Evaluation and Prediction of Groundwater Quality in the Municipality of Za-Kpota (South Benin) Using Machine Learning and Remote Sensing

Accessing drinking water is a global issue. This study aims to contribute to the assessment of groundwater quality in the municipality of Za-Kpota (southern Benin) using remote sensing and Machine Learning. The methodological approach used consisted in linking groundwater physico-chemical parameter data collected in the field and in the laboratory using AFNOR 1994 standardized methods to satellite data (Landsat) in order to sketch out a groundwater quality prediction model. The data was processed using QGis (Semi-Automatic Plugin: SCP) and Python (Jupyter Netebook: Prediction) softwares. The results of water analysis from the sampled wells and boreholes indicated that most of the water is acidic (pH varying between 5.59 and 7.83). The water was moderately mineralized, with conductivity values of less than 1500 μs/cm overall (59 µS/cm to 1344 µS/cm), with high concentrations of nitrates and phosphates in places. The dynamics of groundwater quality in the municipality of Za-Kpota between 2008 and 2022 are also marked by a regression in land use units (a regression in vegetation and marshland formation in favor of built-up areas, bare soil, crops and fallow land) revealed by the diachronic analysis of satellite images from 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2022. Surveys of local residents revealed the use of herbicides and pesticides in agricultural fields, which are the main drivers contributing to the groundwater quality deterioration observed in the study area. Field surveys revealed the use of herbicides and pesticides in agricultural fields, which are factors contributing to the deterioration in groundwater quality observed in the study area. The results of the groundwater quality prediction models (ANN, RF and LR) developed led to the conclusion that the model based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN: R2 = 0.97 and RMSE = 0) is the best for groundwater quality changes modelling in the Za-Kpota municipality.

Ecological Safety Evaluation of Land Use in Ji'an City Based on the Principal Component Analysis

According to the ecological safety evaluation index data of land-use change in Ji'an City from 1999 to 2008,positive treatment on selected reverse indices is conducted by Reciprocal Method.Meanwhile,Index Method is used to standardize the selected indices,and Principal Component Analysis is applied by using year as a unit.FB is obtained,which is related with the ecological safety of land-use change from 1999 to 2008.According to the scientific,integrative,hierarchical,practical and dynamic principles,ecological safety evaluation index system of land-use change in Ji'an City is established.Principal Component Analysis and evaluation model are used to calculate four parameters,including the natural resources safety index of land use,the socio-economic safety indicators of land use,the eco-environmental safety index of land use,and the ecological safety degree of land use in Ji'an City.Result indicates that the ecological safety degree of land use in Ji'an City shows a slow upward trend as a whole.At the same time,ecological safety degree of land-use change is relatively low in Ji'an City with the safety value of 0.645,which is at a weak safety zone and needs further monitoring and maintenance.

Safety and effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in cardiac surgery:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Lack of mobilization and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit(ICU)are major factors resulting in the development of ICU-acquired muscle weakness(ICUAW).ICUAW is a type of skeletal muscle dysfunction and a common complication of patients after cardiac surgery,and may be a risk factor for prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation,associated with a higher risk of readmission and higher mortality.Early mobilization in the ICU after cardiac surgery has been found to be low with a significant trend to increase over ICU stay and is also associated with a reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)is an alternative modality of exercise in patients with muscle weakness.A major advantage of NMES is that it can be applied even in sedated patients in the ICU,a fact that might enhance early mobilization in these patients.AIM To evaluate safety,feasibility and effectiveness of NMES on functional capacity and muscle strength in patients before and after cardiac surgery.METHODS We performed a search on Pubmed,Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro),Embase and CINAHL databases,selecting papers published between December 2012 and April 2023 and identified published randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that included implementation of NMES in patients before after cardiac surgery.RCTs were assessed for methodological rigor and risk of bias via the PEDro.The primary outcomes were safety and functional capacity and the secondary outcomes were muscle strength and function.RESULTS Ten studies were included in our systematic review,resulting in 703 participants.Almost half of them performed NMES and the other half were included in the control group,treated with usual care.Nine studies investigated patients after cardiac surgery and 1 study before cardiac surgery.Functional capacity was assessed in 8 studies via 6MWT or other indices,and improved only in 1 study before and in 1 after cardiac surgery.Nine studies explored the effects of NMES on muscle strength and function and,most of them,found increase of muscle strength and improvement in muscle function after NMES.NMES was safe in all studies without any significant complication.CONCLUSION NMES is safe,feasible and has beneficial effects on muscle strength and function in patients after cardiac surgery,but has no significant effect on functional capacity.

Construction Safety Management of Mechanical and Electrical Installation Projects

Various industries today rely on the support of electromechanical equipment,expanding its scope of application and leading to an increase in electromechanical installation projects.However,due to the high level of expertise required and the potential risks involved,it is crucial to emphasize safety management during construction.This paper delves into the significance of construction safety management for electromechanical installation projects,identifies common problems encountered during construction,and proposes solutions.This analysis aims to provide relevant personnel with essential guidance and references for managing electromechanical installation projects safely.

A review of lithium-ion battery safety concerns:The issues,strategies,and testing standards

Efficient and reliable energy storage systems are crucial for our modern society.Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)with excellent performance are widely used in portable electronics and electric vehicles(EVs),but frequent fires and explosions limit their further and more widespread applications.This review summarizes aspects of LIB safety and discusses the related issues,strategies,and testing standards.Specifically,it begins with a brief introduction to LIB working principles and cell structures,and then provides an overview of the notorious thermal runaway,with an emphasis on the effects of mechanical,electrical,and thermal abuse.The following sections examine strategies for improving cell safety,including approaches through cell chemistry,cooling,and balancing,afterwards describing current safety standards and corresponding tests.The review concludes with insights into potential future developments and the prospects for safer LIBs.

Towards an Ethical and Ecological Approach to Electricity Generation: A Comparative Analysis of Coal and Nuclear Power in the USA

According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 4118 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) electricity was generated at large-scale generation facilities in 2019. About 63% of this was from fossil fuels, e.g., coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases. Environmental exposure to particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, arsenic, radioactive fly ash, and other pollutants are extremely detrimental to the human cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. Such exposure increases the risk of lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, respiratory infections, and other illnesses. In light of the challenges associated with renewables providing large quantities of base load power, as well as other factors, the benefits offered by nuclear power should be reexamined by policy makers to move the country towards a more ecological and ethical method of electric power production. This paper offers a concise analysis of many of the salient issues, comparing electricity generation from coal plants and light water nuclear reactors.

GB 19865 & GB 6675 ANNEX A.A——SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL TOYS Differences Between the new and old Chinese National Standards

This article anlayzes the different requirements for electrical toys safety between GB 6675-2003 and GB19865-2005. This information is summed up in table form to make it easy for toy designers and manufacturers to grasp the new standard.

Efficacy,Safety and Characteristics of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II and IV Utilization for Various Percutaneous Occlusions in Children under 10 Years

Objectives:We aim to describe the efficacy,safety,and characteristics of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug(AVP)II and IV“off-label”use for multiple cardiovascular occlusions in children under 10 years.Methods:Observational retrospective multicenter(2007–2020,6 centers)review of paediatric procedures using AVP II or IV.Results:A total of 125 children(49.6%aged≤1 year,147 lesions)underwent 136 successive procedures(success rate:98.5%)using 169 devices(109 AVP IV,60 AVP II).The mean device diameter was 7.7±3.2 mm(4–20 mm).The median AVP size to vessel diameter ratio was 1.3(0–2).The median age and weight at implantation were 1.0 year(0.01–9.98)and 8.4 kg(1–69).Procedures were heterogeneous(55 patent ductus arteriosus(PDA),28 collaterals,18 sequestrations,22 arteriovenous/veinovenous/coronary fistulas,6 vertical veins,6 conduits,5 ventricular septal defects,7 miscellaneous).Day 1 and 6-month occlusion rates were respectively 94.8%and 98.5%.Major adverse events(MAE)occurred in 5.2%of cases(no procedure-related deaths),and more frequently in weight≤5 kg(p=0.01),younger patients(p=0.03)during PDA closure(p=0.02)of tubular types(p=0.02)using larger devices(p=0.03)and AVP II(p=0.003).Independent predictor of MAE risk was a higher AVP diameter to patient weight ratio(Odds-ratio:2.33,95%confidence interval 1.31–4.13,p=0.004,optimal cut off:1.45).Conclusions:Both AVPs are safe and effective for percutaneous occlusions in children under 10.Such devices represent an alternative“off label”use for well selected paediatric patients.

Restraint Usage Characteristics and Other Factors Associated with Safety of Children Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes

Involvement in road traffic crashes as vehicle occupants is a leading cause of death and serious injury among children. The objective of this study was to investigate crash severity factors and child safety restraint use characteristics in order to identify effective countermeasures to increase children＇s highway safety. Characteristics and percentages of restraint use among child passengers aged 4-13 years were examined using highway crash data from Kansas. The association between restraint use, injury severity and characteristics of children involved in crashes were investigated using OR （odds ratios） and a logistic regression model, which was used to identify risk factors. Results showed that children, who were unrestrained, were seated in the front seat, traveling with drunk drivers and on rural roads, and traveling during nighttime was more vulnerable to severe injury in the case of motor vehicle crashes. The most frequent contributing causes related to crashes involving children included driver＇s inattention while driving, failure to yield right-of-way, driving too fast, wet roads and animals in the road. Based on identified critical factors, general countermeasure ideas to improve children＇s traffic safety were suggested, including age-appropriate and size-appropriate seat belt restraints and having children seated in the rear seat. Parents and children must gain better education regarding these safety measures in order to increase child safety on the road.

System for the Management of the Continuity of Use of Medical Devices in Hospitals

The Technical Services and the Medical Administration of the Hospitals of Trieste have been working for years to ensure the optimal functioning of the Surgery, Intensive Care, Diagnostics and Research Services offered to the Patients and to the University in an 800-bed hospital complex, transforming and innovating the buildings and support installations. We have dedicated special attention to the technologies necessary to guarantee the continuity of the power supply to the electromedical devices, increasingly numerous in highly specialized hospitals. We report the power of the generator sets and the UPS and our opinion that their power must be related to the overall consumption of the hospital, with a reserve margin.

The use of permanent magnet motor for Tesla electric vehicle stimulates the demand for rare earth Nd

On March 13th,Reuters reported that the long run version of Tesla Model 3 will use permanent magnet motors.One of the materials for this type of motor is rare earth metal neodymium,which will further increase the supply pressure of neodymium.Governments around the world are committed to reducing the harmful emissions produced by fossil fuel cars,pushing up demand for electric vehicles

Extreme Learning Machine-Based Thermal Model for Lithium-Ion Batteries of Electric Vehicles under External Short Circuit

External short circuit(ESC)of lithium-ion batteries is one of the common and severe electrical failures in electric vehicles.In this study,a novel thermal modelis developed to capture the temperature behavior of batteries under ESC conditions.Experiments were systematically performed under different battery initial state of charge and ambient temperatures.Based on the experimental results,we employed an extreme learming machine(ELM)-based thermal(ELMT)model to depict battery temperature behavior under ESC,where a lumped-state thermal model was used to replace the activation function of conventional ELMs.To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model,wecompared the ELMT model with a multi-lumped-state thermal(MLT)model parameterized by thegenetic algorithm using the experimental data from various sets of battery cells.It is shown that the ELMT model can achieve higher computa-tional efficiency than the MLT model and better fitting and prediction accuracy,where the average root mean squared error(RMSE)of the fitting is 0.65℃ for the ELMT model and 3.95℃ for the MLT model,and the RMES of the prediction under new data set is 3.97℃ for the ELMT model and 6.11℃ for the MLT model.

General Nexus Between Water and Electricity Use and Its Implication for Urban Agricultural Sustainability:A Case Study of Shenzhen, South China

Although water and energy resources are well-recognized concerns regarding economic and social development sustainability, little specific research has focused on both water and energy problems at the same time. This study analyzed the water and electricity-use patterns in Shenzhen, South China during 2001-2009. A curve regression method was used to examine the relationship between water and electricity use per gross domestic product （GDP） in Shenzhen and its three sectors, i.e., agriculture, industry ＆ construction, and residential life ＆ services. Results showed that agriculture only covered less than 10% of water and electricity use in Shenzhen, while industry ＆ construction and residential life ＆ services accounted for more than 90% of water and electricity use in Shenzhen, which coincided with the city＇s industrial structure. The water and electricity use per GDP in agriculture was the biggest among three sectors in Shenzhen during 2001-2009, which means inefficiency of water and electricity use in agriculture. Due to transitioning to advanced materials and manufacturing, both water and electricity use per GDP their utilization efficiencies gradually increased over time. in industry ＆ construction decreased during 2001-2009 and The same held true for those in residential life ＆ services transformed toward modern business, creative culture, finance services, etc. Derived from the survival of the fittest in competing for limited water and electricity resources, agriculture in Shenzhen has been gradually substituted by industry ＆ construction and residential life ＆ services, with much higher efficiencies of water and electricity use. And traditional agriculture will not be sustainable in the process of urbanization and industrialization, except high-tech intensive agriculture with low water and energy cost. Furthermore, by means of curve regression, we found that there was a significant quadratic relationship between water use per GDP and electricity use per GDP in the entire city and its three sectors. Suitable industrial transformation and advancement was a very effective way to save water and energy for modern cities. This can provide some reference for systematic planning and design of water and electricity allocation and use in agriculture, industry ＆ construction and residential life ＆ services in a city.

Countermeasures of Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater for Safety of Agricultural Use in China

China is facing a severe water resource crisis, and the shortage of water for agricultural consumption is a prominent problem. Irrigation with reclaimed municipal wastewater that can reach the agricultural recycling standards is an important way to deal with water shortage in agricultural production. Owing to the complex sources of municipal wastewater, there are multifarious pollutants in municipal wastewater. Improper use of wastewater can cause potential risks to agoenvironment, agricultural products safety, and human health. This article deals with the current situation and the development prospects of reclaimed wastewater for agricultural use in China and abroad; the potential risks to human health and environmental pollution from the reclaimed municipal wastewater for agricultural reuse are also discussed. And some countermeasures and advices of reclaimed municipal wastewater for safety of agricultural reuse are provided.

Clinical Observation and Safety Evaluation of Zhuang Medicine Xiaoyan Zhiyang Formula for Dermatosis

[Objectives]To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Zhuang Medicine Xiaoyan Zhiyang Formula by retrospective analysis of clinical use.[Methods]A total of 225 cases were collected,including 117 males and 108 females,115 cases of contact dermatitis and 110 cases of acute eczema.Zhuang Medicine Xiaoyan Zhiyang Formula was administered to 225 patients with contact dermatitis and acute eczema and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.[Results]After one week of treatment,among 225 patients with contact dermatitis and acute eczema,76 cases were cured(33.78%),133 cases showed marked response(59.11%),16 cases(7.11%)were improved,0 case was ineffective,and the overall response rate was 92.89%.After one week of Zhuang Medicine Xiaoyan Zhiyang Formula treatment,the symptoms of itching,pain and swelling were significantly improved in all patients,and the rash was partially crusted without new symptom,and there were no complications and adverse reactions.[Conclusions]Zhuang Medicine Xiaoyan Zhiyang Formula therapy has a remarkable effect in the treatment of contact dermatitis and acute eczema.

Residue and Safety Use of 45% Prochloraz EW in Ginger

[Objective]The paper was to evaluate the safety of 45%prochloraz EW in ginger,and to study the residue and degradation of 45%prochloraz EW in ginger.[Method]45%Prochloraz EW was sprayed once at the dose of 455.625 g a.i./ha in dynamic degradation test,and ginger plants were collected at 2 h,1,3,5,7,14,21,28,35 and 42 d post spraying,respectively.45%Prochloraz EW was sprayed at the doses of 303.75 and 455.625 g a.i./ha for 2-3 times with an interval of 7 d in final residue test,and ginger plants were collected at 7,14 and 21 d post spraying,respectively.The content of prochloraz was quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography.[Result]Dynamic degradation test demonstrated that prochloraz degraded quickly in plants,and the half-life in Shandong and Anhui were 5.8 and 7.9 d,respectively.The final residue of prochloraz in ginger samples was<0.01-0.145 mg/kg,lower than the maximum residue limit of prochloraz in ginger formulated by European Union(0.2 mg/kg).[Conclusion]Prochloraz should be sprayed at the recommended dose of 202.5-303.75 g a.i./ha for prevention and control of anthracnose on ginger.The agent should be sprayed twice in the early stage of incidence,with an interval of 7 d,and the safety interval of 14 d was safe.

Impact of the landslide for a Relationship between Rainfall Condition and Land Cover in North Vietnam

This paper aims to evaluate the probability of landslide hazards using a physical model(TRIGRS:Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-Based Region Slope-Stability)for a regional scale considering the variations of a triggering rainfall condition and land-cover under the climate change.There are certain uncertainties raising from the soil properties and soil depth determination,assumption of groundwater,as well as the same root cohesion for all tree cover in the forest-related region.However,the application of TRIGRS model in a regional scale would provide important references for the distribution of landslide prone area regarding scenarios about changes of weather condition and land cover situation.It thus would support local authorities in obtaining more adequate land planning strategies in a river basin to mitigate potential hazard from the slope failure issue.

Perception and Uses of Stakeholders＇ Power on Health and Safety Risk Management in Construction Projects in Tanzania

Key project stakeholders such as clients, consultant teams, contractors and workers have different sources of power to implement projects. How these powers influence health and safety risk management is not well documented. This article therefore assesses the perception and uses of stakeholders＇ power on health and safety in risk management in construction projects in Tanzania, specifically focuses on sources and types of power, how stakeholders perceive their power, how they use power on health and safety risk management, and what factors hinders their use of power. A case study strategy was adopted and four large on-going construction projects in Dar es Salaam Tanzania were involved. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with clients, consultants, contractors and construction workers. Findings indicate that stakeholders have different sources of power such as technical expertise, legitimate, political position, resources information to influence health and safety risk management. Nonetheless, the use of these powers was generally limited due to low level of knowledge on health and safety risk management among stakeholders, wrong perception on their roles, insufficient health and safety regulations and weak procurement system. The research recommends that, in order to realize health and safety performance through using stakeholder＇s power, there is a need of clear definition of stakeholders＇ role and responsibilities on health and safety, wide knowledge and experiences on health and safety risk management, strong regulatory system and procurement system.

Energy Consumption in the Municipal Water Supply Sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Water-energy nexus is an emerging issue that receives considerable attention in the world in general and in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in particular. The GCC countries depend mainly on energy generated from fossil fuels to produce drinking water. Yet, the amount of water-related energy use in Bahrain remains unexplored. This study aims to quantify the amount of energy used in the water supply cycle for the first time in Bahrain using quantitative methods. A bottom-up approach for data collection was adopted where data for the three main stages of the water supply in Bahrain: water production, water transmission, and water distribution were collected. Results show that the water production stage consumes about 97% of the total energy consumption in the water supply sector, followed by water transmission (2.9%) and water distribution (0.1%). Comparisons conducted with best practices in the world show that water desalination plants in Bahrain consume relatively high amounts of energy to produce water based on the desalination technology used. This study calls for focusing on the production stage in achieving energy efficiency since it is the largest consumer and where losses are occurring based on the benchmarking. This study also recommends investigating the share of electricity and thermal energy consumed in the water supply cycle in Bahrain in addition to the wastewater treatment sector. This is imperative to provide a holistic overview of the water-related energy use in Bahrain.

Safety in Surgery:Evaluation of Safety and Efficiency in Use of Aminoglycosides in Acute Appendicitis

Background: Aminoglycosides are used as empirical antibiotic treatment of intraabdominal infections which are caused by Gram negative bacteria and for which the treatment of choice is surgery. Aminoglycosides maintain good efficacy against these bacteria and reduce the need for prescribing fluoroquinolone, cephalosporin and carbapenem antibiotics which contribute to the development of resistant bacterial strains. In recent years, several clinical trials and international guidelines have advised against the use of aminoglycosides owing largely to doubts about their effectiveness and to the concern for their known nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Aim: In our study, we aimed to prove whether aminoglycosides are appropriate agents in the treatment of acute appendicitis. Methods: Retrospectively, patients with acute appendicitis we included in the trial. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical signs and symptoms, the type of antibiotic and surgical treatment were analyzed. The effect of independent variables on the occurrence of complications was calculated using Student’s T-test and Fisher’s precise test. The effect of aminoglycosides on the loss of kidney function was determined by means of a linear regression method. Results: 300 patients proved acute appendicitis were included in the study. Univariate statistical analysis showed that the risk factors for postoperative complications in treating acute appendicitis were: age over 76 years (p Conclusion: Aminoglycoside antibiotics are a safe and effective treatment of acute appendicitis;our not published data are positive of AGs use in acute cholecystitis and left colon diverticulitis which requires surgery. If used for a limited time period, they do not increase the risk for kidney injury and remain a stable low level of all over complications.