technology ◽  
Year 2000

In the year 2000, Millennium Declaration was signed by the world leaders to reduce the under-5 mortality rate by two-thirds from the baseline figure in 1990. Millennium Development Goal 4 was replaced by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in 2015. Reduction in the neonatal mortality, which accounts for majority of the deaths in children under the age of 5 years, was an imminent goal of SDG. Despite these initiatives, the current trends in neonatal mortality are far away from the expected targets. To curb the rate of neonatal mortality, the neonatal services are expanding in India at a rapid pace. To bridge the gap between the availability and accessibility to the health care technology between the developed and developing countries, the current focus is toward the development of low-cost and effective technological innovations in neonatal care and ensuring their patenting and effective publicity. This should facilitate the translation of innovations into mass production and availability for practice with significant effect in low- and middle-income countries. Generation of evidence will increase the acceptability of these innovations by demonstrating their benefit over the currently available technologies. Fortuitously, India has developed many innovations in the neonatal health care. However, majority of the neonatologists are still unaware of the existing technological solutions, and the ways to optimally utilize them. This review is, therefore, an attempt to recognize such low-cost, effective, and sustainable innovations done in the field of neonatology, over the past few decades.

School Health and Nutrition: Policy and Programs

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (2_suppl2) ◽  
pp. S186-S192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Bundy
Keyword(s):  
School Health ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Nutrition Interventions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Nutrition Programs ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

This paper argues that there is now reliable evidence that ill health and malnutrition affect education access, participation, completion, and achievement, and that school-based health and nutrition programs can provide a cost-effective and low-cost solution. International coordination around this issue has been helped by a consensus framework to “Focus Resources on Effective School Health (FRESH),” developed jointly by UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF, Education International, and the World Bank, and launched at the World Education Forum in Dakar in April 2000 as part of the global effort to achieve the goal of Education for All (EFA). The need for school health and nutrition programs as part of EFA actions is now recognized by both countries and development partners, and examples of successful practical sector programs that have gone to scale are presented for both low- and middle-income countries. This paper argues that, despite this progress, there are two key unresolved issues related to the targeting of nutrition interventions toward school-age children. The first concerns the role of food as an incentive for participation in education, and the second concerns the appropriate target age group for nutrition interventions. It is suggested that finding clear answers to these key policy questions in nutrition could profoundly influence the impact of future school health and nutrition programs.

Lessons learned while developing, adapting and implementing a pilot parent-mediated behavioural intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in rural Bangladesh

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 611-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine M Blake ◽  
Eric Rubenstein ◽  
Peng-Chou Tsai ◽  
Hafizur Rahman ◽  
Sarah R Rieth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Native Child ◽  
Behavioural Strategies

Low- and middle-income countries often have limited resources, underdeveloped health systems and scarce knowledge of autism spectrum disorder. The objectives of this preliminary study were to develop and adapt intervention materials and to train a native clinician to implement a community-based parent-mediated behavioural intervention in rural Gaibandha, Bangladesh. Intervention materials to support parents’ use of behavioural strategies were developed and refined by US behavioural intervention experts and Bangladesh field experts. Study investigators trained a native child psychologist in developmental milestones and behavioural intervention techniques. The native clinician delivered a 1-day group education session attended by 10 families of children aged 7–9 years with autism spectrum disorder, followed by two one-on-one training sessions with each family to train and practice individualized strategies for targeted challenging behaviours. Preliminary qualitative results indicate the importance of materials that are culturally appropriate and at an adequate literacy level. All families expressed strong desires to have learned the behavioural strategies when their child was younger and vocalized their need for further support and tools to help their children. This study is a preliminary step to creating sustainable and low-cost autism spectrum disorder interventions in rural Bangladesh, and possibly for families in regions with similar cultural and socioeconomic status backgrounds.

scholarly journals Data Collection Smart and Simple: Evaluation and Metanalysis of Call Data From Studies Applying the 5Q Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Eitzinger
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Interactive Voice Response ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Completion Rate ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Feedback Data

Agricultural development projects often struggle to show impact because they lack agile and cost-effective data collection tools and approaches. Due to the lack of real-time feedback data, they are not responsive to emerging opportunities during project implementation and often miss the needs of beneficiaries. This study evaluates the application of the 5Q approach (5Q). It shows findings from analyzing more than 37,000 call log records from studies among five countries. Results show that response rate and completion status for interactive voice response (IVR) surveys vary between countries, survey types, and survey topics. The complexity of question trees, the number of question blocks in a tree, and the total call duration are relevant parameters to improve response and survey completion rate. One of the main advantages of IVR surveys is low cost and time efficiency. The total cost for operating 1,000 calls of 5 min each in five countries was 1,600 USD. To take full advantage of 5Q, questions and question-logic trees must follow the principle of keeping surveys smart and simple and aligned to the project's theory of change and research questions. Lessons learned from operating the IVR surveys in five countries show that the response rate improves through quality control of the phone contact database, using a larger pool of phone numbers to reach the desired target response rate, and using project communication channels to announce the IVR surveys. Among other things, the respondent's first impression is decisive. Thus, the introduction and the consent request largely determine the response and completion rate.

scholarly journals Achievements, challenges and opportunities of rainwater harvesting in the Ethiopia context: a review working paper No. 1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Negash Tessema Roba ◽  
Asfaw Kebede Kassa ◽  
Dame Yadeta Geleta ◽  
Birhanu Kindshih Hishe
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Water Supply Systems

Abstract Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a novel way for developing countries to construct and maintain long-term water supply systems. As a result, this review article draws on actual findings and lessons learned from various places in Ethiopia to assess the country's achievements and opportunities when it comes to RWH, as well as to guide future alternatives toward its sustainability. RWH acts as a tie throughout the rainy season's dry spells, benefiting human and livestock consumption as well as crop production through irrigation. So, for the victory of well-organized rain water collection, watershed treatment, seepage and evaporation control, soil and water conservation, conservation tillage, and integration of low-cost water lifting techniques and family drip systems should all be feasible. Given that the country is not further modernized, it has ancient dated experiences on the operation and exploitation of RWH systems. Aside from financial inadequacies, historical and political instability, lack of understanding among farmers, and resistance to new technologies, the country has opportunities and has made some progress on rainwater harvesting systems. In general, rainwater harvesting could enable smallholder farmers to diversify their crops, thereby enhancing household food security, dietary status, and economic return. In addition, the much-needed green revolution and climate change adaptations should combine rainwater harvesting ideas with agronomic principles in the country. More work is needed to strengthen indigenous practices and share best practices to a larger scale.

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