For application of observed anomalies of the total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere for short-term earthquake prediction, it is necessary to understand the physical nature of such anomalies ...during the preparation of a strong seismic event. The physical mechanism of occurrence of such anomalies is considered in order to distinguish the TEC disturbance of a seismic origin and to clear the processes in the lithosphere resulted in an appearance of the TEC anomaly in the ionosphere. It is supposed that the observed TEC anomalies arise as a result of occurrence of additional electric field in the ionosphere demonstrated by numerous satellite data before the impending earthquakes. At the same time, an injection of charged aerosols into the atmosphere in the epicentral earthquake area was detected. As a result, an electromotive force arises in the surface layer of the atmosphere, which initiates a perturbation of the electric current in the global circuit and the electric field appearance in the ionosphere. We have shown that the TEC disturbance arises as a result of the heating of the ionosphere by electric current and the plasma drift in the electric field of this current. The spatial distribution of TEC arises as a result of the combined action of these two factors, and its nature depends on the relationship between them. Based on the developed model the numerical study of the spatial distribution of TEC in the ionosphere is possible for a given horizontal distribution of the concentration of charged aerosols in the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface.
Earthquake prediction is based on identifiable and reliable earthquake precursors. The existence of reliable seismic precursors, the methods to identify precursors, and the definition of abnormal ...threshold are still controversial in the seismological academia. We have examined the atmospheric potential gradient over many years and found that the atmospheric potential gradient does not conform to the traditional default normal distribution. Therefore, the abnormal threshold of atmospheric potential gradient is redefined by using the box plot with non-normal distribution. On March 27, 2017, in Yangbi County, China, 5.1 earthquake occurred. There are 11 surface atmospheric electrostatic observation stations in the earthquake preparation area. In this paper, the anomaly of the atmospheric potential gradient before the Yangbi earthquake is studied by the box plot, and the change trend of the atmospheric potential gradient before the earthquake is calculated by the least square method. The results show that, after eliminating the influence of the main meteorological factors on the atmospheric potential gradient, with the approach of the main earthquake, the atmospheric potential gradient of 11 stations in the earthquake preparation area all presents a downward trend, and most of the atmospheric potential gradient presents obvious negative anomaly. This phenomenon can be explained by the mechanism of radon emission enhancement before earthquakes. Therefore, the general downward trend of atmospheric potential gradient and the large proportion of negative anomalies of atmospheric potential gradient may be precursors of earthquakes.
To ensure the required density values of expanded clay while firing in the rotary kiln it is necessary to control automatically the temperature field of a kiln in the conditions of transient ...characteristics of the raw. It is shown that in order to obtain given density value of the expanded clay it is sufficient (at constant speed of a kiln) to control the temperature field in two (so-called typical) sections through automatic power control of the burner and kiln charge. Areas of achievable values of expanded clay production ranges within the boundaries of the temperature field have been identified. The results obtained are focused on the synthesis of a coherent system of automatic burner control and kiln charge that stabilizes the production of expanded clay at a given density.
The areas of strong paired earthquakes, including the Simushir ones, have been defined on the basis of the kinetic concepts of the strength of the solids, the multilevel rock structure, and the ...related hierarchical model of the rock fracture. The analysis of the spatiotemporal kinetics of these areas did not show any physical difference as compared to the preparation for the single events.
Expressed human milk (EHM) feed preparation areas represent a potential source of unintentional nosocomial infection. Daily disinfection of environmental surfaces remains an essential intervention to ...mitigate nosocomial infections. The inefficiency of conventional cleaning and disinfection contributes to an increased risk for the acquisition of multi-drug resistant pathogens. "Non touch" technologies such as the pulsed xenon ultraviolet (PX-UVD) light device have documented sustained reduction in surface bacterial colonization and reduced cross contamination.
The impact of a PX-UVD on surface colony forming units per square centimeter (cfu/cm
) in feed preparation areas was evaluated following its implementation as standard care. A quasi-experimental study was performed documenting bacterial colonization from 6 high risk feed preparation areas in a community care hospital in South Africa. Pre and post conventional cleaning neutralizing rinse swabs were collected fortnightly over a 16 week control period prior to the introduction of the PX-UVD and compared to a matching set of samples for the PX-UVD period.
A 90% reduction in total surface bioburden was noted from the control period (544 cfu/cm
) compared to the corresponding PX-UVD period (50 cfu/cm
). Sub -analysis of both the Pre-clean Control: Pre-clean PX-UVD counts as well as the Post-clean Control: Post-clean PX-UVD counts noted significant improvements (p < 0.001). A statistically significant improvement was noted between pre-and post-cleaning total surface bioburden following exposure to the PX-UVD (p = 0.0004). The introduction of the PX-UVD was associated with a sustained reduction in the pre clean bioburden counts with a risk trend (per week) 0.19, (95% CI 0.056, 0.67, p = 0.01).
The use of a PX-UVD as adjunct to standard cleaning protocols was associated with a significant decrease in surface bioburden. The study demonstrated the inefficiency of conventional cleaning. Persistence of potentially pathological species in both periods highlights current health sector challenges.
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